Barca eye Ayestaran

[Draxdor]

I was thinking the other day... if one of the problems was Pako's friendship with Mourinho, surely that is no longer an issue...

Maybe Rafa and Pako can bury the hatchet...

</maybe I've just got chronic wishful thinking>

[andyinswinton]

I don't think Rafa is a man to go back on a decision.

Good luck to Pako if he gets a job at Barca. We do need to replace him though asap.

United really suffered when Quieroz left and Fergie didn't replace him.

[Lee]

I was thinking the other day... if one of the problems was Pako's friendship with Mourinho, surely that is no longer an issue...

Maybe Rafa and Pako can bury the hatchet...

</maybe I've just got chronic wishful thinking>

Fingers crossed there. I think we're suffering from losing him

[Morph]

Do you not get the impression that Pako was more than just a fitness coach to Rafa? I definitely do. The fact that Atletico Madrid were sounding him out as a director of football tells me that he clearly is very highly rated in many departments.

A fitness coach is replaceable. There must be many out there who are as good if not better than Pako...it's what else he brought to the table that we may now have lost that worries me. Of course this is nothing more than speculation but it's just a gut feeling I have as to how important he's been to our success.

Like I say, Rafa does need a new sounding board and maybe some help with the tactical aspects of our game, but he can't just go out and pick someone and for us all to expect it work, rafa and pako developed their ideas together over 11 years, and i think that's why rafa doesn't want to bring anyone in at the minute.

On the plus side he's still listed on the website so i'm assuming he's not off our pay roll yet, would be nice if they could resolve their differences, but prob won't happen

[Alpha]

No matter what Rafa says, Paco needs to be replaced. I don't buy all this stuff from Rafa that we're not missing him and his departure has no bearing on our recent results. The fact that Barca are after him proves that he's the dog b@llocks.

I agree that Paco's departure has something to do with recent performances.

But it could simply be more about the squad adjusting to the new setup than actually missing Paco's presence and methods.

[kev776]

I will vollunteer my services to the cause, I will give Rafa a ****ing good listening to when ever he needs it.

[Joe King]

I don't think Rafa is a man to go back on a decision.

Good luck to Pako if he gets a job at Barca. We do need to replace him though asap.

United really suffered when Quieroz left and Fergie didn't replace him.

Yes, he did with Walter Smith. United did suffer but Arsenal were awesome that season

[Biff]

Lets get Gary McAllister

[Los Rojos]

I think Rafa need to get in a replacement for Pako, someone who is closer to the players than Rafa is.

Rush would be a good choice IMO.

I think Rush is pencilled in for a job with the FAW

[Los Rojos]

Lets get Gary McAllister

I think Macca would be a good choice if Rafa felt as though he needed someone to come in. I'm not sure he does though and there does seem to be an abundance of coaches within the club these days.

It would be interesting to see an organogram (organisational chart) of the entire coaching staff to see who actually links in with who.

[AFII]

I think Rush is pencilled in for a job with the FAW

He is already doing that. He is the boss of Wales youth team program.

[Los Rojos]

He is already doing that. He is the boss of Wales youth team program.

Didn't realise he'd started yet

[Howard_lfc]

Barca haven't been the same since losing Henk ten Cate but this will be good for him. Not sure Rafa will be happy being a Real man.

Tell me about Henk ten Cate mate. I've heard his name but know nothing about him. Ta.