Broken Dreams
Last night we were in Hungry to play our second leg against Debrecen and knew that we had a massive hill to climb. Rafa and the team were extremely upbeat about the game and were sure that Lyon would do us a favour. The reason for this was because we needed Lyon to win their game against Fiorentina to keep us in the running to enter the next stage. I have to admit that on the team's current form I had my doubts before the game started and gritted my teeth when the team was announced. This was Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Aurelio, Kuyt, Gerrard and Ngog. Substitutes: Cavalieri, Spearing, Dossena, Aquilani, Benayoun, Kyriakos and Skirtel.
Debrecen kicked off but immediately Liverpool took control of the ball but as the ball headed towards the goalmouth, there was as usual no player to meet it. This set in an early panic and I was already resigned to loosing the game. Being an ardent supporter though I sat there and decided to see the game out (not what my doctor would have ordered). Things suddenly began to look up and Ngog scored what I hoped would be our first goal of the evening. We needed at least four to pull our goal average up and move us up the table.
The game restarted and although Debrecen did their best to get the ball, it was clear that Liverpool were in control although Kuyt was unfortunately brought down. Oh no, I thought, here we go again but luckily he was okay. This gave us the first of the many free kicks that we had during the game. Play continued and Debrecen had a free kick, and as luck would have it aimed at the goal but thankfully missed. The ball was soon down at the other end of the pitch and breaks were now beginning to show in the Debrecen defence, enabling the Liverpool team to run rings around them. This resulted in Stevie G and Mascherano both having a go at the goal but unfortunately missing.
I was beginning to feel a little more confident by now and prayed that a second goal would be forthcoming as we seemed to be shooting at the goal quite readily but that final touch was sadly missing. Mascherano and Johnson at this point both committed fouls but luckily enough no cards were issued to the Liverpool players, but shortly afterwards a Debrecen player received a yellow card for a bad tackle on Gerrard - Stevie thank goodness was okay. This led to one of Stevie's trade mark free kicks but unfortunately on a night, when our luck seemed have deserted us yet again, the goal was missed. Debrecen was now beginning to wake up and the match began to take a different turn. Suddenly they were testing the team and our defence showed early signs of cracking - this off course was not a surprise, going by previous performances. But we recovered and as half time approached we again made an onslaught on the goal with Ngog and Stevie G trying to score. It was during the last ten minutes of this half that Fiorentina had got a penalty and unfortunately scored. As this was announced in Hungarian, the team were unaware of the result as they went down the tunnel at half time.
The second half started with Liverpool kicking off and getting straight back into a good tempo of play. Although Debrecan were now more aware of their surroundings and had decided that there were plenty of things to play for - I guess the Florentina result had something to do with this. They began to play for the ball and certainly had several breaks but these came to nothing thank goodness. The goal mouth became saturated with Liverpool players but as in the first half, the goals would not come. By now it seemed that the player's attitude had changed and they appeared to just be counting down the clock. The urgency disappeared and they just seemed to kicking the ball to one another. As usual the only player that seemed to be playing his heart out was Stevie G. I honestly do get the feeling that the rest of the team just do not give a damn about what they are playing for (I am sorry to be so blunt but I think by now, we have all had enough).
It had now reached the magic point where Rafa normally makes his substitutions but Debrecen were first and put on a player that could help them hopefully move forward. This seemed to have an immediate effect and our defence again showed how quickly it can get into trouble. Debrecen had a good chance thankfully the lads recovered quickly and we gained control of the ball but still the goal drought continued - what were the team going to do? The clock was ticking down and although Stevie G, and Daniel Agger were doing their best, nothing was happening. Finally Rafa woke up and Benayoun was brought on for Ngog. That was about the only substitution of the night that was sensible. Our goal scorer was taken off and replaced by a player that does have the habit of getting us out of trouble. Sensing a few minutes of disarray as the Debrecen players took control of the ball with Rudolf eventually trying for a penalty. Thankfully the referee saw that sense prevailed and it was not allowed.
Liverpool had now become very precarious with their passing and defensive play and Debrecen had sensed that a chance to draw the game was in the air. They were moving closer and closer to getting the all important equaliser but thankfully they too, appeared to be having a goal drought.
We were now in the final fifteen minutes and with the Europa League beckoning (Lyon had not managed to pull one back) Rafa bought on Dossena for Aurelio. I looked at Stevie G's photograph and literally shouted, what the hell are you doing? I dread to think what Rafa would have thought if he had heard me. The game continued, we were not getting anywhere. Then with 30 seconds to go Rafa brings on the substitute that we had hoped to see for most of the game. Aquilani came on for Stevie G. Unfortunately it did not do any good - we went out of the champion's league on yet another mundane and sometimes boring performance.
The camera had gone around the ground during the game and showed a very pensive Kenny Dalglish. I honestly wonder what he was thinking. Here was a club that he won many honours with, surrendering to teams that they should have beaten and were now going into the Europa Cup (UEFA Cup) The team that walks the corridors of Anfield and Melwood at the moment are to be honest, apart from a few players , rubbish and need to be bought to account. I honestly cannot understand Rafa's thinking at the moment - why can he not see that he is making grave mistakes and is partly to blame for the predicament that we now find ourselves in. It emerged today in one of his after match interviews that the Champions League was in fact his main objective this season, and he now has to rethink his strategy. I think I have heard most of this before and look forward to the next set of excuses as we hover around the 7th position mark in the Premiership without moving due to our appalling players.
We are favourites to win the Europa League - I am sorry but our current form, I honestly do not think it will happen. I believe our European Dream for this season has been broken and as a lifetime supporter of the club, I am upset, shocked and very angry that the situation has been allowed to continue festering. There now needs to be changes and they need to happen very quickly. Have I still got faith in Rafa Benitez - My mind is in a turmoil over this one - Should we follow the example of Portsmouth and show him the door - My mind says yes but my heart says no.
After the game, the commentator caught up with Christian Purslow who has said that they have every faith in Rafa to keep the club on an even keel. The commentator bought up the question of finances but was given short shrift. I am going to try and find out some more information before covering it in another article.
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As a "lifetime supporter" (sic), you have the gall to call Liverpool FC's first team "rubbish" and our players as "appalling". This is virtually the same rubbish group of appalling players who beat Real Madrid, wiped the floor with Utd and finished a close second last year. The team is not playing well at this year, due to a range of reasons. We are not rubbish; your claim makes me doubt whether you have a true affinity with the Club. You are not a Scouser and go to few home games.
Your ramblings are not an "article" as you grandly claim, just a personal view based on watching Liverpool FC on your TV. Get to Anfield and start shouting that the team is rubbish and the players appalling - that's just the action I expect from a "lifelong supporter".
The first of four giants to fall.
Liverpools position at the top table is over for now and unless major backing and a new stadium is created we better get used to the Europa league.
The problem at Anfield Is that we cannot just blaim Rafa. The board and old board have to take responsibillity. We were sold out by a previous board who saw a larger profit margin more important than doing their due dilligence on a set of new owners who have mortgaged the club to the hilt!
With no progress been made in building the new stadium which would give us an long term opportunity to gain revenue or enable the club to have a asset which would increase the sale prospects of the club.
Unfortunately with the change of the economic climate the Americans business model has failed badly, one which is based on cheap credit and putting very little liquid cash on the table to run LFC.
The worry for liverpol now is that this high risk sale has exacerated a number of flaws within the club.
The lack of a good replacement for Hypia has had a major impact to our season. once. The cheap signing of Kyriagis has been a poor signing. A ok player but not a player a team hoping to challenge for top honours should sign.
Lack of cash and also poor decision to buy Aqualani. Rafa has been very clever to mislead the fans with regards to his fitness. He gambled on being able to sign this player as he hoped that existing players would have kept him in touch for honours when Aqualani finally got fit. This has been a very bad gamble that has blown up in his face.
Lack of a back up for Torres! Selling of Keane was the right move but selling him and not investing in a suitable backup striker and gambling on the missfits voronin and babbel coming good this has been a fatal error! It was blatantly evident neither of these two were going to cut it.
The loss of Paco in the backroom team! Despite the Confederations cup it's clear that the teams fitness and conditioning were very poor before start of the season. Look at our results in preseason. Question has to be asked have we replaced this positive link in rafas back room,
If I was the banks rbs and watchovia I would be watching the events between now and the end of the season very carefully. We maybe
Forced into two corners either the bank asks hicks and gillette to put a higher deposit down or the banks may force the club to cash in on torres or the two if them could be forced to sell up. I have a feeling the club will be forced to sell torres at the end of the season to allow funds to improve our financial position and to enable player transfers for the new boss.
Barring a miracle rafa is finished.
Liverpools form will improve this season as I have noticed a slight improvement in the team over the last three games and feel that with Agger, torres, aqualani and gerrard all coming back to form I see a definate prospect for improvement of form but the likes of improving villa and big spending man city and spurs will make it too tough to gain the min 5th place.
We have to give some praise under Rafa as we have punched over our weight! Seems like a lot of problems have cropped up in a squad which lacks real depth. Without major investment to keep pace with the new order challengers (spurs man city and villa) Will mean we are no longer gaurenteed a top 4 place!
Waino, Stop shouting and sit and think for a moment. I am a lifelong supporter and I like many other Liverpool Supporters have the right to call the current first team rubbish. Believe me I don't like doing it, but when you have a team of 11 and at least eight of them have no interest in playing properly then that is all you can do. yes we beat Real madrid and Manchester United. For some reason the players decided on those two particular occasions that yes they would play properly. How dare you question my affinity with our club - Believe me I eat and breathe Liverpool Football Club 24 hours a day, every day. I go to Anfield as regularly as I can - unfortunately a distance of 250 miles makes it impossible to come up for every game When I am at Anfield - I was in the kop for the Man U game and believe me I shouted and screamed and sang along with everyone else.
. I am looking to move up as soon as possible and believe me I will probably be there more than you are. I spend a lot of my day talking to fellow scousers and Liverpool supporters from all over the world gathering their views and answering their queries about the club I dont call people rubbish lightly and believe me it hurts me to do so, but at the moment that is what unfortunately they are. Hopefully going out of the Champions League is the one thing that may make them finally wake up and do what we as supporters all what them to do. I may not be a true scouser but my father bought me up in the scouse tradition so please do not question my birthright. My father was born and lived on Scottie Road and I have spent most of my life travelling up and down to ensure that my roots are very clear in my mind. I know Liverpool better than I know London. I have a Liverpudlian accent - and before you say it - it is not put on it is a true one. You see I know where my roots are and I am proud of them - Liverpool is and always has been the place I call home.
Hi Eldon, Thanks for your run down of all the clubs ills - I totally agree with you on most points.
Hi Faith. I recently got a bit irritated with you for your backing of Jamie Redknapps comments regarding Rafa's Zonal marking system. Although you seem to have passion for the club I believe your are wrong in your assessment of the players but also playing a very dangerous game. This is pretty much the same squad that came within a whisker of winning probably the hardest league in the world. The injuries hve highighted in no uncertain terms what happens when you compete with CFC and MCFC who have limitless resources. If you think there is a better manager who will bother coming to this club which is in disarray please provide some names. Before everyone shouts Mourinho, lets remember the limitless cash he had at Stamford Bridge. If you want to see his limitations then may I direct you to Inter Milan who also crashed out of the CL alongside us. Rafa has done an amazing job with the sell to buy policy that now operates wthin our club. If you want to harness opinion that will probably assist our club then please direct your energies at the two liars who are squeezing the lifeblood from this proud club. If Rafa was given Barry, who knows what would have happened. If people don't get this Net spending principle then these sheep need to carry on listening to the national press who are trying their best to destabalise our club. I urge you to use your blog to get at the root of our problems or risk turning us into the next newcastle or worse Leeds.
Hi Jack, You are entitled to your own opinion, so i am glad my article about Jamie Rednapp got you irritated. As you must have gathered, I am not a supporter of the zonal marking system. I am afraid I am one of the old school and do prefer the old man to man. The assessment of the players was mine and mine alone - other people such as yourself also have your own views and I respect that. The only dangerous ground I believe I am treading is making myself look an absolute fool and if that happens so be it. If the club contact me and slate me over it, then I will obviously take their comments on board. I know it is more or less the same squad that came within a whisper of getting the league last year Jack, but there is something radically wrong with it at the moment and I am sure it is not just the injury situation. As for a new manager, I must admit if it happened I did think about Mourinho a few weeks ago myself, but then dismissed it, he would not I believe come to a club with the financial problems that we have. To be honest if the worst happened, I dread to think what tall tales Hicks and Gillett would have to come up with to get someone else to come in. Believe me Jack, I look and sift for information every day about the club, but since the summer things have gone extremely quiet. Once I know something constructive then of course I will put on here. i have every intention of getting to the root of the clubs problems but as I said it is very quiet at the moment. If as you say Rafa had been given the funds for Barry things may have been different, but he wasn't and there is no point on dwelling about it although the big question there is would we have also got Keane and would they have played well together. Believe me I am behind the players, in fact there are a few I was slating last season but have seen their improvement. I know in my heart Jack, the club may be able to pull the season around but at the moment each game is a disappointment and I honestly do wonder if we have the personnel to make that happen, especially once everyone is fit again. I know one of the answers is lets hope that Rafa buys well in the January window - unfortunately, I cannot see any players being bought unless of course as rumoured Babel and Dossena and possibly Voronin are on their way out.