Liverpool FC

[Murph1984]

[ ] shocked a Liverpool fan resorted to glorifying their past when faced with just how rubbish their team now is

Exactly the point I've been making in this thread about why Rafa shouldn't be sacked for not winning the league.

Where do you place the responsibilty for the lack of quality throughout the squad then if not on Rafa's shoulders?

I know Rick Parry ran the club assways for years so i'm guessing him?

Even the most passionate rival fans can see there is not a lack of quality throughout the squad.

Sorry but I cant take this season's small sample over the progress made in 5 seasons. Call me daft!

Well name one position(or more if you possibly can) where you have strength in depth,ie where one injury doesn't significantly deplete the side?

[Murph1984]

just flicking thru the channels on tv before tonights football and cant believe how many football teams have their own channel nowadays.....

Manchester United have MUTV

Chelsea have CTV

Liverpool have The History Channel

Charlton Fans are comedy central obv...

Baron - read the lengthy piece you wrote about Rafa's team building / purchases since he took over.
Good piece well written, and makes a compelling case for why he is a good manager.

However, ignores the fact that management isn't just about collecting the jigsaw pieces - it is much more than that.

Stories I have heard from sources reputedly close to the core, suggest that Rafa isn't respected that much by some key members of his team, and that he is not a good motivator.

Put that against managers who have a better track record (Ferguson, Mourinho etc..) and there is an obvious weakness in his repertoire.

As it happens I think he is a decent manager, but Liverpool are a big club, with a big following, who probably deserve a bit more than that.

Neil, which 'key members' don't respect Rafa?  Please don't say Babel, as he's neither key nor a player.

Gerrard or Carra?  Don't think it's them, and they've gone on the record giving their support to the manager.  Reina, Torres, Kuyt, Benny Noon, Johnson?  Nope, can't see it being one of them either.

So that leaves Mascherano, who was very tempted by Barca's interest, but stayed at Liverpool...maybe because of the manager?

So which other 'key players'?

I don't think anybody expects Mascherano to be at Liverpool come next season,champions league football or not.

Whilst I'd agree with this we hold all of the cards when it comes to the transfer - just like Alonso last season. Masch for Yaya Toure or Masch for £35m? Yes please.

I just hope it's not drawn out like last summer and then we end up with another last minute replacement but I have faith in Barcelona doing business a bit more professionally than Real Madrid.

Totally agree but it is still more disruption.

[kinboshi]

just flicking thru the channels on tv before tonights football and cant believe how many football teams have their own channel nowadays.....

Manchester United have MUTV

Chelsea have CTV

Liverpool have The History Channel

Charlton Fans are comedy central obv...

Baron - read the lengthy piece you wrote about Rafa's team building / purchases since he took over.
Good piece well written, and makes a compelling case for why he is a good manager.

However, ignores the fact that management isn't just about collecting the jigsaw pieces - it is much more than that.

Stories I have heard from sources reputedly close to the core, suggest that Rafa isn't respected that much by some key members of his team, and that he is not a good motivator.

Put that against managers who have a better track record (Ferguson, Mourinho etc..) and there is an obvious weakness in his repertoire.

As it happens I think he is a decent manager, but Liverpool are a big club, with a big following, who probably deserve a bit more than that.

Neil, which 'key members' don't respect Rafa?  Please don't say Babel, as he's neither key nor a player.

Gerrard or Carra?  Don't think it's them, and they've gone on the record giving their support to the manager.  Reina, Torres, Kuyt, Benny Noon, Johnson?  Nope, can't see it being one of them either.

So that leaves Mascherano, who was very tempted by Barca's interest, but stayed at Liverpool...maybe because of the manager?

So which other 'key players'?

I don't think anybody expects Mascherano to be at Liverpool come next season,champions league football or not.

Whilst I'd agree with this we hold all of the cards when it comes to the transfer - just like Alonso last season. Masch for Yaya Toure or Masch for £35m? Yes please.

I just hope it's not drawn out like last summer and then we end up with another last minute replacement but I have faith in Barcelona doing business a bit more professionally than Real Madrid.

Totally agree but it is still more disruption.

It is disruption.  Even if we get a nice price for Mascherano, we struggle to replace players quickly as we don't have the settled, established side as someone like manu do.  They can lose one or two top-notch players and the squad is strong enough to cope without them having to go one or more seasons 'rebuilding'.   I think Liverpool are getting closer to a side that can manage with these changes, especially when the squad is compared to the players Rafa inherited when he joined.

[The Baron]

[ ] shocked a Liverpool fan resorted to glorifying their past when faced with just how rubbish their team now is

Exactly the point I've been making in this thread about why Rafa shouldn't be sacked for not winning the league.

Where do you place the responsibilty for the lack of quality throughout the squad then if not on Rafa's shoulders?

I know Rick Parry ran the club assways for years so i'm guessing him?

Even the most passionate rival fans can see there is not a lack of quality throughout the squad.

Sorry but I cant take this season's small sample over the progress made in 5 seasons. Call me daft!

Well name one position(or more if you possibly can) where you have strength in depth,ie where one injury doesn't significantly deplete the side?

Ok, we're getting there, so it's a lack of squad depth not a lack of quality throughout the squad. The first XI when fit is obviously very good.

[The Baron]

just flicking thru the channels on tv before tonights football and cant believe how many football teams have their own channel nowadays.....

Manchester United have MUTV

Chelsea have CTV

Liverpool have The History Channel

Charlton Fans are comedy central obv...

Baron - read the lengthy piece you wrote about Rafa's team building / purchases since he took over.
Good piece well written, and makes a compelling case for why he is a good manager.

However, ignores the fact that management isn't just about collecting the jigsaw pieces - it is much more than that.

Stories I have heard from sources reputedly close to the core, suggest that Rafa isn't respected that much by some key members of his team, and that he is not a good motivator.

Put that against managers who have a better track record (Ferguson, Mourinho etc..) and there is an obvious weakness in his repertoire.

As it happens I think he is a decent manager, but Liverpool are a big club, with a big following, who probably deserve a bit more than that.

Neil, which 'key members' don't respect Rafa?  Please don't say Babel, as he's neither key nor a player.

Gerrard or Carra?  Don't think it's them, and they've gone on the record giving their support to the manager.  Reina, Torres, Kuyt, Benny Noon, Johnson?  Nope, can't see it being one of them either.

So that leaves Mascherano, who was very tempted by Barca's interest, but stayed at Liverpool...maybe because of the manager?

So which other 'key players'?

I don't think anybody expects Mascherano to be at Liverpool come next season,champions league football or not.

Whilst I'd agree with this we hold all of the cards when it comes to the transfer - just like Alonso last season. Masch for Yaya Toure or Masch for £35m? Yes please.

I just hope it's not drawn out like last summer and then we end up with another last minute replacement but I have faith in Barcelona doing business a bit more professionally than Real Madrid.

Totally agree but it is still more disruption.

Yes but good business if we do it right.

[kinboshi]

Even though I think Mascherano is immense, it isn't necessarily the end of the world if he leaves.  Hopefully, Aquilani will be settled and established in the middle and a replacement for Mascherano could be found - even Lucas might be an able replacement (I doubt it too).

[Murph1984]

[ ] shocked a Liverpool fan resorted to glorifying their past when faced with just how rubbish their team now is

Exactly the point I've been making in this thread about why Rafa shouldn't be sacked for not winning the league.

Where do you place the responsibilty for the lack of quality throughout the squad then if not on Rafa's shoulders?

I know Rick Parry ran the club assways for years so i'm guessing him?

Even the most passionate rival fans can see there is not a lack of quality throughout the squad.

Sorry but I cant take this season's small sample over the progress made in 5 seasons. Call me daft!

Well name one position(or more if you possibly can) where you have strength in depth,ie where one injury doesn't significantly deplete the side?

Ok, we're getting there, so it's a lack of squad depth not a lack of quality throughout the squad. The first XI when fit is obviously very good.

How many of your first X1 are good enough to play major roles(say 30 games+) in a title winning side in your opinion?

[kinboshi]

[ ] shocked a Liverpool fan resorted to glorifying their past when faced with just how rubbish their team now is

Exactly the point I've been making in this thread about why Rafa shouldn't be sacked for not winning the league.

Where do you place the responsibilty for the lack of quality throughout the squad then if not on Rafa's shoulders?

I know Rick Parry ran the club assways for years so i'm guessing him?

Even the most passionate rival fans can see there is not a lack of quality throughout the squad.

Sorry but I cant take this season's small sample over the progress made in 5 seasons. Call me daft!

Well name one position(or more if you possibly can) where you have strength in depth,ie where one injury doesn't significantly deplete the side?

Ok, we're getting there, so it's a lack of squad depth not a lack of quality throughout the squad. The first XI when fit is obviously very good.

How many of your first X1 are good enough to play major roles(say 30 games+) in a title winning side in your opinion?

Here's a decent 11.

Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carra, Aurelio, Kuyt, Benny Noon, Aquilani, Mascherano, Gerrard, Torres.

[The Baron]

[ ] shocked a Liverpool fan resorted to glorifying their past when faced with just how rubbish their team now is

Exactly the point I've been making in this thread about why Rafa shouldn't be sacked for not winning the league.

Where do you place the responsibilty for the lack of quality throughout the squad then if not on Rafa's shoulders?

I know Rick Parry ran the club assways for years so i'm guessing him?

Even the most passionate rival fans can see there is not a lack of quality throughout the squad.

Sorry but I cant take this season's small sample over the progress made in 5 seasons. Call me daft!

Well name one position(or more if you possibly can) where you have strength in depth,ie where one injury doesn't significantly deplete the side?

Ok, we're getting there, so it's a lack of squad depth not a lack of quality throughout the squad. The first XI when fit is obviously very good.

How many of your first X1 are good enough to play major roles(say 30 games+) in a title winning side in your opinion?

86 points didnt win us the league last season but I think it'll probably be good enough for the winners this season. So if you take every player who played 30+ games last season then you have your approximate answer.

Seeing as last year Rafa actually rotated less than Ferguson over the course of the season we'd probably have more players who played over 30 games than Utd had. (That is just an estimate)

[The Baron]

Rafa Benitez spoke about his 'love' for Liverpool Football Club during a passionate interview with radio journalists on Friday afternoon. 
*****
Here's what the gaffer had to say...

Rafa on the situation he finds himself in...
 
When I decided to stay here I knew it could be a difficult season because I knew a lot of things could happen. I was a Real Madrid fan. You know Agustin, Garcia Cortes, Garcia Navajas, Sabido, Del Bosque, Angel, Camacho, Stielike, Juanito, Santillana, Cunningham - that's the team that played in the European Cup final against Liverpool in 1981. Why am I telling you this? I was a Real Madrid fan and player at the time but I have decided to stay at Liverpool because I like the city, the life here and the passion of the fans. When I signed a new contract it was because I wanted to stay and fight for this club. Sometimes you have good moments, sometimes bad, but still I want to fight. We will play in the Europa League and that will be our target, we will play against Everton and that will be our target. Every single week we will fight to win.
 
Rafa on offers from elsewhere...
 
When I signed my contract I had offers for more money and more money available for players, but I decided to stay because we have a very good team. I signed, I was really pleased and I have no regrets. I've had a lot of offers but I say 'No, no' because I want to stay here. The last offer was massive money but I decided to stay. We were talking about the number of years and I said five - it was very easy, very simple. I gave my word to the staff, I gave my word to the players. I love this city, I love this club and I love the fans.
 
 
Rafa on fan frustration
You cannot be a fan and be happy if your team is not winning. You have to be disappointed. The only thing you can do is try to understand. I will not make excuses because we know we have to improve - but we know we can improve. That's the positive thing, for me. Everyone close to Liverpool has to be disappointed but as a manager you have to keep going and working hard.
Rafa on fan frustration...
 
You cannot be a fan and be happy if your team is not winning. You have to be disappointed. The only thing you can do is try to understand. I will not make excuses because we know we have to improve - but we know we can improve. That's the positive thing, for me. Everyone close to Liverpool has to be disappointed but as a manager you have to keep going and working hard.
 
Rafa on the length of our disappointing spell...
 
For a club like us not to win for three or four games is not easy. But sometimes these things happen in football. The manager of Real Madrid in 1981 had a very famous saying - football is football. It's not very clever but it says everything. Football is different to the other sports.
 
Rafa on the burden of success...
 
I have had the same problem for the last four or five years because we won the Champions League and FA Cup, and before that with Valencia the Spanish league and UEFA Cup.
 
Rafa on the press Liverpool gets...
 
We have seen for years that Liverpool is a top side, a very successful club - so it's easy for people to say we have to win. When I first arrived it was a case of improving - just improving was good. But then we won the Champions League for the first time in 21 years - that's longer than the wait for the league. So now people talk about the Premier League. That's a situation you have to accept at a top side but maybe Liverpool is different still because last year we couldn't win the Premier League - Arsenal have won it, Chelsea have won it, United have won it. So Liverpool are the only one. The rest of the teams in the Premier League don't have to same expectations. But it's a long race and we will improve as the season goes along. It doesn't matter what a lot of people who are talking say. Maybe they want to take advantage of the situation. But we will improve, we'll win games, and everything will change.
 
 
Rafa on Everton
These games are similar every year. A lot of passion in the stands and also on the pitch. You have to play a physical game ad you have to play well. It'll be a high tempo with direct play and needing to win second balls. Hopefully it'll be good for our fans - especially our fans. It's an important game for everyone in the city but at the end of the day it's three points in a crucial time for everyone.
Rafa on the fight he sees in his players...
 
I have seen the press and I'm really pleased with the reaction of Gerrard, Torres and Pepe Reina. All the players know we have to push hard and improve, starting right now. I was talking to some of them about belief and trust. They know we are together working hard. That's the main thing for me. The players want to prove we are good enough, and not just in the derby. They want to prove we can be in the top four, at least. If we can win one or two games you will see a massive difference.
 
Rafa on getting the backing of Christian Purslow...
 
It's really important, but I already knew because we have conversations every day about everything. To go and say he was supporting me is positive because the last two months a lot of people have been talking too much. People at the top, the players, the kit man - everyone is sticking together.
 
Rafa on contact with the owners...
 
Not this week. I had some contact last week. They have Christian Purslow in charge. Christian was in Hungary and we've been talking this week, yesterday and this morning. We know what's going on and we're moving forward.
 
Rafa on what it takes to win a derby...
 
These games are similar every year. A lot of passion in the stands and also on the pitch. You have to play a physical game and you have to play well. It'll be a high tempo with direct play and needing to win second balls. Hopefully it'll be good for the fans - especially our fans. It's an important game for everyone in the city but at the end of the day it's three points in a crucial time for everyone.
 
Rafa on tempering emotions of his players...
 
Yes, I will try! Sometimes you cannot but I will try to get the right messages across. Sometimes with our staff - Sammy Lee has a lot of spirit and passion but we'll try to manage. We need this passion but we also need to do the right things.
 
Rafa on winning the derby...
 
If we can win against Everton it will be a sunny Monday.
 

[jakally]

just flicking thru the channels on tv before tonights football and cant believe how many football teams have their own channel nowadays.....

Manchester United have MUTV

Chelsea have CTV

Liverpool have The History Channel

Charlton Fans are comedy central obv...

Baron - read the lengthy piece you wrote about Rafa's team building / purchases since he took over.
Good piece well written, and makes a compelling case for why he is a good manager.

However, ignores the fact that management isn't just about collecting the jigsaw pieces - it is much more than that.

Stories I have heard from sources reputedly close to the core, suggest that Rafa isn't respected that much by some key members of his team, and that he is not a good motivator.

Put that against managers who have a better track record (Ferguson, Mourinho etc..) and there is an obvious weakness in his repertoire.

As it happens I think he is a decent manager, but Liverpool are a big club, with a big following, who probably deserve a bit more than that.

Neil, which 'key members' don't respect Rafa?  Please don't say Babel, as he's neither key nor a player.

Gerrard or Carra?  Don't think it's them, and they've gone on the record giving their support to the manager.  Reina, Torres, Kuyt, Benny Noon, Johnson?  Nope, can't see it being one of them either.

So that leaves Mascherano, who was very tempted by Barca's interest, but stayed at Liverpool...maybe because of the manager?

So which other 'key players'?

I have heard that 'privately' Gerrard and Carragher are not that taken with him.
Can't say it's from a solid source, therefore happy to proven wrong - particularly as I am not a fan of people scheming against / undermining the person they answer to.

[jakally]

How is the stars cash game these days?

Can find much better places to make my regular donations now!!!

[The Baron]

Tomkins:

Rafael Benitez's record in Europe was often used as a stick with which to beat his Premiership performance. Now it's being used to say that his job should be on the line. 
Of course, Liverpool have progressed massively as a European club under Benítez, after decades more-or-less in the wilderness. And last season, the club posted a Premiership record that would win the title on many occasions; however, sometimes someone is that little bit better, or luckier.
 
If you happened to play tennis when Pete Sampras was around, or golf when Tiger Woods was at his peak, you could be an eternal runner-up.
This is the bizarre life Benítez leads. Even his achievements (Istanbul 2005, or 86 points last season) are used to form criticism.
 
After 2005, people said that massive league improvement was the key to judging him a success: "It's easy to win a few cup games". Last season, we saw that improvement taken to a 20-year high, in terms of points. Then it was "Ah, but no trophy".
 
Few praised him for enabling his team to lose the lowest ever number of games by a team that failed to win the league; at a time when also managing the league's top scorers; so this was no defensive team.
 

 


As soon as the two game losing mark was reached this season, last season was suddenly ammunition to attack him with; which all contributed towards a negativity around the campaign. Liverpool were decreed failures for losing two games, and the attacks started, even though last season's achievements were unique. None of that helped.
 
He is not praised for buying Torres and helping him improve to stellar standards; he is told, quite laughably, that Torres will leave if things don't improve.
 
He was not praised for buying Alonso, getting some great performances from him (especially, it has to be noted, after the Barry saga), and bringing in £30m; he is told that he never understood or appreciated the midfielder.
 
Now Benítez is being criticised for ‘failure' in Europe. Which, to me, is a bit like suggesting selling prime-years Ian Rush for going a few games without a goal.
 
Please note: only four men have more victories in the European Cup/Champions League than Rafa Benítez.
 
It just so happens that three of the four are at rival Big Four Premiership clubs. That makes his domestic job harder.
 
Carlo Ancelotti is in 4th place, Ottmar Hitzfeld 3rd, Arsene Wenger 2nd and Alex Ferguson 1st.
 
Of course, the top two have played far more games in the competition than Benítez, having been at qualifying clubs for a greater number of years, as befits men that much older than the Spaniard.
 
In terms of percentage of games won (minimum 20 wins), the top manager in European Cup/Champions League history – at the start of this season – was Josef Heynckes, former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid boss, with 66.7%. (Heynckes is currently managing Sami Hyypia at Bayer Leverkusen, and topping the Bundesliga in the process.)
 
But the clear star from the stats is one Bob Paisley, in second place, with 65.9%, just ahead of Luis van Gaal and Matt Busby. It's probably fair to say that the old European Cup was tougher to win in several ways, although you still needed to win only 50% of your games each year to reach the final: win the home leg 2-0, lose the away leg 1-0, and job done.
 
However, there is another familiar name in the top 10: Rafael Benítez Maudes. The Liverpool manager has a 57% win rate. (Incidentally, a figure that exactly matches his Premiership record.)
 
Quite a way back are Ferguson in 17th place (52%) and Wenger in 27th (46%).
 
(This season, the figures have altered to 56% Benítez, 53% Ferguson and 48% Wenger, but I don't have the full rankings to hand, hence using figures up to June 2009. Stats courtesy of Graeme Riley, author of the annual "Football in Europe" Soccerdata books, and member of The Tomkins Times)
 
As a season, this has been a bit of a nightmare. But two cups are still up for grabs, and history shows that a place in the top four is usually secured by either Arsenal or Liverpool, no matter how far off the pace at the halfway stage. Teams not used to being there are more likely to 'choke', and Liverpool's luck can surely only improve.
 
So there's no need to panic, even if the injury crisis needs to abate for a realistic chance of getting back on track.
 
We've also a lot to see from Aquilani, but I'm not sure the pitch last night was suitable, and the need was to win the game, that was all.
 
At a time when people with no understanding or experience of management put the boot into Benítez, Arsene Wenger continues to point out that Liverpool haven't got the results they've deserved at times this season. He knows the score; he's been there before. He's showing some real class.
 
He knows how an injury crisis can affect a team – the loss of Van Persie saw them draw their first blank of the season – and how going to places like Sunderland is not a doddle, even without alien objects scoring goals. He knows the difficulties in taking on the über-rich clubs.
 
But it all comes back to expectation. Rafa raised them for us in Europe; now he is being hounded because of it. And last year, he raised them for us in the league, to the point where people don't even see a crippling injury crisis as an extenuating factor for being off the pace.
 
Perhaps people expect Liverpool to be the equivalent of Tiger Woods, as the Reds were in the halcyon days.
 
But right now, we're more like ‘prime years' Colin Montgomerie: currently in the rough during this tournament, but always there or thereabouts, without quite landing the major prize.
 
However, if Woods had picked up a serious injury, Montgomerie, with no change in his ability, would probably now be hailed as an all-time master.
 
Maybe last season Benítez was just a penalty decision in the Man United vs Spurs match away from seeing the Reds' main rivals from collapse.
 
We'll never know, but all Liverpool could do was get United wobbling on the ropes, as the 4-1 victory at Old Trafford had proved so successfully; a few games later, with United looking dazed and confused, the referee intervened, and the rest is history.
 
Liverpool fans didn't ask for a replay (or after Sunderland), but that goal did the damage France inflicted on Ireland. Alas, that's sport; it happens. But that decision did not make Benítez a worse manager, did it? United changed from iffy to in control from that moment on.
 
When all is said and done, I'd still rather be the equivalent of a ‘Monty' – ups and downs, but generally challenging at most events – than some average golfer that never featured on the big occasions.
 
Every single season, Benítez has had the club contesting a trophy into May - quite incredible, considering what we were used to in the 15 years beforehand. (Okay, in 2008 it was almost midnight on the very last day of April, after extra-time at Stamford Bridge, but please allow me this one tiny tweak of the calendar.)
 
If anyone hasn't yet read the incredibly insightful book “Soccernomics/Why England Lose”, they really should, for their own good. It backs up Christian Purslow's belief that clubs “should not make managerial and strategical decisions around results in the short-term”.
 
Add in an injury crisis that no manager could hope to work around, and it becomes even more apposite.
 

[The Baron]

Does this mean DIC wont be along anytime soon?

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates and one of the world's top oil exporters, will "pick and choose" how to assist its debt-laden neighbour Dubai, a senior Abu Dhabi official said on Saturday.

"We will look at Dubai's commitments and approach them on a case-by-case basis. It does not mean that Abu Dhabi will underwrite all of their debts," the official told Reuters by telephone.

The government official declined to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

"Some of Dubai's entities are commercial, semi-government ones. Abu Dhabi will pick and choose when and where to assist," he said.

(Reporting by Stanley Carvalho via the Dubai newsroom; writing by Thomas Atkins; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)

[Murph1984]

Tomkins:

Rafael Benitez's record in Europe was often used as a stick with which to beat his Premiership performance. Now it's being used to say that his job should be on the line. 
Of course, Liverpool have progressed massively as a European club under Benítez, after decades more-or-less in the wilderness. And last season, the club posted a Premiership record that would win the title on many occasions; however, sometimes someone is that little bit better, or luckier.
 
If you happened to play tennis when Pete Sampras was around, or golf when Tiger Woods was at his peak, you could be an eternal runner-up.
This is the bizarre life Benítez leads. Even his achievements (Istanbul 2005, or 86 points last season) are used to form criticism.
 
After 2005, people said that massive league improvement was the key to judging him a success: "It's easy to win a few cup games". Last season, we saw that improvement taken to a 20-year high, in terms of points. Then it was "Ah, but no trophy".
 
Few praised him for enabling his team to lose the lowest ever number of games by a team that failed to win the league; at a time when also managing the league's top scorers; so this was no defensive team.
 

 


As soon as the two game losing mark was reached this season, last season was suddenly ammunition to attack him with; which all contributed towards a negativity around the campaign. Liverpool were decreed failures for losing two games, and the attacks started, even though last season's achievements were unique. None of that helped.
 
He is not praised for buying Torres and helping him improve to stellar standards; he is told, quite laughably, that Torres will leave if things don't improve.
 
He was not praised for buying Alonso, getting some great performances from him (especially, it has to be noted, after the Barry saga), and bringing in £30m; he is told that he never understood or appreciated the midfielder.
 
Now Benítez is being criticised for ‘failure' in Europe. Which, to me, is a bit like suggesting selling prime-years Ian Rush for going a few games without a goal.
 
Please note: only four men have more victories in the European Cup/Champions League than Rafa Benítez.
 
It just so happens that three of the four are at rival Big Four Premiership clubs. That makes his domestic job harder.
 
Carlo Ancelotti is in 4th place, Ottmar Hitzfeld 3rd, Arsene Wenger 2nd and Alex Ferguson 1st.
 
Of course, the top two have played far more games in the competition than Benítez, having been at qualifying clubs for a greater number of years, as befits men that much older than the Spaniard.
 
In terms of percentage of games won (minimum 20 wins), the top manager in European Cup/Champions League history – at the start of this season – was Josef Heynckes, former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid boss, with 66.7%. (Heynckes is currently managing Sami Hyypia at Bayer Leverkusen, and topping the Bundesliga in the process.)
 
But the clear star from the stats is one Bob Paisley, in second place, with 65.9%, just ahead of Luis van Gaal and Matt Busby. It's probably fair to say that the old European Cup was tougher to win in several ways, although you still needed to win only 50% of your games each year to reach the final: win the home leg 2-0, lose the away leg 1-0, and job done.
 
However, there is another familiar name in the top 10: Rafael Benítez Maudes. The Liverpool manager has a 57% win rate. (Incidentally, a figure that exactly matches his Premiership record.)
 
Quite a way back are Ferguson in 17th place (52%) and Wenger in 27th (46%).
 
(This season, the figures have altered to 56% Benítez, 53% Ferguson and 48% Wenger, but I don't have the full rankings to hand, hence using figures up to June 2009. Stats courtesy of Graeme Riley, author of the annual "Football in Europe" Soccerdata books, and member of The Tomkins Times)
 
As a season, this has been a bit of a nightmare. But two cups are still up for grabs, and history shows that a place in the top four is usually secured by either Arsenal or Liverpool, no matter how far off the pace at the halfway stage. Teams not used to being there are more likely to 'choke', and Liverpool's luck can surely only improve.
 
So there's no need to panic, even if the injury crisis needs to abate for a realistic chance of getting back on track.
 
We've also a lot to see from Aquilani, but I'm not sure the pitch last night was suitable, and the need was to win the game, that was all.
 
At a time when people with no understanding or experience of management put the boot into Benítez, Arsene Wenger continues to point out that Liverpool haven't got the results they've deserved at times this season. He knows the score; he's been there before. He's showing some real class.
 
He knows how an injury crisis can affect a team – the loss of Van Persie saw them draw their first blank of the season – and how going to places like Sunderland is not a doddle, even without alien objects scoring goals. He knows the difficulties in taking on the über-rich clubs.
 
But it all comes back to expectation. Rafa raised them for us in Europe; now he is being hounded because of it. And last year, he raised them for us in the league, to the point where people don't even see a crippling injury crisis as an extenuating factor for being off the pace.
 
Perhaps people expect Liverpool to be the equivalent of Tiger Woods, as the Reds were in the halcyon days.
 
But right now, we're more like ‘prime years' Colin Montgomerie: currently in the rough during this tournament, but always there or thereabouts, without quite landing the major prize.
 
However, if Woods had picked up a serious injury, Montgomerie, with no change in his ability, would probably now be hailed as an all-time master.
 
Maybe last season Benítez was just a penalty decision in the Man United vs Spurs match away from seeing the Reds' main rivals from collapse.
 
We'll never know, but all Liverpool could do was get United wobbling on the ropes, as the 4-1 victory at Old Trafford had proved so successfully; a few games later, with United looking dazed and confused, the referee intervened, and the rest is history.
 
Liverpool fans didn't ask for a replay (or after Sunderland), but that goal did the damage France inflicted on Ireland. Alas, that's sport; it happens. But that decision did not make Benítez a worse manager, did it? United changed from iffy to in control from that moment on.
 
When all is said and done, I'd still rather be the equivalent of a ‘Monty' – ups and downs, but generally challenging at most events – than some average golfer that never featured on the big occasions.
 
Every single season, Benítez has had the club contesting a trophy into May - quite incredible, considering what we were used to in the 15 years beforehand. (Okay, in 2008 it was almost midnight on the very last day of April, after extra-time at Stamford Bridge, but please allow me this one tiny tweak of the calendar.)
 
If anyone hasn't yet read the incredibly insightful book “Soccernomics/Why England Lose”, they really should, for their own good. It backs up Christian Purslow's belief that clubs “should not make managerial and strategical decisions around results in the short-term”.
 
Add in an injury crisis that no manager could hope to work around, and it becomes even more apposite.
 

WALOFS


Who is this Tomkins fella? He sure talks a load of bollox.

I don't have all day but i'll take up the last line in particular because i'd love to hear the names that have been involved in this "injury crisis that no manager could hope to work around"


What players exactly have fallen foul during this injury crisis? LOL