It didnt take long did it.

[Guest mick the baker]

taken from todays guardian.Disillusion and confusion bear the hallmark of Benítez

 

 

The many failings of the Spaniard were brutally exposed by Arsenal in a Carling Cup rout that could sour his time as manager

 

Richard Williams

Thursday January 11, 2007

The Guardian

 

 

Rafael Benítez looked and sounded like a man in deep shock, and it was hard not to turn away as he kept repeating the most meaningless explanation for defeat ever invented: what can you do, he said, when you go four goals down before half-time? But it is to his credit that he did not duck the obligation to appear before the television cameras late on Tuesday night, in the immediate aftermath of Liverpool's worst result at Anfield in living memory.

 

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Only once since he arrived at the club have his players flirted with a humiliation of similar proportions. In May 2005 they went three goals down to AC Milan in the first 45 minutes in Istanbul, and never in the 50-year history of the European Cup final had a team looked so comprehensively outclassed. But from the depths of the club's history Steven Gerrard and his team-mates summoned a spirit that enabled them to break their opponents' will.

Benítez took a winner's medal, although the victory on the night had little to do with him. But if he could not claim much credit for that success, the manager was certainly responsible for this week's disaster. Over the course of 90 astonishing minutes, the principal flaws of his stewardship emerged with terrifying clarity.

 

First came his insistence, true to his policy of rotation, on making nine changes to the team who had lost to the same opponents three days earlier, retaining only Steven Gerrard, the captain, and the No2 goalkeeper, Jerzy Dudek, who had given an uncertain performance on Saturday. Even though that first defeat by Arsenal had removed them from one of the two domestic knockout competitions, Benítez evidently did not take the other tournament seriously enough to contest it with the best available players.

 

If the old League Cup has any purpose, it is to provide clubs with an extra chance of winning at least one trophy in a season - something that in the past has brought comfort to the staff and supporters of the mightiest teams in the land, including Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest and Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. Out of the FA Cup, out of contention once again in the Premiership and facing the formidable prospect of a meeting with Barcelona in the Champions League, Liverpool have now been made to pay an extra price for their manager's priorities.

 

When Arsène Wenger sent out a team packed with teenaged reserves on Tuesday, it was part of a long-term strategy with a twofold purpose. Wenger is using the Carling Cup to satisfy the desire of his talented youngsters for first-team action, and to temper their talents in the flame of real competition. As a result he could well become the first English club manager to win a senior knockout competition with what amounts to his 2nd XI.

 

Not everyone applauds Wenger's reluctance to put his trust in young English players. The success of his approach, however, ensures a prosperous future for the club. He saw a problem, and he fixed it with a radical solution requiring considerable faith. All one hears from Liverpool are complaints about products of the Melwood academy, and vague suggestions that it is all the fault of Gérard Houllier, who left the club 2½ years ago.

 

The second major accusation levelled against Benítez arises from his habit of bringing to the club players who lack the sort of quality that would restore Liverpool's eminence. Xabi Alonso and Luis García may have matched the contributions of Didier Hamann and Vladimir Smicer to the Houllier era, and the injury to Mohamed Sissoko came at an unfortunate time, but if Peter Crouch has a place in Liverpool's history then it is surely only as a modern equivalent of the hapless Tony Hateley, while Jermaine Pennant, Mark González, Fábio Aurélio and Craig Bellamy belong one rung down the Premiership ladder.

 

And then, on Tuesday night, came a display by Gabriel Paletta that made one wonder on what evidence Benítez based his decision to spend £2m to bring the 20-year-old centre back from the Argentinian club Banfield. Speed, strength, composure, positional sense, anticipation, technique - Paletta appeared to lack the lot as he allowed Jérémie Aliadière, who made little impression during loan spells with Celtic, West Ham and Wolves, to run rings around him. Benítez spends a lot of time explaining to the world that he does not enjoy the resources available to Ferguson or Jose Mourinho, but the same could be said of Wenger. The successor to Shankly and Paisley, however, shows few signs of being able to make the best use of what he has, and Tuesday night may come to be seen as the defeat that finally undermined his regime.

 

You could only feel sorry for Danny Guthrie, a 19-year-old academy graduate given his second start of the season on the right of Liverpool's midfield.

 

Toiling amid the rubble, he still managed to show flashes of deftness and invention. Had he been wearing an Arsenal shirt on Tuesday night, we might have been hailing the arrival of a world-beater.

 

 

 

 

 

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[Maldini]

written in 5 minutes to fill space.

[Zoob]

 

The second major accusation levelled against Benítez arises from his habit of bringing to the club players who lack the sort of quality that would restore Liverpool's eminence. Xabi Alonso and Luis García may have matched the contributions of Didier Hamann and Vladimir Smicer to the Houllier era, and the injury to Mohamed Sissoko came at an unfortunate time, but if Peter Crouch has a place in Liverpool's history then it is surely only as a modern equivalent of the hapless Tony Hateley, while Jermaine Pennant, Mark González, Fábio Aurélio and Craig Bellamy belong one rung down the Premiership ladder.

 

Didier Hamann

 

 

Comparing Alonso to Didi, and Garcia to Smicer is pretty bad going too....

Edited January 11, 2007 by Zoob

[Maldini]

Can't believe he compared Garcia with Smicer, didn't even notice that. He also seems to believe that matching Hamann's contribution is something to be ashamed of.

 

Who is making these accusations? First I've heard of them, it seems to me he's the source.

[passater]

Three days on the trot now - McCarra, Doyle and now Williams. Seems to be a concerted campaign by the Guardian. Crouch compared to Tony Hateley.....straw clutching at its most extreme.

 

Some of the so-called Liverppol fans writing in the reply secton have been funny. Some guy using Albert Stubbins as his name claims that Le Tallec is far better than Sissoko and bases that on 2 pre season game in 04, the semi v Juve and 8 games for Sochaux this season. Haven't laughed at much this week but that was good.

[Guest mick the baker]

As soon as we have a rocky period the press are queing up to lambast us,we can still hold our heads up high,as we are still the most successful club in england,something that these prats cannot live with.

[Guest]

Ask yourselves why the Guardian have always been anti-Rafa since his first day over there.

 

After yesterdays garbage and then Williams spouting more schite this morning I have taken the decision to boycott the Guardian.

 

Not that it will make much difference to them - but it will make me feel a lot better.

[hideNseek]

So why are they anti Rafa?

[Guest]

So why are they anti Rafa?

 

because he's Spanish and not a manager of a Manchester or London club

[hideNseek]

Oh, I thought they we're one of the idiots who wanted us to sign Curbs or fat Sam, as our manager.

 

Still I expect Rafa will make them eat their words. Be nice now if we did get second.

[Earl Hafler]

Quite frankly i don't know where to start - and it's not worth the effort. Read the start and then that last piece of s**t about Guthrie and i decided i wouldn't wipe my a*** with that article.

[Guest Portly]

Read the start and then that last piece of s**t about Guthrie and i decided i wouldn't wipe my a*** with that article.

 

Actually he was saying in a roundabout "Guardian" sort of way that Guthrie had a good game, or at least looked promising.

 

I thought that the article was quite kindly, considering the two Arsenal results. Journalists are paid to criticise. The main point, that Rafa's team selection was puzzling in the circumstances, is a reasonable one. Many people have been saying the same thing on this forum.

[Earl Hafler]

Actually he was saying in a roundabout "Guardian" sort of way that Guthrie had a good game, or at least looked promising.

 

I thought that the article was quite kindly, considering the two Arsenal results. Journalists are paid to criticise. The main point, that Rafa's team selection was puzzling in the circumstances, is a reasonable one. Many people have been saying the same thing on this forum.

 

Yeah, i was referring to the Guthrie / Arsenal bit.

 

I thought Guthrie did o.k but turned back towards our goal too often. The lad just needs more games, more confidence i guess.

[pjwy]

I dont enjoy seeing critical articles about Liverpool FC.

 

However,I honestly can't find a lot to argue with in that particular article although it has to be said that it concentrates entirely on the negative side of Rafa's stewadship here.

 

As regards the CL final perhaps we will never know how we managed to win that game..was it Rafa's influence at ht?or was it the fans who lifted the team to a superhuman effort in the second half? or was it some divine intervention?

 

But we have to credit Rafa for getting us to the final in Istanbul which many journos never seem to want to do.

 

The fact is though that,that was then and the two games against the a*** are NOW and we have had a thorough showing up in both,and that,together with the fact that we obviously remain so far behind the 'other three' sides in terms of football quality after more than 2 years under him,will always throw Rafa's reign here into question when it comes to competeing for the title.

[honourablegeorge]

Echo are even having a go - check out the headline on this article. SPIN

 

Echo Story

[IgPig]

together with the fact that we obviously remain so far behind the 'other three' sides in terms of football quality after more than 2 years under him,will always throw Rafa's reign here into question when it comes to competeing for the title.

 

Yet in those 2 years we've eclipsed Man Utd and Arsenal in terms of trophies won. Go figure.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Steven Gerrard and his team-mates summoned a spirit that enabled them to break their opponents' will.

Benítez took a winner's medal, although the victory on the night had little to do with him. But if he could not claim much credit for that success, the manager was certainly responsible for this week's disaster.

 

Liverpool win and its the players that were responsible for the victory*

Liverpool lose and its Benitez that is responsible**

 

All in the one paragraph - if ever there was an agenda then this is it.

 

* He brought Hamann on, changed us to a back 3 and flooded midfield to get a platform - Benitez certainly played his part

 

** Okay, big changes but there was sloppy defending and demonstrated by the captain lunging for a ball back to Baptista when he was effectively the last man, Baptista took it and rifled it in. Surely its not as cut and dried for Benitez as the article makes out.

 

Also, Wengers kids, long term strategy - Paletta played woeful, but was Benitez's ideals the same as Wengers ? Maybe the kid will come back stronger, maybe.

 

I'm p!$$ed off with all this battering of Rafa - we win as a team, we lose as a team - delighted the fans rallied at the end of the match with YNWA, lets show a united front on this

Edited January 11, 2007 by Rory Fitzgerald

[Guest]

Yet in those 2 years we've eclipsed Man Utd and Arsenal in terms of trophies won. Go figure.

 

Exactly - no journo or knee jerker has pointed that out.

[Stevie H]

the mail is even better. "how much longer can bungling benitez be tolerated?" from that ignorant tosspiece ian ladyman.

Edited January 11, 2007 by Steve H

[Behind Enemy Lines]

the mail is even better. "how much longer can bungling benitez be tolerated?" from that ignorant tosspiece ian ladyman.

 

They're clearly worried that he may actually know what he's doing - long term.

[Gunga Din]

When Ladyman was a child, was he a Ladyboy?

[Stevie H]

They're clearly worried that he may actually know what he's doing - long term.

i think they're worried that rafa might actually turn barcelona over.

 

When Ladyman was a child, was he a Ladyboy?

heh. he does honestly have a face that cries out to be slapped.

[Cobs]

Echo are even having a go - check out the headline on this article. SPIN

 

Echo Story

shameful headline that - considering the content of the article

[jimmylibel]

Benítez rounds on penny-pinching Anfield board after Arsenal debacle

 

Daniel Taylor

Thursday January 11, 2007

The Guardian

 

Rafael Benítez has rejected criticism of his managerial methods at Liverpool and indicated that the supporters' complaints should be redirected towards the club's board of directors. With a takeover imminent, Benítez felt emboldened enough to question the club's spending policies under the current regime and blame the 6-3 Carling Cup thrashing by Arsenal on a failure to release more transfer funds.

On another troubled day for the club, Benítez learned last night that Luis García would be out for six months after rupturing knee ligaments in Tuesday's extraordinary quarter-final, the first time Liverpool had conceded six goals at home since 1930. Amid a welter of criticism from supporters and former players, Benítez denied any culpability for the defeat and, in his most outspoken criticism of the Anfield hierarchy since replacing Gérard Houllier in 2004, he expressed his dissatisfaction about the level of financial backing and that the club worked "too slowly" in the transfer market.

 

"If Arsenal can play nine reserves and score six at Anfield, people should be asking why," said Benítez. "It's not because of one game, it's because of many reasons. There is a lesson for the whole of our club. That lesson is that if you want to compete at the top level you must be able to spend a lot of money - not only on your first team but on the young players and the reserves.

"My scouting department has done an excellent job but sometimes we go too slowly as a club to make signings we need. We need to work quickly. And when we do, there is not a lot of money. Arsenal spent £4m on Abou Diaby, £4m on Denilson, £8m on Theo Walcott and Julio Baptista is a £22m player. We had seven players with first-team experience and still we could not win."

 

The Spaniard had admitted, in private, to being frustrated by these matters on several occasions, but this is the first time he has expressed his grievances publicly and it is understood to have been timed deliberately given the advanced nature of the takeover talks. He described the club as being several years behind Arsenal in terms of development and made it clear Liverpool would not be in a position to re-establish themselves as England's top club until the Dubai International Capital group moved into power and made significant money available for new signings.

 

Liverpool's directors, however, are entitled to question some of Benítez's figures. Baptista, for example, is only on loan at Arsenal and, before that, joined Real Madrid from Sevilla for £13.8m. Benítez's complaints also fail to take into account that the £77.8m paid out by Liverpool in transfer fees during his 2½ seasons as manager is higher than at any other Premiership club in the same period, apart from Chelsea and Manchester United.

 

Benítez has brought in 25 players and has also put in place a loan deal for Sampdoria's 21-year-old goalkeeper Danielle Padell, a move that effectively ends Jerzy Dudek's first-team career at Anfield.

 

"We are signing a young Italian goalkeeper on loan with an option for longer," said Benítez. "We have also been working for many weeks to sign James McCarthy, a young Scot [from Hamilton Academicals]. These are deals we are doing because we want to build for the future. But without spending money it is difficult. Arsenal have two or three players, for example, who we were monitoring but couldn't sign because we didn't have enough money."

 

It was put to Benítez that he had blundered by resting so many players when the tie represented Liverpool's last chance of a domestic trophy. "What is more important?" he replied. "The Premiership, the Champions League or the Carling Cup? Do people expect me to play someone like Steve Finnan every week when he's had to play in every fixture this season?"

 

Link

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Only once since he arrived at the club have his players flirted with a humiliation of similar proportions. In May 2005 they went three goals down to AC Milan in the first 45 minutes in Istanbul, and never in the 50-year history of the European Cup final had a team looked so comprehensively outclassed. But from the depths of the club's history Steven Gerrard and his team-mates summoned a spirit that enabled them to break their opponents' will.

Benítez took a winner's medal, although the victory on the night had little to do with him. But if he could not claim much credit for that success, the manager was certainly responsible for this week's disaster.

 

That is possibly the biggest load of b******s I have ever read about football. It's just downright offensive. f*** off.