Sebastian Coates

[Chris]

It is a bit of a problem when you have such strong personalities as Carra and Gerrard in the squad. Chelsea have the same problem with Terry and Lampard and City with Tevez.

One of the big reasons to why Man U keep on winning is because Fergie never allow a player to be bigger than him. He is the boss.

Before we got in Kenny as manager the manager really wasn't the boss. Carra and Gerrard was bigger than the manager but we don't have that problem now with Kenny in charge.

Will AVB be able to be the boss? If not then he will be out and replaced very soon just like Mourinho and Ancelotti. Mancini seems to be the boss now at City. It took a couple of years but he won the fight against Tevez and that was very important.

Benitez is a coward then. Letting Carra and Gerrard walk all over him.

[RichC]

please, can we not turn this into a Rafa thread.

I'm asking nicely!

[yamiedo]

please, can we not turn this into a Rafa thread.

I'm asking nicely!

Well it became a Torres thread eventually anyway...what happened to talk of Coates??

[Norbs]

Before we got in Kenny as manager the manager really wasn't the boss. Carra and Gerrard were bigger than the manager but we don't have that problem now with Kenny in charge.

You're right, but that shouldn't be a stick to beat Carragher and Gerrard with. Rafa had nothing to do with Liverpool prior to his appointment and so, to a degree, he didn't have that certain power over the players, especially the most senior two. With Kenny, any player that tries to take the upper hand will be shot down immediately because nobody in the history of the club has achieved more than him. This gives Kenny a rightful power over the squad and I don't see Carra or Gerrard challenging it. Do you think this is because they respect Kenny more than they did Rafa or could it be that they dare not try to question his authority? FWIW, I think it's a bit of both and I'm much happier with the current manager than I ever was with Rafa for this reason alone.

You mention Ferguson's power at United and it was quite unique for a non-player to command such respect, I think it may have taken a while for him to get there though. Kenny's position is similar but was instantly achieved through respect for him as a player and manager.

So to summerize, Rafa didn't have the ability, for one reason or another, to take a position of power over the squad and this in part lead to his downfall


Coates will respect Kenny, that's for sure

[Arn]

You're right, but that shouldn't be a stick to beat Carragher and Gerrard with. Rafa had nothing to do with Liverpool prior to his appointment and so, to a degree, he didn't have that certain power over the players, especially the most senior two. With Kenny, any player that tries to take the upper hand will be shot down immediately because nobody in the history of the club has achieved more than him. This gives Kenny a rightful power over the squad and I don't see Carra or Gerrard challenging it. Do you think this is because they respect Kenny more than they did Rafa or could it be that they dare not try to question his authority? FWIW, I think it's a bit of both and I'm much happier with the current manager than I ever was with Rafa for this reason alone.

You mention Ferguson's power at United and it was quite unique for a non-player to command such respect, I think it may have taken a while for him to get there though. Kenny's position is similar but was instantly achieved through respect for him as a player and manager.

So to summerize, Rafa didn't have the ability, for one reason or another, to take a position of power over the squad and this in part lead to his downfall


Coates will respect Kenny, that's for sure

It is a problem all managers will face when they get a new job. If they don't are successful then they are easy targets. If you have strong personalities in the squad then it is an even bigger problem. AVB need for example Terry and Lampard on his side or he won't have a chance.

You also of course need the money to be able to get rid of key players if they challenge you and replace them as soon as possible.

If Fergie didn't had big money to spend then he would never be able to be the boss. Rafa for example didn't had that so he couldn't even try to be that.

You also need to be successful straight after you get rid of the key player(s) and by that way showing that no players is a must to keep but you the manager will be very difficult to replace.

If Fergie hadn't been successful after getting rid of Beckham then he would have very soon lost the dressing room without any doubt at all for example.

Now the players know that he will get it right and that no player is a must to keep. Create a problem and you're out because the manager can afford to kick you out, you're not a must in the squad.

[BillobShaisley]

I speak Spanish and I've heard and read enough Portugese to know they are very different.

If Fabio Aurelio and Lucas were chatting away in Portugese, Coates might get the odd word here or there but he wouldn't understand the conversation.

Italian and Spanish are much more closely linked.

Brazilian Portuguese and S.American Spanish are more similar than the European versions are to eachother.

[Mike]

[cream]

I knew the guy was big, but **** me, he's massive compared to the goals

[little dave hedgehog]

he wears a wig, too.

ii'm certain i've seen at least one picture from this year that had one player wearing a long blond wig while sprinting, but i couldn't see who. i should have commented when i saw it. anyone else see it?

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

he wears a wig, too.

ii'm certain i've seen at least one picture from this year that had one player wearing a long blond wig while sprinting, but i couldn't see who. i should have commented when i saw it. anyone else see it?

He passed away. R.I.P

[Buzzo]

I don't think I am never going to see the word Coates written down and hear Coh-at-ez

[BigChief]

Controversial, but I've seen similar looking tall guys who are very meek by nature. He might be an animal when on the field (lets hope so anyway) but by his demeanor in these photos he's looking a bit gentle giant.

[yamiedo]

Made me laugh reading Steve Clarke's comments about him a week ago.

"I believe there is some Scottish heritage in him, so obviously Kenny and myself will do a bit of digging into his background," Clarke added.

"But it's too late, he can't play for Scotland because he's already capped for Uruguay."

Just imagined him partnering Gary Caldwell at CB.

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

Or imagine him partnering Wilson for club and country

[Frenchie]

I think he might play tomorrow..he was in a first team bib in training, Bellamy wasnt...