Probably, but I don't know what else this team can do. We are struggling in the EPL, and we are in danger getting knocked out of the group stages in the Champions League. Is it the players? Is it the coach? Is it the management? What ever it is, Liverpool better figure it out or else we could be following this team in the f****ing Coca-Cola Championship.
I was hesitant to draw that conclusion, as I thought much of their recent poor form was due to Stevie G's condition. But he seemed fit as a fiddle today and the team was still flat and the play was still aimless. Either we really miss Xabi's passing or Pako was literally indispensible to Rafa's regime.
Sorry to be the bearer of more bad news but breaking reports in Spain tonight are that Torres wants to go back to Spain asap. Anyone see you guys Sunday - We will try to make it as painless as possible , should be all over by half time.
We are ********ing crashing and burning. Arsenal will destroy us if we play like this. Another season down the drain by October.
Yep. They put 7 goals past whoever their hapless opponents were last night. could be another thrashing ala the league cup last season. Would it be less painful to be a (insert smaller club here) or should we all just lower our collective expectations? If we get knocked out of Europe (more probably when we get knocked out) and finish a dsitant fourth or fifth in the league (should our form remain erratic) will Rafa be looking for employment elsewhere? I wonder how patient the new owners are going to be.
Pathetic. We're clearly not the team we think we are. I'm curious to see if our form improves when Xabi and Agger are playing (as I'm sure it would), but now we have to win out and get some help in order to progress to the knockouts. How did it ever come to this? Where's the pride? Horrible.
I normally don't jump on the Fire the Manager Bandwagon when things go awry. But a side that looks this adrift and without any heart has to be a reflection on Rafa. This is going to get ugly on Sunday.
What a horrendous showing. We could barely string consecutive passes together in the center of midfield (which probably had to do with Xabi's absence) while they sliced through our defense almost at will. Clearly our attack was hugely disappointing, but our defending wasn't really all that much better. Am I the only one who would much rather see Arbeloa in the center of defense than Hyypia? Sami's just gotten way too slow of both foot and mind to be a viable starting defender for a club with the aspirations we have. And Carra didn't exactly have a great game either. I mean, those last ditch tackles from behind look great when they come off, but I'd rather have a centerback that doesn't find himself getting beaten by his man so often. I'm beginning to think Carra might be past it. Another thing, when is Rafa going to realize Babel is not a freaking midfielder? He's got plenty of talent no doubt, but asking him to stay out wide and create things for his teammates is a waste of his abilities. Benayoun is much better suited to playing out wide in a 4-4-2.
Both Benitez and the players should be ashamed of themselves and booed upon their return. And I don't want hear any Reds supporters say some bulls**t like, "Well playing against Turkish teams in Turkey can be a tricky fixture." That may be true for a for a Greek side, but this is f--k-ng Liverpool Football Club and results like these are unaccepptable. And for those Reds who think not qualifying for the second round is a blessing in disguise because we'll be able to concentrate on the league alone, what if we don't qualify or win the Prem? You guys and Rafa can f--k off.
If anyone couldn't realize it, I was being sarcastic. I'm not happy at all, and while when some teams get knocked out of CL early and take that to domestic glory I know Rafa isn't even half the manager Arsene Wenger is, and we'll most likely get trounced on Sunday.
I seriously think it's time to stop thinking about the CL. Even if we somehow get into the knockout stages we don't seem to want to play in Europe. I feel more frustrated than angry, because I know we have a good manger and I know we have a good group of players but we just aren't playing well and getting results. Frustration, disappointment, and hope that we can forget about the CL, get our injured players back, and attack the Prem, FA Cup, and the Careless Cup with a renewed vigor.
Crickey, this was bad. Defensively we were a shambles. Not just Hyypia this time but Finnan and Carragher were equally dreadful. Worst of all, why can't Benitez make a substitution when there is still time? F**king hell, I'm pissed off. We sink and swim together, though, so I had best leave before I put my big foot in my mouth.
Oh f---, you sound like whining twats. Go sulk somewhere else. You're all the same idiots raving about great performances from the same guys you're bashing now. Just shut up.
It's BS...you should probably expect it. I didn't see the game so I can't really complain about performances or managerial decisions. The result says enough though...oh well.
Woah!!! Hold on there Turbo! Do you remember our previous managers (After King Kenny of course), and the results that we had then in Europe? I can't believe that you would want to dismember Rafa so soon, when we are not even out of Europe (I know that the run of results have to work our way, but come on). The guy has delivered to us our biggest ever cup success since 84, and you want to ditch him on 2 bad games in Europe??? When did you start supporting Liverpool last August???
Deep breaths, guys. I'm no sunshine-pumper, but I'm not yet ready to hit the panic button. And that was some of the worst football I've ever seen us play (along with at home to Marseille). It really took a lot for me to stay on my couch and watch the second half - it was literally painful for me to watch us after they scored that goal. Just a pathetic display of football. Buuuuuuut... We've been dealing with a lot of injuries. Three surefire starters have been out. We knew we didn't have CB depth and Sami's had to play how many games in a row now? He's got two own goals in two games. If Agger's in there instead of him, we probably don't go down a goal and thus we remain a bit more composed and go on to win the game. Xabi will be back pulling the strings. El Nino will help solve our goal-scoring woes. Stevie will regain his form. The league is still very much ours for the taking, and while it sucks to crash out of CL before the knockout-stages, shit happens. We've been to 2 of the last 3 finals. I'm not going to accept it, but I'm not going to get all bent out of shape about it either. There's no better way to respond from our poor midweek form than to beat the league leaders. I don't have much hope against the sparkling form of the Gunners, but if there's a game that we need to get up for and get a result, it's this weekend.
I'm not going to say anything about this performance other than to say that we are bereft of ideas in the final third (I wont start on defense). As soon as we get the ball up front we are either shooting long or passing out wide to the "wingers" (and I use the term loosely) who put in shit crosses for "strikers" who could not hit the back of a barn door. Players OUT: Kuyt - 6m Crouch - 5m Pennant - 4m Kewel - Free Sissoko - 7m Riise - 2m Aurelio - 2m Players IN: Two proven wingers with tricks, pace and most important of all a FINAL PRODUCT A left back A centre back Lets see what Babel can do up front with Torres and let Lucas start more games. I am sick to death of this dire, one dimensional football that Rafa seems to love. If we don't improve quickly lets get in a manager that actually knows how to get his team to play football.
Actually, after listening to callers on BBC 5 Live!, I'll make another post. I'll go with AndSomeAreAngels. Nothing is won in October. This was bad but I'll be dammed if I'll sound like some Sky-generation supporter. There will be time to re-group. And then play Arsenal.
Problem is we've seen this all before havn't we? I've been a fan for 18 years (not as long as quite a few of you I know) and this is all so familiar.... bah what do I know? We are Liverpool FC. We WILL come back from this. Walk on through the wind. Walk on through the rain. Though your dreams be tossed and blown. Time to walk on with hope in our hearts YNWA
I tell you, mate, we were dreadful tonight. But there is a difference between supporters and fans and this is the time to stick together. FireBenitez???? I shall be at Anfield on Sunday, in the Moan Stand, courtesy of a girlfriend's rich friend. I'll sing and not moan, I can assure you. By the way, I've only been a fan for 5 years longer than you. Same generation, mate.
Don't fire Rafa, we need someone like Pako to come in and help. It will be funny if on Sunday we are able to come away with a victory against the Arse we will all be in a better mood. If we lose, I expect a check-in from a couple of members of this forum because the way some are taking this loss they might off themselves. That said, the last performances of the team have made me very apathetic towards the sport of soccer.
I must have missed where being a fan meant you had to be blindly optimistic. We have all the reason in the world to be underwhelmed and disappointed. That doesn't make us fickle, that makes us realistic. Enough of this überfan bullshit.