Benitez bemoans injury woes

Benitez bemoans injury woes

Under-pressure Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits he is facing the worst injury crisis he has had to contend with at Anfield.

Benitez has a number of problems ahead of this weekend's make-or-break showdown with arch-rivals Manchester United.

Key trio Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson are all major doubts for the United test as Benitez looks to end his side's slump in form.

Torres and Johnson both missed Tuesday's dramatic UEFA Champions League defeat to Lyon through injury, while Gerrard limped out of the match in the first half with a recurrence of his groin problem.

Benitez, who is finding himself under growing pressure at Anfield after overseeing their worst losing run since 1987, is waiting to find out the extent of the injury problems with Albert Riera and Martin Kelly also struggling with knocks.

"We have just too many problems, I cannot remember an injury situation like this," bemoaned Benitez.

"There are other players with other problems, I have no idea what team I can put out against Manchester United until we have had the players tested and seen by the medical team."

The Spaniard also explained the decision to take off Yossi Benayoun and send on Andriy Voronin in the closing stages against Lyon - a choice that was booed by the Kop.

"The fans know Yossi is a good player, but I felt he was getting a little tired and I wanted to use some fresh legs. We needed to change something, to put a fresher man on, and it was a chance worth taking," concluded Benitez.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5641594,00.html

Torres, Gerrard and Johnson major doubts? sh*t.

I may go to Church on Sunday Morning

Possibly not having Torres and Gerrard is obviously a huge blow, but losing another attcking player on Johnson is a big loss. Kelly did a fantastic job in deputising for him, but now he's injured!

Rafa has to do a proper mind job on our boys for Sunday as the scum will be out for revenge for last season.

We are in the sh*t if Torres and Gerrard aren't playing. I thought taking Gerrard off last night was just a precaution and that Torres is supposed to be fit? 

Is this Rafa's atempt of Mind Games? I Hope so  

Is this Rafa's atempt of Mind Games? I Hope so 

I hope so too.

Otherwise, much like the Lyon game, I'll be worried.

We'll battle on. We always do.

We'll battle on. We always do.

We may battle - but we aren't looking very good are we!  Our strength in depth is weak, and that's a major concern.

If you saw St John last night he was in no doubt that a lot of the players on show last night were not good enough for Liverpool.Without Gerrard and Torres we are lost.
But that got me thinking what happend when St John and Hunt, Toshack and Keegan, Rush and Kenny didnt play I cant remember them being out for too many games.With the extra number of internationals the players now have to play are they too stretched and always close to an injury. Which means in reallity we need 2 Gerrards and 2 Torres to be able to compete. All that being said in reallity we are woefully short of quality in the squad when I see Ngog after seeing the likes of the players I have already mentioned it doesnt look good.Unless we have a major clearout and buy quality in January (remember Gary Mcallister) I am worried were we will finish.
We are a club in crisis on and off the field until the Yanks either F**k off or die we are going nowhere only backwards.

We may battle - but we aren't looking very good are we!  Our strength in depth is weak, and that's a major concern.

And who's F***ing fault is that? who wanted to buy and strengthen the squad but was told there were insufficient funds,where has the money gone from the Xabi sale gone? and who has given the manager an £11m season limit on transfers till further notice?
The clubs demeanor is due entirely to the American FUCKWITS and I for one can take some small comfort in the knowledge that the cu*ts will be a tad concerned after the Lyon defeat, actually I'm perversely happy that the club are not making the F**k up work for them by ensuring they get an income for the sides progress to which they contribute F**k ALL.

And who's f**king fault is that? who wanted to buy and strengthen the squad but was told there were insufficient funds,where has the money gone from the Xabi the sale and who has given the manager an £11m season limit on transfers till further notice?
The clubs demeanor is due entirely to the American FUCKWITS and I for one can take some small comfort in the knowledge that the cu*ts will be a tad concerned after the Lyon defeat, actually I'm perversely happy that the club are not making the f**k up work for them by ensuring they get an income for the sides progress to which they contribute F**k ALL.

Agree mate - they do take a major part of the blame.  But Rafa's signings to date haven't been great.  And that's the truth.

Agree mate - they do take a major part of the blame.  But Rafa's signings to date haven't been great.  And that's the truth.

 :  Yeah, Torres has been a disastrous signing hasn't he?

Agree mate - they do take a major part of the blame.  But Rafa's signings to date haven't been great.  And that's the truth.

:  Yeah, Torres has been a disastrous signing hasn't he?

There's some truth in that. Look at Dossena, Bellamy and Keane. They were/are all pretty crap.

:  Yeah, Torres has been a disastrous signing hasn't he?

You've picked one signing - let's look at all the successes and failures.  Smug are we?!

You've picked one signing - let's look at all the successes and failures.  Smug are we?!

You can't speak about smug.

You've come back here posting when we're losing, yet again. Pathetic. Enjoy your annual 20 or so posts though, won't you?

There's some truth in that. Look at Dossena, Bellamy and Keane. They were/are all pretty crap.

True, he's not perfect.  But then he also signed Reina, Alonso, Garcia, Masch, Crouch to name a few other successes.

You can't speak about smug.

You've come back here posting when we're losing, yet again. Pathetic. Enjoy your annual 20 or so posts though, won't you?

Listen - I didn't come back at the end of the season - when we won nothing did I?? 

So I have every right to be smug!

True, he's not perfect.  But then he also signed Reina, Alonso, Garcia, Masch, Crouch to name a few other successes.

I would agree that Rafa has made some really quality signings but I think we've signed more average players than good ones even.

True, he's not perfect.  But then he also signed Reina, Alonso, Garcia, Masch, Crouch to name a few other successes.

??

Garcia - Crouch - don't play for us any more...and were sold because they were surpless to requirements.

There's a lot more bad than good I'm afraid.

Rafas signings here we go. If you want 4 players to replace players leaving the squad because of age or just not good enough then you need upwards of £60mil so when you only have £20 mil to buy 4 and you need 1 quality player you can do the maths and hence we have Ngog and Lucas rather than Villa and Silva.How much would a fit Sami cost and we replace him with a £2.5 mil player.When Rafa weeded out th elikes of Mellor.Traore etc we should of had a major 1 off investment of £100mil which we all thought the Yanks were bringing.Wrong Rafa has had to sell to buy if you sell a player for £5mil you will not get one in worth £20mil.Torres is his only major signing over £20 mil and hey presto we have the quality we desire.Johnson was expensive but is fantastic going forward which is what fullback are required to do these days.Give him the money and the proper support and he will succeed no doubt.But that will not happen under the Yanks.

Agree mate - they do take a major part of the blame.  But Rafa's signings to date haven't been great.  And that's the truth.

If you got peanuts to spend what can you buy? The manager has made a couple of big signings Torres and Alonso, off the top of my head the rest have been bargain basement stuff on that premise you cannot hope to compete with the money clubs. The situation at manUre is getting tighter they have had some extremely lucky on field escapes of late and their finances are starting to bite, where has all the dosh gone they got for ladyboy? No doubt the same place the Alonso cash disappeared to - shoreing up the owners finances.

Actually, can we keep this thread on-topic please.

This is about injuries, not signings.

I would agree that Rafa has made some really quality signings but I think we've signed more average players than good ones even.

Not disgreeing with you, but take the recent transfer kitty into account and he's not been able to buy quality.  Apart from Johnson who started very well but his form has tailed off, along with the whole team.  Who knows what Aquilani is going to give us, a lot I hope.  In the past I agree he's gambled on players who never settled.  Babel is a huge disappointment.  That lad could have it all, he's got the talent, but he doesn't seem to be arsed.

It's the quality players that make the difference though, there's always going to be some deadwood that doesn't work out.  Take Robbie Keane.  I was made up when he signed, but what a disappointment he was.  But the core of the team, apart from Carra and Gerrard who were already here, is made up of quality Rafa signings.  Just because we're not playing well at the moment doesn't mean they are not quality players.  

Edit: Sorry, posted this too late.

Back on T, it is a dismal situation for Rafa.  Half the team are crocked.  Just hope the knocks are not that serious.

As someone said earlier the reason we got so many injuries is all these stupid internationals and they really take the piss with the "friendlies" WTF is that all that about?

Listen - I didn't come back at the end of the season - when we won nothing did I?? 

So I have every right to be smug!

You are without doubt one of THE biggest shithouses I've seen on this forum.

You mention two players further up Crouch and Garcia, but both WANTED to leave, Garcia wanted to go back to Spain and Crouch considered his gobs***e country more important than the club he was at and was worried about a first-team place.

And before you mention Alonso, I bet the owners we'rent arsed that we sold him, all they saw were $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

This is without doubt one of the worst injury crisis's we've had under Rafa and the fact that Gerrard played last night was probably because Rafa wanted to placate some of the moaning fuckers we have as fans speaks volumes.

You are without doubt one of THE biggest shithouses I've seen on this forum.

You mention two players further up Crouch and Garcia, but both WANTED to leave, Garcia wanted to go back to Spain and Crouch considered his gobs***e country more important than the club he was at and was worried about a first-team place.

And before you mention Alonso, I bet the owners we'rent arsed that we sold him, all they saw were $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

This is without doubt one of the worst injury crisis's we've had under Rafa and the fact that Gerrard played last night was probably because Rafa wanted to placate some of the moaning fuckers we have as fans speaks volumes.

No need to get so aggressive mate!

I've been a Liverpool fan for 31 years.  I do not like Rafa - end of story, that's just my opinion.

We all have a passion - I may be negative, but at least i'm not aggressive. 

No need to get so aggressive mate!

I've been a Liverpool fan for 31 years.  I do not like Rafa - end of story, that's just my opinion.

We all have a passion - I may be negative, but at least i'm not aggressive. 

Yes I do!

Especially when it's from gloryhunters like you.

There was a saying I kept getting told by my grandparents when I was younger:

"You stick with your team through thick and thin." That includes the manager too.

And if you've been a Liverpool fan for 31 years - YOU should know better.

I'm 32 from Liverpool, I got my education from the old kop and old kopites, one thing we do is stick together and show solidarity.

And who said I was aggressive, I'm just calling it like I see it. You don't like Rafa

I don't like you - MY OPINION!!!

We are going into the biggest fight for the season. Which crucially might set the tone for the rest of the season.

TBH with you I rather we miss out playing our stars against the big teams, and ensure that we have our stars fully fit against the lower sides. That is when points are more easily won. Even if our deadly duo start against United on Sunday, no win is certain and even then it is going to be difficult to get anything out of the game (especially on our current form).

That being said though, I am hoping that the fact that we didn't start Gerrard and Torres up front at Anfield last season, and won, could be a good omen!

Back to the injury crisis: as far back as August when asked if we will win the league, I answered....

If Rafa had been willing or able to strengthen the team; my answer would have, without doubt, been yes. I don't think he's done that so whilst my answer is still yes - we'll need luck......We'll need luck in lack of injuries to key players and luck that last seasons under - performers can finally step up - we all know who I'm talking about in both cases.

There were some *cough* (Reslivo  ), who doubted that but them's the chickens that have come home to roost. We've had injuries to key players, at key times, we've even had the fickle finger of fate intervene by way of a f**king Beach-Ball but equally; those players who were obviously punching above their weight haven't shown. All teams need a bit of luck - ours will come.

In my opinion, (although not far from it), all is not lost but even if it is, (for this season), we will regroup and come back stronger. I am not a glory-hunter, I'll still be here. If we have to miss out short term to grow, so be it. I love Liverpool F.C. and always will - irrespective of titles or kudos, I'll still be a Red.

YNWA

No need to get so aggressive mate!

I've been a Liverpool fan for 31 years.  I do not like Rafa - end of story, that's just my opinion.

We all have a passion - I may be negative, but at least i'm not aggressive. 

Your stance can only inspire aggression from anyone who has the clubs success at heart, you say you do not like the manager but surely that is the most negative point of view that any supporter can take, the man is well qualified to do the job he is doing and any blame for the teams performance lies squarely on the shoulders of the players who supposedly possess the talent to perform to a professional standard - did you not like Rafa before or after he won us the fifth European Cup?

The Champions League win was a one-off - Miracle, however you want to put-it.

I was 'over-the-moon' like all lfc fans when we won it - and greatful for Rafa for getting us to the final.  However, his tactics didn't win us that final...he didn't plan for us to go 0-3 down and then bring on Hamman and we turn it around and win on penalties.

May be I'm being unfair on him - but something bugs me with him - I HOPE I'M PROVED WRONG!

I have no doubt you will be proved wrong, on a minor point LFC do miracles as a matter of course. 

The Champions League win was a one-off - Miracle, however you want to put-it.

I was 'over-the-moon' like all lfc fans when we won it - and greatful for Rafa for getting us to the final.  However, his tactics didn't win us that final...he didn't plan for us to go 0-3 down and then bring on Hamman and we turn it around and win on penalties.

May be I'm being unfair on him - but something bugs me with him - I HOPE I'M PROVED WRONG!

We reach the latter stages of the Champions league every year, how can you call us winning it a fluke..?

You are by far the most negative fan i've ever come across.. Even worse than the knee jerkers ffs..

As much as I like some of the shouts in this thread, I'd just like to remind you all.



Thank you.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=687765&sec=england&cc=5739

Looks like Johnson should be back on Sunday, which is good news with Kelly injured.
And possibly Torres, though not sure what shape he'll be in even if named to start.
I'd start Babel instead of Ngog. Scored in the game last time round. Ngog is too lightweight.

Reina
Johnson Agger Skyrtel Insua
Benny Masch Lucas Aurelio
Kuyt Babel

But Torres for Babel, if fit.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=687765&sec=england&cc=5739

Looks like Johnson should be back on Sunday, which is good news with Kelly injured.
And possibly Torres, though not sure what shape he'll be in even if named to start.
I'd start Babel instead of Ngog. Scored in the game last time round. Ngog is too lightweight.

Reina
Johnson Agger Skyrtel Insua
Benny Masch Lucas Aurelio
Kuyt Babel

But Torres for Babel, if fit.

Things can only get better as the man said and sure hell we gonna see an improvement!!!

Yes I do!

Especially when it's from gloryhunters like you.

There was a saying I kept getting told by my grandparents when I was younger:

"You stick with your team through thick and thin." That includes the manager too.

Its why Liverpool fans are the best. Togetherness and solidarity. Whilst i have reservations about Rafa and whether he should be there i would never let that stop me from cheering on the team vocally on a saturday!