RAFA ADMITS GAME IS UP
Benitez concedes Liverpool have blown title chance
RAFA BENITEZ all but conceded Liverpool had blown any remaining hopes of winning the title for the first time in 19 years.
Benitez's wretched outfit crashed back to earth after their glorious win in Madrid on Wednesday with a loss at Middlesbrough that leaves them seven points behind leaders Manchester United, having played a game more.
Click here for full match report and pictures from Middlesbrough 2, Liverpool 0
Even the Liverpool boss could not hide from the fact the Premier League crown is now United's to throw away.
He said: "Before the game it was very difficult, after the game it is more difficult.
"It depends on United. Can I see them slipping up? Maybe. I don't know. It will clearly be more difficult. Is it possible to give the players more belief? We will see against Sunderland on Tuesday. The ball is with United now. It was a frustrating game.
"It is very clear to me we had five chances in the first 30 minutes. You have to take your chances. If you want to win, you have to score. I don't know if we were heavy-legged after Wednesday's game.
"We had some problems with injuries and some players were tired. We have to score and you have to control these games."
Benitez was asked if he thought the off-field problems and Rick Parry's impending departure had unsettled his team.
He snapped: "If you see the first 30 minutes you will understand that if we score we will control and win the game."
On his own situation, he added: "My advisors are in contact with the club's advisors so maybe they will have a conversation and see if we will progress."
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate, who saw his side win in the league for the first time since November, believes the title has once more slipped through Liverpool's fingers.
"The way United are, the strength of their squad and the way they are playing makes it difficult for anyone to catch them," he said. "They get clean sheets on a regular basis. Liverpool had a huge game in midweek and Rafa chose to freshen it up.
Danger
"For all the top teams chasing, it is a huge challenge."
Liverpool's season is in danger of imploding and the fractious atmosphere at the club will be further highlighted in more key departures.
Parry is likely to be followed out of the door by David Moores, as he considers stepping down as Liverpool's club president.
Co-owner George Gillett Jr is also resigned to leaving the club, leaving Tom Hicks as the winner in the bitter power struggle that has blown apart their shot at the title.
Parry eventually agreed to go in the summer after accepting Hicks will remain at Anfield beyond this season. Moores has confided to friends he is considering giving up his ambassadorial role. And that will end his family's long association with the Merseyside giants, stretching back to the 1950s.
Moores has deeply regretted the sale of the club to Hicks and Gillett Jr for the last 18 months, and with Parry gone in the summer, feels isolated. Hicks' position has now been strengthened.
He has been negotiating with several parties to secure fresh investment to the club, including Kuwait's Al Khalifa family, and will hope for a new start next season. He expects Benitez to remain part of those plans, although Parry's departure is not the deal clincher many presumed.
The American must now found a suitable replacement for Parry, but no top chief executive will be tempted by a role where he must answer to the manager on player transfers.
Benitez will now wait to see whether he approves of the new regime and Parry's replacement before penning a four-year deal worth £17million.
He's also waiting on a clause which would allow him to walk away from the club if he's not happy with new owners, which would cost Liverpool millions in compensation.
Liverpool's misery yesterday was compounded by the fact an Xavi Alonso own goal sent them on their way to defeat.
Tuncay sealed their defeat in the closing stages and Southgate added: "We have had some very good wins here. We have beaten Chelsea and Arsenal here and now Liverpool.
"We had to withstand pressure and our goalkeeper made some good saves but we were good value."
But Liverpool's Brazilian full-back, Fabio Aurelio has leapt to the defence of Benitez. Aurelio was part of Benitez's all-conquering Valencia squad in 2004, and he recalls from their time in Spain how the Kop boss had the same confrontational attitude.
Aurelio said: "Rafa is acting normally to us. He doesn't appear to be stressful or worrying about any situation. He hasn't changed since Valencia. He is always the same at training. He is doing here what he did in Valencia. You can see he is becoming more successful each year.
Contract
"He works a lot on the mentality of the group and how we play together as a team. He has won Champions League, he is closer to the top of the Premier League and we can see he is doing a very good job.
"You can see the character the team has. It comes from him. There is a situation with the club about his new contract that we don't know about, but we hope it is nothing important and he can stay with us.
"All the speculation is not good for him or the club because we know we have to focus on our job, playing games and winning trophies. Everything else can make you lose focus, so it is important to have the situation cleared up.
"After the Real Madrid game, he told us we could celebrate for five minutes, then we had to concentrate on the next game."
This article has 43 comments
I am really disappointed liverpool lost.
By lewis chorley. Posted March 7 2009 at 10:44 AM.
liverpool are rubbish and they need sum good players whos not injured
By aggie. Posted March 4 2009 at 12:36 PM.
How could we get beaten 2-0 by middelsbrough whats wrong with Rafa
By Joe Flanagan. Posted March 3 2009 at 7:36 PM.
Rafa has to accept responsibility for the team structures and decisions - above all for undersetimating the opposing teams in the UK PL time and again. The reason being because they play with grit and passion, its not all pure clean tactics. He'll be seen as a hero IF we win the Champions League - but this will blind many fans to the totally barren run we have in the PL and how his style has nuetralised ambitious players - and nutered our club! Shame on the yanks and wake up Rafa - get our young academy players in there!
By Realworldfan. Posted March 3 2009 at 2:22 PM.
This one's to the Liverpool supporters...This so called problem started the moment DickParry/DavidMooore..sold our club to the yanks. They gave us some money to buy 1 wrldclass player and a few squad players to keep us happy. With the likes of Gillette/Parry who are too afraid to lose money have instructed Rafa to sell before they can buy..hence squad to transfer free players. Its funny they will spend 20m on a 28yr old striker but not buy a multi skilled 27yr English midfielder strange??. So sacking Rafa wont change a thing because whoever has to work with the seconds available (ie Budget he's given or the CEO's approval)..Try telling that to Jose or Fergie and they'll just walk(One did). It took Fergie 7years before he won the EPL. I would love to know how many finals were United in during that time to Rafa's 5-6years in charge with no backing from the boardroom. Rafa may leave only if they dont back him with the transfer windows and the academy (It doesnt have to be complete control but controlling what happens on the pitch) I would just look at the opinions given by everyone who they want sacked the Yanks or Rafa??.
By Sinclair. Posted March 3 2009 at 3:45 AM.
guys guys guys stop moarning we are just not good enough we are f@?ken useless.stop blaming rafa WE ARE S£@T SIMPLE AS ALL THAT!
By tee cee. Posted March 3 2009 at 12:55 AM.
Im not a LFC supporter but as a fan of Newcastle United i am a realist! from an outsiders point of view i can honnestly say Liverpool will never win the Premier league with Benitez at the helm, this is because Rafa couldnt care less about the premiership, infact i wouldnt be surprised if he was pleased with the boro defeat, now he can concentrate on his real target, winning the Champions league in the most boring uninteresting way possible, then getting an offer from a spanish club and leaving Liverpool with a group of players no one else will want, Tactical genius, do me a favour!!!
By David Chapman. Posted March 2 2009 at 3:21 PM.
Ive read a few of these comments and yes everyone has an opinion but at the end of the day NO ONE has any idea just what exactly goes on behind closed doors at the club. We can all guess and say what should happen but none of us know.
This season in my opinion could still be going well for us had we took more of the good chances we`ve created in the games that we`ve drew. I think better quality players than some of the ones we have at the moment would have took the chances and turned the draws into wins and gave us more points and that would have kept us above united.
I`d be more worried if we were`nt creating the chances but we are just like against boro in the first 30 mins.
At the end of the day goals win games, we cant always play attractive football.
If we hadn`t drew so many games then we`d be doing ok and people wouldnt be blaming rafa and whatever else they can blame. I am not 100% about rafa but I do believe he can take us to the title.
I think half the squad is poor and needs improving but who buys some players? rafa?, parry?, the owners? Do some players like keane get bought that rafa doesnt really want? I mean he was playing well and rafa still didnt play him or dropped him after games when he played well. Something is not right and going on behind the scenes that no one knows about. I just hope its resolved soon so we can push on and strengthen the squad and concentrate on next seasons title as united are gona equal our 18 titles.
By Ian Shinner. Posted March 2 2009 at 1:17 AM.
The team is no better than when houllier was manager. We need someone who plays man to man marking and get rid of bable lucas and el zhar we need someone who can win us the premiership and this is not rafa. Every season its bin we are improving and whats happend this season we dont have the premiership again. So its now time for rafa to go back to spain and take the americans with you on the way out .
By kyle morris. Posted March 1 2009 at 11:13 PM.
well to be perfectly honest i think the club is in turmoil. being a liverpool supporter for 30 years i cant believe how bad it has got its even worse than the souness era. i think at the end of the season the club needs big changes, the owner needs to go the manager needs to go and also kuyt babel lucas dossena aurelio hyypia arbeloa benayoun ngog el zhar. they have a good back bone reina carragher gerrard torres so buy some real class around them and only then we can think about winning the premiership. also to all the man utd fans start shouting when you have actually caught us up.
By dave a . Posted March 1 2009 at 9:19 PM.
Well i have been a liverpool supporter since the early sixties and it is so sad to see the sorry state the club is in in at the moment. Get rid of the Americans and rafa firstly. we do need two wing backs and two wingers and additional forward, if we are to achieve any success in the future. Yes we had great times in past and will again but changes need to be done. We lost the premiership from Mid November onwards too many draws and players must take greater responsibility for their own performances, this is where i believe a new Manager with greater passion will benefit the club. We have too good a history to let if all evaporate through in fighting
By fergusdoggett. Posted March 1 2009 at 8:59 PM.
Just look at what Aurellio just said, Raf has been like that since Valencia, he doesnt stress, the team reflects his character! that means, Rafa doesnt feel anything when he loses, he doesn't have anger and passion like Fergie/Jose, and finally..the team reflects his boring, lifeless, robotic team, with no passion, very predictable . Liverpool lose and all he would say is ' i want to focus on the next match' not a single frustration in his eye! ( been like that for many years now) This guy has been made good by some players...especially GERRARD.
SACK HIM!!! PARRY STAY AND FIGHT THE TWO FAT *BLEEP*
By SidneyXda. Posted March 1 2009 at 3:51 PM.
Are you happy now you stupid morons! who were saying 'Good riddance' 'About time' regarding Rick Parry's decision. Ive always knew Rick and David Moores protected the club they love, even if money was going out of their own pockets ..with big losses. They still kept the club fighting for all the honours, with a decent budget each year. Without Rick Parry, Rafa will go mental, just watch how he spends stupidly! the clause he has in his Contract..well the one we wants to add! its all about a huge compensation! these European managers love leaving and they blame it on politics afterwards. Rafa did the same at Valencia, he will do the same here..just watch. Do you want a club run by that Tom Hicks?! what does he know!! Rick Parry should have been there ..I wanted him there just so you know someone truly loves LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB, and when you love something so much ..you will protect it and keep it safe . Rick made a mistake in selling it to those greedy americans, but how is he supposed to know? He genuinely thought they might look after the club . Im very worried about Liverpool's future, some of you Liverpool fans are so thick, you just want transfers right? you will see what Hicks does when Rafa starts to screw up even more. Both will go, or Hicks will be so stupid ..because of his lack of football wit, he will blindly keep backing that effin Rafa!!!
By SidneyXda. Posted March 1 2009 at 3:50 PM.
oh i never felt more like singing the blues when Everton win and liverpool loose oh ''Everton'' you got me singing the blues.keep it up raffa!
By el tel. Posted March 1 2009 at 3:17 PM.
I've been a red all my 38yrs and we've had some great highs and some real lows.. We started off great this season and I like many others thought this could be our year but it started to go down hill around mid November and the only thing that kept us up around the top was the other top teams dropping points.. At Anfield it's been a strange atmosphere this season with the great start and people filled with optism but its all gone pear shaped now..but lets keep it real here as much as it hurts me to say it.. we are not good enough man u and chelsea are a long way ahead.. just for starters we need two world class wing backs.. two world class wingers and another world class forward.. I think the americans should put their money were their mouths are and invest big time at the close of the season and if they are not prepared to do this then they should sell up and let someone in that really wants to bring our club on.. I also think it's a big loss losing Rick Parry and I'm not happy the way Rafas contract talk's are being leaked to the press.. I think David Moores father will be turning in his grave over what is going on at the club he so loved.. So I think at the moment we are back down at a low point in are history.. joe roberts
By Joe Roberts. Posted March 1 2009 at 11:50 AM.
So the question everyone in football has at the back of their mind from fans, pundits to managers everywhere. Do liverpool have the guts to get Mourinhio. Do they still see themselves as a top tier club or second tier. Has rafa telling the world liverpool are the poor relations in football actually lowered the club so far as to believe mourinhio is too good for them. Get him in and see Liverpool transform in the same minute to a world power. the sad truth is no one believes Liverpool have the ambition. Ferguson and untied are banking on it, and just as ferguson rightly no longer sees Liverpool as a threat in the league he doesn't see them as a threat in having the balls to take his heir. If the Americans want a major coup and a new start well it's staring them in the face. so the same question DO THEY HAVE THE GUTS ???
By simon menzies. Posted March 1 2009 at 11:59 AM.
Liverpool win at home against united for the first time in years and they go on about it like they won the european cup. Unfortunately for them its more important to beat United than any think else. i would rather loose both games to liverpool every year and end up with all the silverware. Not that that's going to happen because they will be taught a lesson at Old Trafford. 3-0 again. Please keep Rafa and lucas for life so we can laugh laugh laugh at liverpool. The best part of this season is watching United win it all but closely in second is watching liverpool making an absolute fool of then selves.
By carl warmington. Posted March 1 2009 at 10:11 AM.
Oh sorry I forgot the obvious one - GET RID OF LUCAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Matt. Posted March 1 2009 at 10:00 AM.
Summer Clear out should be:
Dossena
Aurelio
Kuyt
Babel
Ngog
Bring in
LB
RB - Glen Johnson
RM
At least two FW one being Villa please
Oh and why dont you give David Amoo a go on the wing rather than leave him in the youth team as he is a class player that can take on defenders and also can score goals.
and stop being so negative!
By Matt. Posted March 1 2009 at 10:00 AM.
It is saddening to see the once great Reds being dragged through boardroom struggles, there was a huge storm when the Americans took over at Man Utd but they dont seem to have caused the unrest that the idiots we have at the healm. Sell at a reasonable price and we will have a new team at the top but demanding some 200million more than you paid is ridiculous.
Its not just Rafa making the wrong decisions but at every level, he should be given control of transfers and then he and he alone will be accountable with any subsequent failure. Stop the school yard squabbles and sign or leave...the club needs stability not sulkers throwing their toys out.
I believe that we are only one piece short of completing the puzzle, break the bank to buy David Villa instead of buying 3 also rans.
All supporters should keep the faith and get off Rafas back, let him sign and then lets see how good he really is. YNWA
By kevin paxton. Posted March 1 2009 at 9:54 AM.
We wont win the prem under Rafa as he is far too negative and insists on playing players who are not fit to wear the red shirt.
As for all the Man u fans coming on here giving it loads then what goes around comes around I say so just concentrate on your own team instead of being bothered about ours all the time.
Also the fan saying we are nothing without Gerrard then just rmemeber that we beat you at Anfield this season without Gerrard and Torres on the pitch so make of that what you will.
By Matt. Posted March 1 2009 at 9:32 AM.
5. Then I win the Title and then I tell the world omg IM SO PRO IM RAFABENITEZ MY MIND GAMES TOTALLY WORK MY SQUAD ROTATION IS SO SMART BECOS I GOT 25 WORLD CLASS PLAYERS TO ROTATE WITH. SEE DIDINT I TELL U I WOULD WIN EVERYTHING IF I HAD EVERYTHIGN MY WAY WHICH INCLUDES UNLIMITED POWER AND CASH?
Oh well, unfortunatley, mr. benitez, your dream cant come true becos this is the real world and u have to utilize watever resources u have to do what u need to.
Look at Ferguson, I feel like joining the Man U fans to LOL @ Benitez for his stupid rants becos u just got kicked in the face for saying dumb things and making yourself look a fool. Ferguson keeps winning while Rafa just keeps digging a deeper hole.
If a manager cant do his job, its about time to replace the man responsible. We will judge Rick Parry ourselves tyvm rafa, and i think the verdict on Rafa is that he is doing a trash job and gd bye Rafa u should go keep your dignity and keep your pride to yourself and I wish you all the best.
Lets get a new manager, that can at least tap the full potential of this team and do that before Steven Gerrard's limitless potential dries up with age.
By CY. Posted March 1 2009 at 9:22 AM.
And then whats with the Agger issue. I love the lad hes a great defender he is first team material but no, rafa decides to play his unfathomable selection policy and plays Hyypia ahead of agger all the time.
Dun even get me started on the Kuyt-Benitez or the Lucas-Benitez relationship becos I have a theory that Kuyt and Lucas secretly delivers wonderufl Blwojobs for Benitez.
Gosh. Sorry for my ranting, but really, I love Liverpool and I never faltered in my support for the team through the rubbish Roy Evans and Houllier era. I even enjoyed the super soak and gun tactic holding my heart in anticipation for Owen to latch onto a through ball and score a goal every game despite all its boringness.
But this season, everything is taken way out of proportion. A club manager's role is to win games, win titles, and Benitez is not doing that. Its about doing it with the resources at your disposal and not about griping about owners/rick parry etc etc. I mean, I believe even I can win a treble if I can buy EVERY PLAYER i wished and I have the FULL SUPPORT OF MY BOARD with all the CASH INJECTIONS i want.
Here, take a look at my strategy:
1. I would sign Ronaldo and Fabregas to weaken our rivals. That would cost maybe 150 million but hey if i dont get it i just keep complaining till i do and maybe they'll sack everyone till i get what i want.
By CY. Posted March 1 2009 at 9:21 AM.
Let start by saying this I have been a LFC supporter for 47years and my father before me bless him, and in all those years I have seen anything like it at Liverpool, what the hell is going on there. Sorry Rafa but you should go and take Hicks and Gillett can go with you, Moores and Parry should buy back the club that they love and it should be said it should never have been sold in the first place. Rafa you have been playing too many mind games, Hicks and Gillett so have you, all you have done with your internal squabbling is upset the people that are most important to the club, thats the players. Rafa please tell me how expect them to give you control of transfers. You should concentrate on the football not transfers, but you havent even done that, and it seems its the same old story the players were tired, take 30years back off of my life, give me £50 thousand a week, and playing for a club and a game you love, and I show you how tired I would be too, NOT. So please lets get back to what LFC is all about, which is good old plain nothing fancy football, as the great man once said ( Mr Shankly ) football is easy when its played simple. IS THERE ANOTHER MR SHANKLY OR MR PAISLEY OUT THERE FOR THE SAKE OF LFC PLEASE STEP FORWARD
By razza. Posted March 1 2009 at 9:30 AM.
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha..................................
By chelsea lee. Posted March 1 2009 at 9:27 AM.
Hi. I am extremely jaded as a Liverpool supporter like many of you.
It is obvious that Liverpool have the squad to be challenging until at least April this year and I have to say that I concur completely with those who share the sentiments that Rafa screwed this up by "resting" players.
This aint fantasy football and how can u expect a player to be confident and have a winning mentality when he can play well and score a goal and then not knowing he will be playing the next game?
Why drop Keane right after he scored 2 goals? Why play Kuyt every game? And who is first choice? Dossena/Insua/Aurelio? It doesnt matter who he chooses, but as far as I see it, the point is that he does select one individual and let him know that he is first choice and let him play at least 5 games on the trot. At least then he knows that he has room to for errors, he does not feel the pressure that "oh if i commit one mistake, rest assured that there are much 'competition' for my place (Rafa's favourite line) and I will be dropped".
Babel has cried out so many times for a striker role. Why not play him there. Hes 22, hes young, he has the attributes to be one. Letting him run on the left wing is great he does it so well that he runs right down to the byline and HEY I CANT CROSS WITH MY LEFT LEG, then cuts back all the way out of the opponent penalty box and loses the ball cos he runs out of steam having covered 50m in top sprint.
By CY. Posted March 1 2009 at 9:20 AM.
with out steven gerrard liverpool are mid table team,ngog , el zar liverpool players ??? scoucers must be gutted the crap hes buying. keep up the good work rafa hahahahaha,
By salford red. Posted March 1 2009 at 8:48 AM.
hahahahahahahahaha from salford red
By salford red. Posted March 1 2009 at 8:50 AM.
Yes Liverpool have a proud history and produces great teams ( how i hated them ), but nowadays when i hear The manager and fans say (we are gonna win the league) i fall over laughing.
remember the days when the pool would buy 1 player a season to improve thier excellent squad - a.k.a. Man Utd.
Get shot of the Spanish and get a solid british backbone through out the squad, and you may challenge again.
By D.t. Posted March 1 2009 at 8:42 AM.
Please rafa do not sign the new contract ! Just leave the club !! We are tired of your rotation policy it just doesnt work. Dosenna,arbeloa,lucas, babel all of them should go with you. We need a new manager and lots of new players and then only we can win the league !! The only good signings you have made in these 5 years are torres, mascherano and Skrtel !! After selling robbie keane you have lost the plot !! Your team selection is always unpredictable !! We liverpool fans are really frustrated with your tactics so please just leave the club, I am sure you will get a good offer by a spanish club where your rotation policy will work !!
By Imran.. Posted March 1 2009 at 8:45 AM.
I've been saying for a few years rafa should leave because the team of players that win us a game are then "rested" because he say's they're "tired" how can players be tired after only 90 minutes of a game? Then he swaps the winning side for a mediocre team of players, take the slackers with you rafa and go please.
I've been a supporter for over 40 years and I remember when liverpool players conned Shanks and Paisley even Souness and Kenny into believing they were fit enough to play the next game. They played the next game because liverpool was etched on their hearts, it wasn't about money, it was about pride for playing in a successful team. Success never brings on "tiredness" it brings out the best in them.
By bonnythescouser. Posted March 1 2009 at 8:19 AM.
I remember, when Manchester United were taken over by the Glazers, all the jokes and chants of 'USA' by the Liverpool fans. Well its a funny world we live in, while United had gone from strenght to strenght, Pool themselves were taken over by Americans, and they have become the laughing stock of the Premiership.
By Duke, Malta. Posted March 1 2009 at 7:58 AM.
I think that more than the CEO, we should have sent packing the useless manager. He's been here for almost 5 years and still has not been able to understand that we care about winning the league NOT advancing in Champions League to crash at the end ! Remeber in 2005, it was Milan who lost the cup not Rafa who masterminded a win. Please Rafa do not sign the contract extension and go away. We are in no better position than we were in when Houllier departed !!!!
By Dominic Micallef Malta. Posted March 1 2009 at 7:35 AM.
Similar to the post's attached i believe that Rafa's negative team choices is the reason we (Liverpool) are in trouble.His arrogant,''I want control'' thought pattern is the reason we are at rockbottom,mentally and on the pitch.Liverpool is looking hopeless,dejected and out of ideas.We need a young manager willing to all on the line for the Team,someone who is willing to bleed for Liverpool FC..Not some that wants to bring in his own nationality because he believes that it will allow him to feel at home..Frank R or a Jose M..most importantly get rid of the Americans they have no clue what Football means to Liverpool and its International Supporters..Please Rafa if you read this, think the mature way and really admit if you cant change the situation we are in,you will be respected for it..its been 5 years..and you have done well,the Americans dont care if we bring in class players or not..they are bottomline guys,with the recession in full swing they DONT CARE IF WE ARE PLAYING WELL,THEY CARE ABOUT PROFIT MARGINS.....I have been part of my life for 37 years,i have never supported another team since.So consider your next move carefully..Liverpool for Life.
By Carlo Naidoo - LFC for Life. Posted March 1 2009 at 7:10 AM.
Mr Bhinder, you say Rafa's not to blame and list areas of the team that need strengthening. Why did he not strengthen these areas if he's so good? He's had the money to spend, he's either been unable to get anyone or more likely has ignored these areas. You could give Benitez £100M in the summer and you wouldn't win the league next season. He hasn't got a clue, he wins 1 game in every 3 at current form, brilliant.
By teeessvee. Posted March 1 2009 at 7:10 AM.
I am exceptionally pleased to see bitter disappointment being expressed by Liverpool fans as the Premiership title eludes them – as it has done in every single season they have competed for it in their history.
To have failed to win the Premiership even once since the competition was launched is a disgrace of course, and one that every Liverpool fan shares in.
By Sir Cecil. Posted March 1 2009 at 6:29 AM.
Liverpool will win premier title in 2020.
Moses Kiwanuka
By Kiwanuka. Posted March 1 2009 at 6:16 AM.
thanks a million Benitez, you sure lived up to your predictions we will have a wounderful seasons, you are just a one game wounder, for all your planning and know how of the game you sure can out on top of your game. Please let us be, take babel with you as well, i think keane would have been perfect for yesterday 's game but we thrill on pride,what is going to happen to our beloved club we need stability and good managment, not turnoil and mind games, we lost the plot well within ourself. fabri Malta
By lorry. Posted March 1 2009 at 6:04 AM.
fowler, macca,rednapp,carra,owen,stevieG, and next .....well there doesn't seem to be a next does there. rafa hasn't brought anyone through at all. lets be honest stevieG won the FA cup AND the champions league NOT rafa. and how can he moan about not taking chances after buying half the strikers on the planet killing their confidence and selling them again until he settles on Kuyt (or is it Kan't). I can't think ONE single player he has majorly improved or any real unnoticed gems he's found. he picks up the odd good player like a blind squirrel finds the odd acorn, only throwing money around like a madman whistle complaining of having none. and at the end of it even if they had won the league with football like his who the hell would care. it's time to rejoin rainbow rafa the mubbler as you comit the worst grime in football you bore us.
By simon menzies. Posted March 1 2009 at 4:03 AM.
LIVER/boo hoo hoo. Let's face facts, if your players would play football with their feet instead of their mouths, including the SPANISH ONION (Rafa), then success would be around the corner. Remember Torres," I will shoot Liverpool to the top of the league" As a Man Utd supporter, I respect your history, but not your Foreign Manager or your Foreign players. Without Steve Gerrard and Garragher, you would be near relegation.
SHANKS & PAISLEY MUST BE TURNING IN THEIR GRAVES. Les
By les (troops). Posted March 1 2009 at 3:33 AM.
If it wasnt for Rafas negative tactics we would of been clear at the top and since his stubborness is all there for everyone to see in front of thier own eyes i wish ppl wake up as he has blown the best chance we have had in years....why oh why rafa are your players always tired....your bantering on about this is making me tired just lisetening to it...imagine what ur players feel.....u are over rated...EPL does not accept your negative tactics...the strongest team wins the league...ur team is therefore tired and weak like your tactics and then playing plaers who never have played in positions u have put them in...and yet it wasnt working u didnt change it....ur not a taction as and tactition wl of changed the moment it wasnt working...get out and stay out with Parry.
By Ravi. Posted March 1 2009 at 1:58 AM.
I don't think sacking Benitez is the answer. Our current full backs are not good enough and we need new ones. Purchase a play-making midfielder and one if not two excellent strikers. The Americans now need to get their cheque books out or move over and let somone else take over. However, i strongly believe they need to go as they have been disgraceful to say the least.
The likes of Lucas, Arbeloe, Dossena, Babel and Kuyt are not players' who will lead LFC to the Premiership.
We have a foundation that is present, but we need to build and build wisely.
BENITEZ NOW MORE THAN EVER NEEDS THE SUPPORT FROM EVERYONE CONCERNED WITH LFC.
Mr Bhinder, Canada
By Mr. Bhinder. Posted March 1 2009 at 1:54 AM.
Liverpool will have another barren year. Over reliant on Stevie G and as he gets older they have no one to replace him.
They have no strikers nor any width. They need huge investment simple fact. Oh and a new management, owners. Their luck is running out fast, especially with the current financial crisis.
By gaga. Posted February 28 2009 at 11:12 PM.