Today's Banter: Backlash from our first loss

As you probably would expect, most the news coming out of Anfield is about our 1-0 loss to Marseilles yesterday in Champions League play. What doesn't surprise me is that Rafa is not sharing his true opinion of the match. Why should he? There's no reason to give the English press more fodder to spin.

The only Benitez statement of remote truth that made print was him saying the Besiktas match in three weeks was now a must-win. I don't necessarily agree with him, but I do think it will make things a lot easier. Just as long as he doesn't play Crouch we have a chance.

I definitely disagree with him saying that's the worse home performance we've had since he's taken over. In Europe, maybe, but certainly the Carling Cup match with Arsenal last year comes to mind. Also, I don't think the whole team was bad and I do think singling out one player in particular is absolutely warranted.

Whether intentional or not, Crouch was atrocious yesterday. He played as if he was the star of the team, which he is not, and acted as if he was the only one in red on the field. He played out-of-position nearly the entire match and made a point of disrupting the forward flow of the ball whenever possible. Myself and others have already alluded to him possibly having ulterior motives, but despite that, he's just not good enough for our side. If Rafa doesn't sell him in the January window, maybe it's time to find a new manager as well.

I don't understand why people are so blind to Crouch's ways. He clearly was out of position the entire match. Intentional or not, it was mind-numbing. Is it because Tommy Smyth cajoled over the lanky striker? Listen, Tommy Smyth has his reasons and none of them are for the benefit of the club. The fact that he turned on Gerrard in the first ten minutes, before Gerrard was even able to get many touches on the ball is just laughable.

I usually listen to the sound off when I watch matches, particularly because of the commentators trying to manipulate what's actually happening on the field. The only reason I put up with it yesterday was because I was watching it with others.

Throughout the match Smyth was trying to get the viewers to feel sorry for Crouch by saying he's being mistreated at Liverpool due to Rafa's rotation. Rubbish. Crouch has been part of the side for over two years now, he knows Benitez is going to rotate and has yet to ask for a transfer. In fact, he has made statements in the past year or so saying he wants to remain at the club.

My favorite part is when Smyth appealed not to get on Crouch for his poor performance toward the end of the match because he has worked so hard. As if hard work is commendable if it doesn't accomplish anything. You can train a monkey to wash dishes, but if he keeps breaking them, purposely or not, what's the point? Also, I'd like Smyth to tell me who on our side didn't work hard. It's not as if we didn't want to win. Well, at least most of our players.

Tommy Smyth is either an idiot, which I highly doubt, or he has ulterior motives, of which I refuse to speculate. You either see the forest for the trees or you're just another blind man walking through a busy intersection. All right, I've said enough on the subject, Tottenham can't come quick enough. Cheers.