Rafa taking Liverpool astray, fans scream don’t stay

JAN 31 — Six months ago Robbie Keane was living a boyhood dream. He was quoted as saying: “It means a hell of a lot to wear that No. 7 jersey with the players that are associated with it. To wear that jersey as a Liverpool fan is a dream come true for me”.

Oh, if he only knew then that the dream was to become a nightmare six months later. In fact, by the third month, the signs were there for all to see. Liverpool may have made a mistake in buying Keane, let alone overpaid in the transfer market.

Don’t get me wrong, Keane is a great player and is a terrific asset to any team. But I think that Rafa Benitez has failed him.

Whatever the reason for Keane’s failure to score regularly, shutting him out of the team altogether is only going to make the player's situation worse.

Keane, if and when he leaves Liverpool, will walk away with his reputation as a great striker still intact but Rafa’s reputation could take a further dent.

As you all know, I am not a Liverpool fan, but it is clear to me that Rafa is lucky to still be in his job. Why? It is simply because of his inability to deliver the much-desired Premier League title after four seasons of trying.

In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that he never even looked like he really challenged for the title while at Liverpool.

He got lucky, yes lucky, winning the Champions League in his first season. That got him a place in the hearts of all Liverpool fans. Unfortunately for the same fans, it also seems to have extended his stay at Anfield by at least a season or two simply out of goodwill.

But many don’t realise that he did it with a team that was built mostly by his predecessor Gérard Houllier.

Rafa brought in Luis García, Xabi Alonso, Josemi and Antonio Núñez in his first season, but only the first two played in that amazing final against AC Milan. Josemi and Núñez were unused substitutes. (The latter pair also lasted only one full season in England before being shipped back to Spain.)

Even the Special One Jose Mourinho was willing to acknowledge, after winning his first Premiership title at Chelsea, that Arjen Robben and most of the other key players in his squad were the legacy of Claudio Ranieri.

Rafa has never offered the same courtesy to Houllier.

So, to summarise, Rafa Benitez hasn't really achieved anything, by way of titles, with a team comprising mostly of players that he brought in.

More than anyone, he has to thank Steven Gerrard for being the key to both the Champions League and FA Cup titles in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Everyone could see that it was the inspirational Liverpool captain who helped turn around both matches, when it looked like they were going to lose as a result of the same tactical decisions that leave many fans scratching their heads several times a season.

Back to this season, the Reds haven’t won since Rafa’s famous rant at Alex Ferguson earlier this month.

Four consecutive draws have seen Liverpool drop from first to third in the Premier League. It is not just a run of bad form. There is something not quite right at Anfield with late equalisers and some ridiculous substitutions. It almost seems self-inflicted.

In the second half against Wigan Athletic on Wednesday, Rafa took off Fernando Torres and brought on a midfielder in the person of Albert Riera. Fans were cringing at the move and they were soon reminded why.

It was the same mistake that Rafa made during the draw against Everton. It was also a decision made to the obvious disgust of Keane and Dirk Kuyt, who were both on the bench itching to get in on the action.

Sure enough, Wigan equalised and eventually Keane came on in the 84th minute. Problem was, Rafa, in his inexplicable wisdom, decided to replace Gerrard with the striker.

Now, everyone and their grandmother knows that Gerrard is the consummate professional who never ever stops trying and scores about 10 to 20 late goals a season, many in stoppage time even.

And, of course, this was not the proper Robbie Keane. This was a man robbed of his confidence and identity by his manager. Any five-year-old could have predicted how the game would end.

Every week this past month, Rafa comes out in press conferences having to deny that the aforementioned rant has backfired on him and the players.

He also insisted he is not indulging in mind games with Ferguson, saying: "I have no psychological battles with him."

In a way, he is speaking the truth. This was not a psychological battle.

A psychological battle implies … well, first of all, it implies a battle. This is no battle. This was like a rodent throwing sticks at a snake hoping one pokes him in the eye. All the snake has to do is take a single lunge and devour the feisty little rodent.

The time has come for reality to finally set in. Rafa Benitez is not the man to lead Liverpool to glory any longer. They win the early battles but they will fail when it matters most.