Can Liverpool take the next step?

As a Liverpool fan, I think I speak for many in saying that if, in August, someone said we'd be a point clear at the top come December 1st I'd had said "yes please". Even so, it is not surprising to see some frustration creeping in following draws at home against Stoke, Fulham and just last night West Ham (no disrespect to any of those teams.

There are three obvious points which I see as recurring themes. I think Rafa has to make decisions on these, if Liverpool are going to be there until the end:

1 - The one up front policy isn't working
Especially at home where teams come and put 11 men behind the ball. Whatever your thoughts on Keane he has been working his socks off with little direct support. Why not play him with Babel in Torres' absence.

2 - The Robbie Keane substitution policy
It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. Keane is going out knowing he has 60-65 minutes so he is already under more pressure than he should to perform/ score. (Add to that the previous point re: support up front). If Rafa believes Keane is going to be a key part of the team and a key provider of goals than he needs to start giving him 90 minutes every now and then - especially when Nando is out.

3 - Babel cameo role
Why the hell is N'Gog coming on after 65 and Babel not until 80?!? Babel showed glimpses of his quality again in ten minutes last night and while I don't think he's the finished article, he's close. N'Gog didn't look like the business yet again. I said it at White Hart Lane (Carling Cup R4) - he takes too many touches to control the ball and isn't physically strong enough to battle with centre-backs despite his height.

This isn't a wholesale criticism of Rafa as I think he's got it 90-95% right this year. But these are recurring issues that I believe are costing the team.

So, what's Paco been up to?

The loss of Paco Ayesteran has been present in almost every forum / blog discussing the 'where did it all go wrong this season?' question.
John Aldridge amongst others is convinced that the loss of Paco has been a crucial point in the poor consistency of the team:

“A lot of people are getting the wrong idea of what’s happening. You can look back to when Paco Ayesteran went a couple of months ago, Rafa’s right-hand man, I think that’s got a massive bearing on it.

“He’s holding the fort on his own without a right-hand man. He’s working very hard on his own and under very difficult circumstances and I think he needs a bit of help right now.”

A lot of the same names come up as a possible no.2, Sammy Lee returning is one and Gary Mac is a big fans favourite. I'm not sure this is a route Rafa wants to go down. But what about a reconciliation with Paco??

I was surprise to learn that Paco was the Director of Football at Real Sociedad since January this year and more surprised to learn that he had already left the post when it became apparent the club President was going to be the one making decisions on Chris Coleman's replacement.

The reasons behind Paco's departure seem to have been well protected in the months since, so maybe I'm grasping at straws. It would be pretty great though .

Bang out of order, Hicks!

Owner-manager relations at Anfield are at risk of deteriorating again after Tom Hicks admitted he and George Gillett had spoken to Jurgen Klinsman about becoming Liverpool boss. It is appalling that they cannot keep these matters in-house, where they belong.

I'd hate to see Rafa go and fear that perhaps they are trying to draw Rafa into a verbal slagging match - looking for a final excuse to sack him. Unfortunately I fear Rafa's position may be untenable anyway, given what's gone before.

The state of their finances should be a much bigger concern to them with DIC waiting in the wings of they fail to re-finance their loans in the next six weeks. Rafa might be there a lot longer than the two of them!
Carra provided the voice of reason today, echoing what a lot of fans think when he said: "The sooner we are out of the press the better because it's not the Liverpool way. The quicker that happens the better."

Perfect end to a tough week for Rafa

Rafa Benitez and his team came through a turbulent week with a three goal demolition of a sorry Newcastle United today. Gerrard opened the scoring with a scorching free kick, to quiet the boos of the home fans following England's midweek failure.

In the post match interview the inevitable question was asked and Rafa wasn't shying away from it, saying that the owners didn't understand the nature of football transfers and the urgency which is needed to secure the players you want in the short transfer window. There is a bit of a worry that Rafa will play this card once too often.

The owners are right in saying they backed Rafa this summer with funds, but the reality is that Liverpool are still short one or two players to be a championship winning side, in particular another centre back. If Rafa gets a centre back, secures the long-term future of Mascherano and keeps Torres fit, then Liverpool will be there right to the end.

But back to tonight's interview. While Rafa seemed magnanimous explaining a cultural misunderstanding for the weeks drama, he still got a dig in at the Americans saying he was going to concentrate on his team winning more games "for his fans".

Truth is, I think he's right - Liverpool fans want Rafa to stay and there are still some doubts over the way Hicks and Gillett are running the club. As a fan myself I worry about them spending so little time in the UK and the fact that nothing seems to be able to progress without them.

Another couple of wins before the two owners return will put Rafa in a strong negotiating position as well as putting the team in a strong position in the league. So heads down from coach and players, get the points on the board and worry about the transfer funds when something can be done about it.

Paco for the Hammers???

Paco Ayesteran hasn't been out of the news long. The dust has barely settled on his acrimonious departure from Anfield and he is now being linked to the soon to be created Technical Director of Football role at Upton Park.

Unsurprisingly, Alan Curbishley has thrown water on the rumours. Why wouldn't he, having seen the result of the power struggle across the way at White Hart Lane. These middle roles don't seem to suit the traditional role of the manager in English clubs.

Also, I wonder how Rafa would feel, pitting his wits against his former consiglieri.

Fantasy Rafa

I have been a regular participant in fantasy football over the past couple of years, but this week I was sent a great link which takes it to a whole new level - Fantasy Rafa. The premise is simple, the game itself less so - guess the Liverpool starting eleven that Rafa Benitez will choose for the next game.
Just to put into context how difficult this is, of over 34,000 guesses, only 443 have matched Rafa's final selection. So all you Liverpool and football fans get signed up and get guessing here.

Managerial mayhem

It's been a crazy week for managerial changes, not least of all the timing of Martin Jol's inevitable departure from Tottenham. As a football fan I feel very sorry for him as I believe he's a good coach and I think he was hounded out. In my opinion, that's not to Spurs advantage. The loss in the first group game of the UEFA cup tonight was a poor result, but not surprising given the upheaval of the day. The club's decision to sack him prior to the game is a questionable one.

Bolton's appointment of Gary Megson was another strange one. His past premiership record is poor and he only had a short spell at Leicester this season. Paddy Power are offering 15/8 on Bolton going down, which seems decent value to me. I think there are better managers out of work, some of which are being linked to ...

... the Irish job, which became open this week also. No surprise there. Brady, Souness and O'Leary top the bookies list, although Jol might now command fairly short odds. I was very interested to see John Delaney distance himself from the next appointment. There will be a committee of professionals hired as consultants - working within certain parameters re: salary etc - and the name they propose will be confirmed by the board ass the new Irish boss.

Finally Liverpool, where I don't expect a managerial change, but would love to see the assistant role filled. The return of Sammy Lee has been mentioned following his departure from the Reebok Stadium and I do believe the players would welcome that. Sammy was schooled in the Anfield boot room and is a popular figure at the club.

My preference would be a man who watched this week's European match in the Sky studios - Gary McAllister. He's another popular figure who had two great seasons at the club. He's a true professional and only the serious illness of his wife has kept him out of the game in the past few years. I think he could be just the man to replace Paco and re-instill the players' confidence.

Costly home draw

The good early start to the season for Liverpool, came to an abrupt halt yesterday, with a disappointing home draw against Birmingham. I have been very excited by the team's start to the season and I'm not changing my mind on their chances. They will be in the mix come March / April.

They struggled in Portugal mid-week, however and I think the doubts from that game carried on to yesterday's match. Tuesday's Carling Cup game against Reading should be a good chance for Rafa to start the fringe players and rest the more regular starters. They can get fresh and hit back against Wigan in the league next Saturday.

Draws like yesterday are the games which cost you the league when you look back in May. Let's regain the control we had in the early games.

Paco leaves Anfield

Big news coming out of Anfield today as it has emerged that Rafa's #2, Paco Ayesteran is leaving Merseyside. This will be a blow to the team as Paco has been an integral part of the coaching team for the past three years.

Prior to coming to Liverpool he worked with Rafa at Tenerife and Valencia. It is unclear whether his move is for personal reasons or whether he has had another job offer.

No news either on possible replacements although I for one, would like to see Gary MacAllister return to Anfield.

Jose embarks on comedy career

I can barely type I'm laughing so hard. I was just catching up on the BBC quotes of the week and Jose Mourihno's is a peach: "I think I have a naive team. They are naive because they are pure and they are clean. We don't have divers, we don't have violent people."

Rafa responds accurately as always (yes, I'm biased): "If Chelsea are naive and pure then I'm Little Red Riding Hood."

Anyway, here is the evidence of Jose's non-violent naive little flowers in action - in this first picture it's Essien trying to (un)surgically remove Didi Hamann's knee at Stamford Bridge and below the gentle chaps in blue having a discussion with some equally naive Arsenal players.

Heartbreak in Athens

It was a tough watch on Wednesday. Knowing your team deserve the result but can't quite get it. That's the reason that, even for a Liverpool fan, it is hard to begrudge Milan their victory. Just like in Istanbul, the best team lost on Wednesday and that's very tough to take. Milan were favourites, as you would expect following the previous meeting of the teams. On the night, however, that tag was washed away as the reds intensity and impetus pinned Milan back throughout the first half.

The Liverpool performance was fantastic and a clear indictment of the Rafa revolution, which has been trundling along for the past two years, but which now needs an injection of pace. Liverpool made the chances but couldn't finish them and here in lies the reason Rafa has called for the club to spend big and spend now. United and Chelsea have both splashed out big money on match winners and Liverpool need to follow suit. Eto'o or Torres would be ideal plus a second striker, perhaps Michael Owen. The rest of the team is pretty solid although I'm sure there will be a midfielder and a defender added too. A game turning striker is key however.

To finish up on Wednesday's game, I think it's worth mentioning the players. They should be very proud of their performance. The distance the team has come in two years is phenomenol. The new finance in the club should help bridge the final divide between Liverpool and the other top teams, both in England and Europe.

Player Ratings:

Reina..................8

Played very well and unlucky to be done by a wicked deflection. Commanded his box well.

Finnan................6

Steady as always. Not sure why he was subbed. My player of the year.

Carragher..........7

Not one of his more prominent games but fairly solid. Legs were gone when Inzaghi got away from him to score the second.

Agger.................7

Finished off a great season with a solid performance. Could be a reds great for many years to come.

Riise..................6

Not had the greatest season. He played fairly well.

Mascherano.....8

Bargain of the season. Did an great job on Kaka and may have stopped the second.

Alonso...............6

Not quite the same player this season. Had a reasonable game though.

Pennant............8

Great first half. Everything good about Liverpool went through him.

Zenden.............4

Just not up to it. Time is right for him to go.

Gerrard............8

Played well and tried everything. Should probably have done better with the one-on-one. Still looks best suited to the free role.

Kuyt..................7

Hard working as always, but shy on invention. His goal was just rewards for a good season. He'll be an invaluable partner to a new striker next year.