Football Focus

[Mick Mac]

I'd have replaced Houlier with Martin O Neill, Anna. He wanted the job. I did not know who Rafa was and I expect it would have been better if LFC had never known who Rafa was.

He's a nice man I accept, but you have to make people accountable eventually.

[Sandperson]

Mourinho, Ancelotti, Hiddink, O'Neil. There's four names for you Anna. I'm not sure you'd have got Jose but I bet you could have made a good fist of getting the others and they would all be suitable replacements. I don't believe a club with your history couldn't attract a manager to replace Rafa.

[Annasfield]

And we could afford all of them given they all have existing contracts?! Rafa is going nowhere and neither do I want him to. None of that lot would come here given the financial restrictions. Maybe O'Neill would come, but he's a yes man and I would never want him here. I think Rafa has stayed due to his loyalty to the fans. Anyone else would have walked by now.

Mick, i'm still waiting for your tactical football manager genius on what you'd have done differently last night?

[Keef]

It just makes me laugh Anna that you seem to think that people who can afford to go to all the matches, somehow have more right to an opinion than people who can't. Until last season, you watched a lot of matches from your sofa, did your opinions not count back then? Last thing I want to do is have a go at you, but you're always posting shit like that, and it's annoying.

[Keef]

As for Rafa, I'd be over the moon if he won a title for liverpool, but it, not going to happen this year, and no other cup really matters anymore. Personally, I'd give him one more try next season.

[matthew123]

My word..

 

[Annasfield]

My point is Keef, that people who go to the games tend to know more about what is going on rather than taking their facts from sky pundits and the press. You mix with the locals and matchgoers and you tend to get inside info. Everyone I know who goes, wants Rafa to stay yet those who watch it on the telly want him out. What does that tell you? Nothing to do with money or being a better fan. It really pisses me off when I put my heart and soul in to this team and people who don't seem to grasp "the facts" are hounding Rafa out.

And I do take it as you having a go so offence is taken. You chose to spend your money on your family, I spend mine on the match. Everyone has a choice.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> Oh Mick, quit the Rafa bashing -its tiresome!

> Tell me what you would have done differently oh

> mighty one? Because I don't think he could have

> done much more last night. And while you're at it,

> tell who you'd replace Rafa with.

>

> People were ringing 606 from the comfort of their

> armchairs to slate the manager when they can't

> even be bothered to get to off their arses and

> actually support the team? Well I never - that's

> never happened before.

>

> P.S - it was pen from where I was sat, but given

> it was at the other end of the pitch and I was in

> the gods of the Kop its not fair I make a

> judgement. If he did dive then its a shame and I

> don't want that at Liverpool and won't defend it.

>

>

> We deserve some luck though. I can think of at

> least two situations where we had a penalty shout

> this season and got nothing. Its just a shame

> Birmingham were on the receiving end. Mind you if

> you park the team bus in front of goal then you

> only deserve a draw.

Nailed on penalty for me, luck is one thing, but this wasn't lucky.

[Mick Mac]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> Maybe O'Neill would come, but he's a yes man and I

> would never want him here.

Thats news to me Anna - Martin O'Neill a yes man - you are having a laugh.

> Mick, i'm still waiting for your tactical football

> manager genius on what you'd have done differently

> last night?

Look at the EDF Super Liga FF table and see evidence my management genius - I have brought a poor team from bottom to 6th - so I think you have to accept I know what I am talking about when it comes to management. I'm on your tail.

[SeanMacGabhann]

A lot of callers to 606 tend to be of the "Garry on the M1 on the way back from the game" variety as well - so I wouldn't bracket them as armchair supporters

I would bracket most of them as bonkers but that's by the by

[Keef]

Well if you've taken offence then I'm sorry, but I still don't think that terrace chat is "fact". Simple fact is, the owners are liverpool's biggest problem, but they are hard nosed businessmen, who definitely aren't going anywhere because the fans tell them to. So, if we just accept that they own the club for now, and the foreseeable future, will Rafa take the club further, or is he as far as he can go, until a mega rich owner comes along? Personally, I don't base my opinions on what anyone says, I just watch the match, or the highlights, and decide for myself. I don't want Rafa out, and don't think there is anyone to replace him just now. However, I don't think he's the best manager in the world.

[Mick Mac]

Yes its funny how some people assume everyone else gets their opinions from Sky Sports or the tabloids.

People are capable of independent thought.

[Sandperson]

Not me. I only believe believe Andy Gray. :))

[Sandperson]

I've just watched the dive on Youtube and it's a disgrace. Should be hanging his head in shame.

Agog

[Ted Max]

Do you actually have to touch someone for it to be a foul? If the Liv player hadn't jumped, Carsley would certainly have made contact with him, no? The fact he didn't touch him was because the player hurdled the tackle. The tackler definitely didn't get any ball, did he?

Ngog could have left his foot dragging, like experienced penalty winners do, and drawn the penalty that way. Or he could have made a massive effort to stay on his feet, probably losing the ball as a result of Carsely's slide (that never won the ball).

[Sandperson]

So where does it end Ted? Should a player be booked for thinking about sticking his arm out to stop a ball? Should managers be banned for encouraging a player to clatter an opponent when delivering their team talk?

[Ted Max]

Do you actually have to touch someone for it to be a foul?

Does anyone know the answer to this?

[Ted Max]

Sorry, crosspost.

[DaveR]

"You chose to spend your money on your family, I spend mine on the match. Everyone has a choice."

That seems like a sensible perspective. Keef, stop wasting your money on that kid and start a standing order to the Rafa Transfer Fund.

[matthew123]

No you don't have to touch a player - but I think for it to be given as a foul it has to be seen as a foul would have taken place if the opponent had not taken measures to avoid contact. In the case of Ngog it wasn't remotely anywhere near being a foul. The weird thing about Ngog's dive was he was always in control of the ball and if he hadn't decided to go down it looked like a simple pull back for Yossi to equalize on edge of 6 yard box. Liverpool were pushing very hard at this point in the game and the momentum was such that I felt an equalizer was inevitable. But as Anna said we've been denied a lot more cast iron penalties this season than ones awarded for cheating.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Apparently a foul can be given for "intent" but how do you prove "intent"? I still think it was a blatant dive and I'm not convinced that the was hurdling the challenge, if so why didn't he just leave his foot in to eliminate all doubt? Sorry blatant dive for me.

[Sandperson]

Liverpool were certainly having the best of the game at that point. How worried are you about Yossi's injury? I haven't read anywhere how long he will be out for. I see the Beeb are reporting that Torres op is being delayed as well.

[Mick Mac]

Ted Max Wrote:

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> Do you actually have to touch someone for it to be

> a foul?

>

> Does anyone know the answer to this?

Contact is not necessary Ted - "kicks or attempts to kick"/"trips or attempts to trip" is an offence - if there is no contact its seems to rest on intent.

Laws - see page 32

[Ted Max]

Thanks, everyone.

[Annasfield]

DaveR Wrote:

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> "You chose to spend your money on your family, I

> spend mine on the match. Everyone has a choice."

>

> That seems like a sensible perspective. Keef,

> stop wasting your money on that kid and start a

> standing order to the Rafa Transfer Fund.

Interpret that how you like. Keef chose to get married and have children. I chose not to therefore, I can spend my earnings on what I like, i.e. going to the football.