Tom Hicks: Quit talking and coach the players

[El Jefecito]

To be honest - I'm disappointed in the way Rafa conducted himself yesterday. His 'antics' in the press conference has brought this to everybody's attention - which we could all have done without.

To be fair though until the press release everyone just thought he was just on the blob.

Considering the emotional wreck he was and in the mists of passion I think he contained himself really well.

BUT Hicks on the other hand, settled in his office in Dallas, not in front of 20+ journalists, coldly, calmly, deliberately writes a press release revealing the private conversation that he has had with Rafa. He goes onto tell Rafa he's only a "coach".

That done he calls the echo and schedules an interview so he can further publically humiliate Rafa.

Sorry! Rafa is Iberian, he can't be berated for his passion, it's what has him doing 18 hour days for achieve OUR goals.

But this Hicks guy is playing with fire and If he loses Rafa, than a little bit of what Liverpool always was will have been extinguished.

[Shaggy]

Whatever you say about egos and pissing contests and so on, peel it all back and the root cause of all this is that the yanks came in blowing a trumpet and milked the press about spending shedloads of cash, then handed Rafa 20million net and are now welching on further money by the sounds of it. They've bought into something they don't really seem to understand and clearly do not want to give Rafa the money he needs for the team. I lay the blame squarely at their door. Rafa is an honourable guy, the yanks haven't been completely honourable so far IMO.

[desertscouser]

something needs to turn around with this otherwise it looks to me like its rafa off come the summer - if not before. not like he doesnt have any teams after him is it...


sh1t

And on the flip side, the owners know that the world's best managers will be queuing up to join LFC should Rafa resign.

[The Preacher]

what a load of bollocks

Tom Hicks tells Rafa Benitez: Quit talking and coach the players

He said: “After the Champions League final in Athens, Rafa made certain demands of us and we responded to those demands in the summer.


“We brought in some good players and spent more money than has ever been spent before at this club.

what a total load of bollocks - look at out net spend for las season based on figures from the liverpool echo.

players in - £43.5m

Andriy Voronin Free
Lucas Leiva £6m
Sebastien Leto £1.5m
Fernando Torres £20m
Yossi Benayoun £5m
Ryan Babel £11m
Charles Itandje Free

Players out - £23m

Luis Garcia £4m
Mark Gonzalez £3.5m
Djibril Cisse £8m
Craig Bellamy £7.5m
Jerzy Dudek Free

OUR NET SPEND FOR THIS LAST TRANSFER WINDOW WAS £20.5M - WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO KID MR. HICKS ???

MANCHESTER UNITED SPEND NEARLY OVER £60M ON 3 PLAYERS IN THE SAME TRANSFER WINDOW. IF YOU WANT US TO COMPETE WITH THEM THEN DIG DEEPER.

AND PLEASE DONT FORGET THAT LIVERPOOL HAVE RAISED NEARLY £50M IN THE LAST 3 SEASONS FROM THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL RUNS. DONT BULL**** THE FANS - WE KNOW BETTER.

[paulc]

In fairness though Im with the Yanks on this one. Benitez started the spat by 'going public' and the americans are entitled to do the same.

The Yanks are entitled to treat the matter as a business given their investment and if I had invested 400mil + and at the end of November my team was 6th in the league and on the verge of exiting the Champions League, I'd be waiting until Mid December before discussing any further investment also.

Benitez's frustration is unwarranted IMO as this season has not been a success thus far. (i stress thus far). He cannot therefore expect the owners to be running in his direction with blank cheques.

Totally agree

People on here say back Rafa

Owners treat this as a business not a plaything like chelski

Manure have more money to spend on players due to their vastly bigger stadium and world wide merchandise

They backed him to a point and are seeing whats what. Why would YOU throw your money at something if you dont seethe return?

DOes anyone who posts on here have a clue about business???????

[Pacman]

And on the flip side, the owners know that the world's best managers will be queuing up to join LFC should Rafa resign.

Who though?

[paulc]

yes, and what will the Spanish contingent be thinking.

They do good tapas in La Tasca over here at least!!

[lucas10]

Well! If the American don't HYPE UP our expectation, surely Rafa will not be under so much pressure. During Moore's time, everyone will say Rafa is doing a good job to be challenging.

Now, everyone expect Rafa to deliver the title and transfer budget has not increased significantly. It is unfair for Rafa to take on the pressure with little assistance.

Why can't the American be honest and said the priority now is the stadium. We are going to progress gradually.

Moore rarely go to the press and blah blah about the CHAMPIONSHIP ambition.

American......Please walk the talk. If you do not have the money, please RESELL the CLUB to DIC. Please do not try to make too much profit, OK?

[Elvis]

And on the flip side, the owners know that the world's best managers will be queuing up to join LFC should Rafa resign.

Why? Won't they look at the reasons Rafa (hypothetically) left and think "I don't want the same situation"?

[paulc]

Tom Hicks tells Rafa Benitez: Quit talking and coach the players

He said: “After the Champions League final in Athens, Rafa made certain demands of us and we responded to those demands in the summer.


“We brought in some good players and spent more money than has ever been spent before at this club.

what a total load of bollocks - look at out net spend for las season based on figures from the liverpool echo.

players in - £43.5m

Andriy Voronin Free
Lucas Leiva £6m
Sebastien Leto £1.5m
Fernando Torres £20m
Yossi Benayoun £5m
Ryan Babel £11m
Charles Itandje Free

Players out - £23m

Luis Garcia £4m
Mark Gonzalez £3.5m
Djibril Cisse £8m
Craig Bellamy £7.5m
Jerzy Dudek Free

OUR NET SPEND FOR THIS LAST TRANSFER WINDOW WAS £20.5M - WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO KID MR. HICKS ???

MANCHESTER UNITED SPEND NEARLY OVER £60M ON 3 PLAYERS IN THE SAME TRANSFER WINDOW. IF YOU WANT US TO COMPETE WITH THEM THEN DIG DEEPER.

AND PLEASE DONT FORGET THAT LIVERPOOL HAVE RAISED NEARLY £50M IN THE LAST 3 SEASONS FROM THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL RUNS. DONT BULL**** THE FANS - WE KNOW BETTER.

this has been done to death on the forums

mods close this thread

[The Preacher]

think about the story - why is benitez anoyed ?

our owners want to sit down and discuss the transfer plans two weeks before the transfer window opens. Doesnt that seem a little odd to anybody ?

Benitez has worked wonders with the rubbish team that he inherited and has raised a lot of money for us. He has made his own transfer budgets and now our owners come in and promise to back benitez.

fine but they only spent £20m of their own money.

wow wee - that's gonna win us the premiership and the champions league.

If you dont understand the article why not go and read about stuff instead of acting like a complete knobhead.

[Maestro]

so all of a sudden now just cos he is one of gods own you presume he drinks??????

all us irish dont drink you know - we have children over here too who havent quite arrived at the drinking age of 7

Ok, my bad. Maybe I should have phrased it "Where do you watch Liverpool play on TV when you're in Vienna?"

Strangely enough I stay away from the Irish bars, I like 1516 or the Shebeen, how about yourself?

Both good pubs. Great food.
If I go to an Irish pub, then usually Charlies for the matches.

[El Jefecito]

Totally agree

People on here say back Rafa

Owners treat this as a business not a plaything like chelski

Manure have more money to spend on players due to their vastly bigger stadium and world wide merchandise

They backed him to a point and are seeing whats what. Why would YOU throw your money at something if you dont seethe return?

DOes anyone who posts on here have a clue about business???????

If this was a business then Rafa would have a transfer budget and could work his deals within in this. But no, there is a player specific budget, so how does Rafa work out who he can get? As he can't work to the #'s he needs constant dialogue w/the owners, who won't take his calls!!!!!!

So essentially you have a manager who is not empowered to manage transfers. If you don't back your employees you will fail.

[Imy]

Tom Hicks tells Rafa Benitez: Quit talking and coach the players

He said: “After the Champions League final in Athens, Rafa made certain demands of us and we responded to those demands in the summer.


“We brought in some good players and spent more money than has ever been spent before at this club.

what a total load of bollocks - look at out net spend for las season based on figures from the liverpool echo.

players in - £43.5m

Andriy Voronin Free
Lucas Leiva £6m
Sebastien Leto £1.5m
Fernando Torres £20m
Yossi Benayoun £5m
Ryan Babel £11m
Charles Itandje Free

Players out - £23m

Luis Garcia £4m
Mark Gonzalez £3.5m
Djibril Cisse £8m
Craig Bellamy £7.5m
Jerzy Dudek Free

OUR NET SPEND FOR THIS LAST TRANSFER WINDOW WAS £20.5M - WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO KID MR. HICKS ???

MANCHESTER UNITED SPEND NEARLY OVER £60M ON 3 PLAYERS IN THE SAME TRANSFER WINDOW. IF YOU WANT US TO COMPETE WITH THEM THEN DIG DEEPER.

AND PLEASE DONT FORGET THAT LIVERPOOL HAVE RAISED NEARLY £50M IN THE LAST 3 SEASONS FROM THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL RUNS. DONT BULL**** THE FANS - WE KNOW BETTER.

Net spend is 20.5m add to that the Kuyt debt near 9m so total spend is nearer 30m.

DWW and i have been debating the source of this money, my arguments being it is the New Premiership money and prize money from the CL.

We both agree that with a new stadium on the horizon the club need to be slightly prudent.

Most people on here agree that we will not get substantial spending sprees like what the yanks mooted when they bought the club, it was all hype, smoke and mirrors.

The manc comparison is valid because they are our rivals, but they are so far ahead of us with regards to revenue streams we can not compete with them.

[Morph]

you are one idiot.

think about the story - why is benitez anoyed ?

our owners want to sit down and discuss the transfer plans two weeks before the transfer window opens. Doesnt that seem a little odd to anybody ?

Benitez has worked wonders with the rubbish team that he inherited and has raised a lot of money for us. He has made his own transfer budgets and now our owners come in and promise to back benitez.

fine but they only spent £20m of their own money.

wow wee - that's gonna win us the premiership and the champions league.

If you dont understand the article why not go and read about stuff instead of acting like a complete knobhead.

you've got to look at the bigger picture tho mate, they aren't going to throw money out left right and center, one of the big things they are doing is the stadium and this is going to provide us with money in the long term, however you can't really expect them to bank roll the club for the next 3 years, they are business men after all. Maybe we aimed to low when we sold the club, but thats a different story.