Pako - too close to Mourinho?

[anfieldanfield]

I would imagine that Riise was dropped because he was crap against Toulouse.
He gave the ball away far too much on Tuesday and really should have done much better against such a poor team. Just a boot up the arse. He'll be back in the team soon

As long as Arbeloa and Finnan stay fit I really cant see Riise forcing his way into the side.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

As long as Arbeloa and Finnan stay fit I really cant see Riise forcing his way into the side.

They have been different class........

[red g]

I would imagine that Riise was dropped because he was crap against Toulouse.
He gave the ball away far too much on Tuesday and really should have done much better against such a poor team. Just a cock up the arse. He'll be back in the team soon

[Morph]

So without jumping to conclusions what you're saying is that Riise is a giver and Pako is a taker, or is it the other way round? Either way they like a bit of the pork?

I would imagine that Riise was dropped because he was crap against Toulouse.
He gave the ball away far too much on Tuesday and really should have done much better against such a poor team. Just a cock up the arse. He'll be back in the team soon

[Darth Marty]

Riise is a model pro and despite what peoples opinions of him are it is good that we have options like J.A.R available to us. I for one would be happy in the knowledge that if arbeloa or finnan get injured we have someone like j.a.r to cover rather than someone like warnock or traore. Sounds like it may actually be a positive that Pako left.

[IrishPaul]

All I can say is (and I shouldn't even be saying this) is him and Pako got on well.....allegedley.

Do you mean

'Got on well'

OR

'Got on well'

?

[Shaggy]

I would imagine that Riise was dropped because he was crap against Toulouse.
He gave the ball away far too much on Tuesday and really should have done much better against such a poor team. Just a boot up the arse. He'll be back in the team soon

He won't.

[Skillz]

He won't.

He will when we want to rest Finnan or Arbeloa.

I have a feeling the Times article might have hit the nail on the head. Pako has always been Rafa's loyal servant who gets close to the players. This gives the players someone to communicate with as Rafa prefers to be at arms length.

The problem is when you are in this role long enough it is easy to forget where your loyalties lie. Perhaps Rafa felt Pako had got to close to the players and sided with them on some issues?

Anyway it is more than likely we will never know what really caused this split but as long as Rafa is still here in 10+ years i wont lose any sleep over it

[Zapater]

I read somewhere that Pako applied for a general sporting director type job (would have the authority to direct transfers and stuff.) at Athletic Bilbao at the start of season and Rafa only found about it now. He didn't get the job but apparently Rafa is pissed off as hell about it. Well that's what the Spanish forums are saying. Don't know how much truth there is to it if any.

[fred_plasticine]

He will when we want to rest Finnan or Arbeloa.

I have a feeling the Times article might have hit the nail on the head. Pako has always been Rafa's loyal servant who gets close to the players. This gives the players someone to communicate with as Rafa prefers to be at arms length.

The problem is when you are in this role long enough it is easy to forget where your loyalties lie. Perhaps Rafa felt Pako had got to close to the players and sided with them on some issues?

Anyway it is more than likely we will never know what really caused this split but as long as Rafa is still here in 10+ years i wont lose any sleep over it

i don't know mate, i don't think pako being too close to the players was the main issue here, if any at all.
i can see the appointments in the physical and technical departements as a kick in the teeth for pako as they used to be under his control. now rafa comes out declaring that we won't replace pako which basically means he's already replaced him with these two blokes.

[Dhav]

I read somewhere that Pako applied for a general sporting director type job (would have the authority to direct transfers and stuff.) at Athletic Bilbao at the start of season and Rafa only found about it now. He didn't get the job but apparently Rafa is pissed off as hell about it. Well that's what the Spanish forums are saying. Don't know how much truth there is to it if any.

I think that pretty much backs up what the weekend press reports were saying about this, ie that Pako secretely went to an interview at Bilbao, and this has brought his loyalty into question.

[Rocket]

someone in work reckons he had a job interview at Real Madrid in the summer, he says his source was sky sports news.

not sure how true it is, but madrid did get a new coach, but ended up with the Mancs one

[Dhav]

someone in work reckons he had a job interview at Real Madrid in the summer, he says his source was sky sports news.

not sure how true it is, but madrid did get a new coach, but ended up with the Mancs one

Either way, it seems there was a growing loyalty/trust issue between Rafa and Pako, in which case it is probably better that Pako is gone.

[Maestro]

I read somewhere that Pako applied for a general sporting director type job (would have the authority to direct transfers and stuff.) at Athletic Bilbao at the start of season and Rafa only found about it now. He didn't get the job but apparently Rafa is pissed off as hell about it. Well that's what the Spanish forums are saying. Don't know how much truth there is to it if any.

[Shaggy]

Crikey.

I know it's a job of more authority and power, but still I'm amazed Pako was prepared to leave LFC for Athletic Bilbao.

I guess that's the ardent Red in me as opposed to Pako's consumate pro.