It's a funny one isn't it. I have to admit to feeling a bit of a hypocrite - last season I used the 'Liverpool fans stand by their manager' line more than once during the interminable Rafa debates. But I can't bring myself to do it now.
Not because of my admiration for Rafa - I want Roy out because of the damage he is doing and I want him out before he does any more.
I know some will say that some of the issues below are not his fault and that Purslow was to blame. But isn't that indicative that we got the wrong man, could you imagine Dalglish or Pellegrini or Rijkaard or Deschamps sitting idly back while good players are sold or loaned?
Roy's damage:
Rather than putting an end to disruptive player power, he's pandered to it and made it even more of an English clique running the club. No wonder Torres looks fucked off. Cole and Gerrard expect to play where they want, and Carra expects to play every week. I know the latter point is nothing new, but it needs addressing as the decline is accelerating and his shouting is just looking hypocritical now.
Playing Meireles on the right. Moronic, bone-headed, unnecessary and no logic to it. Pretty clear to me he was scouted by Macia.
Buying Poulsen when any Juventus fan will tell you his legs went long ago.
Loaning Aquilani to Juventus while buying Poulsen from them - we are genuinely a laughing stock because of this. Aquilani starting for them and playing extremely well.
Loaning Insua out while he had a year on his contract, is aged 21 and who has serious potential. 21 is very young for an LB and his assists record last year was excellent, though he did make the odd defensive error. He's played in full internationals for Argentina. But you've loaned him, knowing full well we will now recoup no money for him. And replaced him with Paul fucking Konchesky? Any way you cut it, this is a fuckup. Even if Insua wasn't good enough (I think he was) that's money wasted by not selling him.
Picking the wantaway Masch over Lucas early in the season. Openly talking about Lucas being for sale. Terrible management of a player who gives everything and who has started to win the fans over after a torrid start.
Glen Johnson is a fine, international class attacking full back. He ain't going to be that if you don't let him outside his own half now, is he?
Repeated criticism of Daniel Agger who is, for me, our best CB. Just because your 'tactics' don't involve a cultured, passing CB Roy, doesn't mean you have to single him out for criticism and accuse him of 'miraculously recovering'from injuries in order to play for Denmark. Just look at his quotes over the summer. We don't have enough players with the right loyalty and attitude and you're making an example of one of those few. Brilliant.
The blaming of the players and absolving yourself of all personal responsibility after Northampton. Even worse, the cringingly embarrassing 'B-Team' comments. What did you hope to achieve by saying that? Lucas Leiva starts for Brazil. Daniel Agger captains Denmark. Babel was in a WC final squad this year. Even if they are fringe players for the first team (and they shouldn't all be), we do not have a B Team. Unbelievably poor man management, from a bloke who's fucking famed for being a man manager.
The incredible lack of ambition - as soon as he started he was banging on about people lowering their expectations. Really Roy? You'd just brought in Joe Cole and proclaimed him as the saviour of all that is good and holy. We don't expect you to win the title but lowering the bar you've set for yourself so quickly has a detrimental effect on the more ambitious players.
The abysmal shirking of responsibility in press conferences.
The embarrassing bleating on about 35 years of experience. If I were you Roy I wouldn't encourage people to look too closely at your CV.
The instant change from zonal marking to man marking. Is this because Sky don't like zonal? Roy, weren't you the man who famously and controversially switched Inter Milan from man to man to zonal marking? The players are used to zonal marking. Last season was a horror show in many respects but we still conceded the 3rd least amount of goals. Bizarre decision to make so swiftly.
Our best performances in recent years have seen the back 4 on the halfway line as we attack, and we've pressed teams to death. Now we not only don't do that, we let other teams to do it to us. Most recently Everton yesterday. Fine, you might have employed a reasonably successful system with moderate teams over the years, with the defence deep and hoofing aimlessly. But, again, you've changed something that our players were used to, and which has been successful for them. Why? Is it because a high line doesn't suit Carra? Well fucking stick Agger in then. Mind you, you've gone on record as saying you won't change your tactical beliefs. Thanks at least for that honesty, helps us make our mind up quicker.
It is painfully obvious that Fernando Torres is unhappy at leading the line on his own with the midfield 40 yards away, having to hope that a hoof falls for him. That's why he isn't playing well - so stop hinting to the press that he's off form. Even if he was in the form of his life, he'd still only get a chance a game unless you change the system to suit his (and other players) strengths.
Your criticism of the SOS protests was, being kind, ham fisted.
Yesterday's bizarre rudeness re: Denmark and Norway to a Norwegian journalist. WTF was that? Are you aware how many Scandinavians follow the team?
Rafael van der Vaart apparently 'didn't fit the profile of player we are looking for'. Really? I can believe that, but all it does is further convince me that you're trying to mould LFC into Fulham. Please don't. A player with skill and creativity is exactly what we need. Van der Vaart or, dare I say it, Aquilani fit the bill.
Liverpool managers do not cosy up to Alex Ferguson. How about making an effort to engage with the fans of your own club rather than improve relationships with other managers eh? For the record Carra was dead wrong on this recently too. We don't need to be nice to other teams FFS - quite the opposite. Rafa got under Ferguson's skin which had a hand in some excellent results against them recently. It also gets the fans behind you.
There are more mistakes and indiscretions than those I've listed off the top of my head, and it's an incredible list given the short time he's had at the club. Incredible.
So yeah, I'm a hypocrite. I fully agree with the tenet that we should support the manager. But I'm not convinced that he was brought in for the right reasons, and I'm also not sure that if he stays it will be for the right reasons...so I'm struggling to now.
