Re: Football Chat : Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:19 am  

Fresh Prince of Chesh-air wrote:

Robbie,

What do you think of Rafa's reign? I personally thought, CL win aside, he took you backwards. Concentrated too much on Europe, brought a continental style/ tempo to a PL side and IMO neutral supporters lost a lot of respect for LFC because of Benitez and his antcis of being a sore loser/ showing other teams lack of respect/ making himself look rather silly.

Why is he so loved by some supporters?

I thought his reign was excellent for the most part, held by back a few things. The way we played for the most part, IMO at least, was very good. We passed the ball well, always from the back (Carra the odd exception every now and then), we had a great shape to the team with some world class players, it was Rafa's inability/lack of final push financially to identify world class creative players that stopped his side being a 'great' one instead of just a good one. The side of 08/09, IMO, was the greatest Liverpool side I've seen (I am only 19, remember that), purely because it was so complete, so versatile, so consistent yet utterly devastating when on top form. The mad month or so that we had that coincided with the rant really did ruin that season, as that side should have won the league IMO.

Anyway, as for Rafa's reign, I thought it was generally good but it became damaged too much, too often, by things in the board room. As you can see at Inter now, he's happy in his surroundings, so he'll happily accept that he's the 'coach', but, when here, so many decisions were (incorrectly IMO) being made above him, he became so frustrated that he had to become power mad, as he was repeatedly taking the blame for others mistakes, that's what the whole fuss over his contract was. Still, the biggest flaw that left a real dark mark on his time here will be the sale of Alonso. We know Xabi wanted to go, but only after he was given the push by Benitez. I know it's a professional sport, but we still haven't replaced Xabi (Meireles should do it), which is why we finished 7th last year, IMO.

Still, I feel he left the club and team in decent shape, he revamped our academy (rightly so) to try and start churning out world class locals, he left the squad with a solid core group of players, but the tight board/poor decisions by Roy have made that squad look weaker than what he left it. Still, I think Rafa done well, he took over a side flirting between the CL and the Wafer cup, but turned us into one of the top 5 sides in Europe and even gave us our best punt at the league in two decades. I never thought that Rafa, as a footballing man, should have been sacked, it was the way that off the field matters began to effect him and the team, I could see it was becoming too much for both parties to carry on.

Re: Football Chat : Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:20 am  

Wire_85 wrote:

Read it again I said I didn't want it played.

You and Dan FC must be some of a few very who don't because its not just one or two its the whole Park end and the whole away end when at Anfield that sing it.

I've been too 3 derby's in the past 5 years and never heard it sung...only kopites are gobsh...song.

I doubt the whole of the PE sing but if they do, why not walk over and ask them to explain their chant.

Re: Football Chat : Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:23 am  

Fresh Prince of Chesh-air wrote:

Robbie,

What do you think of Rafa's reign? I personally thought, CL win aside, he took you backwards. Concentrated too much on Europe, brought a continental style/ tempo to a PL side and IMO neutral supporters lost a lot of respect for LFC because of Benitez and his antics of being a sore loser/ showing other teams lack of respect/ making himself look rather silly with his selections / outbursts.

Why is he so loved by some supporters?

God's gift to Liverpool.

Re: Football Chat : Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:26 am  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

I thought his reign was excellent for the most part, held by back a few things. The way we played for the most part, IMO at least, was very good. We passed the ball well, always from the back (Carra the odd exception every now and then), we had a great shape to the team with some world class players, it was Rafa's inability/lack of final push financially to identify world class creative players that stopped his side being a 'great' one instead of just a good one. The side of 08/09, IMO, was the greatest Liverpool side I've seen (I am only 19, remember that), purely because it was so complete, so versatile, so consistent yet utterly devastating when on top form. The mad month or so that we had that coincided with the rant really did ruin that season, as that side should have won the league IMO.

Anyway, as for Rafa's reign, I thought it was generally good but it became damaged too much, too often, by things in the board room. As you can see at Inter now, he's happy in his surroundings, so he'll happily accept that he's the 'coach', but, when here, so many decisions were (incorrectly IMO) being made above him, he became so frustrated that he had to become power mad, as he was repeatedly taking the blame for others mistakes, that's what the whole fuss over his contract was. Still, the biggest flaw that left a real dark mark on his time here will be the sale of Alonso. We know Xabi wanted to go, but only after he was given the push by Benitez. I know it's a professional sport, but we still haven't replaced Xabi (Meireles should do it), which is why we finished 7th last year, IMO.

Still, I feel he left the club and team in decent shape, he revamped our academy (rightly so) to try and start churning out world class locals, he left the squad with a solid core group of players, but the tight board/poor decisions by Roy have made that squad look weaker than what he left it. Still, I think Rafa done well, he took over a side flirting between the CL and the Wafer cup, but turned us into one of the top 5 sides in Europe and even gave us our best punt at the league in two decades. I never thought that Rafa, as a footballing man, should have been sacked, it was the way that off the field matters began to effect him and the team, I could see it was becoming too much for both parties to carry on.

Not trying to make you bite or anything like that but why does/ should the boardroom farce have an affect on the team? Surely the team should just go out and do its thing and be able to take their minds off things that probably have little to do with them personally.

Its not as if Benitez had no money too spend. I am so glad you pointed out that Alonso wanted to go, as some LFC fans are in denial of that, same with the Masc one, insisting that Benitez was forced too sell them, despite Ben not being there when Masc was sold.

So, I'm guessing you're pro-Rafa then?

Re: Football Chat : Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:26 am  

Nikaed wrote:

God's gift to Liverpool.

Not God's gift, just appreciated in a country where people like Harry Redknapp are worshiped.

Who do you prefer, Deaks, Rafa or Roy? (By that I mean from a footballing view, not a knob view )

Re: Football Chat : Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:30 am  

I think Rafa was a good manager for you. I honestly thought you were going to win the league in 2008/2009. If it wasn't for Ronaldo you probably would have, it's crazy to think that you only lost two games in the league that season and the last 11 games there was some great football played. The only thing I never understood is how many fans stuck up for his bad decisions i.e transfers, tactics etc.

Re: Football Chat : Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:39 am  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Not God's gift, just appreciated in a country where people like Harry Redknapp are worshipped.

Who worships Harry Redknapp? Apart from 10 year old Pompey fans.

Re: Football Chat : Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:40 am  

Wire_85 wrote:

Hahaha never heard it you got ear plugs in?


Its clear what the songs about the fake wall pushing gives it away.

Similar to renditions of "who's that lying on the runway" sang on the away concourse at OT this year and hundreds, and unfortunately I mean hundreds of aeroplane signs as well. I'm also fully aware that we have numpties as well.

Re: Football Chat : Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:46 am  

Nikaed wrote:

Similar to renditions of "who's that lying on the runway" sang on the away concourse at OT this year and hundreds, and unfortunately I mean hundreds of aeroplane signs as well. I'm also fully aware that we have numpties as well.

I don't claim not to hear it though.

Re: Football Chat : Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:46 am  

Wire_85 wrote:

I don't claim not to hear it though.

Good point.