Barca vs Liverpool

[Parm]

That's an extremely weak comparison, considering what Barca have won with that squad over the past couple of seasons.

The point is that Rafa has been in charge for three years now. And in each of those three seasons we haven't produced anything even faintly resembling a title challenge.

You can bang on about the cups all you want, but 5th, 3rd and 3rd is distinctly average for LFC.

I'd go with that, although re the money, he's always been a bit short with what he's wanted,
Oh...and he HAS had money to spend.

[Zambian_Red]

That's an extremely weak comparison, considering what Barca have won with that squad over the past couple of seasons.

The point is that Rafa has been in charge for three years now. And in each of those three seasons we haven't produced anything even faintly resembling a title challenge.

You can bang on about the cups all you want, but 5th, 3rd and 3rd is distinctly average for LFC.

Oh...and he HAS had money to spend.

Agree with the above but he hasnt had the money to spen on his FIRST PRIORITY SIGNINGS and had no choice but to look at 2nd/3rd rates.

We lost out on Alves/Simao/Vidic and many others. Surely if Rafa had bought his first choice targets our league position would have been even higher.

Also when Rafa took over the club how many deadwood did he have to clear out and replace them.He is building a side without full backing/open cheque.

Anyway i have faith in Rafa

[AFII]

What I don't understand is why Moores didn't loan Rafa the money to sign Alves but he could loan him the money to sign Kuyt.

Surely if Moores knew that he would sell the club then he would have got back that money when he sold the club. I don't think any takeover would have stalled over that.

[wiw]

What I don't understand is why Moores didn't loan Rafa the money to sign Alves but he could loan him the money to sign Kuyt.

Surely if Moores knew that he would sell the club then he would have got back that money when he sold the club. I don't think any takeover would have stalled over that.

How rich is Moores exactly? Does he have a spare 25m lying around?

[peekay]

What I don't understand is why Moores didn't loan Rafa the money to sign Alves but he could loan him the money to sign Kuyt.

Surely if Moores knew that he would sell the club then he would have got back that money when he sold the club. I don't think any takeover would have stalled over that.

I remember Rafa saying once that he had the option of going for Kuyt or Alves( his actual quotes were striker or a right winger) and he went for Kuyt.I think Moores would have made money available for Alves if Rafa wanted to but not both.

[Morph]

What I don't understand is why Moores didn't loan Rafa the money to sign Alves but he could loan him the money to sign Kuyt.

Maybe he didn't trust him to pay him back?

[Morph]

Last summer Alves would have cost 13/14m.

Alves = Bellamy, Pennant + Gonzalez.

Which side of that equation do you prefer ?

It's Rafa's CHOICE to cram our team with squad players.

by my understanding of many of the quotes flying round last summer window, it was more the board wouldn't let him spunk it all on one player

[Maestro]

What I don't understand is why Moores didn't loan Rafa the money to sign Alves but he could loan him the money to sign Kuyt.

Surely if Moores knew that he would sell the club then he would have got back that money when he sold the club. I don't think any takeover would have stalled over that.

Because we got Kuyt at the market price, that's why.
We were being screwed by Sevilla, who agreed one price with us and then came back with a higher, more unrealistic price (in Rafa's eyes).

Rafa refused to be held to ransom.

[Growler]

lets not forget the net value of the squad now compared to the one he inherited. players like Alonso, Masc, Pennant, Agger, Reina, Carson, Crouch, Bellamy etc would all be sold for a profit if needed be. how many players from the Gerrard era would generate a profit?

For me, the value of a manager is what he leaves behind.

Imagine the new manager at OT. He'll have a pretty healthy squad to take over. Look at what roeder left for allardyce. Take Cesc and toure out of arsenal, and it looks pretty grim for the next manager there too.

[Nicey]

Last summer Alves would have cost 13/14m.

Alves = Bellamy, Pennant + Gonzalez.

Which side of that equation do you prefer ?

It's Rafa's CHOICE to cram our team with squad players.

Alves = Bellamy, Pennant + Gonzalez. Its all so simple isnt it ... Cockcustard ! :whatever:

[keniget]

For me, the value of a manager is what he leaves behind.

Hahaha... right...

The value of a manager is what he wins. Anything else is secondary.

[RPAS]

Glad to see I've sparked some debate anyway.

Providing Rafa gets Torres I think he can say that finally he's getting backed fully in the transfer market.

Also, you cannot ingore the fact that Rafa has not one hand tied behind his back by Houlliers legacy. Two of Houlliers biggest signings, El Hadji Diouf & Cisse; both on massive deals; both only worth a fraction of their huge purchase prices; were essentially useless to him. His "star" striker was left to run down his contract and then slip out the door for a fee that was only a fraction of what it would take to adequetely replace him.

His most experienced centre-back (Sami) was getting on with NO replacement having been groomed.

The first team had big problems ability wise but some of the squad players (also on huge deals were totally sub-standard) .... Salif Diou anyone???

The famed academy had no one coming through to the first team that would become a first team regular - or no one beneath that was even promising to do the same.

There was no underage worldwide scounting network worth talking about.

Rafa has had to work & transform the club on all fronts at a time when the Boardroom was totally unsettled.

If he gets backed to buy players from the worldwide stage he will deliver number 19. You can't criticise him for being "so far behind Utd/Chelsea" when you compare what & who they have spent money on.

Take the scum - they win the title this season & have already spent £50m this Summer (with no sales of players having had to occur first), with everyone saying that they are also going to spend "big" on a new striker.

I think Rafa's done and is doing a great job - we're lucky to have him.

[wildman]

That's an extremely weak comparison, considering what Barca have won with that squad over the past couple of seasons.

The point is that Rafa has been in charge for three years now. And in each of those three seasons we haven't produced anything even faintly resembling a title challenge.

You can bang on about the cups all you want, but 5th, 3rd and 3rd is distinctly average for LFC.

Oh...and he HAS had money to spend.

no but we've won the CL once and been finalists,

[badpiggy]

Glad to see I've sparked some debate anyway.

Providing Rafa gets Torres I think he can say that finally he's getting backed fully in the transfer market.

Also, you cannot ingore the fact that Rafa has not one hand tied behind his back by Houlliers legacy. Two of Houlliers biggest signings, El Hadji Diouf & Cisse; both on massive deals; both only worth a fraction of their huge purchase prices; were essentially useless to him. His "star" striker was left to run down his contract and then slip out the door for a fee that was only a fraction of what it would take to adequetely replace him.

His most experienced centre-back (Sami) was getting on with NO replacement having been groomed.

The first team had big problems ability wise but some of the squad players (also on huge deals were totally sub-standard) .... Salif Diou anyone???

The famed academy had no one coming through to the first team that would become a first team regular - or no one beneath that was even promising to do the same.

There was no underage worldwide scounting network worth talking about.

Rafa has had to work & transform the club on all fronts at a time when the Boardroom was totally unsettled.

If he gets backed to buy players from the worldwide stage he will deliver number 19. You can't criticise him for being "so far behind Utd/Chelsea" when you compare what & who they have spent money on.

Take the scum - they win the title this season & have already spent £50m this Summer (with no sales of players having had to occur first), with everyone saying that they are also going to spend "big" on a new striker.

I think Rafa's done and is doing a great job - we're lucky to have him.

although i have my concerns about rafa's ability to brinh 19 home, that's a ****in excellent post.