So, over two years later....

[Craig_H]

We're still lightyears away from Rafa's Valencia side, in terms of style of play, quality of player and league title success...

Why?

[Shaggy]

Simply because it will take Rafa a lot longer here than it did at Valencia. He inherited a FAR FAR stronger side there then he did here. He inherited a ****ing mess here...albeit a ****ing mess that went on to become European Champions.

[Craig_H]

Is it as simple as that?

What signs have we seen, that he actually WANTS his Liverpool side playing that kind of quick touch passing football that Valencia did?

[DeeGame]

Simply because it will take Rafa a lot longer here than it did at Valencia. He inherited a FAR FAR stronger side there then he did here.

Agree with that

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Simply because it will take Rafa a lot longer here than it did at Valencia. He inherited a FAR FAR stronger side there then he did here. He inherited a ****ing mess here...albeit a ****ing mess that went on to become European Champions.

I agree we had so many donkeys when he came we could of opened stables

[bazza76]

We're still lightyears away from Rafa's Valencia side, in terms of style of play, quality of player and league title success...

Why?

Different culture of football would be one reason, we will will never be able to be a replica of the Rafa valencia side, our league approach is different.
Sure we may well be able to attack with a similar class given time, and out defending well last season anyway was as good as Valencias.
So I guess it depends on players performing and adapting to Rafas style. The squad has had many new additions this season, it will take time, id say midway through this season we should be well on the way to playing the best football so far at Anfield under Rafa.

[Nic83]

He inherited a side that already had players with superb technique at Valencia. It will take him longer here and also he has to grow into the English style himself, remember.

the squad now, as a whole and in terms of style of play is FAR FAR better than that of 2 years ago IMO.

[mersey86]

It has seemed a bit stop/start. The first season with Garcia and Alonso we were taking teams apart at Anfield in the Autumn months (though we did have a run of easy opposition at the time), but our playing style has stuttered a little. This is not unusual when there are so many changes. Rafa has hopefully got a team more to his liking now and once the form of some of our leading players improves we'll look closer to the final product he has in mind.

[Red_Polo]

What signs have we seen, that he actually WANTS his Liverpool side playing that kind of quick touch passing football that Valencia did?

We didn't look that far off it for long sustained periods last season. Let's not lose sight of that. Our results so far this season are not just poor by our standards, they are absolutely ****ing atrocious. They are certainly not representative of how far Rafa has taken us.

[brikkis]

Different culture of football would be one reason, we will will never be able to be a replica of the Rafa valencia side, our league approach is different.

I'd agree with that Baz. Its 2 completley different leagues which play a different kind of football. I.e. IMO you get more time on the ball in Spain whereas in the prem, there's a player on top of you in no time.

I wonder how this Liverpool team would do in the spanish league? I'd say we'd be fighting with Barca and Madrid for the title.

[redlancer]

Might get shot down here but maybe the greatest difference is Stevie G

At Valencia he did get some great players, and some inc favorites he got rid off, but the ones he kept were Rafa type players

Here he's had the Stevie G saga and a player that wants a father figure not a Rafa.
Our main player wanted out, didn't feel we were good enuff and did have a negative effect on other players.
Would Stevie prefer a different type of manager and vice versa?

I also think Rafa has found it harder in the transfer market due to his success. Any player we're in for will attract other teams automatically.

[carrsim]

We're still lightyears away from Rafa's Valencia side, in terms of style of play, quality of player and league title success...

Why?

and yet lightyears ahead in terms of european cup wins.

[Craig_H]

and yet lightyears ahead in terms of european cup wins.

And the missing the point award goes to....

[Red_Al_77]

Valencia played that way in a league where the players have much more time on the ball. It doesn't follow that playing the Valencia way in the PL will bring us title success. IMO the Valenica comparison / idea / dream is pointless. Rafa will have to find a style of play which wins games in the PL not La Liga.

[carrsim]

And the missing the point award goes to....

you?

what does valencia's team 3 seasons ago have to do with us?

does fergie's ute play like his aberdeen team?
does wenger's arsenal play in the same way as his monaco team?

(the answer is no, the formations and styles are completely different)

but the truth is that rafa's valencia did not play scintillating stuff every week, they were solid, worked hard, defended and attacked well as a team. which, for most of last season is what liverpool did.

now, they also had rufete on the right, the good lefty who's name escapes me and pablo aimar as a creator.
compare that to what rafa has got to work with now (admitedly his own buys) and its clear that those new signings will need time to get to what he wants.

don't forget that the squad that rafa inherited wasa good enough to get to 2 champs league finals and finish in the top 3 when the spanish league was arguably at its strongest (when deportivo, madrid and barca were all excellent sides, now only barca and valencia still are)

it still took him a while to implement his ideas at valencia and he faced teh same questions then that he faces now, yet his methods were proved correct in the end.

as you're so interested in comparing, with us he inherited a squad good enough to limp to 4th a huge way behind the other 3 and again it took a while to get his methods across.

an example is to look at our defence. which had been one of the most solid under houllier. took them a while to get used to rafa's ways, once they got it we were even more solid.

same thing with the attacking players. it just takes longer to work out how to score goals as a team as opposed to keeping them out.

your original post was a clever way to get some criticism in, when frankly the team and manager are under enough pressure from outside, when his record at valencia and with us should buy our manager all the time he needs from our supporters to get it right

hopefully that answer is a bit less glib for you