The OFFICIAL Liverpool Supporters thread

[Yes I Would]

Benitez has lost the plot..
Hull City at home on the rack, playing with one striker up front, (one who has played most of the season out right), a 20 million quid striker sittinng on the bench who he claims he has the fullest of confidence in, and he doesnt even get his bottoms off, when the game was crying out to be won..
Crazy stuff!!

[Minder]

It was peculiar from Benitez alright. Replacing one non scoring midfielder with another. He can be so stubborn sometimes,to the detriment of the team.

[Stalin]

FERGUSON AND SCOLARI OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111111

SCOLARI HAS LOST THE PLOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1


3 WINS OUT OF 9 AT HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111

CRAZYYYYYYYYYYYYYY STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111

[GalwayBayBoy]

Another let off this week.

On one hand it's annoying as we should have a big lead built up by now. On the other hand the others aren't really capitalizing on our run of draws.

Hurry back Fernando.

[nifan]

Draws for pool, arse, man u, chelsea, rangers and celtic.
Bookies laughing this weekend

[J70]

So much for "Benitez out" and all the rest of it. The fact is that there are very few easy games in the division this year, especially if whichever big four team it is doesn't get the first goal. They're all dropping points and no one is able to build up a lead so far. Seems to be only Benitez and Liverpool who are taking stick for it however, probably because everyone assumes that United and Chelsea will push on eventually and that Liverpool are blowing their chance. Don't really agree, personally.

[Armamike]

I managed to get to the game. Frustrating performance and result but Liverpool didn't have the quality up front in that starting line up to beat Hull. Heart sank when i heard the line up - Kuyt up front on his own, in a home game, against Hull!  Unbelievable how Kuyt lasted the full 90 mins - he was that bad from the start that he could easily have been subbed by half time (Keane's days look numbered now - if he couldn't get on yesterday).  Dirk has the touch of a serial rapist and his second touch is a tackle - just not good enough i'm afraid for a team with title winning ambitions. People who bang on about his workrate should realise that workrate is a given, a prerequisite.  Reira and Benayoun were very poor as well. Benayoun got knocked off the ball too many times. Dossina was very dodgy at the back - he got skinned for pace down the wing twice in the lead up to the 2 goals.  That lack of quality up front and on the wings is costing valuable points. Hypia was immense yesterday - gave a peerless performance.

[Minder]

J70 i think that Chelsea and United have more capacity to go on a long (winning not drawing) unbeaten run in part due to larger and better quality squads. We cant keep hoping United and Chelsea continue to drop points as it wont happen indefinetly. We need to address our own shortcomings. Another factor in Uniteds favour is they have had a far harder programme of games and are within striking distance. The only thing that may make them falter is the fixture pile up they will face after the World Club Cup. Players like Beanyoun are playing far too many games for Liverpool to mount a sustained challenge. Babel must be the worlds worst trainer and have a stinkin attitude as whatever he is doing during the week at Melwood obviously isnt impressing Rafa. Overly pessimistic? Maybe.....

[Hoof Hearted]

I hope people dont use Keane not getting on as a smokescreen. The players that were on the pitch should be able to beat hull. We just are not good enough to maintain a title challenge over 38 games. I am starting to look to the away games as more likely to get a win. They dont seem capable of beating anyone at home.

everyone has been saying that since 1990, not earth shattering news there.

[J70]

J70 i think that Chelsea and United have more capacity to go on a long (winning not drawing) unbeaten run in part due to larger and better quality squads. We cant keep hoping United and Chelsea continue to drop points as it wont happen indefinetly. We need to address our own shortcomings. Another factor in Uniteds favour is they have had a far harder programme of games and are within striking distance. The only thing that may make them falter is the fixture pile up they will face after the World Club Cup. Players like Beanyoun are playing far too many games for Liverpool to mount a sustained challenge. Babel must be the worlds worst trainer and have a stinkin attitude as whatever he is doing during the week at Melwood obviously isnt impressing Rafa. Overly pessimistic? Maybe.....

Yes, but didn't Liverpool play very impressively from the beginning of February through to the end of the season last year, the Mascherano-aided no-show at Old Trafford excepted? The damage to Liverpool was done last year because the United and Arsenal charged ahead before Christmas when Liverpool were struggling, which has not happened this time around. And after next week, Liverpool will have quite a few of their toughest away fixtures out of the way as well, with trips to Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, Bolton, Blackburn (those two are normally tough for anyone), Spurs and Villa all completed, with only one defeat and one draw before the Arsenal game. I accept that Liverpool's overall resources are poorer, but that does not mean that they are out of it.

[stevo-08]

Yes, but didn't Liverpool play very impressively from the beginning of February through to the end of the season last year, the Mascherano-aided no-show at Old Trafford excepted? The damage to Liverpool was done last year because the United and Arsenal charged ahead before Christmas when Liverpool were struggling, which has not happened this time around. And after next week, Liverpool will have quite a few of their toughest away fixtures out of the way as well, with trips to Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, Bolton, Blackburn (those two are normally tough for anyone), Spurs and Villa all completed, with only one defeat and one draw before the Arsenal game. I accept that Liverpool's overall resources are poorer, but that does not mean that they are out of it.

You can add the trip to man city to that list.

I'd agree with the thrust of what you're saying J70, this season is definitely seeing a much more competitive league with the top teams dropping far more points that previously. Liverpool have been very disappointing lately, especially at home, and the run of draws is a very worring trend. However, I think the points total required to win the league this year will be alot lower than in previous years (I think 85 points could win the league this year) and that will suit Liverpool, who just arent capable of reaching the dizzy heights set by chelsea/united in previous seasons. Also, while everyone is saying that man united & chelsea have yet to get into top gear, I think the same can be said about Liverpool - they might be top of the league but there's certainly another gear in them, especially if Torres can get himself fit and come into form. So while, it's been frustrating to see so many dropped points lately, all is not lost yet.

On the keane situation, I couldnt believe he spent the entire game on the bench, doesnt bode well at all. I think when Rafa bought keane, he was sure that barry would also come into the side and alonso would depart. That would have allowed Rafa to play a 4 man midfield of kuyt, gerrard, masch & barry with torres & keane up front. But Barry never came and Alonso has been Liverpool's best player all season which has given Rafa a problem in trying to fit keane, gerrard & torres into the team. I still think keane has a lot to offer, but not when playing as a lone striker. Would like to see torres & keane get a run of matches together and see what they can do - could drop gerrard into CM or Right Wing if he wants.

Anyway, a trip to the emirates next week and funnily enough i'm more confident of getting 3 points there than the home game against Bolton the following week...

[Hound]

Benitez's attitude has reverted to type in the last few weeks, and that has coincided with the clutch of draws.

At the beginning of the season Benitez correctly said there were too many draws last year which were very costly. So when we were drawing games earlier in the season he threw caution to the wind, encouraged attacking play and even took off midifielders and defenders to get more attackers on, and it paid off in spades with plenty of late wins.

Then it backfired against Spurs, when playing really well, but the 2nd goal couldnt get in, conceded two late goals, and now you hear Benitez talking about "a point gained". Not losing is again more important than winning. Fact of the matter is Liverpool should have 6 extra points from those 3 recent draws, and attitude of the manager permeating down to the players played a big part. Leaving your striker on the bench v Hull for the full 90 minutes was just unbelievable. And then the excuse as to why only a draw: "The game was too open" was hugely disappointing. A team like Hull wanting to have an open game against Liverpool should be exactly what a Livepool manager wants.

ManUtd and Chelsea (so far) arent a patch on what they were last year, and hence Liverpool are right up there in strong contention. But we really havent taken full advantage of the chance they've given us and we know they will both kick on eventually.

[stevo-08]

Not too sure about all that Hound.

Since the defeat to Spurs, we have won 3 and drawn 3 in the PL. In the draw with Fulham, benitez started with keane & torres up front and when we were chasing the goal, he brought on alonso & el zhar for Masch & Kuyt. Against west ham, he again started with 2 up front, this time Keane & Kuyt. You cant say it was Benitez's attitude that was to blame for those results. That said, I honestly dont know what the f**k he was at on saturday, leaving our only striker on the bench for 90mins.

Teams like Stoke, West Ham & Fulham will come to anfield and defend for the entire game looking for the draw. In these games, it's essential we have a fully fit and in form Torres to stretch teams and nick a goal. Unfortunately, Torres hasnt been either fit or in-form this season. And if that doesnt change, then we can kiss goodbye to any chance of a title challenge. Torres & Gerrard have started together in only 5 PL games this season. And Liverpool simply cant afford to continue like that.

[corn02]

  Dirk has the touch of a serial rapist and his second touch is a tackle - just not good enough i'm afraid for a team with title winning ambitions.

Sorry mate but for me that is just bollicks. He had a mare of a second half yesterday and should have been replaced, but he played a big role in the two goals. Alsom, he has arguably been the player of the season for us, so to make that assumption on one poor performance is knee-jerk.

[AZOffaly]

Corn, I have the same opinion on Kuyt, as Armamike, and it is far from being based on one performance. If Rafa plays him as a wide player, then it's pointless unless it's against the top teams where he essentially becomes an auxiliary right back. His work rate and dedication is great.

When LFC are playing anyone other than that, he either needs to be a second striker, or on the bench. He has almost 0 creativity, is not going to get behind any full back, and is not a good man to hold on to possession as a move develops. His passing is woeful, and his control is awful for a professional footballer. Momo Sissoko and himself could have a 'long touch' competition.

I have good time for Kuyt, as a worker and as a lad who can pop up with vital goals. But when you are trying to break a team down, especially at Anfield, he ain't the answer. Or if he is, it's to the wrong question.