Lille post-mortem

[Craig_H]

That may well be but both him and Gerrard aint pulling up trees either

I cant decide whether they are
A) not fit
B) sulking at their own poor form
C) sulking at the manager

No doubt the bulk of the people on here will claim its C) but I'm not 100% convinced

Combination of all three mate, IMO. Not necessarily in equal measures, but they all look present to me.

[Parr_Zee]

Thers a lot wrong with the club at the moment but if Torres wants out at the end of one bad season when he has contributed **** all then good luck to him.

13 League goals in 18 games.

[Armchairkopite]

And as one of them, of course i agree that they should be battling for the fans. As i said to shaggy though, they're only human and in an ideal world, they'd never let their heads drop but in reality, that can happen. Would you honestly say that us as fans, have never let our heads drop? Once you lose belief, you lose hope and desire. There's no real coming back from that.

Would I ****, not if I could hear 5000 or so Kopites singing for me.

Its total bollocks from these premaddonna superstars, look at Mascherano hes surrounded by the same players yet he is performing to a very high level.

[ronanm]

I'd hope Benitez will fall on his sword at the end of the season - he's destroyed the club sufficiently to not seek the £20m payoff. Sell most of the first team (including SG, Johnson, Kuyt, Babel, Skrtel, Aurelio, Benayoun, Lucas, possibly Torres ()) and start over with a new manager. They're all too injury prone or will raise the funds needed to rebuild a squad. Jose Mourinho, Martin O'Neill, Roy Hodgson or someone at that level.

[Shaggy]

over the last two seasons he's been one of the worlds best players and since alonso's departure he just cant be bothered.

Under no circumstances is it acceptable to have a player, never mind the so-called captain, who can't be bothered, no circumstances at all. If he can't be bothered he can **** off as far as I'm concerned. Totally unacceptable.

[johnly]

terrible, low season, but good players = we need a new motivator.........

Thought I'd try cheer everyone up with a ****ty joke.

Anyway. I can't defend this lot any more. Thanks Rafa, but time for you to go take that job at Real Madrid. Calling The Special One, we need you!

[tiktu]

Interesting game, we didn't have a best player. First time in my life I was totally pissed with Kuyt, last two games has been reason to put him on bench to get his act together. Same goes for Gerrard. Carra seems to be also accident to happen, too much aggression.

Torres is being treated quite badly but he should just knuckle down and try harder. Bitching around does not help. Wish Rafa would start playing two up front so Torres wouldn't have to cover so much all the time.

Things can only get better...

[el matador]

Fans are great at making excuses for their favourites, who is he surrounded by, Gerrard, Mascherano, Riera and Kuyt all of which played a major part in us coming so close to winning the title last season.

Thers a lot wrong with the club at the moment but if Torres wants out at the end of one bad season when he has contributed **** all then good luck to him.

where was his service today ?

The balls into him were non existant. The pattern used to be alonso to gerrard to torres.

Since alonso has gone, and gerrard is literlly nowhere to be found by our inept midfield, torres will not get any balls to feed on.

Dont look at the problem, instead look at the source of the problem.

[Craig_H]

Got to agree with this. I don't and never will buy this "not playing for the manager" ****e. It's criminal. What about the supporters? What about THEMSELVES? Surely every time you go onto a football pitch, no matter whether it's Wembley or the park with your mates, you wanna play well? Do the best you can? Why would they humiliate themselves live on TV with shameful performances, just cos they don't fancy the manager anymore? It's bull. I'm not having a go at anyone who thinks that's the case, more the players. Not believing in the manager is no ****ing excuse when you're wearing the Liver Bird on your chest FFS. They are a disgrace.

It's not a conscious decision though mate, it's just a subconscious thing where you've lost hope and just start going through the motions.

Obviously football is unlike any other job, but the principle is the same, and i've been in situations in jobs before, where i've lost all desire, motivation and belief in what was attempting to be achieved, and as such, i stopped putting in genuine effort and just robotically went through the motions, before eventually jacking it in and moving onto something else.

Dont for one minute assume i'm saying it's ok - it's most definitely not. But it's human nature, to different extents for different people, but it's still a human instinct. I dont like it or agree with it, but i understand it.

[JohnOK]

I heard a rumour yesterday that Benitez was going if we didn't beat Lille and Gerrard was definitely off at the end of the season.

[Lecter]

And as one of them, of course i agree that they should be battling for the fans. As i said to shaggy though, they're only human and in an ideal world, they'd never let their heads drop but in reality, that can happen. Would you honestly say that us as fans, have never let our heads drop? Once you lose belief, you lose hope and desire. There's no real coming back from that.

Speak for yourself

Personally I always had more pride than that

Something isnt right with Torres its not just his form its him arguing the toss with every referee

Hes been like this on odd occasions in previous seasons when he hasnt got his own way (it was sod all to do with the manager then either)

Gerrard is an enigma to me at the minute everything is off, when I look at some players sulking they usually retain the skill its their desire that is affected. Gerrard everything is off hes looked lazy (even when results picked up) his passing and shooting is off

V stated earlier in this thread that he looks injured and I'd concur with that

I dont think we can hang everything on the manager sometimes players have to stand up and be counted

[Shaggy]

I heard a rumour yesterday that Benitez was going if we didn't beat Lille and Gerrard was definitely off at the end of the season.

Did the rumour specify over one or two legs?

[Craig_H]

Oh come on hes been playing **** from day one of the season (as has Torres)

I dont think you can blame their entire seasons form on the manager

Sooner or later they have to take responsibility themselves

I'm not blaming it on the manager. The manager, and their lack of faith in him to succeed (IMO) is one reason for it along with others such as fitness etc, but that doesnt make it his fault.

[kemm1]

And what are you basing that on?

The way how his teams play and the media love in that he gets

[Lecter]

Combination of all three mate, IMO. Not necessarily in equal measures, but they all look present to me.

I tend to think its more the first 2 but obviously the more poor results we have.......