World Cup Blues

[jimmylibel]

Rafa Benitez believes that Liverpool will only get better now their World Cup hangover has subsided.

 

Liverpool's start to the season saw them fail to hit anything like top form, as their title aspirations were dealt a hefty blow in the process.

 

The likes of Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Jose Reina were all guilty of underachieving after a busy summer in Germany but in recent weeks the performances of individuals, and Liverpool as a whole, have improved.

 

Benitez feels that such inconsistency is a direct result of too much football but as the season approaches its second half, the Spanish tactician is predicting a more impressive showing from his charges.

 

"We are now seeing the best of our World Cup players after difficult times earlier in the season," said Benitez.

 

"It is clear that in the top sides important players had some problems. It depends on your squad how you handle that. If you have a good squad you can manage. You can win games.

 

"But the key players, the ones who played in the World Cup, were not playing well - not just here but in top clubs around Europe.

 

"For us now you can see Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard and Pepe Reina are playing better. The team is playing with more quality, and that underlines why our form is so much better."

 

Link

[magneto]

So Man Utd and Chelsea didn't have hangovers?

 

The World Cup is an excuse I don't like using (even though it may be valid).

[Guest ziggystardust]

So Man Utd and Chelsea didn't have hangovers?

 

The World Cup is an excuse I don't like using (even though it may be valid).

 

 

none of their players had seasons that started in june 05.

[Guz]

I have serious doubts that we'd have performed any better at the reebok, Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge, Woodison or the Emirates had there been no world cup. Those are the 5 most difficult league games of the season and it was our shortcoming last year and the same this season. World cup is just an excuse I'm afraid.

[Rich Gobey]

So Man Utd and Chelsea didn't have hangovers?

 

The World Cup is an excuse I don't like using (even though it may be valid).

 

You're not, Rafa is.

[allez les rouges]

So Man Utd and Chelsea didn't have hangovers?

 

The World Cup is an excuse I don't like using (even though it may be valid).

 

all there world cup players lost form at the start of the season. the difference, is that they brought in one or two players and have bigger squads, where as we brought in a lot of players who had to get used to the league and country in some cases, and an unsettled side.

[magneto]

none of their players had seasons that started in june 05.

 

Agreed

 

That should then be the excuse used. Long seasons as opposed to isolating the World Cup.

 

Bellamy, Kuyt, Gonzalez, Aurelio, Agger, Fowler, Pennant etc. did not have long seasons last year.

[G Richards]

Had the computer churned out easier fixtures early on, it's quite possible we'd have kept in touch at the top while we were working through the gears.

 

If we want to win this league it is imperative we hit the ground running. No international tournaments next summer will be a great bonus. If we can somehow manage to nab second spot we will also get a longer break through not having to play a CL qualifier.

 

Most top teams had a lot of players at the world cup, and while it was a factor in our slow start, it should not be used as an excuse.

[Hassony]

I think part of the problem that Carra, Gerrard and xabi all had nightmares end to the world cup

[Guz]

I think part of the problem that Carra, Gerrard and xabi all had nightmares end to the world cup

 

What on earth happend to Finnan, Sami, Riise, Garcia, Momo, Xabi and maybe Reina aswell then?

[Hassony]

What on earth happend to Finnan, Sami, Riise, Garcia, Momo, Xabi and maybe Reina aswell then?

they were gutted for their mates

[Guz]

they were gutted for their mates

 

[_00_deathscar]

they were gutted for their mates