Liverpool v Wigan Post Match

[Shaggy]

You know I still think he's a good manager. But there is a time when even good relationships go stale and there is noone to blame. I think the step up was last season and if we'd won it we would have been top for years. But the chance came and went and I the relationship has gone stale. We all would love him to get it back, but it's staring us in the face. There is no evidence to suggest Rafa can turn it around. The biggest fear is Torres and Reina leaving of course, but we can't hang onto a manager for that reason. We need to get someone in, preferrably in the near term so they can work on keeping the better players. Fourth is gone now, we need three other clubs to mess up and I've no confidence that we can win our last 9 games.

Agree with that completely. Of course he's a good manager, and I'd still remember him fondly. I firmly believe he was doing a good job - until this season. But he's out of answers now, we need to start again.

[Leyton388]

I blame Rick Parry!

[johnly]

I'm still embarrassed by that dirge I just watched. I can't even express how angry I am at that ****e

[Kenneth]

You know I still think he's a good manager. But there is a time when even good relationships go stale and there is noone to blame. I think the step up was last season and if we'd won it we would have been top for years. But the chance came and went and I the relationship has gone stale. We all would love him to get it back, but it's staring us in the face. There is no evidence to suggest Rafa can turn it around. The biggest fear is Torres and Reina leaving of course, but we can't hang onto a manager for that reason. We need to get someone in, preferrably in the near term so they can work on keeping the better players. Fourth is gone now, we need three other clubs to mess up and I've no confidence that we can win our last 9 games.

I don't know who we can get but lets get Mourinho or Capello lined up and start again, with or without Torres, Gerrard, Reina etc.

I think you'll find that the other person is always to blame one way or another.

[Rich]

My smug manc and blue ****e mates are rubbing their hands with glee too - all this "told you so" about Rafa - makes me sick to the pit of my stomach that the ****ers will really twist the knife over this.

[Matt]

Mainly because it was hector cuper's team rafa took over who were already **** hot having been in two CL finals.

Fair enough.

What changes were made to the coaching staff for this season?
Sammy joined IIRC and some-one left. Can't remember.

****ing hasn't worked. Even Bolton played better than this.

Alex Miller?

Pellegrino got promoted way above his paygrade.

[Tatterdemalion]

What is it with LFC we must be cursed for almost 20 years now it has been one **** up after another. The manager will start off well then it will go tits up big style!

20 yrs at Anfield IIRC.

2010-11 will be our year!!

[Leyton388]

LFC's days as a top 4 team are over IMO. we cannot compete with the Mancs, Chavs or Arsenal who all have big grounds or billionaire owners and now we have city who have a nice new ground and billionaire owners. We have even fallen behind Spurs who always have money to splash and villa are looking good. We have not bought a quality player since Mash IMO and it shows big time.

[Tatterdemalion]

Tell you what, if Johnson is back next week, Carragher needs to move to the left. If he isn't, Agger needs to play there.

I feel sorry for Insua but he's an embarassment. Times in the first half when Benayoun dropped to left back, Lucas got pulled out of midfield and Zorba moved across from the centre because Insua couldn't handle N'Zogbia.

I'm a bit daft when it comes to tactics. Would you mind explaining that?

[Matt]

I'm a bit daft when it comes to tactics. Would you mind explaining that?

Certainly. Half the team had to play at left back because Insua was inept.

[el nino9]

My smug manc and blue ****e mates are rubbing their hands with glee too - all this "told you so" about Rafa - makes me sick to the pit of my stomach that the ****ers will really twist the knife over this.

with you on that mate;

istanbul is too far back mancs have equalled our league record and even losing that diving cheating cunt we have gone so far backwards we should re sign razor n dicks

[Leyton388]

I'm a bit daft when it comes to tactics. Would you mind explaining that?

****ing hell Rafa when did you start posting on EST?

[Exiled_red]

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.

I think part of the problem is having so many players short of match practice and all the injuries we've had, causing the constant rotation of the team. Even now that we have players back they're still not fully fit. A fully fit Torres could have had a hat-trick with the chances he had tonight

[Rich]

And to think we sold Riise (who loved the club) because he wasn't good enough - now look what we've got...

A quality LB that's made of glass, and a young Argentine that is really, really struggling.

[kingfunk]

What changes were made to the coaching staff for this season?
Sammy joined IIRC and some-one left. Can't remember.

****ing hasn't worked. Even Bolton played better than this.

We got two of Newcastles top fitness coaches at the start of the season, it has done wonders for Newcastle.