Do you still have faith?

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Yes.

He needs to be given funds though.

Expand on that.

How much does he need?

You see I reckon that's a kop out myself.

Yes we need better players, but aside from a handful of holdovers from the Houllier era, this is Rafa's squad.

Look at Agger and Arbeloa, didn't cost much, both really good players for us.

But that's not the biggest problem with Rafa. It's his tactics. Defensive. Lack of creative freedom when attacking.

Too often teams park the bus and it works.

These are Rafa's tactics and his players. Nobody else to blame I'm afraid.

[anfieldanfield]

Has to be 'unsure'.

In terms of the league, we're in the exact;y the same position now as when he took over. No progress.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Come on mate, stop playing silly buggers. You know what I mean. To do a good job. We probably all have slightly different perceptions of what constitutes "a good job" - you've said it's 'competing for the league and eventually winning it' - which is fine. Same goes for me.

Sorry mate, wasn't taking the piss, was being serious.

That's a good idea for a poll, what constitutes doing a good job as LFC manager?

I'd like to think most people would think like you and I on that one, but I'm sceptical.

[Sir Bob]

i'm unsure to be honest. My heart says yes he's still the man for us and i'd be gutted if he went. however, my head is slowly beginning to say no.

The brutal truth is we are miles off the pace and hand on heart i'm not sure Rafa knows how to put our problems right. He makes so many decisions that for the life of me I can't understand. For my money he's been completely undermined by G&H as it seems to me they don't want him, not for on the pitch reasons, but a divided club off the pitch will eventually crack on the pitch.

If Rafa has any chance of survival we must have an exceptional 2nd part of the season and by that I mean winning either the FA Cup or CL and storming through to at least 3rd in the league with it looking likely that a real title challenge can emerge next season.

[ningnangnong]

Expand on that.

How much does he need?

You see I reckon that's a kop out myself.

Yes we need better players, but aside from a handful of holdovers from the Houllier era, this is Rafa's squad.

Look at Agger and Arbeloa, didn't cost much, both really good players for us.

But that's not the biggest problem with Rafa. It's his tactics. Defensive. Lack of creative freedom when attacking.

Too often teams park the bus and it works.

These are Rafa's tactics and his players. Nobody else to blame I'm afraid.

Essential funds.

For when a class player is available such as Mascherano or Torres. They add so much to our team.

I don't mean an extravagant amount of money so he can go out and buy five 20m players.

Just for the essentials.

A partner for Torres.

A winger.

A centre back.

[dww]

A year ago most Arsenal fans i know were questioning whether Wenger was the man for them. Even at the time I thought it was mad. Given hindsight it seems lunatic in the extreme.

If Rafa goes I firmly believe that we will be in a considerably worse position than if he stays. That doesn't mean to say I think he is perfect but I do believe he has built up the club in terms of first team squad and every level below that to a much better position than when he came. I don't see anyone out there who would be better at setting the club on the road to long term success.

The team he has now may not be good enough to win the league but I do believe we have improved. We need to move on another level and most importantly to carry a greater goal threat but IMO it is currently a fine dividing line between us becoming an truly excellent team and what we are currently which is 'merely' a very good one with expertise in Europe. If I could pick one person to take us to the next level and sustain it then it would be Rafa.

[Guest]

Whether you or I like it or not, the tide is turning. It's a perfectly reasonable question to ask after yet another dreadful night. As I said, I just want to see where the fans (on this site, at least) stand on the issue.

Don't get me wrong - I love Rafa dearly, but you'd have to be an ostrich not to acknowledge that the tide is turning against Rafa. I've even read a negative post by REDSCOUSER - something I don't think I've ever seen.

Mate even if the tide is turning opinion wise that doesn't mean that these people are right. It's even more important that Rafa sticks to it in these moments because he's doing things right.

No manager will get things their way so we're not certain to have a better one at the helm if he's gone tomorrow.

[Frank Leroux]

No.

Haven't had for a while now. But whilst people continue bemoaning the lack of quality, the meagre funds available to Benitez and the general below par performances of various players at various times I'll be in the minority....

[thesilverfoxlfc]

I dont think so i love the guy but to much has gone on since the day after the Champions League the club is in a mess......

......IF he was to go i think we should go out and get Jose love him or hate him he's a winner and that what we want to do 18 years with a league title for a club like us is just a joke and baffling. The longer it goes on the worse its going to get.

We have some good players but just not enough to win the league we need to get rid of the crap that we have in the team and buy the best just look at what buying Torres has done for us spend big on the best and you'll get the best

[Red Chilli]

A year ago most Arsenal fans i know were questioning whether Wenger was the man for them. Even at the time I thought it was mad. Given hindsight it seems lunatic in the extreme.

If Rafa goes I firmly believe that we will be in a considerably worse position than if he stays. That doesn't mean to say I think he is perfect but I do believe he has built up the club in terms of first team squad and every level below that to a much better position than when he came. I don't see anyone out there who would be better at setting the club on the road to long term success.

The team he has now may not be good enough to win the league but I do believe we have improved. We need to move on another level and most importantly to carry a greater goal threat but IMO it is currently a fine dividing line between us becoming an truly excellent team and what we are currently which is 'merely' a very good one with expertise in Europe. If I could pick one person to take us to the next level and sustain it then it would be Rafa.

Wenger had the track record in the premiership to fall back on, Rafa hasn't got that and that is his biggset weakness in this debate IMO.

[Graybach]

Yes,he's done enough so far and deserves our support. After all we are the greatest supporters in the world.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Essential funds.

For when a class player is available such as Mascherano or Torres. They add so much to our team.

I don't mean an extravagant amount of money so he can go out and buy five 20m players.

Just for the essentials.

A partner for Torres.

A winger.

A centre back.

See I agree that this is realistic. I think a good manager could win with that budget.

But I still think we'd come up short in the league because we have a negative manager. Who makes tactical decisions that make no sense.

And no amount of money or top players can prevent these so called tactical blind spots from appearing as they do currently. It's Rafa's way and it doesn't work in the League.

I hope I'm wrong and that it changes, but it's been 3 and a half years and he keeps doing it.

[vonk]

Because I don't see the improvement in our play and I don't think the players trust him completely any more.... No. As with Houllier, once there is no obvious signs of improvement it's time. This team is no better that the one that won the CL in 2005 imho. I love Rafa and what he has done for us but this is Liverpool FC not Rafa FC. I think there are managers out there who can get more out of this squad.

[REDSCOUSER]

Don't get me wrong - I love Rafa dearly, but you'd have to be an ostrich not to acknowledge that the tide is turning against Rafa. I've even read a negative post by REDSCOUSER - something I don't think I've ever seen.

Thanks for pointing that out mate and its 100% but lately Ive become unsure. So thats my vote now.
Like all the rest I can see things or mistakes(in my opinion) that RAFA is making which makes me wonder. Why is he doing that for ? When too many questions pop up in anyones head you know there is doubts.

[Shaggy]

Because I don't see the improvement in our play and I don't think the players trust him completely any more.... No. As with Houllier, once there is no obvious signs of improvement it's time. This team is no better that the one that won the CL in 2005 imho. I love Rafa and what he has done for us but this is Liverpool FC not Rafa FC. I think there are managers out there who can get more out of this squad.

Who?

(Not having a pop - I genuinely want to know who you think could do a better job )