BENITEZ

[mattster]

I think the manager cost us today, with some bizzare substitutions, most notably Lucas who is so one-dimensional it is scary. I mean what was he going to offer, anyway?

In Benitez's defence, Keane has done himself no favours of late, showing a terrible attitude at times and the manager is clearly trying to show him who is boss. However, team morale is low at the moment and having Keane moping around the place isn't going to help. Rafa has the talent to take us right to the top and there is no way I would want another manager in place of him at this time, but he needs to take full responsibility for these poor home results, as it is mostly down to his decision-making. Another 2 points dropped today and although I am still hopeful of maintaining a strong title challenge through to the end of the campaign, I feel gutted and deflated about this result. Could Benitez have done more, or am I being harsh on him?

Edited December 13, 2008 by mattster

[Logic]

Why do you think that the team morale is low?

 

I'd think that being top of the league (at least until 2moro) would cheer the players up.

[Ed the Wool]

f*** me, see the cull didn't get all the d****eads.

Lucas came on with about 3 minutes left.

We battered them for about 70/75 minutes, where the 'too cautious' brigade then?

We lack a player to open teams up at home, Yossi isn't up to it.

If Chelsea win tomorrow, they'll be a point ahead of us in mid December. Get a f***ing grip.

[mattster]

Just speaking to people close to some of the team. I am good friends with someone who has played under Benitez and he isn't a man to get the players up for a challenge by instilling great confidence. He gets his results by being a great coach and having a brilliant tactical brain. If we are to win this league, we need all of his undoubted qualities, while not alienating people like Robbie Keane etc.

[alias75]

This isn't Robbie Keane FC, you can't win with some people on here when he plays and doesn't play well he gets slated now hes our saviour.

 

Maybe he thought having midfield runners was a better way to open Hull up than sticking another forward up there that can be marked easily.

 

However stubborn you think Rafa is hes making decisions he thinks can win the game for us, hes not intentionally making substitutions to draw or lose games.

[muleskinner]

f*** me, see the cull didn't get all the d****eads.

Lucas came on with about 3 minutes left.

We battered them for about 70/75 minutes, where the 'too cautious' brigade then?

We lack a player to open teams up at home, Yossi isn't up to it.

If Chelsea win tomorrow, they'll be a point ahead of us in mid December. Get a f***ing grip.

 

We ought to be 6 points clear. 8 points dropped at home to the teams we have is unacceptable.

[NWR]

f*** me, see the cull didn't get all the d****eads.

Lucas came on with about 3 minutes left.

We battered them for about 70/75 minutes, where the 'too cautious' brigade then?

We lack a player to open teams up at home, Yossi isn't up to it.

If Chelsea win tomorrow, they'll be a point ahead of us in mid December. Get a f***ing grip.

 

 

I think its you that needs to get a grip. The guy is just voicing his opinion. I dont see him calling for the managers head, do you?

[Hassony]

Just speaking to people close to some of the team. I am good friends with someone who has played under Benitez and he isn't a man to get the players up for a challenge by instilling great confidence. He gets his results by being a great coach and having a brilliant tactical brain. If we are to win this league, we need all of his undoubted qualities, while not alienating people like Robbie Keane etc.

 

So its Rafa's fault that Robbie keane has been s**** for most of the season, and people close to the clubs have told you this

 

right..........

[MFletcher]

Is this the same Robbie Keane that people were demanding be benched/sent to the reserves for a period of prolonged mediocrity? Now he's the saviour?

 

I need to keep up.

[Earl Hafler]

f*** me, see the cull didn't get all the d****eads.

Lucas came on with about 3 minutes left.

We battered them for about 70/75 minutes, where the 'too cautious' brigade then?

We lack a player to open teams up at home, Yossi isn't up to it.

If Chelsea win tomorrow, they'll be a point ahead of us in mid December. Get a f***ing grip.

 

Still enough time to score a goal but it should have been Keane ( although he should have been on earlier )

 

Kuyt was poor

Benayoun was poor

Riera looked tired last 20

 

and yet Babel is given 10 mins and Keane no time at all. Woeful.

[mattster]

Edinjapan,

I am not a d**khead, the point at which Lucas came on is not the issue, it is the treatment of Keane which bothers me. Granted, Keans has an attitude himself, but if you think our strikeforce is good enough without Keane (while Torres is injured), then you are badly mistaken.

[Earl Hafler]

Is this the same Robbie Keane that people were demanding be benched/sent to the reserves for a period of prolonged mediocrity? Now he's the saviour?

 

I need to keep up.

 

 

Is it the same people ? Prove it.

 

 

You can't. Just keep those glasses on and the world's just one pink oyster.

[Chili Palmer]

I'm off, see you on monday.

 

(I think its safer for my sanity that way)

[Ed the Wool]

None of your business. Not watching your own team then?

 

Actually I thought I was replying to the match thread not this one, but the way a few on there are banging on you'd think it was Rafa's fault we were top of the leauge in mid December. But to talk about Lucas when he came on with 3 minutes to go is mental.

[lawrie]

Dont know if it was Rafa necessarily being stubborn but I think he made the wrong sub choices today. I love Kuyt to bits but he was having one of his topsy/turvy days and should have been off after 60, either for Keane or Babel.

[Smith]

We ought to be 6 points clear. 8 points dropped at home to the teams we have is unacceptable.

 

All true. f***ing horrible results lately.

[mattster]

Edinjapan,

Another thing, this is a forum, I haven't been overly critical of Benitez, but I have to admit some of his actions make no sense at all. Also, it's not about getting a grip with regard to us winning the title. For the record, I am willing us to do it, but if you're happy with our home form, I can tell you now that you will be disappointed come the end of January if points continue to be dropped at 'fortress' Anfield.

[Ed the Wool]

Edinjapan,

I am not a d**khead, the point at which Lucas came on is not the issue, it is the treatment of Keane which bothers me. Granted, Keans has an attitude himself, but if you think our strikeforce is good enough without Keane (while Torres is injured), then you are badly mistaken.

 

He's been waving his arms around moaning and not scoring for about 2 months. More than ok to drop him. He deserves it 20m or not

As I said it was meant to go on the other thread, it wasn't supposed to look like calling you a d****ead, it was aimed at the morons in the match thread.

Edited December 13, 2008 by Edinjapan

[anfieldgaz]

Ita all very frustrating at the mo, I mean weshould indeed be 6/8 points clear we have dropped to many points at home to "lesser" teams.

 

Today i thought Kuyt had his worst game for us nothing and i mean nothing came from him his touch postitional ply etc was awfull,with that yes i too thought Keane should have come on as we all have seen this season if it had been the other way keane would have been hauled off!!

 

I didnt agree with Rafas subs either today and i thought we were to causious in the second half.

 

Yes we are top and we shoudnt loose sight of that but results like today do frustrate us all we should be beating teams of this calibre.

[MFletcher]

Is it the same people ? Prove it.

You can't. Just keep those glasses on and the world's just one pink oyster.

 

Keane should have come on at some stage, but let's not turn this into Torres being left on the bench. Keane has been woeful in many league games this season. £19M or not, he hasn't justified a place in the squad in recent weeks.

[surfaris]

if keane play, missed his chance, & s*** - bring on kuyt in 70 mins

if riera play, cant pass his man, tired, & s*** - bring on babel in 70 mins

 

VICE VERSA. this should be a feckin law.

 

unless the players name is FERNANDO TORRES or STEVEN GERARD

 

feckingwaste!!!

[Farmer's Tan]

however anyone feels about the subs today,i cannot think of one reason why rafa would stick with someone who was playing terribly all game.we needed a goal we had a striker on the bench who by all likely hood could not have done any worse than what was on instead of him(kuyt was absolutely sh@t today)and we dont use him.now i couldn't give a s*** if keane hasn't taken his chance when he was getting them but thats no reason whatsoever to stick with the utter disgrace of a performance that kuyt put on today.we needed goals we needed to change things up front it was obvious,everyone but rafa could see that ffs.....

 

keane has never played as badly as kuyt did today for us

[Malcolm X]

I think with the supporters like we have its no wonder we are struggling away from home. I am confident of 3 points against Arsenal next week. After all it is away from home.

[anfieldgaz]

however anyone feels about the subs today,i cannot think of one reason why rafa would stick with someone who was playing terribly all game.we needed a goal we had a striker on the bench who by all likely hood could not have done any worse than what was on instead of him(kuyt was absolutely sh@t today)and we dont use him.now i couldn't give a s*** if keane hasn't taken his chance when he was getting them but thats no reason whatsoever to stick with the utter disgrace of a performance that kuyt put on today.we needed goals we needed to change things up front it was obvious,everyone but rafa could see that ffs.....

 

keane has never played as badly as kuyt did today for us

 

 

Good point!

[Malcolm X]

keane has never played as badly as kuyt did today for us

 

Right. And Keane has never missed an easy chance. I've lost count of the number of times he has failed to produce anything in the big games.

 

F*ck me, 17 games played with at least 10 without our best player. Where the f*ck would the Mancs be without Ronaldo, in a much worse position than us..

 

Granted Kuyt didnt have the best of games but we would have won this game 2-1 if it wasnt for pub defending by Carra. And where the f*ck was the defence for their first goal.

 

If anything this game is going to spur on the team, our form will improve, no doubt about it. We absolutely dominated this game. Hull created f*ck all yet we drew. Our luck will change both on the scoring front and the injury front. It has to.

Edited December 13, 2008 by Malcolm X