Is This Really Rafa’s Fault?

By: Dave Martinez | November 1st, 2009

rafabenitezdejected This was the face that told the story, as Liverpool was stunned at Craven Cottage yesterday, taking a 3-1 loss with them into their Champions League clash against Lyon this Wednesday. (So much for that Manchester United revival, huh guys?)

The loss thrusts the spotlight back on Rafa Benitez. But is such scrutiny deserved? Let’s take a look at yesterdays debacle for some clues.

Objectively speaking (which is difficult for this backer of the Whites), Liverpool had control of the first half (for the most part). Fulham capitalized on their mistakes early to cash in a goal against the run, but Liverpool quickly showed their class and had things tied up by the end of the half. They even began the start of the second strong, with Insua forcing Schwarzer to make the save on a set piece.

The problems began for Rafa’s side when he was forced to take out an unfit Fernando Torres, who notched the first goal, perhaps saving him for Wednesday. Shortly their after, Erik Nevland proceeded to victimize the Reds defense with a short ranger for the lead. A pair of red cards to Philipp Degen and captain Jamie Carragher then sealed the deal, as the nine man side could not prevent Clint Dempsey from tapping in the third and decisive goal.

Snow ball effect. Gotta love it.

Today, the speculation rages once more. Whether right or wrong, six loses in seven, regardless of circumstance, will definitely draw the ire of supporters, management and media alike – especially for a supposed Top Four club.

Injuries up and down your lineup Rafa? No matter. Unfit players? Sorry. Antics out of your hands? Too bad. More is expected of the Reds than that, which is the curse of the standard he has created. The question begs – are all of the teams current woes a byproduct of Rafa Benitez? Or is he a victim of circumstance? Does his overall record, trophies and all, speak louder than his current performance? Or is it time for a change? Share your thoughts with us.

Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

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Category: England, English Premier League, Europe, Leagues, Photo of the Day

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Alperinho

There are only three top quality players in the Liverpool squad: Carragher (and it's doubtful-we know he is not one John Terry or one Rio Ferdinand), Gerrard (okay yeah when he is in form he is the best even when he is average he is above the rest) and Torres (the best pure striker in the PL)... but the rest of the squad? Come on, you cannot win the premiership with the likes of Benayoun, Degen, Insua and others not even with Pepe Reina-he is too unpredictable... These are all good players can't deny but if you are competing against Chelsea or ManU they are not enough, you can defeat them in single games but in a 38 game league eventually you will drop out.

I love Liv'pool-even though I'm a fan of Besiktas (remember us-L'pool was GR8, yeah funny story) but we have to see the fact that if Rafa stays they can't be champions, simple as that... with all that money he sells xabi alonso and arbeloa and expects every fan to buy it... well for once, I do not... I believe Steve McClaren would be Liverpool cure even in short term...
Dan

Fair enough Dave Martinez. It's just a lot of people were describing this result as a shock when I thought we could definitely get a result against Liverpool. Barring that win against United, there were the out-of-form side, Fulham were unbeaten in five and have a tremendous home record.

As for Benitez, I'm not sure it's that big a story. Yes, it's another defeat but it was obvious Liverpool weren't going to win the title this year. The club can't afford to sack him, the owners haven't got the money to buy in big players to fund a serious title tilt and Liverpool might well win nothing again.
Ed

Yeah, theALBERTUS, that's the whole, "We've won it 5 times" thing. As of now it's 1 FA Cup, but I'm all for being optimistic. Loyalty to the club is one thing, loyalty to one man is completely another. This whole Rafa Benitez omnipresence thing is offputting; he's been good, but he's going to come under fire if Liverpool don't start to deliver in the next half of the decade under his reign.
Ranjeet

Ol'Ears No.5,mate
theALBERTUS

I agree with LFC4Life. With all you supposes LFC supporters who don't even have the balls to stand up, then shame on YOU! Frakking Judasses! You forgot who brought us Ol' Ears no.6 to Anfield for good! You forgot who brought us FA Cup Championships. To you I say, your'e frakking TWATS! Funny thing is most of you LFC supporters are overseas! Where is your loyalty!

To me you're all just as bad as Owen!! Stand up and deliver and standby the KOP!
Ed

Ditto this column.
Diane

The only things I have to say will only help further confuse the undecided. I have mixed feelings about this. Probably because Rafa does some things well and at other times drives me batty. He hasn't made more mistakes in player acquisition than other managers, but I'm not sure that he's the best at getting the best out of the talent once he has them. Obviously some respond well to his training methods, but there are also plenty of casualties over time that seemed unnecessary.

Although I think the owner mess and financial fallout are real, I also think that Rafa took on more responsibility than he can handle. Possibly if he had the money promised he would have been successful at everything he wanted to do with the club and academy. But he didn't get it so I agree with those that say he should have shopped more carefully.

The most important thing is regarding winning the League. He admitted that when he first arrived he underestimated quite how important this was to the fans, but he's known for awhile and he continues to at least give the impression of putting it second to the CL. On the other hand, that may not be a fair assessment and its just been a coincidence of fitness problems. OR pressure from the owners for the CL money that's keeping him sweating.

I would also have to hear who people think should (are available) to replace him before I thought it might be better for the club if he left. I certainly can't think of anyone who is available to come in mid-season. I never think its a good idea to change managers mid-season unless the players have stopped playing for him, and that doesn't seem to be the case with our guys -- yet.

As always, I'm still hoping he finally pulls it off!
des

of course it is his fault. who else's could it be. bad defensive formation; poor tactical plan, underestimating the opponent (disrespecting their talent), stupid stupid and stupid substitutions, moronic character makes it solely his mistake.

of course there are thousands of man utd and chelsea fans posing as liverpool fans (who then sucker a whole bunch of dumb liverpool fans into the bull faeces) who think rafa can do no wrong and even when he is wrong they find all sorts of excuses for him.
Lfc4life

Even if we were playing great football, fulham is a place that Is hard to take points from....
I was thinking we would draw there...
So for me its a point lost.
As for rafa he will turn it around big.... Im not happy, but niether concerned!
Dave Martinez

Dan, if you want anyone to pat Fulham on the back, it will gladly be me! But the bigger story to come out of this is Benitez future. And that speaks to the level which Fulham has achieved over the past few seasons since their relegation battle - they are gaining respect. And when Fulham plays at that level, and the headlines aren't all about "WHAT AN UPSET" it was, it brings a big fat smile to my face. Fulham continues to build a competitive and underrated squad.
Dan

Benitez made some strange decisions but Fulham deserve some credit for their display yesterday.

Having been on the back foot for much of the first half, they came out and were much more aggressive in the second period despite having conceded just before the break and lost two important players to injury at half-time. Bobby Zamora was outstanding - neither of Liverpool's centre backs could contain him. Hodgson's building a smashing side down by the Thames yet all the comment is about Rafa's woes.
Ben Ng

When a manager says it's not important to win trophies, it's time he's sacked. Just because he has a 5 year contract, Rafa thinks he's untouchable. Supporters can be forgiven for thinking the Fulham game was a Carling cup game considering the players used - Babel, Voronin, Ecclestone, Kyrgiakos and Degen. Subbing Torres and Benayoun before putting 3 points in the bag is foolish. Losing to Fulham would have been acceptable if Rafa didn't throw in the towel. Rafa's excuses are pathetic. A manager who just wants to be there but not win trophies is unacceptable.
Evans, J.

Who´s fault is it if it isnt Rafa´s?? He buys the players and this is now absolutely his team and having 5+ years to assemble the necessary players does this make it even more his fault. He has got plenty of money to spend on quality but decided to spend it on quantity instead which is his downfall. That´s life and he will have to deal with it. Cant wait for him to go to Real Madrid and f*** up things there!
Dave Martinez

The Cottagers. Silly.
Dave

Who are the whites
CharlieFineman

Oh yeah, they've got Mascherano as well.
CharlieFineman

To all those blaming the owners, i suggest you take a look at Newcastle :> They manage to stay top of Championship with a caretaker manager. Don't blame the owners, blame the manager and/or the squad. Rafa's rather dodgy transfer dealings leave me wondering whether he got it right. I'd say Livepool got 5-6 really good players, with Torres and Gerrard being cream of the crop then Kuyt, Reina, Riera and Benayoun. The rest are largely underperforming, or just can't raise their game to the occasion. What's funny is that Liverpool go out and beat United 2-0 but still manage to lose a few games in between. My worst fear for them is that they're about to miss out on CL place next year, unless they beat Lyon of course.
dave martinez

Oh damn, I forgot the Benayoun sub also. Good call Mike.
Michael

Yeah it's largely his fault. Over estimating average players like Kuyt and Lucas, Voronin meant that Crouch, Keane, Bellamy, Alonso et al. have left us. The current team with the exception of Torres and Gerrard is fairly poor. Apparently he's had no money in the transfer market but we spent best part of £40 million in the summer about £30 last summer and he's come up with a weaker squad becuase poor man management. That's before we even mention the bizarre selections and substitutions that irritate everybody.
Dave Martinez

Oh boy.
Johonna

Rumors around Milan are that Roberto Mancini has been contacted by Liverpool.