Liverpool FC Forum

by **A.B.** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:01 pm

LFC.tv

Rafael Benitez explained the reason Jerzy Dudek replaced Pepe Reina in goal against Arsenal was down to a promise he made the Pole at the start of the season.
The Liverpool manager told Dudek he would start in the domestic cup games for Liverpool this season. The Istanbul hero missed the Carling Cup 3rd round win over Reading due to suspension but played in the 4th round win at Birmingham.

"At the start of the season I told Jerzy that Pepe was the number one goalkeeper but I made a promise to him that he would play in the Carling Cup and FA Cup. Once you make a promise you don't go back on your word.

"I thought he did okay against Arsenal and he didn't really have a lot to do besides the goals."

That explains a lot but he shouldn't start on Tuesday. :sleepy:

by **gary106** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:24 pm

yeah fair enough i guess everyone has bad games anyway

by **Liverpool4Life** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:25 pm

Ya, but Reina hasn't been good ethier. I say Go Carson!

by **A.B.** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:32 pm

Ya, but Reina hasn't been good ethie

Right, he only makes match winning saves. :laugh:

Carson has been doing well but because Charlton are :censored:

he's being tested through out the whole game. That won't be the case with us. A class keeper is a keeper who does f#ck all in the entire game and makes an important save that could have changed the game.

It doesn't matter if Carson makes 15 brilliant saves and then f#cks up two minutes from time.

That is what separates a decent keeper from a good one. Hence why James did well everywhere but with us.

by **CarlosRocks** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:33 pm

i think he should stick to his word and stick with Dudek. at least then it proves to the rest of the squad that he is a man of his word...

by **Effes** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:43 pm

CarlosRocks wrote:i think he should stick to his word and stick with Dudek. at least then it proves to the rest of the squad that he is a man of his word...

Agree there - he may as well now. Damage done

by **heimdall** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:43 pm

A.B. wrote:LFC.tv

Rafael Benitez explained the reason Jerzy Dudek replaced Pepe Reina in goal against Arsenal was down to a promise he made the Pole at the start of the season.
The Liverpool manager told Dudek he would start in the domestic cup games for Liverpool this season. The Istanbul hero missed the Carling Cup 3rd round win over Reading due to suspension but played in the 4th round win at Birmingham.

"At the start of the season I told Jerzy that Pepe was the number one goalkeeper but I made a promise to him that he would play in the Carling Cup and FA Cup. Once you make a promise you don't go back on your word.

"I thought he did okay against Arsenal and he didn't really have a lot to do besides the goals."

That explains a lot but he shouldn't start on Tuesday.

Why the f%&k is he making stupid promises like this which jepordise Liverpool's season, I mean it, I'm starting to get really annoyed with Rafa, far too much tinkering for a supposed tactical genius!!

by **Liverpool4Life** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:13 pm

I agree with heimdall.

by **Rafa D** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:16 pm

My brain just told me that you too above are absolute weapon heads and I agree.

by **CarlosRocks** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:18 pm

Dudek is a good keeper who had a bad game and maybe Rafa did make a mistake in picking him due to his fitness but would you have all said the same if it had been Reina in net and let 3 goals in....

would you then have slated Rafa for not sticking to his word and playing Dudek??

by **A.B.** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:21 pm

CarlosRocks wrote:Dudek is a good keeper who had a bad game and maybe Rafa did make a mistake in picking him due to his fitness but would you have all said the same if it had been Reina in net and let 3 goals in....

would you then have slated Rafa for not sticking to his word and playing Dudek??

It's funny you mention that. I swear two or three days ago there were people [some of the older posters as well] calling Rafa to play Dudek ahead of Reina.

:laugh:

by **woof woof !** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:23 pm

Dudek had a poor game BUT two of Arsenals goals were down to sh'ite defending not just Dudeks inability to stop the final shot. He shouldn't have even been called upon to make a save for the 2nd and 3rd goals .

by **A.B.** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:31 pm

woof woof ! wrote:Dudek had a poor game BUT two of Arsenals goals were down to sh'ite defending not just Dudeks inability to stop the final shot. He shouldn't have even been called upon to make a save for the 2nd and 3rd goals .

Dudek is poor and has been for a few years. His contribution at Istanbul will never ever be forgotten but let's not kid ourselves. He had one great season and that was it.

He doesn't have the ability to bounce back after a mistake. He isn't strong mentally to play on a consistent basis at this club. He isn't vocal enough in the box. As I said, hero in Istanbul but not good enough to play all the time. Rafa knows that, which is why he is on the bench 99.9 percent of the time.

You can make excuses all you want for Dudek about the poor defending which was terrible, but at the end of the day his job is to make saves. It doesn't matter if he does nothing all game but if he is called into action once he needs to make that save.

He should had saved the last two goals without any problems. Granted the first one was a great goal by Rosicky but Reina has made some excellent saves [the save he made with Sinclair's superb shoot last season at Anfield].

He isn't good enough and yesterday proved that. We need to sell him when we get the chance.

by **red37** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:45 pm

Dudek is taking most of the flak, and perhaps some of it justified. But, it was defensive errors that allowed him to be exposed for their 2nd and 3rd. The first goal was simply a sublime strike..end of. Though in allowing himself to stray a couple of yards outside the confines of the 6 yard area, it made any save even less likely.... You might wonder whether Reina would have fared any better.

as for the whole defensive errors argument. For me, had Rafa stuck with Jose for this one, you may also find a case for arguing that, such errors could and may of been avoided because the whole unit ie. back 5 (including the goalie) had been, up until that point, pretty impenetrable...or at least used to each others movement. why change it? For mere Sentimentality alone? If i were Rafa i wouldnt be making these promises at the start of any campaign in the first place. That precaution may have brought about a distinct lack of 'egg on the face' as a result. Still its all ifs and buts....the next game is fast approaching, whoever is chosen to represent the last line of defence, will have a lot to gleen from these recent experiences that need never have been dished out in the first place...if the manager wasn't so quick to please.

by **account deleted by request** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:12 pm

If nothing else it should keep the Reina bashers quiet for a few games at least. Dudek was :censored:

, he went down slower than the Titanic for the third goal, but as others have said the defence also made basic errors as well.

A few weeks ago I started a thread asking why we were looking to buy a new goalkeeper, I guess I have my answer now

Rafa's integrity in keeping his promise may have cost us a game, but better to lose a game than the teams respect by showing his word is worthless. Whether he should have given his word is another matter ,but its very hard to keep international players happy on the bench all season.

Another test of Rafa's charactor in the league cup, does he play Dudek again or break his word?

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