One thing you SHOULD NOT say about Rafa

[FatTony]

IMO Kuyt is **** and is Rafa's blind spot, waste of money and is nothing but a donkey. Kewell was hardly ever on form for US and always injured, so what's the difference?

Our teams defended well under Houllier but at the expense of EVERYHTING else. Houllier was a disgrace!

At least we both agree about Kuyt.

[Red Chilli]

Wow, what an unfair comment!

How so, do you think the team has played to it's potential the rest of the time? I don't. Last season the first half our results were good but the football was still dire.
Set pieces. We're meant to be one of the top clubs in Europe. How a club can go 5 and a half years and still not have a decent corner taker and still not know how to defend a set piece is beyond me. Granted the defensive problems have been this season mainly, but how has that happened. Set pieces are the basic fundamental for every team. You know you're going to face them, you should be able to set up for them with military precision. We're like a bunch of feckless schoolkids when a set piece gets punted into our box. It's fundamental and it's criminal.

[Red Chilli]

Rafa overachieved in his first two seasons

In the league? I hope you don't believe that. We came 5th in his first season, behind Everton, having lost 11 games.

[kemm1]

Ah, so you're talking about censorship.

If LFC fans can't discuss their own opinions on a forum then whats the point?

Nope just my opinion of your opinion.

[FatTony]

Nope just my opinion of your opinion.

Well, I don't think you should have an opinion.

Leave that for Jamie Redknapp.

[Vermilion]

How so, do you think the team has played to it's potential the rest of the time? I don't. Last season the first half our results were good but the football was still dire.
Set pieces. We're meant to be one of the top clubs in Europe. How a club can go 5 and a half years and still not have a decent corner taker and still not know how to defend a set piece is beyond me. Granted the defensive problems have been this season mainly, but how has that happened. Set pieces are the basic fundamental for every team. You know you're going to face them, you should be able to set up for them with military precision. We're like a bunch of feckless schoolkids when a set piece gets punted into our box. It's fundamental and it's criminal.

Your knocking our set pieces weakness like the media do because that's the only part of the defence they could ever have a go at, our defence under Rafa has statistically performed at the top end of the scale consistently, as has our goal scoring, this season is a one off.

We were rated NO1 in europe over the last 3-4yrs, how can such a poorly performing team, according to you, achieve such figures.

[kemm1]

At least we both agree about Kuyt.

Yes we do.

I believe in Rafa and still support him as our manager but I cannot understand why he persist in playing him or what qualities he sees in him.

[Joe King]

In the league? I hope you don't believe that. We came 5th in his first season, behind Everton, having lost 11 games.

Cup success

[kemm1]

How so, do you think the team has played to it's potential the rest of the time? I don't. Last season the first half our results were good but the football was still dire.
Set pieces. We're meant to be one of the top clubs in Europe. How a club can go 5 and a half years and still not have a decent corner taker and still not know how to defend a set piece is beyond me. Granted the defensive problems have been this season mainly, but how has that happened. Set pieces are the basic fundamental for every team. You know you're going to face them, you should be able to set up for them with military precision. We're like a bunch of feckless schoolkids when a set piece gets punted into our box. It's fundamental and it's criminal.

Based on our financial resources in comparison to the SCUM and Chelski, the players that we have had, the rebuilding job that Rafa had to do I think what he has achieved up until this season has been a reflection of our capabilities.

[kemm1]

Well, I don't think you should have an opinion.

Leave that for Jamie Redknapp.

[FatTony]

Your knocking our set pieces weakness like the media do because that's the only part of the defence they could ever have a go at, our defence under Rafa has statistically performed at the top end of the scale consistently, as has our goal scoring, this season is a one off.

We were rated NO1 in europe over the last 3-4yrs, how can such a poorly performing team, according to you, achieve such figures.

[dww]

The post Pompey interview was a low point for Rafa with his "referee was perfect" nonsense. That does him no favours.
However, I don't think he's cracked, I just think he's failed to assemble a good enough squad and he's failed to get the best out of the squad he has assembled.

I was specifically referring to the interview after the Pompey game, that to me was odd behaviour to say the least.

But totally in character with say the man who answered repeated questions with 'I'm concentrating on preparing my team' or the facts list last season, no? It just showed me he was angry and has been bitten by the FA when critiquing referees (the glasses incident) before.

I'm much happier that he is obviously passionate and hurting than I would be someone who indicated otherwise.

[kemm1]

Gerrard had been the key to our defense being good over the years?

[kemm1]

But totally in character with say the man who answered repeated questions with 'I'm concentrating on preparing my team' or the facts list last season, no? It just showed me he was angry and has been bitten by the FA when critiquing referees (the glasses incident) before.

I'm much happier that he is obviously passionate and hurting than I would be someone who indicated otherwise.

Good points, Rafa is who he is and the recent comments about his persona is a quite confusing. The man hasn't changed, if people don't like who he is now it means that they never liked him to begin with.

[Red Chilli]

Your knocking our set pieces weakness like the media do because that's the only part of the defence they could ever have a go at, our defence under Rafa has statistically performed at the top end of the scale consistently, as has our goal scoring, this season is a one off.

We were rated NO1 in europe over the last 3-4yrs, how can such a poorly performing team, according to you, achieve such figures.

I'm having a go at our defence because it deserves to be shot at after what we've witnessed this season. Why is the defence going backwards? Why have we suddenly started defending like a league 2 team? Is it injuries? Nope. Is it lack of funds? Well if you spend 18 million on a right back you can hardly complain.

But put aside the defence, why have we failed to deliver decent set pieces for 5 and a half years? How's that possible?