Official Liverpool FC Supporters Thread

[Alan]

As a Liverpool supporter I really havent taken to Rafa as most other supporters have. I believe he is very good manager tactically but I don't think that he is this tactical genius as people make out. I am tired of him overcomplicating stuff, playing not too lose, negative defensive tactics, choosing our side to neutralise the opposition even though we are stronger than them. Let them worry about us FFS. I also believe that he is not so good with man management and I also dont believe that he is on the same level as Ferguson and Wenger. I am not anti-Rafa or pro-Rafa. I am pro-Liverpool. I want what's best for my club. Sadly, and this is my opinion, Rafa isn't whats best for Liverpool.

Well said. Sums up my opinion

How many players would leave if we appoint Hiddink or Mourinho (Heaven forbid) or Rikjaard as manager?

I think its time for Liverpool to be proactive rather than reactive. I know it is not the Liverpool way to sack managers mid way through the season but the Liverpool way has been destroyed already, mostly by our lovely owners but partly due to Rafa himself...

The problem is can those two idiot owners attract quality managers to Liverpool. I doubt they would sign up with all this instability and financial troubles. Firing the manager is serious business with a real danger the club could fall even further behind with a new manager.

 

[smokey]

The problem is can those two idiot owners attract quality managers to Liverpool. I doubt they would sign up with all this instability and financial troubles. Firing the manager is serious business with a real danger the club could fall even further behind with a new manager.

That's the ticket... it's a gamble that doesn't always pay off (Lord knows Chelsea have had enough experience with it) but then again... if it was Redknapp...? Who knows?

 

[fishfly]

lol you guys have a united supporter here telling you your manager is not working, yet no one thinks there's anything wrong with him
well lets see how the weekend goes

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

Weekend predictions...Torres and Gerrad back in squad, Aquilini makes his Debut...

Liverpool 3 Man U 2

 

[poolmania]

Alberto Aquilani has spoken of his delight after taking another step towards full fitness with an encouraging 15 minute cameo appearance for Liverpool Reserves on Wednesday night.
The 25-year-old made his Reds bow as a late substitute at Prenton Park in the second string's 2-0 victory over Sunderland - and wasted no time in serving up a glimpse of his vast potential.

"I am happy to have made my debut," Aquilani told Liverpoolfc.tv. "It's been a very long time since I last played.

"Although I only played for 15 minutes tonight, it is good for me and my fitness.

"I know I am not fully fit yet, but I hope to be soon."

An ankle injury has kept Aquilani sidelined since his August transfer from AS Roma, however the Italy midfielder admits he is pleased with the progress he has made in his rehabilitation.

And though aware there is still plenty of work to be done before he is back to peak fitness, the No.4 is already planning a long-term future at Anfield.

"Of course, I cannot wait to make my debut for the first-team now," he said.

"Like every other player, I want to be playing, but the important thing for me now is to keep improving my fitness.

"I don't want to stop now - I want to carry on working hard and improving for a long time.

"I have signed for Liverpool for five years and I want to play here for at least five years."

Some people who were at the game said they were impressed. He was playing very high up on the pitch, behind the strikers. Wonder if he and Gerrard will be changing roles in the future.

Whether he will make the bench for the United game, I very much doubt.

 

[RanzB]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/21/rafael-benitez-10-mistakes-liverpool

Rafael Benítez: 10 mistakes that have cost Liverpool

Excerpt:

Trusting the owners
Protracted contract negotiations concluded in March with Benítez in control of transfer policy, the youth set-up and being promised around £20m to spend this summer above whatever he raised through sales. Hicks and Gillett had sold their master tactician a dummy. As summer progressed it materialised that the improved contracts given to Steven Gerrard, Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Daniel Agger, Yossi Benayoun and José Reina were coming out of Benítez's transfer budget. Yet another reason for the Spaniard to rue the day David Moores accepted the Americans' higher bid for his majority shareholding

 

[AMG133]

I said it on the UK boards & I'll say it here, the men to blame are RICK PARRY & DAVID MOORES, the dumb nitwits sold our club to the worst possible idiots in the world! fine they have a good track record in the states, but footy is a different ball game to hockey & baseball! Im not saying they should have sold it to DIC....well if they did we would have been the most powerful club in the world... but there were others, the Krafts, etc... Im not sure why Rick gave them more time to get in a better bid to that of DIC.

 

[smokey]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/21/rafael-benitez-10-mistakes-liverpool

Rafael Benítez: 10 mistakes that have cost Liverpool

Excerpt:

Trusting the owners
Protracted contract negotiations concluded in March with Benítez in control of transfer policy, the youth set-up and being promised around £20m to spend this summer above whatever he raised through sales. Hicks and Gillett had sold their master tactician a dummy. As summer progressed it materialised that the improved contracts given to Steven Gerrard, Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Daniel Agger, Yossi Benayoun and José Reina were coming out of Benítez's transfer budget. Yet another reason for the Spaniard to rue the day David Moores accepted the Americans' higher bid for his majority shareholding

Interesting read. Ta.

 

[Beginner]

Some people who were at the game said they were impressed. He was playing very high up on the pitch, behind the strikers. Wonder if he and Gerrard will be changing roles in the future.

Whether he will make the bench for the United game, I very much doubt.

Read some of the supporters saying that he has good vision but was afraid to enter 50/50 tackles which makes sense.

I also doubt he will make the united game with arsenal looking to be his first team debut

 

[Alan]

Can't read to much if anything into his first reserve game surely

 

[AveshR]

Weekend predictions...Torres and Gerrad back in squad, Aquilini makes his Debut...

Liverpool 3 Man U 2

post this in the joke thread

 

[Ashez7]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N166168091022-1048.htm

some good news aqualani better play the weekend at least 30mins

 

[fishfly]

While Benítez has been restrained on some transfers – such as when he discovered he had less than £2m for a new central defender late this summer, hence Sotirios Kyrgiakos – he has squandered plenty. Inexpensive errors such as Josemi, Antonio Núñez and Mauricio Pellegrino were excusable as he overhauled the squad and concentrated resources on Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano or Fernando Torres. But to be six seasons into the job and have a squad utterly reliant on two players, one inherited, while £11m Ryan Babel was left on the bench against Lyon is damning

lol

The Liverpool manager frequently complains about international commitments and their repercussions but rarely prevents his players, even those carrying slight injuries, from joining their national teams. Unlike, for example, Manchester United, Liverpool players do not often develop sudden, mysterious problems ahead of an international week. Torres suffered three injuries with Spain last season that may have cost Liverpool the title. Spain and England had qualified for the World Cup before their recent qualifiers, but Gerrard and Torres travelled with slight injuries and returned far worse

so who's fault is that he does not try protect his assets?

this document is funny

 

[zippy]

The press in UK have made the point that Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal also have key players injured. United have been without Rooney for a few games now. Ferdinand was injured and has come back, playing rubbish. Yet these teams still manage to grind out a result.

While you could argue Chelsea and Man United are financially better off, you cant say the same for Arsenal. They are busy paying off their stadium and havent spent huge sums on players in recent years. Arsene Wenge and the Arsenal coaching staff are managing just fine.

Just about all of Liverpool's recent signings are either crap or have been injured since their first press conference.

 

[reddevilandy10]

The press in UK have made the point that Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal also have key players injured. United have been without Rooney for a few games now. Ferdinand was injured and has come back, playing rubbish. Yet these teams still manage to grind out a result.

While you could argue Chelsea and Man United are financially better off, you cant say the same for Arsenal. They are busy paying off their stadium and havent spent huge sums on players in recent years. Arsene Wenge and the Arsenal coaching staff are managing just fine.

Just about all of Liverpool's recent signings are either crap or have been injured since their first press conference.

You can't forget about Spurs, Man City and Villa too. They looking rather well placed to break into the top 4. Even Sunderland is on a decent run.

 

[Ashez7]

i will be suprised if Aqualani gets even 5 mins on the pitch. if he was 99% fit rafa would give him at least minimum 5mins knowing rafa when it comes down to fitness. its going to be very interesting to see how this guy makes an impact in the squad and what he provides for the team. i hope to see our midfield a bit creative when he finally makes his debut. his a great player checked a couple of clips on youtube but will an italian make a major impact at a club liverpool fc. thinkin of italian midfielders that have made a major impact in the premier league in the last 5 years perhaps? i cnt think of any at the moment. i cnt even think of any italian who has made a major impact to the EPL? hopefully Aquaman will be that man who can make a major impactts looking really hope for Pool at the moment.

 

[icyrus]

i cnt even think of any italian who has made a major impact to the EPL?

Zola

 

[reddevilandy10]

Paulo di Canio.

 

[fishfly]

Matarazzi

he was sent off four times in just 27 games!

 

[poolmania]

http://tomkinstimes.com/2009/10/my-day-with-crisis-hit-benitez/

A very long and very interesting read. If you have 15 minutes to kill (especially the LFC supporters) then do yourself a favour and read this.

He does go over the top in praising Rafa in everything he does but it's a good account of what Rafa is like when working with the players. It gives us a bit of insight to Rafa and his absolute dedication to the game, players and Liverpool FC.