Utd opened up a 7 point gap after we stumbled to our 10th draw of the season. Without Stevie G and Alonso in midfield we just lacked imagination and drive. Lucas once again was given a starting role in midfield alongside Mascherano but failed to impress. One really has to wonder about Rafa's vision in selling Sissoko and replacing him with Lucas.
I for one hope that Rafa doesn't sign the new and improved contract thats on offer. We should cut our losses and get rid of him at the end of the season.There are a number of players that should follow him out of Anfield namely Lucas, Dossena, Babel, Ngog, Benoyoun, Voronin, Deggen, El Zhar, Pennant & Aurelio. These are players that have never lived up to expectations.
In the league this season Rafa's tactics were questioned. I know he is the one that got us to the top but in recent weeks he seemed to have no clue. Decisions that are ultimatley made by him came into question, team selection, subs, timing of subs and negative tactics. These are decisions that could well end our title push.
Next up for LFC is an exciting trip to the Bernabeau and I bet my life on it you'll see a totally different Liverpool. Their hunger and drive for success would be greater and you can just hear everyone saying what a great manger he is but don't be fooled as its back to normal next Saturday with a visit to the Riverside sporting a team consisting of wholesale changes.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Torres Gets Rafa Out Of Jail
Fernando Torres came off the bench to score a dramatic injury time winner against Portsmouth at the weekend. Rafa left him, Alonso, Kuyt and Riera on the bench and started with a "weakened" 11. Eyebrows were raised when Rafa went with a very unconventional starting line-up. 5 at the back and Aurelio in the centre of the park! What was he thinking? Why did he change the formation of the team?
Aurelio was holding his own in midfield and even added some flair to it but we were lacking Alonso's ability and craftmanship to split defences and create something out of nothing and duly did that once he was introduced.
Babbel looks like a broken man on the field. He no longer seems to have the ability to run at defences. His confidence is gone thanks to Rafa's inability to find his best position on the field. Is it as a winger or a striker, no one seems to know let alone Rafa. And what about the selection of Ngog to lead the line. He showed some good touches in pre-season games but nothing of late warrants a start. Rafa would have done better keeping Keane.Thank God Lucas was suspended for the game otherwise Mascherano might have also joined the "dream" team on the bench!
Ok Rafa got the 3 points with resting key players and using them sparingly at the end but I just hope he knows what hes doing in the run in to the championship. With Gerrard out for up to 3 weeks he cannot gamble with his team selection. He need all his "big" players to come to the party and overhaul the points deficit to the mancs and bring home our 19th Championship.
Aurelio was holding his own in midfield and even added some flair to it but we were lacking Alonso's ability and craftmanship to split defences and create something out of nothing and duly did that once he was introduced.
Babbel looks like a broken man on the field. He no longer seems to have the ability to run at defences. His confidence is gone thanks to Rafa's inability to find his best position on the field. Is it as a winger or a striker, no one seems to know let alone Rafa. And what about the selection of Ngog to lead the line. He showed some good touches in pre-season games but nothing of late warrants a start. Rafa would have done better keeping Keane.Thank God Lucas was suspended for the game otherwise Mascherano might have also joined the "dream" team on the bench!
Ok Rafa got the 3 points with resting key players and using them sparingly at the end but I just hope he knows what hes doing in the run in to the championship. With Gerrard out for up to 3 weeks he cannot gamble with his team selection. He need all his "big" players to come to the party and overhaul the points deficit to the mancs and bring home our 19th Championship.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Keane Returns To Spurs
While Rafa claims that Keane was never a player that he wanted many supporters felt that he was given a raw deal. When Keane arrived in the summer it was hailed as something of a coup and many believed that with his intelligence, a partnership with Torres would flourish.Even the great Kenny Dalglish commented on the importance of a signing like Keane and Rafa got credit for persuading "Mr" Spurs to join his Rafalution.
But when things didn't go to plan with his partnership with Torres many doubted the signing. Keane couldn't capitalise from Torres's injury and failed to impress in his absence. He did manage to score two against WBA and a stunner against Arsenal in the league but was soon dropped from the starting 11 and was an unused sub for a few games and even dropped further behind an unimpressive Ngog.
After rejecting the new contract offered by the Americans because he did not have full control over transfers the truth came out about the Keane transfer. Rafa claimed that he never wanted Keane but it was Rick Parry that sanctioned the deal. Rafa only wanted Gareth Barry but Parry refused to pay the 18 Million Pounds demanded by Villa instead he did a deal worth 20 Mil with Spurs for Keane.
Keane was never given a fair chance by Rafa to completely settle in having scored just 7 goals in 28 starts in which he was subbed in 18 of those games. Subsequently he was sold back to Spurs for 16 Million Pounds ( as reported by Koptalk ) and with the extension of the transfer window due to the heavy snowfall around the UK , hopefully Rafa signs another striker to strengthen our push for the title. Javier Saviola was strongly linked with us and could prove to be a quality signing if he comes to Anfield.
Good Luck Keano...YNWA
But when things didn't go to plan with his partnership with Torres many doubted the signing. Keane couldn't capitalise from Torres's injury and failed to impress in his absence. He did manage to score two against WBA and a stunner against Arsenal in the league but was soon dropped from the starting 11 and was an unused sub for a few games and even dropped further behind an unimpressive Ngog.
After rejecting the new contract offered by the Americans because he did not have full control over transfers the truth came out about the Keane transfer. Rafa claimed that he never wanted Keane but it was Rick Parry that sanctioned the deal. Rafa only wanted Gareth Barry but Parry refused to pay the 18 Million Pounds demanded by Villa instead he did a deal worth 20 Mil with Spurs for Keane.
Keane was never given a fair chance by Rafa to completely settle in having scored just 7 goals in 28 starts in which he was subbed in 18 of those games. Subsequently he was sold back to Spurs for 16 Million Pounds ( as reported by Koptalk ) and with the extension of the transfer window due to the heavy snowfall around the UK , hopefully Rafa signs another striker to strengthen our push for the title. Javier Saviola was strongly linked with us and could prove to be a quality signing if he comes to Anfield.
Good Luck Keano...YNWA
Monday, January 26, 2009
Americans Out!
Its probably the most chanted slogan in the world and with no exception it echoes through the city of Liverpool. David Moores must be thinking just how did he allow Rick Parry convince him that it was a better choice to sell to the Americans instead of DIC. After 2 years of broken promises about transfers and the "new" stadium fans of LFC can't wait for them fo finally be sold.
The Americans can't hold on to the club for much longer and asked Merryl Lynch to find them a buyer but nobody seems interested at their asking price.The Royal Bank of Scotland will not give them another extension beyond July on the 350 Million Pounds that they borrowed to buy the club and every passing day that they can't sell the price goes down. Que Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the man that Parry didn't want to sell to. He has publicly stated that he is no longer interested in LFC but news coming out of Liverpool today clearly state that he is still very much interested and is prepared to bide his time and wait for the right price to buy.
There is no doubt that his riches will help propell LFC back to the top. Fans can say over and over again that money doesn't buy success but it does help. Look at what Chelsea achieved in the small space of time since Abromovich took over and Fergie was never denied funds season after season to out spend many teams in Europe and the new found riches at Man City will make them into a top 4 team provided they can get a "big" manager to pull in the stars.
Come May, Sheikh Maktoum could be buying the League Champs and who knows what his deep pockets could buy us..........fingers crossed!!!
The Americans can't hold on to the club for much longer and asked Merryl Lynch to find them a buyer but nobody seems interested at their asking price.The Royal Bank of Scotland will not give them another extension beyond July on the 350 Million Pounds that they borrowed to buy the club and every passing day that they can't sell the price goes down. Que Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the man that Parry didn't want to sell to. He has publicly stated that he is no longer interested in LFC but news coming out of Liverpool today clearly state that he is still very much interested and is prepared to bide his time and wait for the right price to buy.
There is no doubt that his riches will help propell LFC back to the top. Fans can say over and over again that money doesn't buy success but it does help. Look at what Chelsea achieved in the small space of time since Abromovich took over and Fergie was never denied funds season after season to out spend many teams in Europe and the new found riches at Man City will make them into a top 4 team provided they can get a "big" manager to pull in the stars.
Come May, Sheikh Maktoum could be buying the League Champs and who knows what his deep pockets could buy us..........fingers crossed!!!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
180th Merseyside Derby
Another 3 points dropped at home. While it wasn't a loss it certainly felt like one. After going ahead through another stunning Gerrard strike LFC failed to capitalise on their lead and Everton pegged them back with a typical Cahill header. It seems that Rafa is at times content to see out 1-0 leads when playing your normal attacking football is always the better option. Its happened before and I have to admit that under Rafa its going to happen again.
The return of Torres was the only bonus on the night and after a slow start he started showing signs that he is now(hopefully) over his hamstring troubles. He went on a stunning run from his own half and should have put LFC ahead only for his shot to come off the post. He should have definetly got a penalty after being brought down by Jagielka.
Everton fought back well and got their reward after *&^@%!) careless tackle on Anichebe and Cahill duly scored from the resulting free kick.
Rafa must be kicking himself after surrendering the top spot in the table to MUFC on goal difference with a game in hand and with all the teams in the chasing pack winning over the week-end Rafa has to work his magic and turn LFC back on track and start winning once again.
Theres still a lot of football to be played and the 08/09 season could well have the most exciting finish to an EPL season with the likes of Chelsea,Arsenal and even Villa all seperated by just 6 points at the top.
Looks like this one might take a little longer to wrap up but I'm still confident that this title will end up at Anfield!
The return of Torres was the only bonus on the night and after a slow start he started showing signs that he is now(hopefully) over his hamstring troubles. He went on a stunning run from his own half and should have put LFC ahead only for his shot to come off the post. He should have definetly got a penalty after being brought down by Jagielka.
Everton fought back well and got their reward after *&^@%!) careless tackle on Anichebe and Cahill duly scored from the resulting free kick.
Rafa must be kicking himself after surrendering the top spot in the table to MUFC on goal difference with a game in hand and with all the teams in the chasing pack winning over the week-end Rafa has to work his magic and turn LFC back on track and start winning once again.
Theres still a lot of football to be played and the 08/09 season could well have the most exciting finish to an EPL season with the likes of Chelsea,Arsenal and even Villa all seperated by just 6 points at the top.
Looks like this one might take a little longer to wrap up but I'm still confident that this title will end up at Anfield!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
180th Merseyside Derby
As if the Merseyside derby isn't a big enough game in the city of Liverpool , tomorrows game at Anfield has added value...top of the league table. After MUFC won 1-0 thanks to a late strike by Berbatov against Bolton they went top of the table for the first time this season and we want our position back.
In the first game at Goodison Park Torres and Keane were magnificent upfront and I hope Rafa restores them both to the starting line-up. Torres has stated on the week-end that he is ready to start and I'm sure he would do well in a 4-3-1-2 formation playing alongside Keane with Gerrard in the hole behind them. Riera, Alonso & Kuyt should make up the rest of the midfield.The backline should remain the same.
Tomorrows game is a must win if we want to keep the pressure on the other contenders so Rafa should do the right thing and start his best 11 and get all 3 points.
In the first game at Goodison Park Torres and Keane were magnificent upfront and I hope Rafa restores them both to the starting line-up. Torres has stated on the week-end that he is ready to start and I'm sure he would do well in a 4-3-1-2 formation playing alongside Keane with Gerrard in the hole behind them. Riera, Alonso & Kuyt should make up the rest of the midfield.The backline should remain the same.
Tomorrows game is a must win if we want to keep the pressure on the other contenders so Rafa should do the right thing and start his best 11 and get all 3 points.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Did Rafa Get It Wrong?
Was his pre-meditated attack on Fergie signs that he DID succumb to the mind games?
Was the manner in which he attacked Fergie wrong?
I think the answer to both those questions is Yes!
I for one loved the way he finally exposed Fergie for the "mob" boss that he thinks he is but Rafa should not have had such a public outburst. He should have just kept his cool and waited for Fergie to crack first.
What was worst for Rafa is that the team did not back his statements by drawing against Stoke. They put in a terrible performance. It looked like the players themselves were affected by the mind games.
Rafa's starting 11 was questionable and so were his subs and the timing of them. Players like Lucas and Benayoun were left on for too long.
Why was Torres left on the bench for so long and why Keene was not even used? These are the problems that Rafa has to address soon if we are to win that elusive 19th title or dear I say it the Mancs might end up equalling our record.
United fans are already celebrating like they won the title but remember we already got the points on the board, those 2 games that you got in hand won't coun't for anything unless you get maximum points and even if you do you still have to play us! So relax boys it looks like this ones going down to the wire.
Was the manner in which he attacked Fergie wrong?
I think the answer to both those questions is Yes!
I for one loved the way he finally exposed Fergie for the "mob" boss that he thinks he is but Rafa should not have had such a public outburst. He should have just kept his cool and waited for Fergie to crack first.
What was worst for Rafa is that the team did not back his statements by drawing against Stoke. They put in a terrible performance. It looked like the players themselves were affected by the mind games.
Rafa's starting 11 was questionable and so were his subs and the timing of them. Players like Lucas and Benayoun were left on for too long.
Why was Torres left on the bench for so long and why Keene was not even used? These are the problems that Rafa has to address soon if we are to win that elusive 19th title or dear I say it the Mancs might end up equalling our record.
United fans are already celebrating like they won the title but remember we already got the points on the board, those 2 games that you got in hand won't coun't for anything unless you get maximum points and even if you do you still have to play us! So relax boys it looks like this ones going down to the wire.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
