Liverpool FC Forum

[Lando_Griffin]

Unbeaten and 4th and his job's on the line...

I agrre with you Lando but you must admit we look an average team at the moment .Teams are not scared coming to anfield  its gettig a bit disheartening at the moment arguing with every non liverpool supporter how it will all come good again

We'll be alright.

At the end of the day, we DID equalize, and the reason we didn't win today was because Hyypia was pretty terrible (which happens once a season at the most), and that Gerrard was acting the goat.

It's not the end of the World just yet.

[roberto green]

Unbeaten and 4th and his job's on the line...

Lando seriously you know I like you but how you can say that I just dont know?
Last minute equaliser from Torres take your specs off for a minute mate.
4th in the league when we could have been 1st 8 points dropped at home?

You think that is acceptable?
4th place is not acceptable neither is 3rd if you are second you are nothing.

2 wins on the bounce and everything will be right in the World again.

WE probaaly will be hyping ourselves for the league again then!!

[Ciggy]

Unbeaten and 4th and his job's on the line...

Lando seriously you know I like you but how you can say that I just dont know?
Last minute equaliser from Torres take your specs off for a minute mate.
4th in the league when we could have been 1st 8 points dropped at home?

You think that is acceptable?
4th place is not acceptable neither is 3rd if you are second you are nothing.

2 wins on the bounce and everything will be right in the World again.

You really think we are going to beat the bitters and Arsenal Lando?
Because I dont.

[bigmick]

Unbeaten and 4th and his job's on the line...

Although Lando's being a bit glib here, I do agree with what he's saying. We're unquestionably in the midst of extremely choppy waters as far as form goes, but albeit fortuitously we are still unbeaten in the League and not out of it. To talk about replacing Rafa at his stage is simply not being realistic or sensible in my opinion. At the end of the season I'm sure there will be an appraisal (as there is every season) about where we are but you don't flip your manager after eight unbeaten games.

Also those who are writing us off for the Premiership are jumping the gun just a fraction I reckon. Arsenal have won seven out of eight and drawn the other one. While it's a brilliant start nobody goes through a season playing like that and their time will come as far as recovering from injuries and/or a defeat goes.

More worrying is the form of Man Utd for whom I must say Ferguson (as much as I can't stand the fecker) has given a masterclass in managing so far this season. They started really poorly, but a combination of steely determination, selectorial common sense and a knowledge that only wins will do has dragged them back above us. As they proved at the weekend, even if you do have mass rotations, as long as you are winning games and playing at Home, you can still carry on the run.

But we are by no means out of it. We are not exactly in it either as far as the top two are concerned, but we absolutely must keep our heads right now and try whatever we can to re-establish some momentum. It goes without saying that this means not just going for a core of players, but in my personal view in the short term selecting the same team in every single game. This means Carling Cup, Europe of whatever else, lets have three or four unchanged line-ups (proper injury permitting of course) on the bounce and see if we can't get something going.

Drawing at Home to Spurs is not a disasterous result. The fact we didn't play particularly well is hardly a surprise. Some of us who believe in form and momentum have been saying that we shouldn't expect miracle performanes for a while now. Spurs are a decent team, it's not like Brum or anyone similar. What was crucial was that we didn't lose, and at least hopefully there were plenty of high fives in the dressing room afterwards and from this smallest of seeds we can grow back into a team again. One game leads into another, and I really hope for everybody, including Rafa, that this was a turning point.

[matrix]

this dont please me...

  lando,  do you think rafa is doing a good job at the moment...   honest answer please...

[Bad Bob]

Unbeaten and 4th and his job's on the line...

Although Lando's being a bit glib here, I do agree with what he's saying. We're unquestionably in the midst of extremely choppy waters as far as form goes, but albeit fortuitously we are still unbeaten in the League and not out of it. To talk about replacing Rafa at his stage is simply not being realistic or sensible in my opinion. At the end of the season I'm sure there will be an appraisal (as there is every season) about where we are but you don't flip your manager after eight unbeaten games.

Also those who are writing us off for the Premiership are jumping the gun just a fraction I reckon. Arsenal have won seven out of eight and drawn the other one. While it's a brilliant start nobody goes through a season playing like that and their time will come as far as recovering from injuries and/or a defeat goes.

More worrying is the form of Man Utd for whom I must say Ferguson (as much as I can't stand the fecker) has given a masterclass in managing so far this season. They started really poorly, but a combination of steely determination, selectorial common sense and a knowledge that only wins will do has dragged them back above us. As they proved at the weekend, even if you do have mass rotations, as long as you are winning games and playing at Home, you can still carry on the run.

But we are by no means out of it. We are not exactly in it either as far as the top two are concerned, but we absolutely must keep our heads right now and try whatever we can to re-establish some momentum. It goes without saying that this means not just going for a core of players, but in my personal view in the short term selecting the same team in every single game. This means Carling Cup, Europe of whatever else, lets have three or four unchanged line-ups (proper injury permitting of course) on the bounce and see if we can't get something going.

Drawing at Home to Spurs is not a disasterous result. The fact we didn't play particularly well is hardly a surprise. Some of us who believe in form and momentum have been saying that we shouldn't expect miracle performanes for a while now. Spurs are a decent team, it's not like Brum or anyone similar. What was crucial was that we didn't lose, and at least hopefully there were plenty of high fives in the dressing room afterwards and from this smallest of seeds we can grow back into a team again. One game leads into another, and I really hope for everybody, including Rafa, that this was a turning point.

Sensible words, mate.  My big concern is that we now have to sit through another international fortnight with our players scattered to the four winds again.  Now, if they enjoy some success with their country they might be able to use the confidence boost to come back stronger for us.  If, however, there are injuries we may not be in any position to field anywhere near our best side against Everton and that is a worry.

[lakes10]

1990 was the last time we won it GH was got rid of as he said it would take two mre years for him to win it, We got Rafa, his main goal was to win it in 3 or 4 years. can he do it or do we need a new manager to win it.

i am not sure but 1990 is a very long time ago for a team like Liverpool.

[bigmick]

I can't answer for Lando but you have as your big piccie a shot of a bloke we bought in the close season. It appears he was an absolute steal for what we paid for him, a standout cast-iron fantastic signing. Most people admit we are missing one of the best young centre halves in Europe at the moment, a fella who can defend, bring it out, pass it and score the odd goal. The other bloke that a lot of people say we are missing is one of the best passers of a football you ever did see, who at his best would get in pretty much any team in Europe. The combined fee for these three players is less than 40 million quid, which although being a lot of cash is a snip for how good they are.

Rafa is not God or a Guru, but he is unbeaten in the league. He deserves at least the opportunity to prove once and for all whether his methods will work now we have a better squad of players. Obviously I don't think his methods will work (the rotation thing) but he deserves the chance to either run with it till it's conclusion or to modify it.

[Lando_Griffin]

this dont please me...

  lando,  do you think rafa is doing a good job at the moment...   honest answer please...

I don't understand how you can blame poor individual performances on the manager. The tactics have been pretty good this season, with the exceptions duly noted by the Spaniard.

The fact is, we're in the middle of a spell where most of our outfield players are playing well below their true level. You can blame Rafa all you like, but I won't subscribe to that theory.

So to answer your question, "yes". I think Rafa IS doing a good job considering the circumstances he finds himself and the team in.

[Lando_Griffin]

I can't answer for Lando but you have as your big piccie a shot of a bloke we bought in the close season. It appears he was an absolute steal for what we paid for him, a standout cast-iron fantastic signing. Most people admit we are missing one of the best young centre halves in Europe at the moment, a fella who can defend, bring it out, pass it and score the odd goal. The other bloke that a lot of people say we are missing is one of the best passers of a football you ever did see, who at his best would get in pretty much any team in Europe. The combined fee for these three players is less than 40 million quid, which although being a lot of cash is a snip for how good they are.

Rafa is not God or a Guru, but he is unbeaten in the league. He deserves at least the opportunity to prove once and for all whether his methods will work now we have a better squad of players. Obviously I don't think his methods will work (the rotation thing) but he deserves the chance to either run with it till it's conclusion or to modify it.

I agree with every word, save for the confidence in Rafa's methods.

[bigmick]

Sensible words, mate.  My big concern is that we now have to sit through another international fortnight with our players scattered to the four winds again. 

Fortunately though Bob, all the other teams have blokes who are involved in Internationals as well. If (as the sports scientists at our club tell us) our players are a bit tired when they get back from their excursions, maybe this time we'll take the view that the players in the other teams (who invariably play after internationals) are also tired so it'll cancel itself out.

I think one of the lads recently put up our record after Internationals/Champions League games and it is absolutely awful. It would be hard to argue that the methods we currently employ are yielding much joy (our resting after the last break for instance, can't with the benefit of hindsight be honestly considered a masterstroke in any sense at all). Given this it might be time to try a new approach. No prizes for guessing what I think that is.

[lakes10]

this dont please me...

  lando,  do you think rafa is doing a good job at the moment...   honest answer please...

I don't understand how you can blame poor individual performances on the manager. The tactics have been pretty good this season, with the exceptions duly noted by the Spaniard.

The fact is, we're in the middle of a spell where most of our outfield players are playing well below their true level. You can blame Rafa all you like, but I won't subscribe to that theory.

So to answer your question, "yes". I think Rafa IS doing a good job considering the circumstances he finds himself and the team in.

well if he just let the team know what he thinks his best team is them he might not be in this "circumstances " to start with.

its hard for any player not to know if he is going to get a game, it will always be in the back of their mind if its time to move on to get games.

[Lando_Griffin]

Unbeaten and 4th and his job's on the line...

Lando seriously you know I like you but how you can say that I just dont know?
Last minute equaliser from Torres take your specs off for a minute mate.
4th in the league when we could have been 1st 8 points dropped at home?

You think that is acceptable?
4th place is not acceptable neither is 3rd if you are second you are nothing.

2 wins on the bounce and everything will be right in the World again.

WE probaaly will be hyping ourselves for the league again then!!

Probably...

[Lando_Griffin]

this dont please me...

  lando,  do you think rafa is doing a good job at the moment...   honest answer please...

I don't understand how you can blame poor individual performances on the manager. The tactics have been pretty good this season, with the exceptions duly noted by the Spaniard.

The fact is, we're in the middle of a spell where most of our outfield players are playing well below their true level. You can blame Rafa all you like, but I won't subscribe to that theory.

So to answer your question, "yes". I think Rafa IS doing a good job considering the circumstances he finds himself and the team in.

well if he just let the team know what he thinks his best team is them he might not be in this "circumstances " to start with.

its hard for any player not to know if he is going to get a game, it will always be in the back of their mind if its time to move on to get games.

Every player in our squad knew they would be subjected to a regime of rotation when they signed for us, or extended their stay here. (Harry Kewell being the only surviving member from Houllier's reign still on his original contract.)

I hardly think that this is a viable excuse.

[lakes10]

this dont please me...

  lando,  do you think rafa is doing a good job at the moment...   honest answer please...

I don't understand how you can blame poor individual performances on the manager. The tactics have been pretty good this season, with the exceptions duly noted by the Spaniard.

The fact is, we're in the middle of a spell where most of our outfield players are playing well below their true level. You can blame Rafa all you like, but I won't subscribe to that theory.

So to answer your question, "yes". I think Rafa IS doing a good job considering the circumstances he finds himself and the team in.

well if he just let the team know what he thinks his best team is them he might not be in this "circumstances " to start with.

its hard for any player not to know if he is going to get a game, it will always be in the back of their mind if its time to move on to get games.

Every player in our squad, save for Carragher, Gerrard, Hyypia, Riise and Finnan (Kewell hasn't been fit long enough to be judged) knew they would be subjected to a regime of rotation when they signed.

Considering the overall form of the above-named players throughout Rafa's tenure here, I hardly think that this is a viable excuse.

yes i understand that but the named still need to be able to form a working partnership with the other players, very hard to do when you keep getting a new team to work with every game.