one thing that annoys me

[surf]

Is that every thread on here is discussing the Bennett c**k-up.

 

The real issue is that we lost at OT again and never looked like winning. We were piss poor right from the start. We played like a bunch of frightened Traores caught in the headlights of a big occassion. Our big players went missing, our passing was poor and our defending, usually biggest asset, let us down constantly. We were lucky it was only 1-0 by the time Masch got sent off, Rooney was in a couple of times and the Carragher challenge could have been a penalty.

 

With 10 men we gave up, looked like we were "holding on to a 1-0 defeat", as if that was a good result. There was a 10 minutes spell in the second half where we looked lively, but that was it.

 

It was a spineless, gutless performance. All good and well blaming Bennett, but none of our players turned up, none of or players wanted to match them for enthusiasm and appetite, they wanted it more than we did once again. Same as last year and the year before. Every league game against the Mancs has been lost before a ball was kicked.

 

Unless we go into these games with a completely different mentality we're going to keep losing them. I'm gutted that once more we lost not cause the opponent had better players, not because the opponent tactically outdone us, not because the ref made a mistake (which he did, but wouldn't have chanced the result and isn't the issue), not because of a silly mistake, but because we were outfought. We lost cause we looked like we didn't want to be there and didn't have the self belief to think we could get anything.

 

Rafa's performance against the top clubs is shocking, it's absolutely appauling. He has to get the players in the right frame of mind for games like this, cause if we keep bottling these games we'll never win the league. And if he's more of a tactics man that can't make players feel confident and good about themselves, he has to hire an assistant to motivate the players and send them out onto the field with the right attitude. Because until something changes in the way we approach these games we're going to continue to lose them.

[surf]

Perhaps the Mancs put something in the water.

[Guest Snorky]

Which is why I will always believe that we'll never win the league under Rafa.

[Rich Gobey]

The Bennett hang up is a crutch. Blaming the referee for yesterday is almost as embaressing as the team performance was.

 

Not one player stood up to be counted yesterday, thats the shocking thing.

[chrisbonnie]

Is that every thread on here is discussing the Bennett c**k-up.

 

The real issue is that we lost at OT again and never looked like winning. We were piss poor right from the start. We played like a bunch of frightened Traores caught in the headlights of a big occassion. Our big players went missing, our passing was poor and our defending, usually biggest asset, let us down constantly. We were lucky it was only 1-0 by the time Masch got sent off, Rooney was in a couple of times and the Carragher challenge could have been a penalty.

 

With 10 men we gave up, looked like we were "holding on to a 1-0 defeat", as if that was a good result. There was a 10 minutes spell in the second half where we looked lively, but that was it.

 

It was a spineless, gutless performance. All good and well blaming Bennett, but none of our players turned up, none of or players wanted to match them for enthusiasm and appetite, they wanted it more than we did once again. Same as last year and the year before. Every league game against the Mancs has been lost before a ball was kicked.

 

Unless we go into these games with a completely different mentality we're going to keep losing them. I'm gutted that once more we lost not cause the opponent had better players, not because the opponent tactically outdone us, not because the ref made a mistake (which he did, but wouldn't have chanced the result and isn't the issue), not because of a silly mistake, but because we were outfought. We lost cause we looked like we didn't want to be there and didn't have the self belief to think we could get anything.

 

Rafa's performance against the top clubs is shocking, it's absolutely appauling. He has to get the players in the right frame of mind for games like this, cause if we keep bottling these games we'll never win the league. And if he's more of a tactics man that can't make players feel confident and good about themselves, he has to hire an assistant to motivate the players and send them out onto the field with the right attitude. Because until something changes in the way we approach these games we're going to continue to lose them.

 

 

agree 100%, when i look at the manc c****, i dont see what everyone else sees, my brother and a load of mates support them, and they constantly go on about how quick they pass the ball, how great crater face is, and of course, how the granny shagger is the best thing since sliced bread, but to be honest, they probably hunt for the ball better then any other team in the premiership, they where like rabeed dogs when we had the ball yesterday, fighting in 2`s and 3`s to get it back, thats their biggest assest, the belief, and fighting spirit that whiskey nosed b*****d has given them, i personally dont think they pass it much better than us, but they do get the ball back quicker, and i think thats something thats not a talent in particular players, but just a belief and a mentality instilled into the team by the coaching staff, we need that spirit, because player for player, we`re not a constant 3 goal drumming behind them

[Dan]

Which is why I will always believe that we'll never win the league under Rafa.

 

I guarantee you'll change your mind a few times in the next 12 months

[Red]

I don't think it was spineless or gutless, but we certainly weren't mentally up for it.

 

Having said that, they'd still only managed one goal. Who's to say we wouldn't have come back in the second half had Mascherano stayed on. Judging by the way we played after the break we may have had a chance at turning the game around... all if's, but's and maybe's now, of course.

 

Hard to stay motivated when you're down to ten men against the league leaders in their own stadium.

[surf]

That's exactly WHEN you should stay motivated

[Red]

Have you been in a team in any sport under similar circumstances? In an ideal world we'd like to think the players would stay motivated, but in reality it ain't like that.

[surf]

Which is why I will always believe that we'll never win the league under Rafa.

 

Agreed. Rafa won't win us the league until something fundamentally changes in the way we approach premiership games, certainly those aganst our rivals. I haven't seen our team produce one premiership winning performance against our rivals whilst Rafa has been in charge.

[D.Boon]

I still find it strange that 2 of our worse players were the english lads who should be chomping at the bit.

 

Maybe the calmer approach of non English players would serve us better in derby's like this in the future?

[muleskinner]

Agreed. Rafa won't win us the league until something fundamentally changes in the way we approach premiership games, certainly those aganst our rivals. I haven't seen our team produce one premiership winning performance against our rivals whilst Rafa has been in charge.

 

4-1 v Arsenal ?

2-0 v Chelsea ?

[surf]

Fair enough, i have a terrible memory. In the 17 (?) games against the top 3 we've produced hardly anything. In my opinion that's down to a poor approach and wrong mentality.

[Skillz]

I guarantee you'll change your mind a few times in the next 12 months

 

 

[Lanus]

Which is why I will always believe that we'll never win the league under Rafa.

 

and so the rafa-in/out pendulum swings back again.

 

im tired of this argument.

[alias75]

Is that every thread on here is discussing the Bennett c**k-up.

 

The real issue is that we lost at OT again and never looked like winning. We were piss poor right from the start. We played like a bunch of frightened Traores caught in the headlights of a big occassion. Our big players went missing, our passing was poor and our defending, usually biggest asset, let us down constantly. We were lucky it was only 1-0 by the time Masch got sent off, Rooney was in a couple of times and the Carragher challenge could have been a penalty.

 

With 10 men we gave up, looked like we were "holding on to a 1-0 defeat", as if that was a good result. There was a 10 minutes spell in the second half where we looked lively, but that was it.

 

It was a spineless, gutless performance. All good and well blaming Bennett, but none of our players turned up, none of or players wanted to match them for enthusiasm and appetite, they wanted it more than we did once again. Same as last year and the year before. Every league game against the Mancs has been lost before a ball was kicked.

 

Unless we go into these games with a completely different mentality we're going to keep losing them. I'm gutted that once more we lost not cause the opponent had better players, not because the opponent tactically outdone us, not because the ref made a mistake (which he did, but wouldn't have chanced the result and isn't the issue), not because of a silly mistake, but because we were outfought. We lost cause we looked like we didn't want to be there and didn't have the self belief to think we could get anything.

 

Rafa's performance against the top clubs is shocking, it's absolutely appauling. He has to get the players in the right frame of mind for games like this, cause if we keep bottling these games we'll never win the league. And if he's more of a tactics man that can't make players feel confident and good about themselves, he has to hire an assistant to motivate the players and send them out onto the field with the right attitude. Because until something changes in the way we approach these games we're going to continue to lose them.

 

Yet i think most fans would agree in most of the recent games against Man Utd and Chelsea especially we've been the better side but maybe not got what we deserved. Its easy after yesterdays game to come to the conclusions you have but thats ignoring some excellent performances against Man Utd in recent times. Had we got the wins some of those performances had deserved you wouldn't have an argument.

 

I think we have to accept its unrealistic to expect us to always be the better team in these big games, sometimes the opposition are better that was the case yesterday but i don't think thats been true in every game against Utd in the last 3-4 years. Last season at Anfield we were much better but didnt win.

 

I agree we need to start winning these games when we are the better team and i think a large part of that comes down to belief and simply having top players in your side that aren't afraid to win the big games and can take those chances you get. Whatever you say about the money Rafa's spent Man Utd can still outspend us and the number of £20 million + players they have in their team compared to us should tell you we aren't on a level playing field with them.

[surf]

The quality of our players isn't the issue. That they don't perform when it matters most is.

[alias75]

The quality of our players isn't the issue. That they don't perform when it matters most is.

 

Don't agree with that, in the CL for example there have been several games where its win or bust and they've done the business. Against Man Utd in recent seasons the players have more than held their own but not got the win their play has deserved.

[surf]

True. I should have added "in the premiership".

Our results in the CL show that the players are good enough, that we can beat the likes of Barcelona, Milan, Inter, Juve, Chelsea. But we can't get the same passion, grit and determination in the premiership.

[Kuyt-fever]

f*** bennett , the c*** cost us the game. Lets tool up and harm the b*****d.

[Huyton_Red]

Is that every thread on here is discussing the Bennett c**k-up.

 

The real issue is that we lost at OT again and never looked like winning. We were piss poor right from the start. We played like a bunch of frightened Traores caught in the headlights of a big occassion. Our big players went missing, our passing was poor and our defending, usually biggest asset, let us down constantly. We were lucky it was only 1-0 by the time Masch got sent off, Rooney was in a couple of times and the Carragher challenge could have been a penalty.

 

With 10 men we gave up, looked like we were "holding on to a 1-0 defeat", as if that was a good result. There was a 10 minutes spell in the second half where we looked lively, but that was it.

 

It was a spineless, gutless performance. All good and well blaming Bennett, but none of our players turned up, none of or players wanted to match them for enthusiasm and appetite, they wanted it more than we did once again. Same as last year and the year before. Every league game against the Mancs has been lost before a ball was kicked.

 

Unless we go into these games with a completely different mentality we're going to keep losing them. I'm gutted that once more we lost not cause the opponent had better players, not because the opponent tactically outdone us, not because the ref made a mistake (which he did, but wouldn't have chanced the result and isn't the issue), not because of a silly mistake, but because we were outfought. We lost cause we looked like we didn't want to be there and didn't have the self belief to think we could get anything.

 

Rafa's performance against the top clubs is shocking, it's absolutely appauling. He has to get the players in the right frame of mind for games like this, cause if we keep bottling these games we'll never win the league. And if he's more of a tactics man that can't make players feel confident and good about themselves, he has to hire an assistant to motivate the players and send them out onto the field with the right attitude. Because until something changes in the way we approach these games we're going to continue to lose them.

 

With respect mate your talking out of your backside

 

Bennets decisions did affect the result yesterday, that is without question. And i do not just mean him sending off mascerano, the reason the players where all so wound up and lost their discipline was the referee not applying any consistency whatsoever in terms of bookings and free kicks. Go and watch a replay of the first half again, I have I sky+ it. Have a look at the three ridiculous free kicks given against mascerano after his booking. They where never, ever fouls. This after booking him for a tackle exactly the same as one he had just let off paul scholes for. The players lost their discipline due to a f'ckin atrocious referee. Yes, they where the better side before mascerano got sent half but not by much, we started well and looked threatening with babel doing their full back twice and gerrard knocking one over the bar, then wes brown completely missed his header and scored with his back before mascerano was sent off and the game changed. We did not get outfought at all, we got the sh't k,icked out of us with NO protection from the referee and when we complained or responded our players where booked. It was another typical f'ckin referee mare at old trafford, its been happening for years, its no suprise anymore is it.

 

His performance against top clubs is not shocking, again you are talking rubbish, both chelsea and arsenal equalised late this season against us, utd did with one of only two shots on target at anfield, just has they did the season before. Juventus, Ac Milan, Inter Milan, Chelsea (twice), Barcelona etc etc etc have all been beaten and knocked out by benitez's Liverpool in Europe. Utd and Chelsea have also been knocked out of the FA cup when we won it. To suggest we go missing in big games under benitez is knee jerk reactionist b'ollocks

 

Your talking sh'te

[D.Boon]

We did not get outfought at all,

 

Numpty alert

[Coyler]

It'll be worth having a close look at the refereeing in the first half on LFCTV this evening. Normally a repeat viewing of that pissmatch would be out of the question.

[Huyton_Red]

Numpty alert

 

jesus f'ckin wept...... Dont read any of my posts yeh f'ckin half wit, go and annoy someone else you irritating bore. Really not in the mood today for divvys like you.

[Guest JV]

It'll be worth having a close look at the refereeing in the first half on LFCTV this evening. Normally a repeat viewing of that pissmatch would be out of the question.

I shall be having a look soon.