Football Focus

[Sandperson]

I like this story.

Fergie never gets punished...oh hang on..

[Jah Lush]

Brilliant!

[matthew123]

That will hurt United as now every aspect of their manipulation during matches will be spotlighted.

Well done Rafa - as United will now find it extremely difficult to beat Chelsea on Sunday as the Refereeing officials will most certainly clamp down on their gamesmanship.

[Jah Lush]

But when will it next be that a referee gives a penalty to the opposition at Old Trafford?

[mockney piers]

Frankly it looks a bit like the pressure is making Rafa go a little bit Keegan. Watch this space for total meltdown by May!!

[Sandperson]

I love the idea of him pulling out a list of things he wanted to say, bless him.

[Keef]

Lets hope so, we need a good sound byte. I'd love it if we beat them!

[matthew123]

Daily Mail has full transcript which is even more explosive! It sounds very much like Rafa has been keeping his powder dry with his dossier on United and has suggested that Steve Bennett is in line to referee United's game in hand when they play Wigan... the same referee who Rafa has alluded to being instrumental in United winning title last season.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1110744/Rafas-rant-Liverpool-boss-launches-stinging-attack-Fergie--read-transcript.html

[Keef]

I do like the bit about letting Fergie write the fixture list ;-)

[matthew123]

This is the actual TV footage from the press conference... in case anyone thought Rafa was shouting and jabbing his finger at the camera B)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/4208636/Rafa-Benitez-vents-fury-at-Alex-Ferguson-Football.html

[david_carnell]

Fair play to Rafa.

Seems to have an interesting line in bits of paper in his pocket!

[Sandperson]

Hee, hee, so this is how it begins...is he falling into the trap?

Personally, I don't believe half the cobblers that's spouted about 'mindgames'.

Doesn't he contradict himslef though? He quotes instances of Fergie being punished then says he's the only manager who can talk to refs without getting punished?

[matthew123]

Having watched the press conference it looks to me like Benitez was in full control, and it was a carefully calculated attack on United. Rafa doesn't often go on the attack like that - but when he does he goes at it full power. I don't think that will be the end of the matter so expect more fireworks from the Spaniard now that he has taken off the gloves.

Fergie should have a quick chat with his mates Jose and Big Sam to know you don't cross Rafa otherwise he will break you in half on and off the pitch.

[Sandperson]

He was very in control. Steely of will and unbreakable of heart! Very admirable.

[Annasfield]

I love him. Have only read the transcript, but can't wait to watch it.

He cracks me up and considering English is his second language he's very clever with what he says. Has a fair argument against Fergie.

His comment earlier this season about the Brummie accent was hilarious. Would love to meet him.

[Mick Mac]

I have just watched this and think (unfortunately) rafa is feeling the heat - if you start complainig about others having preferential treatment you are bound to look weak. I know it was well rehearsed and well delivered but that does not matter I think he looks weak by going public with this - ferguson must be laughing his jock socks off.

I'm not a man united fan but feel they are best placed to win the league - I'd like to see liverpool do it but having watched a couple of home draws (they seem to be on Setanta a lot) I feel Rafa is too cautious to win the premiership - I don't mind MU winning it as i feel they play the most attacking football of the big 4 - although Villa now have claims to to be most attacking.

I think Liverpool depend upon shots from outside the box for too many of their goals and when a defence sits back they have trouble scoring at home. Away from home they get more space and have no problems but Rafa is too cautious at home and its at home where the league is won and lost - i feel Liverpool could have had a healthy cushion with another 6 points and lost a huge opportunity with 3 draws before christmas (fulham, west ham and hull). I feel if MU win tomorrow they will then be in the driving street.

[SeanMacGabhann]

5 minutes to go and as things stand quids predictions are frightening ly spot on. Maybe the bookies are on to a hiding today

[pablogrande]

does anyone know is the FHT show setanta games?

[Mick Mac]

Good luck Sean - i presume you have an accumulator of some sort - I gave up on these a few yers back - some dumb team would always let me down, I hope you make the bookies cry today though.

[Mick Mac]

Cautious Rafa leaves his two recognised strikers on the bench - If I were robbie keane I 'd get out of there, he's too good to be a support player.

[Sandperson]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I have just watched this and think (unfortunately)

> rafa is feeling the heat - if you start complainig

> about others having preferential treatment you are

> bound to look weak. I know it was well rehearsed

> and well delivered but that does not matter I

> think he looks weak by going public with this -

> ferguson must be laughing his jock socks off.

>

> I'm not a man united fan but feel they are best

> placed to win the league - I'd like to see

> liverpool do it but having watched a couple of

> home draws (they seem to be on Setanta a lot) I

> feel Rafa is too cautious to win the premiership -

> I don't mind MU winning it as i feel they play the

> most attacking football of the big 4 - although

> Villa now have claims to to be most attacking.

> I think Liverpool depend upon shots from outside

> the box for too many of their goals and when a

> defence sits back they have trouble scoring at

> home. Away from home they get more space and have

> no problems but Rafa is too cautious at home and

> its at home where the league is won and lost - i

> feel Liverpool could have had a healthy cushion

> with another 6 points and lost a huge opportunity

> with 3 draws before christmas (fulham, west ham

> and hull). I feel if MU win tomorrow they will

> then be in the driving street.

Steady on Mac, you won't make any friends on here being pro Man Utd in anyway! ;-)

It seems to be a fair reading of the Benitez outburst though. People I have spoken to (not Man U fans) have said similar things. I think his biggest mistake was using the M word. The only person who never uses the M word is Fergie.

[Mick Mac]

I have to confess to having a bet on MU - my preference for them is mainly financial - but I prefer attacking football - Ferguson and Martin O Neill for me play the most attacking football.

I grew up a Liverpool fan and loved their football as far back as Keegan and Toshack - but think Liverpool made a mistake going down the european manager route. They could have had Martin O Neill when they went for Rafa and I think if they had they would have won the title by now, MON's teams do not mess about -they go for the jugular - lots of width and speed.

[????]

Bleedin' hell I wish I'd had a bet on my predictions! 4 exact scores out of 5

[Mick Mac]

Watching Livepool on setanta and its Stoke who look most likely to score - Rafa's about to make a change which may help - but he does like to leave it late - I'm sure if he had a proper striker (Kuyt doen't count) on from the start they may have put this to bed by now.....

[Sandperson]

See, the mindgames worked! ;-)

Before I go on I still think United will lose tomorrow.

What was Benitez on though? No Keane? No Torres until it was too late? Some very odd choices.