Rafa on Sky Sports News

[Dhav]

No it was after Crouch ripped us apart at St Mary's Hansen said it was our worst away performance for 40 years. We won the next game and Rafa responded with "I think it was our best performance for 40 years" and then added the ultimate 'shut the **** up' comment to Hansen with the phrase "but then i haven't seen all the tapes"

As for uniting behind him- damn straight!

As for feeling sorry for him, no I don't either.

Just goes to show what a stupid comment it was in the first place by Hansen

[Red Chilli]

Just goes to show what a stupid comment it was in the first place by Hansen

Yeah it was a classy comeback by Rafa.

[Kopite_Colin]

No it was after Crouch ripped us apart at St Mary's Hansen said it was our worst away performance for 40 years. We won the next game and Rafa responded with "I think it was our best performance for 40 years" and then added the ultimate 'shut the **** up' comment to Hansen with the phrase "but then i haven't seen all the tapes"

As for uniting behind him- damn straight!

As for feeling sorry for him, no I don't either.

The difference is Rafa's getting criticism at the moment for the first time in his LFC career. The biggest difference is that, at present, he deserves it too. I just hope his ego doesn't take over and he becomes too bloody-minded to see the error of his ways. He's an intelligent man - I just hope he shows that intelligence now when we need it most.

Change the team now RAfa and change the players in Jan, Rafa. Pennant, Bellamy, Crouch & Fowler have not worked. Not getting ALves has cost us bigtime, and the gamebles on Pennant & Bellamy haven't worked, although Pennat looked decent in the first 3-4 games, but seems to have lost his way. Gonzalez works hard but has not created enough in the final 3rd yet. The solution looks like 1 of Alonso or Sissoko plus SG to me. We cannot afford not to have an attacking / goalscoring threat from midfield, and at present none of them look like getting beyond the strikers, who themselves look sterile. Crouch, Bellamy & Fowler, doesn't smell top class, and doesn't smell goals to me. 2 have not / will never be prolific and 1 is past it, leaving Kuyt as a realsitic goalscoring, but isolated option. Doesn't bode well imho, and it needs changing in Jan, desperately.

[bazza76]

I understand your post and thoughts Alun. But just like I didn't feel too upset for GH I don't for Rafa. If its gettin too much, leave. Plenty would swop places and for much less money, I would for nothing. He's set up for life financially, he's in a priviledged position, its his job to manage the club, if he feels it too much for him, or the pressures are too great then he should go. People struggling to make ends meet who have a family to support, who's jobs hang in the balance get my sympathy. It is only a game after all. Its supposed to be fun. A form of entertainment. That was my main gripe with Houllier.

Personally I think its not about being set up for life for cash or anything like that, its actually gone to what your own fans think of you, the fans you love and the fans that you thoughy loved and backed you 100%.
Alot is being said about Rafa through the Radio, TV and papers. everyone is all of a sudden an expert, saying things should be done this way and that, when in reality, not many of these people even have a clue about Rafa's management style or understand it properly. This situation is completely different to Houlliers situation imo and Rafa has my full backing.
Im not sure what Rafa is hearing in Liverpool, but what im hearing from alot of LFC fans in Dublin on the airwaves etc im not liking.
Rafa IMO is the most complex manager in the world in his approach to management, he is unique in his ways, and i actually dont expect many to understand how he works. I guess he will always be liable to this sort of criticism whenever we go through a bad patch because of rotation and playing strikers that are goal shy etc, when in reality he just wants everyone playing at the same level and the same confidence so he can pick any team for any situation. He is not thinking about the now but more so the whole season ahead, despite him saying he is only thinking of the next game.
Id really like to hear the fans give him extra support through this tough period, this is what LFC is about, the unity and bond between the fans and everyone associated at the club.
We were blessed IMO to get Rafa in the first place, sure his techniques are hard to understand, but its this attention to detail in all aspects of management which makes him so great. We have one of the worlds best on out hands, lets not scare him away just yet.
I think he may have made a couple of bad buys this season, but nobody is immune to that. Fergus and Wenger have done it on many occasions through the years. Pennant was a buy we needed, we needed someone on the right, and if we look at his signing, it shows us that Rafa doesnt see Gerrard as predominantly a right sided player at all. Pennant has been a dissapointment, maybe he just hasnt settled yet, its early days still, same can be said for Gonzales and Aurelio. But as for Kuyt and Bellamy, i'm absolutely delighted with their signings. Two class players that will help our cause enormously with their work rate and tallen (am awaiting the Bellamy gibes now).
I feel senior players have let Rafa down this term, Im not sure why this is, but i dont think Rafa is at fault for this, these are seasoned pros who have performed at the highest level before. Just think now more than ever we need unity especially in the presence of such rivalry.

[certifiable]

Excellent, excellent post

[Kopite_Colin]

Personally I think its not about being set up for life for cash or anything like that, its actually gone to what your own fans think of you, the fans you love and the fans that you thoughy loved and backed you 100%.
Alot is being said about Rafa through the Radio, TV and papers. everyone is all of a sudden an expert, saying things should be done this way and that, when in reality, not many of these people even have a clue about Rafa's management style or understand it properly. This situation is completely different to Houlliers situation imo and Rafa has my full backing.
Im not sure what Rafa is hearing in Liverpool, but what im hearing from alot of LFC fans in Dublin on the airwaves etc im not liking.
Rafa IMO is the most complex manager in the world in his approach to management, he is unique in his ways, and i actually dont expect many to understand how he works. I guess he will always be liable to this sort of criticism whenever we go through a bad patch because of rotation and playing strikers that are goal shy etc, when in reality he just wants everyone playing at the same level and the same confidence so he can pick any team for any situation. He is not thinking about the now but more so the whole season ahead, despite him saying he is only thinking of the next game.
Id really like to hear the fans give him extra support through this tough period, this is what LFC is about, the unity and bond between the fans and everyone associated at the club.
We were blessed IMO to get Rafa in the first place, sure his techniques are hard to understand, but its this attention to detail in all aspects of management which makes him so great. We have one of the worlds best on out hands, lets not scare him away just yet.
I think he may have made a couple of bad buys this season, but nobody is immune to that. Fergus and Wenger have done it on many occasions through the years. Pennant was a buy we needed, we needed someone on the right, and if we look at his signing, it shows us that Rafa doesnt see Gerrard as predominantly a right sided player at all. Pennant has been a dissapointment, maybe he just hasnt settled yet, its early days still, same can be said for Gonzales and Aurelio. But as for Kuyt and Bellamy, i'm absolutely delighted with their signings. Two class players that will help our cause enormously with their work rate and tallen (am awaiting the Bellamy gibes now).
I feel senior players have let Rafa down this term, Im not sure why this is, but i dont think Rafa is at fault for this, these are seasoned pros who have performed at the highest level before. Just think now more than ever we need unity especially in the presence of such rivalry.

Bellamy & the word class in the same sentence are mutually exclusive imho. He's done NOTHING to date, imho - even Pennant has done more ( he started very well in the first 3-4 games and has gone off the boil). Crouch has done more to warrant a place ahead of BEllamy, and I'm no Crouch fan either. LFC is STILL suffering from a lack of more than 1 CLASS striker in the squad, something we've missed for years now. It needs to change, but for that to happen Rafa has to realise he's been wrong again. Signing Morientes & Crouch was wrong in terms of goals output, and Bellamy and Fowler is wrong. Neither is up to it in the Prem now. Something needs to change and it needs to change FAST.

[bazza76]

Excellent, excellent post

Cheers mate.
And welcome btw

[bazza76]

Bellamy & the word class in the same sentence are mutually exclusive imho. He's done NOTHING to date, imho - even Pennant has done more ( he started very well in the first 3-4 games and has gone off the boil). Crouch has done more to warrant a place ahead of BEllamy, and I'm no Crouch fan either. LFC is STILL suffering from a lack of more than 1 CLASS striker in the squad, something we've missed for years now. It needs to change, but for that to happen Rafa has to realise he's been wrong again. Signing Morientes & Crouch was wrong in terms of goals output, and Bellamy and Fowler is wrong. Neither is up to it in the Prem now. Something needs to change and it needs to change FAST.

Our players need to find confidence, that is what has to change, and IMO that is why Rafa is showing such faith in Kuyt and Bellamy, Rafa knows we have a season packed full of games, and wants all his players playing with confidence, especially his strikers with their own unique possibilities, if we look at how Crouch was always played last season despite him being so goal shy, you will see clues as to why he is doing it now with bellamy, he wants all of his players doing the bizz infront of goal and he knows dropping them now wont help, we have to ride through this bad patch and hope they find the dcoring touch soon. Crocuh IMO still has the confidence, and i bet, i just know, when Bellamy does start scoring we will see Crouch getting more playing time than he would be expecting. Then IMO we will see the true genius in Rafas methods. Its hard to get the head around, i know. But i still think the rewards of Rafas techniques will still come this season, i just hope it doesnt take much longer than it has for his SQUAD to settle as a TEAM

[Morph]

The difference is Rafa's getting criticism at the moment for the first time in his LFC career. The biggest difference is that, at present, he deserves it too. I just hope his ego doesn't take over and he becomes too bloody-minded to see the error of his ways. He's an intelligent man - I just hope he shows that intelligence now when we need it most.

Change the team now RAfa and change the players in Jan, Rafa. Pennant, Bellamy, Crouch & Fowler have not worked. Not getting ALves has cost us bigtime, and the gamebles on Pennant & Bellamy haven't worked, although Pennat looked decent in the first 3-4 games, but seems to have lost his way. Gonzalez works hard but has not created enough in the final 3rd yet. The solution looks like 1 of Alonso or Sissoko plus SG to me. We cannot afford not to have an attacking / goalscoring threat from midfield, and at present none of them look like getting beyond the strikers, who themselves look sterile. Crouch, Bellamy & Fowler, doesn't smell top class, and doesn't smell goals to me. 2 have not / will never be prolific and 1 is past it, leaving Kuyt as a realsitic goalscoring, but isolated option. Doesn't bode well imho, and it needs changing in Jan, desperately.

Lol crouch hasn't worked what planet you on?
Bellamy Pennant haven't been given enough time, and I'd be shocked if Rafa sold either in Jan
I don't see why we need to change a midfield that served us so well last season
You sound like a red top

[Kopite_Colin]

Our players need to find confidence,

Agreed, but that doesn't come with rotation

Rafa knows we have a season packed full of games,

No more so than the other top teams

and wants all his players playing with confidence, especially his strikers

See comment about rotation above

if we look at how Crouch was always played last season despite him being so goal shy,

Rafa was wrong then too.

you will see clues as to why he is doing it now with bellamy, he wants all of his players doing the bizz infront of goal and he knows dropping them now wont help,

Neither will rotating them

Crocuh IMO still has the confidence, and i bet, i just know, when Bellamy does start scoring we will see Crouch getting more playing time than he would be expecting.

Neither Bellamy nor Crouch is good enough to be a 1st choice LFC stiker imho.

Then IMO we will see the true genius in Rafas methods.

There's no genius in constant rotating - just stubbornness

i just hope it doesnt take much longer than it has for his SQUAD to settle as a TEAM

Agreed. But some of the players just aren't good enough, and most of them are in the striking dept. That's not hard to see, and grossly stupid / negligent if we don't change it. I'm confident Rafa will, as he did with Cisse and Moro - I just hope he doesn't continue a waiting game to realise he's wrong. It's bloody obvious, I I don't want to see another season go past with us relying heavily on mediocrity in the most important part of the team.

[Shaggy]

Neither Bellamy nor Crouch is good enough to be a 1st choice LFC stiker imho.

Bellamy...fair enough, I'd be inclined to agree at this early stage, but as things stand Crouch isn't anything like first choice. He's third choice striker, and a rather prolific third choice striker at that.

[Kopite_Colin]

Lol crouch hasn't worked what planet you on?
Bellamy Pennant haven't been given enough time, and I'd be shocked if Rafa sold either in Jan
I don't see why we need to change a midfield that served us so well last season
You sound like a red top

Midfield is not bad - but can be improved with a top wide player, and playing one of the world's top CMers in his best position. We've tried to address the wide players issue, but to date it has not worked, and we didn't get our top target (Alves). I wasn't happy with Pennant when we signed him, and he's not had long enough yet, but it ain't working - so change it. Gonzo looks OK (works hard), but hasn't set the world alight yet either going forward

Bellamy never has been , and never will be good enough to be an LFC striker - he doesn't score enough goals.

Crouch wasn't and isn't worth £7m, and isn't good enough to be a LFC striker - he doesn't score enough goals. 4th choice bench player at best. But ATM I would play him aheead of Bellamy.

Fowler is past it for the top level.

That leaves us with Kuyt, - good goal getter, but unproven at this level.

Suddenly it's not so hard to see why we're struggling at the moment is it. It's not rocket science.

[Kopite_Colin]

Bellamy...fair enough, I'd be inclined to agree at this early stage, but as things stand Crouch isn't anything like first choice. He's third choice striker, and a rather prolific third choice striker at that.

Prolific - for how long? Let's have this discussion again in 3 or 6 months. Same goes for Bellamy. Why ppl expect him to be something he's not is beyond me.

[Morph]

Midfield is not bad - but can be improved with a top wide player, and playing one of the world's top CMers in his best position. We've tried to address the wide players issue, but to date it has not worked, and we didn't get our top target (Alves). I wasn't happy with Pennant when we signed him, and he's not had long enough yet, but it ain't working - so change it. Gonzo looks OK (works hard), but hasn't set the world alight yet either going forward

Bellamy never has been , and never will be good enough to be an LFC striker - he doesn't score enough goals.

Crouch wasn't and isn't worth £7m, and isn't good enough to be a LFC striker - he doesn't score enough goals. 4th choice bench player at best. But ATM I would play him aheead of Bellamy.

Fowler is past it for the top level.

That leaves us with Kuyt, - good goal getter, but unproven at this level.

Suddenly it's not so hard to see why we're struggling at the moment is it. It's not rocket science.

Well yes it is hard to work out because we are no worse off than last season, yet we are playing worse. All your points would mean very little if we went on a nice 10 game winning run from here wouldn't they, and we wouldn't be having this conversation if our players had performed so far.

It's got nothing to do with lack of personell it's about lack of get up and go at the moment.

[Shaggy]

Prolific - for how long? Let's have this discussion again in 3 or 6 months. Same goes for Bellamy. Why ppl expect him to be something he's not is beyond me.

30 goals in his last 52 games for club and country?