Could this be a very significant turning point?

[Flasher]

Apologies if you feel this should be in another thread. I'm hoping it's a different enough approach to warrant its own discussion.

 

I might be the only one, but I can't help thinking that this latest episode with Hicks might just be the kick up the backside that everyone on the footballing side of things needs. What better motivation to rally around Rafa and his staff and really go for everything in the 2nd half of the season.

 

Could this be the catalyst that turns draws into wins. Let's face it, we're not that bad. Turn the draws against Boro, City, Spurs, Wigan, Chelsea & Birmingham into wins, which they very nearly were and should have been, then that's another 12 points. I know those games are in the past, and the fact is we didn't win, but we could have.

 

Apart from a lack of confidence/appetite, we're not actually that far away from putting a really good run together.

 

I really believe that now more than ever, the players and coaching staff have the biggest motivation to turn things on. Life is so much easier when you know where you stand.

 

Am I delusional? Am I the only one that feels that actually, this might work in the team's favour?

Edited January 15, 2008 by Flasher

[Rimbeux]

It could go either way. Those of weak character and those who may not see eye to eye with the manager will hardly be going through the wall from now on with neither loyalty or authority as motivators. What it may do is polarise the squad for the manager in terms of who he can and cant count on, but ultimately if the feeling is that it's already all over for this regime, it will be a damp end.

[Falconhoof]

Its not starting now though, its been rumbling on all season and has had no positive effect. Unless you believe the announcement about Klinsmann is a watershed and that the players will respond to that alone.

[Magic8Ball]

Apologies if you feel this should be in another thread. I'm hoping it's a different enough approach to warrant its own discussion.

 

I might be the only one, but I can't help thinking that this latest episode with Hicks might just be the kick up the backside that everyone on the footballing side of things needs. What better motivation to rally around Rafa and his staff and really go for everything in the 2nd half of the season.

 

Could this be the catalyst that turns draws into wins. Let's face it, we're not that bad. Turn the draws against Boro, City, Spurs, Wigan, Chelsea & Birmingham into wins, which they very nearly were and should have been, then that's another 12 points. I know those games are in the past, and the fact is we didn't win, but we could have.

 

Apart from a lack of confidence/appetite, we're not actually that far away from putting a really good run together.

 

I really believe that now more than ever, the players and coaching staff have the biggest motivation to turn things on. Life is so much easier when you know where you stand.

 

Am I delusional? Am I the only one that feels that actually, this might work in the team's favour?

 

The only way this will be a turning point will be if:

 

1 - The Americans shut up and put up CASH !! ( but we know they're broke)

2 - The players Identify with the manager and fight his corner on the pitch ( but we know some of the players are incapable)

3 - Rafa pics a team and pretty much stays with it injuries permitting - ( but we know Rafa likes to tinker)

4 - Luton wont be the test, the test will be the next 5 games

[Flasher]

So, in summary, i'm pretty much on my own.

 

To quote my earlier point. " Life is so much easier when you know where you stand." Well, I guess I know where I stand

 

Seriously though. I like the idea that Rafa can at least now see who he can count on. The who's in who's out approach.

 

Oh well. I will be positive.

 

Come on you Reds!!!

[whitewidow]

So, in summary, i'm pretty much on my own.

 

To quote my earlier point. " Life is so much easier when you know where you stand." Well, I guess I know where I stand

 

Seriously though. I like the idea that Rafa can at least now see who he can count on. The who's in who's out approach.

 

Oh well. I will be positive.

 

Come on you Reds!!!

 

I have been hoping for this since November - green shoots of recovery in some matches since then but in the main disappointment. Villa at home is the potential start of the real challenge. I hope the players rise to this, as I am a glass half full guy but the media circus is going to make this uphill journey a lot harder.

[usualsuspect]

Apologies if you feel this should be in another thread. I'm hoping it's a different enough approach to warrant its own discussion.

 

I might be the only one, but I can't help thinking that this latest episode with Hicks might just be the kick up the backside that everyone on the footballing side of things needs. What better motivation to rally around Rafa and his staff and really go for everything in the 2nd half of the season.

 

Could this be the catalyst that turns draws into wins. Let's face it, we're not that bad. Turn the draws against Boro, City, Spurs, Wigan, Chelsea & Birmingham into wins, which they very nearly were and should have been, then that's another 12 points. I know those games are in the past, and the fact is we didn't win, but we could have.

 

Apart from a lack of confidence/appetite, we're not actually that far away from putting a really good run together.

 

I really believe that now more than ever, the players and coaching staff have the biggest motivation to turn things on. Life is so much easier when you know where you stand.

 

Am I delusional? Am I the only one that feels that actually, this might work in the team's favour?

Sometimes u have to admit u aint good enough. As much as we've had a few draws that we should have won, we also had some draws we could easily have lost eg Luton and Portsmouth so it cuts both ways. Add to that some fortune vs Everton.

I would actually say we are very far considering the standard of our passing and movement. Add to that the dreaded and at times baffling rotation and there you have it.

I think we will be top 4 but it won't be a walk in the park.

[honourablegeorge]

Don't mean to sound negative, but I honestly think there's no way back from this. Rafa's finished - whether it's short term (like a defeat to Inter) or the summer, I don't know, but they've f***in' ruined him, and it's f***in' disgusting.

 

And if those two shysters are holding out for a £50M profit each, having done nothing but damage and destabilise the club in their time here, then frankly I can't see us being bought out any time soon.

 

Which leaves the last option - the refinancing deal, which leaves us crippled with debt, with god knows who as manager, scrabbling to finish in the top four (soon to be top 3) to guarantee a CL place to keep out heads above water - and competing with United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City and possibly one or two other clubs having far more financial resources than us.

[Stevie H]

think it's going to get worse before it gets better.

[honourablegeorge]

think it's going to get worse before it gets better.

 

 

A lot worse.

[muleskinner]

If Everton and Man City win this weekend and we lose to Villa I don't think we will get 4th. Away to Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea to come, we need a big turnaround in form and this s***storm is not the atmosphere that will do much to bring that on, particularly if we have a change of manager before the season is out.

 

That would really f*** up the busines model.

[matty]

I can't see much improvement on the field until we've sorted out off the field.

 

And seeing as the Owners have proven themselves to be totally untrustworthy, it's hard to see how any improvement will happen until they f*** right off.

[Armin_Tamzarian]

You can't build a siege mentality when the enemy is within the keep. Authority control and discipline within the club come down from the manager. Undermine him and the effects spreads. Rafa has been fatally undermined by the people that were supposed to back him. The stronger more disciplined characters will continue to work but when Rafa tries to exert authority players will know that he won't be around in a short time so they won't worry too much. I'm just hoping the spirit built up over years within the team and the experience of the senior players will carry the sinking ship into port.

[honourablegeorge]

Walk out, walk out, with hope, in your heart...."

[Stevie H]

You can't build a siege mentality when the enemy is within the keep.

that's a great line.

[Guest Kaizer]

If Everton and Man City win this weekend and we lose to Villa I don't think we will get 4th. Away to Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea to come, we need a big turnaround in form and this s***storm is not the atmosphere that will do much to bring that on, particularly if we have a change of manager before the season is out.

 

That would really f*** up the busines model.

 

Jesus, personally I think we will finish at least 10 points ahead of the team in 5th, if we finish 4th or higher is another matter.

 

I looked trough our the rest of our fixtures this season last night and I would not be surprised to see us win the remaining of our home matches, thats 27 points, which will see us on 66 points, and then we have the remaining 8 away matches which can earn us 24 points at best.

 

There is no need to worry about the teams behind us at all.

[Des]

F*ck, we're doomed.

[honourablegeorge]

Jesus, personally I think we will finish at least 10 points ahead of the team in 5th, if we finish 4th or higher is another matter.

 

I looked trough our the rest of our fixtures this season last night and I would not be surprised to see us win the remaining of our home matches, thats 27 points, which will see us on 66 points, and then we have the remaining 8 away matches which can earn us 24 points at best.

 

There is no need to worry about the teams behind us at all.

 

 

Complete and utter nonsense, that.

[Rimbeux]

Jesus, personally I think we will finish at least 10 points ahead of the team in 5th, if we finish 4th or higher is another matter.

 

I looked trough our the rest of our fixtures this season last night and I would not be surprised to see us win the remaining of our home matches, thats 27 points, which will see us on 66 points, and then we have the remaining 8 away matches which can earn us 24 points at best.

 

There is no need to worry about the teams behind us at all.

 

 

Which would all be fine if it was business as usual. Your last forecast was pretty far off the mark btw.

[Caligula]

Here are my concerns:

 

Benitez' players aren't up to the job.

 

Benitez' tactics don't work.

 

Benitez won't play his best 11 consistently.

 

Benitez thinks he is more important than reality would suggest.

 

It would be better all round if we had a fresh start before this whole situation goes belly up.

[pipnasty]

Here are my concerns:

 

Benitez' players aren't up to the job.

 

Benitez' tactics don't work.

 

Benitez won't play his best 11 consistently.

 

Benitez thinks he is more important than reality would suggest.

 

It would be better all round if we had a fresh start before this whole situation goes belly up.

 

 

Mr Hicks - is that really you?

[Guest Kaizer]

Complete and utter nonsense, that.

 

We`ll see in May.

[Caligula]

Mr Hicks - is that really you?

 

No, but I'm not about to jump on the 'blame the board' bandwagon.

 

Benitez is the one in charge of the team and the team isn't performing.

[Armin_Tamzarian]

Here are my concerns:

 

Benitez' players aren't up to the job.

 

Benitez' tactics don't work.

 

Benitez won't play his best 11 consistently.

 

Benitez thinks he is more important than reality would suggest.

 

It would be better all round if we had a fresh start before this whole situation goes belly up.

 

I'll admit I'm a huge fan of Benitez but I'd have thought even his biggest detractors would realise the number one concern at Liverpool isn't the manager but the owners. To take your post as an example, if the players aren't up to it then a fresh start won't help because there's no money to buy new ones. LFC has better things to be spending its cash on such as interest payments to fund our new owners purchase of the club.

[honourablegeorge]

We`ll see in May.

 

 

What makes you think we'll suddenly develop a 100% home record? Our current home record is probably in the mid forties, percentage-wise.