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)
looks like injuries are going our way for once.
Arsenal - Fabregas, Gallas and possibly Arseshaving out for the NLD
Chelsea - Bosingwa, Cole, Carvalho, Essien all out. Drogba will probably be back though
Man Utd - No Wayne Rooney = we have a better chance.
With Lennon, Defoe, THudd and possibly ledley back and no more injuries we really can't have a better chance of taking points from these games.
Gooners did well not to give up last night but I maintain they were fucking lucky after getting a schooling for 70 mins. Some better Barca finishing could have seen it end about 6-2
We're going to beat a weakened Arse at the Lane for sure
And qualify for the CL
And get to the FA Cup Final where we will meet Chelski - and probably lose!
Big Al from Toy Story is shaking like a shitting dog after he made his guarantee.
I hope we get it, but you're right, I know some of the naysayers have started to believe (me included) but do the players believe we can get CL?
I cant believe what is happening , i always believe we will fail and yet still we prevail and keep on winning games.
Or am i just dreaming all this ?
“I just can’t imagine that we will catch any of those two (Manchester City and Spurs) anymore. Those teams are consistent, have great managers, and they will not let go at this point. Maybe they will compete against each other but we are probably out of it by now,” said Rafa.
He's at it again.Or perhaps another AF's joke.
Banal enough to be him.