Motivation is down to the manager, you can blame rafa all you want, but 7 of the players yesterday were in the squad that thrashed manure 4-1 less than 2 years ago...on that day the players responded to Rafa and trusted him...the 7 who played yesterday didn't respond to the current manager...
During Rafa's 6 years we had a 3 and a half month spell where we played to our absolute maximum. During that spell we beat ManU 4-1. Chosing that game as being representative for the level we played to under Rafa ain't just dishonest, it's incorrect.
Drive and determination in players is a must and that i think Torres and Gerrard and on certain days Carra can be primadonna's...there is a fine line between wanting to win and losing faith with a manager...they began to show distrust in the last 6 months of Rafa's reign...that they are already doing the same with Roy says it all...
This is more like it. I think you're making a very valid point and as far as my criticism of Roy goes I am disappointed that he hasn't managed to instill more passion and fighting spirit in the squad.
On a more general note I would say the main reason to our failure this season is our reluctance to realise how good, or poor, we really are. Yesterday's game, just like the derby, was all about passion and fighting spirit. ManU and Chelsea manage to tackle these situations and teams by relying on the quality they possess. That, in turn, allows them to stick to their gameplan. We do not have the same quality in the squad yet we turn up with the idea we're such a good team some old pass'n move footy will secure us the points. That's delusional to say the least.
It's easy really, we're a mediocre team. That means, on our day we can play very good football against the best sides as our win against Chelsea is evidence of. It also means we aren't that much better, or have that much better player than most of the team we face during the course of a season. In those games opponents will, just like Stoke and Everton, rely on passion and fighting spirit. We need to learn to play the same way as they do. Only then will we give ourselves a genuine chance to pick up maximum points.
That won't happen tho with the large number of overpaid primadonnas populating our squad. We need to ask ourselves: "What character should a Liverpool player posess? What are the core values?". We need to sign honest players with honest morals. Most of our players seem willing to win trophies but reluctant to put in the hard work it requires.
And having to listen to people suggesting Hiddink, Hitzfeld and even Scolari... well I don't even know where to start. One thing's clear tho, those people haven't learnt one thing the last decade. My view is the most important thing right not is to get a manager in who understands the sociology of football, i.e., a manager who understand and appreciate the value of establishing an identity on which future success can be built. ManU will probably suffer for years on end once Fergie retires, but God did they have plenty to cheer about while he was still in charge?
