Does Rafa deserve more time

[downunder]

A good win tonight, a good performance to go with it

 

This proves we are not as abad as some would let you believe, and Rafa does have it in him to get the best out of players and get them playing as a team. I, for one, still support Rafa but after Saturday I started to have doubts as to whether with him in charge we could stop the slump.

 

Assuming we beat Inter but don't win the Cup, and come 4th or 5th, I think Rafa definitely needs another season (with stability) to show us what he can do. If we are still in deline domesically it will be time for a change.

[mooks]

I think Rafa should have another at least another three weeks

[Dmitch]

while i am happy with the result lets not get ahead of ourselves we could loose on the weekend then all the knives come back out........ Its pathetic

[Clay Davis]

The players need to find the motivation they have in the champs league and produce it in the league. The players need to find the self belief they have in the champs league and produce it in the league.

[John am Rhein]

He'd deserve more time even if we'd lost 2-0 last night.

[surf]

Ironically, tonights win offers a good argument for the sack Rafa gang. The players showed they obviously have it in them and that Rafa isn't able to get it out of them on a week to week basis. Whether it's different tactics in the league or a motivational issue i don't know, but it's hard to say that Rafa has poor players to work with when they put in performances like this.

[John am Rhein]

Yeah, bring in a new manager (preferably English) who can take our European Cup performances down to the level of our League and FA Cup ones. We need lots more little scouse d1ckhead teenagers who everyone thinks is going to be the next Gerrard/Fowler/McManaman but turn out to be the next Marsh/Thompson/Matteo in the squad.

[Igors Uncle Dave]

Rafa is an outstanding defensive manager, he is not a man manager. We need someone to get a grip of the side now and instil more belief week in week out. We have an abundance of International players who have lost their self confidence and unfortunately Rafa does not seem to be able to break this.

 

Last night the Liverpool we all know and love, returned tto the European stage and showed the World what they can do. They showed a master class of football and played one of the best European teams off the part. The troublesome bit for me was when Inter were reduced to 10 men, the changes should have been made there and then, or at least at half time. Rafa just will not do this.

 

Rafa seems to have a plan and will stick to it no matter what, he must lear to adapt to the situation as it unfolds. Crouch and Pennant should have been on, together, at half time. It was only when they were both on and we stopped playing so deep that we made inroads. Everyone could see that we needed to bypass their midfield and bombard them with balls in the air. Chiuvu is a quality player but he is no Hyypia in the air.

 

Having sai that it was a briliant result that very few would have thought possible after Saturday, does Rafa deserve more time? He has until the end of the season for me, in that time he has to learn that you play your strongest team in every match. Stop rotating so much and rest players when the game is won. If they get burnt out then so be it.

 

I like Rafa and along with most Liverpool supporters we want to see him and the team winning. Time to listen Rafa, you are a tactical genius in the most part, but stop all of this unnecessary rotation and go and kill teams off!!!

[San Diego Red]

That's that then, Rafa's a woman manager.

[Swagger]

Regardless of last night, Rafa deserves at the very least another season in charge, especially considering the lack of serious alternatives available.

 

Good articles by Paul Doyle today. In a nutshell, he argues that Benitez has not had near the spending power of Chelsea and Man U, nor the time Wenger has had to nurture young talent.

 

Link

[Guest Snorky]

while i am happy with the result lets not get ahead of ourselves we could loose on the weekend then all the knives come back out........ Its pathetic

 

Good comment. I still want him replaced regardless of the great result last night.

[Hassony]

Talk sport are talking about how lucky he was yesterday with the sending off because of the "£20m cheat" and that things only happened when he listened to the crowd and put crouch on!

 

Obviously If that was Mourinho yesterday he would have been labeled a genius for introducing a subtitute to change the game!

[m100900]

Rafa is an outstanding defensive manager, he is not a man manager. We need someone to get a grip of the side now and instil more belief week in week out. We have an abundance of International players who have lost their self confidence and unfortunately Rafa does not seem to be able to break this.

 

Last night the Liverpool we all know and love, returned tto the European stage and showed the World what they can do. They showed a master class of football and played one of the best European teams off the part. The troublesome bit for me was when Inter were reduced to 10 men, the changes should have been made there and then, or at least at half time. Rafa just will not do this.

 

Rafa seems to have a plan and will stick to it no matter what, he must lear to adapt to the situation as it unfolds. Crouch and Pennant should have been on, together, at half time. It was only when they were both on and we stopped playing so deep that we made inroads. Everyone could see that we needed to bypass their midfield and bombard them with balls in the air. Chiuvu is a quality player but he is no Hyypia in the air.

 

Having sai that it was a briliant result that very few would have thought possible after Saturday, does Rafa deserve more time? He has until the end of the season for me, in that time he has to learn that you play your strongest team in every match. Stop rotating so much and rest players when the game is won. If they get burnt out then so be it.

 

I like Rafa and along with most Liverpool supporters we want to see him and the team winning. Time to listen Rafa, you are a tactical genius in the most part, but stop all of this unnecessary rotation and go and kill teams off!!!

 

 

So in summary, brilliant result overseen by a tactical genius, but they should've done it your way ?

[Guest Ant]

This game does not overshadow the overall s***tyness of this season.

[chliverpool7]

HE should be given more time regardless of this result. Should rafa be given more time? he always should have. The knee-jerkers will quiet down for the time being...and now rafa will be there hero until we lose our next game and then of course he should be sacked.

 

Another tactical masterclass last night by rafa..defensively anyway. Everytime inter passed half way (which wasn't often) 3 or 4 red shirts hassled the ball player till they gave it away. Fantastic. I expect more of the same in the second leg. I do however think our creative play for 20minutes before our goal was poor.....bolton-esque!!!

[Woodsyla]

The troublesome bit for me was when Inter were reduced to 10 men, the changes should have been made there and then, or at least at half time. Rafa just will not do this.

 

I absolutely disagree with this. You don't have to change the personel to change the approach. At half time Rafa totally changed the setup, he pushed Aurelio and Finnan way up the pitch and dropped Lucas back in more centrally with Masch. In the first half it was Masch holding with Gerrard advanced and Lucas getting forward when he could. Lucas just sat and pinged balls all game after they went to 10 men. Thought the Crouch substitution was timed perfectly, when Vieira came on Inter had clearly settled for a point and so Rafa knew we would be camped in their half so brought on Pennant and Crouch.

 

Tactically Rafa got it spot on for me last night. Didn't panic continued pressing and eventually even the best cave in.

 

Going to be one hell of a night in the San Siro because guess what, they need the same scoreline as they did in 1965 !!!!!!!!

[Rich Gobey]

That's that then, Rafa's a woman manager.

 

and he reads books.

[Hassony]

I absolutely disagree with this. You don't have to change the personel to change the approach. At half time Rafa totally changed the setup, he pushed Aurelio and Finnan way up the pitch and dropped Lucas back in more centrally with Masch. In the first half it was Masch holding with Gerrard advanced and Lucas getting forward when he could. Lucas just sat and pinged balls all game after they went to 10 men. Thought the Crouch substitution was timed perfectly, when Vieira came on Inter had clearly settled for a point and so Rafa knew we would be camped in their half so brought on Pennant and Crouch.

 

Tactically Rafa got it spot on for me last night. Didn't panic continued pressing and eventually even the best cave in.

 

Going to be one hell of a night in the San Siro because guess what, they need the same scoreline as they did in 1965 !!!!!!!!

I loved the fact that Rafa was arguing with the linesman about added time when we were 1-0 up, he wanted a second goal

[Gunga Din]

If Rafa brings in a decent number 2, someone preferably with a connect with the club who can relate with the players, i'd be happy to see him have more time. however, Rafa on his own is a no no for me at the minute. without wanting to put a downer on last nights result, the question that needs answering and so far has not been asked, is how the hell we can put in a performance like that in one game, and then performances like Barnsley a week before. regardless of personnel, the way the team went about the game was vastly different, and the question has to be asked. Why??

[Guest Ant]

If Rafa brings in a decent number 2, someone preferably with a connect with the club who can relate with the players, i'd be happy to see him have more time. however, Rafa on his own is a no no for me at the minute. without wanting to put a downer on last nights result, the question that needs answering and so far has not been asked, is how the hell we can put in a performance like that in one game, and then performances like Barnsley a week before. regardless of personnel, the way the team went about the game was vastly different, and the question has to be asked. Why??

 

Agreed.

 

This is Rafa's speciality, the European game, until he can prove to us that he can progress in the EPL like he has done in the CL then it's a No no from me as well.

[Rich Gobey]

If Rafa brings in a decent number 2, someone preferably with a connect with the club who can relate with the players, i'd be happy to see him have more time. however, Rafa on his own is a no no for me at the minute. without wanting to put a downer on last nights result, the question that needs answering and so far has not been asked, is how the hell we can put in a performance like that in one game, and then performances like Barnsley a week before. regardless of personnel, the way the team went about the game was vastly different, and the question has to be asked. Why??

 

Why do you assume it's down to the manager?

 

Seriously.

[Guest Ant]

Why do you assume it's down to the manager?

 

Seriously.

 

Because it's his opinion

[Gunga Din]

Why do you assume it's down to the manager?

 

Seriously.

 

tactics and motivation. if it is down to playesr attitutes then then manager brought them in, and they are therefore his responsability.

 

thats the managers job.

[bazz]

As much as we can ask how Rafa got that performance out of the players last night and how come he can't get it out of them for league and fa cup games, I think we have to question the players.

 

I mean, how come they aren't that fired up for the league?

 

Its bewildering

[Rich Gobey]

tactics and motivation. if it is down to playesr attitutes then then manager brought them in, and they are therefore his responsability.

 

thats the managers job.

 

Then by that reckoning Rafa should take the entire credit for last nights win.