EastStandBlue
Life President
- Joined
- May 29, 2005
- Messages
- 15,519
Every season after a run of mediocre performances or defeats, some over excited journalist will question one of the big four's title crudentials and, quite rightly, they'll be chastised for doing so. This season, however, Liverpool's season really could be over by this time next weekend.
A dramatic and hard-fought win over the champions and deadly rivals last weekend glossed over what has been a disastrous period for Rafa Benitez's Liverpool, who now find themselves seven points behind second place and ten points off the lead... a huge deficit to chase considering we're only just entering November.
Arsenal's youngsters could have won by a much larger margin than they did in the Carling Cup, and they face a dogged Birmingham side next Monday, who have a funny knack of digging in their heels against the big guns in this league. Failure to pick up a result could see them out of the title race earlier than ever before. They also face a crunch Champions League fixture away to Lyon during the week, a match they simply must win to stand a chance of qualifying for the knock out stages and the increased revenue streams it brings. Benitez wasn't given much of a budget to work with this season, he'll be given next to nothing if they don't bring home the Uefa bacon.
Taking yesterdays result aside, the most startling factor was just how poor they played. Benitez is famed to be amongst the most tactically astute managers in the game, but in taking off his two most potent players, Torres and Benayoun, while they were still level against a well drilled Fulham outfit, he exposed himself and his team in one fell swoop. Almost as famous as his tactical nous is Ranting Rafa's hot streak. The story of him, in the wake of a miraculous recovery in Instanbul, souring the party mood with a lecture on their defensive shortfallings is now famous and the Old Trafford faithful take great delight in reminding him of "the facts". Good managers may have the knowledge, but great managers are leaders of men and Benitez has shown he simply cannot work with fringe players who think they're worthy of regular football. It's a telling image of Ryan Babel and Andriy Voronin, two players previously lambasted by Benitez, now being responsibly for leading the Liverpool cause.
The lack of strength in depth is astonishing. Torres aside, there is simply nobody within the ranks capable of producing something out of nothing and without Gerrard, the role of creative spark rests solely on the shoulders of Yossi Benayoun. Yes, Alberto Aquilani still has to return, but losing two of your starting eleven should not be underhanding the squad as much as it has Liverpool and, with Gerrard rumoured to be out until December, the season could be all over by the time he returns to lead his side.
Benitez cut a dejected figure as he stomped off the Craven Cottage turf yesterday afternoon after a fittingly frightful display for this time of year. It's not beyond the realms of the possibility that, by the time Gerrard returns, Sammy Lee could be the one trudging off the turf.
A dramatic and hard-fought win over the champions and deadly rivals last weekend glossed over what has been a disastrous period for Rafa Benitez's Liverpool, who now find themselves seven points behind second place and ten points off the lead... a huge deficit to chase considering we're only just entering November.
Arsenal's youngsters could have won by a much larger margin than they did in the Carling Cup, and they face a dogged Birmingham side next Monday, who have a funny knack of digging in their heels against the big guns in this league. Failure to pick up a result could see them out of the title race earlier than ever before. They also face a crunch Champions League fixture away to Lyon during the week, a match they simply must win to stand a chance of qualifying for the knock out stages and the increased revenue streams it brings. Benitez wasn't given much of a budget to work with this season, he'll be given next to nothing if they don't bring home the Uefa bacon.
Taking yesterdays result aside, the most startling factor was just how poor they played. Benitez is famed to be amongst the most tactically astute managers in the game, but in taking off his two most potent players, Torres and Benayoun, while they were still level against a well drilled Fulham outfit, he exposed himself and his team in one fell swoop. Almost as famous as his tactical nous is Ranting Rafa's hot streak. The story of him, in the wake of a miraculous recovery in Instanbul, souring the party mood with a lecture on their defensive shortfallings is now famous and the Old Trafford faithful take great delight in reminding him of "the facts". Good managers may have the knowledge, but great managers are leaders of men and Benitez has shown he simply cannot work with fringe players who think they're worthy of regular football. It's a telling image of Ryan Babel and Andriy Voronin, two players previously lambasted by Benitez, now being responsibly for leading the Liverpool cause.
The lack of strength in depth is astonishing. Torres aside, there is simply nobody within the ranks capable of producing something out of nothing and without Gerrard, the role of creative spark rests solely on the shoulders of Yossi Benayoun. Yes, Alberto Aquilani still has to return, but losing two of your starting eleven should not be underhanding the squad as much as it has Liverpool and, with Gerrard rumoured to be out until December, the season could be all over by the time he returns to lead his side.
Benitez cut a dejected figure as he stomped off the Craven Cottage turf yesterday afternoon after a fittingly frightful display for this time of year. It's not beyond the realms of the possibility that, by the time Gerrard returns, Sammy Lee could be the one trudging off the turf.
