Rafa on Sherwood and Burley...

[psl]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...090221-0750.htm

 

Journalist: Rafa, you got the winning mentality back with a vital three points at Portsmouth. I think that can add a lot of encouragement and show the players that they're back on track after dropping points in all of those successive home draws...

 

It was important for us because people were talking about my team selection before, during and after the game. It was very funny watching the replay of the game and hearing the commentators and 'experts'. We played well and had plenty of possession, but it sounded as though we were playing badly according to the commentators. We controlled the game but you have to score. In the end we scored three goals, which is not bad with 'seven defensive players'. We showed once again this side has character and determination. Maybe someone should go to school and learn more about football.

 

Journalist: Rafa, I know you're having a good laugh and a joke about that, but does it get to you in some way? Does it frustrate you when you have the ex-players and some of the football journalists and pundits having a go at you because of your team selection?

 

I can assure you that normally I don't hear things like this because I have the volume down - I try to enjoy the football without the comments. But I saw a replay of this game and, because it was a funny situation, I wanted to hear what was said. I can guarantee you someone has to go to a coaches school and try to learn a little bit.

Edited February 21, 2009 by psl

[Benitez]

tehe

[David Hodgson]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N...090221-0750.htm

 

Journalist: Rafa, you got the winning mentality back with a vital three points at Portsmouth. I think that can add a lot of encouragement and show the players that they're back on track after dropping points in all of those successive home draws...

 

It was important for us because people were talking about my team selection before, during and after the game. It was very funny watching the replay of the game and hearing the commentators and 'experts'. We played well and had plenty of possession, but it sounded as though we were playing badly according to the commentators. We controlled the game but you have to score. In the end we scored three goals, which is not bad with 'seven defensive players'. We showed once again this side has character and determination. Maybe someone should go to school and learn more about football.

 

Journalist: Rafa, I know you're having a good laugh and a joke about that, but does it get to you in some way? Does it frustrate you when you have the ex-players and some of the football journalists and pundits having a go at you because of your team selection?

 

I can assure you that normally I don't hear things like this because I have the volume down - I try to enjoy the football without the comments. But I saw a replay of this game and, because it was a funny situation, I wanted to hear what was said. I can guarantee you someone has to go to a coaches school and try to learn a little bit.

 

Superb. I love the fact that the natural limitations of Rafa's English dictate that when he's having a pop, there's little subtlety to it.

[Swagger]

Class.

[Earl Hafler]

 

I'm off to school

[stressederic]

Nice

[Tonto]

I enjoyed that, but you can see the idiots on Soccer Saturday and like sniggering about it and saying 'You don't need to go coaching school to see Rafa was got wrong and got out of jail. Anyone who's ever played the game knows it's common sense innit?'

[Chili Palmer]

I enjoyed that, but you can see the idiots on Soccer Saturday and like sniggering about it and saying 'You don't need to go coaching school to see Rafa was got wrong and got out of jail. Anyone who's ever played the game knows it's common sense innit?'

 

 

Its true that, the divs on Setanta, Sky, Talksport have a free go at slagging off whoever they want and have their opinions unchallenged, it would be a good show seeing Charlie Nicholas, Craig Burley, Andy Gray, Tim Sherwood and Jason Cundy on one side of the table and Rafa, Wenger, Scolari, O'Neill and say, Moyles on the other, who would win the arguement? the sound bites or the sound football knowledge?

 

(I would have included Ferguson, but the 'experts' would be falling over themselves to agree with him)

[Archangel]

In mitigation, the squad selection for the Portsmouth game was unorthodox to say the least but with respect to the manager he made the call and got it right. He obviously knew the situation with his players before the game, took the risk and it paid off, but looking at it from the outside i think you can understand why the pundits cfound the selection bizarre.

[kop205]

In mitigation, the squad selection for the Portsmouth game was unorthodox to say the least but with respect to the manager he made the call and got it right. He obviously knew the situation with his players before the game, took the risk and it paid off, but looking at it from the outside i think you can understand why the pundits cfound the selection bizarre.

 

Isn't just that game though is it.

 

They peddle the same s**** constantly, but of course Burley just excelled himeslf that night with his famous 'Torres has to be wrapped in cotton wool. He has to start every game' b******s.

 

When I cancel Setanta at the end of the season, I will tell them it is because of Burley and Sherwood (and that little blus**** snide McManaman as well).

[Benitez]

In mitigation, the squad selection for the Portsmouth game was unorthodox to say the least but with respect to the manager he made the call and got it right. He obviously knew the situation with his players before the game, took the risk and it paid off, but looking at it from the outside i think you can understand why the pundits cfound the selection bizarre.

 

 

It's more about what they where saying during and after the game I think. It was the same on MOTD, they still where going on and on and on and on and on about the team selection. To say it was tedious doesn't say half the story. I think Hansen even came out with some BS such as 'they not have beaten Chelsea with that team'.

 

It's always the same, Liverpool win these games DESPITE Rafa, that is what they are bascially saying. Never mind that they are clueless, they are disrespectful, pathetic little dullards. Shame British TV is full of them.

[David Hodgson]

In mitigation, the squad selection for the Portsmouth game was unorthodox to say the least but with respect to the manager he made the call and got it right. He obviously knew the situation with his players before the game, took the risk and it paid off, but looking at it from the outside i think you can understand why the pundits cfound the selection bizarre.

 

I don't think the selection was bizarre at all. Gerrard was out anyway, and Alonso and Torres had looked to be all but injured in the closing stages of the previous game. It wasn't a surprise to see them left out. Only Kuyt's omission was a bit of a surprise, but then none of us had seen his condition after the Everton game.

 

If criticism was due it was because the team failed to build on a promising start and weakened as the game went on. The manager hardly sent them out in the second half looking like they were going to win the match. Also, if he deemed the team ready for change by the 55th minute (when the first substitution was made), then there was a strong argument for bringing on Torres first. Indeed, allowing Torres just 15 minutes didn't seem ideal, but ultimately the manager will feel vindicated by the result and Nando's late goal.

 

I think the pundits showed they had made no effort to research the criteria for Rafa's selections, and their 'shock' at his choice was borne entirely of ignorance. Notwithstanding this, they had something of a point in judging overall that we did not have control of the result in that match, and to an extent we did simply 'get out of jail'.

[floyd]

Wonder if the toothless pr1ck Burley, and that cockerny cvnt Sherwood will have a go at Fergiescum for resting players today against Blackburn?

Thought not,

[DJS]

The funny thing about the Pompey game was that they were almost slating Rafa for 'needing to resort to the subs bench' in order to win - as if it was a form of cheating, or something

 

Cretins.

Edited February 21, 2009 by DJS

[gkmacca]

Wenger has made some decidely odd team selections but they've been accepted as 'daring' or 'unavoidable' by London hacks charmed by man. He's also said some strange things during press conferences, been incredibly petulant after some bad results and recently suggested the league leaders are untouchable. It just doesn't suit the local hacks (yet) to mock him. The treatment of Rafa has been startlingly disrespectful - criticism is one thing, but the likes of Keys, Sherwood, Nicholas and others treat him like he's actually an idiot.

[Chili Palmer]

- criticism is one thing, but the likes of Keys, Sherwood, Nicholas and others treat him like he's actually an idiot.

 

 

thats what bothers me, they talk about Rafa as if he is new to the game.