Tommy Smith

[Jim D]

Legendary Liverpool defender Tommy Smith has launched a stinging criticism of Reds boss Rafael Benitez after his side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Barnsley.

 

Brian Howard's injury-time winner at Anfield dumped Liverpool out of yet another competition, leaving them with just the Champions League - in which they face Inter Milan this week - to contest.

 

And Smith, who captained Liverpool to the 1971 league and UEFA Cup double, has hit out at Benitez's controversial rotation policy and decision to rest several key players for yesterday's visit of the Coca-Cola Championship side.

 

Smith told BBC Radio Five Live: 'In the programme for yesterday's game Benitez said cup competitions are always dangerous if you think you can beat teams easily. So why on earth didn't he put a strong team out against Barnsley?'

 

Smith admitted Reds fans may finally start to run out of patience with the Spanish boss.

 

'I should imagine so. At the end of the day Bill Shankly used to tell us you're only as good as your last result. How on earth does Benitez think he's going to win stuff if he puts a second-class team out?

 

'Because Liverpool's squad is not as strong as I think he thought at the beginning of the season. I don't think he's even got a strong first XI.

 

'How could he leave (Jose) Reina, (Steven) Gerrard and (Javier) Mascherano out?'

 

Smith admitted the last-16 European tie with Inter is now do-or-die.

 

'I'm afraid so,' he said. 'He keeps going on about winning four cups and all that but at the end of the day it's not even entertaining at Anfield at the moment. The crowd keep it going but they booed everybody at the end of the game and quite rightly.

 

'The first person you put on the team-sheet is Gerrard. How on earth could he sit on the bench for 75 minutes and watch that...then he (Benitez) talks about chances. Well, they've gone. You can't score after the game finishes.'

[gkmacca]

We won a league and UEFA Cup double in 1971???

[Jim D]

We won a league and UEFA Cup double in 1971???

 

Should read 1973 obviously!

[Falconhoof]

We won a league and UEFA Cup double in 1971???

 

 

i'm livid. whats the journalists email address ?

[Earl Hafler]

That was a strong side and we should have been able to cope without Masch, who should have been rested after recent games, a trip to South America and the upcoming CL game in mind.

I'd have started with Gerrard, hopefully won the game and taken him off in the second half. As much as possible, start with the side that played against Chelsea and is going to play against Inter.

 

The reason why we can't cope with dropping one or two players is the remainder are in such poor form from being constantly in and out of the side. We can't rely on players because of this.

 

I liked the side against Chelsea and yesterday was a decent side considering Torres' injury. Babel for Kewell was baffling, though. Kewell should be confined to the reserves to prove himself - i don't think it'll ever happen though.

 

The problem is that the rot started long ago.

[MFletcher]

That was a strong side and we should have been able to cope without Masch, who should have been rested after recent games, a trip to South America and the upcoming CL game in mind.

I'd have started with Gerrard, hopefully won the game and taken him off in the second half. As much as possible, start with the side that played against Chelsea and is going to play against Inter.

 

The reason why we can't cope with dropping one or two players is the remainder are in such poor form from being constantly in and out of the side. We can't rely on players because of this.

 

I liked the side against Chelsea and yesterday was a decent side considering Torres' injury. Babel for Kewell was baffling, though. Kewell should be confined to the reserves to prove himself - i don't think it'll ever happen though.

 

The problem is that the rot started long ago.

 

We can't really do that with Kewell though - there would be no-one to play on the left if Babel were to pick up an injury.

 

We'll have to make do with the crap until the summer.

[Gunga Din]

We can't really do that with Kewell though - there would be no-one to play on the left if Babel were to pick up an injury.

 

 

Kewell? get him out of the ressies? just a thought.

[gkmacca]

I do agree about the keeper. I don't see any reason for indulging the reserve keeper in cup matches. Reina doesn't need resting. I'd rather save some money and just use Martin as the sub.

[alias75]

Personally i had no problems with the players that were rested ..

 

1. Reina - very important player in midweek at home to Barnsley your GK shouldnt be that busy

2. Mascherano - had a tough trip with Argentina last week needed a rest since he played against Chelsea

3. Gerrard - again very important hes fit for Tuesday and we shouldnt be relying on 1 player to beat Barnsley

4. Torres - injured last week needed to be protected for the CL game

 

It amazes me how Rafa and his rotation seems to be the sole source of peoples anger, its about time some of the players that are continually putting in these poor performances had the finger pointed at the too. the team that started yesterday was full of full internationals, some of them look like they can't be bothered the same happened against Havent.

 

I wish some ex player would come out an name some of the culprits on the pitch instead of always attacking the manager.

[MFletcher]

Kewell? get him out of the ressies? just a thought.

 

A spell in the reserves would hardly be sufficient match practice if we were forced to throw him in against Inter away, would it?

[Gunga Din]

Personally i had no problems with the players that were rested ..

 

1. Reina - very important player in midweek at home to Barnsley your GK shouldnt be that busy

2. Mascherano - had a tough trip with Argentina last week needed a rest since he played against Chelsea

3. Gerrard - again very important hes fit for Tuesday and we shouldnt be relying on 1 player to beat Barnsley

4. Torres - injured last week needed to be protected for the CL game

 

It amazes me how Rafa and his rotation seems to be the sole source of peoples anger, its about time some of the players that are continually putting in these poor performances had the finger pointed at the too. the team that started yesterday was full of full internationals, some of them look like they can't be bothered the same happened against Havent.

 

I wish some ex player would come out an name some of the culprits on the pitch instead of always attacking the manager.

 

the manager bough them, he picks them, he motivates them. thats why the buck stops with him.

[Flight]

the manager bough them, he picks them, he motivates them. thats why the buck stops with him.

 

 

 

 

He didn't buy any of the back four; he's being forced to play them due to injuries. All four of them have been poor for the majority of the season. None of them, including Carra, would even get on the bench at any of the other top sides.

[alias75]

the manager bough them, he picks them, he motivates them. thats why the buck stops with him.

 

ok so how do you explain the performances of Reina, Mascherano, Hyppia, Stevie, Torres this season?

 

they dont seem to have a problem getting motivated, yes the manager has a role to play in getting the best out of his players, but whatever happened to players having pride in their own performance. Mascherano as an example plays every game with the same intensity and the same will to win, hes a born winner, he doesn't need words from a manager to get up for a game.

[Chili Palmer]

the manager bough them, he picks them, he motivates them. thats why the buck stops with him.

 

still comes down to them actually doing it. no wonder players are a law onto themselves these days if even the fans are thinking like this, can you imagine what some bellend like kewell is thinking...'its not my fault guv, rafa picked me'

[Guz]

What has happened to Carragher this season. Been s***. One man who has shone above all and confirmed his place as a legend (for me) is Sami. Peter Crouch? Booed and mocked by the whole country when Rafa stuck by him and is playing like a s***house c***.

[MFletcher]

The argument that players are allowed to be s*** because the manager "doesn't motivate them" is a load of b******s.

 

Look at the players. There's no pride in the shirt from some of them and that is unforgivable. That doesn't come from the manager, that comes from the players themselves.

[Chili Palmer]

The argument that players are allowed to be s*** because the manager "doesn't motivate them" is a load of b******s.

 

Look at the players. There's no pride in the shirt from some of them and that is unforgivable. That doesn't come from the manager, that comes from the players themselves.

 

but that doesn't fit well in the Rafa out arguement

[alias75]

What has happened to Carragher this season. Been s***. One man who has shone above all and confirmed his place as a legend (for me) is Sami. Peter Crouch? Booed and mocked by the whole country when Rafa stuck by him and is playing like a s***house c***.

 

Carragher's a strange one i think mainly its because hes playing with another slow CB, hes a stopper so he needs someone with a bit of pace next to him, at the moment if your picking on form and Agger is fit you'd have to go with Hyppia before Carragher. I don't think its a motivational thing with him, he'll always give you everything on the pitch but his lack of pace and technical ability is highlighted more when Aggers not there, plus of course hes had a couple of bad injuries himself this season.

 

I think theres still another 3 or 4 years left in him, although i think pretty soon he'll be filling the Hyppia role and playing fewer games.

[Guz]

Why is it always someone else's fault?

 

It's Gerrards fault that Xabi is playing s***

Sami's fault that Carra has been a liability

It's Rafa's fault that Crouch cant be arsed to run

 

Forget it.

 

Everyone at the football club, from the board to the manager to the players need to grow a pair of f***ing balls andtake some responsibility for whats going on. In ged's last year when everyone lost hope and faith one man stood up and took the club by the scruff of the neck (Gerrard). Now he's struggling and the likes of Masch, Torres and Sami are trying to do the same. Shame the rest of the overpaid, overhyped w*****s are soft as s**** to do the same.

 

We were conned by the yanks 12 months ago and now a section of the support is taking responsibility and action to rectify that - brilliant. The idea that some people are opposed to this beggars belief for me. This club has been passive for the last 20 years and watched the league go by. Lets f***ing sort it out reds

Edited February 17, 2008 by Guz

[Guest newfavouriteplayer]

but that doesn't fit well in the Rafa out arguement

 

because it misundertands one of the many roles of a manager which is to ensure consistent motivation across the season. not many players can do this themselves week in week out. Rafas flaw is not realising he has role here. It's why Ferguson's approach actuallt works, like mourinho and wenger he builds up a seige mentality, us versus the world. it creates motivation for a shared cause - i.e. the team. leaving players to self motivate only leads to motivation for the individual which don't help the team much.

[Archangel]

the manager bough them, he picks them, he motivates them. thats why the buck stops with him.

 

he also decides on the formation and the tactics we use against the teams we face

 

I'd have more sympathy for the ''blame the players'' arguement if it wasn't for the fact that the manager has got a reputation for planning and controlling everything in meticulous detail. Now sometimes it works but some of our more dysfunctional moments are more down to confusion than a lack of effort or commitment from the players

 

I dont think there are individuals who do themselves justice but if your looking at constant displays of disjointed erratic performances at some point you have to start pointing the finger at the common denominator which is the manager. Benitez needs to loosen up and change his style before its too late

[gkmacca]

You can be a great interviewer but, still, if your interviewee is not in a mood to talk, you get nowhere. It's never one-way. It's never pure magic. A manager can do what he can, but some players just don't have the right attitude. Larry Lloyd ended up like that with Shanks. Paisley could never quite control Jimmy Case. There are plenty of professions where employees don't like their bosses, but they get on with their job. Only in football do they seem to think they control their boss's destiny. The attitude of this bunch stinks.

[CaptainXabi]

You can be a great interviewer but, still, if your interviewee is not in a mood to talk, you get nowhere. It's never one-way. It's never pure magic. A manager can do what he can, but some players just don't have the right attitude. Larry Lloyd ended up like that with Shanks. Paisley could never quite control Jimmy Case. There are plenty of professions where employees don't like their bosses, but they get on with their job. Only in football do they seem to think they control their boss's destiny. The attitude of this bunch stinks.

Players in our current squad Rafa didn't buy:

 

Steve Finnan

Sami Hyypia

John Arne Riise

Harry Kewell

Steven Gerrard

Jamie Carragher

 

If the players as a whole have a bad attitude, then Rafa carries a very sizable portion of the responsibility.

[Guest GrandpaSimpson]

What has happened to Carragher this season. Been s***. One man who has shone above all and confirmed his place as a legend (for me) is Sami. Peter Crouch? Booed and mocked by the whole country when Rafa stuck by him and is playing like a s***house c***.

 

 

No question that Sami Hyypia has been carrying our defence for most of the season. The man is a legend.

[Guest Ant]

The argument that players are allowed to be s*** because the manager "doesn't motivate them" is a load of b******s.

 

Look at the players. There's no pride in the shirt from some of them and that is unforgivable. That doesn't come from the manager, that comes from the players themselves.

 

Rubbish.