As much as I hate to say it, qualifying for the CL and being within 10-15 points of the league is about par for us right now. I know some people love to hate Benitez but I honestly do not believe that anybody can safely say that manager x could regularly better that working within the parameters he is working within.
This is the main issue, he's good enough for that, but if Liverpool want to push to really win the league he's not the guy, will someone do better, you won't know till you try to be honest, thats the way football managers, and players go. Benitez's peak at Liverpool has been and gone, which means do the club want to continue where they are, which will very likely be outside the top 4 from now on, because they don't make the money required to spend every year. Utd have the backing of their owners for spending and sustaining an already better squad. Chelsea, city, well, even if it takes City a couple years and another manager, I can't see them finishing consistantly behind Liverpool, Arsenal are pretty much raking it in, with one of the largest squads and maybe the only team in the league who can fund a new 30million player every year on profits alone.
The thing is, if you start finishing outside the top 4 now, will Torres and Gerrard, Reina and maybe 1-2 others go, if so, you can't afford to replace them, a slip to 5th is a stepping stone to a much larger slip.
Which is why selling Torres/Gerrard at peak values so you can afford to replace them with more players and stop that big slip is a sound financial decision even if not one that will win you the league. You might at this stage wonder which is better, more not so good players, or Torres and not much else upfront. But isn't it fairly clear considering the direction the club is going in at the moment, compared to the situation of having more less good players a few years ago. Hell even with the supposedly terrible Keane last year you were doing significantly better, a better squad is FAR more important than a couple of individuals. Other managers see this, infact almost every other top manager builds teams that way Benitez seems to be the only one who prefers a tiny squad with a couple uber expensive players in. I think theres lots of managers who can do better, the question would be who would come to the club.
Don't quite a lot of players complain about Benitez's "feedback", with quite a few players saying he really doesnt' help them improve at all.
I can't understand the Arsenal game tonight, qualification was all but assured before tonight anyway, it was a completely unimportant game. Firstly why rush Gibbs back in with a heavily bruised foot only a week earlier, give him time, no need at all to rush him back to play a pointless game against a crap team at home. LIkewise the Gallas incident was, bizarre to say the least, this wasn't Arsenal vs Chelsea, he'd taken a big knock on the ankle, almost knocked himself out, staggered to the edge of the pitch and played another what 10-15 minutes? He got injured, no need for him to be on the pitch just get him off straight away. Again not sure why Gallas, Cesc, Gibbs started. Gallas especially played 2 full France games with extra time in one, aswell as the full 90 before and after. I don't think I've ever seen a player come back on the pitch like Gallas did, he was staggering, looked like he could easily fall, wasn't quite there, frankly surprised the 4th official/ref didn't stop him coming on, utter madness.
The lack of rotation and protection is stupid to start with let alone for ridiculously easy and pointless games. I'm still angry Wenger decided to play full strength against Wolves and rest players against Sunderland, reverse the teams for those games and we win both.
