Liverpool v Stoke - Post match anguish thread

[tiktu]

Rafa has bought the players so he is accountable but if we keep missing sitter after sitter there is nothing much he can do even though his ball control has been quite good on some clips.

[SimonNo7]

does anybody apart from the obvious seriously believe that rafa can turn this around ?

I honestly don't know, but I think the bigger question is does anybody believe that the players want to turn this around under Rafa?

[Mattshark]

Rafa has bought the players so he is accountable but if we keep missing sitter after sitter there is nothing much he can do even though his ball control has been quite good on some clips.

[Mattshark]

I honestly don't know, but I think the bigger question is does anybody believe that the players want to turn this around under Rafa?

With the heart they showed today, yes.

[SimonNo7]

With the heart they showed today, yes.

Well I think we all would agree that they certainly showed more than they have for most of the season.

[Leyton388]

This season is a write off and this season we are a mid table team at best. We have suffered this season with injuries which is not Rafa's fault. I have thought long and hard about this but getting rid of Rafa now will not do any good IMO. This is the worst season i can remember and that goes with anything in the 90's

[Mattshark]

Well I think we all would agree that they certainly showed more than they have for most of the season.

If we show that type of spirit and get some of our attacking players back (Maxi and Reira hopefully v Spurs) then that could make all the difference and we can at least then make a decent run.

[vlahka]

I dont think its the losses that people are getting so upset about. Its how the losses come about.

-Playing players who consistently underperform, where at any other club they would of been dropped for other players.

-Sticking to the same tactics when they dont work over and over again. Putting out more defensive players then there should be positions for.

-Leaving all your flair players on the bench.

-Making substitutions 75min and up whether things are working or not.

-Holding back after scoring and going in front.


I mean if all of that stuff above didnt happen every game, the losing wouldnt bug me as much because I'd know he was actually trying to find a way to win. Instead its putting out the same tactics and the same underperforming players and hoping it clicks, instead of shaking things up. Its painful.

Also we did have a bit of luck today. That ball for our goal was fumbled by an excellent keeper. They also had 2 of their first team players injured early on and taken off, which technically should of helped our torrid lot. Its not all 1 way bad luck.

[Leyton388]

I must admit though the way things are now we should give the kids a run out.

[cream]

I agree with that. N'gog was incapable of holding up the ball when it was played up to him. He obviously struggled with the heavy attentions of the Stoke WWE tag team at the back. If he had been able to make the ball stick it would have helped our performance, but as you said it'll be a good experience for him to learn from.

Ngogg simply isn't good enough, niether is Kuyt or Pacheco or anybody else we have at this club. We need a quality striker capable of scoring 20+ goals a season, Torres hasn't played much this season and I don't think we will see him much for the rest of the season. We need a top quality striker, no more ****ing about please.

[el matador]

Why not? He has done it before and not just with us.
Twice with Valencia, his first season and after finish 5th in his second.

you dont need to preach to me what he did in valencia because I was in spain when he achieved it.

when will this turn around come ? Who will be the catalyst for it ?

I just cannot see how you can possible think that rafa can turn this around because we have been playing **** football all season, we have conceded shed loads of goals all season and our attacking play has been awful.

He divides opinion wherever he goes amongst players and fans. When he left valencia half of the supporters were happy and the other half were disppointed.

Half of the players were annoyed the other overjoyed. Kily Gonzalez the great argentinian left winger was being messed around by benitez (like he has done with aquilani, keane, bellamy, babel and crouch) and in a match he was subbed and he came off and pushed benitez.

Anyway, can you point to any one thing that you think proves that you are right ? Where do you think this revival will come from and i dont for one second believe that if rafa continues on we will finish fourth.

[DeeTheDog]

The Greek did ok, apart from him (and Reina) the rest were very poor.

I thought Lucas was our best player, he was everywhere trying to make things happen and won a legitimate penalty which inexplicably Phil Mitchell booked him for.

[Shaggy]

I thought Lucas was our best player, he was everywhere trying to make things happen and won a legitimate penalty which inexplicably the Phil Mitchell booked him for.

Lucas played well and was more advanced than usual. If his name was Stevie Spearing a lot of Reds would ****ing love him, or at least show a lot more patience. Lucas is doing well.

[SimonNo7]

If we show that type of spirit and get some of our attacking players back (Maxi and Reira hopefully v Spurs) then that could make all the difference and we can at least then make a decent run.

But the question is, will Rafa play with these two or will he refer to type and set us up not to concede rather than try and take the game to our opponents?

[little dave hedgehog]

I think you'll see by our away support that there is still a majority of supporters who still believe he can. They were still chanting his name at the end today.

That was the stoke support.