The Liverpool Way.

[05 Milan]

 

Is it cuntish to ask that if the manager left the politics to one said and FULLY (since we've gone all shouty on here) focussed on team matters we might actually be doing even better?

 

Just a thought.

 

Could be, noone knows really. We're in our best position in the league in years, and still doing well in the CL, yet we haven't had this much turmoil and internal wrangles ever.

[05 Milan]

Probably wouldn't be a bad idea if we all left the politics alone.

 

But we won't.

 

Absolutely, I was merely pointing out that you can't say with any evidence that Rafa's politics is influencing the teams performance.

[Torben]

The Liverpool Way of old is dead and buried. Its obsolete. Sacrilegious I know, but true.

 

Since King Kenny, NOT ONE former player have gone on in the league to become a top manager. On the other hand, former Manc players populate the league with the middle to lower table teams.

 

Why? Could it be that they have a system, and we did not? What bootroom philosophy and tactic survived and thrived to today? Sitting in a small smelly room talking tactics may be a revelation in the 70s, but seriously, Big Sam has a whole team of experts that advises him of the same thing.

 

In fact, Rafa more than perhaps any manager today have brought this to an extreme level with his obsession to detail.

 

Looking back in our glory years, it just seems obvious to me that we were the best simply because overall we had the best players around. Our legendary managers from Shankly onwards simply played the best players in their best positions, and let them do their thing. Similar I suppose to a Rijkaard/Sven style of management.

 

Such tactics don't work when you don't have the best players around. And seriously, we don't bar a few players ie Gerrard, Torres, Alonso, Carra, Masch of last season and Reina. In the old days, those plus a few players who do a job ie the Kuyts and Benayouns will win you the title.

 

But these days, look at the list of managers who failed. From Scolari, Eriksson, Martin O Neil, Wenger etc etc. All have eventually fallen to the longevity and wealth of the Mancs. The only one who broke that cycle recently is Mourinho, and I doubt he would have been able to without the riches of Abramovich.

 

I don't buy the fact that there is a secret to winning the league. The way posters here post, its as if Fergie, Wenger, Kenny and Mourinho have a secret, that they've won it before,they can instantly win it again. Bullshit. Put Mourinho, Kenny or Wenger in Rafa's shoes this season, it still is a huge challenge to overtake the Mancs. Their squad is ridiculously strong.

 

This brings me to the other stupid argument, that Rafa does not know how to win the league. There are so many winners in our league now who have won in other leagues. Rafa is closer than anyone of them this season.

 

Yes no doubt, there are a few managers who PERHAPS can bring instant success, I can name only Mourinho and Cappello, and even then I doubt in the first year. As we've seen Scolari has failed badly, and I suspect Hiddink will too. This league is unbelievably strong. Furthermore, Mourinho, Cappello and Hiddink have never been known to stay at a club long enough to start a legacy. They come, did a job and leave in a few years.

 

My main gripe with King Kenny is I felt he left us in a lurch. Yes I understand why he resigned as he did, but seriously, it killed us. Another short term appointment of Mourinho, Cappello, Hiddink, even if it really does bring instant success (which I doubt) will collapse again once they leave.

 

Rafa has us improving every year. We are a force in Europe, and as of this year, we are challenging for the title. Rafa has arguably the most sophisticated technologies and strategies on football, and is acknowledged everywhere but in England as perhaps the best tactician around.

 

Furthermore its obvious he wants to stay here for a long time and build a dynasty. While not the original Shankly inspired dynasty (it died after Kenny left), its going to be Rafa's dynasty if we let him, arguably just as successful. And perhaps this will be continued by Hyypia, Carra, Alonso etc (these are the players I can see as managers, somehow Gerrard is not).

 

Sure, his contract has been dragging on, but he wants to get it right.

 

He wants control over the transfer budget, so he can compete on even grounds as Fergie, Wenger and whoever is managing Chelsea, and won't lose his first choice targets to them as has been happening the past few years.

 

He wants control of the academy etc so he can control the development of the type of players he wants, the way Wenger does. How many of you keep complaining that Rafa doesn't promote our youth. But if our youth are not of the technical and tactical standards required, what do you expect? Do you think any of the scouser kids we "didn't give a chance" to the past few years would have made it in Wenger's arsenal?

 

He wants control of the staff hiring and firing, so that he is in full control over every aspect of the club football wise, the way Wenger and Fergie is.

 

Ultimately he wants every opportunity to succeed and compete on an equal basis with the Fergies and Wengers of the league. Hell even Martin O Neil and Gollum has more control over football matters than Rafa. How perverse is that?

 

The secret to success is a good manager and time for him to bring his plans to fruition. Its clear to see Rafa is getting there, but Fergie and Mourinho before him is setting really high standards.

 

If Rafa leaves, there obviously be an exodus of mainly Spanish players who will leave. Furthermore, do you think a 29 year old Gerrard will wait around for another few years of team building, or fuck off once an offer from Barcelona etc comes?

 

Rafa is very intelligent. He learns every match. Once he gets the upper hand on Mourinho, especially in the league, he hasn't been defeated since. Wenger is the same, I don't think they will expect a victory meeting us these days. We just only this year got the upper hand on Fergie, and I am optimistic if we have our top squad, we will beat them the second game this season at old toilet.

 

Sure we have problems with lower teams who park 9 and even 10 men in front of the goal. But so does fancy Arsenal and Chelsea. The Mancs get their customary penalties to get through those games. We don't. And hopefully once we get more flair players, we will be able to do so.

 

So what is the Liverpool Way? The Liverpool way is what Rafa forges us to be, a successful, feared club. Its going to be the new Liverpool Way. King Kenny will never return. He knows he is too out of touch, and he doesn't bring anything new to the table.

 

Very good post, agree with great majority of it.

[hamstrung]

Some of the Clueless C**ts that post on here WOULDN'T KNOW THE LIVERPOOL WAY,if it butted them in the face,LIVERPOOL WAY,BOLLOCKS,this forum BAR NONE,is the most Anti-Benitez site on the FUCKIN PLANET!!

 

Careful boys, Bamber Gascoigne's here.

[goatboy59]

The Mancs get their customary penalties to get through those games.

 

Examples?

[aws]

The Mancs get their customary penalties to get through those games.

 

Examples?

 

they did get a bit of help last weekend though

[goatboy59]

Thought that was a bit exaggerated myself, but after Rafa's little speech (not a rant, not an outburst but then again not necessary) everyone's been hypersensitive to every little thing since.

 

"The refs are in MU's pocket, they get to spend zillions while I can't do my job properly because of Parry and Gillett"

 

Ever heard of overcoming adversity?

[goatboy59]

Still waiting for these customary penalties.

 

Unless you want to start counting the number of players sent off against us this season?

[hamstrung]

Quoting the post you are replying to often works.