Rafa appreciation

[Dhav]

He sorted us out defensively, and he signed Hyypia (we were crying out for a proper centre-half at the time).

He's not a winner though. He'll never win any of the competitions which count - the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, the UCL, the WC, etc.

He tightened up the defence by turning us into a "paint-dry watching" side.

Rafa, on the other hand, is an alchemist. He transformed an ordinary group of players (on the main) into Champions League winners.

When I saw Houllier subsequently trying to take some of the credit, I couldn't help but laugh. He's a loser, full-stop.

Harsh but fair.

The way he muscled in to the Istanbul celebrations was inappropriate in the extreme, and in my view a complete disgrace. Any one who says otherwise (all this bollocks about that's why Liverpool is special, he deserves the credit) is deluded - he had no business there and read Guillem Balague's book Season on the Brink to see what the people in that dressing room really thought about that.

Houllier might have brought in some key players that were a cornerstone of our CL success (I'm not accepting Carra and Gerrard in there) but he bought a lot of dross as well which Rafa worked wonders with and got a lot out of that Houllier could never hope to achieve (Biscan, Traore etc).

Besides, our key player in the run to the final was a Rafa signing (Garcia) and another a key player was Xabi.

Sorry, but in my view Houllier deserves about 0 credit for #5

[Dhav]

he's still getting fat off the bung from the cisse transfer

he did some good things, but his last 2 seasons were a disgrace, plus the way he conducted himself made him a laughing stock. by the end of his tenure i couldnt stand the sight of him. not surprised at all he tried to take some credit

rafa's achievements in europe are nothing short of amazing. the exciting thing is this is only the beginning

He's an egomaniac. Like you say, a disgrace in his last season at Anfield. The stuff he came out with were an embarrassment. Taking some credit for #5 and being in the Istanbul dressing room was the lowest point he sunk to.

Read "On the BrinK" and you'll see how he acted like a real knob.

[Ron_Mexico]

He's an egomaniac. Like you say, a disgrace in his last season at Anfield. The stuff he came out with were an embarrassment. Taking some credit for #5 and being in the Istanbul dressing room was the lowest point he sunk to.

Read "On the BrinK" and you'll see how he acted like a real knob.

egomaniac is a good word for houllier. he was always so quick to accept praise but whenever anything went wrong it was never his fault. he made some baffling decisions regarding some of the players (Litmanen, and his treatment of Fowler was a disgrace imo) that seemed to be personal rather than in the best interest of the team. the only reason he doesn't get slaughtered is because of the treble, but looking back we were very fortunate to win those cups. a ****e brum team took us to pens, alves took us to extra time in a game we should have won easily, and arsenal played us off the park but couldn't score. i just can't understand why so many people defend houllier, he was an unpleasant nutjob who made us a one dimensional borefest to watch

i've been meaning to pick up "on the brink," that will defo top my summer reading list

[Spudo2]

he's still getting fat off the bung from the cisse transfer

he did some good things, but his last 2 seasons were a disgrace, plus the way he conducted himself made him a laughing stock. by the end of his tenure i couldnt stand the sight of him. not surprised at all he tried to take some credit

rafa's achievements in europe are nothing short of amazing. the exciting thing is this is only the beginning

It was the defeatist attitude and the grovelling which really turned me off. I agree that he was probably a bit of a laughing stock - the likes of SAF had him in the palm of their hand.

I always had my suspicions about some of those French transfers (Cisse, Diarra, Cheyrou, Ferri, etc). Was he on the take? I suspect himself and Guy Roux made a fortune on the Cisse deal.

[bigfooty]

I think Stevie G's autobiography casts a more favourable light on what happened in the aftermath of the match.

[REDSCOUSER]

My wife said 'he's sitting on the ground in a nice suit'.

I slapped her and told her to shut up

atta boy

[Ron_Mexico]

I always had my suspicions about some of those French transfers (Cisse, Diarra, Cheyrou, Ferri, etc). Was he on the take? I suspect himself and Guy Roux made a fortune on the Cisse deal.

I've heard there is proof of him profiting from transfers but have never seen anything first hand

the cisse transfer is the obvious one but he consistently overpaid for french players and players from the french league

either way it doesn't reflect on him very well, he was either on the take or just incredibly poor in the transfer market

[redpablo]

I think ged genuinely thought Cisse would make the difference. I doubt he was on the make. he made a mistake, did us some good and then was let go for rafa to take us to the next leval which he as done and will do even more. I thank God that we were given Rafa Benitez. i honeslty do. I am not ashamed to admit it I prayed several times during the match and I am an atheist!
I am grateful to Houllier for what he brought to the club when it was needed, but he wasnt the man, sadly despie his obvious love for the club. The fact that Slur Alex praised himsays a lot though, he never has kind words for his true rivals, same for Maureen the bitchy bitter loser ****. Rafa, most definitley is the man. Let's not get caught up in Houllier bashing tonight, he was another piece in our glorious jigsaw.
Rafa has dignity, tactical acumen and a killer instinct. Tonight, let's give thanks for Rafa.
Rafa, Rafael, Rafa Rafael, Rafa Rafael - Rafael Benitez!!!!!!!!

[REDSCOUSER]

Rafa is getting pretty close to the 3 above mentioned legends but he needs to win us #19 to close the deal.

[Dhav]

I think Stevie G's autobiography casts a more favourable light on what happened in the aftermath of the match.

If Houllier wanted to congratulate his former players on the aftermath of their CL triumph, the dressing room after the match with Rafa present along with Rafa signings was not the appropriate venue - I can imagine Houllier was hanging around like a bad smell making sure he could be seen through the crack of the door begging for Rafa to ask him in and Rafa didn't have the heart to tell him where to get off.

In there to share in some of the glory - not his place and if he had any dignity and respect he wouldnt have been there.

[Ron_Mexico]

Rafa is getting pretty close to the 3 above mentioned legends but he needs to win us #19 to close the deal.

agreed, and i didn't mean to start houllier bashing it just kind of happened

[Spudo2]

If Houllier wanted to congratulate his former players on the aftermath of their CL triumph, the dressing room after the match with Rafa present along with Rafa signings was not the appropriate venue - I can imagine Houllier was hanging around like a bad smell making sure he could be seen through the crack of the door begging for Rafa to ask him in and Rafa didn't have the heart to tell him where to get off.

In there to share in some of the glory - not his place and if he had any dignity and respect he wouldnt have been there.

That's another fallacy. People used to go on about Houllier - "he's under pressure, yeah, but he's got great DIGNITY"!

What a myth! You don't grovel and make excuses after a game if you have dignity. You don't cry when you're told you're on your way. You don't turn up at an airport like a stalker wishing the new guy well. You don't try to claim some of the credit when the new guy turns your also-rans into Champion League winners.

Dignity my arse. I'm more interested in these VERY dodgy French transfers (which cost us a lot of money).

[REDSCOUSER]

agreed, and i didn't mean to start houllier bashing it just kind of happened

bash all ya want mate, today nothing will stop us from celebrating

[Guest]

Slagging Gerard Houllier is out of order. The man nearly died for us and he brought us a fair amount of joy, winning an unprecedented 3 trophies in one year.

[Guest]

Do the socks say Liverpool?

Yep, I think so mate.