Overheard after yesterday's match 3971At 10:10:25 on 03-10-2005, clings delighted uk.sport.football.clubs.liverpool by announcing: I thought we played some decent football. It's certainly a lot less defensive...
So much I agree with here and not jumping onto an anti Benitez bandwagon because I aired my doubts about him last year after watching him sit and do nothing in that first half of the final while his side was being torn to shreds. I cannot think of any other top manager who would have shown the same inertia. If he had not had some amazing luck he would now be seen in a different light rather than being seen by Pool fans as some sort of tactical genius who inspired his side at half time. The truth was revealed in a JC interview last week. The Agincourt battle cry was " try to score first" and the team left the dressing room with the hope of avoiding a bigger thrashing, He deserves little credit from the result.
It is too easy to make excuses for his transfer failings. He has had a year to plan for main buys and alternatives but, even with a big Euro Cup in the bag and money in the bank remains so far short of filling so many positions. He says he can't get the players he wants. Maybe he wants the wrong players?
He is negative now, as he was too often last year. He complains about a shortage of wide players but buys a centre forward who needs them more than any other in football. So many other Prem managers have managed to construct teams which, also with limited talents, have moulded themselves into effective sides through training and method. Benetiz seems to place more hope in inspiration. They plan and play to suit what they have. He plays to a system he would like to have but hasn't got.
I could go on, but what the hell. Maybe it will all come good later, but his lack of common sense is still a worry. Does it make any sense to goad the best side in the country with a charge that they are scared of facing Liverpool just a few days before the match? The 1-4 now makes him look a pratt.. With his origins he might have heard the expression "red rag to a bull" ?
But lets not panic too soon. Everything is under control chaps. He knows exactly what the side needs. In the middle of December, despite any fixture back log, despite possible cup replays, injuries, etc, and at the most vital time of the season, he will take the side off for 2 plane trips to the other side of the world and back to play in a nothing event in Japan.
The team is in good hands.
LC
