Arsenal Match : Post game comments

[Darkon]

Can anybody post what Rafa said after the game? Cheers.

Speaking to the Sky Sports cameras about his Liverpool display, Benitez had this to say:

"The first half was really really good. We were very pleased and we thought it could have been even better." But since Liverpool were not victorous it was the second half performance which let down Rafael Benitez's side. "I thought the own goal changed everything... we started making mistakes... the second half was totally different."

When asked about the challenge of William Gallas, Benitez should no signs of hesitation about it being a penalty. "It was a penalty... If you foul somebody in the box it's a penalty."

Besides the penalty which referee Howard Webb turned away, Benitez took responsibility for his side's defeat. "When you lose you have to be dissapointed, especially if it is at home." The Liverpool boss described the opening minutes of the second half as, "Too many problems in a short time."

Looking forward Benitez said that the game had not changed his overall goal of the season. "It's the same target: top four. It's a long way so we have to keep going. Keep winning games (if we can)." Benitez concluded his interview in the belief that, "we can win these games."

[el matador]

We'll go down the road quicker if we sack Rafa. He's building something and he's got a 5 year contract. If next season is as bad as this one then I'd ask questions, not after just one very bad season. That would be foolish.

Rafa has a track record second to none, not just about winning cups, but about winning championships. He'll turn us around and make decisions to 'replace' the players who aren't good enough in time. You can't do this mid season.

rafa hasnt helped himself because the squad is full of average players and although the first team is ok (or was ok until this season) our subs would struggle to make an impact in the championship.

There's no point in pointing fingers at who those players are because for every one of those there is a yossi or reina or an agger where a risk was taken but that paid off.

When he has spent money he's more than likely got it right (keane apart) masher, torres, johnson all look like quality players. Aquilani has to show that he can join that category but it worries me that he looks ponderous and heavy footed when running - although according to him he hasnt played for almost a year.

Its the 10m signings where rafa has really struggled with kuyt and babel really struggling to justify their price tags and throughout the squad it surprises me that we dont have one out and out quick winger who will go to the byline and get some crosses in (yet we have three right backs, three left backs)

Im not sure if rafa can get himself out of this mess and maybe he should be offered an easy way out.

[Guest]

What a ridiculous statement. Second to none? Are you sure? There are plenty of manager's that have won more titles than Rafa.

Not when taken under the context of Rafa's short career. He has a fabulous track record, won La Liga twice with Valencia, won the CL with us and made us into one of the most feared teams in Europe.

Just ask yourself a question. We were very good last season. Is everything which has gone wrong this season down to Rafa? I think not.

Thing is, we are a huge huge club, with lots of expectations and with some very restless fans. Some players are simply not good enough mentally to shrug off all this pressure. What has Rafa done wrong? He's been facing the media week in week out, he's the one out there fighting it out. Everything else, and particularly matters on the pitch, should be down to the players.

They are good enough, so show it FFS.

[SimonNo7]

We'll go down the road quicker if we sack Rafa. He's building something and he's got a 5 year contract. If next season is as bad as this one then I'd ask questions, not after just one very bad season. That would be foolish.

Rafa has a track record second to none, not just about winning cups, but about winning championships. He'll turn us around and make decisions to 'replace' the players who aren't good enough in time. You can't do this mid season.

Now I agree it probably won't help sacking Rafa right now and I would probably give him until the end of the season although he must finish fourth.

However if there was one of a couple/few certain managers lined up and they gave the new manager money (nearly always seems to happen when a new man comes in plus they are about to come into rather a lot of money) then I don't think I would be as pissed off as I might of been had he been replaced with Jurgen.

As for his track record being second to none I don't think it is apart from his time at Valencia.

Re the 'replace the player who aren't good enough in time' I wonder if they would suddenly become 'good enough' if a new manager was brought in, just a thought!

[SimonNo7]

Speaking to the Sky Sports cameras about his Liverpool display, Benitez had this to say:

"The first half was really really good. We were very pleased and we thought it could have been even better." But since Liverpool were not victorous it was the second half performance which let down Rafael Benitez's side. "I thought the own goal changed everything... we started making mistakes... the second half was totally different."

When asked about the challenge of William Gallas, Benitez should no signs of hesitation about it being a penalty. "It was a penalty... If you foul somebody in the box it's a penalty."

Besides the penalty which referee Howard Webb turned away, Benitez took responsibility for his side's defeat. "When you lose you have to be dissapointed, especially if it is at home." The Liverpool boss described the opening minutes of the second half as, "Too many problems in a short time."

Looking forward Benitez said that the game had not changed his overall goal of the season. "It's the same target: top four. It's a long way so we have to keep going. Keep winning games (if we can)." Benitez concluded his interview in the belief that, "we can win these games."

Cheers

[Guest]

rafa hasnt helped himself because the squad is full of average players and although the first team is ok (or was ok until this season) our subs would struggle to make an impact in the championship.

There's no point in pointing fingers at who those players are because for every one of those there is a yossi or reina or an agger where a risk was taken but that paid off.

When he has spent money he's more than likely got it right (keane apart) masher, torres, johnson all look like quality players. Aquilani has to show that he can join that category but it worries me that he looks ponderous and heavy footed when running - although according to him he hasnt played for almost a year.

Its the 10m signings where rafa has really struggled with kuyt and babel really struggling to justify their price tags and throughout the squad is surprises me that we dont have one out and out quick winger who will go to the byline and get some crosses in.

Im not sure if rafa can get himself out of this mess and maybe he should be offered an easy way out.

I think you're wrong sorry. That same team pushed Man Utd all the way last season, and at the same time were very very competitive in the CL. It's a bit stupid to say that he's bought 'average' players when the same ones are playing for us this season.

Just don't let your frustrations makes you look stupid mate.

[Joe King]

Not when taken under the context of Rafa's short career. He has a fabulous track record, won La Liga twice with Valencia, won the CL with us and made us into one of the most feared teams in Europe.

Just ask yourself a question. We were very good last season. Is everything which has gone wrong this season down to Rafa? I think not.

Thing is, we are a huge huge club, with lots of expectations and with some very restless fans. Some players are simply not good enough mentally to shrug off all this pressure. What has Rafa done wrong? He's been facing the media week in week out, he's the one out there fighting it out. Everything else, and particularly matters on the pitch, should be down to the players.

They are good enough, so show it FFS.

Oh yeah, shorten his career to suit your argument.

Rafa's been here for five years and can't get a decent enough squad. Consistency is not in his dictionary.

[Bender]

if it's down to the players then you have to ask yourself why are they not performing ?

[SimonNo7]

I'm not sure I see it as a managers role to motivate the team as such - they should be able to motivate themselves for the game - it's what they do for a living and they are privileged to be earning what they do playing the game they love (supposedly).

It's Rafa's job to set the tactics, analyze the opponents, setting up the game, handling behind the scene affairs (training etc.) - but it shouldn't be necessary for him to motivate them for the game.

I agree that it's his job to help them get out of the hole they are in (the players), and it's his job to get the winning mentality/confidence in the team - but not the same as motivation for me.

But surely it is, say at half time we are winning as we were today it is his job to say the right things, to make sure it is drilled into them that they need to focus and not surrender that lead until the final whistle goes or if we are losing to have a go at them but at the same time tell them they are better than the other team etc. I think you get where I'm coming from don't you?

[Lee]

Strange

What a mind**** of a season. We played with such ****in swagger towards the end of last year, we lost two league games all season and looked like we would go in to 09/10 seriously competing for the title.

However, this season we can't even string two passes together. Sick.

What a mind****.

[Rich]

Not when taken under the context of Rafa's short career. He has a fabulous track record, won La Liga twice with Valencia, won the CL with us and made us into one of the most feared teams in Europe.

Just ask yourself a question. We were very good last season. Is everything which has gone wrong this season down to Rafa? I think not.

Thing is, we are a huge huge club, with lots of expectations and with some very restless fans. Some players are simply not good enough mentally to shrug off all this pressure. What has Rafa done wrong? He's been facing the media week in week out, he's the one out there fighting it out. Everything else, and particularly matters on the pitch, should be down to the players.

They are good enough, so show it FFS.

He's been a manager for 14 years so I'd hardly call that an insignificant length of time. We were very good last season, but we were very good in 01/02 and look what happened then. I'm not wanting Rafa to be sacked but to say he's untouchable AND second to none at winning things is wide of the mark. He's cut his own cloth here - all the players are his, we can whinge and whine about a lack of money but he still decided to spend the best part of £40m on a flawed RB, an injured CM, and a decidedly average (make that poor) CB.

It pains me to say it, because I've previously thought Rafa to be the one who could turn us into the Champions however now I'm almost convinced that he ain't going to be able to turn this around.

[scully]

So many turncoat fans. Sickening, no better than geordies. Yes this season is ****, but it goes against what the club is about to give up because we have had a **** first half to the season.

Has it never occurred to you that Rafa might not be what this club's about?

[SimonNo7]

I think you're wrong sorry. That same team pushed Man Utd all the way last season, and at the same time were very very competitive in the CL. It's a bit stupid to say that he's bought 'average' players when the same ones are playing for us this season.

Just don't let your frustrations makes you look stupid mate.

I think he has bought some very 'average' players but last season he managed to get them to play as a team where as this season he can't.

Remember a very 'average' Leeds which included Lee Chapman won the Championship!

I do wonder, and I know how stupid this sounds, if the loss of Alonso has pissed some of the players off and they are thinking if that's the way he can treat someone like Alonso then he could quite easily treat me the same. Now I know Alonso supposedly wanted to go back to Spain but it does make me wonder. And before you say players wouldn't do/think like that I would remind you of Chavski last season and Scolari because it was player power that got rid of him, there is no doubt about that IMO.

[Guest]

if it's down to the players then you have to ask yourself why are they not performing ?

The buck will obviously come down to him. He's the boss.

But when Arsenal scored today, the players should have responded. Rafa isn't kicking a ball then no? He's put Aquilani on, which some have been saying will be 'our saviour'. Then he's put on N'Gog and left Torres out on the pitch when he's clearly not sharp enough. This all in the idea 'not to piss off' the supporters, who are so knowledgeable ... He would have been booed if he had done so.

[mick the click]

Rafa built the team. Last season demonstrated how capable this team is. He deserves credit for rebuilding us into a European powerhouse once more. He gave us our pride back, our status back, but a combination of different things - some out of his control, others not so - have led to this depressing situation and he's not getting the best out of them. It's killing me but questions have got to be asked.

Well said Daddy

anybody else seriously disappointed that whenever you see a story about somali pirates, there's not a parrot in sight. ****ing fakes.

just seen that the italian pm has been smacked in the face. quality. the culprit will now have his feet set in concrete.