Rafa: My philosophy won't change.

[AFII]

Rafa Benitez insists his philosophy of shrewd spending won't change no matter how much American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks put in his transfer kitty.
The Spaniard says he won't splash the cash unless he is certain a player will help take the club in the right direction.

"It's not always the most expensive players who are the best, or the players you need," declared the Liverpool boss.

"If the new owners say we can sign players, we will do it, but the philosophy will be to do the same as we've always done, which means finding the right player for us.

"In the last two years we have won the FA Cup and the Champions League. Now we are close to the semi-final of the Champions League again.

"We finished third last season and we could finish third again in the Premiership. Because of this and people talking about money, it's normal for people to talk about big names – but our view will always be the same."

Benitez also revealed he has no idea how much money he will have to spend in the summer.

"When I was talking to the new owners they told me they wanted to do things to improve the club, but they did not talk about figures.

"What they have said is they want us to tell them what we want, and if it can be done then they will do it.

"It's true they have said we can go forward, but there's been no talk of 40 or 50 million pounds!"

While refusing to be drawn on transfer speculation, Benitez is keen to stress the importance of keeping the spine of his current team at the club for the foreseeable future.

He said: "We have some players now that we need to analyse their situation. We are not doing any of this at the moment but we will do something before the end of the season.

"All the players are important and I cannot talk about the situation of each player. It's better to talk to them. It's fair to say I am really pleased with my squad and would like to progress with all my players."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drill...70407-0827.htm

[einar]

"What they have said is they want us to tell them what we want, and if it can be done then they will do it.

If I was selling a player to a club who´s manager had said that I would demand top dollar for the player.

[desertscouser]

"What they have said is they want us to tell them what we want, and if it can be done then they will do it.

If I was selling a player to a club who´s manager had said that I would demand top dollar for the player.

Why?

If the selling club want top dollar and we can't pay then we won't and then the selling club would have to reduce their evaluation or else we walk away.

Now, if Rafa said, ' what they have said is they want us to tell them what we want and it will be done without question'. Then I would agree with your comment.

[einar]

Why?

If the selling club want top dollar and we can't pay then we won't and then the selling club would have to reduce their evaluation or else we walk away.

Now, if Rafa said, ' what they have said is they want us to tell them what we want and it will be done without question'. Then I would agree with your comment.

It sounds a bit like this to me.

[Abro100]

Who cares where minted

[Darth Marty]

i think that teams know Rafa wont be ****ed with and if they get greedy we will just move on and they will lose out, its a good position to be in, cant wait for the summer!!

[einar]

I wish it where that simple. The selling teams know the market to. They know if they have the best player available in that position. And now they know we have plenty of cash. Plus, now we are gonna be competing with the biggest clubs for players.

We must not forget, we where in a very different position before the takeover.
We where pretty much at the top of the second division in the market. So long as none of the big clubs wanted a player he was ours. Who would join Tottenham over Liverpool?

Now we are going to compete with the big boys. ( According to Tom and George ) This is a place us fans have never been.

[dom9]

It looks to me that there will no change to the budget at all.

The new owners have covered themsleves when Rafa says

"they did not talk about figures.

What they have said is they want us to tell them what we want, and if it can be done then they will do it."

They can always say no.

I think the wool is being pulled over our eyes a little.

Remember - there will be a lot more Sky money this summer. That goes for all 20 Premiership clubs too don't forget.

It's the same with Stadium. They made noises about 70 or 80 thousand seats at first. Everyone went mad. Then its right back back to 60,000 now, with the possiblilty of expanding.

I think the new owners are very good at managing expectations. They imply the world, then scale it back to what was there before, with a hope of improving over time, making it look like an overall improvement.

I'm getting suspicious.

[desertscouser]

[QUOTE=einar;375035]

So long as none of the big clubs wanted a player he was ours. Who would join Tottenham over Liverpool?

QUOTE]

Not really true though. Selling clubs were still trying it on with us even if other big clubs weren't interested in the same players. Eg. Simao and Alves. We were in pole position yet the selling clubs kept increasing their valuations and in the end we had to pull out.

Birmingham did the same with Pennant. No one else was interested in him yet they charged us far more than he was worth...

[desertscouser]

It looks to me that there will no change to the budget at all.

The new owners have covered themsleves when Rafa says

"they did not talk about figures.

What they have said is they want us to tell them what we want, and if it can be done then they will do it."

They can always say no.

I think the wool is being pulled over our eyes a little.

Remember - there will be a lot more Sky money this summer. That goes for all 20 Premiership clubs too don't forget.

It's the same with Stadium. They made noises about 70 or 80 thousand seats at first. Everyone went mad. Then its right back back to 60,000 now, with the possiblilty of expanding.

I think the new owners are very good at managing expectations. They imply the world, then scale it back to what was there before, with a hope of improving over time, making it look like an overall improvement.

I'm getting suspicious.

People are reading too much into Rafa's latest comments. Cast your mind back a couple of days where Rafa said he was delighted with the way his discussions went with the new owners. He wouldn't have said that if they did not give him assurances that he would be backed in the transfer market.

Everyone needs to chill and stop over analysing every comment that comes out of Rafa's mouth.

[dom9]

People are reading too much into Rafa's latest comments. Cast your mind back a couple of days where Rafa said he was delighted with the way his discussions went with the new owners. He wouldn't have said that if they did not give him assurances that he would be backed in the transfer market.

Everyone needs to chill and stop over analysing every comment that comes out of Rafa's mouth.

I'm not over analysing Rafa's comments.

I have been thinking this way a little while now.

I hope that in a few years, I won't feel cheated like somebody who voted for New Labour in 1997, thinking the Labour Party would be elected.

[desertscouser]

I'm not over analysing Rafa's comments.

I have been thinking this way a little while now.

I hope that in a few years, I won't feel cheated like somebody who voted for New Labour in 1997, thinking the Labour Party would be elected.

Miserable git

Relax, we're finally in good hands.

[dom9]

I hope so.

I'm just getting a bad feeling. These guys are very media savvy. I hope we are not victims of spin.

[einar]

It looks to me that there will no change to the budget at all.

The new owners have covered themsleves when Rafa says

"they did not talk about figures.

What they have said is they want us to tell them what we want, and if it can be done then they will do it."

They can always say no.

I think the wool is being pulled over our eyes a little.

Remember - there will be a lot more Sky money this summer. That goes for all 20 Premiership clubs too don't forget.

It's the same with Stadium. They made noises about 70 or 80 thousand seats at first. Everyone went mad. Then its right back back to 60,000 now, with the possiblilty of expanding.

I think the new owners are very good at managing expectations. They imply the world, then scale it back to what was there before, with a hope of improving over time, making it look like an overall improvement.

I'm getting suspicious.

If this is true they are getting all the fans against them and I dont think they would do that.
Plus, has the stadium size been decided?

[dom9]

If this is true they are getting all the fans against them and I dont think they would do that.

Plus, has the stadium size been decided?

I'm not sure what you mean. Everyone on this forum loves the new guys witho0ut question. Everybody is already won over.

The stadium will be 60,000 capacity, with the possibility of expanding