Benitez thread

[bigfooty]

Those two alone would cost in excess of 27M and some of the reports in the papers on this story seem to include Afonso Alves in there as the third player he wants to sign. 35M in the January window? That's a helluva lot of money and I can't blame the Americans for being a bit hesitant when only a couple of games ago the fans were reduced to jeering "attack, attack, attack attack attack" due to the sheer frustration at Rafa's tactics.

Especially when a Champions league windfall still hangs in the balance.

[Skillz]

I actually think Rafa has played the media game again and G&H are not prepared to got through it all again. The Mash stuff I actually think has been set up by Rafa so he pressure them now to get answers. IIRC there were reports with Kia and Rafa having dinner and then Masher comes out with an ultimatum a couple of days later.

Now Masher may wish his future is settled but there is no reason for him to come out with 30 day time scales when we have his rights until 30th of June FFS.

I love Rafa but I think he has been found out this time and the owners have put him back in his place. Just my opinion and to be honest I do not like all this **** in the media even if Rafa is fighting for more funds. I am actually with G&H on this one.

[El Jefecito]

Those two alone would cost in excess of 27M and some of the reports in the papers on this story seem to include Afonso Alves in there as the third player he wants to sign. 35M in the January window? That's a helluva lot of money and I can't blame the Americans for being a bit hesitant when only a couple of games ago the fans were reduced to jeering "attack, attack, attack attack attack" due to the sheer frustration at Rafa's tactics.

Especially when a Champions league windfall still hangs in the balance.

A bit hesitant, they released a press statement that was a full force slap down. They're gonna lose him, I know you'll be happy with that but I wont.

[bigfooty]

A bit hesitant, they released a press statement that was a full force slap down. They're gonna lose him, I know you'll be happy with that but I wont.

Not really. I have said Rafa deserves this season to see how far he can take us and I also believe sacking / forcing him to leave right now would be extremely bad for us - there's not even a #2 to hold down the fort should something go tits up at a speed of knots. But I do believe it's a bit soon to be assuring him of over 30M in transfer funding for January, it just doesn't make financial sense to me if we lose to Porto and crash out of the Champions League - or if we suddenly suffer a downturn in league form and look out of the title race by January 1st.

[Shanks65]

Not much new in here, but Maddock paints a rather bleak picture. Don't know if he still has his finger on the LFC pulse, but he used to be pretty accurate with his stuff cos of his close ties with Fowler.


By David Maddock 23/11/2007


Liverpool were plunged deep into crisis last night as Rafa Benitez cast a major doubt over his future.

The Spanish coach (left) revealed his anger over how he perceives his situation at the club, when he remarkably put himself forward as the next England manager, and refused to commit himself to a long-term role at Anfield.

Benitez has become increasingly frustrated at his long-distance relationship with American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, and has deep reservations about their hands-off approach.

He is known to be concerned over what he sees as a lack of action in the transfer market - particularly over his demands for the upcoming tranfer window - and has been approached by both Bayern Munich and Fenerbahce in recent weeks.

In an extraordinary public outburst yesterday, the Liverpool boss gave what amounted to a 'back me or sack' ultimatum to the American owners, visibly shaking with anger at an exchange with them that occurred just a few minutes before.

Gillett and Hicks quickly responded with a statement that argued they have given the Spaniard millions of pounds worth of backing in the transfer market, and equipped him with a squad to win trophies.

They also pointed out their patience in dealing with outbursts of this type from Benitez, most notably when he berated them after the Champions League final.

Their approach seems designed to call the bluff of Benitez, and force him to back down or quit the club - a move that would cost him the millions he would be owed on his contract if he were sacked.

At a crucial time in the club's history a vicious civil war has broken out. It can only destroy the fragile peace that has existed since the manager's last outburst.

Benitez stopped short of verbally threatening to walk out yesterday, but his implication was clear, and he did insist that he was a candidate to become the next manager of England.

"I may be interested in the England job. In the future you never know. It could happen, maybe if I improve my English," he said, with barely a hint of a smile.

Later, when questioned whether we should take his suggestion seriously, he responded: "I was serious about England, yes."

[friedk]

http://news.google.co.uk/news?hl=en&cr=countryUK%7CcountryGB&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&tab=wn&ncl=1123701916

It's definitely given the press something to write about.

Rafa and the owners could have handled this better, hopefully it will blow over, but knowing the press here they will push the issue to breaking point.

[Red_Al_77]

Whether Rafa was just pissed off at the England comments or not it didn't need Punch and Judy pipping up from over the sea. The timing was stupid and IMO (before Nicey goes off on a rant) suggests the two events are connected. Hopefully now that football is about to resume we will get back to concentrating people's minds. However IMO Rafa is frustrated about not being able to discuss his ideas earlier than December. In the past he has commented about Liverpool being too slow in the transfer market. I'm sure when Punch and Judy come over all will be fine and dandy but it doesn't take much to get on a plane and come and see Rafa and just have a natter for a few hours. People also need to get away from this 'well the Americans are paying for our new stadium' stuff. They aren't. The banks and investment institutions are. They are borrowing against their creditworthiness and not throwing in their own monies. We have inherited two clever businessmen, not billionaires who are going to be throwing money at the club. Expectations are high after we got Torres but when you get down to the bare facts we aren't loaded. We are just that bit smarter now in our business dealings.

[Red_Al_77]

Top of what? They need to work together. It's a team effort. They all need to conduct their business in private. All at the moment are culpable and frankly they look like a bunch of squabbling school girls.

[JCase]

I agree with you old man

I don't beleive everything has been rosy in the last few months. Pako's departure and now this

Hope we concentrate first and foremost on hammering the Barcodes and keeping fat Sam quiet.

[friedk]

In the guardian they say the press conference was delayed for 35 minutes while Rafa was on the phone to the owners.

I have a feeling they weren't discussing the end of year Christmas party.

[friedk]

what a ****e poll.

first I thought it was a poll between rafa & houllier, i had to read it 3 times.

What do we want? no new stadium & little money with Rafa at the helm? or fantastic stadium & a reasonable transfer kitty?

A bit of both please. Why choose?

There is a lot that I don't agree with in your posts, but in this instance I agree 100%.

The best thing for Liverpool is for both sides to sit down and sort it out.

This one or the other bull**** can only damage the club.

[Jennings]

For me, they have completely different portfolios and objectives.

Rafa has complete control of team, tactics etc.

Tom and George look after direction of the club - Ground, marketing etc.

Hence I didn't vote - but did like to express an opinion.

[Fan65]

If as it seems, there is a rift, there can only be one winner

The owners.

I hope and prey Rafa finds a way to get what he wants and stays. The owners have a huge financial investment in this club and they are very successful businessmen who will have contingency plans in place to protect their investment.

If it's the Masherano deal, maybe the answer is sell to buy Crouch etc, and maybe Rafa doesn't want to.

All speculation I know but that's all we have, speculation.

[kopdan]

There are obvious money issues. Whether its the ground or the banks I dont know.
I think a lot of the problems are that Rafa likes to run the show and I think under Hicks, he is having to wait on things. He must have had Moores round his little finger.

[rage]

we're becoming everything we laughed at thinking the scum would become when the glaziers took over. I've never heard of slur alex havng an outburst like that nor being held back in the transfer market, regardless of it being january or july. Or of the owners publicly rebuking him.

Our americans talk about spending a lot of money. I'd really like someone with some financial knowledge beyond my money for beer and petrol type budgeting to explain how much of their own money the americans have spent, that way we'll know the truth of the matter.