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Let's all get behind Rafa


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He Da Man

 

Liverpool defeat dismays Benitez

BBC Sport

 

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez did not hide his dismay after his side's sorry 2-0 defeat at Manchester United.

 

"It is clearly one of my most disappointing days as manager of the club," said the Spaniard.

 

"It is a game I know everybody at the club and the supporters want us to win, particularly at Old Trafford."

 

The Reds have scored only one away goal - a penalty - in the Premiership this season and rarely looked like finding the net as they slumped to defeat.

 

"Away from home we need to win to improve confidence," said Benitez. "We are controlling long spells of games, getting the ball into danger areas but not causing defences problems.

 

"I felt we started the game well but we didn't create enough. We had some chances and good possession but we could not create clear openings.

 

"Things were okay until we conceded the first goal. That changed the game for both sides.

 

"We needed to go forward, the game was more open and with their quality it became more difficult for us."

 

He added: "We must focus on improving, getting better at what we do, and the things we are not doing well.

 

"It's hard when you lose, especially against United, but we can't change it. All we can do is look ahead."

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Guest molbyscorchio
Not knocking Rafa but he needs to get a grip of this lot before this turns into a big deal. Something in the camp is not right and it appears to be psychological (ability not in question).

 

Ability is in question. Ability to sustain a decent level of performance for more than 1 game at a time. The best teams have players who can deliver on this.

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Ability is in question. Ability to sustain a decent level of performance for more than 1 game at a time. The best teams have players who can deliver on this.

Have to disagree with you here. I know you have said a similiar thing in another thread so I don't want to start two discussions.

 

Xabi, Momo and Gerrard are individualy top class international players who I believe would walk into uniteds first team. The fact that they are all playing like they are is a question the manager must answer.

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Guest molbyscorchio

Why would they walk into United's team though? Because of some theoretical superior technique? Better appetite for the game? More matchwinners? United's midfield have been miles better than ours this year. Ferguson's many things, but he's not stupid. No way would our three walk into that team. That's what I mean about rose tinted. We had 5 in midfield today, and we were outworked, outfought and outclassed by 4.

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Why would they walk into United's team though? Because of some theoretical superior technique? Better appetite for the game? More matchwinners? United's midfield have been miles better than ours this year. Ferguson's many things, but he's not stupid. No way would our three walk into that team. That's what I mean about rose tinted. We had 5 in midfield today, and we were outworked, outfought and outclassed by 4.

Totally agree with you.

The only thing I am saying is that last season our midfield trio were at times sublime. I want to know what has changed and why.

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I was lucky enough to not being able to see the game today, but to me it's quite simple what needs to be done now: Play the following team for all league matches fitness permitting: Reina, Finnan, Carra, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso, Gonzalez, Kuyt, Crouch/Bellamy.

 

4-4-2 with a no non-sense, get at their throats approach. And none of that adapting the team to match the opponent. They should be trying to adapt to us.

 

EDIT: Maybe Momo for Pennant with Gerrard on the right.

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Why would they walk into United's team though? Because of some theoretical superior technique? Better appetite for the game? More matchwinners? United's midfield have been miles better than ours this year. Ferguson's many things, but he's not stupid. No way would our three walk into that team. That's what I mean about rose tinted. We had 5 in midfield today, and we were outworked, outfought and outclassed by 4.

 

Thats so true it hurts

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Why would they walk into United's team though? Because of some theoretical superior technique? Better appetite for the game? More matchwinners? United's midfield have been miles better than ours this year. Ferguson's many things, but he's not stupid. No way would our three walk into that team. That's what I mean about rose tinted. We had 5 in midfield today, and we were outworked, outfought and outclassed by 4.

 

 

That doesn't mean they are better, though, they are off form. There's no way Carrick is better than Alonso, Gerrard or Momo nor Fletcher. Ferguson has said, on more than one occassion, he'd love Gerrard but there's no chance he'd get him. I also believe he was interested in Xabi.

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"controlling" is one of his favourite terms but rather than contain teams I'd rather finish them off.

 

Is the right answer. We've got the players to do it, take the shackles off and let other teams worry about us and change their formations and plans accordingly, not vice versa.

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Guest molbyscorchio
That doesn't mean they are better, though, they are off form. There's no way Carrick is better than Alonso, Gerrard or Momo nor Fletcher. Ferguson has said, on more than one occassion, he'd love Gerrard but there's no chance he'd get him. I also believe he was interested in Xabi.

 

This season, Scholes, Carrick and Fletcher ARE better than Gerrard, Alonso or Sissoko. If they continue to play as they have been and boss games right through the season, while our lot continue to perform badly, they will have proved beyond dispute that they are better. Yes, we've seen Gerrard and Alonso have great games in the past, but they can't seem to do it consistently anymore. Any cunt can have a great game once in a while.

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  • 6 years later...
I was lucky enough to not being able to see the game today, but to me it's quite simple what needs to be done now: Play the following team for all league matches fitness permitting: Reina, Finnan, Carra, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso, Gonzalez, Kuyt, Crouch/Bellamy.

 

4-4-2 with a no non-sense, get at their throats approach. And none of that adapting the team to match the opponent. They should be trying to adapt to us.

 

 

Oh dear, you wanted us to play Pennant and Gonzalez every game?

 

Shakes head.

 

Dont get me started on the strikers.

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  • 2 weeks later...

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