A Long Defence Of Liverpool's Big Three
Please. Stop. Right now. Benitez has gone as far as he can in the league? Gerrard wouldn't get into any other side - IN EUROPE? Kewell is a has-been? I have read some drivel in my time, but let's have some perspective here. Yes, Rafa screwed it up against Reading. And I was as bemused and even angry as the next man. I also found it difficult to understand what he was doing playing one up front against Wigan.
But the truth is that what he did against Wigan and Man. City worked. We essentially battered City in the second half, and Rafa, having based his initial tactics on City's home record, was astute enough to change it radically at half time. I still can't figure out how we didn't win. Aside from Dunne's magnificent display that is. We also had enough chances against Wigan to have run close to double figures. The common denominator for me is the players' finishing. Woeful understates it in these two games. If the finishing had been up to par, we would have had cricket scores. Anyone who saw the games will have to admit that. And that would have been 4 more points, and only 6 off Man. Utd with a game in hand. Not so bad then eh? So how is this Rafa's fault? He can't FORCE the players to score, can he?
Three things then - Gerrard, Kewell and Rafa. Gerrard - he has been phenomenal the last couple of months. Again, watching the games, you can see that he is working ferociously, constantly trying to inspire his teammates to play to his level. Look at his goal against Derby, you'd struggle to find another player who could do that, in the last minutes. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't (against Man. Utd he was hamstrung by his teammates, forcing him to stay deep). To say he should leave is patently ridiculous. What should be happening is the rest of the team aspiring to play at his level every week.
Kewell - yeah he's lost a bit of pace. But how can you watch him play and not see the intelligence, the awareness, the ability to create? He has had a tough few years with injury, and to me he looks like he's on the way back. You seriously can't say Babel is better, and they are different types of player. Babel won't create like Kewell does. A fit, on-form Kewell has to be in the side ahead of Babel, at this stage.
Rafa - he is clearly an intelligent man, and a decent coach. You could see last night how frustrated he was by his players' shortcomings. And if you are still moaning that he comes out to the cameras and says things are great, then you haven't watched the bloke much, or indeed listened. He just tries to keep things positive, rather than focusing on negatives. If you want him to come out and air his dirty washing in public then you'll have a long wait. But more important is this 'Rafa out' nonsense: how long did it take Fergie to win the league?
And any number of Man. Utd managers before him? Rafa is almost there, even the most myopic of fans can see that, we have the makings of a very good team, and frankly we have played a lot of teams off the park this season.
His problem is trying to get the players to play like that every game, not just 2 out of 3. The only thing I think Rafa has completely wrong is his treatment of Crouch, which increasingly appears to be something personal.
But consider this: Rafa goes, and Torres, Alonso, Arbeloa and Mascherano follow. Where does that leave LFC? Right back in Souness' days I'd say. Gerrard goes, and where does the drive come from? I think Torres is an outstanding talent.
But I don't think he is the type of player to drive a side on when it gets tough. Gerrard is. Yes, we should be able to beat sides like Wigan without him. But I'd rather watch him play every week, wouldn't you? FOR Liverpool, not against us.
I want the Premiership, if only to shut up all the Manure and Arse fans I seem to be surrounded by. I think Rafa will bring it to us. Maybe as soon as next season. I really do think we are that close.
Having said all that, I must admit to wondering what team Rafa is going to put out against Luton on Sunday. Ahem.
Steve, LFC, Colchester
