He Tore A Hamstring Dot Mee Dot UK

The Fat Lady … Not Quite Singing

It’s almost last orders at the Last Chance Revue Bar. Very shortly the final act of the evening will walk on stage, and once the Fat Lady has sung, we can all go home. Whether we skip with joy, or whether we head for the doors full of sorrow, is yet to be determined. Why? Because only the Fat Lady knows!

There have been many articles written about the plight of our club recently. There seems to be two main subjects which Liverpool fans dwell upon. The question of will we finish fourth, and do we support our current manager.

The first question is an easy one to answer at this stage of the season. We simply do not know! We need the Fat Lady, and she is not due on stage yet.

I’ve read a few posts on fans blog sites, one who wants us all to believe we can still finish in that coveted fourth slot. Another, who has studied the final matches of our rivals. His opinion is that we have the easier games, and the other teams may trip up along the way. OK. I’ll go with both of those ideas. I’ll believe till the Fat Lady walks off stage to frantic applause.

Her song sung, and her bows taken. I also agree that on paper, we do have an easier run in. Unfortunately, we don’t play on paper, and neither do the other teams involved in the quest for 4th. On paper we should have beaten Fulham on Sunday. On paper we had 77% of the possession, but from where I was sat, in the Centenary Stand, I didn’t see us score. In fact, if we were still playing now, it would be 0-0.

I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon. The bandwagon which says “We can’t score if Nando doesn’t play”! After all, we have won games without Torres during this crappy season. But on Sunday, we had so many chances and just couldn’t get one shot on target… The ball would not go in the net.

So, on paper yes, we have the easier run in… but on grass?

The second question is a harder one to answer. I listened to some of the jibes on Sunday. The supporters who shouted “Rafa Out”! I listened, because to be honest, you would have to be deaf not to hear. I am surprised at the split in support. I’m surprised that some parts of the ground think it’s productive to call taunts at Rafa.

The last time we won the league was in 1990. I was a five year old back then. I’ve been to school, left, and built a successful career in that time. I’m a mid twenties adult, and the last time we won the league I was just starting at infants school. I’ve lived a lifetime since Kenny Dalglish was in charge. I don’t even remember him… that’s how long ago it was. Does that put things into context. A lifetime.

Since Dalglish left, we have said hello and goodbye to Moran, Souness, Evans and Houllier. We have not won the title for twenty years. We are possibly the only club who have had two managers in charge at the same time. With 100% more management than any rival club, we still haven’t won. So why would getting rid of Rafa alter our fortunes?

In the post Dalglish years, our most successful manager so far, has been Gerard Houllier. Under Houllier, we won the League Cup twice, the FA and EUFA Cups. Under Graeme Souness we won an FA Cup, and with Roy Evans we lifted the League Cup. Ronnie Moran was only in charge for 10 matches, so it’s not fair to assess him with the others. The truth is, Benitez has done OK, he’s not set the grass on fire, but we have won the European Cup and the FA Cup during his tenure.

What are the “Taunters” shouting about, and why do they want Rafa to go. To put things into context, under Rafael Benitez we have not moved forward. We all wanted Houllier out as we had become stagnant. Benitez, as his successor, was supposed to take us in the direction we all wanted to go… Upward.

The aim is to win the League, nothing else matters more than being Champions of the Premiership. Benitez however, concentrates on Europe, and seems lacking in strategic tactics in the domestic league. He has a history of resting and substituting players from league games, when mid week European matches are to be played.

He has also lost valuable players, sold valuable players, and brought in mediocre replacements. When we had a large squad, he rotated the players too much, he didn’t seem to recognise his strongest team, and now we seem to have a settled side which constantly under performs.

I am one of the first to say that a lot of our troubles stem from poor performances on the pitch. The only consistent player this season has been Pepe. The rest have all had an up and down season. But, and this is a huge BUT. Benitez is responsible for moral, he is the motivator. Many people have said that Benitez has lost the dressing room.

I believe there is a rift, there is a lack of communication between players and the manager. I believe he doesn’t talk to them. I see Rafa as a remote character, isolated with his training staff, and yet, in the same breath he is dominant. He manages from a distance, and while that style has it’s merits, it also has it’s drawbacks.

The main drawback is this. If you are so far removed from a person, you don’t know what makes that person tick. Some will respond to being yelled at, while others need quiet encouragement. Rafa is incapable of recognising these differences. That is a huge flaw in his managerial make up.

You can see this flaw quite plainly. Whether you go to Anfield or watch on TV. He is unmoved by a close chance on goal. He is expressionless when a goal is scored. In fact I have seen us score three goals and all he can manage is some arm waving gestures. Watch Ferguson, or watch Wenger. When their teams score a goal, their arms are aloft! Their faces mirror the supporters. Rafa… well what can I say? There is a remoteness about him.

Now. My point of view. I believe Rafa is the best manager we have had since Dalglish. I believe given the money and the ability to add quality to our squad, he could take us forward. I would like him to stay.

Given new owners, and those owners having the funds to hand over for new players. I would give Rafa more time. I believe he loves our club as much as we do. Almost.

I don’t believe he intentionally goes out to under perform. Some say, he want’s to be sacked, I think that isn’t a fact. I would like Rafa to stay and lead us to Premiership glory, to more success in Europe and more success in domestic cups. But it isn’t up to me, or you, or the “Taunters”. It’s up to Rafa, and the owners, whoever they may be. We don’t know what goes on behind closed doors, and we aren’t privy to private thoughts and secret plans.

All we can do is wait for the Fat Lady, and right now she’s still putting her dress on.