Really unsure what to think. Rafa made quite a few massive errors tonight which are happening more and more regularly.
1) Starting Torres and Gerrard, but for them to go off injured. Well, it's proved to be a risk that wasn't worth taking as we're out and they're now both injured, how long they're out, if they're out at all, remains to be seen.
2) Playing Dirk Kuyt on the right over Benayoun. Well, Dirk Kuyt is possibly the most talentless player at the club alongside Carragher, with regards to ability. He is utterly poor and I've always maintained this. Just like Lucas, it's alright piggybacking off the good form from the likes of Torres, Masch, Gerrard and Alonso. But when they're not playing or not firing, Kuyt and Lucas are exposed for the sub-par players they are, that only get played because they follow (pretty poor) tactics to Rafa's perfection.
3) Persisting with Benayoun on the left, even when Babel was brought on. Benayoun isn't a left sided player, every time he's played there he's gone missing and the only time he ever shows anything is when he's drifted in field or popped up on the right. One of only a few talented players playing tonight, but was largely wasted.
4) Bringing on Babel whilst N'Gog was on. Seriously, what did he do? All it resulted in us doing was hoofing it down field every single time. Reminiscent of Houllier at times tonight.
In all honesty, we were shocking, embarrassing at times. If we win at Stoke then that will obviously paper over a few cracks, but Rafa's on the thinnest of ice IMO. If people want to praise him with CL finals, runners up in the league and so on, then they have to be fair and criticize him for the form this year.
Read a quality quote before:
Hicks and Gillett are holding the club back from competing at the very top, Rafa is holding the club back from competing at any level.
I love the man but he's extremely lucky to still be employed.
