"Rafa is leaving" is the new "Stevie is leaving"

[Graybach]

I honestly think Raffa will stay to 'finish the job he's started'. I think he would regard leaving without winning the Premiership as being a failure.

If we'd won the Prem this year there would be a much greater chance of him going to Real IMO.

I do agree though that he should have conducted himself better and not gone public with his concerns which in turn send out more signals.

[bazza76]

I am actually getting increasingly pissed at Rafa for playing this card in the media. He is being a politician here to get what he wants, but I dare say, this is not the Liverpool Way. Naive perhaps, but still, I want no more of this "holding the club for ransom" ****.

Ian Rush even said so in the Echo yesterday, its not fair on the fans to genuinely do worry and get stressed over such things, not to mention casting seeds of doubt within the playing squad. Would that be a reason Xabi has said he will wait until the end of the season he asked for reasurances from the manager about his position and couldnt get them?.

[Mr Tourette]

Rafa should shut up.

Take this up with Gillett and Hicks in private. If you don't get a satisfactory answer, then say what you need to get support, or else you have to consider your options.

The only point of doing this in public is to whore and position himself to Real/another club.

Im with you on this. There is no need to discuss his concerns in the media, everything should be done behind close doors. I think he wants out - if he gets the offer to manage the club closest to his heart with total control, with his best mate as general manager, with an unlimited madrid budget - then i think he's going to go, i think hes realised exactly how hard it is to win the premier league and without the money, power and kudos to attract the very best players its not going to happen.......

[Shaggy]

Real Madrid have not made an approach for Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, according to the manager's agent.

Fabio Capello is currently in his second spell in charge at the Bernabeu but has not made the expected impact, with the team third in La Liga.

Benitez has been linked with the coaching role and his agent Manuel Garcia Quilon said: "I have heard the rumours in the Spanish media.

"However, as far as I know, Real Madrid have not shown an official interest."

The 46-year-old Liverpool coach signed a four-year contract extension with Liverpool last June.

And Garcia Quilon added: "I cannot speak for Benitez, but the fact is that he has three years left on his contract with Liverpool."

Benitez was coach of Spanish side Valencia before his move to the Premiership.

While in charge at the Mestalla he won two league titles and one Uefa Cup.

German Bernd Schuster - currently in charge of Spanish side Getafe and a former Real player - has also been linked with the Madrid club, as has Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/6474961.stm

[Dhav]

I'm sure one of the main reason why Parry and Moores expedited the investment was to pacify Rafa - it would be hugely ironic if he left this summer.

As much as I love the bloke and am proud he's our manager, I dont fear losing him - our performance in the Premiership this season has been disappointing. The bigger cause for concern is the way we play. We play the contintental game as well as anyone, because if you watch domestic Italian and Spanish games, our play is identical to theirs, with the slow patient build-up, possession football, very little agression or speed. What we need in the league is not so much that creativity but that speed and pace to move the ball forward quickly, efficiently and effectively the way Arsenal and Man Utd do - it is the only way to win games away from home. I think the way Rafa plays, which is compact and everyone moving as a team unit (they all seem to push forward and fall back simultaneously) is not expansive enough or quick enough for us to win games on teh counter the way Arsenal do and the way Man U did against Bolton. Hopefully Rafa is willing to buy sharper, quicker players, otherwise he might not be the man to lead us to #19.

[redblood]

I'm sure one of the main reason why Parry and Moores expedited the investment was to pacify Rafa - it would be hugely ironic if he left this summer.

As much as I love the bloke and am proud he's our manager, I dont fear losing him - our performance in the Premiership this season has been disappointing. The bigger cause for concern is the way we play. We play the contintental game as well as anyone, because if you watch domestic Italian and Spanish games, our play is identical to theirs, with the slow patient build-up, possession football, very little agression or speed. What we need in the league is not so much that creativity but that speed and pace to move the ball forward quickly, efficiently and effectively the way Arsenal and Man Utd do - it is the only way to win games away from home. I think the way Rafa plays, which is compact and everyone moving as a team unit (they all seem to push forward and fall back simultaneously) is not expansive enough or quick enough for us to win games on teh counter the way Arsenal do and the way Man U did against Bolton. Hopefully Rafa is willing to buy sharper, quicker players, otherwise he might not be the man to lead us to #19.

I really can't believe that people are doubting Rafa he has built a stronger squad and team, has won 2 major honours and we are still in the hunt for the CL again. Yes our PL performances haven't lived up to what we might've expected but then some of the players need to be called up on that to.
He is a man of honour and principle and he has said nothing to suggest he is going in fact quite the opposite.

[Dhav]

I really can't believe that people are doubting Rafa he has built a stronger squad and team, has won 2 major honours and we are still in the hunt for the CL again. Yes our PL performances haven't lived up to what we might've expected but then some of the players need to be called up on that to.
He is a man of honour and principle and he has said nothing to suggest he is going in fact quite the opposite.

I have nothing against him as a person. I dont doubt his itnegrity either despite what some people have said on here about him playing us off against Real Madrid etc.

My only concern as regards him is our PL performances, and more particularly the way we play. Either way, time will tell if he's the man to lead us to #19 or not.

If he does leave either in the summer or at any time in the future, he won #5 with a team that was going nowhere - he'll always be a Liverpool legend.

[Mumsafan]

I honestly think Rafa will stay to 'finish the job he's started'. I think he would regard leaving without winning the Premiership as being a failure.

This is the reason I think he won't go anywhere. He doesn't like failing.

[redblood]

I have nothing against him as a person. I dont doubt his itnegrity either despite what some people have said on here about him playing us off against Real Madrid etc.

My only concern as regards him is our PL performances, and more particularly the way we play. Either way, time will tell if he's the man to lead us to #19 or not.

If he does leave either in the summer or at any time in the future, he won #5 with a team that was going nowhere - he'll always be a Liverpool legend.

Yeah fair comments mate, I wasn't really directing all that at you it was more a general response to the thread.
I take your point re the PL but I think with 2 top class players we will be real contenders, we've been unlucky and at the start of the season some of our players never got going.

[anfieldanfield]

I'm sure one of the main reason why Parry and Moores expedited the investment was to pacify Rafa - it would be hugely ironic if he left this summer.

As much as I love the bloke and am proud he's our manager, I dont fear losing him - our performance in the Premiership this season has been disappointing. The bigger cause for concern is the way we play. We play the contintental game as well as anyone, because if you watch domestic Italian and Spanish games, our play is identical to theirs, with the slow patient build-up, possession football, very little agression or speed. What we need in the league is not so much that creativity but that speed and pace to move the ball forward quickly, efficiently and effectively the way Arsenal and Man Utd do - it is the only way to win games away from home. I think the way Rafa plays, which is compact and everyone moving as a team unit (they all seem to push forward and fall back simultaneously) is not expansive enough or quick enough for us to win games on teh counter the way Arsenal do and the way Man U did against Bolton. Hopefully Rafa is willing to buy sharper, quicker players, otherwise he might not be the man to lead us to #19.

I'd go along with that.

[redblood]

This is the reason I think he won't go anywhere. He doesn't like failing.

That and the fact that he's an honourable man who if he says he'll do something then I think he'll stick to that.

[tomasjj]

Well, I also think he is honourable, but all this running to the media sort of underminds that. And it is not the first time either, but I can sympathise with him doing it to get Parry acting when he is procrastinating.

[lfc4ever]

I see it's been a slow news day.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I agree.

I have lost a little bit of respect for Rafa throughout this entire situation.

Stay or leave Rafa, it's your choice. But stop fuelling the Madrid specualtion and brining unwanted pressure upon the club through the media, just because it suits your personal agenda.

This has gone on too long now.

But we all forgave Gerrard his indescretion, twice no less.

Still I agree with your point, it leaves a sour taste. Either he wants to stay or go to Madrid. Make your mind up.

[Sir Bob]

I think we are paying the price for having new owners who both do not understand football and who live in the USA with loads of business interests over there. LFC is never going to be their no.1 priority in the way UK based owners are.

Rafa is clearly annoyed at having to wait to speak to Hicks & Gillet until after the Arsenal game. Its been reported that we've lost out on potential summer targets as Rafa doesn't know how much he has to spend. Rafa's had to go to the press to show them that he's got other options should they start pissing him about, which in my book is fair enough. I don't trust H&G as far as I could throw them. Talk is cheap, they've been here 5 minutes and already seriously pissed our manager off.