Porto and Marseille...

[Craig_H]

These two games are clearly the clinchers in the whole 'G&H v Rafa' scenario.

For me, it's clear that when the Americans say they'll wait til they're in Liverpool in mid December, before discussing transfers, they're basically saying "if we're still in the CL, you can have funds, if we're not, you cant".

And they are obviously waiting to see what happens in those two games, before committing themselves to more spending.

Simple as.

Rafa wants more funds? Win those two games and he'll get them. And this whole thing will blow over.

Fail to qualify and he wont get the money.

And if that happens, he'll walk IMO.

[Morph]

We'll **** them both, so no worries

[Jayesh87]

Or maybe they will think (if we qualify) the squad is good enough to qualify and still be in the title race so you won't get extra funds in Jan as the squad is good enough already

[Morph]

and this is why all this **** should be kept out of the public domain

[Pacman]

These two games are clearly the clinchers in the whole 'G&H v Rafa' scenario.

For me, it's clear that when the Americans say they'll wait til they're in Liverpool in mid December, before discussing transfers, they're basically saying "if we're still in the CL, you can have funds, if we're not, you cant".

And they are obviously waiting to see what happens in those two games, before committing themselves to more spending.

Simple as.

Rafa wants more funds? Win those two games and he'll get them. And this whole thing will blow over.

Fail to qualify and he wont get the money.

And if that happens, he'll walk IMO.

I would agree with that but I don't know why they haven't just said that to him.

The way I read it Rafa wants to talk about in's and OUT's in jan yet the yanks have said shut up and concentrate on what you've got. I'm sure if they told Rafa the situtation you have outlined (if true) then it's quite a resonable request.

[Craig_H]

Or maybe they will think (if we qualify) the squad is good enough to qualify and still be in the title race so you won't get extra funds in Jan as the squad is good enough already

Nah i dont think so. They will have seen the 20 point gap between the mancs and us last season. And they'll have seen previous seasons' attempts (and failures) to get close to the title.

They know that more is needed. But they wont continue to fork out if we're not continuing to get CL tv money.

I honestly think it all boils down to that.

[Craig_H]

I would agree with that but I don't know why they haven't just said that to him.

The way I read it Rafa wants to talk about in's and OUT's in jan yet the yanks have said shut up and concentrate on what you've got. I'm sure if they told Rafa the situtation you have outlined (if true) then it's quite a resonable request.

I think it's a combination of them waiting for CL qualification and also being quite pissed off that it's a) not yet secured and b) looking precarious.

They're clearly fecked off with that and wont therefore be inclined to go with the softly-softly approach.

They're basically saying "well so far, you've ballsed up our CL campaign - so shut up for the time being and if you fix it, then we'll talk".

[Imy]

I think it's a combination of them waiting for CL qualification and also being quite pissed off that it's a) not yet secured and b) looking precarious.

They're clearly fecked off with that and wont therefore be inclined to go with the softly-softly approach.

They're basically saying "well so far, you've ballsed up our CL campaign - so shut up for the time being and if you fix it, then we'll talk".

Dunno about that, have you seen how poor the Dallas Stars have been?

[Pacman]

I think it's a combination of them waiting for CL qualification and also being quite pissed off that it's a) not yet secured and b) looking precarious.

They're clearly fecked off with that and wont therefore be inclined to go with the softly-softly approach.

They're basically saying "well so far, you've ballsed up our CL campaign - so shut up for the time being and if you fix it, then we'll talk".

If you're correct it's a dangerous game to play.

[Craig_H]

If you're correct it's a dangerous game to play.

Well, they're the owners and will always call the shots.

If they sack Rafa, it'll cost them £6m in compensation, so if there are money issues, i'm not sure that sacking Rafa would be the ideal solution for G&H.

At least, maybe that's what Rafa's counting on anyway.

[Craig_H]

Dunno about that, have you seen how poor the Dallas Stars have been?

I have no knowledge of the Dallas Stars or any american sports.

[Morph]

I have no knowledge of the Dallas Stars or any american sports.

i was reading about the team a while ago and basically Hicks seems the kind of guy that is quite content to rake in profit from the club but not invest anything back, they kinda seem like newcastle, a great support, underachieving players but ultimately going no where cos the board wont let them buy new players

[Pacman]

Well, they're the owners and will always call the shots.

If they sack Rafa, it'll cost them £6m in compensation, so if there are money issues, i'm not sure that sacking Rafa would be the ideal solution for G&H.

At least, maybe that's what Rafa's counting on anyway.

If they sack him purely on the basis of him not getting through the group stage then they are mad.

In fact if they are considering sacking him on that basis then they need to be shot.

[Le Chacal]

And I fail to see whats wrong with that.
The CL qualification was taken as granted and the money has been spent already on new players. Big clubs spend before they earn. If we dont qualify, he wont get the money and his position will be very insecure...

[Craig_H]

If they sack him purely on the basis of him not getting through the group stage then they are mad.

In fact if they are considering sacking him on that basis then they need to be shot.

I quite agree, but then i am a fan who hasnt invested hundreds of millions of pounds into the club.

You have to remember, they are not fans, they're businessmen and ultimately, if the club is making a profit for them without success on the field (if that can be possible), i dont think they'd have a problem with that.