Liverpool F.c.

[The Vulcan]

That's it.

Middle of October and our season's over!

Make no bones about it - there's no way we're still in it.

I said it 2 season's ago, and again last season - Rafa just does not have the savvy to win the EPL.

His transfer dealings have left us short, the squad lacks depth and we have no cover when key men are out - and that's not just down to a lack of funds:- it's a lack of insight and poor preparation.

And it's a lack of knowledge of the English game!

Totally weird team selection, tactical approach non-existent.

A wretched result of which we were lucky to escape with only a 1-0 loss!

would you call for him to be replaced, vulcan? and if so, with whom? given that any replacement of the manager now would set the club back years, cost about 20m quid and probably lose us a few key players?

Totally agree - we're stuck with him.

we're not 'stuck with him', we're bloody lucky to have him. year on year progression, a record finish last season despite not competing on the same financial plane as our rivals and him undermined at every turn by the club's owners. if he'd been given the money he was promised this summer to re-invest in the squad instead of having it stolen from under him then who knows what position we'd be in now?

Stevie your loyalty is admirable and I commend you for this.

Nevertheless I maintain my views with regards to Rafa.

[StevieH]

Oh, and StevieH, what's a "scall"?

a youngster from liverpool jim, typically one who finds himself in mischief on a regular basis. short for 'scallywag'. school age. once left school and 17-18 years of age they graduate to becoming 'urchins'.

[StevieH]

Stevie your loyalty is admirable and I commend you for this.

Nevertheless I maintain my views with regards to Rafa.

you're entitled to them, but you're wrong. you say 'his transfer dealings have left us short' without addressing the fact that he has had no money to spend - zero pounds net spend over the past two summers when we should be investing in the squad to kick on. 'a total lack of knowledge of the english game' - yet finished second last season with a record points total for a second place finish, despite only having torres and gerrard start 14 matches together all season. outspent by sunderland, everton, tottenham in recent seasons.

you don't address the key issues and you don't suggest an alternative viewpoint on a replacement and way forward.

[TheAceFace]

Riera is still injured JimJim, good your being optimistic, Im really trying to be.

Come on REDMEN.

oh yeah....and hurry up Prince Al whatsyername...buy them 2 fe#kers out.

[bkkjames]

Stevie your loyalty is admirable and I commend you for this.

Nevertheless I maintain my views with regards to Rafa.

you're entitled to them, but you're wrong. you say 'his transfer dealings have left us short' without addressing the fact that he has had no money to spend - zero pounds net spend over the past two summers when we should be investing in the squad to kick on. 'a total lack of knowledge of the english game' - yet finished second last season with a record points total for a second place finish, despite only having torres and gerrard start 14 matches together all season. outspent by sunderland, everton, tottenham in recent seasons.

you don't address the key issues and you don't suggest an alternative viewpoint on a replacement and way forward.

funny when you are winning no mention of budgets though.

part of it has to go down to rafa as well. you did the double over us and beat chelsea and others at the top of the table but drew i forget how many last year - but a lot. If you had lost to us last year but took max points from those draws, would you have one the league? I would suggest yes.

Nobody will argue that he doesn't know how to get his team prepared for a big match (his record proves this), it's the not so big one's where he appears to have problems.

[MSingh]

Oh, and StevieH, what's a "scall"?

a youngster from liverpool jim, typically one who finds himself in mischief on a regular basis. short for 'scallywag'. school age. once left school and 17-18 years of age they graduate to becoming 'urchins'.

We have other words for them down in the Smog in East London....

[Devil]

CL game at Anfield after a poor PL performance, got comeback win all over it for me!

Same goes for the Man U game - If Torres, Gerrard and Masch start.

Rafa out ? - Shut up soft lad

Not the best of starts to the season but a long way to go. Fortunately the other big sides will drop points and have, but yes worried if we don't go on a winning streak and start defending better.

[bkkjames]

just trying to lighten up the mood for this weekend's match..

Manchester United fans are to be searched for beach balls before their clash with Liverpool on Sunday in a bid to stop a Darren Bent goal "tribute" at Anfield.

Liverpool beach balls have sold out on the club's official website with United fans thought to be snapping up copies of the now infamous red ball.

And although Liverpool are not planning any specific measures ahead of kick-off, fans will be searched before the game and any offending items - including beach balls - will be confiscated. "It will be the normal search policy," said a Liverpool spokesperson.

Reds supporters watched in disbelief as they lost 1-0 to Sunderland on Saturday when a shot by Bent hit a beach ball and swerved past goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

The toy had been thrown on to the pitch by a young Liverpool fan - who now has a number of Facebook appreciation sites dedicated to him by rival fans.

When skysports.com visited the Anfield website, a message appeared saying "product not available". It is thought the beach sets have sold out rather than been withdrawn. A spokesman for Liverpool FC was not available for comment.

Meanwhile, messages have appeared from Liverpool fans on internet forums venting hatred at the boy.

Incident

Merseyside Police said they had not yet identified the youngster, and that the matter is being dealt with by Northumbria Police.

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said the boy did not have to be escorted out of the stadium for his own protection. She said investigations into the ball-throwing incident were continuing.

Dave Usher, editor of the Liverpool Way fanzine, said the boy should not be blamed for Liverpool's defeat and slammed the witch-hunt against him.

"I think there's been a hysterical over-reaction to be honest," he told Sky News.

"I mean obviously he shouldn't have thrown it on the pitch ... but it seems it was thrown on and Pepe's put it in the back of the goal.

"And it's been there for a few minutes and the wind's caught it and blown it out so I think the witch-hunt against the boy is just stupid."

[skydiver77]

CL game at Anfield after a poor PL performance, got comeback win all over it for me!

Same goes for the Man U game - If Torres, Gerrard and Masch start.

Rafa out ? - Shut up soft lad

Not the best of starts to the season but a long way to go. Fortunately the other big sides will drop points and have, but yes worried if we don't go on a winning streak and start defending better.

Get that cotton wool out of your lug-holes, laddie.

I've been a supporter all my life and I don't like to see the present shenanigans going on. I also don't regard them as a two man team, but the unpalatable facts are there to see. I believe that for the Premiership, it's not to premature to say that they have reached the 'tipping point.'

Suffering cats. I hope I'm wrong.....

[longstebe]

We need to come out at a fast pace tonight. Put the sh!ts up them.

I would like to see Kuyt and Babbel up front with Stevie in the middle until Torres comes back that is.

Give us a good win to set us up for the biggy on Sunday.

It's way to early to call for the managers head.Also it's way to early to write anyone off for the league.

Come on REDS give me something to shout about at 2 in the morning .

[StevieH]

We need to come out at a fast pace tonight. Put the sh!ts up them.

I would like to see Kuyt and Babbel up front with Stevie in the middle until Torres comes back that is.

Give us a good win to set us up for the biggy on Sunday.

It's way to early to call for the managers head.Also it's way to early to write anyone off for the league.

Come on REDS give me something to shout about at 2 in the morning .

i don't want to see babel anywhere near the starting XI. i'd even start ngog up front tonight with kuyt, gerrard and benayoun behind him with mascherano and lucas in midfield. riera's out injured as well and babel's a joke.

tough one this tonight, they're strong this season lyon.

[spongeman]

We should not have sold Robbie Keane.

We should not have let Sami go.

We should not have let Alonso go, or try to push him out the previous season.

We should not have bought an injured player for 20 million.

What is going on ???????????

[enyaw]

Betfred are offering odds of 1-2 for a red beachball to float onto the pitch during the game at Anfield on Sunday which surely must be a cert. Meanwhile the bookies must be havin a disco after tonights results, at least mine will be anyway.

[tso310]

Liverpool 1 Lyons 2

The vultures are circling.

[spongeman]

Yossi was taken off and Voronin sent on !!!!!!!!!!!

Stevie limped off as well................

Cripes.

[Jimjim]

Well, Liverpool fans, that really sucked. We actually played well but could not hang on at the end. But we really did not take hour chances, Ngog should have had at least one, with 2 great chances. Aurelio's header I'm not sure how it hasn't gone in it came at such pace. Fantastic save. Kuyt had a great chance or two, Yossi had a clear header he put wide, etc. We had great chances.

Very un-Liverpool like performance to let in a late goal. What's going on? Devestated after this loss more than any other. I guess 4 straight will do that to you.

[rixalex]

Totally agree - we're stuck with him.

we're not 'stuck with him', we're bloody lucky to have him.

As Rafa is lucky to have a supporter as loyal to him as you are Stevie. I'm not sure even his mother defends him as tirelessly as you do mate.

All i can say is if United happen to lose against you this weekend, the positive for us will be that it might prolong Rafa's reign.

[bkkjames]

Totally agree - we're stuck with him.

we're not 'stuck with him', we're bloody lucky to have him.

As Rafa is lucky to have a supporter as loyal to him as you are Stevie. I'm not sure even his mother defends him as tirelessly as you do mate.

All i can say is if United happen to lose against you this weekend, the positive for us will be that it might prolong Rafa's reign.

Lil Sam by Christmas?

[Devil]

Thought Kelly was awesome last night. I understand that Johnson pulled out last moment with a groin injury.

Masch was our best player though, he was everywhere harassing, tackling and his passing was spot on.

We couldn't get that second goal to kill the game off. Thought we had played fairly well most of the game but it was late on when we started to look very nervy and then they started to pressure us. Credit to Lyon that was a perfect away game.

[StevieH]

Totally agree - we're stuck with him.

we're not 'stuck with him', we're bloody lucky to have him.

As Rafa is lucky to have a supporter as loyal to him as you are Stevie. I'm not sure even his mother defends him as tirelessly as you do mate.

All i can say is if United happen to lose against you this weekend, the positive for us will be that it might prolong Rafa's reign.

you're way off rix. rafa benitez took us to second place in the league last season with a record points finish while only having gerrard and torres available for 14 starts together. he was told that this summer he would have 20m transfer kitty to spend plus what he raised from sales. as such he held out for 30m for xabi alonso, got 3.5m for arbeloa and 3.5m for leto. that's a total of 57m. we have spent 8m on glen johnson (portsmouth owed us 9m for peter crouch) and 20m is allocated to pay for aquilani. that means that there's around 30m been swept from the manager's hands this summer by the lying owners.

rafa benitez is not the main problem with liverpool football club at the moment, and the sooner liverpool fans get their heads around this the better. no other manager who would replace him at the moment would have as good a record or be as tactically astute a manager. a new manager would have zero money to spend, less than zero in fact since firing rafa and his team would cost the club even more money, and a new manager would also have to contend with the likes of reina, torres and mascherano, who benitez attracted to the club, wanting to leave. some liverpool fans should be careful what they wish for at the moment as they just might get it.

[bkkjames]

Thought Kelly was awesome last night. I understand that Johnson pulled out last moment with a groin injury.

Masch was our best player though, he was everywhere harassing, tackling and his passing was spot on.

We couldn't get that second goal to kill the game off. Thought we had played fairly well most of the game but it was late on when we started to look very nervy and then they started to pressure us. Credit to Lyon that was a perfect away game.

this what I don't get with your manager, didnt watch the game last night but from what I have read this Kelly kid played very well. And apparently your reserve team has a few promising forwards but do they ever get called up for the League or FA Cups?

instead, Rafa throws in Gerrard and Torres in every possible match and its no wonder they are always pulling up lame.

[rixalex]

As Rafa is lucky to have a supporter as loyal to him as you are Stevie. I'm not sure even his mother defends him as tirelessly as you do mate.

All i can say is if United happen to lose against you this weekend, the positive for us will be that it might prolong Rafa's reign.

you're way off rix. rafa benitez took us to second place in the league last season with a record points finish while only having gerrard and torres available for 14 starts together. he was told that this summer he would have 20m transfer kitty to spend plus what he raised from sales. as such he held out for 30m for xabi alonso, got 3.5m for arbeloa and 3.5m for leto. that's a total of 57m. we have spent 8m on glen johnson (portsmouth owed us 9m for peter crouch) and 20m is allocated to pay for aquilani. that means that there's around 30m been swept from the manager's hands this summer by the lying owners.

rafa benitez is not the main problem with liverpool football club at the moment, and the sooner liverpool fans get their heads around this the better. no other manager who would replace him at the moment would have as good a record or be as tactically astute a manager. a new manager would have zero money to spend, less than zero in fact since firing rafa and his team would cost the club even more money, and a new manager would also have to contend with the likes of reina, torres and mascherano, who benitez attracted to the club, wanting to leave. some liverpool fans should be careful what they wish for at the moment as they just might get it.

At the end of the day mate, other supporters' opinion of Rafa counts for nothing.

If Liverpool supporters are happy, that's all the matters - i'm just not sure that, you excepted, they are.

[StevieH]

At the end of the day mate, other supporters' opinion of Rafa counts for nothing.

If Liverpool supporters are happy, that's all the matters - i'm just not sure that, you excepted, they are.

there are plenty who are. unfortunately there are also plenty of other kneejerk idiots who can't see the wood for the trees. of course no liverpool fans who are happy with the current state of affairs, but the manager is among the smaller problems right now. there's a far bigger and more problematic picture.

that said, if we lose to united on sunday i think he'll be sacked.

[mrtoad]

At the end of the day mate, other supporters' opinion of Rafa counts for nothing.

If Liverpool supporters are happy, that's all the matters - i'm just not sure that, you excepted, they are.

there are plenty who are. unfortunately there are also plenty of other kneejerk idiots who can't see the wood for the trees. of course no liverpool fans who are happy with the current state of affairs, but the manager is among the smaller problems right now. there's a far bigger and more problematic picture.

that said, if we lose to united on sunday i think he'll be sacked.

Like you say, there are some big problems at the club, and Rafa isn't the major one. I do think though he is on borrowed time now, and a defeat on Sunday could be enough to see him get the push -whether that will be of benefit to Liverpool will be doubtful, but I am sure that the other clubs will be happy to see him go.

Anyway, looking forward to a good game on Sunday.

[TheAceFace]

Sunday is MUST win, surely it can not be 5 loses..........can it

[russianrobert]

At the end of the day mate, other supporters' opinion of Rafa counts for nothing.

If Liverpool supporters are happy, that's all the matters - i'm just not sure that, you excepted, they are.

there are plenty who are. unfortunately there are also plenty of other kneejerk idiots who can't see the wood for the trees. of course no liverpool fans who are happy with the current state of affairs, but the manager is among the smaller problems right now. there's a far bigger and more problematic picture.

that said, if we lose to united on sunday i think he'll be sacked.

Like you say, there are some big problems at the club, and Rafa isn't the major one. I do think though he is on borrowed time now, and a defeat on Sunday could be enough to see him get the push -whether that will be of benefit to Liverpool will be doubtful, but I am sure that the other clubs will be happy to see him go.

Anyway, looking forward to a good game on Sunday.

Sacking Benitez is the easy part. The hard part is, who do you replace him with?

Never been a better time to play Liverpool at home. Going to be a great game on Sunday.

[bkkjames]

At the end of the day mate, other supporters' opinion of Rafa counts for nothing.

If Liverpool supporters are happy, that's all the matters - i'm just not sure that, you excepted, they are.

there are plenty who are. unfortunately there are also plenty of other kneejerk idiots who can't see the wood for the trees. of course no liverpool fans who are happy with the current state of affairs, but the manager is among the smaller problems right now. there's a far bigger and more problematic picture.

that said, if we lose to united on sunday i think he'll be sacked.

Like you say, there are some big problems at the club, and Rafa isn't the major one. I do think though he is on borrowed time now, and a defeat on Sunday could be enough to see him get the push -whether that will be of benefit to Liverpool will be doubtful, but I am sure that the other clubs will be happy to see him go.

Anyway, looking forward to a good game on Sunday.

Sacking Benitez is the easy part. The hard part is, who do you replace him with?

Never been a better time to play Liverpool at home. Going to be a great game on Sunday.

I am hoping Rafa rolls out a 2-6-2 formation with Voranin and Babel upfront. jk

[mrtoad]

Hopefully Lucas will be playing as well. Great player.

[delboy]

Not sure I agree that it is the best time to face Liverpool at Anfield. United may go there a little bit over confident, Liverpool players have something to prove to their own fans.

I still think that Man U will probably get the 3 points, but don't think it's going to be as easy as some people are starting to assume.

This is football, and things often don't go according to plan, that's why we like it.

[rixalex]

I still think that Man U will probably get the 3 points, but don't think it's going to be as easy as some people are starting to assume.

Agreed.

Playing at Anfield is never easy.