Forget the manager, tactics, selection, tiredness and luck...

[Chili Palmer]

we had 14 players out there today and not 1 of them won their own battles, a f***ing disgrace.

[Gerrardrules]

Exactly.

 

They kept possesion of the ball much easier then we did.

[Guest Evil_Ways]

Exactly.

Not moving into space, not going in for the balls like the Luton players were, passing like a bunch of clueless idiots.

Attitude was to blame today, nothing else.

[alias75]

Correct in almost every cup game ive watched this weekend the lower league team has shown more desire, probably a sign of the times with these young players earning huge money in the PL, but the character and desire to scrap it out wasnt there.

[Guest RedLegend]

There was one moment when one of the Luton players won about three 50/50 challenges in quick succession. Summed it all up.

[Guz]

We did well for the first 20mins or so. But as their confidence grew, ours went the other way. Very much like the Derby game on Boxing day.

[Guest sniffer]

Correct in almost every cup game ive watched this weekend the lower league team has shown more desire, probably a sign of the times with these young players earning huge money in the PL, but the character and desire to scrap it out wasnt there.

 

Hmmm. Now remind me, how did Arsenal get on against Burnley? Irrespective of a man being sent off.

[Redwire]

Hmmm. Now remind me, how did Arsenal get on against Burnley? Irrespective of a man being sent off.

 

They were sh*t and out-battled but a couple of good finishes won it for them helped by a ridiculous sending off.

[lawrie]

I agree, Luton certainly had all the desire today and deserved the result. Perhaps the chuckle brothers should refuse to pay our players wages for a few months and see if that gets them going again

[jimbolala]

i really wasnt that disapointed when they scored...there is something wrong in the set up of our team, no one wants to take ownership, we cant run, cant pass, cant score,,,,,,we need somone to sort it out, after yhe last few weeks, i wouldnt give rafa any more money, he doesnt look as if he knows what he wants now

[Chili Palmer]

i really wasnt that disapointed when they scored...there is something wrong in the set up of our team, no one wants to take ownership, we cant run, cant pass, cant score,,,,,,we need somone to sort it out, after yhe last few weeks, i wouldnt give rafa any more money, he doesnt look as if he knows what he wants now

 

I disagree about Rafa not knowing what he wants, I think he knows excatly who he wants and what he wants his team to be set up like, the USless tosspots won't allow him to do it.

[Flanders]

I disagree about Rafa not knowing what he wants, I think he knows excatly who he wants and what he wants his team to be set up like, the USless tosspots won't allow him to do it.

As in, won't give him limitless cash to throw at his team? Rafa should have something very close to what he wants by now.

[Guest Snorky]

Let's be honest, if it was your money - would you shell out based on what you've seen this season ?

[psl]

I disagree about Rafa not knowing what he wants, I think he knows excatly who he wants and what he wants his team to be set up like, the USless tosspots won't allow him to do it.

 

Rafa should have a team and squad comfortably able to beat Wigan and Luton, regardless of any arguments about finance.

[Chili Palmer]

Rafa should have a team and squad comfortably able to beat Wigan and Luton, regardless of any arguments about finance.

 

He does, both those teams should have beat the 2 teams, they didn't because they were s**** on the day. Rafa can see where he needs to develop, Centre back, the left wing and a partner for Torres.

 

Hyppia, everyone agrees he needs replaced, great man but its getting too much a whole season for him

 

Kewell...lost it

 

Riise...lost it

 

Kuyt, Crouch and Voronin, lost it, lost it lost it

 

so to summarise yes, I would let him have money, just get someone else to pick the forwards...:-)

[Guest Snorky]

Rafa should have a team and squad comfortably able to beat Wigan and Luton, regardless of any arguments about finance.

 

Definately.

[psl]

There are some people on here that would find a way to avoid blaming Rafa if we got relegated.

[Guest Snorky]

There are some people on here that would find a way to avoid blaming Rafa if we got relegated.

 

That made me smile for the first time today, thanks.

[Walrus]

There are some people on here that would find a way to avoid blaming Rafa if we got relegated.

and some who would blame him if we won the league.

[Guest Snorky]

and some who would blame him if we won the league.

 

Now now

[psl]

That made me smile for the first time today, thanks.

 

I don't even mean it to sound like I'm getting at the manager. I don't want him to go. However, its getting laughable how some people will blame anyone but him. 'The team he sent out were more than capable of winning', 'how is it his fault if Kuyt can't trap the ball/Riise is s****/Alonso has forgotten how to pass/Gerrard miscued a clearance', 'they played as well as they can and we had an off day, it happens' etc.

 

Ultimately its Rafa's responsibility. At some point he has to take the blame. He signs the players, he sends out the team, he tells them where to play, he motiviates them (allegedly), he moves them around during games, he decides when they return from injury. It is down to him. If we play dismally for several games in a row, he takes the blame for that. He certainly gets the credit when we win trophies and play well.

[Guz]

Let's be honest, if it was your money - would you shell out based on what you've seen this season ?

 

Looking at what he's done when he's spent BIG on INDIVIDUAL players - Torres, Alonso, Kuyt, Babel and let's assume Mascherano.

 

Then yes, I'd give him lots of money.

[Guest Snorky]

Looking at what he's done when he's spent BIG on INDIVIDUAL players - Torres, Alonso, Kuyt, Babel and let's assume Mascherano.

 

Then yes, I'd give him lots of money.

 

Can't believe you used Kuyt in your point.

 

Out of those players it's only Torres and Alonso that Rafa has played them in different positions on the park. Kuyt was bought as a forward, so why play him everywhere else but upfront ?

[trowie]

I can sense a lynching

[psl]

and some who would blame him if we won the league.

 

Just for the sake of argument, if its right and proper to say that Rafa can't be blamed for player's making mistakes etc then why should he get the credit when we win? 'Oh so it was down to Rafa that Stevie smacked it in from 25 yards was it?', 'Rafa caused Carra to make that last ditch tackle/Reina to save that penalty did he?'.

 

Its nonsense. Its of course correct that Rafa takes his share of the credit when we win and his share of the blame when we lose. These 'its not Rafa's fault we gifted them a goal' threads are s****.

Edited January 6, 2008 by psl