Would it be a mistake to sell Flo?

[desertscouser]

FWIW, I reckon FloPo was one of those players who seemed not to understand what Rafa wanted of them and thus did not follow his instructions
This kind of player really pisses him off.
Examples of the kind of player I mean - Baros, Cissé, Le Tellac and probably, dare I say it, Scott Carson.
All of whom have been sold or marginalised by Rafa.

He alluded to this phenomenon last week when talking about Daniel Agger:

"The good thing about Daniel is that he listens. I was speaking to him a few days ago about some small details and I knew he was listening to what I was saying, that he was working out in his own mind whether what I was talking about was true or not. Sometimes you ask players to do things and they just say 'okay boss'. I know they have heard me but haven't really listened. It's different with Daniel. He takes it all in."

It's a good point young Maestro

I also noticed how Rafa has been saying that finally Crouch has been doing what has been asked of him.

"All players have moments when they suddenly realise what they have to be doing and how to achieve things in their game and this has happened with Peter," added Benitez.

"I have always said he would benefit from better crosses and that has been happening but even so he has worked hard, his attitude has been good and he has made progress. And he can still get even better."

The above comments imo have virtually sealed Crouch's future next season as a Liverpool player. For Rafa, it would seem that the most important quality in a player is to take on board what he says and to keep progressing. Players who don't do that, such as Cisse will never have a future under his guidance.

[red g]

i do like Pongo, cracking little player just think he is missing something, but cant put my finger on it. He has the skill, pace and composure but not consistently he may be the first player for a long time that we regret letting go

[WILF]

FWIW, I reckon FloPo was one of those players who seemed not to understand what Rafa wanted of them and thus did not follow his instructions
This kind of player really pisses him off.
Examples of the kind of player I mean - Baros, Cissé, Le Tellac and probably, dare I say it, Scott Carson.
All of whom have been sold or marginalised by Rafa.

He alluded to this phenomenon last week when talking about Daniel Agger:

"The good thing about Daniel is that he listens. I was speaking to him a few days ago about some small details and I knew he was listening to what I was saying, that he was working out in his own mind whether what I was talking about was true or not. Sometimes you ask players to do things and they just say 'okay boss'. I know they have heard me but haven't really listened. It's different with Daniel. He takes it all in."

It's a good point young Maestro

I also noticed how Rafa has been saying that finally Crouch has been doing what has been asked of him.

"All players have moments when they suddenly realise what they have to be doing and how to achieve things in their game and this has happened with Peter," added Benitez.

"I have always said he would benefit from better crosses and that has been happening but even so he has worked hard, his attitude has been good and he has made progress. And he can still get even better."

The above comments imo have virtually sealed Crouch's future next season as a Liverpool player. For Rafa, it would seem that the most important quality in a player is to take on board what he says and to keep progressing. Players who don't do that, such as Cisse will never have a future under his guidance.

Thanks for posting these quotes, i hadn't seen them before, it really shows how much Rafa wants to "teach" players and always look for improvement.

He is a control freak who wants players to understand/follow, obey him or they are out.( no criticism intended)

[red g]

Thanks for posting these quotes, i hadn't seen them before, it really shows how much Rafa wants to "teach" players and always look for improvement.

He is a control freak who wants players to understand/follow, obey him or they are out.( no criticism intended)

dont think he is a control freak, just he knows what works through some rough times in his early years.

[Maestro]

dont think he is a control freak, just he knows what works through some rough times in his early years.

Oh he is definitely a control freak. The amount of work he puts into his job, the fact that he tries to influence the tiniest minutiae of the player's lives in order to achieve the common goal smacks of unfathomable depths of controlfreakery.

He's a MEGA-ÜBER-CONTROL-FREAK-APPOTAMUS!!

[WILF]

yes, deffo control freak, but good with it, soooo IN RAFA WE TRUST

[red g]

Oh he is definitely a control freak. The amount of work he puts into his job, the fact that he tries to influence the tiniest minutiae of the player's lives in order to achieve the common goal smacks of unfathomable depths of controlfreakery.

He's a MEGA-ÜBER-CONTROL-FREAK-AMUS!!

[Redlife]

All the best managers are dictators.

[fah-q]

I know you are never going to believe this but I saw Henry play for Monaco against Newcastle and straight away you could see his potential, it just never worked out for him at Juventus.

The comparison with Flo (much as I liked him) is very very kind to the Pongomeister.

[sambirken]

dont know

[dww]

It's a good point young Maestro

I also noticed how Rafa has been saying that finally Crouch has been doing what has been asked of him.

"All players have moments when they suddenly realise what they have to be doing and how to achieve things in their game and this has happened with Peter," added Benitez.

"I have always said he would benefit from better crosses and that has been happening but even so he has worked hard, his attitude has been good and he has made progress. And he can still get even better."

The above comments imo have virtually sealed Crouch's future next season as a Liverpool player. For Rafa, it would seem that the most important quality in a player is to take on board what he says and to keep progressing. Players who don't do that, such as Cisse will never have a future under his guidance.

I think both you and Maestro make good points. I definitely think that the way your listen and learn is important to Rafa as might be expected from such a technical coach. the interesting thing is that both Rafa and Pongolle have alluded in the past to keeping in contact. I don't think Rafa thinks that he could develop in the same way that Crouch has but needs more time. I think it will come down to wether Rafa feels the money we get for him will out weigh the chances of him progessing. The quotes from Pongolle most recently suggest he wants first team football and who can blame him. So I think we should sell him for the mooted £3m but hopefully try and secure a sell on fee (Arsenal got £4m when Pennant was sold to us and I think that there is a chance that FSP will go for a large fee in the future).

[Shaggy]

I know you are never going to believe this but I saw Henry play for Monaco against Newcastle and straight away you could see his potential, it just never worked out for him at Juventus.

The comparison with Flo (much as I liked him) is very very kind to the Pongomeister.

Agreed. I remember seeing a young Henry play for Monaco and he stood out like a sore thumb. I was amazed he did so badly at Juve, but by then I'd decided he was ****...another of these players with potential who turn out rubbish

One of my biggest football embarrassments...I remember the day Arsenal signed him. I was playing 5-a-side that night, and in the pre-game kick-about, talking with my Spurs fan mate, I laughed at Wenger and said "what a waste of £10m! I used to think he was gonna be a player but I was wrong, he's ****!"...and my Spurs mate laughed along heartily.

Oh dear.

The comparison is very kind to Pongo, although I do see what he's getting at.

[Maestro]

Agreed. I remember seeing a young Henry play for Monaco and he stood out like a sore thumb. I was amazed he did so badly at Juve, but by then I'd decided he was ****...another of these players with potential who turn out rubbish

One of my biggest football embarrassments...I remember the day Arsenal signed him. I was playing 5-a-side that night, and in the pre-game kick-about, talking with my Spurs fan mate, I laughed at Wenger and said "what a waste of £10m! I used to think he was gonna be a player but I was wrong, he's ****!"...and my Spurs mate laughed along heartily.

Oh dear.

The comparison is very kind to Pongo, although I do see what he's getting at.

You seem to do that a lot Shaggy....

[Shaggy]

You seem to do that a lot Shaggy....

I've done it very notably with Henry, van Nistelrooy ("he's a ****in carthorse!") and Adebayor.

[lfc4ever]

Would it be a mistake to sell Flo?

No, let him go now, it's best for all round that the split is made permanent.