Liverpool in crisis - a fan writes

Liverpool's disastrous FA Cup defeat to Barnsley has provoked an enormous response by disgruntled fans on the red side of the city. Our poll on TheGame blog, "Is Rafa still right man for Liverpool?", has 34 per cent of voters demanding Rafael Benitez leave the club now. It also led to one of our readers, Phil J Noonan, sending in the following excellent impassioned plea...

"It isn't easy being a Liverpool supporter these days.

Sure, we are still a "named" side that garners enough opinion from all football fans, despite current form, and many years of "top four status", but the respect is dwindling to a meagre trickle.

Respect. That is a huge word in sport.

Despite the usual sniping and bickering between devoted fans of different clubs, Liverpool always had that certain "something" that engendered respect.

Not so much these days. If we can ship two goals agains Havant, and lose to Barnsley, any side, and I do mean ANY side, can look towards Anfield and believe they have a chance. Add to that the ridicule factor, and respect seems to be leeching away by the minute.

Of course, the finger-pointing is raging.

"It's all the fault of those damn Yanks" .... "Americans OUT!"...

Personally I believe that has played a part in the psychological wellbeing of the players and club and even manager.

But I'm sorry , I lay the blame firmly at the feet of one man.

Rafa.

Too much praise was laid at his feet for our fifth European Cup win. How quickly we forget the travesty of those first 45 minutes.

It was the players who won that cup, many of which were kicked into touch within weeks ... long before their medals had gathered the first specks of dust and tarnish.

Rafa , in my own humble opinion, is not, was not, and never will be, a good manager at Liverpool.

His man management skills are zero.

I could cite a thousand reasons as to why I believe this, but instead, I'll simply say...

Peter Crouch.

Crouchy is no Torres, he is no Ronaldo ... he is no Owen, or Rush, but is a lot like Aldridge.

He was scoring winners left right and centre for club and country and found himself, for god knows whatever reason, polishing the bench with his bony butt cheeks, at the worst possible moment for the club.

Benitez took a man at the absolute pinnacle of his game and career, and in effect said. "Thanks, but no thanks, I want someone better"

I could write for hours on this subject, but I won't.

I love my club, my team, my history ... and right now they embarrass me.

I blame Benitez for all of that, and have called for his head for the last two years.

Go now please. You've made a lot of money, enjoyed the kudos that the players gave you, now go before you destroy what's left."

Comments

[ryan matthews]

Rafa will never win the premier league. Had he not won the champions league he would have been sacked a couple of years ago. He has spent 147 million and is no closer to the title than four years ago. He had the nucleus for a world class side yet never capatilised with good signings. Yes ok you're going to mention Torres but was that really a surprise? he was 24 million and wanted by every major club in europe and Torres already stated he wanted to play for Liverpool. So does Benitez get credit for that signing? in my eyes no. Josemi, Sissoko, Kromkamp, Voronin, crouch, pennant. None of these players would get in any of the top sides which is who Liverpool are in competition with. Haha I'm an everton fan and I hope Benitez stays like houllier did for so long!

[PAUL HATFIELD]

No man-management, do you need read what the players say about him??

Gerrard was already world class when he came here and now he says benitez has taught him so much, the same go's for torres only this week....i am a season ticket holder and fair play, am annoyed with some team selections but i love the man, who is there better??No one, go back and watch the game on your armchair.

[Stephen Breen]

Sorry but you were calling for his head two years ago? (FA cup winners and 82 points) and you are expecting to be taken seriously now?
Sorry but could i ask a simple question, do you actually go to anfield to watch us play? I dont think you do. I dont think you know anything about being a supporter, but i am sure that you know lots about being a fan!!!

[Jim]

Unfortunately this sounds like the kneejerk reaction of a fickle fan. I'd love to hear his views after Tuesday night's display.

Peter Crouch was one of those playing on Saturday, and in fact he'd had a few games in a row now without scoring when Rafa decided - rightly given the formation in use - to leave him on the bench on Tuesday.

We've had a bad season and so people are looking for someone to blame. Rafa gets it. If Rafa doesn't then Gerrard does. Or Carra. Or Kewell, Riise or Finnan - or Rafa for picking them.

The owners share most of the blame, the rest need to reflect on their season so far and decide if they're doing enough.

Including the supporters. You can't just be loud for Europe but expect the team to play that well in front of silent fans.

Get behind the team. Become supporters, rather than an audience. Or go to the cinema instead.

[Rob]

Well, I think the poster is entitled to want Rafa out. He's no less a Liverpool fan than some of the rabid idiots on here who seem hell-bent on deifying the bearded Spanish one.

Personally, I'm waiting for him to get caught violating Cilla Black in the shadow of the Liver Building. THEN we'll see who the real fans are.

[Pat]

Rafa's got you for mugs. How can he drop Yossi after each one of his hatricks. How can he ever dream of contemplating thinking about ever playing Dirk Kuyt. He is right up there with Erik Meyer as a right load of rubbish. He has no natural feel for the game, rarely scores goals and regularly misses chances. He makes nothing for himself and precious little for others. He works hard - so would you if ou were on the pitch. The reason you are not is that you have no ability or skill - just like Dirk. So why is he playing. The guy is obviously low on confidence. Rafa must be the most stubborn manager in the world - playing Dirk to the detriment of the team. Last night's effort should go down as an OG as it would never have gone in without the deflection. Go now Rafa coz we are bad. The only reason I think he won the Champs League was that we had so many injuries that year he couldn't rotate the squad. It picked itself. When we had a choice (the final) he got it wrong and was dug out of a big hole by Stevie G. The current form has nothing to do with the owners - who were generous to give him more than 10 bob in the summer judging by some of his other buys - Nunez, Josemi, Pelligrino( good for a 1 goal start to the opposition although he was free)Morientes. I could go on. Stop blaming everyone else Rafa and either improve it or go.

[Paul Rowland]

Just for the record Cantona scored in the 85th minute of the 1996 Cup Final.

[iggy]

quote - " ... and right now they embarrass me"

on the contrary ...

[edward chidziya]

I live and breathe Liverpool FC ever since I was a kid but honestly speaking as one before me has said being a Liverpool fan these days;one day ecstacy (last night win against Inter) and the next abject disappointment is as much fun as hugging a cactus!Surely something is not ok at this famous club.Could it be team selection or the other?I just cannot put my finger on it.

[Scousepaw]

I guess your two years worth of calling for Rafa's head included us winning the FA Cup, beating Barcelona and Chelsea (again) en route to our second Champions League final in three years, and posting our highest ever Premiership points total; one which was good enough to have made us champions in previous title winning seasons...

I can't imagine how p*ssed off you must have been when he signed Torres.

[Peter Joseph]

Do you like eating words Mr Noonan!

[michael forster]

Living your life dependant on others success is never satisfying. Professional fans are like referees; their perceived achievements are false. I would advise all the above to get a life and stop living their lives through a proxy.

[John Quinlan]

Never mind son. You always have your "history" .

[George in Paris]

I think some of you guys are being a little hard on the poster. I think he makes some valid points. perhaps they could be have been better put.

I think the crux of what he is saying is that Rafa is never going to be seen as a motivator of players. At least I have never seen it.

In regard to Crouch, Crouchy was scoring for fun at one point and his reward was to drop him.

I think Rafa has not only confused us the fans with his team selections he has now confused the players, i don't think they understand any longer what he is asking them to do?

Still tonight is the CL and this is without doubt where Rafa feels most at home tactically ( Athens final omitted) I can't be there tonight but I hope it is a real Euroupean night atmosphere and not one of the you could hear a pin drop ones we have seen recently at Prem matches. My forecast is 3-0 for the Reds

[Evertonian]

mwhahahahahaha tee hee hee.

[Paul F]

What exactly qualifies this as "excellent"? Quality of writing? Hardly. Level of insight? Behave yourself. Apparently he has called for him to go for 2 years. 2 years ago, Liverpool were reigning Champions of Europe! Utter tripe. It used to be said that we had the most knowledgeable supporters in the land. Sadly whingers like this are becoming increasingly prevalent.

[AP]

I too love Liverpool Football Club. However, I still believe in Rafa as our manager. Everyone wants Rafa to compete with ManU and Chelsea with less than half the money and with Arsenal in less than half the time. Those are unreasonable demands. The previous ownership at Liverpool knew they didn't have the money to compete so they got a manager who would restore the club to the top by rebuilding over a few years. The new owners don't want to give him the money to truly compete with the big spenders and nobody seems willing to allow him the time to build with youth anymore.

And before you start going on about how much Rafa spent this past summer, his net spend still came below ManU and if you include the January window, he's been outspent by Chelsea, too. And this is in by far his most free-spending period.

[Geoff Marmion]

As Fernando Torres said today Rafa's record bears comparison with most managers and 2 CL Finals one FA Cup and the achievement of one of the highest points totals the club has ever achieved is not a bad return over the last three years.Of course he has made mistakes but I would rather we gave him time to put things right than throw the club into turmoil by sacking him. The owners should realise that there is no divine right to win the Premiership; the amounts available to Rafa over the past 3 years do not compare with the money available to Chelsea who calmly spend £15m in the transfer window or Man u who can leave Carrick (£18m) onthe bench withHargreaves (£20m) to say nothing of Nani Anderson, Saha etc. It should not be forgotten that Rafa generated subtantial income from the sale of Cisse, Bellamy, Baros etc. A club like Liverpool should be led by a man with dignity and decency unlike Mourinho and let's not forget that O' Neill has won nothing of real significance (can we really count the SPL?). Rafa is facing an increasingly unlevel playin field and we should all appreciate that before rushing to judgement. I do believe that Rafa has missed Ayesteran and it might be a useful move to find him a distinguished assistant coach who will command his respect and share the burden with him. Meanwhile give the victor of Istanbul a chance!

[Scousepaw]

What a load of rubbish...

So you seek to further destabilize the club, and the team you claim to love so dearly by sacking the manager? What a smashing idea. Any bright ideas in terms of a replacement?

I personally don't think you are even close to listing a thousand reasons why Rafa should be shown the door, in fact I believe you were approximately 999 short come the end of your article. Of course there was the usual Crouch argument, but if you cast your mind back to that respect sapping loss to Barnsley at the weekend, I've been led to believe he was on the pitch during a large period of that game yet contributed stuff all. To think that a man at the pinnacle of his career couldn't have stuck one in against an average Championship side? Unbelievable.

And what's all this nonsense about him bombing out Champions League winning players? Would you rather they were still at the club? I fail to see your point here. Tell you what, let's ship Agger and Mascherano off shall we and see if we can't get Traore and Biscan back on the cheap, because they were the type of player that won us things back in '05, and they could turn things round for us now. Tell you what, I bet we could get Baros, Cisse or even Morientes back if we threw in a bit of cash plus Torres.

Please.

[Azhar Khan]

I disagree strongly. Although Rafa has made many tactical faults this season, his man management skills are not as poor as the fan in the article writes. Is this not the same Rafa who has encoraged and trusted Harry Kewell throughout his injury nightmare? Is this not the same Rafa who has backed Dirk Kuyt during his barren spell of 14 games and was reqarded with a goal on Saturday?

The fan mentions Peter Crouch. The same Peter Crouch who was given 19 games by Rafa to score his first goal?

Rafa has helped Jermaine Pennant thorughout his time at Liverpool and surely Rafa could not have been an bad man manager to inspire previously awful players such as Igor Biscan and Djimi Traore to put in crucial performances during Liverpool's successful Champions League campaign?

I could go on but its clear that Rafa is not a bad man-manager. He has made some costly errors tactically this season but he knows that he has made this mistake and over the last few games his tactics have been good. Furthermore, i think Rafa now knows this squad is not good enough and knows that a clearout is required uregently this summer. I think Rafa warrants another season at Liverpool and wonder whether sacking him is the best option. Who would replace him and wouyld his replacement be more successful? Doubt it. I by no means think Rafa is a perfect manager but feel that he knows whats best for the club and truly believe another transfer window and season will see Rafa show everyone why he is regarded in Europe as one of the best managers and why massive clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barca are interested in him.

[Cameron Holmes]

Shocking article. Particulary like the part:

'Too much praise was laid at his feet for our fifth European Cup win. How quickly we forget the travesty of those first 45 minutes.
It was the players who won that cup, many of which were kicked into touch within weeks'

Do you mean players like baros, traore, smicer, dudek were kicked into touch?? im sure we would have came alot furthur with them in the squad?? Please.....and it was rafa's fault that we were losing 3-0 at half time...the man realised the mistake...pulled Finnan off and put hamann in. It was fantastic managing. Cannot believe a well respected paper like the times would post a rubbish post like this on its official website. Poor form

[russell johns]

I'm afraid i have to agree with the comment above (i dont seem to be able to find your name)and it is with a heavy heart that i do so.

I have supported liverpool since i was about 10 years old...first discovering the mighty Ian Rush and being blown away by the whole culture at liverpool. I remember the nearly times, like that fa cup final against Man utd when Cantona scored in the last minute (maybe even the 92nd) and i remember the really good times, like the treble in 2001 and the fifth european cup.

What really makes me think that benitez should go is exactly the same reason as the guy above...how can Kuyt be prefered to Crouch when his finishing rountinely lets him down? Crouch is well within his rights to transfer out in the Summer, knowing that he did his absolute best and he just got knocked back by the manager.

However, i dont think benitez should go immediately, whats the point? a new manager wont help us achieve anything we cant in the next few months - i still dont think that fourth is beyond us. But rafa's rotation is just about too much now, granted he has stuck to more or less a similar line up in the league recently, but thats mainly due to injuries.

When he first started resting torres at the begining of the season, and bringing him on at 60mins my initial reaction was, ok...long season, i get that. But why not put him on for the first 60 and let him kill the match off, then sub him? we lost ground too early in this campaign and it has just shown that we werent good enough for the title.

Liverpool will always be my team, even if it is nearly impossible to get tickets (i spent 4 hours on the phone to get tickets to the 2006 charity sheild and then cycling 50 odd miles to cardiff to see it)and even though we are going through a bad patch i don't believe we should start going over the top (like newcastle fans!) we know we are short of the title, but we also know that hard graft, determination and the liverpool way will help us on our journey.

YNWA! - remember, a club is for life, not just for Christmas