Tom Hicks: Quit talking and coach the players

[dom9]

What I posted in the other thread:


The way I see it, this is not an argument money, but an argument over strategy.

From where I'm sat, it looks like Rafa wants to talk about January transfer targets now. G&H want to talk when they fly over on 12 December.

Experience tells us that Rafa is probably right because we have missed out on targets in the past through not getting in in time.

My opinion is that Rafa's petulance in the press conference, was immature and unprofessional.

Hicks' response in the media (not in private) was just as immature, and just as unprofessional.

[FatTony]

A better stadium commercially is one that cost less to build and has more seats.

A better studium for me is one that looks great (unique in fact), generates a brilliant atmosphere and is a world class piece of architechture, as well as being bigger.

It has too be the most intimidating place on earth for visiting players. Close to the pitch, accoustically designed to maximise the atmosphere and bloomin huge.

The Kop needs to give the impression that its almost overhanging the goal area.

It has big boots to fill.

[Darth Marty]

He's being told NOT to do something.

I can understand being told to so x with this much less money. But to be told to NOT do something that you know is necesary for success. Well that is just insane.

Reply to this post without using your keyboard

:whatever:

[bazza76]

Has Rafa come out with some new comments since that press conference then?. Anyone

[StevieG08]

I think posters who say that top managers wouldn't come to LFC because of how Hicks has handled this affair are being somewhat delusional. We're a huge club, one of the biggest and best supported clubs in the world and unlike Rafa the new manager would inherit a very good first team squad and a youth setup that has won the two previous FA youth cups. I reckon some of the biggest names in management would jump at the chance to lead this club into the new stadium. That said i don't know if the situation is irreversible and really hope Rafa will stay on and complete the job he's started.

[Kilteragh]

Rafa slags them off
Hicks slags Rafa off

The fact that this had to be done in public is the most disturbing part. Rafa used this tactic after Athens and it worked. G & H were never going to allow that to happen again though.

This should all be done behind closed doors. Its undignified and embarrassing for the club.

[kopdan]

Has Rafa come out with some new comments since that press conference then?. Anyone

as always, I am focused on .......

[Pablo]

Has Rafa come out with some new comments since that press conference then?. Anyone

Read the bit in bold Bazza. --->


Rafa Benitez flew down with his squad last night to Newcastle for their early fixture this afternoon a little bit calmer than the man who was clearly upset in the pre-match press conference.

The current stand off is obviously related to the money Benitez requires to spend in January. Co-owner Tom Hicks has however stated that a significant sum of money was given to Rafa in the Summer.

The Guardian continues with this story...

While it is questionable that Liverpool spent more money this summer than at any period in their history - they spent approximately £44m on new talent but recouped half of that sum through sales - the potential repercussions of the internal divisions are evident, with the club's owners no longer prepared to acquiesce to the manager. Hicks and Gillett want signs of a genuine title challenge from their investment when they attend the game against Manchester United on December 16 and hold a meeting with Benítez that will shape his future.

The current split in the Anfield hierarchy might well be overcome if the Liverpool manager arrives at that meeting having secured a place in the Champions League knock-out phase after the game in Marseille five days previously. In those circumstances his transfer budget for January would improve, albeit belatedly as far as Benítez would be concerned.

Should United arrive at Anfield further ahead in the Premier League than they are now (six points) and with Liverpool out of the Champions League, however, the transfer budget on offer will prove to be far short of the manager's expectations. Hicks and Gillett are committed to repayments on a new £500m loan which has been secured against the club.

In the meantime Hicks and Gillett have told Benítez that a repeat of his public discontent will not be tolerated. There was an uneasy truce between the warring factions following Hicks' blunt appraisal yesterday, with the Liverpool manager said to be more relaxed and convivial than he had been 24 hours earlier.

Benítez flew to Newcastle last night with the Liverpool squad, ahead of this lunchtime's game at St James' Park. Also in the travelling party was Rick Parry, the Anfield chief executive whose relations with the Spaniard have also strained recently over the manager's insistence that deals for a central defender, such as Ezequiel Garay of Racing Santander, the on-loan midfielder Javier Mascherano and a striker - in the event of Peter Crouch's departure - should be in place long before the Americans finalise their January budget.

[tomasjj]

Has Rafa come out with some new comments since that press conference then?. Anyone

RAFA ON NEWCASTLE, TORRES AND AGGER
Paul Hassall 24 November 2007
Rafa Benitez takes five minutes out of his pre-match preparations to chat to Liverpoolfc.tv ahead of our Premier League clash at Newcastle United.
rafa

Following England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 are you concerned that the likes of Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch will not be in the right frame of mind for the match against Newcastle?

We have trained with them in the past few days and talked with them and I'm sure that mentally they will be ready against Newcastle because they know it will be very important for us.

Newcastle have a passionate home support and it's not the easiest of places to go. Are you expecting a difficult match against Sam Allardyce's men?

It is always difficult because it is a good stadium and the supporters are really good for them, so we know it will be a tough game.

Scott Carson endured a difficult game in goal for England against Croatia. How do you think that will have affected him?

When a goalkeeper makes a mistake they are almost always punished. But I think he has the quality and a strong mentality so he will be ready for the next game and he will do really well because he is a good goalkeeper.

Fernando Torres made a great impact when he came on in our last outing against Fulham, would you say he is now 100 per cent fit?

He was training well in the week and we talked to him to see if he felt any reaction but I think he is okay.

What does Fernando bring to the side that the likes of Dirk Kuyt, Andriy Voronin and Peter Crouch do not?

It is clear that he has more pace than them and the speed of Fernando for running in behind the defenders is a key quality and last season we had Bellamy and now we have Fernando, both players who can beat defenders and get behind them.

How useful have the last few weeks been? Have players like Jamie Carragher and Yossi Benayoun have had the chance to rest and prepare for today's game?

It was difficult but at least this week we were able to train with some of them and maybe this international break will benefit us with players like Agger and Benayoun closer to fitness.

Over the past few seasons November seems to have been the month when Liverpool have hit form - do you think this is due to a lack of internationals over the next few months?

I think it will be better for us but also better for the rest of the teams because you don't have as many games and the players can just focus on their teams. I think it is always better and the performance of the players improves.

The clash with Porto follows hot on the heels of the match at Newcastle. Have your preparations for the game with the Magpies been affected because you have one eye on what is a huge European tie?

No. We are thinking about Newcastle and after we will have enough time to think about Porto.

Do you have any injury concerns ahead of the match and is Daniel Agger likely to be involved?

He is closer. He has been training and could be. But again I need to talk with the doctor and with the player and then decide, because after a long time out it is difficult to be sure.

[bazza76]

What I posted in the other thread:


The way I see it, this is not an argument money, but an argument over strategy.

From where I'm sat, it looks like Rafa wants to talk about January transfer targets now. G&H want to talk when they fly over on 12 December.

Experience tells us that Rafa is probably right because we have missed out on targets in the past through not getting in in time.

My opinion is that Rafa's petulance in the press conference, was immature and unprofessional.

Hicks' response in the media (not in private) was just as immature, and just as unprofessional.

I have been saying that from the start mate.
It is over having someone there who has auhority to say, yes you can sel this player, or no we cant afford this player, it is not over the amount of money he has to spend, as some would have you believe.
In this respect, I think Rafa has every right to be pissed.
But, he needs to be venting his anger behind closed doors, not infront of the worlds media. Maybe he feels he has no way to contact Hicks & Gillett, which may not be too far off the mark, email's are not enough. they are working in different time zones and that.
I honstly don't feel Hicks & gillett understand Rafa properly, if they did, they would be more sympathetic to his outbursts. I think I understand him, he wants to do what he can, and he is not being allowed to, it is as simple as that.
Running LFC is a full time job, not a part time job, European football is a world of difference from the Big American sports Leagues. Hicks & Gilett have to understand this. they have to understand, Rafa is a perfectionist, and I can't stress that Rafa is a perfectionist enough, if they want the answers to why Rafa is behaving in the way he is, that is is. Mr Hick and Mr Gilett, RAFA IS A PERFECTIONIST. Give him the tools he needs to progress.

[bazza76]

Idiots on Sky asking Pau Merson and the rest of their pundits for the so called expert opinions on Rafa makes me furious to listen to that crap, what a bunch of pricks.

[dom9]

Idiots on Sky asking Pau Merson and the rest of their pundits for the so called expert opinions on Rafa makes me furious to listen to that crap, what a bunch of pricks.

I turned the sound off went back to the computer upstairs.

They really are a bunch of numbskulls.

[ronan]

LOL

You know what when I saw their joint statement and Hicks' comment the first thing I thought about is that Americans are always big on PR but the jist of most of their PR is always bullsh!t

"Significnt spend" my fecking @rse you've spent circa £20-24 million NETT and I'd question whether Moores could have reached that amount (with the increase in TV revenues from this season onwards)

Stop spouting sh!te and be honest, because from what I'm currently seeing "you've got nothing to say and you're saying it far too loud"

[alunevans]

There aren't though, are there? Foreign clubs all have sporting directors who make signings while the coach runs the team, as frustrated Rafa at Valencia. So that leaves other English clubs. Wenger, Grant and Fergie are secure at the other top clubs, so where would Rafa go? He'd have more restrictions at every other club due to lack of cash, if not the same lack of complete backing.

No club in the world allows the manager total control over every aspect of the club. Even the likes of Clough and Shankly, who were widely acknowledged to be in complete control, worked under budget restrictions and couldn't always sign who they wanted.

I back Rafa totally, and would be distraught if he left, but I think he is being a bit childish on this one. What's the problem in waiting three weeks to discuss a proper plan for January when we know how much money there is to spend? It's a lot easier to make deals when you can put the cash on the table.

[edit - and I know people will say that mid-December is too late to sort out a plan for January, but we are in pretty unique circumstances negotiating the funding for the new stadium and trying to qualify for the knock-out stages of the CL. When Arsenal were in the same situation funding the Emirates there was a complete block on transfer spending]

It's not an issue of budget constraints. Every manager has them. It's not having the permission to plan that's the problem.

If anyone thinks that discussing the January transfer window (ins AND outs) in mid December is a sensible method of running a football club they need their heads testing. Sadly for us, that's how our owners appear to think.

I'm sure Benitez would be ok with you've only got x to spend unless you raise more, now go and plan for it.

But how the hell can he do his job when they won't even talk to him until 2 weeks beforehand.

He could and should have been spending international week nailing down his targets for January.

He's told to focus on coaching and training his team. But in international week he had no team to coach and train.

Every other manager in his situation will have been focusing on the January window. Benitez must have been fuming at how much time was being wasted as he, alone amongst his peers, had lots of time to chase up transfer targets but was banned from doing so.

Utterly clueless way to run a football club and LFC will NOT be successful in any way shape or form unless these gob****es get their act together and start understanding the way the football industry works.

It may be a good start if they opened their ears and took the advice of those who DO know. Here's a tip: Rafael Benitez is one of them!

[sonsofthedesert]

Rafa looked a bit happier in the interview on Sky.