Liverpool FC Forum

[Rafas-Y-Fronts]

Firstly I would like to make it clear that I respect all opinions given by anyone who can provide rationale for them and certainly don't want to cause offence to anyone on this forum.

Just touching back on the comments by BigMick.......

Gerrard is very much a heart on sleeve footballer. He hates losing and this is portrayed in his desire and footballing style.

Although an outstanding talent....his tactical awareness is probably the only flaw to his entire game and this does result in his indiscipline when holding his position is concerned.

By 'more compact'.....I mean the blatant exclusion of regonised wide-men (touchline huggers) ala Pennant which gave a clear indication that we were going to try and get a hold of the midfield and dictate the play..which for the most part I thought we achieved.

As we are all aware....Benayoun is a player much more comfortable coming infield with the ball as opposed to beating the full back out on the touchline and Gerrard also likes to drift inside rather than pulling crosses back from the dead ball line.

We have come unstuck in recent weeks by allowing teams to play in triangles between the two banks of four (defence, midfield) and creating good chances.

This was nullified today by playing with a midfield quartet who prefer to play football infield as it enable us to close down the space in the final third much quicker and resulted in Everton losing possesion.

  I thought Finnan and Riise both did reasonably ok today in not allowing Everton to deliver anything too dangerous into our box from wide areas which was the only place they could really threaten from given the way that we set our stall up.

I am surprised that you do not think the tactics were spot on today when you consider that we limited them to maybe one shot on target and actually scored their goal for them.

Taking into consideration the amount of good chances that we created I think a 1 - 2 scoreline somewhat flattered Everton and that on another day we could have had maybe 4 or 5.

[Cool Hand Luke]

That was one of the most silliest post match comments I have heard from any manager. There will definitely be a knock on affect, wonder how the relationship between Rafa and Gerrard will be this week?

If I was Gerrard I would go to sleep pretty dam angry, he was the best Liverpool player on the pitch and was starting to absolutely run the show and gets taken off, on top of that Rafa goes and disrespects him on national television after the game.

Absolute idiocy.

Might be good for Gerrard.

He's been in a funk recently.

This might make him angry and he'll take it out on the next team we play.

So as soon as he starts turning things around and is having a meaningful game Rafa claws him back and tries to make a statement?

Sorry mate, if he was going to do it he should have done it a while back not today.

[The Manhattan Project]

That was one of the most silliest post match comments I have heard from any manager. There will definitely be a knock on affect, wonder how the relationship between Rafa and Gerrard will be this week?

If I was Gerrard I would go to sleep pretty dam angry, he was the best Liverpool player on the pitch and was starting to absolutely run the show and gets taken off, on top of that Rafa goes and disrespects him on national television after the game.

Absolute idiocy.

Might be good for Gerrard.

He's been in a funk recently.

This might make him angry and he'll take it out on the next team we play.

So as soon as he starts turning things around and is having a meaningful game Rafa claws him back and tries to make a statement?

Sorry mate, if he was going to do it he should have done it a while back not today.

Football players are mentally fragile.

Like a fine cigar.

They have to be stroked, caressed, lightly touched, given just the right amount of flame and sucked softly and the essence exhaled...





....hmmm....I could really go for a cigar right now.

Yeah!

[Kharhaz]

That was one of the most silliest post match comments I have heard from any manager. There will definitely be a knock on affect, wonder how the relationship between Rafa and Gerrard will be this week?

If I was Gerrard I would go to sleep pretty dam angry, he was the best Liverpool player on the pitch and was starting to absolutely run the show and gets taken off, on top of that Rafa goes and disrespects him on national television after the game.

Absolute idiocy.

Might be good for Gerrard.

He's been in a funk recently.

This might make him angry and he'll take it out on the next team we play.

So as soon as he starts turning things around and is having a meaningful game Rafa claws him back and tries to make a statement?

Sorry mate, if he was going to do it he should have done it a while back not today.

I agree with that also. Could it be that he had planned to sub him expecting another average performance but Gerrard started to find his form again and rafas stubbornness insisted he make the change? That would be my guess.

[redtrader74]

Saint, bench SG some more?!

I wouldn't go that far mate    but hopefully it shows that Lucas can progress to the first team given time and opportunities

I agree, when he came on he did all the things that Rafa seemed to want, he kept the ball, moved it around well and kept it simple. Everytime we did that today we create something.

[JamCar05]

Rafa's following comment regarding the penalty claim of Lescott's is also a bit puzzling, it's almost as if he's trying to provoke a response from the bitters.

That comment was a bit embarrassing if I'm being honest, as he could (and probably should) have had a penalty on that occasion.

Still, it will no doubt pi.ss the bluenoses off just like his "small club" comment last year 

[Cool Hand Luke]

Come and fight me Mick??

No one likes you, open your "barnyard animals" magazine and go play with yourself.

[Kharhaz]

Rafa's following comment regarding the penalty claim of Lescott's is also a bit puzzling, it's almost as if he's trying to provoke a response from the bitters.

That comment was a bit embarrassing if I'm being honest, as he could (and probably should) have had a penalty on that occasion.

Still, it will no doubt pi.ss the bluenoses off just like his "small club" comment last year 

Could it be that rafa played gollum at his own game by playing ugly football and coming out on top and they just cant live with that !
Shankly had pops at everton why not rafa !

[Rafas-Y-Fronts]

I think what Benitez said is being taken completely out of context in all honesty.

Being a local lad the Merseyside Derby is always going to be a fiery and passionate occasion for a player like Steven Gerrard.

He plays with drive and natural aggression anyway so this kind of occasion can become an adrenalin fuelled frenzy that leads to allsorts of unsavoury and unpredictable events (see todays game!).

Benitez was trying to get the message across that by bringing Gerrard off and introducing Leiva to proceedings we could take stock of the situation and slow the game down a little bit.

Ball retention against 10 men is vital because by letting the ball do the work for you.....you can wear down the opposition and utilise your extra man to pass your way through them.

Gerrard naturally wants to pick up possesion and burst forward like a leader in an army facing battle with its bitter rivals.

This is ok if you are clear in what can be achieved by your approach. Sometimes the direct approach isn't always the most successful.

Our pattern of play changed for the better when Leiva was brought on for Gerrard and we utilised the pitch much more effectively which lead to a lot of chances being created that should in all honesty have killed Everton off.

Benitez knows that Gerrard is one of the best footballers in the world......but he also knows that winning is a team effort and sometimes you have to be ruthless and make unpopular decisions.

[Bad Bob]

I can only access the interview that Destro put up (cheers, mate!) and apparently there are two.  I don't think it matters, though.  The gist of both is that Gerrard was too passionate, which is not fair comment IMO.  First off, it's a derby and passion is a requirement.  But, more importantly, he was bossing the game not running around out of control.  I don't like these comments anymore than I like the substitution.  As someone said, though, hopefully Gerrard will respond in the right way in the next few games.  Maybe a little anger will up his game.

[Kharhaz]

Gerrard was captain of England when we lost to russia and were the Everton crowd singing about his personal life? maybe thats what he meant and was fearful of SG letting it get to him and getting sent off?
Just a thought.

[Bad Bob]

I think what Benitez said is being taken completely out of context in all honesty.

Being a local lad the Merseyside Derby is always going to be a fiery and passionate occasion for a player like Steven Gerrard.

He plays with drive and natural aggression anyway so this kind of occasion can become an adrenalin fuelled frenzy that leads to allsorts of unsavoury and unpredictable events (see todays game!).

Benitez was trying to get the message across that by bringing Gerrard off and introducing Leiva to proceedings we could take stock of the situation and slow the game down a little bit.

Ball retention against 10 men is vital because by letting the ball do the work for you.....you can wear down the opposition and utilise your extra man to pass your way through them.

Gerrard naturally wants to pick up possesion and burst forward like a leader in an army facing battle with its bitter rivals.

This is ok if you are clear in what can be achieved by your approach. Sometimes the direct approach isn't always the most successful.

Our pattern of play changed for the better when Leiva was brought on for Gerrard and we utilised the pitch much more effectively which lead to a lot of chances being created that should in all honesty have killed Everton off.

Benitez knows that Gerrard is one of the best footballers in the world......but he also knows that winning is a team effort and sometimes you have to be ruthless and make unpopular decisions.

IMO, we went rather flat when Gerrard came off.  I think Everton were there for the taking following the sending off and Gerrard was helping to put them to the sword.  As soon as he came off, our pace dropped, Everton caught their breath and started to make something of their possession.  That's how I saw it, anyway.

[JamCar05]

Rafa's following comment regarding the penalty claim of Lescott's is also a bit puzzling, it's almost as if he's trying to provoke a response from the bitters.

That comment was a bit embarrassing if I'm being honest, as he could (and probably should) have had a penalty on that occasion.

Still, it will no doubt pi.ss the bluenoses off just like his "small club" comment last year 

Could it be that rafa played gollum at his own game by playing ugly football and coming out on top and they just cant live with that !
Shankly had pops at everton why not rafa !

Could well be! And I don't mind Rafa coming up with some clever and provocative remarks like the one about Evershite being a small club - that one was f'ing funny    But to claim that someone is diving isn't in the same league... especially not when there are tv pictures which clearly don't support your statement (whereas we can all agree, that Evershite is a tiny laughable club!). Not having a huge dig at Rafa or anything, just think he should have played that one a bit more cool.

[Kharhaz]

Rafa's following comment regarding the penalty claim of Lescott's is also a bit puzzling, it's almost as if he's trying to provoke a response from the bitters.

That comment was a bit embarrassing if I'm being honest, as he could (and probably should) have had a penalty on that occasion.

Still, it will no doubt pi.ss the bluenoses off just like his "small club" comment last year 

Could it be that rafa played gollum at his own game by playing ugly football and coming out on top and they just cant live with that !
Shankly had pops at everton why not rafa !

Could well be! And I don't mind Rafa coming up with some clever and provocative remarks like the one about Evershite being a small club - that one was f'ing funny    But to claim that someone is diving isn't in the same league... especially not when there are tv pictures which clearly don't support your statement (whereas we can all agree, that Evershite is a tiny laughable club!). Not having a huge dig at Rafa or anything, just think he should have played that one a bit more cool.

Naaaaar hes played cool before and becoming boring ! Be a tw.at rafa ! IM WITH YA !

[Rafas-Y-Fronts]

The game is all about opinions eh Bad Bob!!

It is actually nice to be able to debate with people on here without it resorting to childish name-calling and insults and also getting reasoned and well thought responses to what you have to say!

A stark contrast to the characters that frequent the Official Website Forums that's for sure!