All those who want Rafa sacked...

[Guest]

I'm not so sure - I think there is a vocal minority which made a lot of fuss and made most of those who backed Rafa not feel like posting in the LFC forums. To be honest it got fairly unpleasant and you had to trawl through pages of the same posters grumbling about the same things to find any interesting points that were raised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QLXTsviMxk

[bigfooty]

Who would you have then?

I'm really not sure, perhaps if I had a clear favourite in mind then I would be more "Rafa out" in my stance. It's also inevitable that Rafa will get to the end of the season so any such decisions need not be taken until next year when certain managers may or may not become available.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I understand your reasoning but I think he'll get us there in the end simply because he's able to learn from his mistakes.

Normally I'd agree with this.

But then I see Rafa using Kuyt up front on his own, which has been proven as ineffective repeatedly, and before that his continuous use of Morientes when it was patently clear that it wasn't working.

Perhaps he has too much faith in certain players and not enough in others?

[Guest]

Normally I'd agree with this.

But then I see Rafa using Kuyt up front on his own, which has been proven as ineffective repeatedly, and before that his continuous use of Morientes when it was patently clear that it wasn't working.

Perhaps he has too much faith in certain players and not enough in others?

But he seems to be successful still ? CL final etc ... Not bad for an obdurate and tactically clueless man.

Ahh well.

[Pacman]

Normally I'd agree with this.

But then I see Rafa using Kuyt up front on his own, which has been proven as ineffective repeatedly, and before that his continuous use of Morientes when it was patently clear that it wasn't working.

Perhaps he has too much faith in certain players and not enough in others?

You're not doing anything for the scottish stereotype of being a miserable ****

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

But he seems to be successful still ? CL final etc ... Not bad for an obdurate and tactically clueless man.

Ahh well.

When did I say he was tactically clueless?

[Neil Young]

Normally I'd agree with this.

But then I see Rafa using Kuyt up front on his own, which has been proven as ineffective repeatedly, and before that his continuous use of Morientes when it was patently clear that it wasn't working.

Perhaps he has too much faith in certain players and not enough in others?

...Or he values different qualities for the long-term or there are other things going on. I agree it looks hard to explain but I don't think it really calls into question what I would see as the undeniable fact of progress in terms of the league and the calibre of players in the squad.

Once progress has stalled for a considerable period of time (i.e. definitely more than just a few weeks when we are still just six points off the lead and unbeaten) then I think Rafa's position becomes more questionable.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

You're not doing anything for the scottish stereotype of being a miserable ****

It's ****ing rained all day.

So there.

[Pacman]

It's ****ing rained all day.

So there.

[Neil Young]

When did I say he was tactically clueless?

You're certainly asking the right person - if anyone is an expert on cluelessness...

[Guest]

When did I say he was tactically clueless?

I was implying. By hinting that Kuyt was being played alone upfront and even his 'faith' in the 'ineffective' Morientes does imply he got something wrong, isn't it ?

Judge the man by his results and over a period of time.

[Guest]

You're certainly asking the right person - if anyone is an expert on cluelessness...

Thanks comrade.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

...Or he values different qualities for the long-term or there are other things going on. I agree it looks hard to explain but I don't think it really calls into question what I would see as the undeniable fact of progress in terms of the league and the calibre of players in the squad.

Once progress has stalled for a considerable period of time (i.e. definitely more than just a few weeks when we are still just six points off the lead and unbeaten) then I think Rafa's position becomes more questionable.

Of course he's taken us forward.

We're streets ahead in terms of player quality compared to 5 years ago.

Problem is that in the Premiership the bar has been raised with the Russian gangster making an appearance, and the bloody spawny scum coming strong again. I guess it's just unfortunate that it happened just as Benitez was arriving. It's certainly made it harder for him, he's been constantly playing catch-up from day one. But that doesn't excuse certain things though.

As far as I'm concerned he gets until the end of the season, then it'll be looked at. If we're miles off in the league again then the pressure will really be on next year. Though I suspect it will be either way.

[bigfooty]

Once progress has stalled for a considerable period of time (i.e. definitely more than just a few weeks when we are still just six points off the lead and unbeaten) then I think Rafa's position becomes more questionable.

If we finish 3rd for the third season in a row do you view that as progress stalling?

[Neil Young]

Of course he's taken us forward.

We're streets ahead in terms of player quality compared to 5 years ago.

Problem is that in the Premiership the bar has been raised with the Russian gangster making an appearance, and the bloody spawny scum coming strong again. I guess it's just unfortunate that it happened just as Benitez was arriving. It's certainly made it harder for him, he's been constantly playing catch-up from day. But that doesn't excuse certain things though.

As far as I'm concerned he gets until the end of the season, then it'll be looked at. If we're miles off in the league again then the pressure will really be on next year. Though I suspect it will be either way.

I agree with a lot of that. As for being "miles off", I'm sure you're right - not least it will indicate that we haven't made any real progress this season. Of course it may yet end up like that but comparing our current position with where we were this time a year ago then the signs are promising that we'll be a fair bit closer.