Does Rafa deserve one last throw of the dice?

[Vermilion]

The problem is still a lack of funds, no matter how good Rafa is at wheeling and dealing, it is not sustainable for any club at the top end of the table to have a zero net spend. There are always going to be players, who will retire, or move on because their contract is up or close to being up for whom we will get little or no transfer fee; and these players need replacing. As well as making improvements to the squad.

It seems the position we are in now we are having to scratch around to try and sell a player we don't really want to sell, in the hope we can get a cheaper replacement and strengthen another area of the squad. This is always going to be a gamble, and makes things difficult for everyone at the club

[cream]

Kuyt is everyhting that rafa believes in, no way will he get rid.

This is why Kuyt and Lucas need to be sold, otherwise we continue the way we are.

[Armchairkopite]

This is why Kuyt and Lucas need to be sold, otherwise we continue the way we are.

I guarentee you that rafa will move Kuyt on in the Summer or play him up front depending on if he recieves the transfer fee to reinvest in the squad or not.

Lucas is still young, his development has been good considering the overall form of the team so selling him wouldn't be the right decision although he wont get as much game time next season if he doesn't step it up agin.

Lets be honest here Rafa does not accept mediocrity, Kuyt may be seen as his achilles heel at times but i think the amount of game time he is currently getting is more to do with his experience and lack of options out on the right.

[red g]

This is why Kuyt and Lucas need to be sold, otherwise we continue the way we are.

If rafa did sell these 2 i would be rather happy

[red g]

I guarentee you that rafa will move Kuyt on in the Summer or play him up front depending on if he recieves the transfer fee to reinvest in the squad or not.

Lucas is still young, his development has been good considering the overall form of the team so selling him wouldn't be the right decision although he wont get as much game time next season if he doesn't step it up agin.

Lets be honest here Rafa does not accept mediocrity, Kuyt may be seen as his achilles heel at times but i think the amount of game time he is currently getting is more to do with his experience and lack of options out on the right.

Both need to be sold, if only to get the fans on his side again!!
bit harsh on Lucas but then if he isnt here we cant play 2 dm's

[Armchairkopite]

Both need to be sold, if only to get the fans on his side again!!
bit harsh on Lucas but then if he isnt here we cant play 2 dm's

MMMmm we need a squad not just a first eleven, Lucas has proven that he can be at least a valuable squad member.

[cream]

I guarentee you that rafa will move Kuyt on in the Summer or play him up front depending on if he recieves the transfer fee to reinvest in the squad or not.

Lucas is still young, his development has been good considering the overall form of the team so selling him wouldn't be the right decision although he wont get as much game time next season if he doesn't step it up agin.

Lets be honest here Rafa does not accept mediocrity, Kuyt may be seen as his achilles heel at times but i think the amount of game time he is currently getting is more to do with his experience and lack of options out on the right.

Kuyt always gets picked no matter what, as does Lucas, this must really piss other players off. I'm not surprised theres no cohesion in the team. I have nothing against Lucas or Kuyt, but for me, they represent everything that is wrong with Rafa's Liverpool at the moment. Insua is another one, how have we ended up with him as the first and only choice left-back ?

[red g]

MMMmm we need a squad not just a first eleven, Lucas has proven that he can be at least a valuable squad member.

He has and i dont mind the lad as a squad player.....but i do think we need to sell him to appease the masses

[Armchairkopite]

Kuyt always gets picked no matter what, as does Lucas, this must really piss other players off. I'm not surprised theres no cohesion in the team. I have nothing against Lucas or Kuyt, but for me, they represent everything that is wrong with Rafa's Liverpool at the moment. Insua is another one, how have we ended up with him as the first and only choice left-back ?

Comes down to one thing a lack of depth in the squad which comes back to the clubs limitations.

[red g]

Comes down to one thing a lack of depth in the squad which comes back to parrys limitations.

[cream]

Comes down to one thing a lack of depth in the squad which comes back to the clubs limitations.

Not really lack of squad depth.

For CM we have Masch, Aquilani, Lucas, Gerrard. All good in their own right, but playing Lucas and Masch all the time represents the overly cautious approach by Rafa that the fans are sick of.

For the three behind Torres we have Gerrard, Babel, Kuyt, Yossi, Riera, Maxi, Aqulani. Kuyt should be bottom of that list but somehow is top of Rafa's list. This kind of negativity is starting to affect the players and its so obvious to see.

Why is Aurelio still at the club? another ****ing stupid decision by the manager.

[Armchairkopite]

Not really lack of squad depth.

For CM we have Masch, Aquilani, Lucas, Gerrard. All good in their own right, but playing Lucas and Masch all the time represents the overly cautious approach by Rafa that the fans are sick of.

For the three behind Torres we have Gerrard, Babel, Kuyt, Yossi, Riera, Maxi, Aqulani. Kuyt should be bottom of that list but somehow is top of Rafa's list. This kind of negativity is starting to affect the players and its so obvious to see.

Why is Aurelio still at the club? another ****ing stupid decision by the manager.

Aquiliani has to be eased back in nthats just the way it is, Gerrard plays off Torres becasue thats his best position.

As for the rest of your post injuries etc have totallly hampered us and Aurellio cost us **** all so hes just seeing out his contract.

[Harv]

No more chances. He's had 6 seasons.

He's a genuine nice bloke, i really like him as a person. But he's done all he can IMO, plus im sick of the rubbish pedestrian football we have been playing for the past 10 years.

[cream]

Aquiliani has to be eased back in nthats just the way it is, Gerrard plays off Torres becasue thats his best position.

As for the rest of your post injuries etc have totallly hampered us and Aurellio cost us **** all so hes just seeing out his contract.

Don't agree with the Aquilani situation, nothing to do with easing back in, more the Rafa's ultra defensive set up due to his fear of losing. We have a pretty much fully fit squad but yet again we saw against Lille the non creative Lucas and Masch partnership and Babel, our biggest threat on the night, taken off instead of Kuyt , then Kuyt taken off three minutes from the end , what was the point of that?
My point about Aurelio is that he is taking up a place in the squad, wouldn't it be better if we had someone who could actually play, its not like Rafa doesn't know he is injury prone.

[Craig_H]

IF it came down to getting a new manager. Hiddink and Lippi who i have always admired Marcelo. Not least cos he likes a cigar or two and a championship or 10 With the financial situation we are in Mourinho is a no no. No harm asking him and approaching him granted. Lippi i would like after the world Cup with Italy he has always said i would like to manage in England one day. A freebie along with Guus. To be fair as good as Jose is his record is nowere near Lippis. I would take him anyday of the week.

The freebie thing is a bit of a misnomer with anyone, as they'd all be on high wages. Obviously you're referring to the no compensation thing.

Speaking of which, i'd just like to point out that Inter lost 3-1 away to Catania last night, and they are now 4 points ahead of AC Milan, who have a game in hand at home to Chievo on sunday night. They should win and close the gap to 1 point. Inter still have very tricky fixtures, including away at Palermo (4th place in Serie A, unbeaten at home) next weekend, and Roma & away & Juve at home, all still to come. Plus they go to Stamford Bridge in the week, where i'd rate their chances of progression at 50%.

All in all, the pressure is really on for Mourinho, if they go out of the CL and somehow inexplicably throw away their lead in Serie A, Moratti will surely dismiss him.