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Why should Benitez be expected to compete
Liverpool by raclezer 18 February 2008
with Man utd and Chelsea, the two teams that have dominated British football since Rafa arrived at Liverpool? There is absolutely no reason why he should be expected to compete with these sides, other than from Reds' fans and the Media's over-expectations, which are rooted in Liverpool's extraordinary European success under Rafa. Do not forget that since Rafa first arrived, Liverpool have been considerably more successful than Arsenal - they have finished above them for the last two seasons in the league (by 15 points in 2006), have won the Champions League and the FA cup, and been losing finalists in the Champions League and the Carling cup. This is an extraordinary overachievement for a manager who has been at Liverpool for 3 1/2 years.
But the real question is, when Man Utd have 8 players who cost more than £12m, and Chelsea have 10, why should Liverpool, who have 2 (Torres, Babel)be expected to compete over a full season? Why?
There is no reason, other than that Rafa's overachievement has raised the bar so high, people think we're now on a par with these teams. Well, over 38 games, we're clearly not. And people think Rafa should be sacked because of this? It's an absolute joke.
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comment by The Benitez Gates
posted 4 Minutes Ago
I am convinced rotation is the sole reason we are where we are, it just doesn't work!! Look what happened at Chelsea when Ranieri 'The Tinkerman' was sacked, they hardly totally overhauled the whole team when Mourinho came in but they played far better becasue they were familiar with the other players.
It has to be said that none of the top clubs keep the same starting XI for every single match, but they only swap a couple of players, we excessively chop and change too many players. There is no contiunity in the team, lack of familiarity between the players, or reward for a good performance. How demoralising must it be for a player to have played a brilliant game, got the man of the match award, and then to only be sitting on the bench in the next game, at best!
We don't need to spend a great deal of money to improve our position in the future, just don't rotate to the point we do now. If Benitez had done everything the same in terms of tactics but played our best eleven for a sustained period (only changing players who were banned or injured) we would certainly be higher in the table and we just wouldn't be in the situation we find ourselves in now where all's everyone is talking about is 4th place!
I actually think Benitez is just too stubborn about rotation. It's his way, it's his policy and he's going to keep doing it until he is proven right, but we just know that's not going to happen.
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comment by insidethecynic
posted 4 Minutes Ago
Benitez has been there for 3.5 years now. It's not a question of "Who's worth £12million or more", not at all, because that greatly discounts the frivolous spending of £5million here and there on players that fail.
Benitez had a decent side when he took over (they won the CL after all). Since then, he's spent Christ knows how much money (I think someone said £130m), and as far as silverware is concerned there hasn't been a great deal of improvement.
THAT's why he'll get the sack soon. The reason he's been given so much money on top of what was already a decent top-4 side was to break into the top 2 or challenge for the title, which he hasn't been able to do.
To be struggling for 4th place after spending that money on an already top-4 side, is frankly disgraceful.
It really is that cut and dry.
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comment by 4thecaptain
posted 4 Minutes Ago
If Liverpool fans are happy with:
* Struggling to finish 4th.
* Having decent domestic cup runs but falling short.
* Dreaming about a CL win.
then
Rafa should stay.
Is that what they really want?
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comment by Gaijinpete
posted 2 Minutes Ago
Rafa brought us the European cup for the first time in 21 years. Then took us to the final again two seasons later. And in the interim he provided us with what is widely regarded as one of the greatest FA cup finals in the history of the competition.
So we're not gonna win the league this season. So we're having a shocking run of form. I for one am willing to stick it out.
Sack him??? Don't be daft.
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comment by Arab87
posted 2 Minutes Ago
Only as cut and dry as that inside your tiny mind insidethecynic!
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comment by Jimmy-the-lips
posted 1 Minute Ago
comment by 4ever-reddy
posted 7 Minutes Ago
Jimmy-the-lips: WENGER;
1ST FULL SEASON...LEAGUE TITLE AND F.A CUP.
--------
then he took 4 years to win anything....
Well Arsenal did "challange" for the league title in 2 of the following seasons before reclaiming it in 2002 with a vastly different squad. Its not like we did a Liverpool and disapeared in those years of rebuilding.
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comment by Man Utd are the best in the Prem! Not Arsenal or Chelsea!
posted Just Now
Yes Liverpool's expectations are too high!
So are Man City's!
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comment by whufc1985
posted Just Now
Lets not forget that for most of this season, Rafa has been without an assistant manager
--------------------------------------------
So why has he not either got himself a new one from outside the club or promoted a coach from within the club?
The problem that rafa has imo is that he likes to rotate the team so much. He likes to make 4, 5, 6 or more changes in each game. His under use of crouch surprises me, especially when you consider that kuyt has scored 3 goals i think all season. He has also signed some very average players that should not even be anywhere near a club as good as urs, such as penant, your back up goalie charles (dont know his surname) his persistent use of harry kewell. Im sorry liverpool fans, he has spent a hell of a lot of money since he has been here and while has been on the whole a good manager for you, you are still no nearer from winning the league. I mean lets be honest, he got very lucky to win the champs league and the fa cup. (especially the fa cup, how we didnt beat you i will never know)
The problem is,who will you go for if rafa gets the sack.
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comment by StamfordHeaven
posted Just Now
I cant believe you lot really want Jose after all the grief/insults/abuse you used to post about him.
Hypocrites.
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comment by Slimzer0
posted Just Now
great article and def some valid points. Have to admit Liverpool have been unlucky in key areas and I watched the game on sat, which in all honesty could have easily ended up 6-2 to Liverpool, luck is a huge thing in football and Liverpool are not getting any.
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Liverpool by raclezer 18 February 2008
with Man utd and Chelsea, the two teams that have dominated British football since Rafa arrived at Liverpool? There is absolutely no reason why he should be expected to compete with these sides, other than from Reds' fans and the Media's over-expectations, which are rooted in Liverpool's extraordinary European success under Rafa. Do not forget that since Rafa first arrived, Liverpool have been considerably more successful than Arsenal - they have finished above them for the last two seasons in the league (by 15 points in 2006), have won the Champions League and the FA cup, and been losing finalists in the Champions League and the Carling cup. This is an extraordinary overachievement for a manager who has been at Liverpool for 3 1/2 years.
But the real question is, when Man Utd have 8 players who cost more than £12m, and Chelsea have 10, why should Liverpool, who have 2 (Torres, Babel)be expected to compete over a full season? Why?
There is no reason, other than that Rafa's overachievement has raised the bar so high, people think we're now on a par with these teams. Well, over 38 games, we're clearly not. And people think Rafa should be sacked because of this? It's an absolute joke.
comment on this article | alert a moderator | send to a friend
Latest 10 comments
view all 198 comments
Read members' comments or add your own
comment by The Benitez Gates
posted 4 Minutes Ago
I am convinced rotation is the sole reason we are where we are, it just doesn't work!! Look what happened at Chelsea when Ranieri 'The Tinkerman' was sacked, they hardly totally overhauled the whole team when Mourinho came in but they played far better becasue they were familiar with the other players.
It has to be said that none of the top clubs keep the same starting XI for every single match, but they only swap a couple of players, we excessively chop and change too many players. There is no contiunity in the team, lack of familiarity between the players, or reward for a good performance. How demoralising must it be for a player to have played a brilliant game, got the man of the match award, and then to only be sitting on the bench in the next game, at best!
We don't need to spend a great deal of money to improve our position in the future, just don't rotate to the point we do now. If Benitez had done everything the same in terms of tactics but played our best eleven for a sustained period (only changing players who were banned or injured) we would certainly be higher in the table and we just wouldn't be in the situation we find ourselves in now where all's everyone is talking about is 4th place!
I actually think Benitez is just too stubborn about rotation. It's his way, it's his policy and he's going to keep doing it until he is proven right, but we just know that's not going to happen.
add comment | complain about this comment
comment by insidethecynic
posted 4 Minutes Ago
Benitez has been there for 3.5 years now. It's not a question of "Who's worth £12million or more", not at all, because that greatly discounts the frivolous spending of £5million here and there on players that fail.
Benitez had a decent side when he took over (they won the CL after all). Since then, he's spent Christ knows how much money (I think someone said £130m), and as far as silverware is concerned there hasn't been a great deal of improvement.
THAT's why he'll get the sack soon. The reason he's been given so much money on top of what was already a decent top-4 side was to break into the top 2 or challenge for the title, which he hasn't been able to do.
To be struggling for 4th place after spending that money on an already top-4 side, is frankly disgraceful.
It really is that cut and dry.
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comment by 4thecaptain
posted 4 Minutes Ago
If Liverpool fans are happy with:
* Struggling to finish 4th.
* Having decent domestic cup runs but falling short.
* Dreaming about a CL win.
then
Rafa should stay.
Is that what they really want?
add comment | complain about this comment
comment by Gaijinpete
posted 2 Minutes Ago
Rafa brought us the European cup for the first time in 21 years. Then took us to the final again two seasons later. And in the interim he provided us with what is widely regarded as one of the greatest FA cup finals in the history of the competition.
So we're not gonna win the league this season. So we're having a shocking run of form. I for one am willing to stick it out.
Sack him??? Don't be daft.
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comment by Arab87
posted 2 Minutes Ago
Only as cut and dry as that inside your tiny mind insidethecynic!
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comment by Jimmy-the-lips
posted 1 Minute Ago
comment by 4ever-reddy
posted 7 Minutes Ago
Jimmy-the-lips: WENGER;
1ST FULL SEASON...LEAGUE TITLE AND F.A CUP.
--------
then he took 4 years to win anything....
Well Arsenal did "challange" for the league title in 2 of the following seasons before reclaiming it in 2002 with a vastly different squad. Its not like we did a Liverpool and disapeared in those years of rebuilding.
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comment by Man Utd are the best in the Prem! Not Arsenal or Chelsea!
posted Just Now
Yes Liverpool's expectations are too high!
So are Man City's!
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comment by whufc1985
posted Just Now
Lets not forget that for most of this season, Rafa has been without an assistant manager
--------------------------------------------
So why has he not either got himself a new one from outside the club or promoted a coach from within the club?
The problem that rafa has imo is that he likes to rotate the team so much. He likes to make 4, 5, 6 or more changes in each game. His under use of crouch surprises me, especially when you consider that kuyt has scored 3 goals i think all season. He has also signed some very average players that should not even be anywhere near a club as good as urs, such as penant, your back up goalie charles (dont know his surname) his persistent use of harry kewell. Im sorry liverpool fans, he has spent a hell of a lot of money since he has been here and while has been on the whole a good manager for you, you are still no nearer from winning the league. I mean lets be honest, he got very lucky to win the champs league and the fa cup. (especially the fa cup, how we didnt beat you i will never know)
The problem is,who will you go for if rafa gets the sack.
add comment | complain about this comment
comment by StamfordHeaven
posted Just Now
I cant believe you lot really want Jose after all the grief/insults/abuse you used to post about him.
Hypocrites.
add comment | complain about this comment
comment by Slimzer0
posted Just Now
great article and def some valid points. Have to admit Liverpool have been unlucky in key areas and I watched the game on sat, which in all honesty could have easily ended up 6-2 to Liverpool, luck is a huge thing in football and Liverpool are not getting any.
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