On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Ted Max]

I think I might support Manchester City this year. They have some nice players now and and should be on the telly quite a bit as well. If they win the next couple of games I think that I'll definitely try supporting them.

[Jah Lush]

Ha ha! What a berk.

[Mick Mac]

He probably has Man United on the other arm as insurance.

[matthew123]

I just hope Rafa Benitez starts picking the best possible Liverpool team. He has to revert to Gerrard alongside Mascherano in central midfield - and allow Yossi to link up behind Torres. This nonsense about two holding midfielders has to end - it is too reliant on Torres and Gerrard who yesterday were both below par.

Ryan Babel looked a quality player against England in midweek but yet again for Liverpool he looks poor. I think after 2 years tied to the left wing enough is enough. Am I the only one who wonders why a right footed player is not given a chance on the right wing, or even as a striker instead of bringing on Voronin.

Losing on the opening day is no big deal - it was the agricultural football, seen most of pre-season, that is most worrying.

[Sandperson]

Losing Alonso so late on in pre-season was a blow and must have made a big difference which makes the result more understandable. United had two seasons to work out wha to do without Ronaldo and I'm not entirly sure they have got it right.

[matthew123]

Yes a blow but not an excuse for any sub par performances. I think a little too much is made of Alonso's departure - I put it down to lazy journalism rather than solutions.

[Mick Mac]

I put it down to an overrated manager Matt. Can't believe Rafa's still there after throwing the title away last year.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

???? Wrote:

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> got your ticket for the big one yet Tony?

My heart wants to go but my head tells me it will a great deal safer if I don't:X

If I could guarantee my safety I would go but Quidsy you know the score....

p.s. You haven't got a pick-axe to spare, just in case...

[matthew123]

Rafa is going no where - it'd cheaper for the Yanks to miss CL qualification than sack the Manager. It's easy to blame Rafa, Babel, Yanks etc but bottom line is it's a team game and the likes of Steven Gerrard also need to take responsibility. A few friends of mine met up with Rafa and the players, at Liverpool Street's Great Eastern Hotel lobby, before boarding the bus to WHL yesterday - and having seen the photos they looked like they were all off to a holiday camp rather than to do battle.

[Annasfield]

Arghh, thats right opposite my office. Why do I always miss these things?

Was it Jim who saw them Matt?

[Mick Mac]

The buck stops with the manager IMO Matt. He coaches and motivates the players.

I think unsuccessful managers have a limited time in which to succeed with the players. Rafa has I think had too long, I'm not in agreement with the slow burn to success, thats very rare. If Rafa has not won the league by now I don't think he ever will. I would give any manager 4 years max.

I don't count the ch league win because its not Liverpools priority and it clouds the issue. I think Rafa has failed to deliver what Liverpool need and I think he will, unfortunatley, continue to fail to land the Premiership.

Having got himself into a winning position last year he failed to get there.

Edited:

On re reading that it sounds harsh but I was dissappointed with the play yesterday, they did not seem motivated or coordinated and really need a good start to the season.

[matthew123]

No Anna, it was Nikhil and his brother - in a group huddle with Rafa

[????]

Rafa got lucky in Istanbul (and, *spits*, Cardiff) thanks to Stevie G...he would and probaly should have gone a few years back. Liverpool don't look capable of winning the Premiership without a huge amount of luck this year - no injuries and other teams suffering from key players . Mathew, I thought Yossi was just a bit player now you seem to have him as central to your plans? You haven't enough depth in your squad IMO..and Alonso is a huge miss whatever you say.

[matthew123]

Yossi has been quite effective playing in a more central role this last 6 months - but when tied to the flank during his first 18 months he disappointed. I think with likes of Yossi and Babel they need to be played in their best position or not at all, as not everyone is as durable at Steven Gerrard. I don't even think we saw the best of Alonso during his time at Anfield - for me his natural game is to press much higher up the pitch but he used to play so deep I think over last 2 seasons he'd only assisted something like 4 league goals.

Rafa might have got lucky in Istanbul but it evened itself out 2 years later in Athens with Milan getting the luck. As for Cardiff yes lot's of luck as you're 3 goals were all from major Liverpool blunders but you probably deserved those goals on superior football for large chunks of the game.

[????]

So, hand on heart, you really think you can do it this year? I'm less convinced than in April...

[Tony.London Suburbs]

The Title WILL come to London this year ( wash my mouth out with soap and water)...unless United buy.

Liverpool not good enough unless they play 2 up front ( leaving Torres on hos own will make HIM look ordinary) and United are not the attacking force of previous years sans Ronny/Tevez...

[red devil]

loving the maudling scousers comments on here after one 'bad' result, must be great for the scousers to have such a loyal fanbase.

If Spurs can sort out their away form they have a good chance of a top 6 finish, you've only got to look at the two subs benches on Sunday to see they have got a far greater depth of quality in their squad than the scousers and that's what's needed over a season...

[Mick Mac]

Tony.London Suburbs Wrote:

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

> The Title WILL come to London this year ( wash my

> mouth out with soap and water)...unless United

> buy.

>

> Liverpool not good enough unless they play 2 up

> front ( leaving Torres on hos own will make HIM

> look ordinary) and United are not the attacking

> force of previous years sans Ronny/Tevez...

You are with me this issue then TLS - I have backed Arsenal and a saver on Chelsea. (I'm assuming you did not mean Spurs or West Ham?).

[matthew123]

Having a loyal fanbase does not mean everything is viewed through rose tinted glasses. Besides, fans who cannot criticise their own team with constructive criticism probably don't know much about football.

The squad did look thin on Sunday but that will soon be rectified by players returning from short term injuries. The problem for Liverpool is to start playing football - I always thought the tactics from last season was mainly to accomodate Gerrard, Mascherano and Alonso. Now that Alonso has departed the formation has to change - it was not flawless even with Alonso, so I'd say revert to Gerrard in central midfield. Liverpool have Mascherano and Gerrard, two of the finest midfielders in world football who'd walk into any team in Europe bar none.

If anything, the team whose success depends on one player, above and beyond the damage any other club would suffer, is if Rooney goes down with an injury as after him United 's attacking play looks very weak. So red devil I think you should be more concerned about the wheels coming off that wagon!

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Good luck to Celtic tonight, got a feeling they will need it. Small Fish big pond amd all that.

[Mick Mac]

Don't you start RC.

[Sandperson]

I think you are wrong there Matt (lashing out?). We have plenty of goal scorers on the pitch, we just need them to score goals. Rooney isn't our only outlet especially if Owen can find his shooting boots quickly and I think a combo of Owen and Berba will work well if they get going early on. I read this morning that the yanks are only letting Rafa have ?1.5M to spend, he may as well tell them to keep it shouldn't he? That's not going to strengthen a squad unless you are very lucky. I think you are right that you'll look more rounded when you get a few players back and, as I keep saying, when Torres and Gerrard are fully fit.

[red devil]

Matthew, good to see somethings haven't changed over the summer break, your're still as twatty as ever...

[Mick Mac]

Norwich appoint Paul Lambert

http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/full_article.asp?i=4835[/url]

[kpc]

No little irony there given the opening day result.