Rafa slams LFC board

[Whaddapie]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=41990.msg1179340#msg1179340 date=1285089702]
When did we play "glorious football" ?

I remember a period where we scored bucket loads of goals, but it was all route one football.
[/quote]

From the man united & Real Madrid batterings pretty much until the end of the season, like the Blackburn and Aston Villa games, we played very good football. Glorious might have been a stretch, but we played well, and cruised through most games we played.

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=41990.msg1179421#msg1179421 date=1285093137]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=41990.msg1179340#msg1179340 date=1285089702]
When did we play "glorious football" ?

I remember a period where we scored bucket loads of goals, but it was all route one football.
[/quote]

From the man united & Real Madrid batterings pretty much until the end of the season, like the Blackburn and Aston Villa games, we played very good football. Glorious might have been a stretch, but we played well, and cruised through most games we played.
[/quote]

Glorious is a massive overstatment. We were in good form, we scored plenty. But we were no Barcelona.

 

[Asbo]

Funnily enough we do hold the record for most goals in a single Champions League game though and Bacalona... well don't! 🙂

Nor do Arsenal even after there 6-0 the other night, and I thought they woulkd break it then!

 

[ragehard]

you tell 'em rafa.

you knew all about football last season

 

[Whaddapie]

We certainly do. Fair point.

But didn't we also lose two weeks prior to that same same Besiktas team that we administered a record battering to? Individual matches rarely prove nor disprove much, in a general context.

 

[ibromurph]

[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=41990.msg1179421#msg1179421 date=1285093137]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=41990.msg1179340#msg1179340 date=1285089702]
When did we play "glorious football" ?

I remember a period where we scored bucket loads of goals, but it was all route one football.
[/quote]

From the man united & Real Madrid batterings pretty much until the end of the season, like the Blackburn and Aston Villa games, we played very good football. Glorious might have been a stretch, but we played well, and cruised through most games we played.
[/quote]

Funnily enough, the opener in each one of those games came from a long ball/pass/hoof from defence.

I remember us having about a 10 game streak, over a month and half, where we played very well. The rest of that season wasn't so memorable (where we threw it away with cautious draws).

 

[Whaddapie]

[quote author=ibromurph link=topic=41990.msg1179457#msg1179457 date=1285094945]
[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=41990.msg1179421#msg1179421 date=1285093137]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=41990.msg1179340#msg1179340 date=1285089702]
When did we play "glorious football" ?

I remember a period where we scored bucket loads of goals, but it was all route one football.
[/quote]

From the man united & Real Madrid batterings pretty much until the end of the season, like the Blackburn and Aston Villa games, we played very good football. Glorious might have been a stretch, but we played well, and cruised through most games we played.
[/quote]

Funnily enough, the opener in each one of those games came from a long ball/pass/hoof from defence.

I remember us having about a 10 game streak, over a month and half, where we played very well. The rest of that season wasn't so memorable (where we threw it away with cautious draws).
[/quote]

Fair enough. And that's my larger point...

 

[spider-Neil]

so how are you enjoying our football now, ros?

 

[Fabio]

Oh neil, aren't you the SCM raincloud of doom as of late

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41990.msg1179466#msg1179466 date=1285095919]
so how are you enjoying our football now, ros?
[/quote]

I'm not.

I enjoy when we in, I don't care for "glorious football" or whatever faulty memory you wish to draw on

 

[Whaddapie]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41990.msg1179466#msg1179466 date=1285095919]
so how are you enjoying our football now, ros?
[/quote]

Can't speak for Ross, but it's no worse than 2.5 of the past 3 years, is it?

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41990.msg1179466#msg1179466 date=1285095919]
so how are you enjoying our football now, ros?
[/quote]

Leave it out Spidey!

We're only a few games in and win away from 4th place mate. It's far too early to be moaning about how we're playing under Roy.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Fabio link=topic=41990.msg1179467#msg1179467 date=1285095982]
Oh neil, aren't you the SCM raincloud of doom as of late
[/quote]

there's not a hell of a lot to be excited about at this moment in time, is there?
hopefully oct 6th will bring good news, the alternative doesn't bear thinking about...

 

[Fabio]

why can't everyone be as reasonable as r4pm

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=41990.msg1179472#msg1179472 date=1285096248]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41990.msg1179466#msg1179466 date=1285095919]
so how are you enjoying our football now, ros?
[/quote]

Leave it out Spidey!


[/quote]

😛

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Fabio link=topic=41990.msg1179474#msg1179474 date=1285096544]
why can't everyone be as reasonable as r4pm
[/quote]

he needs to change his name to 'roy4PM'

😉

 

[Farkmaster]

We played some great football at times, and had an incredibly stifling pressing defense that was great for me to watch. At our best we were a gloriously effective team, and it wasn't that long ago.

 

[Fabio]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41990.msg1179473#msg1179473 date=1285096501]
[quote author=Fabio link=topic=41990.msg1179467#msg1179467 date=1285095982]
Oh neil, aren't you the SCM raincloud of doom as of late
[/quote]

there's not a hell of a lot to be excited about at this moment in time, is there?
hopefully oct 6th will bring good news, the alternative doesn't bear thinking about...
[/quote]

There's nothing to be excited about, but there also wasn't for nearly all of last season, yet you supported tge manager so stop being confrontational and negative over roy. For very little reason I might add

and as for rafa4, he's accepted roy is the manager and supporting him, even though he may not have agreed with firing rafa. As we all should

 

[Whaddapie]

[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=41990.msg1179470#msg1179470 date=1285096153]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41990.msg1179466#msg1179466 date=1285095919]
so how are you enjoying our football now, ros?
[/quote]

Can't speak for Ross, but it's no worse than 2.5 of the past 3 years, is it?
[/quote]

Spot on, Rafa. Good man.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=41990.msg1179486#msg1179486 date=1285097354]
Can't speak for Ross, but it's no worse than 2.5 of the past 3 years, is it?
[/quote]

It absolutely is. Man City especially. That was completely embarassing.

Hopefully Hodgson gets some wins together after a difficult fixture list.

 

[rootkit]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=41990.msg1179275#msg1179275 date=1285087154]
It doesn't matter if you're a 'football' person or not. What is equally important is ice cool logic, common sense, rationality, and a decent business mind. If he expects Inter to be run without these factors in mind then he better think again.
[/quote]

Of course it matters.

The attributes you mention are of indeed vital, but all these (bar a business acumen) are required at all levels of an organisation in many walks of life, be it a medicine, IT, armed forces or the sciences.

When you reach executive level you need something more, something that demonstrably sets you apart as a leader. Examples of this being setting strategy, lobbying institutions that govern your industry and using your wealth of experience to give an edge over the competition.

So, back to football. Who of the current LFC board is qualified to set the footballing strategy? Who has that wealth of experience better than Utd, Chelsea or Arsenal and who has the nous to play football politics in the halls of the PL, FA or UEFA?

People can criticise Benitez for his comments and rightly ask questions of the part he played in a dysfunctional management chain, but don't dismiss what he says about the board. It has merit. Ask yourself why a football manager felt the need to shoulder more responsibility than was necessary?

The answer is not because he was a control freak. Leadership comes from the very top and we've been sorely lacking it for years.

 

[peterhague]

[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=41990.msg1179470#msg1179470 date=1285096153]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41990.msg1179466#msg1179466 date=1285095919]
so how are you enjoying our football now, ros?
[/quote]

Can't speak for Ross, but it's no worse than 2.5 of the past 3 years, is it?
[/quote]


err yes, it is, very obvously.

we were good in 07/08, very good in 08/09, and awful last year.

i'm not saying we played wonderful football for all of those 2 years, but it was miles better than we're playing now. that's not even a comment on roy particularly - i fully recognise rafa's part in what we're seeing now - but to suggest we were dreadful to watch borders on the bizarre.

 

[peekay]

I may be quiffing here but I think he made those comments two months ago couple of weeks after he joined. I think old quotes are being rehashed.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=rootkit link=topic=41990.msg1179494#msg1179494 date=1285097738]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=41990.msg1179275#msg1179275 date=1285087154]
It doesn't matter if you're a 'football' person or not. What is equally important is ice cool logic, common sense, rationality, and a decent business mind. If he expects Inter to be run without these factors in mind then he better think again.
[/quote]

Of course it matters.

The attributes you mention are of indeed vital, but all these (bar a business acumen) are required at all levels of an organisation in many walks of life, be it a medicine, IT, armed forces or the sciences.

When you reach executive level you need something more, something that demonstrably sets you apart as a leader. Examples of this being setting strategy, lobbying institutions that govern your industry and using your wealth of experience to give an edge over the competition.

So, back to football. Who of the current LFC board is qualified to set the footballing strategy? Who has that wealth of experience better than Utd, Chelsea or Arsenal and who has the nous to play football politics in the halls of the PL, FA or UEFA?

People can criticise Benitez for his comments and rightly ask questions of the part he played in a dysfunctional management chain, but don't dismiss what he says about the board. It has merit. Ask yourself why a football manager felt the need to shoulder more responsibility than was necessary?

The answer is not because he was a control freak. Leadership comes from the very top and we've been sorely lacking it for years.
[/quote]

Some of what you say is probably true, rootkit, but Rafa is *definitely* a control freak.

 

[Fabio]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41990.msg1179501#msg1179501 date=1285098308]
[quote author=rootkit link=topic=41990.msg1179494#msg1179494 date=1285097738]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=41990.msg1179275#msg1179275 date=1285087154]
It doesn't matter if you're a 'football' person or not. What is equally important is ice cool logic, common sense, rationality, and a decent business mind. If he expects Inter to be run without these factors in mind then he better think again.
[/quote]

Of course it matters.

The attributes you mention are of indeed vital, but all these (bar a business acumen) are required at all levels of an organisation in many walks of life, be it a medicine, IT, armed forces or the sciences.

When you reach executive level you need something more, something that demonstrably sets you apart as a leader. Examples of this being setting strategy, lobbying institutions that govern your industry and using your wealth of experience to give an edge over the competition.

So, back to football. Who of the current LFC board is qualified to set the footballing strategy? Who has that wealth of experience better than Utd, Chelsea or Arsenal and who has the nous to play football politics in the halls of the PL, FA or UEFA?

People can criticise Benitez for his comments and rightly ask questions of the part he played in a dysfunctional management chain, but don't dismiss what he says about the board. It has merit. Ask yourself why a football manager felt the need to shoulder more responsibility than was necessary?

The answer is not because he was a control freak. Leadership comes from the very top and we've been sorely lacking it for years.
[/quote]

Some of what you say is probably true, rootkit, but Rafa is *definitely* a control freak.

[/quote]

This the same rafa who wanted total control over the first team? Total control over the reserves? Total control over the academy? Total control over transfers?

Bunny, you must be smoking the drugs because they are very open and non-control freak things

 

[Whaddapie]

Peter, Farky...

Did you lot not watch last season..? Sunderland away? Portsmouth away? Our European Cup group games? Fulham away? Both Reading games? Last season was an utter disgrace.

And the seasons before that..? In 08/09, for a good half of the season, watching us made my eyes bleed. And the season before that, we all complained about the negative, unadventerous tactics.

Jesus, lads - I get that you dissagree with me, but let's not pretend things are any worse (style-wise) than they've been for much of the past three years. They're not. The fact that we were more succsessful then seems to make folks forget that our football was awful to watch.

 

[Asbo]

[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=41990.msg1179508#msg1179508 date=1285098634]
Peter, Farky...

Did you lot not watch last season..? Sunderland away? Portsmouth away? Our European Cup group games? Fulham away? Both Reading games? Last season was an utter disgrace.

And the seasons before that..? In 08/09, for a good half of the season, watching us made my eyes bleed. And the season before that, we all complained about the negative, unadventerous tactics.

Jesus, lads - I get that you dissagree with me, but let's not pretend things are any worse (style-wise) than they've been for much of the past three years. They're not.
[/quote]

Premier League League table for the 2008-2009 season
# Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
1 Man Utd 38 16 2 1 43 13 12 4 3 25 11 44 90
2 LFC 38 12 7 0 41 13 13 4 2 36 14 50 86
3 Chelsea 38 11 6 2 33 12 14 2 3 35 12 44 83
4 Arsenal 38 11 5 3 31 16 9 7 3 37 21 31 72
5 Everton 38 8 6 5 31 20 9 6 4 24 17 18 63
6 Aston Villa 38 7 9 3 27 21 10 2 7 27 27 6 62
7 Fulham 38 11 3 5 28 16 3 8 8 11 18 5 53
8 Tottenham 38 10 5 4 21 10 4 4 11 24 35 0 51
9 West Ham 38 9 2 8 23 22 5 7 7 19 23 -3 51
10 Man City 38 13 0 6 40 18 2 5 12 18 32 8 50
11 Wigan Ath. 38 8 5 6 17 18 4 4 11 17 27 -11 45
12 Stoke 38 10 5 4 22 15 2 4 13 16 40 -17 45
13 Bolton 38 7 5 7 21 21 4 3 12 20 32 -12 41
14 Portsmouth 38 8 3 8 26 29 2 8 9 12 28 -19 41
15 Blackburn 38 6 7 6 22 23 4 4 11 18 37 -20 41
16 Sunderland 38 6 3 10 21 25 3 6 10 13 29 -20 36
17 Hull City 38 3 5 11 18 36 5 6 8 21 28 -25 35
18 Newcastle 38 5 7 7 24 29 2 6 11 16 30 -19 34
19 Middlesbrough 38 5 9 5 17 20 2 2 15 11 37 -29 32
20 WBA 38 7 3 9 26 33 1 5 13 10 34 -31 32

I wish my eyes would bleed every season for that points return!

 

[Fabio]

TBF we had a lot of boring draws that season, which is why we didn't win the league that year

 

[rootkit]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41990.msg1179501#msg1179501 date=1285098308]
Some of what you say is probably true, rootkit, but Rafa is *definitely* a control freak.
[/quote]

Maybe he is, but isn't the point here that he's highlighting what many have known for sometime - that LFC has a boardroom so poorly structured it would make a Conference side blush.

As I said - leadership starts at the very top. Until there is real footballing administration (and obviously no crippling debt) the club will stumble along making short terms appointments such as Hodgson and, worse still, a higher risk of reactionary sackings when the short-termist approach yields no results.

 

[Asbo]

Yet Chelsea won the title last Season with........ 86 points.