Will Rafa Run To Real?

[captainfog]

Rafa inherited a side that was the fourth best in the Premiership.

Three years and 80 million later we are.....the fourth best side in the Premiership.

If that doesn't worry you, you really should go round Tomkins house for a cup of tea and natter, the RCDNW brigade need to open their eyes...

IMO the goal posts moved when Rafa took over. Suddenly Manure and Chelsea had a new spending power which took them into another league. Last season we did better than the gunners and were a gnats chuff away from 2nd.

You are right in the sense that when Ged was in charge we were '2 world class players away' and we still are '2 world class players away'. However, the league has improve and so have we.

Give Rafa a fecking chance. He has won the CL and the FA cup - not half bad. And don't say that was Ged's team , it was Rafa's, his tactics won that tourney, not Ged's players.

Who do you think would do a better job? It's all very well saying he is no good, but you need alternatives and from what I can see there are none

[Craig_H]

Rafa inherited a side that was the fourth best in the Premiership.

Three years and 80 million later we are.....the fourth best side in the Premiership.

If that doesn't worry you, you really should go round Tomkins house for a cup of tea and natter, the RCDNW brigade need to open their eyes...

You cant get shot mate, it doesnt work that way. What then, bring someone else in, who will overhaul the squad and then 2-3 years later they wont have won the title (cos it takes longer than that), so we sack them too?

I said it before and i'll say it again - as long as we're getting into the CL every year, Rafa should be left alone for this season and 3 more after it.

Look at the most successful sides in the last 15 years. Surreal money injection Chelsea aside, the most successful clubs are also those with the longest serving managers.

Stability, backing and faith are what's needed. Rafa's a title-winner, he's done it before and given time, he'll do it here.

Or, if HE cant do it, then there isnt anyone else out there that could.

Rafa's the right man, it's just a fecking hard thing to do, winning the league. Especially with Russian billionaires and an institution like MUFC to compete with. You cant expect anyone to come in for 3 years and just magically overturn 17 years of failure. Barring hundreds of millions of pounds being made available, it just doesnt happen and it's not realistic to expect it to.

[mick the click]

Seems to me that Rafa will walk away from us and I've got nowt but a gut feeling that he'll stay 5 years more, max,even if he's given everything he wants.
I hope I'm wrong, but Real and management of the Spanish national team is where I reckon he aims to go.He certainly isn't going to commit to us for 10-15 years. That I find a bit...sad, somehow, I just want him to get us the league a time or two before he goes.

[Craig_H]

He certainly isn't going to commit to us for 10-15 years. That I find a bit...sad

Which managers commit themselves for 10-15 years?

[Dantheman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dantheman
I spoke to his agent last week who said it's all just rumours and Rafa is staying. He's got no reason to tell me the truth of course but that's what he said.

You spoke to Rafa's agent ? What's his name ?


Colin Pomford. Looks after Alonso, Garcia, actually most of our Spanish boys plus Arteta

[Rosco]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dantheman
I spoke to his agent last week who said it's all just rumours and Rafa is staying. He's got no reason to tell me the truth of course but that's what he said.

You spoke to Rafa's agent ? What's his name ?


Colin Pomford. Looks after Alonso, Garcia, actually most of our Spanish boys plus Arteta

And once looked after Steve McManaman ? We can sleep easy in that knowledge.

[Dantheman]

Ha ha good point. Like I said he's got no reason to tell me the truth. Not sure I'd want an agent who blabbed my plans to some bloke at a party

[Rosco]

Ha ha good point. Like I said he's got no reason to tell me the truth. Not sure I'd want an agent who blabbed my plans to some bloke at a party

Which raises the question ... did he tell you the truth ?

[red g]

If we dont challenge for the title next season, I want him gone.

great idea, then get say a dutchh manager in who can ship out all the spanish and we can get all dutch.

I just dont see a manager out there apart from hiddink who i want.

We have been more succesful than everyone bar chelsea this last 3 yrs and u want him out??

[Morph]

Rafa inherited a side that was the fourth best in the Premiership.

Three years and 80 million later we are.....the fourth best side in the Premiership.

If that doesn't worry you, you really should go round Tomkins house for a cup of tea and natter, the RCDNW brigade need to open their eyes...

I agree and disagree really, it is beginning to annoy me that we haven't progressed since last season, and yesterdays result pissed me off greatly, but there are a few points to make.

If Houlier had stayed, I don't think we'd have stayed a top 4 side, we'd have fallen into the **** that is the chasing pack all fighting it out till last day of the season for 4th, weharas now i'd say we're pretty comfortable, and wouldn't really say we were any worse a team than Arsenal, so I'd be saying at least joint 3rd.

We wouldn't have won the Champs league with Houlier, I'm just certain of that, and I doubt we'd have progressed this far this year as well.

Benitez has almost gotten rid of most of the Houlier crap, one more Summer window and we'll prob have seen the back of them. Fair enough he has brought in some questionable players (Pennant, Bellamy but I doubt either will be here next season).

I'd be happy to give him 2 more seasons, coming season to hopefully spend big and get us 1 or 2 star players, and the season after to hopefully complete the jigsaw. If we're no better off by that point I'd probably say he's had all the time he needs assuming the resources have been available to him.

[Rosco]

I always wonder would people talk so much about the lack of resources given to Rafa if he didn't constantly harp on about it in the media ?

We've spent a lot and aren't really discernably any better in the league for it. I don't think it's entirely the players fault either.

[Morph]

I always wonder would people talk so much about the lack of resources given to Rafa if he didn't constantly harp on about it in the media ?

We've spent a lot and aren't really discernably any better in the league for it. I don't think it's entirely the players fault either.

Well we don't have the resources of Chelsea and Man U (or at least we didn't), so lets see where it takes us now if we can get a few big buys in the summer, we can't have any more complaints on the subject next season

[Craig_H]

Spending a lot is one thing, but he also sold £40m worth of players. Considering how poor many of them were, £40m worth of dross equates to a LARGE number of players being shipped out. And they do leave gaps in the squad which have needed filling.

£40m net spend over 3 years is feck all, within the context of top clubs.

[Darth Marty]

threads like this annoy me, everyone is entitled to their "opinion" but lets all remember, an opinion doesnt make something true ok..a.a, ffs, im as impatient as anyboby to bring home no.19 but i dont want to sack rafa or the next manager or the next manager etc etc
sentimentality it isnt, common sense it is.....

[mick the click]

Which managers commit themselves for 10-15 years?

I take your point - I'm being lazy - it's more unlikely that a club, rather than a manager would commit for that long. I suppose what I mean is I'm pissed off that he hasn't said I'll stay here until I'm not wanted. He's red until something better comes along. He's not a red for life. Temporary. And grateful I am too. But...