Not a happy camper.

[mersey86]

We're the outcasts. The doubters. The merchants of doom.

I remember being called the same in the GH days.

There should be an "outcasts forum" for you.

[BobTheCharmer]

There should be an "outcasts forum" for you.

I want Rafa to stay. Just want him to change a little and not get too bloody stubborn. I don't want to end up hating the guy like GH.

[Red Chilli]

I'm not convinced that Rafa knows how to pick up a great striker.

Kuyt has yet to be judged but his other striker signings raise an eyebrow or 2

[Shaggy]

To those who are unconvinced - would you like us to change manager? I'm not being aggressive - just interested. I do not believe in Rafa's infallibility - he's bought a few duds and there's a few where I don't necessarily see the reasons they would make us stronger. However, I do believe that Rafa knows what he is trying to achieve and has the ability to reach his goals. I think that we need to allow him as much time as he needs to do this.
The first year here he took a team that was on the wane and won the Champions League - I was wondering at the time when/if we would again win a major trophy. He took a lot of stick for our league form though, but remedied that the following year when we reached a points total that would have seen us challenging for the title almost any other year.
Tuesday was embarrassing but Wenger is a genius and has had years and years to build up his youth system and develop the playing style. I think Rafa can do the same for us.

[Red Chilli]

To those who are unconvinced - would you like us to change manager?

Only if there's a better one available.

[Shaggy]

I'm not convinced that Rafa knows how to pick up a great striker.

Kuyt has yet to be judged but his other striker signings raise an eyebrow or 2

Crouch has been a success, whichever way you look at it, and his value has increased since we brought him in.

Morientes was a signing that not one single fan disagreed with. He's a proven, world class striker who had scored goals everywhere he'd been. He's since gone back to Spain and picked up where he left off. I don't think anybody could forsee his dismal failure to adapt, and certainly the finger can't be pointed at Rafa for this.

Fowler was a very smart signing - great for morale, providing the club with a huge boost, and he's scored enough goals in his fleeting appearances to vindicate his free transfer return.

Bellamy.......well, let's just say the jury's out.

Kuyt looks to be a good buy, albeit not as clinical a goalscorer as many of us thought/hoped.

Sure he's bought some duds but I reckon slating his striker purchases is a touch misguided.

[anfieldanfield]

Only if there's a better one available.

Hiddink is a better manager.

[Red Chilli]

I didn't "slate" his striker purchases Shaggy, just said I'm not convinced that Rafa knows how to pick up a great striker.
Whatever you say, Kuyt excepted, none of Rafa's striker purchases have been great.
I include Cisse in Rafa's purchases because he did have the opportunity to pull the plug on the deal, even though we'd already paid some of the fee.
Crouch has done well, improved as a player and is one of my favourites, but has he been a great striker? Has he been exactly what the team needs? I'm not sure.
Morientes was not right for the English game, sure the fans thought he was, but we're just fans, the manager should know more than us.
Bellamy, jury out.
Fowler, good for morale, good for the fans, not such a good impact on the team unfortunately.

[Shaggy]

I didn't "slate" his striker purchases Shaggy

I know that mate, wasn't referring directly to you - a lot of folk have slated his striker purchases.

[Shaggy]

I include Cisse in Rafa's purchases because he did have the opportunity to pull the plug on the deal, even though we'd already paid some of the fee.

Gotta take issue there mate, surely that isn't the case. Rafa tried to make out he "looked at signing him for Valencia" in a bid to convince us all he really wanted him. I'm quite sure Bascombe reported Rafa could do absolutely nothing about the deal and the clubs hands were tied.

The deal had already been signed and sealed, and was legally secured.

[Red Chilli]

Oh well, I guess it's one of those things about which we'll never know the truth, just rumour and counter-rumour.

I didn't think a deal was "signed" until the player puts his signature on the contract, but i could be wrong.

[Shaggy]

Oh well, I guess it's one of those things about which we'll never know the truth, just rumour and counter-rumour.

I didn't think a deal was "signed" until the player puts his signature on the contract, but i could be wrong.

Didn't he sign some kind of binding 'pre-contract', which is tantamount to signing the actual contract itself?

[Red Chilli]

Didn't he sign some kind of binding 'pre-contract', which is tantamount to signing the actual contract itself?

Don't know, again I think that's the "rumour".

I do know that some team (might be Chavs) tried to hijack the deal quite late in proceedings which would seem to suggest that the deal wasn't finalised at that point.

[Flake]

Are you two taking over this forum completely? :whatever:

[Red Chilli]

Who asked you?