To Pope and Doubters 4393

If you understood my frustration Kev you'd know the shortcomings of Rafael Benitez were never a contributory factor.

No more nor less convinced than I was Houllier could do the job. The problem begins when people get very fuzzy about precisely what job it is he has to do. Is it to win trophies immediately, or nearly immediately, or build for success in the long-term? If immediately, then patently he has failed so far. If long-term, then how long should we give him -- 5 years? The same length of time Houllier got and no more, because *WE* say so? Why 5? Why not 3? Or 7? Fuxake, why don't we just profess our new-found Mancness straight away and give him exactly the same length of time it took our beloved Manc Ferguson to win league and European honours? Let's give him 7 years for the league, and 13 for Europe. Or is that too long ago, and not "appropriate" to today's game? Why not give him 3 years, and God help him in his 3rd year at the club if he still has the audacity to send out defensive sides with instructions to keep it tight. Let's excuse his early failures on the basis that he has no money and that he inherited pure crap from the French f*** and the ghost of Houllier still haunts the club (whenever we lose). But after 3 years, or 36 months and 3 days to be precise, let's all turn on him like rabid dogs and scream for his blood. Release Barabbas!! Release Barabbas!!! We are Liverpool fans, and we have a right to be entertained at all times by our club, and God help anyone who signs pooe players and fails to motivate them, and fails to deliver the top honours within 3 years. It's OK if he does it while he's rebuilding, especially if the ghost of Houllier can still be seen wandering the corridors *at night* but if we decide he's had enough time after 3 years we should gang up on him and have the board sack him and sell the pooe he brought in, just like the French f*** before him. WE KNOW BEST!!

Don't make me f***ing sick.

Yes, but don't you find it ironic how the French players weren't accorded the same common courtesy under Houllier? And if all of a sudden they have improved under Benitez that is purely down to his unrivalled management skills. Not to the fact that they are actually seeing more action now than they ever did under the French f***. Oh no!

That's because I had the foresight to see Houllier had what it takes to win the highest honours, *given time and unwavering support from club AND players (are you listening Gerrard, Riise, Owen?) AND fans.* Not many people here have that foresight to be honest. They live in the present and it's all they're able to see. In a divorce society the best thing is to split the very minute things go wrong. We can't work it out. Sorry, but I don't see things like that. If things go wrong you work at them till you get it right. No matter how long it takes. Especially if the signs are there that this person has the ability to put it right. The reward is not only eventual success but the satisfaction in knowing that your long-term policy for success was justified, and you held your nerve while those around you succumbed to the first squalls of the storm. Let them overboard I say. The world will be a better place for their loss.

Yes things got pretty bad between November 2002 and May 2004. 18 months of trauma for the fans. How awful.

I just happen to think that all entities will at some point face adversity of varying degrees during their lives. Plants and animals face disease. Companies face debilitating losses. Football clubs go through extended periods of relative stagnation.

Tough poo. that's how plants and animals fight off disease. That's how companies get back to profitabilty. They put up their immune systems and f***ing FIGHT! They don't buckle at the first sign of trouble forfuxake.

18 MONTHS WAS NOT A LONG PERIOD OF STAGNATION GET THAT INTO YOUR HEAD. WE COULD EASILY HAVE GIVEN HIM ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO. AFTER ALL THAT'S WHAT WE FACE WITH BENITEZ ANYWAY.

As Liverpool fans we've always been known for a generosity of spirit towards the opposition. let's not succumb to this widespread embitterment which says we can't congratulate Everton on their season to date. You know something, it might even be an enriching experience for us too! God knows something liberating like this might even take the frown off Gerrard's forehead.

When precisely should Judgment be ruled Kevin? THAT is the question? What makes us the arbiters of their fate? Who are we to decide WHEN things have taken an irretrievable turn for the worse?

Benitez might win the Champions League this year, and if he does I'll be there shouting as much as anybody, but just don't let anyone say he did it with a style Houllier could only dream of. That's the way we won trophies in the past, and that's the way Houllier was taking us to win the same trophies again. Tighten your belts ladies it's NOT ALWAYS A COMFORTABLE RIDE.

Sure.

The same optimists who gave Houllier so much leeway less than 12 months ago. No thanks. If these people and their kind were wiped out in the morning I'd carry on eating my breakfast and not bat an eyelid. They're the middlemen. Neither hot nor cold. Just treacherous, serpentine, evil and contagionous voices in the background deciding everyone else's fate as THEY SEE BEST.

-- "Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped out when the Lady Brach may stand by the fire and stink" -- The Fool