Tom Hicks: Quit talking and coach the players

[Monty]

I don't know if this has been posted before, a very good and level headed (IMO)comment on the situation from Mr Tomkins.

http://www.paultomkins.com/blog.html

[AFII]

Well, if we drop points against Porto then we are out of the CL and that probably also mean that Rafa is out, if it's true that he won't get Masch and Garay if we miss out.

That game now look like being the most important game for Rafa so far with us.

[Monty]

Don't start talking like that FFS! cry's

[Slinky Skills]

I don't know whether any of you listened to the Rafa interview on the BBC site but he doesn't sound happy at all. He dismisses all questions not relating to the Newcastle game which is fair enough, but the interviewer sounding 'almost' concerned, asks him if he's had a good week and he says something like "Not the best but I'm focused on training and coaching my team". He says this sentence over and over again. To completely speculate, it's as if G & T have told him to do just that and he was taking the piss by repeating it over and over again.

I don't know about you fella's but for the first time EVER, I'm really worried that we just might lose Rafa.

I've just listened to it then and he sounds really distressed and down, I think this shows how much he cares for our club. He will walk though I reckon, they've really pissed him off. All of this shouldn't have come out in the open it's not fair on the fans, it should've been kept in the background no matter how much it's pissed Rafa off.

It doesn't look good though.

[StevieG08]

It's starting to look like the writings on the wall, will be interesting to see what has gone on between Rafa and the board. I would assume we wont know until he's walked. I was hoping that it was going to blow over but it's not looking good. I do know one thing, Rafa has brought us some great times and restored the squad/youth set up to what is expected of a great club like ours and if he does walk the wait for no.19 will continue

[bazza76]

Rafa needs to stop being a cunt and a pain in the ass. If the financial backing is the case, you cannot expect to have endless amount of money and buy all the best players. I think the transfer kitty from previous transfer window made him a bit spoiled.

I dont think Rafa is pissed off over money mate.
Rafa is pissed off because he has nobody there to negotiate with, we are not just buying, but selling players too, we are trading in football players worth millions without the owners consent. Rafa is not pissed off at having such and such amount, he is pissed at not know what he can and cant do, how do you plan for this?. Simple fact is, you can't.
It is hampering Rafa's ability to see the team reach its potential and for Rafa himself to reach his potential as a manager. If it was happening to Fergie or Wenger, the reaction may not bequite the same, but they would still be pissed at having their hands tied at not knowing wether to shop in the quiki mart, or Harrods.

[AFII]

I dont think Rafa is pissed off over money mate.
Rafa is pissed off because he has nobody there to negotiate with, we are not just buying, but selling players too, we are trading in football players worth millions without the owners consent. Rafa is not pissed off at having such and such amount, he is pissed at not know what he can and cant do, how do you plan for this?. Simple fact is, you can't.
It is hampering Rafa's ability to see the team reach its potential and for Rafa himself to reach his potential as a manager. If it was happening to Fergie or Wenger, the reaction may not bequite the same, but they would still be pissed at having their hands tied at not knowing wether to shop in the quiki mart, or Harrods.

The situation reminds so much of Valencia that you have to ask yourself if tomorrows game will be Rafa's last game with us. I really don't hope so but it's a chance that it could be.

I hope our supporters shout Rafa's name loud and clear against Newcastle. Time to show G&H that you don't mess with Rafa.

[bazza76]

The situation reminds so much of Valencia that you have to ask yourself if tomorrows game will be Rafa's last game with us. I really don't hope so but it's a chance that it could be.

I hope our supporters shout Rafa's name loud and clear against Newcastle. Time to show G&H that you don't mess with Rafa.

They will be mae, you can rest assured.
I do worry bout the frame of mind of the payers though in a situation like this, how confident are they now in their leader. Not that I am saying Rafa has done wrong, but surely the players must be feeling a little insecure aswell.

[kurtangle01]

It doesn't sound good at all.

The whole saga is so classless. It's very un Liverpool like and it's an embarrassment to the club. All parties should be ashamed of themselves and as for Hick's rebutal, well it was far too harsh for my liking. There are ways to say things and the Texan in my opinion tried to be the big man when what the situation needed was some diplomacy.

In hindsight I wish Rafa had kept his grievances in house. If he had, none of this would've happened.

In my opinion Rafa will walk sooner rather than later. Do you know what, I wouldn't be surprised if he walks straight after the Newcastle game

Spot on. Hicks should have used his interview with The Echo as an opportunity to reiterate his stance but also defuse the situation. A bit of tact wouldn't have gone a miss but these two have steamed in like a bull in a China shop and that's what's dissapointed me most.

The new owners obviously have no idea how to handle situations like this. One thing you don't do is go running to the press.

If Rafa gets who he wants then we can assume that all has been sorted out. If he doesn't I have no doubt that he'll walk in the summer and who could blame him?

As usual the people who will lose out wont be the yanks, they still own the club and will appoint their own man, it wont be Rafa, he could walk into any job in the world, it'll be us, the fans, that lose out.

This is not a good situation for the club and if we lose tomorrow I can only begin to imagine how the press will have a field day about us being a club in turmoil.

[AFII]

They will be mae, you can rest assured.
I do worry bout the frame of mind of the payers though in a situation like this, how confident are they now in their leader. Not that I am saying Rafa has done wrong, but surely the players must be feeling a little insecure aswell.

I think the players will give a million % and show that they want Rafa to stay. Newcastle won't know what hit them.

[kurtangle01]

They will be mae, you can rest assured.
I do worry bout the frame of mind of the payers though in a situation like this, how confident are they now in their leader. Not that I am saying Rafa has done wrong, but surely the players must be feeling a little insecure aswell.

It must be unsettling for them. In the space of two or three months they've lost the assistant mnager, who they all apparently liked, and now their manager is under intesne pressure it would seem. It must be unsettling for them.

I have a very bad feeling about the match tomorrow.

[bazza76]

I think the players will give a million % and show that they want Rafa to stay. Newcastle won't know what hit them.

you have more confidence than me lad

[tomasjj]

I think the players will give a million % and show that they want Rafa to stay. Newcastle won't know what hit them.

[bazza76]

It must be unsettling for them. In the space of two or three months they've lost the assistant mnager, who they all apparently liked, and now their manager is under intesne pressure it would seem. It must be unsettling for them.

I have a very bad feeling about the match tomorrow.

Im not feeling too onfident either Scot.
I would have been if all of this didn't rear its ugly head. But it has, and on top of that, How is Gerrard and Crouch feeling after the England result psychologically?.
Mascher can argueably be added to that list aswell as he thought he was getting a permanent move to Liverpool, and now he must b thinking, maybe I will end up playing abroad after all.
Not all doom and gloom though, Torres should be fit enough to start, and show up Mickey Owen, Agger could also start.

[-V-]

Never been more confident. We will ****in rattle newcastle tomorrow