Pako to leave - confirmed

[Fiddy]

Sorry but I can't resist posting this priceless, rambling and demented piece of idiocy...

"A busy man at Melwood"

"Originally Posted by gkmacca on 6CM
A strange day. As a committed fan of long-standing, I wanted to get to the bottom of this rumour/story. Hence I started this thread. When I found another poster, on another site, appearing like God to say 'Yes' then disappear in a puff of smoke, I was quite gobsmacked to find a number of people just accepting this announcement on spec, along with frankly quite sickening shows of deference and cloying gratitude. Took me back to the dark days of Dunk. But Shaggy Alonso chastised me on here for retaining a degree of doubt after the one they call Maestro had spoken. I was also informed he was very busy. So I noted, quite mildly I thought, that I'd keep an open mind until something substantial was proffered. Then the one they call Maestro demonstrated he was displeased to find that, on here, I'd said I was still unconvinced. That, for a busy man at Melwood, struck me as a tad pompous and over-sensitive. Then he complained again. That's my take on it. I HATE sycophancy. I cannot abide people who appear to bathe in applause. If any of you on here have felt maddened by the hassle from 'there', you have my sincere apologies. As for Maestro and his coat-holder, Shaggy, well done for getting your mates, sorry, servants, to dance to your petty tune. But I remain convinced you did the intrusive winding-up, quite knowingly. And you won't be getting a 'Thanks big man' from me. Pompous ****s."

Is that whole post supposed to be ironic, or was aforementioned said poster merely born of the manor, with a silver spoon and plums intrangulated in his admittedly and undoubtedly highly-educated mouth?

[kurtangle01]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article2364466.ece

[kurtangle01]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/09/01/sfnliv101.xml

[Ron_Mexico]

A strange day. As a committed fan of long-standing, I wanted to get to the bottom of this rumour/story. Hence I started this thread. When I found another poster, on another site, appearing like God to say 'Yes' then disappear in a puff of smoke, I was quite gobsmacked to find a number of people just accepting this announcement on spec, along with frankly quite sickening shows of deference and cloying gratitude. Took me back to the dark days of Dunk. But Shaggy Alonso chastised me on here for retaining a degree of doubt after the one they call Maestro had spoken. I was also informed he was very busy. So I noted, quite mildly I thought, that I'd keep an open mind until something substantial was proffered. Then the one they call Maestro demonstrated he was displeased to find that, on here, I'd said I was still unconvinced. That, for a busy man at Melwood, struck me as a tad pompous and over-sensitive. Then he complained again. That's my take on it. I HATE sycophancy. I cannot abide people who appear to bathe in applause. If any of you on here have felt maddened by the hassle from 'there', you have my sincere apologies. As for Maestro and his coat-holder, Shaggy, well done for getting your mates, sorry, servants, to dance to your petty tune. But I remain convinced you did the intrusive winding-up, quite knowingly. And you won't be getting a 'Thanks big man' from me. Pompous ****s.

that was beautifully written. too bad it makes gkmacca look like a whinging little girl. i remember him from the KT days, he's a good poster.

this has to be a pisstake

[Ron_Mexico]

I think maybe Wenger put him under a little pressure aswell.Unearthing all these little jems from France.He maybe felt that that was the way forward.

trying to keep up with wenger in that regard is like racing a Porsche on foot. GH should have stuck to his guns and signed more experienced players like babel and gary mac. bringing hyypia to the club was one of his greatest achievements in spotting unheard of talent

You forgot about the way he made the real Zidane look silly with a stepover when we played Madrid in a pre-season friendly.

He was **** though.

he scored a good goal against chelsea as well

i don't remember the stepover but i bet bruno does. i'm sure for some that was confirmation that the torch had been passed

[tommyg]

If they have been fighting for a while, Rafa may have already made a short-list in his head

[Guest]

Fookin' hell this thread has taken off since last night.

My personal take on this is that things like that can certainly make or break our club ... There'll always be issues and disagreements over the course of a relationship (in that case a professional one) but this would totally disrupt our plans right through training up to Rafa's tactical planning.

Another point to be considered is that it would affect the players mentally one way or the other, knowing that something isn't right within the club's management structure and the uncertainty of what is coming next and which changes will be made.

I'm just hopeful that a solution acceptable to both parties will be found soon and ideally Pako coming back on his decision / or delaying his departure. Drastic changes early into the season will be massive and could cost us the league.

Everyone involved should put the best interests of the club first, then work within this framework to find the most acceptable solution.

[darkknight]

Not fukin happy to find this today - whatever the ins and outs of it.

[calvoboy]

Spot on, Bazza. Pako is a very good coach but he's not the only one out there and I'm sure that there would be coaches, equally as good, that would relish the opportunity to work with Rafa at Liverpool.

It's the short term knock on effect that could prove to disturb things at the club while the players get used to a new coach but I'm sure that Rafa will make sure that the transition is as smooth as possible.

There's also the fact that if this has been rumbling on for some time it's actually in the best interests for everyone if Pako moves on.

I trust Rafa and I'm certain he'll always act with the best interests of the club in mind.

It depends how close they were though, and what Paco's influence on rafa is. Clough was always THE man, but he was never as good a manager without Peter Taylor by his side.

I would like to think that they can settle their differences over the next couple of weeks and that he will be back. It could destabilise us right in the middle of a good run otherwise. Lucky we've only got Derby today and then a two week break for the internationals...

[sonsofthedesert]

No Replacement for Pako

Reds won’t replace Ayesteran
Sep 1 2007 by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ will not be looking for a new number two, despite assistant manager Pako Ayesteran's shock decision to quit Anfield.

The Reds boss confirmed yesterday that Ayesteran, a long-time friend and colleague for the last 11 years, had left the club.

But he believes he already has the staff on board at Melwood who can fill the void.

Ayesteran was not expected to be on duty at today's Premiership match against Derby, after he rocked Benitez by informing him of his intention to leave on the day of the Champions League qualifier second leg against Toulouse.

The players were informed of Ayesteran's decision on Thursday.

"Pako said that maybe he will look to leave the club, and we need to analyse the situation," said Benitez. "It is a surprise as we have worked together for 11 years.

"I cannot say too much. It does surprise me a little bit. The timing is not the best.

"But the best thing for me is not to say much about it now."

Ayesteran had worked under Benitez at a number of clubs in their native Spain before joining him when he left Valencia to take charge of Liverpool.

He had full control over the training and preparation of the squad for matches and he was considered a key figure in the backroom setup.

He was recognised as an expert in the technical and physical areas and was a coach who applied sports science to his work.

But he did not approve of some of the changes Benitez made to the system during pre-season and there were a number of disagreements.

It is understood Ayesteran will officially leave the club once administrative issues around his contract are resolved.

He was linked with Athletic Bilbao during the summer and Liverpool supporters will be hoping rumours of interest from Manchester United and Chelsea in his services are no more than speculation.

The back room staff which Benitez brought with him when he arrived from Valencia three years ago has now effectively broken up, with former coach Paco Herrera and goalkeeping coach Jose Ochotorena also recent departures for entirely different, amicable reasons.

The Reds, meanwhile, made one addition to their squad on transfer deadline day - Lyon midfielder Damien Plessi.

The 19-year-old Frenchman will be added to the reserve squad and Benitez said: "He is a good player, big and strong, and we're sure he'll do well for us.

“He's only a young boy with plenty of time to work on his game but it depends on his progress how quickly he can force his way into the first team."

Steven Gerrard, meanwhile, will join up with England on Monday ahead of next week's international double-header, despite missing today's match at Anfield as he recovers from a broken toe.

"We had a private conversation and I was very clear and he was very honest," said Benitez. "He wants to play every game, but he knows it is important not to take any risks.

"He will join England but we will be in daily contact with him and with the England doctors."

Gerrard will not be joined in the England squad by team-mate Jermaine Pennant on this occasion, but Benitez believes the time is rapidly approaching when the in-form Reds winger will be called up by Steve McClaren.

"I think he deserved a call-up, but I have a lot of respect for the England manager and if he decides to use different players that's okay.

"Jermaine knows he needs to keep working, playing well and maybe in the future he will be in the squad.

"If I am selfish I would say to you I prefer him to stay with us rather than leaving with the national side, but thinking about the player I think he is ready.

“He is improving a lot. Mentally he is more mature and he is very close for me.”

LINK

[marcus50bucks]

Imo we've ****ed it. We will miss Pako big time. The work he's done for us has been stunning. Without a doubt it is bad timing and I am amazed Rafa is not looking to replace him.

[ARIMAN]

this the first Ive seen of this story. am shocked and really disappointed as we`ve made such a good start to the season
However the trust in rafa is absolute, and if anyone can manage, he can.

[anfieldanfield]

No replacement ?! That is a shock.

[Morph]

No replacement ?! That is a shock.

I don't think it's that much of a shock to be honest, if Rafa was going to bring someone in he'd wanted to have done it in pre-season to bed someone into the position and learn the techniques Rafa uses, the best thing for now would be an internal appointment and maybe look to bring someone in, in the future

[anfieldanfield]

I don't think it's that much of a shock to be honest, if Rafa was going to bring someone in he'd wanted to have done it in pre-season to bed someone into the position and learn the techniques Rafa uses, the best thing for now would be an internal appointment and maybe look to bring someone in, in the future

Yeah, the timing of all this has made it much more complicated.