18th February 2006 :
Well it took eighty-five years to do it, but we knocked out Old Trafford in the FA Cup!
If you think it was a long time since we won Ol'Big Ears (to keep!), today's achievement definately puts things into perspective, does'nt it?! That 90+ minutes today, wiped away 85 years of angst, and replaced it with pride!
Rafael Benitez, at the helm of Liverpool in Istanbul, achieved a superlative success against AC Milan that drove us absolutely wild with joy! In our joy, the majority of posters achnowledged that AC Milan where more than worthy opponents, to succeed against such a competitor on the field of competition made the victory all the sweeter!
(A quick pointer to the previous match -) Against Arsenal, I sensed a belief from Our Team that they were gelled in their Teamwork. I have'nt seen Liverpool control a match on the pitch with such professionalism since the early eighties. They really did make Arsenal look lack lustre! Our midfield were superb, and we dominated the control of play. We out-classed Arsenal with dignity and prowess.
One game at a time, Rafael Benitez is building. He has been re-building since he joined us. When he began to rebuild when he first joined us, he had to do so with the non-acrimonious departure of Gerrard Houllier and eventually Thommo.
I do not ever doubt the passion that these two men gave to our Club, and still have. Without their hard work we would not have achieved the successes that we achieved in those years. Once, however, GH suffered his heart attack, and Phil had to shepherd the Team day in and week out, everybody on this forum wished GH the best of health. In fact he did come back to us, probably sooner than he should have done after such a major operation, such was his determination and passion for our Liverpool FC.
'Hou, Hou! Who let the Reds Out?!'
The cheers he got from the crowd when he returned were laudable when he returned to the touchline.
If GH, from a basic, to a well thought out appreciation, of the pressures and demands that were needed to advance Liverpool for the then next season are to be considered, it soon becomes clear that despite GH's protestations that he was'nt going any where, actually meant that we had aquired 'someone'. He was not Portugese, but Spanish. GH's departure from the club was emotional for a lot of people, despite mistakes highlighted, without the gains aquired and acknowledged, by some people.
Back to the point. Rafael Benitez actually inherited somebody else's Team. From his point of view he had to work with what was given to him - and start from scratch.
One game at a time, Rafa started to rebuild.
The injuries that we, Liverpool, sufferred in Rafa's first season were horrendous. Both Carra & Baros were crippled at the Blackburn game (Souness was the manager- no reflection intended), Alonso with the break from Lumplard, Garcia, Smicer, Gerrard, etc, and more injuries were to come - highlighted by Djbril Cisse's horrific leg break. Doc Waller's treatment room could have produced it's own calander -
'The Plastercast Cast Of Liverpool FC' !
What a difference from the beginning of that Season to the achievement at the Ataturk Stadium, ey!
I know this is a long post, but bare with me for just a little longer.
Rafa, in his first season with Liverpool, got Ol'Big Ears to Keep! It had been a substantial number of years since we attained, or come any where near Bob Paisley's achievements - Rest In Peace dear man. In this Season, Rafa and the Team knock out Manure for the first time in the FA Cup since 1921! Absolutely ruddy unbelieveable!
The magnitude of this win should not be underestimated. I truly understand where Peter Crouch is coming from when he said that today's goal has to be the most important one of his career! Good on yer mate!
Rafa said,
"After 85 years to beat Manchester United is fantastic," enthused Benitez. "We need to enjoy this win with our supporters and we deserved it. Our supporters were fantastic and the team responded to them.
"For me team work was the key and we worked really hard all game. When you play against the top sides you need to play at a high tempo. We controlled the first half and scored a good goal and created some good chances.
"Manchester United didn't create clear cut chances and we defended well. We have a lot of confidence and it is really good for the team and the supporters."
Too right, Rafa!
You did well today.....yes.
It's good to be
Red!
