no ryan's chalk board again I see...

[singlerider]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1082813#msg1082813 date=1270539557]
[quote author=singlerider link=topic=39669.msg1082808#msg1082808 date=1270539393]
Spidey - and for that matter, anybody else who defends Rafa - answer me this:

If, as is looking increasingly likely, we don't get fourth - do you genuinely believe Rafa doesn't deserve to be sacked?

I'm not talking what you would personally do, but if he got sacked would you see it as unjustified?

Just curious
[/quote]

I'd give him another year Single.

For me, he's earned one shite year, and this is it. If next season goes nowhere, then see ya.
[/quote]

That's what you would do, but say he got sacked - do you think it would be totally out of order, or could you see why, but not necessarily agree with it?

 

[TheBunnyman]

Is it really 'a lot more different and difficult'? Why? Were our players intimidated by the wall of noise made by the Birmingham supporters? Were they fuck. Earlier in the season, in different circumstances, that draw and performance might have been seen as pretty good. Unfortunately we're so many points behind the fourth-placed team, with so few games left, that it can only count as two points dropped. Had we attacked from the beginning, we might not have won, but at least we'd have had nothing to regret.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=singlerider link=topic=39669.msg1082808#msg1082808 date=1270539393]
Spidey - and for that matter, anybody else who defends Rafa - answer me this:

If, as is looking increasingly likely, we don't get fourth - do you genuinely believe Rafa doesn't deserve to be sacked?

I'm not talking what you would personally do, but if he got sacked would you see it as unjustified?

Just curious
[/quote]


don't get me wrong if rafa IS sacked if we fail to secure 4th (and we wlll) then it will be justified but I personally can't view this season in isolation, I view everything; peers, injuries, money spent, off field goings on. obviously the buck stops with the manager I just personally don't think his time is up. I defend him more to give balance rather than 'convert' anyone because people are entitled to want him out and I'm in no way blind to rafas flaws I just feel (and its probably no more than blind faith at this time) that he is still the guy, time will tell if I'm proven right or wrong.

I will say though that I had the exact same feeling with our winter slump last season 'he's the guy' we then go on a run which batters nearly everyone in our path but the damage had been done.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=singlerider link=topic=39669.msg1082818#msg1082818 date=1270539952]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1082813#msg1082813 date=1270539557]
[quote author=singlerider link=topic=39669.msg1082808#msg1082808 date=1270539393]
Spidey - and for that matter, anybody else who defends Rafa - answer me this:

If, as is looking increasingly likely, we don't get fourth - do you genuinely believe Rafa doesn't deserve to be sacked?

I'm not talking what you would personally do, but if he got sacked would you see it as unjustified?

Just curious
[/quote]

I'd give him another year Single.

For me, he's earned one shite year, and this is it. If next season goes nowhere, then see ya.
[/quote]

That's what you would do, but say he got sacked - do you think it would be totally out of order, or could you see why, but not necessarily agree with it?
[/quote]

Sorry Single, I only skim-read your initial post.

If he was sacked, I'm sure the owners and fans could make a justifiable case for it yeah, but I don't want him to be so meh.

 

[the_khl]

The Brum-game didn't change my stance with regards to Rafa.

4th - he stays

5th or worse we should be looking elsewhere - hopefully we've got a very good replacement lined-up should it come to this otherwise we can just as well give Rafa another year mind.

That said, Rafa really does my head in at times. Last weekends game was no exception and though I often feel he recieves a lot of unjust criticism on these boards I do reckon he's got to take a fair share of the blame on his shoulders for the weekends lost points.

Yes Torres looked bleak but as long as he wasn't injured then there's absolutely no good reason to sub him. Ngog's got some skills and can perhaps become a decent striker - and with a bit of luck he would've scored even - but he's no Torres and never will be.

Rafa does - through decisions like that - make it a lot easier for his critics to have a right go at him. Had he kept Torres on at least we would've blamed him as well had we still not managed to win.

We really should've won that game and we had our chances too. Luck really hasn't been on our side this Season so far but amazingly enough we could still end the Season on a high.

Getting 4th and a European League-title to show for instance and we would've somehow made amends for all the poor showings.

There will be more twist and turns I'm sure.

 

[Delinquent]

Since when was 'khl' capitalized? I don't like it.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=singlerider link=topic=39669.msg1082808#msg1082808 date=1270539393]
Spidey - and for that matter, anybody else who defends Rafa - answer me this:

If, as is looking increasingly likely, we don't get fourth - do you genuinely believe Rafa doesn't deserve to be sacked?

I'm not talking what you would personally do, but if he got sacked would you see it as unjustified?

Just curious
[/quote]

This is the first season where in which his position has rightly been called into question, so i guess i couldn't have too many complaints if he was sacked.

Taking into account our steady progress under his management prior to this season, the owners and the people likely to replace him though, i'd still like to see him get 1 more year.

 

[the_khl]

[quote author=Delinquent link=topic=39669.msg1082851#msg1082851 date=1270543214]
Since when was 'khl' capitalized? I don't like it.
[/quote]
Better?

At least, now you can choose.

 

[Insignificance]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082803#msg1082803 date=1270539193]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39669.msg1082796#msg1082796 date=1270538561]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082794#msg1082794 date=1270538483]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39669.msg1082784#msg1082784 date=1270537369]
Weird how neither of you has blamed the manager for our ridiculously over-cautious approach to the game. Who else do you think it's down to?

[/quote]

I mentioned it. the over cautious start could have been down to grueling 90 mins away to benfica but I doubt it, rafa seems to want his teams to start slowly in the first half and turn up the heat in the second half unless of course we HAVE to go for it, like if we conceed first.
[/quote]

And yet you consistently defend him. Why is that?

[/quote]

there are a number of reasons I defend rafa, lots of small items that add up to wanting him to stay beyond the season to see if this season is a blip or a trend. obviously if this form continued next season I'd want rid.
its the exact same way I felt when gh finished outside of the top 4 for the first time, it was season on season progression I wanted to see if it was a blip or a trend. gh actually managed to get the CL place again but it was clear his time was up, I don't feel that with rafa, yet.

[/quote]


This season is a trend. It is pretty much the same as last season. But last season he managed to convert a lot of the losses to draws.

We all thought that we only had to convert some of those draws into victorys to be able to win the league, and then this season comes up and shows that all those draws was just losses that we hard fought into draws.

Imagine if we had avoided 5 or 6 of the losses this season into draws. Then we had 5 or 6 points more. We would have felt very comfortly in the race for 4th and would all be bemaoning that if we only could have converted these draws into a few victories we would be fighting for the title... While the truth is that we have to convert 5 or 6 losses into wins to be able to fight for the title.

Last season was absolutley maximum of what Benitez can get out of Liverpool. He came close, but not close enough. He will never get that close again as his will never approach the league any different than now, and he will never compose a squad based on different skills than now. He should leave ASAP before this club rottens on its fucking roots!

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Insignificance link=topic=39669.msg1082919#msg1082919 date=1270549537]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082803#msg1082803 date=1270539193]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39669.msg1082796#msg1082796 date=1270538561]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082794#msg1082794 date=1270538483]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39669.msg1082784#msg1082784 date=1270537369]
Weird how neither of you has blamed the manager for our ridiculously over-cautious approach to the game. Who else do you think it's down to?

[/quote]

I mentioned it. the over cautious start could have been down to grueling 90 mins away to benfica but I doubt it, rafa seems to want his teams to start slowly in the first half and turn up the heat in the second half unless of course we HAVE to go for it, like if we conceed first.
[/quote]

And yet you consistently defend him. Why is that?

[/quote]

there are a number of reasons I defend rafa, lots of small items that add up to wanting him to stay beyond the season to see if this season is a blip or a trend. obviously if this form continued next season I'd want rid.
its the exact same way I felt when gh finished outside of the top 4 for the first time, it was season on season progression I wanted to see if it was a blip or a trend. gh actually managed to get the CL place again but it was clear his time was up, I don't feel that with rafa, yet.

[/quote]


This season is a trend. It is pretty much the same as last season. But last season he managed to convert a lot of the losses to draws.

We all thought that we only had to convert some of those draws into victorys to be able to win the league, and then this season comes up and shows that all those draws was just losses that we hard fought into draws.

Imagine if we had avoided 5 or 6 of the losses this season into draws. Then we had 5 or 6 points more. We would have felt very comfortly in the race for 4th and would all be bemaoning that if we only could have converted these draws into a few victories we would be fighting for the title... While the truth is that we have to convert 5 or 6 losses into wins to be able to fight for the title.

Last season was absolutley maximum of what Benitez can get out of Liverpool. He came close, but not close enough. He will never get that close again as his will never approach the league any different than now, and he will never compose a squad based on different skills than now. He should leave ASAP before this club rottens on its fucking roots!
[/quote]

the winter of last year wasn't a trend, was it? I don't want to speculate about this season I want to know, in the grand scheme of this one year isn't going to make that much of a difference, arsenal gave whinger FOUR years of no interference to build his new team.
I not trying to convert anyone to my way of thinking but that IS how I think, one more year regardless of where we finish. I want to KNOW if this year is a trend because rafa has turned things around in the past, both here and abroad.

 

[Insignificance]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082928#msg1082928 date=1270549837]
[quote author=Insignificance link=topic=39669.msg1082919#msg1082919 date=1270549537]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082803#msg1082803 date=1270539193]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39669.msg1082796#msg1082796 date=1270538561]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082794#msg1082794 date=1270538483]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39669.msg1082784#msg1082784 date=1270537369]
Weird how neither of you has blamed the manager for our ridiculously over-cautious approach to the game. Who else do you think it's down to?

[/quote]

I mentioned it. the over cautious start could have been down to grueling 90 mins away to benfica but I doubt it, rafa seems to want his teams to start slowly in the first half and turn up the heat in the second half unless of course we HAVE to go for it, like if we conceed first.
[/quote]

And yet you consistently defend him. Why is that?

[/quote]

there are a number of reasons I defend rafa, lots of small items that add up to wanting him to stay beyond the season to see if this season is a blip or a trend. obviously if this form continued next season I'd want rid.
its the exact same way I felt when gh finished outside of the top 4 for the first time, it was season on season progression I wanted to see if it was a blip or a trend. gh actually managed to get the CL place again but it was clear his time was up, I don't feel that with rafa, yet.

[/quote]


This season is a trend. It is pretty much the same as last season. But last season he managed to convert a lot of the losses to draws.

We all thought that we only had to convert some of those draws into victorys to be able to win the league, and then this season comes up and shows that all those draws was just losses that we hard fought into draws.

Imagine if we had avoided 5 or 6 of the losses this season into draws. Then we had 5 or 6 points more. We would have felt very comfortly in the race for 4th and would all be bemaoning that if we only could have converted these draws into a few victories we would be fighting for the title... While the truth is that we have to convert 5 or 6 losses into wins to be able to fight for the title.

Last season was absolutley maximum of what Benitez can get out of Liverpool. He came close, but not close enough. He will never get that close again as his will never approach the league any different than now, and he will never compose a squad based on different skills than now. He should leave ASAP before this club rottens on its fucking roots!
[/quote]

the winter of last year wasn't a trend, was it? I don't want to speculate about this season I want to know, in the grand scheme of this one year isn't going to make that much of a difference, arsenal gave whinger FOUR years of no interference to build his new team.
I not trying to convert anyone to my way of thinking but that IS how I think, one more year regardless of where we finish. I want to KNOW if this year is a trend because rafa has turned things around in the past, both here and abroad.
[/quote]

The tought of Rafa looking for four more years to settle a team, when I see the kind of talent he appreciates, makes me very very sick...

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Insignificance link=topic=39669.msg1082931#msg1082931 date=1270550052]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082928#msg1082928 date=1270549837]
[quote author=Insignificance link=topic=39669.msg1082919#msg1082919 date=1270549537]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082803#msg1082803 date=1270539193]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39669.msg1082796#msg1082796 date=1270538561]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082794#msg1082794 date=1270538483]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39669.msg1082784#msg1082784 date=1270537369]
Weird how neither of you has blamed the manager for our ridiculously over-cautious approach to the game. Who else do you think it's down to?

[/quote]

I mentioned it. the over cautious start could have been down to grueling 90 mins away to benfica but I doubt it, rafa seems to want his teams to start slowly in the first half and turn up the heat in the second half unless of course we HAVE to go for it, like if we conceed first.
[/quote]

And yet you consistently defend him. Why is that?

[/quote]

there are a number of reasons I defend rafa, lots of small items that add up to wanting him to stay beyond the season to see if this season is a blip or a trend. obviously if this form continued next season I'd want rid.
its the exact same way I felt when gh finished outside of the top 4 for the first time, it was season on season progression I wanted to see if it was a blip or a trend. gh actually managed to get the CL place again but it was clear his time was up, I don't feel that with rafa, yet.

[/quote]


This season is a trend. It is pretty much the same as last season. But last season he managed to convert a lot of the losses to draws.

We all thought that we only had to convert some of those draws into victorys to be able to win the league, and then this season comes up and shows that all those draws was just losses that we hard fought into draws.

Imagine if we had avoided 5 or 6 of the losses this season into draws. Then we had 5 or 6 points more. We would have felt very comfortly in the race for 4th and would all be bemaoning that if we only could have converted these draws into a few victories we would be fighting for the title... While the truth is that we have to convert 5 or 6 losses into wins to be able to fight for the title.

Last season was absolutley maximum of what Benitez can get out of Liverpool. He came close, but not close enough. He will never get that close again as his will never approach the league any different than now, and he will never compose a squad based on different skills than now. He should leave ASAP before this club rottens on its fucking roots!
[/quote]

the winter of last year wasn't a trend, was it? I don't want to speculate about this season I want to know, in the grand scheme of this one year isn't going to make that much of a difference, arsenal gave whinger FOUR years of no interference to build his new team.
I not trying to convert anyone to my way of thinking but that IS how I think, one more year regardless of where we finish. I want to KNOW if this year is a trend because rafa has turned things around in the past, both here and abroad.
[/quote]

The tought of Rafa looking for four more years to settle a team, when I see the kind of talent he appreciates, makes me very very sick...
[/quote]

I used for the four without a cup for whinger I wasn't talking about giving rafa another 4 years. I just want him to be given ONE more year.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1082658#msg1082658 date=1270511171]

2 - The lack of a quality attacking left-back kills us. I hate Benayoun on the left-wing, as I'm sure a lot of others do, but his position becomes less execrable if he's got somebody running round and past him from left-back for 90 minutes. He doesn't. Of course Benayoun cuts inside for 90 minutes, but then do does Nani, Arshavin, Cole, Modric, etc etc - The shape of Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, and United stays relatively stretched and in position because they've got a powerful attacking left-back to compensate. We've just got a lopsided shape. We need a Glenjo at left-back. Benayoun picks it up and beelines for the opposition's left back, not great normally, but a fucking disaster terminally if you don't have someone going outside you from left-back.

[/quote]

Was thinking about this again last night.

The best comparison I can make re the above point is that of the English side. Gerrard wide-left tucks in all day long, but the manage to retain shape and balance through Cole going outside him. It's no perfect, but it works for the most part. When Gerrard eventually lays it off to a Rooney or even backwards to Barry, there are options both ways for the receiving player.

All we've got when Gerrard/Masher/Lucas get it is to keep going right to Dirk/Maxi/Glenjo.

Narrow, predictable, one-dimensional, and unbalanced.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1083455#msg1083455 date=1270600483]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1082658#msg1082658 date=1270511171]

2 - The lack of a quality attacking left-back kills us. I hate Benayoun on the left-wing, as I'm sure a lot of others do, but his position becomes less execrable if he's got somebody running round and past him from left-back for 90 minutes. He doesn't. Of course Benayoun cuts inside for 90 minutes, but then do does Nani, Arshavin, Cole, Modric, etc etc - The shape of Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, and United stays relatively stretched and in position because they've got a powerful attacking left-back to compensate. We've just got a lopsided shape. We need a Glenjo at left-back. Benayoun picks it up and beelines for the opposition's left back, not great normally, but a fucking disaster terminally if you don't have someone going outside you from left-back.

[/quote]

Was thinking about this again last night.

The best comparison I can make re the above point is that of the English side. Gerrard wide-left tucks in all day long, but the manage to retain shape and balance through Cole going outside him. It's no perfect, but it works for the most part. When Gerrard eventually lays it off to a Rooney or even backwards to Barry, there are options both ways for the receiving player.

All we've got when Gerrard/Masher/Lucas get it is to keep going right to Dirk/Maxi/Glenjo.

Narrow, predictable, one-dimensional, and unbalanced.
[/quote]

there is no reason why it shoudn't work, two wide midfielders who are a goal threat that tuck inside and two great fullbacks to great width and drag defenders out of positon. I've said it before and I stand by it, it IS a good tactic when excuted properly.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1083458#msg1083458 date=1270600719]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1083455#msg1083455 date=1270600483]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1082658#msg1082658 date=1270511171]

2 - The lack of a quality attacking left-back kills us. I hate Benayoun on the left-wing, as I'm sure a lot of others do, but his position becomes less execrable if he's got somebody running round and past him from left-back for 90 minutes. He doesn't. Of course Benayoun cuts inside for 90 minutes, but then do does Nani, Arshavin, Cole, Modric, etc etc - The shape of Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, and United stays relatively stretched and in position because they've got a powerful attacking left-back to compensate. We've just got a lopsided shape. We need a Glenjo at left-back. Benayoun picks it up and beelines for the opposition's left back, not great normally, but a fucking disaster terminally if you don't have someone going outside you from left-back.

[/quote]

Was thinking about this again last night.

The best comparison I can make re the above point is that of the English side. Gerrard wide-left tucks in all day long, but the manage to retain shape and balance through Cole going outside him. It's no perfect, but it works for the most part. When Gerrard eventually lays it off to a Rooney or even backwards to Barry, there are options both ways for the receiving player.

All we've got when Gerrard/Masher/Lucas get it is to keep going right to Dirk/Maxi/Glenjo.

Narrow, predictable, one-dimensional, and unbalanced.
[/quote]

there is no reason why it shoudn't work, two wide midfielders who are a goal threat that tuck inside and two great fullbacks to great width and drag defenders out of positon. I've said it before and I stand by it, it IS a good tactic when excuted properly.
[/quote]

Agreed.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1083463#msg1083463 date=1270601080]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1083458#msg1083458 date=1270600719]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1083455#msg1083455 date=1270600483]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1082658#msg1082658 date=1270511171]

2 - The lack of a quality attacking left-back kills us. I hate Benayoun on the left-wing, as I'm sure a lot of others do, but his position becomes less execrable if he's got somebody running round and past him from left-back for 90 minutes. He doesn't. Of course Benayoun cuts inside for 90 minutes, but then do does Nani, Arshavin, Cole, Modric, etc etc - The shape of Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, and United stays relatively stretched and in position because they've got a powerful attacking left-back to compensate. We've just got a lopsided shape. We need a Glenjo at left-back. Benayoun picks it up and beelines for the opposition's left back, not great normally, but a fucking disaster terminally if you don't have someone going outside you from left-back.

[/quote]

Was thinking about this again last night.

The best comparison I can make re the above point is that of the English side. Gerrard wide-left tucks in all day long, but the manage to retain shape and balance through Cole going outside him. It's no perfect, but it works for the most part. When Gerrard eventually lays it off to a Rooney or even backwards to Barry, there are options both ways for the receiving player.

All we've got when Gerrard/Masher/Lucas get it is to keep going right to Dirk/Maxi/Glenjo.

Narrow, predictable, one-dimensional, and unbalanced.
[/quote]

there is no reason why it shoudn't work, two wide midfielders who are a goal threat that tuck inside and two great fullbacks to great width and drag defenders out of positon. I've said it before and I stand by it, it IS a good tactic when excuted properly.
[/quote]

Agreed.
[/quote]

I don't like to attack players but the system is breaking down because insua is fucking hopeless at creating width, absolutely clueless as what to do when he is in the final third and yeah sure he is a kid but we don't have the luxury of carrying him.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1083474#msg1083474 date=1270601729]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1083463#msg1083463 date=1270601080]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1083458#msg1083458 date=1270600719]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1083455#msg1083455 date=1270600483]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=39669.msg1082658#msg1082658 date=1270511171]

2 - The lack of a quality attacking left-back kills us. I hate Benayoun on the left-wing, as I'm sure a lot of others do, but his position becomes less execrable if he's got somebody running round and past him from left-back for 90 minutes. He doesn't. Of course Benayoun cuts inside for 90 minutes, but then do does Nani, Arshavin, Cole, Modric, etc etc - The shape of Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, and United stays relatively stretched and in position because they've got a powerful attacking left-back to compensate. We've just got a lopsided shape. We need a Glenjo at left-back. Benayoun picks it up and beelines for the opposition's left back, not great normally, but a fucking disaster terminally if you don't have someone going outside you from left-back.

[/quote]

Was thinking about this again last night.

The best comparison I can make re the above point is that of the English side. Gerrard wide-left tucks in all day long, but the manage to retain shape and balance through Cole going outside him. It's no perfect, but it works for the most part. When Gerrard eventually lays it off to a Rooney or even backwards to Barry, there are options both ways for the receiving player.

All we've got when Gerrard/Masher/Lucas get it is to keep going right to Dirk/Maxi/Glenjo.

Narrow, predictable, one-dimensional, and unbalanced.
[/quote]

there is no reason why it shoudn't work, two wide midfielders who are a goal threat that tuck inside and two great fullbacks to great width and drag defenders out of positon. I've said it before and I stand by it, it IS a good tactic when excuted properly.
[/quote]

Agreed.
[/quote]

I don't like to attack players but the system is breaking down because insua is fucking hopeless at creating width, absolutely clueless as what to do when he is in the final third and yeah sure he is a kid but we don't have the luxury of carrying him.
[/quote]

Kinda what I said 40 posts ago Spidey.

 

[Delinquent]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082928#msg1082928 date=1270549837]
[quote author=Insignificance link=topic=39669.msg1082919#msg1082919 date=1270549537]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082803#msg1082803 date=1270539193]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39669.msg1082796#msg1082796 date=1270538561]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=39669.msg1082794#msg1082794 date=1270538483]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=39669.msg1082784#msg1082784 date=1270537369]
Weird how neither of you has blamed the manager for our ridiculously over-cautious approach to the game. Who else do you think it's down to?

[/quote]

I mentioned it. the over cautious start could have been down to grueling 90 mins away to benfica but I doubt it, rafa seems to want his teams to start slowly in the first half and turn up the heat in the second half unless of course we HAVE to go for it, like if we conceed first.
[/quote]

And yet you consistently defend him. Why is that?

[/quote]

there are a number of reasons I defend rafa, lots of small items that add up to wanting him to stay beyond the season to see if this season is a blip or a trend. obviously if this form continued next season I'd want rid.
its the exact same way I felt when gh finished outside of the top 4 for the first time, it was season on season progression I wanted to see if it was a blip or a trend. gh actually managed to get the CL place again but it was clear his time was up, I don't feel that with rafa, yet.

[/quote]


This season is a trend. It is pretty much the same as last season. But last season he managed to convert a lot of the losses to draws.

We all thought that we only had to convert some of those draws into victorys to be able to win the league, and then this season comes up and shows that all those draws was just losses that we hard fought into draws.

Imagine if we had avoided 5 or 6 of the losses this season into draws. Then we had 5 or 6 points more. We would have felt very comfortly in the race for 4th and would all be bemaoning that if we only could have converted these draws into a few victories we would be fighting for the title... While the truth is that we have to convert 5 or 6 losses into wins to be able to fight for the title.

Last season was absolutley maximum of what Benitez can get out of Liverpool. He came close, but not close enough. He will never get that close again as his will never approach the league any different than now, and he will never compose a squad based on different skills than now. He should leave ASAP before this club rottens on its fucking roots!
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the winter of last year wasn't a trend, was it? I don't want to speculate about this season I want to know, in the grand scheme of this one year isn't going to make that much of a difference, arsenal gave whinger FOUR years of no interference to build his new team.
I not trying to convert anyone to my way of thinking but that IS how I think, one more year regardless of where we finish. I want to KNOW if this year is a trend because rafa has turned things around in the past, both here and abroad.
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I'd rather not see the club slip even further behind just to satisfy some daft curiosity. Another season of Rafa in charge and we could see the kind of exodus of players that consigns us to having this kind of season EVERY season. It doesn't even bear thinking about.