26 Dec 2009

What was the point? How RAFA BENITEZ continues to alienate STEVEN GERRARD

After five and a half years at Anfield, Rafa Benitez still has no idea how to man-manage Steven Gerrard effectively, something that was proven once again with his recent public comments about Liverpool's captain. Can someone please explain to me the benefits of Benitez's supremely irritating recent PUBLIC comments about Gerrard, because I just don't see the positives. “Steven knows that he has to improve, but that for me is very positive. He realises he is a very important player for us and we were analysing his stats and he was doing much better. "The last game he wasn’t at the same level but that can happen in one game. He knows he is improving physically and the main thing now is confidence. We have a lot of corridors here and we bump into one another. “We don’t need to organise a proper meeting. I feel that he wants to give more. I am sure 100% that he wants to give more. He is the captain and he is very important for the team and the club. He is someone who is pus

22 Dec 2009

LFC's season is in the gutter...and GLEN JOHNSON is living it up in a London nightclub at 4am

Glen Johnson has made many costly defensive mistakes since he arrived at Liverpool, the most recent of which led directly to Liverpool losing against Arsenal and Portsmouth. With this in mind, how is swanning around a London nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning a professional way to prepare for the next game? Defeat against Portsmouth obviously didn't affect Johnson in the slightest, as it seems after the game he headed to London for a night out on the town. If this is how he prepares for games then no wonder his defensive performances have been severely lacking. I sincerely doubt that he had permission from Rafa Benitez for his nightclub excursion, which, incidentally, has led to a situation where he is wanted for questioning by the Police over an alleged assault . Johnson has the right to do whatever he wants, but as a Liverpool player, he is paid obscene amounts of money to be professional and prepare himself properly for games, especially right now, when the club need

21 Dec 2009

Why the Christmas period could provide a glimmer of hope for LIVERPOOL FC

Confidence and belief is in the gutter as Liverpool enter the Christmas period, but if previous years are anything to go by, the next few weeks could actually turn out to be rather fruitful for the club. If there is one positive thing that has been a constant for Liverpool under Rafa Benitez, it is performing well in the league over the Christmas period: 2004-5 P4 W3 L1 2005-6 P4 W3 D1 2006-7 P4 W3 L1 2007-08 P4 W2 D2 2008/9 P3 W2 D1 5 YEAR TOTALS P - 19 W - 13 D - 4 L – 2 Goals for - 40 Goals against - 13 As you can see, Liverpool has never had a bad Christmas period under Benitez. I may not be a fan of the manager but that does not mean I don't want the CLUB to do well. I support the club over the individual, and for the sake of Liverpool FC, wins are desperately needed over the next two weeks. So let's history repeats itself and this positive trend continues. Jaimie Kanwar

Baby steps to success? Why LIVERPOOL fans should put up with the current heartbreak...

On Boxing Day, Liverpool reach the halfway point in the season with a ‘make or break’ game against Wolves. The club’s fans have endured a torrid season so far with nothing but small victories to cheer, and great wins against Man United and Everton overshadowed by points subsequently being dropped . It’s fair to say that we’ve all felt the pain, and many are at the end of their tether…but all is not lost, argues CHRIS SEVERS . I’ve thought long and hard on the problems at Liverpool this season and I refuse to buy into the simple answers of Xabi Alonso and Rafa Benitez. Having no luck is also no real excuse, you make your own luck in this game and Liverpool simply haven’t been doing it. The problems stem from the top and they’ve dripped down into every nook and cranny, multiplying and spreading like a disease. It needs to stop, and Boxing Day can be the day to stop the rot and turn it around, but only if we really want it to. Xabi Alonso? Firstly, Xabi Alonso’s absence is not the reason

20 Dec 2009

LFC need a MOTIVATOR, and MARTIN'O NEILL is the right man to replace RAFA BENITEZ

On the 30th May 2004 (before Benitez was appointed), I wrote a post on ThisIsAnfield.com arguing that Martin O Neill should get the Manager's job ahead of Benitez and Jose Mourinho . Five and a half years later and my view has not change, and after yesterday's passionless display at Portsmouth, the need for a manager who is able to inspire and motivate is more pressing than ever. Before the 'Rafa Can Do No Wrong' brigade joins forces with the 'Rafa Benitez Anti-Defamation League' and collectively start foaming at the mouth, I'll just reiterate my position on Benitez's job: 1 . I am, and always have been, against sacking Benitez (aor any Liverpool manager) mid-season. 2 . When the time comes, I do not believe Benitez should be sacked anyway. Given his affinity with the fans and the success he has achieved in Europe, he deserves better than that. 3 . Benitez should be given till the end of the season, irrespective of how things go over the next few months

19 Dec 2009

LFC game-by-game comparison - This season vs. last season (UPDATED to include Portsmouth)

A side-by side comparison of all results from this season and last season, up to and including the Portsmouth defeat on Saturday 19th December 2009. NCF = No corresponding fixture NPC = Newly promoted comparison For games against newly promoted teams, there will be no corresponding fixture from last season. As such, games against newly promoted teams from last year are used for the purposes of comparison. This Season Last Season Points +/1 1 Tottenham v LFC L 2-1 L 2 -1 0 2 LFC v Stoke City W 4-0 D 0-0 + 2 3 LFC v Aston Villa L 1-3 W 5-0 -3 4 Bolton v LFC W 2-3 W 2 – 0 0 5 LFC v Burnley W 4-0 NCF +3 LFC v Stoke NPC D 0-0 6 West Ham v LFC