Benitez spends more time worrying about Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson than he does his own team. Half the stories reported about Manchester United are from Benitez's mouth.
I'm fine with that and that is why I was so happy to see him around for another five years.
Either way, as a result of that, HUGE posters of Benitez were all around Old Trafford. I don't have to mention what the score was that day. .
It's nothing to do with what right or not but more to do that Benitez is expending all this energy typing out dossiers worrying about Man U's fixture list over the Xmas break.
He's one step away from a Kevin Keegan rant.
Congrats on your victory, it keeps the race exciting. Running out of games ....
Yep, the team with more goals in the league than any other team bores me to death. Chelsea is the best team defensively at the moment though, having conceded only 20 goals. Liverpool have pulled off so many wins against all odds this year, I think it's certainly possible. I won't count on it, but wouldn't be totally shocked if Liverpool could pull it off. If we don't make it past Chelsea, but put up 6 wins in 6 games in the league, EVEN IF United don't falter, that is a testament to the resillience of a team under Rafa.
Benitez good buys go beyond Torres. You have to include Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso, Daniel Agger (he hasn't been using him to be fair, but the defenders he's been playing have been great). The owners wouldn't give him Barry, so he picks up Riera, who has done admirably, and been downright awesome some games. Let's not forget Martin Skrtel, who's been part of a pretty solid defense. Another signing seemingly set to sit on the bench a lot, and he's been playing great. Also, have you watched Yossi Benayoun lately? Another Rafa signing, and he's probably playing the best he's ever played in his life.
Alex Ferguson does let his personal feelings get in the way. He publicly criticizes officials, schedule makers, everything he possibly can. He simply doesn't get disciplined for it. Rafa didn't get discplined for talking of the FA giving Ferguson a free pass, because he broke no rules, and said nothing that wasn't true. You know what happened when Liverpool went into Old Trafford? Fans of United had huge banners with Benitez, with messages claiming he's gone off the deep end. I'm not sure about you, but I think that got into some people's heads. No thanks to Roy Keane, or Moyes.
I mean no disrespect with what I am about to say. I'm not trying to insult you, I mean the following quite sincerely.
Your point about Liverpool having scored the most goals is exactly what pisses me off about North American sports fans. Goals scored has very little to do with the quality of play a team has. Arsenal are, and have been for the past decade, the absolute most entertaining team to watch. Their link-up play and the way they move the ball around every blade of grass is extremely rewarding to watch. Take Spain, for example. Barcelona are playing a completely different sport to Real Madrid right now, but Real Madrid keep picking up points while playing terrible football. Having your centre backs hoof the ball up the pitch for Torres to chase is hardly exciting football. We lack a midfield general - someone in the middle of the park who can tackle, pass, and will the team to victory. We have a great tackler in Mascherano, a great passer in Alonso, a great leader in Gerrard - but he plays him as a striker because he doesn't have a quality finisher other than Torres, thanks to the whole Keane fiasco. If you don't believe Keane is capable, look at what he's done since he got back to Spurs.
Liverpool play boring, boring football these days. I've been watching them since the early nineties and I can't remember a more dull team. Torres and Gerrard are the only world class players we truly have, and that's simply not good enough. None of the players your mentioned as "quality Benitez buys" would make the starting XI for Chelsea or Manchester United. Yossi Benayoun has been playing great lately, I'll agree, I watch all the games every weekend so I'd say I know my football pretty well. But Benayoun is very inconsistent - he would never get an extended run in the Man United team. Just look at Carlos Tevez! Same problem, and Tevez is a much better player.
Benitez needs to go. He's spent more money than Ferguson since he took over Liverpool. In the same time frame, Ferguson has bought players like Vidic, Ronaldo, Rooney, Evra, and Van der Saar, all of whom would start over their Liverpool counterparts - Skrtel/Agger, Kuyt, Benayoun, Arbeloa/Insua, Reina, etc, I think you get my point. Torres and Gerrard are the only two players that would get a look into the Manchester United starting XI. There is no excuse for this, the funds have been made available and he's piddled them away. He needs to go - we're going to end this year without any trophies.
Sorry for the long rant, but one more thing. GET RID OF THIS ROTATION POLICY!!! What good did it do us last week against Chelsea? No good at all. Our players weren't better rested and more energetic at all. Leaving Torres on the bench for a midweek Premiership game against Fulham in October is no different than leaving him on the bench this time of year against Aston Villa or Everton.
There's a reason One nil to the Arsenal is one of their most famous chants.
You're wrong there buddy. "Boring, boring Arsenal" was the chant back in the early to mid nineties, but that was then and this is now. Arsenal under Wenger play the most exciting, attacking football in the Premiership. Anyone who watches more than their favourite team's games will tell you that.
I'm not trying to say that I'm an expert, but I watch damn near all the matches. Setanta is awesome. Arsenal are very very entertaining to watch nowadays.
I mean no disrespect with what I am about to say. I'm not trying to insult you, I mean the following quite sincerely.
No personal attacks, I won't be insulted, no worries.
Quote:
Your point about Liverpool having scored the most goals is exactly what pisses me off about North American sports fans. Goals scored has very little to do with the quality of play a team has. Arsenal are, and have been for the past decade, the absolute most entertaining team to watch. Their link-up play and the way they move the ball around every blade of grass is extremely rewarding to watch. Take Spain, for example. Barcelona are playing a completely different sport to Real Madrid right now, but Real Madrid keep picking up points while playing terrible football.
Agreed that goals don't equal entertainment. Liverpool are not the most exciting team to watch, but far from boring. Agreed that Barca are a pleasure to watch.
Quote:
Having your centre backs hoof the ball up the pitch for Torres to chase is hardly exciting football. We lack a midfield general - someone in the middle of the park who can tackle, pass, and will the team to victory. We have a great tackler in Mascherano, a great passer in Alonso, a great leader in Gerrard - but he plays him as a striker because he doesn't have a quality finisher other than Torres, thanks to the whole Keane fiasco. If you don't believe Keane is capable, look at what he's done since he got back to Spurs.
Keane is capable. He showed that a few times, but most of the time, he seemed to be off during his time at Anfield. He had one game (forgot the opponent that day, sorry) where he had 4 wide open nets, some with ample time, and missed every single one of them. A quality striker shouldn't be missing those. As far as the midfield, I think Alonso, Gerrard, and Mascherano are a great start. Once Benitez can find a proper strike partner for Torres, and Gerrard can be moved back to midfield, it will be easier to see the strength down the middle.
Quote:
Liverpool play boring, boring football these days. I've been watching them since the early nineties and I can't remember a more dull team. Torres and Gerrard are the only world class players we truly have, and that's simply not good enough. None of the players your mentioned as "quality Benitez buys" would make the starting XI for Chelsea or Manchester United. Yossi Benayoun has been playing great lately, I'll agree, I watch all the games every weekend so I'd say I know my football pretty well. But Benayoun is very inconsistent - he would never get an extended run in the Man United team. Just look at Carlos Tevez! Same problem, and Tevez is a much better player.
If you're suggesting that 9 of Liverpool's best starting XI are not good enough to even crack United, it must be not by much. Otherwise they wouldn't be as high as they are in the table, end of story.
Quote:
Benitez needs to go. He's spent more money than Ferguson since he took over Liverpool.
Take a look at the link if you'd like. Ferguson has spent 9 million pounds more than Benitez since Rafa came to Liverpool. That does not factor money coming in from players sold. Factoring that in, Ferguson's net spend over that time was 36.5 quid more than Benitez. The only ones who reported that Rafa has spent more, was Ferguson's team of cronies that he dispatched to 'research' that (unbiased I'm sure). Of course that was a completely level-headed reaction by a brilliant manager like Ferguson.
Benitez was right, and Ferguson should've simply seen that, and not done anything, instead of trying to spread mis-information.
Quote:
In the same time frame, Ferguson has bought players like Vidic, Ronaldo, Rooney, Evra, and Van der Saar, all of whom would start over their Liverpool counterparts - Skrtel/Agger, Kuyt, Benayoun, Arbeloa/Insua, Reina, etc, I think you get my point. Torres and Gerrard are the only two players that would get a look into the Manchester United starting XI. There is no excuse for this, the funds have been made available and he's piddled them away. He needs to go - we're going to end this year without any trophies.
I've already covered most of this earlier. The only thing I have to add, is the only place that Van Der Saar starts over Reina is for the Dutch national team, because Reina does not have Dutch citizenship (to my knowledge)
Quote:
Sorry for the long rant, but one more thing. GET RID OF THIS ROTATION POLICY!!! What good did it do us last week against Chelsea? No good at all. Our players weren't better rested and more energetic at all. Leaving Torres on the bench for a midweek Premiership game against Fulham in October is no different than leaving him on the bench this time of year against Aston Villa or Everton.
Torres has only 19 starts this season. Keep in mind he was out with injury twice I believe. Gerrard didn't play every game, but also had injury problems. Ask Jamie Carragher how often he falls victim to this 'rotation policy'.
Ferguson doesn't start the same XI every match either. He simply doesn't get criticized for it, for the same reason that some GMs and coaches in the NHL are invincible to criticism. Some are simply regarded by the media as better than others. Ken Holland makes only good decisions, and Garth Snow only makes bad decisions. These are extremes of course, but the media treats Rafa and Alex the same way. They like one guy, but not the other.
__________________
"Correction, it's not your leg son. It's Liverpool's leg" - Shankly
I mean no disrespect with what I am about to say. I'm not trying to insult you, I mean the following quite sincerely.
I mean no disrespect either but after reading your rant I'm not entirely sure why you're a Liverpool fan in the first place. Arsenal seems more to your liking.
The rest of the board doesnt count, when the Reds beat Chelsea twice in the league where were you then? Not here, but Chelsea wins one game and all of a sudden theres Chelsea fans everywhere.
I'm just kidding man, I'm just buggin ya.
I should have come on then to celebrate, getting Scolari sacked was the biggest gift Liverpool could have given us... thank you for that. Hopefully we can return the favour after tonight! It's going to be a zoo tonight that's for sure.
Take a look at the link if you'd like. Ferguson has spent 9 million pounds more than Benitez since Rafa came to Liverpool. That does not factor money coming in from players sold. Factoring that in, Ferguson's net spend over that time was 36.5 quid more than Benitez. The only ones who reported that Rafa has spent more, was Ferguson's team of cronies that he dispatched to 'research' that (unbiased I'm sure). Of course that was a completely level-headed reaction by a brilliant manager like Ferguson.
Benitez was right, and Ferguson should've simply seen that, and not done anything, instead of trying to spread mis-information.
I mean no disrespect either but after reading your rant I'm not entirely sure why you're a Liverpool fan in the first place. Arsenal seems more to your liking.
I grew up in Europe following Liverpool. They'll always be my team. That's doesn't mean that I'm not blind to their faults.
I'm a big Flames fan, but without Regehr in the lineup I don't think we have any chance at all against Chicago. Does this make me less of a fan? Or just a realist?
With the financial resources Liverpool have available, there is no need for us to be playing route one football. We have the quality players, they should be allowed to play a passing game. West Brom are far more entertaining to watch, and their budget is far far less than that of Liverpool!
What a match! Liverpool up 2-0 after 30 minutes.
Chelsea replies with three unaswered second half goals to take the lead.
Liverpool draws even then takes the lead within a minute!
