Why I hope Rafa resigns soon

[Guest]

In what way, he wants people to calm down.

Yes, but he does it a bit aggressively, that's all. He will hardly get a good response because of that.

[Chrono]

Secondly, how can he say that there isn't any problem whatsoever ? Even a respectable media outlet such as the BBC has reported that Rafa is threading a fine line.

For the sake of argument, link please.

[sonsofthedesert]

I just can't see how you can think it's a minor problem.

On Monday (and don't ask me why) I e-mailed Tony Barrett of the Echo, I think I was so wound up about the situation and the fact you can't speak to anyone at the club to see what the **** is going on I thought he would be the next best thing. He replied and said that he is very worried and that he is praying they can sort this mess out. Now he probably speaks to people at the club (Parry,Rafa etc) everyday and if he is worried and praying then I'd say it's a little bit more than a minor issue.

I am not saying it is a nothing situation just that it isn't as bad as we think. I also believe that Barrett does not know that much more than us, he will know that there has been a disagreement but the rest is his opinion and reading betwen the lines (another words only really his opinion), he is to a degree in the same boat as us.

[Guest]

I read them very carefully, I have watched the online editions in the past couple of days create new stories after they see another papers story that copis the other article almost word for word. They are egging on the situation. With regards to the bbc, they have been proven to make stories up - the lead up to the iraq war they got into big trouble. Also the NR situation would not have been as bad if it hadn't been for the likes of the bbc making the situation worse and adding bits. One news program on the 1st day even said NR was about to collapse.

I don't dispute the media being prone to exaggerate things mate, it's just that in the whole, there seems to be a breakdown in communications and both parties are at loggerheads. That's a fact.

If it was a minor issue, the americans would already have diffused the situation and telling people that it was a minor cock up etc ... By letting speculation rumble on, they're hardly calming the fires.

In contrast, Rafa seem to have backtracked a little bit.

[Guest]

For the sake of argument, link please.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/7113363.stm

[sonsofthedesert]

I don't dispute the media being prone to exaggerate things mate, it's just that in the whole, there seems to be a breakdown in communications and both parties are at loggerheads. That's a fact.

If it was a minor issue, the americans would already have diffused the situation and telling people that it was a minor cock up etc ... By letting speculation rumble on, they're hardly calming the fires.

In contrast, Rafa seem to have backtracked a little bit.

It isn't a fact that they are at loggerheads, we don't know what it is like behind the scenes - it could be a lot better now, it sounds from the press confrence yesterday that it is. Stating this as fact makes you sound lie someone we know.

By making a statement about the situation it would make it sound like it wasn't a minor issue. They have said as much as they will, they are hoping the situation will go away, they may say something after tonght though depending on what the fans do.

[Pacman]

I am not saying it is a nothing situation just that it isn't as bad as we think. I also believe that Barrett does not know that much more than us, he will know that there has been a disagreement but the rest is his opinion and reading betwen the lines (another words only really his opinion), he is to a degree in the same boat as us.

Wasn't it Barrett who wrote the article this week from a source close to Rafa about how he loves it at Liverpool?

I bet you £100 that the source close to Rafa is a balding, spanish man who has a dodgy beard. I'm not saying Barrett knows a lot but IMO he knows a lot more than me and you.

The Bascombe article was fed by Parry, Hicks and Gillett if there aren't big issues why feed it to the press.

Ballague a close friend of Rafa has said that Tom Hicks is saying to people off the record that Rafa is a goner.

This isn't all just press speculation even our own manager can't comment on his future anymore.

[sonsofthedesert]

Wasn't it Barrett who wrote the article this week from a source close to Rafa about how he loves it at Liverpool?

I bet you £100 that the source close to Rafa is a balding, spanish man who has a dodgy beard. I'm not saying Barrett knows a lot but IMO he knows a lot more than me and you.

The Bascombe article was fed by Parry, Hicks and Gillett if there aren't big issues why feed it to the press.

Ballague a close friend of Rafa has said that Tom Hicks is saying to people off the record that Rafa is a goner.

This isn't all just press speculation even our own manager can't comment on his future anymore.

The press have even made a joke that he is the source close to Rafa with 1 national even describing him as a spanish man with an odd beard. This is the same spanish man that gets all our transfer targets wrong?
The one thing he said that I totally believe is that Rafa wants to stay, I think Rafa will do almost anything to stay.

[Guest]

The press have even made a joke that he is the source close to Rafa with 1 national even describing him as a spanish man with an odd beard. This is the same spanish man that gets all our transfer targets wrong?
The one thing he said that I totally believe is that Rafa wants to stay, I think Rafa will do almost anything to stay.

Benitez wants to call Reds truce
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez wants to reconcile his differences with club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, BBC Sport understands.

But the Spaniard's attempts at a truce may be too late after he openly criticised the duo for holding up his transfer plans.

Hicks and Gillett have said they will meet with Benitez in mid-December.

A source close to Benitez told the Liverpool Echo newspaper: "Rafa loves it at Liverpool."

News conference: Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

The source said Benitez would not walk away from Anfield adding: "He loves the people of the city, he loves the fans and he loves the club. All he wants is what's best for the fans - he gets frustrated when he feels he's not able to do that.

"But he is happy with Tom and George owning the club and he has enjoyed working with them since he came and he has no problem working with (chief executive) Rick (Parry).


606: DEBATE

"All he wants is to be able to continue the job that he's started so he can continue improving the squad in a bid to deliver the title he knows Tom, George and Rick want just as badly as he does.

"The manager has got a few transfers that he wants to get done, one in January and two Bosmans in the summer but it looks like he is going to miss out on the first one now.

"That frustrated him because the first one was a centre half, a position he feels we really need back-up in.

"The frustration stems from the fact that communication has been so difficult with everyone being so far apart and in different time zones.

"But the fans should be reassured Rafa has no plans of walking away. He loves it here and his family are settled on Merseyside."

The Reds need to win their last two Champions League games, starting against Porto on Wednesday, to progress to the knockout stages and earn the financial rewards that would follow.

Hicks and Gillett will hold talks with Benitez when the club's position is clearer on this front but it has been made clear where Benitez stands in terms of his future at Anfield.

"Rafa only wants to work for Liverpool," added the source. "It wasn't that long ago that Rafa was thanking Tom, George and Rick for the work that they had done to bring Fernando Torres to Liverpool.

I think his position is very fragile
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty

"He is still grateful for that and hopes that there has been no lasting damage done.

"He is hoping this situation can be resolved."

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty believes the situation may never be resolved.

"I think his position is very fragile," he said.

"Clearly Benitez is very frustrated by the lack of activity in the transfer market.

"There seems to be have been a very clear breakdown in relations between the owners and Benitez."

Hicks and Gillett released a statement on the club's official website late on Sunday to dampen speculation about Benitez's position.

"Despite speculation there is nothing new to say," said the statement.

"We had a good win on Saturday and have got some very important games coming up starting with Porto on Wednesday, followed by Bolton and Reading, before Marseille and Manchester United in a few weeks.

"Both of us, together with chief executive Rick Parry, plan to meet with Rafa when we come over mid-December to make decisions on the team's requirements at that time."

Would BBC's Chief Sports Editorialist be banging about something without foundation. It's against journalistic ethics.

[Pacman]

The press have even made a joke that he is the source close to Rafa with 1 national even describing him as a spanish man with an odd beard. This is the same spanish man that gets all our transfer targets wrong?
The one thing he said that I totally believe is that Rafa wants to stay, I think Rafa will do almost anything to stay.

Well we will agree to disagree.

Normally I'm not a knee jerk guy I don't believe what I read in the press however on this occasion I firmly believe that those 3 cunts want him out.

[sonsofthedesert]

So because Phil McNulty believes the situation will never be resolved it becomes fact? He wasn't looking for a new story to earn his wages, he wasn't concerned that he hadn't heard anything like this even though every paper was covering it so thought he would add it into his story. Believes isn't someone at the club told me or the famous "the bbc understands".

[sonsofthedesert]

Well we will agree to disagree.

Normally I'm not a knee jerk guy I don't believe what I read in the press however on this occasion I firmly believe that those 3 cunts want him out.

This is what has suprised me mate as you normally are getting people to calm down, on thi though you seem to believe what you read.

[sonsofthedesert]

Would BBC's Chief Sports Editorialist be banging about something without foundation. It's against journalistic ethics.

You never seen a journo make something up to then right an appology in small print on page 20.

[Guest]

So because Phil McNulty believes the situation will never be resolved it becomes fact? He wasn't looking for a new story to earn his wages, he wasn't concerned that he hadn't heard anything like this even though every paper was covering it so thought he would add it into his story. Believes isn't someone at the club told me or the famous "the bbc understands".

I'll believe who I want mate, and they've been spot on to date concerning these things.

The yanks does read all the press, so if they see something false, they should issue a statement denying them or even sue them. Up to now, nothing ... Make of that what you will.

[AFII]

So what? And you/I/or anyone else is?!?!

As sonsofthedesert says, he is on this topic

I've known Niall (well his internet forum persona anyway) for a few years now and that's just his way. I know one thing for definite though and that is he's no fool.

Well, if Kaladze don't play for us in a month or two time or so then it's 100% confirmed problem.

Rafa have confirmed that he had a deal with him and that means that everything had been agreed, the fee with Milan and personal terms.

So the only ones who could have stopped the deal to go through is Gillett or Hicks.