Rafa - 'We were too nice at times.......'

[Guest Phil C]

Interesting... particularly in view of Rafa's signing of 'edgy' players such as Bellamy and our (alleged) interest in Lucas Neil...

 

Is the term 'too nice' Rafa's code for 'too wimpy' e.g. they couldn't stand the heat of a derby?

 

Who's he talking about, I wonder.....?

 

Crouch....? Xabi....?

 

here

Edited September 10, 2006 by Phil C

[smithdown]

Had to laugh at this from the observer:

 

"It is hard to recall a team so happy in victory. David Moyes, who cares passionately about this club, could not stop punching the air, slapping backs, waving to the crowd and generally looking like a 10-year-old who had just seen his first whale."

 

linky

[Chili Palmer]

It really was their cup final wasn't it!, maybe if some of our players treated evey game as a 'cup final' we would have started the season better.

Edited September 10, 2006 by Kieran

[Guest Kev]

playing f***ing fannies in a derby match - I tought he'd learnt that one. We bought Bellamy, Kuyt and Pennant because we lacked pace last season - I thought he learnt that one as well.

 

FFS Rafa sort it out fella for sure.

[Chili Palmer]

playing f***ing fannies in a derby match - I tought he'd learnt that one. We bought Bellamy, Kuyt and Pennant because we lacked pace last season - I thought he learnt that one as well.

 

FFS Rafa sort it out fella for sure.

 

Rafa has to hold his hands up for this one I think, but we have to remember that it was Finnan, Carras and Pepes mistakes that cost us and I bet they would be in 100% of fans own team selections for this game. Rafa cannot account for stupid mistakes.

[Guest Kev]

. Rafa cannot account for stupid mistakes.

 

True, but it was so frustrating watching Xabi pass to a blue shirt every other ball, and watching Gracia was like watching a 9 year-old playing against 16 year-olds. A lot of our play broke up through them two.

 

I know they weren't the only ones as I reckon only Momo and possibly Finnan could hold their heads up after yesterday, but since the season has started our Spanish lads have not been at the races.

[Guest kring]

playing f***ing fannies in a derby match - I tought he'd learnt that one. We bought Bellamy, Kuyt and Pennant because we lacked pace last season - I thought he learnt that one as well.

 

FFS Rafa sort it out fella for sure.

 

But it was not the so called "fannies" who stood out yesterday.......

[Chili Palmer]

True, but it was so frustrating watching Xabi pass to a blue shirt every other ball, and watching Gracia was like watching a 9 year-old playing against 16 year-olds. A lot of our play broke up through them two.

 

I know they weren't the only ones as I reckon only Momo and possibly Finnan could hold their heads up after yesterday, but since the season has started our Spanish lads have not been at the races.

 

It was frustrating yesterday, but the whole team were poor Kev, Rafa is trying to let the players play themselves into form, I think we all agree that to win the league we need a on form Alonso and Reina as quickly as possible.

[Falconhoof]

True, but it was so frustrating watching Xabi pass to a blue shirt every other ball, and watching Gracia was like watching a 9 year-old playing against 16 year-olds. A lot of our play broke up through them two.

 

I know they weren't the only ones as I reckon only Momo and possibly Finnan could hold their heads up after yesterday, but since the season has started our Spanish lads have not been at the races.

 

 

Gerrard hasn't done much better than Xabi. Sami has been all over the shop. Its not just the Spanish lads.

[Guest Kev]

Gerrard hasn't done much better than Xabi. Sami has been all over the shop. Its not just the Spanish lads.

 

I've already agreed with that. I'm talking since the season began and not just yesterday.

[Cooldude]

Biggest problem is the defence and the biggest problem in the defence is left back

 

Riise f***in' up his ankle yesterday was an absolute kick in the guts

[Guest Paris 81]

Think this critisim of Alonso is getting way over the top. He had a good game yesterday, and ran his socks off as he always does.

 

The defence lost us the game, no one else. Not Rafa, not Xabi or the rest of the Spanish lads. I'm sure if Carragher was Spanish though he'd be getting a lot more stick.

[Smigger]

True, but it was so frustrating watching Xabi pass to a blue shirt every other ball, and watching Gracia was like watching a 9 year-old playing against 16 year-olds. A lot of our play broke up through them two.

 

I know they weren't the only ones as I reckon only Momo and possibly Finnan could hold their heads up after yesterday, but since the season has started our Spanish lads have not been at the races.

 

Garcia is a 20 minute inpact substitute nothing more.The fella drives me mad with his constant jumping out of takles & misplaced passes.

 

We missed a Hamman type player yesterday to get stuck into that horrible fanny lipped Cahill and put the little c*** in his place. Too many through balls by passed our midfield & ended up straight on the defence which was when we see Sami at his exposed wosrt (Rafas quotes about stuggling with early long balls reads like Sami's days as 1st choice may be over....step forward Mr Aggar?!).

 

I must also mention that Rafa's team selection was flawed again....No way should Fowler have played ahead of Kuyt or Bellamy in physical/quick games like thst and no way should Garcia start in games like this away from home.

 

Horrible performance, Horrible fans, Horrible ground, Horrible day!

[kop205]

Think this critisim of Alonso is getting way over the top. He had a good game yesterday, and ran his socks off as he always does.

 

The defence lost us the game, no one else. Not Rafa, not Xabi or the rest of the Spanish lads. I'm sure if Carragher was Spanish though he'd be getting a lot more stick.

 

No he didn't. I'm confident enough in Xabi's quality to not have to defend him when he is struggling, and at the moment he is struggling. He'll come through it, but he is far better than he has shown this season.

 

The 'if Carragher was Spanish' comment is just ridiculous to be honest. Yeah, because people don't normally rave over Pepe and Xabi, do they?

 

Very few people played well yesterday on either side. 3 - 0 was, frankly, a freak result. I still felt they were there for the taking at half-time but in all honesty, a result like this has been coming for a little while. We conceded a few goals at the end of last season, were woeful pre-season ans have looked shaky so far this season.

 

Hopefully it is now out of our systems.

 

The season starts now and I'm confident in how we'll do. Last time we lost the Goodison derby, we finished the season as European Champions and we are a stronger team now than we were then.

 

Garcia is a 20 minute inpact substitute nothing more.The fella drives me mad with his constant jumping out of takles & misplaced passes.

 

 

Get a grip. I'm not going to bother reminding you of the fantastic contribution he has made in games where he has started because they are so well-documented that everyone knows them. Yes, he is frustrating, but you've gone way too far there.

 

 

 

We missed a Hamman type player yesterday to get stuck into that horrible fanny lipped Cahill and put the little c*** in his place.

 

Momo was one of our better players I thought. Cahill didn't really influence the game beyond his goal, which was hardly down to Hamann not playing.

[Guest Paris 81]

Where's all the criticism of Carragher then? Who basically lost us the game when we were on top.

 

I've been looking on a few forums and all I can find is Alonso the new scapegoat) being slaughtered. But he's not scouse is he?

 

And Alonso did have a good game yesterday, first half especially, he was setting the tempo and playing some nice incisive passing. But if our defence is going to gift goals away then there's not much you can do.

[Benzo-13]

Think this critisim of Alonso is getting way over the top. He had a good game yesterday, and ran his socks off as he always does.

 

The defence lost us the game, no one else. Not Rafa, not Xabi or the rest of the Spanish lads. I'm sure if Carragher was Spanish though he'd be getting a lot more stick.

 

Thought during the last 15mins he got into it, which was a bit late. Momo is his protecter though.

Cahill should've been knocked senseless with a tackle from someone. It's a derby and you've gotta mark your ground!

Edited September 10, 2006 by Benzo-13

[Cooldude]

Someone should've flew the flag and crunched Tim Cahill to make a statement

 

Gerrard or Carra or Momo, someone should've done it, just to let them know we ain't here to f*** around. Unfortunately no one did it, Rafa was right, we were too nice. We should've tried to t*** the f***in' b******s

[hideNseek]

Has Rafa started with the same 11 twice this season?

[Toe]

I thought Carra, Momo and a slow attack very strange.

 

Was Agger injured?

[hideNseek]

Where's all the criticism of Carragher then? Who basically lost us the game when we were on top.

 

I've been looking on a few forums and all I can find is Alonso the new scapegoat) being slaughtered. But he's not scouse is he?

 

And Alonso did have a good game yesterday, first half especially, he was setting the tempo and playing some nice incisive passing. But if our defence is going to gift goals away then there's not much you can do.

 

Not sure if Carra should've played. He's been injured and Agger has looked sharp.

[Guest Paris 81]

I seem to remember a few tackles flying in from our lads, Xabi included. But selective memories come into play when we get beat.

 

All this f***ing moaning about team selections and rotation from people who have no real clue what they're talking about is draining my strength and any optimism I had for the season.

 

Lets get rid of one of the best managers in the game and bring in someone like Allardyce, who will never rotate and play the same team week in week out for 60 games a season and see where that gets us.

 

Has Rafa started with the same 11 twice this season?

 

When has he had the chance?

Edited September 10, 2006 by Paris 81

[hideNseek]

Who said anything about getting rid of Rafa.

 

It's early season, keep as many players as possible so we've got a settled first 11. Then rotate as the players get into the season. We've 6 new players of which 5 are coming in and out of the team with hardly a chance to get to know each other.

Edited September 10, 2006 by hideNseek

[kop205]

Where's all the criticism of Carragher then? Who basically lost us the game when we were on top.

 

I've been looking on a few forums and all I can find is Alonso the new scapegoat) being slaughtered. But he's not scouse is he?

 

And Alonso did have a good game yesterday, first half especially, he was setting the tempo and playing some nice incisive passing. But if our defence is going to gift goals away then there's not much you can do.

 

If that was Xabi having a 'good game' then I must have dreamt all those performances where he was run the show and looked like the best player at the club, bar none. He is, by hisn own standards, playing very, very poorly at the moment - where is the problem saying that? He isn't the only one but he is so good that it is more noticeable with him.

 

The stuff people have posted about Xabi has hardly been rabid criticism - more concern and surprise at his lack of form. Carragher's mistake yesterday was a shocker and just one of those things - other than that he did his job. Xabi didn't, apart form creating one chance for Gerrard.

 

Nobody gets more stick than local lads - Gerrard at times in the last couple of years, Carra pre his move to centre back, Owen, Fowler from certain posters now. I don't particulalrly have a problem with that, it has always been the way - ask Sammy Lee - but it certainly demolosihes the ridiculous notion that Xabi is getting it in the neck because he is Spanish.

 

I seem to remember a few tackles flying in from our lads, Xabi included. But selective memories come into play when we get beat.

 

All this f***ing moaning about team selections and rotation from people who have no real clue what they're talking about is draining my strength and any optimism I had for the season.

 

Lets get rid of one of the best managers in the game and bring in someone like Allardyce, who will never rotate and play the same team week in week out for 60 games a season and see where that gets us.

 

 

Stop being such a drama queen. Like with Xabi, I'm confident enough in Rafa's ability to be able to admit when I think he may have got it wrong without it shaking my basic faith in him. Of course, if you want to delude yourself that I therefore must want Allardyce in then feel free.

 

We've not been playing well for a little while, there were one or two puzzling selections yesterday, we lost, we move one. I think it is out of our system now and expect to see a good reaction from us - Xabi included.

[Guest Paris 81]

Who said anything about getting rid of Rafa?

 

Well, lets face it, if fans haven't accepted the managers rotation policy (which won us the champions league and FA Cup) and methods after two seasons they never will. Reminds of when it all started going wrong for Houllier.

 

I don't really understand the hysteria to his team selection myself. When it was announced yesterday I was happy with it, it was a strong team and many others were saying the same. Carragher, our strongest defender, back. Crouch bang in form. Robbie fresh and looking to get one over his old foe. Our strongest midfield, etc. And it was looking good up until the defence gifted them two easy goals. We were on top, controlling the game, commanding posession and creating good chances.

Edited September 10, 2006 by Paris 81

[hideNseek]

I?m certainly never going to claim i know more than Rafa, I?m just commentating on something that worry?s me.

Yesterday I?d have started with Agger and Sami (due to Carra being injured).

I?d have started with Bellamy and Kuyt. Alonso would be benched (he's not hit form yet) and Pennant would play right with Momo and Gerrard in the middle.

That would be my team for as many matches as possible (with Agger looking to replace Sami as soon as possible and a rejuvenated Alonso back as soon as poss.