KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Rafa right to slam Fergie

I agree with what Rafa has said, point by point, however I do wish he had timed it better. By that I mean I wish he hadn't said it by way of response to Ferguson's apparant "mind games". If he had have come out with this beforehand it would have been a more bitter blow to Ferguson than what will appear to be a cracking retort to step 1 of "mind games 2009". The media will drag up Rafa's comments when he bitched about the fixtures back in either 2006 or 7 when we played early on Saturdays and it will be thrown back in our faces. I just wish he hadn't said anything, even though I must admit I did enjoy seeing him slate Ferguson..!

Firstly I want to express the shear pleasure I got from having all the things that every single non-Manc fan wanted to be said about Fergie said today by our very own man.

Secondly, I have to say that this is probably the greatest piece of mindgames that I've ever seen since Fergie made Keegan epically lose it. Fergie is a notorious moaner, infact he bases a significant proportion of his success on moaning untill he gets his own way. As Rafa rightly said, Fergie has moaned about fixtures, refs and probably even the number of players that the opposition has (which if Bennett is refereing will result in one of the opposition being sent off). His moaning will have a natural effect on the performance of the referee, although we know it shouldn't do. It is out of order and is in fact cheating.

Now that Rafa has let this cat out of the bag, it will do three things. Firstly, it will detract attention away from Gerrard in particular. Secondly, it will halt the Mancs ability to "zonal mark" the referee and influence his decisions, plus it will limit Fergie's mindgames with the FA and the PremierLeague (no longer shall he be aloud, hopefully, to take the [oops] out of the whole concept of fair play and respect). Thirdly, this will be our teams rallying call, a call to arms to thick it through untill the last game of the season and hopefully will stir things up in the Manc camp. As Dunk said, we should leave this to rest now, as I can only see positive effects arising from Rafa's comments.

Arise Sir Rafa! (if only they would knight our adopted scouse manager, make more sense than knighting whiskey nose)

Agreed, it was all well planned, specially the timing... We are in a great position if we win at Stoke as our two nearest rivals plays the day after, and Raffa did well to state the FACTS and put the referees under pressure (not to favour the Scums) for the Sunday game (Raffa surely believes the Scum are our nearest rivals)

Referee Graham Poll Backs Rafael Benitez Over Ferguson
Former top referee Graham Poll has revealed he is in complete agreement with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, after the Reds' boss hit out at Sir Alex Ferguson.

Former Premier League referee Graham Poll has handed Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez his backing, following the Spaniard’s astonishing outburst against Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday.

Benitez launched a scathing attack on the Manchester United manager, claiming that Ferguson is able to criticise and intimidate referees without punishment.

Former referee Poll has admitted that he agrees whole-heartedly with Benitez’s comments and also revealed he expects most referees would also back the Liverpool boss.

According to the Daily Mail, Poll said: “Rafa Benitez has articulated what referees have been thinking for years - that Sir Alex Ferguson can say what he wants about them and the FA will allow him to get away with it.”

Although Ferguson has recently served a touchline ban, imposed by the FA, Poll insisted this was not for comments made and claimed that the Scot receives preferential treatment by English football’s governing body.

“The authorities could point to Ferguson's two-match ban imposed earlier this season as proof that he is not out of reach of their disciplinary department,” explained Poll, “But that was for marching onto the field after the 4-3 win over Hull and for comments made directly to the referee, Mike Dean, who, in reporting the misconduct, forced the FA's hand.”

Well if Utd lose tomorrow it will have been very astute as the pressure will suddenly be very much on Ferguson. :-)))

Of course if we dont win tonight ...

a friend just sent me this:

This bloke does wind me up, Sky have been running a piece where he says sinces Abramovitch came to Chelsea, scum have had to change tactics and concentrate on developing youth.

It didn't ring true so I did a spot of research and sent them this:

When are you guys going to start doing your job and stop taking every word that comes out of Ferguson’s mouth as gospel? There is always an agenda.

Your programme this morning features a segment where he states that as United can not match Chelsea’s spending power since Abramovitch took over, United had to plan for the long term and develop their younger players. He is either deliberately lying or hasn’t checked his facts. His motive? To imply Chelsea buy success, United don’t.

Since Abramovitch took over United have spent £335 million! Nearly £60 million per season – how is that developing youth?

Look at tomorrow’s possible line-ups more closely and you get nearer the truth.

United – Van Der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Scholes, Carrick, Park, Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov.

Do you see any youth players there? 2 – Scholes and Neville – United have not brought youth players through since well before Abramovitch’s reign!

Chelsea – Cech, Boswinga, Cole, Terry, Carvalho, Lampard, Ballack, Cole, Deco, Anelka, Drogba.

Uniteds line-up cost £192.5 million.
Chelsea - £145.8 million.

As Rafa said yesterday – THESE ARE FACTS.

Please do your job, there are so many myths about United, Ferguson keeps exploiting them and the media do not do their job.


Anyway, I know it's a waste of time and I'm spitting in the wind and I'm bitter etc etc but if nothing else it's useful info the next time ur around one who's having a pop at us trying to buy success!! (I wish!)

Personally I wish Rafa kept his mouth shut.

when I saw him taking out the sheet of paper I put my hands over my eyes. what was he thinking. I'd say fergie was pissing himself.

and then to put out 2 defensive midfielders and leave torres and keane on the bench.......

stick to your usual comments Rafa and concentrate on the next game and dont take the bait....

I am glad Rafa hit out as he has only said what the other managers in the PL have wanted to say for a long time now. He wasn't makin a statement that we were better or that we were poorly treated he was just stating the facts that Fergie gets better treatment from the oficials.

And finally Rafa succeeded. We saw the result, the mancs smashed the blues, while Rafa fielded a team without striker (at a relegation candidate team's home) when the next match was 9 days away...
So, Rafa, pls shut up, and play the strongest team

Be realistic, the outburst had nothing to do with the team selected to play against Stoke, nor did it have any effect on the players. This game was exactly the same as the one at home. Rafa just couldn't work out how to break down Stoke's defence.

Mind you, Keane and Torres up front from the start would have tested them a little more.