Liverpool v Wigan Post Match

[red g]

i am gutted for Rafa, but not half as gutted for the millions of liverpool fans who have watched some of the worse football played in a long long time

Rafa's well oiled machine is looking as relaible as a 1980's skoda at the moment

[kingfunk]

we said exactly the same thing about Houllier.


Well, apart from the ones that wanted him incarcerated.

[UncleBob]

It has to be the system we employ mate, we're playing in a strait- jacket.

Rafa no doubt thinks the way out of this is to exercise more control, but surely less is more in this instance. All of these players are good players despite their perplexing inability to pass. They're all good players and they will respond to the new manager, not because they're not playing for this one, but because this one won't let them play.

Well whatever he thinks he's wrong. Fact is he's never adapted to what's required in English football. We are so slow and deliberate in our build up. Predictable. Laboured.

It's just horrible.

[SimonNo7]

i just can't figure it out at all. are the players just getting sick of the meticulous, cautious analysis of the likes of wigan? why is there this insane lack of movement when we're "attacking"? i know aquilani wasn't any good tonight but he just does what everyone else does - waits in his position for the ball to go forward or backwards depending on who has it.

Exactly I don't think it's Aquilani's fault, in other games I've seen him be the only LFC player creating space but nobody passed it to him, they just hoofed it to one of the statues in red. As for today I would say he towed the party line. The tactics have to come from the man in charge, simple as that!

[kemm1]

Watching Lucas, Gerrard and Aquilani play in central midfield this season it's clear that we were a one man team and that one man was Xabi Alonso.

Watch how Xabi dictated the midfield and even how he played in his not so good season and compare that to the aforementioned three and there is a massive difference. Gerrard is not a central midfielder that's why no coaches EVER plays him there and people shouldn't say Houllier because it was mainly Macca and Didi in the middle.
Lucas is just not good enough and I'll stick to my rule of not judging new players in their first season for Aquilani.

[kingfunk]

Rafa needs to lock that dressing room door and tear into them ****ers.

How will that fix the ****e tactics and lack of natural talent?

[red g]

Rafa dropped a bollock by buying Aquilani this season. He should have used the money to buy another striker and drop gerrard back into the middle. But he chose poorly. If he wanted Aquilani he should have waited until this summer when he was fit and we would not have wasted our transfer budget on a player that has played a handful of games.

he thought masher and lucas could cut the mustard as a midfield pairing that has waht has ultimately cost him his job imo. ( injuries aside )

[Exiled_red]

We can't string 3 wins together so why on earth are we going to win this?

We can barely even string 3 passes together

[badpiggy]

It has to be the system we employ mate, we're playing in a strait- jacket.

Rafa no doubt thinks the way out of this is to exercise more control, but surely less is more in this instance. All of these players are good players despite their perplexing inability to pass. They're all good players and they will respond to the new manager, not because they're not playing for this one, but because this one won't let them play.

i think you're right. we were in a desperate situation tonight and yet we don't know how to apply attacking pressure, force errors, get corners or make any sort of chance at all. it's actualy really bizarre. the ****in worst of teams make some sort of chance in the last few mins when they're losing by one ******* goal.

[Lee]

Virtually the same team that came so close last season and would have walked through that Wigan side without a problem

Now we have a team which cant string 2 passes together, has no urgency or movement and plays at a pace which is so slow it allows the oposition to get back into position each and every time.

**** knows whats happened but each and everyone of the players and backroom staff need to be accountable for the shower that we have continually served up this season.

Exactly buddy.

Near as dammit, we're the same team as last year. Alonso and Arbeloa have gone, we've signed Johnson and Lucas has played well this season. Insua has another season under his belt, Babel has done more in the last four games than all of last season, we've signed Maxi, Ngog has scored goals... so how the hell are we doing so badly?!

I brushed off pre-season and our **** results, but looking back now - something is seriously wrong. I love Rafa and I love most of our players, but they all need to have a word with themselves. It's not the sole fault of the owners, Rafa, Lucas, Kuyt or Gerrard. We've got issues throughout the club and everyone has to take collective responsibility for it.

Half of me says to get rid of Rafa - but this is his first awful season. Part of me also says that I wouldn't blame Torres etc for leaving - however, he's played his part (or not) this season and owes it to us to stick it out another year.

Lets see where we are at the end of the season and take stock then. Either way something has to happen because we can't continue like this. Something needs to change.

[Leyton388]

The only way we are getting into Europe next season is easyjet!

[Pablo]

I'm genuinely worried for Rafa's health.

Is there a more stressful job in football than Liverpool manager? I honestly dont think there is.

Rafa is looking at the verge of mental and physical collapse to me. Red faced, big bags under his eyes, sweaty brow, wrinkled forehead.

I think it comes from the love they develop for the club, they want success so bad for the fans, but they can never quite achieve it.

Comparisons with Houllier have never been more accurate in terms of how detrimental this club has been for their health. I have visions of Rafa managing in Italy or back in Spain next year looking happy, healthy and slimmed down.

For his health's sake, and for our sanity, he needs to go.

[Kenneth]

Said last season that it was the best chance we'd have for years. We had best prepare ourselves for the possibility of a period of austerity and forget big CL nights for a good number of years. Pretty apt that we just bought ourselvs a Greek.

[Taxi]

he thought masher and lucas could cut the mustard as a midfield pairing that has waht has ultimately cost him his job imo. ( injuries aside )

The major problem is that he's stuck with Lucas who most of us agree is very very average. Not only that, Mascher and Lucas have no creativity, yet he still persists with it.

We can all see it, rival fans can see it, everyone in the media can see it but Rafa can't.

[red g]

I'm genuinely worried for Rafa's health.

Is there a more stressful job in football than Liverpool manager? I honestly dont think there is.

Rafa is looking at the verge of mental and physical collapse to me. Red faced, big bags under his eyes, sweaty brow, wrinkled forehead.

I think it comes from the love they develop for the club, they want success so bad for the fans, but they can never quite achieve it.

Comparisons with Houllier have never been more accurate in terms of how detrimental this club has been for their health. I have visions of Rafa managing in Italy or back in Spain next year looking happy, healthy and slimmed down.

For his health's sake, and for our sanity, he needs to go.

he wants to be succesful with us so much.