Liverpool FC Forum

by **god_bless_john_houlding** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 2:38 am

1) Benitez must take the large extent of the blame, as it's up to him to make the right decisions at the right time, more often than not, he hasn't.
2) My point on Gerrard is, he's scoring 15 or more goals which is a bloody good return from the centre of midfield, so he hasn't been disinterested as much as people would like to think.
3) My point on the players was...Kewell IMO is :censored:

and always has been. Torres was unfit, whether he's our best forward or not he was unfit. It was a good enough excuse not to play him against Portsmouth or Barnsley. Alonso has been slaughtered by many on here and many others around the city of Liverpool for his poor performances. So why didn't Mascheranho play who's apparently been our player of the year?
4) Babel may not of looked like scoring, but he'd of created alot more chances, and then maybe we'd of burried one of them. Makes sesne to leave the better players on.

You're a huge admirer of Benitez, and I can understand why, he has done wonders with this club, but you're so blinded by his success, that you fail to he's bringing us down now. He's not taking us forwards anymore, and that's why we're languishing in fifth.

by **112-1077774096** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 2:41 am

Leonmc0708 wrote:
peewee wrote:good on him, about time one of them said something, its just a shame he wasn't honest enough to blame the managers tactics and selections as being a major factor

YAWN - drop the dead donkey, or write Rafa a letter if you must.

strange mine is the only post you respond to, get over me leon you muppet.

i will drop my stance when the clown leaves or lowers his level of stupdity

by **big al** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 2:48 am

GBJH Im not a huge fan of Benitez. Im a huge fan of LFC. Rafa is the manager. I have stated many times on this site I think that unless he wins the champions league, he'll be gone. Rafa's record is far better at this stage than even the great Bill Shankly, Hes miles behind bith Paisley and Fagan but he's light years ahead of Souness, Evans and even Houllier ( who might have won more trophies, but all Houlliers trophies dont equal a champions league). I owe Rafa because he made me believe again and even now although I doubt him and many of his decisions I still look at every game with the belief we can win it, especially the Mancs who we will beat at Old Trafford. I used to fear we would be destroyed. Not anymore

by **Effes** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 2:55 am

big al wrote: I said the same thing here 5 years ago, we need a leader on the pitch, we need a Roy Keanne.

Agree with what you say re. Gerrard - he is an introvert, not what you
want your captain to be.

I started a thread after Chelsea away a fe3w seasons back saying the same, but got
shouted down.

There are many things wrong with the club at the moment, and SG as captain is one of them.

by **burjennio** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 2:58 am

hi guys, this is my 1st post in 6 months - good to see you've all put your feelings about the manager behind you

by **god_bless_john_houlding** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:01 am

big al wrote:GBJH Im not a huge fan of Benitez. Im a huge fan of LFC. Rafa is the manager. I have stated many times on this site I think that unless he wins the champions league, he'll be gone. Rafa's record is far better at this stage than even the great Bill Shankly, Hes miles behind bith Paisley and Fagan but he's light years ahead of Souness, Evans and even Houllier ( who might have won more trophies, but all Houlliers trophies dont equal a champions league). I owe Rafa because he made me believe again and even now although I doubt him and many of his decisions I still look at every game with the belief we can win it, especially the Mancs who we will beat at Old Trafford. I used to fear we would be destroyed. Not anymore

First off Al, my last post wasn't aimed at you mate.

But only now you think we can beat United. The same side that under Benitez we haven't scored against in the last 5 league matches? The same United side Houllier didn't lose to in 5 seasons?

This is what I don't understand, how people can sit there and openly praise Benitez for one trophy (allbeit the European Cup and that in itself is a huge achievement) but they knock a fella who won 4 major honours. Fair enough Houllier didn't win us the European Cup, but he got us closer in the league, he won three trophies in one year, which don't kid yourself is a lot harder to win three in one year than one in one year.

I'll back Benitez to the heavens while he's in charge to get it right every game. I don't think he's the right man and I think he's the major reason for this season turning into a disaster, but while he's sitting in the dug out as our manager he has my backing. But for people to just shrug off what Houllier did for this club pisses the life out of me. When Houllier took over the club consisted of James, Babb, Harkness, Staunton to name but a few. He took over a side that was full of :censored:

, just like Benitez did. But Houllier gets criticised, and that' why I defend him so much, I think Houllier is wrongly treated by many on here, who think he played boring football and bought to many bad buys. Well I agree there, it was painful to watch and even more painful to see some of the signings, but he still took this club to major finals, still won major trophies and got as close to the league as we have been since we won it. So stop thinking he was some :censored:

manager and give the fella some credit.

I'll credit Benitez where it's due. Winning the European Cup, he deserves huge amounts of credit there. His tactics in certain games were spot on. Juve away most obvious. His good signings have been really world class buys, and he DID take us forward. But that's finished and now we're sliding downwards again, hopefully just this one season and next year we take the league by storm. So I'll give Benitez his credit because he deserves it, but certain fans have got to give him the criticism when he deserves it as well.

by **account deleted by request** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:05 am

I believe we can beat the mancs (then again I always think we will win)but not because of Rafa's record against them - I would guess that he has the worst record against the mancs of ANY Liverpool manager?

1 draw and 6 defeats from 7 league games.

by **112-1077774096** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:09 am

burjennio wrote:hi guys, this is my 1st post in 6 months - good to see you've all put your feelings about the manager behind you

yeah i used to think he was great, but for the past year i have realised he is in it for himself and not the club

by **god_bless_john_houlding** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:09 am

Like I said I'll give Benitez credit where it's due, in cup games he's beaten United. Peter Crouch 1-0 in the FA Cup 06.

But league wise, he hasn't figured out how to outsmart Ferguson.

by **The_Rock** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:11 am

I wonder who will be blamed for us falling down the popularity polls in europe.

Before rafa came, we were the 2nd most popular english side in europe...now we are below arsenal and even f@ckin chelsea too....

funny.....as i was under the impression that we were the most popular english team in spain.... :glare:

by **big al** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:25 am

JBJH I did credited Houllier when he left its here on the old threads if you look you'll find my threads thanking him. The fact is that we have had a string of successive manager who have failed to win the premiership. Houllier took the club as far as he could he was'nt up to make the next step up. In Benitez case however he took on a far greater project than any of the 3 previous managers. Rafa Has been instrumental in a complete over haul of the club. He has taken control of everything including ousting Steve Heighway. He has bought around £15m to £20m in youth and reserve team players some of who are exceptional prospects. With Liverpool he won the FA cup the Super cup and the Champions league. We were cheated out of the World club Championship and he's been in 2 other finals. He still has a lot to prove.
No one except Bill Shankly has made as many fundemental changes to the club as Rafa has. Not everything he has done is visible to the public. Liverpool are a great club we are still one of the top clubs in world football. Those who think we are miles behind are wrong we are not, the gutter press and Murdocks media would love LFC fans to believe we are miles behind, we are not. Yes gerrards right its unacceptable. Rafa has made a statement last night agreeing with Gerrard. He has made a lot of dodgy decisions but the fact is a number of players who he put faith in let him down. Thats either poor management or poor judgement. Rafa needs to change his rotation system, he needs to make Carragher captain and he needs to win the champions league. If he doesent hes gone, simple as that.

by **god_bless_john_houlding** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:54 am

I hear this alot, "Rafa has taken over everything, outsing Heighway" correct me if I'm wrong but Steve Heighway guided Liverpool to three youth cups, 96, 06, 07. Since Heighway has gone, we're erm.....how do I put this....OUT OF THE YOUTH CUP. Great move by Benitez. Maybe that's just me being picky, but it stands to reason.

The youth products to me are just like millions of money. It's all very well having them, but it's up to correct judgement to see if they work. You can have all the money in the world and still fail, just ask Newcastle. Likewise you can have all the best youngsters this side of Pluto, but if none get given a go, it's a worthless exercise for this club.

by **big al** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:58 am

gbjh many of the youngster are in the reserves or on loan, the reserve team are very good. Top of the league. Young Flynn had a blinder first halve against the Mancs on Tuesday night. Nemeth looks a good prospect and Plesse looks very capable.

by **god_bless_john_houlding** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:11 am

I know Al, I try and watch the youth and reserve sides whenever possible, but my point is they have to be given a chance in the first team to prove their as good as we think.

But with the pressure mounting on Benitez, I don't know if he can afford to trust in the kids.

by **maguskwt** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:19 am

god_bless_john_houlding wrote:Do you ever think that if Benitez wasn't so stubborn he'd of walked away from Liverpool after the yanks sounded out Klinsman?

so you would've wanted for rafa to walk out and klinsmann to take over... :wwww

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