Rafa: "We've only got a couple of months to put up with each other"

[wiw]

So what's changed? I don't understand it.. is it Torres being back? Riera going? Are we just better at home?

[Vermilion]

i think the more experienced players struggle with his methods.

If you are 28 years old, one of the worlds best players and a star for your national side, it can be difficult to take benitez' constant nit picking on the faults.

When youre young and you are eager to learn its different because you know that the man will turn you into a world class player.

But if you've just scored a hat-trick for liverpool and instead of focusing on the positives the manager just turns around and mentions the one you missed. For experienced players it must be really hard to take and frustrating but that's his way.

Focus on the areas that need improvement and make sure the players are constantly working hard to improve their weaknesses.

Does anyone really think he does that, i mean i'm sure he tells them their faults, what good manager wouldn't, but do people really think he does that without also complimenting them on a a great game or goal.

I just don't buy into this miserable...dour, always on your case, never a nice word, no compliments.... manager, that some would have us believe is Rafa 24/7.

Don't mean to imply it's what you were saying, just that it's the picture the media and pundits always tries to paint.

[dww]

We are better at home but I think that has probably been true all season. The pitch suited us much better than the Wigan one on which we tried to start with similar intent but got bogged down on and ended up stagnating and heading backwards.

I think it's a combination of things - players coming back to fitness, combined with our usual end of season rally. We have had a couple of weeks of the first choice squad (minus Aurelio admittedly) all concurrently fit. As such we are starting to see more players get close to having an understanding with one another.

I think Maxi's growing influence has been under estimated by some.

We need to keep Agger, Macherano, Gerrard, Torres and Reina give us a good spine when fit. Perhaps what I mistook as the death throes of Gerrards peak were in fact signs of his frustration at not being fit enough to single handedly turn games around.