Let the games commence...
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 10:13AM You'll have probably noticed Rafa Benitez has thrown it out there that Spurs will shag it up thanks to our difficult fixture list. Spurs will lose points is the headline on the official Liverpool site (from yesterday). And Rafa tells the reds:
“It depends on us and if we can keep winning our games. Tottenham have difficult games so I think we’ll be closer, and we’ll see. Every week will be different.
“After the Europa League we have Birmingham and that will be very tough. But if we can win our games, I think they (Spurs) will lose some points and I think we can be there.
“I hope it can still be a successful season. You can always have bad seasons, but the main thing is the reaction of the players. We will try and fight until the end, and then we’ll see.
“Hopefully we can get in the top four and progress in the Europa League.”
Don't know about you, but I find this sort of thing inspiring, and so should the players. Yes, Liverpool are fairly boring and have had an unspectacular season but they are seasoned CL qualifiers so to be engaged by them in this manner should be used positively by our lot. Guaranteed at one point, 4th for Liverpool, wasn't it Rafa? 31 games in and we are the ones who have remained anchored to fourth, and when we've slipped down a place or two we've dug deep and climbed back up. With thanks to others around us (guess who?) who have remained inconsistent through-out. Nothing wrong with our form. If you take a look at the season thus far there is more likelihood of Liverpool dropping points than there is us.
I don't think for a second Spurs have had the type of mentality at any point in the season where we've gone into a game expecting to win without effort. And we continue to take nothing for granted - players and fans alike. We've fought hard every time and when the odds are stacked in our favour, we've been professional about it. The only weakness has come in the shape of complacency which cost us at Everton and Birmingham. The defeats at home against Stoke and Wolves boil down to frustration and lack of composure breaking down said teams who parked the bus. It's been a learning curve, a steady progression.
Sure I'm bias and believe it would be a travesty if after all our hard grafting, Liverpool squirm their way into the Champions League. And Rafa is obviously saying what he's saying so it plays in the minds of our players. We're in the winning position, its ours to lose.
But it's not Rafa we should be concerned about. It's the enemy within. Which he's obviously hoping to summon with his choice of words. The inferiority complex that sometimes sees us choke against the really big teams. A self-fulfilling prophecy that seems to force the issue against us, placing us firmly back in our box. In the past the players almost subconsciously surrendered as though the expectancy to lose the game weighed heavily on their shoulders. Happened earlier in the season against Chelsea, Utd and Arsenal.
Times have changed. But we still need to prove it.
So, thank you Rafa for the pep talk and letting us know you care. Far more understated and subtle as far as mind games go, but we all know his track record when he opens his gob.
Reader Comments (55)
if we get 8 points from our next 4 league games I think it's ours. Either way, if we don't I pray it's not Liverpool who overtake us. I would love to see the "guarantee" Rafa made earlier in the season come back to kick him squarely in his fat Spanish waiter face.
How anyone can guarantee anything in football is beyond me. Get yourself and your boring football back to Spain mate. Jog on as the youngsters say nowadays.
im still annoyed by the stupid points lost to wolves, hull and stoke. if we had those 12 points, we would be above arsenal with a game in hand, and 2 points off the top.
but then, we cant all guarantee a final league position can we rafa?
Wolves, Hull and Stoke. Reminds me of 2006 when had we not kept conceding last minute goals we'd have finished 4th before the final day.
The mind games have started, it would be great to knock Liverpool out of that 4th spot, a new team in the top four is just what the league needs. Yes it's a shame we didn't beat Hull, Stoke and Wolves at home but we were so unlucky not to do so. In two of those games the Keeper got man of the match and put in super-human displays.
Spurs battered those teams and were just unlucky after playing great football. The same could be said against Villa twice, Freidel and the Villa defence played so well it was madness! Thankfully we've got Super Pav playing who looks like he will score in every game at the moment.
Fingers crossed and all that! COYS.
Keep winning ! beat sunderland, beat one of the top 3, beat citeh bolton and burnley and we are in. simple. keep winning !
IF IF IF, trogdar. If we hadnt drawn twice with Stoke last season, we would have been champions. If we hadnt lost to Portsmouth and Wigan this season, we would be above you. Every team can say that. However, the fact is that Spurs deserve to be where they are as I think they have been the best of the top 4 challengers this season. I do think you will drop a fair few points but so will we and we certainly wont get 4 points more than you in the remaining games. I just hope you manage to stay above City, I do not want them to just be able to come in and buy the Champions League place in one season. Spurs have been building for a while and while I would be gutted that it is at our expense, it would be good to see a different team have a go at Europes elite. Yes, Benitez says a lot of ridiculous things but I think its his way of trying to install confidence in his players. What do you want him to say, "Spurs will win every game" ??? Hes saying what he has to. I think the City V Spurs game will be the decider on the Wednesday prior to the last weekend. Should be interesting.
If your uncle had a fanny he'd be your auntie.
Let the "mind" games commence...
You nailed it Spooky. Our own worst enemy lies within. We have a tough schedule ahead of us, with the Sunderland, City and Burnley matches (away) potentially being the scariest ones. I understand that we are playing the top 3 teams consecutively, but as much pressure is on us to secure 4th, they are all clinging onto the league title hopes with their lives. The pressure is on!
COYS!
To win 6 in a row is a massive feat for any club. Rafa thinks his lot can do it, but in reality - if we get to 70 points, they'd have to win them all.
To me, Tottenham is the only team worth worrying about. City could pose a threat but their form has been pretty shitty too. It's not certain but with 4 winable games including city and the form of Gareth Bale vs Chelsea's lack of RB, we do stand a good chance.
Wigan donated their GD too, which is "the extra point" as long as no relagation candidates become cannon fodder...
if redknapp get the tactic right in the next four games, we are far better than just capable of challenging United, Chelsea and Arsenal. Just get the tactic right. Redknapp has done well with tactic recently, I hope this will keep going. We should have no fear to these so-called big teams.
It's tight, I went on the bbcs predictor and following the "beat those above you and beaten by those below you" rule (all 1-0's or 1-1's) I got the following. That was giving us a draw against both Man Shitty and the Pikeys.
..Team..........P....GD...Pts
1.Man.Utd......38...57...90
2.Chelsea......38...57...86
3.Arsenal......38...45...84
4.Tottenham...38...29...69
5.Liverpool....38...25...69
6.Man.City.....38...21...69
7.Aston.Villa..38...16...69
I would take that final table Joe! Although I'm not sure my ticker will! Final day mayhem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Trader, had Rafa stated 'Spurs will win every game' and conceded defeat publicly, whilst telling his players the opposite, then that would have been far more becoming re: mind games. I think Rafa has actually missed a trick here. Although there is still time for him to turn the screws.
Typical "wannabe" Spurs article, you state about Spurs "Qualifying" for CL by achieving 4th spot, but if Rafa's men do it we will "squirm" into the CL position. It is blatantly obvious that Spurs have played and been pointed above there usual standard and that Liverpool have by comon consent had their worst season (self inflicted wounds, no gripes) in years, and yet we are still in there with a shout. Don't get used to it Tottingham normal service will be resumed
If beating above and beaten below, where did the draws come from?
And why does this sound like a 14yo's conversation?
the first line says it all:
“It depends on us and if we can keep winning our games."
calm down calm down - this wasn't rafa winding anyone up or disrespecting anyone - he's just talking about how the fixstures have fallen.
Consistency in the league can surely only be measured after 38 games - lfc have lost an awful 10 games this season, spurs have lost 7 - however, we have played everyone in the top 8, whilst spurs have what is it? 4 fixtures of their last 7 against top 8 teams - you're odds on to trip up more than we do. All rafa is saying is that we have a chance if we keep winning...
Man city have an easier run in than spurs (but still tough) - this will make it an interesting end to the season, anyhow!
ps. thfc1882 : our "boring" football sees us 4 goals scored less than spurs over 30 odd games - go figure!
Spooky,
Does it not infuriate you that people who have never read this site, see it a The Daily Mail website?
How very dare you have an opinion!
Lets hope Liverpool slip up this weekend, they have a tough game on their hands. So do we, gotta keep Bent quiet.
Based on Liverpool winning all their games and drawing with Cheatski, and us beating Bolton and Burnley, we will need 6 points from these games to get 4th:
Sunderland (A)
4rsen4l (H)
Cheatski (H)
ManUSA (A)
Oman City (A)
The big test of mental stength is after the semi-final when we will probably be in 6th place and playing the scum next.
my prediction for this weekend?
Bolton v Aston Villa, 15:00
Burnley v Man City, 17:30
Sunderland v Tottenham, 15:00
Birmingham v Liverpool, 15:00
spurs and lfc will drop points, the other 2 will gets wins...
Rafa has gone from "guaranteeing 4th place" to “Hopefully we can get in the top four..."
I would be gutted if we missed out and even more so if it was to a poor and boring Liverpool team who have been little more than average all season long.
Great stuff. I hope that we are the focus of the Liverpool manager every Easter !
Harry is trying to make us winners and Rafa is trying to remind us of how long we have been losers.
Rafa would have us fighting like Rats in a sack - and it easy to imagine after a generation of failure that we will crack.
Disagree that times have changed - but they are 'a changin' at least in the past year.
Rafa has cited Spurs, of course he's playing games. Spooky said say they were subtle ones. And Liverpool are boring, that's just stating fact. Take out Torres and you're a snooze fest.
as old red nose once said it is squeaky bum time!!
a few weeks ago I would have tended to think we would be top six but I am now beginning to believe we can do it, we have passed the usual banana skin games (Fulham, Pompy) and now we need to stop respecting the big three and just play our way and i think we can get points
fingers, toes and everything crossed COYS
we have to dominate ......and win.......this is the major period to hold fast all the hard work done so far
cant see redknapp and co not being focused ......knowing whats at stake
I'm 36 but I'm feeing like a fourteen year old.
Squirmed is the exact term to be used for the scousers. Backburner footballer is not appealing and that's all they've given this season. What's that other term Spooky refers to sometimes?
'apologetic football'
It's quite possible rooney will be out of the man u game. That always gives us a better chance. Surely our luck has to change at Old Trafford. Disallowed goals and non-penalties given. Our karma has to change. Unless Webb's reffing then we're fucked.
This weekend is MASSIVE for us. We SHOULD get a result. If we can get one against Stoke away then Sunderland should be a doddle. Just please PLEASE no more injuries.
LIVERPOLOL
Tom Howarth seems to be ignorant, willfully or otherwise, of a few things. Tottenham has won more games, scored more goals, conceded less and still has a game in hand. Tom Howarth seems to also forget that his club is skint, full of average players and, depending on how things go, could easily see the backs of their last two players of class and quality.
It's obvious something is wrong with Liverpool, but to blame it on a dip in form is ludicrous considering that it's occurred all season, just like saying Tottenham's current season is anomalous. Since ol' Redschnapps has taken over, form-wise, Spurs have been one of the most consistent performers in the league. Ignore that at your peril, because your team isn't going to finish 4th simply because you're Liverpool and have some kind of god-given right to be there. If you're playing like shit, your position at the end of the season'll reflect that. The fact remains that the instances where we've played like shit are far fewer than the instances where Liverpool has.
Yid or no, I know who my money's on.
re: The Machine , Mar 31, 2010 at 11:37 AM
squirming would be the phrase to describe the uncomfortable feeling of being sat on the bog after some dodgy lasagne...
as commented on a prev post , this season we've gone off the rails and yet are still within striking range of spurs who are having their best season in gawd knows how long...well done and all that , but show some dignity+modesty ffs ;)
The top 4 have degraded and I wont disagree, even at 60-70% Chelsea, Arsenal and Utd remain head and shoulders above the rest, but not by a long way. I don't personally believe Liverpool are any better than Spurs or Villa or City or even Everton. You've dropped off the pace in a big way, and squirming is exactly what you, your manager and your owners are doing because if you fail to claim 4th you sir, are royally fucked.
As for us, best season? Not really, ignoring the blip of last term, we are continuing to progress in the right direction.
We might not have the better players but we are the better team.
Machine, its going to be a hard pill to swallow if we fail. Considering how average Liverpool are compared to their previous efforts in prior seasons. If we dont do fourth its going to HURT.
Liverpool's midfield is probably better, in Torres they have a better striker than anything we have, but other than that, I'm positive we have a better group of players.
Rafa probably heard about the handful of boo boys at half time in the Fulham game and hopes to hear that repeated and amplified. Fortunately our players have shown less signs of flappage than some of our fans !
For me Liverpool are the least dislikeable of the sky4 but this season they really do not deserve a CL spot and of the contenders Spurs deserve it more than the rest. Of course I am biased but we have been there most of the season and have been on consistent form for over a year since January 2009.
dawson is training today. as is defoe. happy days! lennon just running still. sad times
"Tom Howarth seems to be ignorant, willfully or otherwise, of a few things."
He is also incorrect to state they have played all the top 8 because they have Chelsea still to come. Its convenient how he chose the top 8 as a reference because they also have Birminghamand Fulham to play (just outside the top 8) who have both have very good seasons and are tough opposition. Any points dropped vs Chelsea and Birmingham will end their 4th place chase....pressure is on LFC if you ask me, they have to win all their games and even then we could lose 2 and still surpass them.
Come on Spurs, lets turn the pressue on them. 3 points at Sunderland and LFC will have to get a result the next day, away at a wet and windy Birmingham, with their crappy pitch!
I have to say that i hate Rafa and the overrated Scouser fans. They are no longer a top-4 team and I hope it stays that way for a long time
If we don't manage to cling on to 4th by the end of the season, I'd rather City got it over Liverpool and condemn the reds to another season of Europa mediocrity, which is all they deserve for their dull and uninspiring brand of football. At least Tevez is exciting to watch!
When Spurs have played with a swagger this season, what a joy it's been (Wigan, 2nd half Fulham). If we pick up 4 points from Arse, Manure and Chelski, we'll have done wella nd will still be on track for that coveted CL spot.
Desperate words from a desperate man who has a great deal to lose. Rafa knows he will be sacked if 'pool blow fourth. It is really within us to do this! It ain't gonna be easy of course but audere est facere as the poet once said. COYS!!!!!
Liverpool were second last season.
How can Benitez claim that fourth this season would be successful anyway?
The prat.
Hi spuds
where is your enthusiasm for the biggest game you'll ever get close to?
'cmon guys! Join the excitment.
Brook!
Get down Old Compton Street and shake your booty before I bitchslap you.
DRP - Dignity?! Modesty?! Perhaps you should introduce either concept to LFC's official website - I certainly don't know any other club that would have the audacity to run a headline condeming another team's premier league chances.
Rafael Benitez is doing your side no favours either on the pitch or off it.
Cheers for the heads up Brook.
Everyone, don't forget, it's Forest Green v Barrow, this evening, 19:45.
did liverpool lose to wigan? or pompey? don't get me started on which team is more likely to lose points against lowly ranked teams. the fat pig is irrelevant - spurs just have to stay focused and keep up their consistent performance. come saturday, the goal must be to send sunderland packing.
funny story, my first ever football game was a Forest Green game.
A few vaguely related thoughts, stimulated by this thread:
I've been to Forest Green too.
Mourinho announced today that he hates Italian football. I reckon he is lining himself up for Rafa's job.
If you aunt had them, she'd be your uncle.
"Mourinho announced today that he hates Italian football. I reckon he is lining himself up for Rafa's job."
What about Mancini's???
Jose is waiting on the Utd job.
To be honest, I don't give a damn how well Rafa and his boys play. If we take every point we can and fight to the end, we can make it. If we slip and give points away, that's because we didn't rise up to the challenge. (The enemy within that Spooky mentioned.)
No "what if's" and "but's". Let's see how good our team really is. COYS