Liverpool’s Darkest Hours

Anfield has an atmosphere that every football team wants. The Kop are a relentless collection of fans, one of the driving forces that give Liverpool’s players their drive and energy. It seems that these days however, even the slow, usually powerful tune of  “you’ll never walk alone” is waning among the terraces. Liverpool had an opportunity to once again reclaim their spot in the top 4 today, only to be undone by Wigan’s Hugo Rodallega. But who is to blame?

Out of Ideas?

He has blamed injuries, fitness, all factors other than himself and the players. Perhaps today was the last straw, and manager Rafa Benitez has finally crossed the line where he is blaming his own players. It is frustrating to me when managers will insist that they were faultless. I think it is cowardly, and I think Rafa is a downright coward for that. So many of his actions, while not mine to praise or criticise, have just been mind-boggling. And it goes back beyond this season. Here are five main issues I have with the Liverpool manager:

1) Ruining Babel’s career

How is Babel worse than Ngog? How is he not worth giving a chance? WHY did he buy him? He bought this promising dutchman, and sat him for years. To me, such a waste of talent is unacceptable. Even right now, today, I would be glad to trade Babel for Nani. I truly believe Babel is a great talent, that has rotten on the bench for no apparent reason. I feel sorry for him, and I blame Rafa for denying the world a super star.

2) Flawed rotation policy

Rafa swears by a rotation policy. Face it Rafa, it sucks. The rotation is commonly used among top teams, to keep star players fresh, and to nurture upcoming talent. What is meant to be a match-to-match tweaking for fitness, has too often turned it to a complete overhaul of formation and players for Rafa. Case in point – Barcelona runs a rotation, switching in Pedro, Busquets, Keita, Henry, Bojan and so forth. But they keep the same basic tactics, and the same passing and running patterns. I remember there was a three game stretch earlier on this season, where Rafa ran a 4-4-1-1, then a 4-3-3, and then a 4-2-3-1. That is not the sign of a calculated and forward-looking rotation. Its blind experimentation. Confusing, and pointless.  And yet he wonders why there is no chemistry and communication among the team?

3) Over reliance on Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard

Both were injured this season at one point or another. The result says it all. Any manager will be devastated with the loss of players of the caliber. But in Liverpool, particularly so, because the class of those two far exceeds that of the others. Rafa being Rafa, complained to no end, as though his situation was unique, and no other teams have faced such a crisis. Of course, among his infamous “facts,” he won’t recall that it was cold, clear “FACT” that Manchester United last year, suffered the injuries of Rio, Vidic, Giggs, Park, Rooney, Ronaldo and Evra not long after boxing day. Look where we ended up Rafa. Shut your trap.

4) Misuse of Liverpool’s transfer budget, and more importantly – complaining about it.

I recall Rafa complaining last year about he doesn’t have as big of a budget than teams like United and Chelsea. Then don’t waste it on Dossena, especially when you have two other left backs. Don’t buy Robbie Keane, if you are going to complain about how he doesnt fit into the system. Don’t buy Voronin, or Lucas, or Pennant. Can you imagine how angry the owners must be at that waste of money? 

5) Tactical deficiencies

Rafa lovers will start to sing about the european final. Yes, 4 goal comeback to win, it was wonderful. I’m still convinced that the victory was more attributable to Steven Gerrard than it was to Rafa. Oh, and fast forward from 2006. Any tropies? Cups? Anything?

I could go on, but instead of writing an even longer blog entry, its easier just to watch Liverpool at their next game, and see the confidence level of their players in their eyes. I still maintained some respect for the man who guided a team to European glory. Any manager does that deserves it. But that last straw was dropped when he decided to turn on his players rather than admit, for once, that he might have made the wrong decisions. Even Sir Alex has admitted his mistakes. Is this man so pompous as to assume that he is so wonderfully perfect, so incapable of misjudgment? Sorry ‘pool fans, the glory days are over. Fat Man has to go.