Its an open question no hidden meaning. I get angry at people for criticising him and here's why. For over 40 years I have supported the Reds my dad before me and his before him way back to the 1920's I expect there are many like me on here. I have never known such negativity at the club especially from the Boardand now apparently from "fans". I see lots of people on forums having a go at Rafa and when I have a go back I am told they are entitled to their opinion. Well are they really?. Do they have to be a season ticket holder ,a born and bred scouser or can anyone declare themselves a Liverpool supporter and feel free to try and rip them apart when they feel like it. At the moment I cant get to as many matches as I would like and I feel that because of that I don't really have a right to criticise the players or the manager instead I think they deserve my support because LFC means so much to me that it irks me to see people constantly sniping at them. So If I am wrong and the criticisers are the lads and lasses that go to home and away games week in week out then I apologise for I believe these are the true supporters and its them that I usually find are very supportive of Rafa and his team.
I'm critical of Benitez for many reasons and just because he's Liverpool manager doesn't mean I can't question what he does.
I would like to know however if you one of the few who never wanted Souness gone or if you thought one more year and Houllier will turn it around? I wouldn't be surprised if you (or anybody for that matter) come on and say "they always got my support". Sometimes though support is what holds us back, Houllier lasted one year too long because of the support he got (this coming from one of Houllie's biggest fans as well). That's what took us back again and has made Benitez' good work look like mircale work.
For me people's blinded opinion of Benitez is down to two things, neither of which actually happens to be "oh he's Liverpool manager therefore I love him." One is obviously that night where the unthinkable happened and we reclaimed the European Cup in Istanbul. Since that happened people have generally accepted Benitez as one of the greatest European managers of his time, I know I have. It also took fans love affair with him to new heights and because of that night in 2005 people still believe we've got to take what he does as always right. The other is what happened off the field with the Yanks and with Parry. Because people took such a hatred to the owners and CEO (rightfully) they think Benitez is again always right. Now from a personal perspective I've never thought Benitez was faultless in the what happened off the field and that's one of the things I'm very critical of him about.
I support Benitez, whether or not I'm critical of him. So I think people have every right to be critical of Benitez, providing they're willing to give him the praise he deserves. Some aren't and won't see any right in what he does, some won't see any wrong in what he does. I support Liverpool but have a football brain which is why I can see the good and bad in Benitez (and most things football). I don't let my love for the club blind me.
« Last Edit: Feb 09, 2009 05:21:24 pm by dunlop_liddell_shankly »
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