An OPEN letter to all Liverpool fans
To say this season has been a frustrating one for yourselves is something of an understatement, but the last thing the football club needs is to buy into the terrible media reports who from an outsider looking in is doing its level best to drive a wedge between the club and supporters whilst looking to drive Rafa Benitez to the verge of breaking point. It seems relentless, but the last thing supporters must do is put more pressure on what is a fragile situation.
This year has been poor for Liverpool and you have failed to see your team live up to the pre-season hype, where many considered it to be your year. Obviously there are reasons for it, with injury and key players losing form at the centre of it, but Alonso’s sale aside that is the same squad that pushed United so close and it is the same group that can ensure that you make the top four again this season. Results have picked up in the Premier League of late and let’s be honest that should have been three PL wins on the spin today.
You may ask why a Gooner like myself should take an interest in Liverpool’s plight, but it is because I see a lot of parallels with you and what we suffered last season. We like you through away a great chance to land a title back in 2008 and while expectation was we would take the title last year we flopped miserably and threw away so many points and lost a lot of games to poor opposition. The media were heaping pressure on us and Arsene Wenger and at one point they were winning and a lot of supporters did start to turn and question the manager. We were told, like you are now, that we had fallen out of the top four and on the decline (even though months before we were being touted as future champions); it wasn’t until the start of March that we relinquished our place back in the top four, a feat that I fully expect Liverpool to follow as well.
I am personally amazed at the amount of people suggesting this week that it is time for Rafa Benitez to quit. That would be a total knee-jerk reaction, the easy option, however a lot has to be said, as we are showing this season, in retaining faith in a manager and realising that a few bad results and a poor season doesn’t disguise what they have already achieved at the football club in the past, and what they will do again in the future. You don’t hear many pundits writing us off this season in the race for the title; it just shows how quickly the pendulum can swing the other way.
My message to all of you really is to stay strong, back your manager and remember that Rafa was one that took you to the brink of a title last season and not to mention two Champions League finals. As we found with Arsene a few bad results shouldn’t cloud your judgment of a man and what he has brought a lot to your football club and who has already proved his worth. It may not feel like it at the moment, but you will benefit in the long run from this season’s setback and believe me, you, as well as Benitez will return the stronger for it.
Keep the faith
Written By James Marsh
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Well said James.
As a Liverpool fan I totally agree, not that all Liverpool fans will agree mind.
It is also great to read these words from an Arsenal fan too.
It has been proven in this league that the best way to get success is to show some faith, otherwise we could be changing managers every two years and well and truly playing catch up.
Thanks mate,
You are right, we should back Rafa. Even I had my doubts after the Reading defeat, but he is a good manager and we should hold onto him.
Good article. The media onslaught is relentless at times and completely unbalanced. The media never gave any credit to Rafa when we were top of the league, indeed they actually ridiculed him for defending his team. So why do us LFC supporters think they would do anthing other than go for Rafa at this point in time.
I think all this is summed up by the fact that the players have taken very little criticism for the performances and most of the blame has been directed at Rafa. Ultimately it is the 11 players that pull on the shirt that have to do 99% of the job of winning games of football, not managers.
“We should back Rafa”.
Oh Dear, we really do deserve all we get dont we?.
Rafa has been here for 6 years and apart from last season fluke has shown no sign on bringing the league title back home. Its about time you look at the facts, the fact is he buys crap, he plays crap tactics alot of the time and will not win it under him, sorry guys it is just reality, we are mediocre and when gerrard leaves we will be even worse, the first thing what needs to happen is owners out but I still wouldnt stick with rafa, he is stubborn and I re iterate again buys crap.
I would rather him buy 1 world class player each summer at least we would have 6 by now, instead he buys 3 crap players and these are the facts unfortunatly. I am a liverpool fan the club is in crises from top to bottom, the sooner you realise this and stop kidding yourself the better.
Time is up for rafa. He’s a dead man walking. The team will improve it’s performances for the second half of the season. However it’s not going to be enough to dislodge city, Vila and spurs. It seems rafa still hasn’t listened to the supporters and pundits views! that his failure to buy a back up for torres has cost him dear. Many fans have made this point for 12 months what has he done? Glenn Johnston transfer was a bad call, great going forward but we could have used these funds more intelligently to buy a cheaper reliable full back and a back up striker. Looking at Ngog and Kuyt these two look very poor compared to other 2nd string strikers of the top3. The purchase of aqualani has been shocking we should have never bought a player in his condition. As much as the directors have been bad news rafas made some stuborn and terrible calls and his failure to create a back up roster of players could of been addresed more effectively considering the resources he’s had!
I fully appreciate the good times rafa intially brought but we have to face facts Liverpool over achieved last year! If CFC had Hiddy or even Avram as manager LFC would not of beaten them twice and I have a strong feeling we would of finished 3rd. Since the pre-season there has been huge problems with injuries and lack of fluidity in our play. I understand the level of patience should be shown to Wenger because he has won the premiership and with a extra striker his team are in the right position with great strength in depth and youth in his squad. Unfortunately benitez has a first 11 but no back up. I estimate we will end this season 25 points off the top spot this is on top of the lack of CL Action next season and trophies is unacceptable. Unfortunately with the global crisis and the improvement of villa, man city and spurs we have been caught out! LFC board missed a great chance to make the investment in new players last summer which could have assisted rafa shame that rafa has had 20million taken away from him. Despite this he has invested badly in what players he bought. Lfc are at cross roads because we have Gerrard suffering many groin and hamstring injuries. This situation is not going to massively improve as Gerrard is reaching a stage in his career where he will be more succeptable to injuries. We will need to be looking at replacing him along with Carragher. The cost of doing this will be immense as we have no players near this quality comming of the conveyor belt. Without major investment and a new manager we better get used to playing in the Europa . Maybe a hard pill to swallow but it maybe an option for the board to move gerrard on whilst we can get an top price for him. A lot of fans may initially disagree with my comments but without major investment we need to raise funds for a new manager to buy a collection of stars for the future.
Wenger likes passing keeping possession and a good touch Benitez is happy to put out players without any of these qualities and the worse they are the more games they get Insua Kuyt Lucas.What is going on at training that they cannot do the most basic things in a match?Defending and attacking crosses must not be done in training because it is rare for a Liverpool player to get anywhere near the ball on crosses.Something is wrong and the first thing to change is the training methods and that muppet Pelligrino who seems to be doing nothing but whisper in Benitez ear every match should go plus Benitez stubborness of thinking he is always right about everything
Great article.
And I like the fact that some of you are not letting facts get in the way of Rafa witch-hunt. Really I am.
You call a man stubborn and then go on about he’s had decent resources to win the title. Ah yes a NET Spend of 10 grand is enough to win the Premier League.
‘Rafa has been here for 6 years and apart from last season fluke has shown no sign on bringing the league title back home.’ Have you ever heard of rebuilding sides? Do you really think the likes of Djimi Traore and Igor Biscan look at home in Premier League winning side? Yes, he may have won the European Cup with them, but they only ever showed signs of being decent under Benitez, and he managed to get the odd good performance out of them when called upon. Average players into better players. Sounds like he hasn’t got a clue what he’s doing at all!
‘I would rather him buy 1 world class player each summer’ Are you going to provide the money for that or are we going to let the squad get even more paper-thin as every transfer window passes by? Yes, I would love world-class players at Liverpool but you really expect him to be provided the money for that? He has had to wheel and deal throughout his Liverpool reign – doesn’t really like to. He has had to! And now it has become even more tricky for him considering those at the top are taking any kind of profits to finance the club debt. Oh and can you please tell me who would like to warm the bench all the time Torres is playing that is a ‘back up.’
‘It seems rafa still hasn’t listened to the supporters and pundits views!’
Priceless, I must say. Hasn’t listened to the supporters? Very good, you mean he hasn’t listen to the type of supporter that is fickle and will jerk their knee very hard after Liverpool have failed to win a game?
And why should he listen to the pundits? You’re seriously suggesting giving the likes of Paul Merson the manager’s job? Of course he is an example of a bastion of footballing knowledge – very articulate as well!
Cisse great player scored in champs league and fa cup final – sold
Bellamy did a great job for us and nobody can deny that – sold.
Alonso best passer of ball in world football – pushed out and sold.
Crouch England international great player – sold
Risse – great leftback – sold
Keane never given a chance started to score pushed out and sold.
Pachecho great prospect will never get chance.
Nemeth anoth great prospect out on loan – wtf ???
Benitez is an absolute waste of space manager who is destroying the club.
He controls the first team the youth team and all transfers go through him.
So who is to blame for this downward spiral ? The first time I have even seen Anfield with 15,000 seats empty ffs games are full for Carling Cup matches.We have suffered long enough he should do the honourable thing and resign !
Cisse – Lazy, had some talent not a footballing brain. Such a great footballer Sunderland didn’t want him.
Bellamy – Yes I can deny he didn’t do a great job for us. Would you like to list his goal return? And I will start compiling a list of the occasions he was caught offside for us.
Alonso – Ever occur to people that he wanted to go?
Crouch – See above.
Riise – Great leftback? You base this on what exactly?
Keane – Was shocking in front of goal. Funnily enough being treated the same way by Harry Redknapp at Spurs.
Pacheco – Not getting his chance? He’s with the squad at nearly every game and has made a couple of first team appearances.
Nemeth – Yes on loan, still owned by Liverpool. Of course, first team experience is going to be detrimental to the player’s development!
Rafa, in control of transfers from 2009. In control of youth team from 2009. Not in control of transfer funds though. But you feel the need to go back before 2009?
Sorry to cloud your agenda with facts!
Fair go hey!! Rafa has had plenty of opportunity & although the players are well below par including Gerrard & Carragher there are undeniable poor management decisions time & again. Lucas -what the hell is he still doing there??-why did Aquilani & Maxi not start against Stoke – both match fit & the perfect game to show some attacking flair-considering no Torres ,Gerrard & Benayoun. The game plans are negative as proven again after scoring against Stoke- lets protect a 1-0 lead rather than score 3 more?? Poor formations- manager. Poor player selection & positioning-no wonder Babel plays scared- manager.signs flops- besides Torres who is injured 50% of the time & he always blames the ref, weather, crowd or the people serving food at the grounds. I dont hate Rafa but as you can guess i don’t think he is the right man for LFC. My concern is not losing, its the way we are losing- its very unLiverpool like. PLayers do not seem to be enthusiastic , determined with that desire i have seen at Anfield as a supporter for over 30 years & that is sad to deal with . Anyway -thats how i see it- as a business trouble always starts & stops at the top but you wont see anyone put their hand up here because its Never their fault -right…..LFC- regardless of the results just bring back the passion!
I’m a KOP STH and I have never experienced a season like this in all of my 35 years following our beloved club. I do not have blind faith in Rafa and certainly he is not infallible. However, I think we all have to pause, consider a couple of things and be wary of joining the screaming hoards and vicious Rafa-out witch-hunt currently in full force:
a). Consider the extraordinary bad luck we have had this season with injuries, injury time goals, etc.
b). Consider the lack of transfer funds.
c). Consider the diabolical ownership situation (curse you, Moores!)
d). Consider the quality of the side today compared with that which Rafa inherited. Yes, we have some plonkers that need to go, but we also have a lot more class than we’ve had in a decade.
I could go on, but my point is that a new manager might have an immediate impact, but would it be lasting? The only candidate for me is Kenny, but even then I would hold-off and re-appraise the situation at the end of this season.
Meanwhile, get behind the team and the manager. Just support the club as we “walk through this storm.” Our biggest problem is not Rafa, it is the owners and the weight of debt they have placed on our club.
well said. too many poor players paid too much and dont care about our club,so sad.
James, excellent article, and thanks. I have noticed this season that many Arsenal fans are taking sympathy in Liverpools plight and defending Rafa (and Lucas) more than some of our own. The spinelessness of some of our fans sickens me to be honest. I thought we were made of better than that. This is the first time Rafa has failed to better his previous season and Liverpool fans are sticking the boot in and wanting him gone? More than ever he needs our support to show we have confidence in him to turn this around. The fans are as much to blame for this as the players and the manager. We’ve been shit this season taking our frustrations into the ground with us!
In response to Valentine, I think Rafa TRIED to build world class this summer. He wasn’t given 15-20m to spend up front on anybody and therefore had to “wheel and deal” to get Johnson using the money owed for Crouch to make the deal. He didn’t have the option of using that 17m elsewhere, because only 1/2 that money was given to him. He could look around at other 8m right backs but how many world clas right backs are there at that price. Ironically the “World Class” Dani Alves was available for that price, but Parry fudged the deal. Well done Rick.
Then Alonso wants out…. so we get £30m from Madrid. Rafa was again told he didn’t have that to spend so he has to either get in a 5-10m replacement, or wheel and deal again. He thought what was best for the club and gets a world class player in Aquilani who is available for 5.5m up front because of the current injury. I much prefer someone who takes a long term look at the club instead of quick fixes.
Lastly, he is getting compared A lot to Redknapp. Is it a coincidence that every club Redknapp leaves goes into decline? He seems to spend BIG for a few years bringing in only players in their peaks and then leaves a squad on the decline, on big wages and with little money in the bank due to the previous 2 or 3 windows. Sure, spurs look in good shape now…. but Leeds took that same high risk, high reward attitude and it was the death of them. Whilst I am depressed about the current state of our club…. I’m not stupid and short-sighted enough to believe it couldn’t be any worse. Rafa has a long term plan for this club, he’s gotten in good people like McMahon, Segura, Borrell, Daglish and McPharland to turn around the reserves and U18’s. We now have at least 10 players outside the first team that you genuinely believe can make it here. Before you had people you had hopes for but deep down knew there wasn’t enough quality. People like Partridge, Lindfield, Whitbread, Potter, Mellor, Welsh, Raven were the cream of what our academy produced and we always hoped the best for them, despite knowing they weren’t of a high enough quality. We’ve already seen Insua break into the first team, Kelly looked set to follow until his injury. Now Pacheco is a regular on the bench who I’m sure would have featured more if we were not so fragile at the moment… San José and Nemeth are both playing top flight football in Spain and Greece and by all accounts, are some of the best players in their teams. Whilst there are no guarantees, I feel most of Bouzanis, Gulacsi, Wisdom, Ayala, San José, Buchtmann, Pepper, Nemeth, Pacheco, Dalla Valle, Ngoo, Amoo, Suso (or Jesus and I will insist of calling him!), Kohlert, King, Emilsson, Silva, Ecclestone, Irwin, Bruna, Kacaniklic, Mavinga, Palsson, Zsolt, Saric, Weijl will have very successful careers, either for us, or sold on for a few £m with enough clauses to mean that the sale of 4/5 will fund the purchase of a world class player. The sales of Hobbs, Hammill, Leto and Anderson and Flynn could raise around £8m in the future with the clauses attached to their sales. Although results on the pitch are pretty much all that matters to a fan…. supporters who care about the club long term can see the foundations being put in place to ensure we are competing for these big prizes in the future…. and not following Leeds quick success blue print to a possible disaster. Are we sure we want to pull the plug on this and start from scratch? Bring in someone else who has a 2 year plan to win the league once and then watch us slip into oblivion after? Big decision guys!
Keane 5 goals in 19 appearances and subbed all the time or came on as a sub in reflection that is a great return he scored against Arsenal and then a brace against West Brom and then sold a week later and Cisse never started either or got subbed.He didnt play same level @ Sunderland.Risse did very well for us and the replacements are better than him are they ? And Crouch wanting to leave gimme a break !
What are you some kind of Lemming blind to the road where Rafa is leading us ?
His man management skills are abysmal his team selections preposterous all he is is a control freak and every team he puts out is defensive.He is the reason we are out of the title race out of the fa cup and out of champions league and doubtful we will make top four !
The buck stops with him.
No top flight manager makes his stupid diabolical preposterous team decisions.Need I remind you we drew with Hull City 2-2 when it was half time – and Robbie Keane our record signing sat on the friggin bench all match what kind of a stupid idiotic decision is that please ? And against Fulham he took Torres and Gerrard off and yes it ended another draw.And against Reading he took Deggen off and replaced him with Skirtel yeah great stuff when we need a goal.It was 1-1 at that time. The man is a stupid and the sooner he goes the better.
Todays performance was the worst I have seen since er let me think WEDNESDAY ???
take your rose tinted specs off please
Lets go get a Moyes for our team!
Of course Arsenal and Man U and Chelsea fans love Rafa – he is making Liverpool into a joke club full of excuses!
I’d worry about Arsenal if I were you mate. Because Liverpool have better players than Arsenal. We just need a new manager to get the best out of them and we’ll blow lightweight bottlers Arsenal away on the road to the title.
There is a precedent for the situation of extreme pressure faced by Rafael Benitez today, although the source of the pressure was perhaps a different one. On 22nd February 1991, probably the greatest player to grace a Liverpool shirt and one of its most celebrated and successful managers, Kenny Dalglish, decided to resign – a decision he regretted soon thereafter according to his own admission.
The consequences for Liverpool were momentous. Never again has Liverpool successfully conquered the Premier League title (then the First Division championship) – and Man. United has taken over as the dominant force in English football. Had King Ken persevered – or had the powers-that-be persuaded him to stay on – Liverpool would in all probability have continued its proud tradition and been at the very least a match for the upcoming Mancunians.
Since the exit of Dalglish, no Liverpool manager has come close to building a squad that could challenge for the title over several years – until a youngish Spanish manager by the name of Rafael Benitez came to Liverpool. During Rafa’s reign, Liverpool cemented a place in the top-4 of English competition; won one and made it to a second Champions’ League final; and won the FA cup once. Promising youngsters such as Pacheco, Nemeth, Amoo and Eccleston have been recruited or promoted at the Academy and Liverpool Reserves, as Benitez and his bootroom seek to lay the foundations for long-term success at the club through a combination of homegrown talent and smart acquisitions. Interrupting this process – which admittedly is tempting in view of this year’s shambolic results so far – would set this process back to the beginning and provide an open field for emerging rivals such as Man. City, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur to usurp Liverpool’s place in the upper echelons of the EPL.
Let us hope that the owners and business management of LFC take the long view and heed the lessons of the club’s past, sticking to a proven, ambitious and dynamic manager instead of leading Liverpool through a renewed process of instability and disruption. Benitez will steer the ship clear of troubled waters as he has demonstrated he can so often in the past – but club and fans must be brave in the face of adversity and stick with a hitherto successful and proven manager. Clubs that change managers at the first crisis rarely have success in the long-run – as can be observed from the sorry examples of Juventus, Newcastle and Real Madrid in the last few years.
as much as i appreciate the effort put into writing this article i cant help but think that this is a different situation. arsene wenger has proven that he can bring through young talent and still win the premier league or even push for the title. rafa is clearly trying his best to create an era for liverpool where they are competing in every copmpetition and producing the best young talents in world football.but its just not happening!! and although liverpool hav a number of young footballers that carry great expectations, such as pacheco, nemeth, amoo and eccleston, rafa will never see the right opportunity to give these players the chance (apart from mediocre roles as 85th minute substitutes)and rafa has shown in his 6 year tenure at liverpool that he doesnt like flare players, so why try to flood the youth systems with flare players if your never going to give them a real chance in the first team? another thing that frustrates me about rafa is the way he treats his players, in ryan babels first year at liverpool people were talking about how great a player he could be if given the opportunity ( he was even rewarded with young player of the year) and yet since then he hasnt been given a proper chance to show his true ability because rafa doesnt believe he can defend as well as other players? not only that but rafa wil probably leave him to rot because he knows that if he sells babel he wil regret it!!
against stoke, liverpool were without ther three most attacking players, and instead of playing babel, maxi or even reira he chooses to play degen(who is possibly the worst player in the prem and a defender not a winger!!) before all three.
the sooner liverpool get rid of rafa the better. i hate to say it but he has taken liverpool as far as he can!
Any LFC fan has the right to an opinion- after all this is a forum. Unfortunately someone above has gone to the trouble of writing a novel blaming the supporters & labelling those who are honest enough to realise there is a problem as spineless- how dillusional & pathetic. Even Rafa hasn’t used this excuse…..yet. Who picks the team, defensive tactics, formations, signing of injured players who sit on the bench & play 10 minutes,stubborn enough to maintain a zonal defensive pattern off set pieces after conceding 100 goals, has an excuse & says everything is still good after every game-hmmm its the fans right. I’m sure a certain manager would agree but i’m glad the Torres ,Gerrard & Carraghers dont agree because they are winners & do not accept this losing mentality. Its time for some honesty- that is how you resolve a problem- those true fans- understand this is not a Rafa bash but logic based on results. Sure-fans must unite but not as lemmings or we will follow those who accept mediocrity off the cliff.
All you stupid lemmings can you not see the path Benitez is leading us ?
This is Rafas team his stupid man management skills and horrendous team selections have gotten us to where we are – out of everything apart from Europa cup.No top flight manager would make his stupid decisions – need I remind you Lemmings that it was 2- 2 against Hull last season at half time and we needed a win so what does he do ? Leave our record signing Keane on the bench when we need goals.Against Stoke he took off Torres and Gerrard and lo and behold we drew again.Against Reading the other day he took Degan off when it was 1- 1 and replaced him with our most attacking threat Skirtel ! Please tell me what kind of stupid decisions these are ? The only manager who takes attacking threat off and replaces with defenders.Hes only been doing it for the past 5 or so years so he got lucky in two cup finals and has screwed everything up since.He is a total comntrol freak and falls out with players on a weekly basis.Every team he puts out is defense defense defense absolute diabolical ! And Babel has not started 2 games on the bounce how pathetic is that ? Rafa is one of the worst managers in the prem and that is a fact !
So enough of this lets support Rafa and Rafalution palava it is him and him only who have gotten us into this state.I have been patient with him for years now but the buck stops with him !
Picture this your team is in the champions league final yes FINAL !
You are 2 goals down on the 88th minute your team scores so its 2-1 with 2 minutes of normal time left and added time knocking on minimum 4 minutes so anything can happen.What would your reaction be if your manager took off your right back and replaced him with another right back and left one of your top strikers on the bench ?
Does he not want to score to take it to extra time ?
Oh wait you dont need to imagine it it actually happened because our pathetic excuse of a manager did just that by replacing Finnan with Arbeloa in the Champions League final.
This just about sums the man up and he must have made these diabolical decisions 100 times at least.Do you see Ferguson leaving out Rooney or Berbatov or take them off when a goal behind or drawing.Did he ever take Ronaldo off unless they was coasting to a victory.
Joke of a manager !
Blimey – a gooner who doesnt wax lyrical about ‘the kids’, ‘the professor’ or ‘playing the best football on the planet’. Credit where credits due, good lad James
And thanks for the encouragement, and I do now remember the amount of pressure Wenger was under last season….interesting point
Bubuyagu -Stop living in denial, Since 2004 Benitez has spent 112Million, thats just short of 25 Million a year, are you telling me we could not have bought a world class player every?????
We did and he was called Torres, what about the other 5 we could have got? instead he has bought crap which has MEANT him having to wheel and deal his way out of it…
Sorry mate but if you think this guy can take us forward you are very wrong.
YNWA Benitez all your crap buys will be right behind you once new owners come in and hiddink!