torres1983

Whilst watching the united game last night I got thinking. A lot of fans seem to think that we are weak at left back. A lot of people hold Evra and previously Cashley as the benchmark that we should be aiming for. In my opinion Aurelio is better than both of them. Granted he is not as attacking as them but his positional sense is so much better and so is his defending. Best of all he gives a shit about us doing well. I don’t think the same can be said for Evra and Cashley. As much as Dossena is ridiculed he seems to truly want to do well for the team and he at least puts effort in, even if his defending is sometimes limited. Yesterday (and I am not complaining), the ball was played around Evra and he just watched and trotted back as if they were winning 5 – 0. This resulted in United being left 3 on 3 in the back and Mariano scoring. Surely it is about time that Aurelio is given some credit and Dossena is given some slack? Because the “benchmark” is not that great or bothered. IRWT

Great news. I like the fact that the club now seems to have the art of diversion, in terms of the media, sorted. Before Gerrard was first due in court didn't Rafa sign his contract and again Gerrard is in court and he signs an extension. Could be a coincidence but I like the fact that the football is taking a front seat for a change.

Shock and awe at Anfield on Sunday and that was before the result too. Before the kick off, in fact. Rafa Benitez picked the 11 players to start the game that Andy Gray expected him to! When I say Andy expected, I have to add the rider that my colleague is nearly always stumped not just by the Spaniard's selection but also the thinking behind it. Benitez: shows little emotion So did Rafa play what he now considers to be his strongest starting eleven? It certainly looked that way and therefore begs the question as to whether he will play it as often as possible in the run in to the title. The other major surprise is that the Liverpool coach allowed his captain Steven Gerrard to stay on the pitch to try and complete his hat-trick. Gerrard has said his two burning ambitions are to win the Premier League for Liverpool and get a "Well done" from Rafa. Shortening price for the first hope, very long odds the second. Geoff Shreeves Quotes of the week Fifty minutes gone and the home side are 4-0 up, game over. Having been hauled off when he'd scored two against Real Madrid the previous week, the Liverpool skipper was understandably looking anxiously towards the touchline, in fear of getting hooked. He needn't have worried though, Rafa really wanted him to complete his first ever league hat-trick. Not for individual glory mind you, just for goal difference! Quite simply, Benitez does not do emotion. Goal celebrations, smiles, cheers, pats on backs do not feature in his repertoire. Gerrard has said his two burning ambitions are to win the Premier League for Liverpool and get a "Well done" from Rafa. Shortening price for the first hope, very long odds the second. Mantra Improve is Benitez mantra. He told me he was born to be a coach and even when he was a 13-year-old boy he would give his team mates marks out of 10 and tell them how they could improve. Added to this, by his own admission, he was a modest footballer so he must have been really popular! Off camera Rafa is often warm, hospitable and chatty, nothing like the short answering straight batsman he becomes when the red light goes on. I've asked him many a time why he won't be himself for the media or indeed be more bullish about his team's prospects but he says that's just not for him. Talk too much and you set yourself up for a fall as well as putting unnecessary pressure on your team is his stance. Rafa's rant? Even that was premeditated, considered and coldly delivered. Quite simply although he's hard boiled, Rafa is a good egg and as we approach Easter he's certainly not cracking up. In fact he's on the hunt.

Shock and awe at Anfield on Sunday and that was before the result too. Before the kick off, in fact. Rafa Benitez picked the 11 players to start the game that Andy Gray expected him to! When I say Andy expected, I have to add the rider that my colleague is nearly always stumped not just by the Spaniard's selection but also the thinking behind it. Benitez: shows little emotion So did Rafa play what he now considers to be his strongest starting eleven? It certainly looked that way and therefore begs the question as to whether he will play it as often as possible in the run in to the title. The other major surprise is that the Liverpool coach allowed his captain Steven Gerrard to stay on the pitch to try and complete his hat-trick. Gerrard has said his two burning ambitions are to win the Premier League for Liverpool and get a "Well done" from Rafa. Shortening price for the first hope, very long odds the second. Geoff Shreeves Quotes of the week Fifty minutes gone and the home side are 4-0 up, game over. Having been hauled off when he'd scored two against Real Madrid the previous week, the Liverpool skipper was understandably looking anxiously towards the touchline, in fear of getting hooked. He needn't have worried though, Rafa really wanted him to complete his first ever league hat-trick. Not for individual glory mind you, just for goal difference! Quite simply, Benitez does not do emotion. Goal celebrations, smiles, cheers, pats on backs do not feature in his repertoire. Gerrard has said his two burning ambitions are to win the Premier League for Liverpool and get a "Well done" from Rafa. Shortening price for the first hope, very long odds the second. Mantra Improve is Benitez mantra. He told me he was born to be a coach and even when he was a 13-year-old boy he would give his team mates marks out of 10 and tell them how they could improve. Added to this, by his own admission, he was a modest footballer so he must have been really popular! Off camera Rafa is often warm, hospitable and chatty, nothing like the short answering straight batsman he becomes when the red light goes on. I've asked him many a time why he won't be himself for the media or indeed be more bullish about his team's prospects but he says that's just not for him. Talk too much and you set yourself up for a fall as well as putting unnecessary pressure on your team is his stance. Rafa's rant? Even that was premeditated, considered and coldly delivered. Quite simply although he's hard boiled, Rafa is a good egg and as we approach Easter he's certainly not cracking up. In fact he's on the hunt.