Liverpool

[shanman2]

One aspect of the season Liverpools fans are over looking is the back room staff have changed also.Pako Ayestaran left and he was a massive part of Benitez back room staff. Stating he needed to return to Spain. He sacked Steve Heighway as head of youth developement to control it himself. These withdrawls have been over looked I cant understand why, these men were important to Benitez and Liverpool. The wheels were falling off lthe wagon long before it even got to moving.

[hunt4the]

He's had €165 million over 4 years to spend, has won 4 home league games this season, rotates his side for rotation's sake, plays 1 upfront at home, is 15-odd points behind in the league, but we only have minor problems.

If he hadn't Torres to bail him out every week, we'd be stuck in mid-table, where Newcastle are. At least they have genuine problems.

Before fans like you turn our club into the next newcastle, to the delight of the rte panel and all the mancs posting here looking for benitez out.....

If anyone had said to you before benitez came in that the next pool manager would have won us the european cup you would have offered him a lifetime contract, people need to get a grip on reality, everyones expectations are ridiculously high these days,

Weve brought in a lot of players this summer so I for one did not expect us to challenge for the premiership this year, i can see us going all the way in the champions league fa cup though.

[gee wizz]

Before fans like you turn our club into the next newcastle, to the delight of the rte panel and all the mancs posting here looking for benitez out.....

If anyone had said to you before benitez came in that the next pool manager would have won us the european cup you would have offered him a lifetime contract, people need to get a grip on reality, everyones expectations are ridiculously high these days,

Weve brought in a lot of players this summer so I for one did not expect us to challenge for the premiership this year, i can see us going all the way in the champions league fa cup though.

the european cup was a long time ago i for one as a liverpool supporter thought that this was the year to go all out for the league,but sadly it doesn't seem to be the managers,1990 is a long time ago we are nearly coming up to the twenty year mark,all of my adult life has been taking up with the disappointment of knowing that come march or earlier in the season that are league campaign is over and we are looking to stay in the top 4 to qualify for europe or trying to win the f.a cup of even better the carling cup

[mypost]

If anyone had said to you before benitez came in that the next pool manager would have won us the european cup you would have offered him a lifetime contract, people need to get a grip on reality, everyones expectations are ridiculously high these days

Expecting to beat Wigan and Brum at home is a ridiculously high expectation? Expecting to be above Manchester City in the league is an ridiculously high expectation? Some people have them too low. It's the league title that is the goal here, not the EC.

I wonder would Bill Shankly or Bob Paisley be happy to finish 3rd or 4th in the league every season?

[stojkovic]

I wonder would Bill Shankly or Bob Paisley be happy to finish 3rd or 4th in the league every season?

As Paisley famously said "It hasnt been all great times since I've been here....one year we came second".

[Angus]

Well, that was interesting.

I really struggle to understand Liverpool - clearly a decent side with good players - so whey are they unconvincing ?

It was all a bit hectic, headless chicken maybe with nobody willing to take control of the thing a la Scholes / Carrick / Essien / Fabregas / Barry / Hamann.

Notwithstanding the goal, I cannot get the theory behind bringing Crouch on - even the great marlene Harewood made a much bigger impact when he came on because he kept the ball, something which Liverpool don't do.

It is a puzzle, ana engima wrapped in a riddle as to why they underachieve - the only theory I can come up with is that they are easier to play against than other top sides - stop the wingers beating the full backs and stick a holding midfielder in front of the back 2 - all of the action appears to take place in a space 15 yards by 15 yards in the centre of the pitch just outside the Villa box which is easy to defend against without nous, guile and class.

These guys will now struggle to finish fourth......

[Roadend]

- stop the wingers beating the full backs

Should be very easy enough given that Liverpool currently don't have one winger worth a damn.

[Block G Raptor]

Am really starting to think that it's time for benitez to go. Torres aside his signings this year have been brutal. as was pointed out above we don't have any decent wide players, Dirk Shyte is muck lately(I know he works hard for the team but ffs we need to see more goals)
between the Yanks and benitez they are really starting to make a right mess of the club, Don't know if the Dubai crowd would be any better but at the moment I wouldn't mind finding out

[drinkfeckarse]

Kuyt and Kewell burnt their bridges with me last night. Not good enough. Thought Mascherano had a good game but I'd be very reluctant to part with £17m for him unless that included his wages over the course of the contract.

[WoodquayBoy]

Before fans like you turn our club into the next newcastle, to the delight of the rte panel and all the mancs posting here looking for benitez out.....

I'm a Manc and the last thing I want is to see Benitez get the boot, I hope to God he stays as if he does, they'll never win the league

[papa-j]

Having watched Chelsea tonight I'm convinced that a large part Liverpools problem is down to good old work rate and conviction. Chelsea were first to every ball, won most tackles/headers/second balls and most importantly showed conviction on the ball. Compare this to Liverpool who outside of Hyppia/Carragher and Mascherano v Villa didn't seem to really show that determination to win/clear/keep the ball ( look at the defending on first and second balls for the 2 x villa goals and the amount of aimless / lost posession in the final third)

What is particuarly annoying is the inability of so called top class professionals to pass a ball 10 yards to the same jersey in a cohesive direct manner. Liverpool must be the only team to hit a team on the break across the pitch instead of directly at a defence.

There is something seriously wrong with either the tactics or the players attitude to these tactics and depending on which it is then either Rafa should move on at least 5 of these guys or step aside himself.

This is not a blip its been an issue for months and its not good enough for a club like Liverpool.

[stojkovic]

Kuyt and Kewell burnt their bridges with me last night. Not good enough. Thought Mascherano had a good game but I'd be very reluctant to part with £17m for him unless that included his wages over the course of the contract.

17m DOES include his wages over 4 or 5 years. I think its payable in advance to his 'owners' who then pay Javier. The real fee would amount to about 5m. I think he's been our 2nd best player this season after Nando.

Agree about Kewell and Kuyt.

[jmurphyc]

Despite all his goals and assists I really don't think Gerrard has been that great this season. Totally overrated.