Published: Wednesday, 27th January, 2010 4:45pm

Benitez merits backing by supporters

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This week's Merseybeat is written by Liverpool FC supporter Paul Smith from Mullaghea, Kells who was annoyed by Fergal Lynch's comments in last week's column.

I find it hard to believe that Fergal Lynch can call himself a Liverpool fan. To be honest, I was sceptical of the column from the start; it just seemed out of place in a regional paper in a different country to the club involved. However, your editor obviously felt the thoughts of one of his writers on the subject would be good for the paper.

I guess by having people like me write in, whether to praise or complain, vindicates that decision.

While I agree with you that no manager is above criticism, I felt the article in last week's edition of the Meath Chroncile just smacked of lazy journalism.

Firstly, you set out to taint the Champions League trophy won in 2005, and also the FA Cup in 2006, declaring Benitez 'lucky.' Let's take a closer look at these lucky victories.

It was good of you to gloss over the victories against Bayer Leverkusen, who had finished third in the Bundesliga the previous season and were comprehensively beaten both home and away, and also Juventus, who were flying high at the top of Serie A and went on to win it before they had to forfeit the title.

The performance against Graz was not what was expected; however it was not required to go all guns blazing at them, passage to the group stages was all that was needed. The little matter of the Graz captain not being sent off after receiving two yellow cards hardly fits in with the lucky theme.

While we stumbled through the group with some poor performances, we still had our destiny in our own hands entering the last game, which is not a bad position to be in.

Conceding a goal in the first-half meant three were required in the second. Benitez must have done something right at half-time.

While much is made of Gerrard's terrific strike for the third, it was actually two substitutes that Benitez sent on, Mellor and Pongolle, who scored the other goals, with Mellor setting up Gerrard for his.

As for being "lucky" against Chelsea, it is my opinion that they were the lucky ones. If Garcia's "ghost goal" did not stand, the referee would have had no option but to award a penalty and send Cech off for the foul on Baros. I would definitely have fancied Gerrard to score the penalty and Liverpool to go on and win, especially with the special atmosphere in the ground that night.

I severely object to your view that Benitez brought on Hamann 'out of necessity rather than tactical genius.' Bringing on a defensive midfielder when you trail 0-3, when you have a striker on the bench, was a brave move. It bore fruit, exactly as he planned, by nullifying the effect Pirlo was having on the match, and thus allowing Liverpool to have more possession further up the pitch.

The 5-3 victory over Luton was anything but fortunate. Having gone behind in a tough fixture away from home, Liverpool showed great character to turn the game around and should have won by more.

The final against West Ham will be forever remembered for Gerrard's last gasp equaliser, however people tend to forget Crouch had a goal chalked off for a very dubious offside call, and also that West Ham benefited from an own goal, a goalkeeping mistake, and the flukiest goal an FA Cup Final will ever see. Hardly what you would call good luck for Liverpool.

I am gobsmacked that you try to use Liverpool's resilience in coming from behind in games, as well as one of the two games they lost, as a rod to beat Benitez with.

The only reason Liverpool did not win the league last year was Man Utd's seven victories on the bounce from March to May.

You also question the legitimacy of Torres' injury' - I will take the word of professionals qualified in the world of medicine over your diagnosis.

It's very disheartening to hear a fan trot out the old chestnut that you came out with, that he shouldn't have sold Bellamy and Crouch, let alone hearing it from a reporter who should research his subject matter before commenting. With the money from those players, he bought Torres. I think if you asked any Liverpool fan which of the three they would want at the club, even without taking into account Crouch wanted to go, there would only be one answer.

As for Robbie Keane, that didn't work out, much to the surprise of a lot of observers who felt he would fit in perfectly.

Benitez did very well to recoup a lot of money on him; and it is not fair to say he did not replace him, as he was not given any money to do so.

Benitez has been able to see when a player is not suited to the club, and acts fast to remedy. Voronin is but a memory; the only reason he was there so long was that other clubs baulked at his wage demands. Babel is next to go; in my opinion the only reason he is still there is because Benitez will get no money from the sale to replace him, and therefore is loath to leave the squad another man down after the bad run of injuries lately. Ngog is a 21-year-old who cost £1.5 million. He has shown glimpses of his talent and could well turn into a very good player for Liverpool. He has been overused this season, but only because there is nobody else.

Insua has had a tough time of it this season, however he has shown enough promise to be capped for Argentina. Not bad for your worst Liverpool player ever.

The suggestion that Riise is a great loss is shocking; his form over his last two seasons at Liverpool was terrible, a good servant, but it was time for a change.

Nice to see you giving Rodriquez a chance before writing him off totally. How can you expect to have people respect your opinion with statements like that?

"Benitez has lost the majority of supporters." Well maybe from your barstool. If you believe the tabloids and Sky pundits, then maybe this is true. However, there are a lot more fans in favour of Benitez than against.

Not once did you mention the two leeches who are out to make themselves a quick buck. They have not backed Rafa in the transfer market, have put a mountain of debt on the club, and continually lied about their intentions from day one. I cannot believe you can't link the off field antics with our performances on the pitch.

If you spent more time researching, looking at both sides of the argument instead of rushing in with knee-jerk statements and rehashed tripe from other media sources I am sure we will be able to coax a balanced opinion from you. How about reading something like this: http://www.liverpoolstudentmedia.com/myths-rafael-benitez

In closing, I would like to point out what you finished your first Merseybeat article with: YNWA.

You would do well to try and follow that mantra rather than just regurgitate it to try and show what a great fan you are.