MickeyDocs

Great post HR and I totally agree. Rafa's biggest enemy at times is his unwillingness to self-learn. This year he seems to have adapted in the face of hostility and come out on top. We are not where we expected to be, but we have started to thrash teams again (6-0; 8-0; 4-0; etc) and there has also been an improvement in the quality. Rafa is building something and is willing to move on his own buys (be interesting to see what happens with Pennant, Kuyt, Crouch, Voronin) so as to improve the team. He usually does this without losing money ala Houllier, and has even been known to make a profit, not quite in the Wenger league though - but Carson might be the start of things to come

The team is improving and we must accept that there were some strange factors this season such as the loss of Paco, and all the crap between Rafa and G/H. We have had great success on the road, but at times have struggled for goals at home. Most of our problems in the league (and Europe) followed on from the Paco/G&H issues which clearly upset the squad and manager alike. The spine of our team is fine. Our defense will improve with familiarity. Carra and Finnan have been off form this season which has upset the back line as has the loss of Agger for most of the season. In Skrtel and Agger we have two good centre backs that should improve over the coming seasons. Alonso and the Monster with Lucas as back up is a nice combination and as good as anyone in the league. We are over reliant on Torres and Gerrard for goals and need to add at least one attacking midfilelder and another striker (for serious money). This is the area we most need to add quality. Right now we would suffer alot from the loss of either. Babel looks like a great prospect. It would be great to add a top pro and a top prospect this summer (ala Torres and Babel). The question here is do we have the money? If we don't make the CL we will most likely be unable to afford any quality players. Two of Crouch, Kuyt and Vornonin, and two of Kewell, Benayoun and Pennant need to go. It is good to have average squad players but we have too many average squad players. The sales/unloading of these players will release funds for xfers and reduce the payroll. Our fullbacks also leave a little to be desired. Arbeloa wasn't great today. Aurelio had a good game but is too injury prone, shame 'cause on his day he is a fine player. Riise will at least bring in a decent xfer fee. Ferguson had six seasons to win the league and was in a position to out spend the competition to get there. Rafa deserves another season, and I for one get the feeling that there is a great future ahead.

No it was for not understanding why the scum were allowed to kick him.

They got a suspect goal without dominating. The game was very close up to the sending off. Their defenders were allowed to kick Torres willy nilly. We put it up to them even with 10 men. The ref was crooked and hugely influenced the outcome of the game. End of.

If the sending off of Masch is a new precedent, then I look forward to seeing rooney sent off week after week. Masch didn't lose it. He was pissed off with the actions of the bent ref... but all he did was ask a question from a distance. If Andy Gray can see that what happened today was wrong and some of our fans cannot, then I really have to hold my head in my hands and scream. He did not deserve to get sent off... end of! And on another topic, Brown was climbing on Skrtel. This should've been a free kick. The difference between our sides is in the quality of the squad. Having Hargreaves, Tevez and Nani on your bench is always going to give you the upper hand against 10 men that are tiring.

He has played in this role for both Feyenord and The Netherlands. IMHO he lacks the pace to really make this role his own, but it does make him a very useful utility forward, but he doesn't score enough goals - should he go in the summer?

great post... agreed 100%

We need to bring in 2-3 players max. We have suffered from bringing in too many players. We need the squad to gel, which means that each player knows their role or roles to play and can be rotated without too much difficulty. We need a left back (maybe a right back although I think Arbeloa is developing nicely), and an attacking midfielder. Finally we need a back up option for Torres to be able to rest him and replace if injured. It could be argued that we already have this player in Babel. The sale of Crouch, Kuyt and Voronin would pay for a new striker. Nemeth to be promoted to the match day squad.

I would hate to see Berbatov play for Liverpool... the guy is a total prima donna. He isn't fit to lace Gerrard's boots!

We've got him... he plays for the reserves and his name is Plessis.

We need one top class attacking signing. The 7 shirt is available and there is a new home shirt on the way, please let it be someone worthy of this special number

What do you think of Arbeloa in this role, is he good enough? What of Aurelio. Apart from a top number 7, the full backs and back up keeper are also areas of concern. Finnan has been a great servant but much more suited to a 4-4-2 (imho). Rafinha has been mentioned but I must admit that I've only seen him in the CL.

The key now is when we play 4-2-3-1, the top four players are being played as out and out attacking players and their defensive role is to defend from the front rather than dropping back into midfield all the time. This really suits Babel, and Kuyt has also adjusted well, but it is obvious he doesn't have the out and out pace for this role which is based around breaking quickly . I can't wait for Alonso to hit his groove as this formation is well suited to his strengths. It'll be very interesting to see this formation with Agger alongside Skittles as we'll have Alonso, Agger, Skittles... all players able to launch attacks with a measured pass... and plenty of pace at the back

I agree the squad is too big, and Rafa has been bringing in too many players at a time. We need a squad in which every player has a confidence in where they fit in. It is for these reasons I believe Benayoun, Voronin, and Kewell are surplus to requirements. Voronin and Kuyt need to make way for a quality striker that can We need to sign a special player, a player that deserves to wear the number 7 to transform the attacking trio of Gerrard, Torres and Babel into a quality attacking quartet. Robinho is a player that comes to mind. He arrived at Real too early in his career, but is developing into a really good attacking midfielder, who can of course play up front. Will he make it in the premiership? I'd keep Pennant as he does what he is told, ie. hug the by line and get crosses in. Crouch offers us something different, a plan b as such, but is he willing to play back up. Anderson deserves a chance. He looks like quality but will this xfer to the premiership? Nemeth looks good for the future but how far away is he from the match day squad? Surely these two players deserve a chance rather than wasting xfer funds on more players to fill the squad.

At least when he rotates now he keeps the formation. The issue with Rafa's rotation is that at times he changes both personnel and the system. Great to see Gerrard as an out and out attacking mf but in a central role. He is developing a great understanding with Torres. Babbel is also suited to this system... we now need one more quality player to fit into our attacking 4.

We shouldn't forget Anderson and Guthrie, both not doing too badly on loan and until recently members of the reserves.

how much time left?

Rafa needs to build a winning team. That is his job and what we should expect. Fergies early teams weren't renowned for their style of football. They were known for late winners (sometimes very very late like the 98th minute). They were able to compete and win 1-0 on a regular basis. He's probably built three successful teams in his tenure (21 years), and certainly the entertainment value improved over the years. The media is having a massive w***fest at the moment about Arsenal. They can be accused of overplaying the ball but on their day they are devestating. There is absolutely no doubt that they play very attractive football very much in the pass and move groove. I have a few reservations about their ability to last the distance and would expect them to start dropping points as we have done recently. Rafa should really take note of Mourinho. He was able to quickly build a successful winning team (based somewhat on the ability to buy any player he wanted). The emphasis was on the collective team. The basis of total football is on this emphasis. Rafa has been far too cautious at times this year and it has cost us points. To win the league we are going to have to be a little more adventurous and realise that one win and one loss gives us more points than two draws. It is quite clear that Voronin and Kuyt do not offer enough threat as a pairing. Both players are however very effective as link strikers. Voronin gave us a glimpse of what could be with his ability to link up with Gerrard and Benayoun, the fullbacks, and of course his strike partner. The result was immense. Mascherano's recent form will give midfield the platform to be much more creative (aka attacking). I have had the feeling for a while that we will soon hit form. I just hope that this is the start of things to come.

I can't believe people have given up on us winning the title this season.

I'm not blind to some of the areas where Rafa has made a balls of things lately. The areas where I'd criticize Rafa are: rotating for the sake of it; failure to buy another centre back; too much support for Kuyt. However, we are going through a difficult run of games and remain unbeaten. Agger, Alonso and Torres (good spine of any team) have all been missing. We are just six points behind Arsenal, and if we win our game in hand, just three points behind United. And we have yet to hit form. And we will hit form, hopefully as soon as the three players mentioned above return.

We are going to win the league. Yes we are in a slump and not playing well. Injuries and too much rotation are affecting us, and it must be said that the departure or Paco has had a negative effect. Gerrard and Carra hae once again lost for at the start of a season. Most of all the loss of Alonso and Agger is hitting us hard. However... Carra and Stevie are getting better and better. Mascherano is also getting back to form. Reina is playing well. We will return to form... my guess is that we'll have a narrow win on Saturday and will go onto some good form. Come on you reds.

Injury time winner. 3 points away in a derby while not playing well. Gerrard starting to look more like himself. Winning goals by Kuyt - finally off the mark in the league. Some really controversial decisions - piss those toffees off for a while Hibbert & Neville out for 3 games Most of all, a crucial win during a tough run of games (Spurs, Everton, Arsenal).

Gerrard is better when he is not in the centre. There, I've said it and feel much better. I want to see (apologies for a formation): finnan-carra-dagger-arbeloa masch-xabi pennant-gerrard-babbel torres

If he turns out as good as he is expected to he will be easily worth 2.1 million.