Mourinho 'keen on Benitez's job'

[Johnny]

I hope this is not true cause then the tabloids will be proved correct and Rafa is indeed a "dead man walking"

Not if Dic buy out the yanks.
Not if we win the CL.
Not if Hicks sells his shares.
Not if we go unbeaten in the PL for the rest of the season.



Theres so many options involving the Board,Manager and team that all this speculating is a complete waste of time.Anything could happen but until something significant happens in the boardroom i`ll wait patiently.

[alunevans]

Untill Gob****es stop posting it, it wont

Nicey, do you only post these days to chuck insults???

[Dhav]

What's soulless got to do with anything? Mourinho's a winner. Football IS a ruthless business and at the highest level, winning is everything. You're employing a proven and highly talented WINNER. You're not employing a best friend.

And if you think Shanks and Kenny werent ruthless and didnt put winning ahead of sentiment and anything else, then i'm sorry but you're being naive.

I think Souness had his outspoken moments, as has Rafa in recent times. Several times Rafa has behaved with a lack of class and been outspoken.

Look at recent premiership managers who have won it:

Fergusson several times
Wenger couple of times
Mourinho couple of times.

all outspoken all classless

I agree with what you're both saying, but my point is 4 years ago the club felt that Mourinho, with his outspoken, classless antics did not fit in with the image of Liverpool and that Rafa was far more suitable. If we then sack Rafa 4 years later after he's won us the CL and FA Cup, and appoint Mourinho then that marks a massive departure from our traditional ways. Remember how loyal the club is to its managers, and how we support our own, and that Rafa is one of us.

FAO of DS and Red_Al, understand what you're saying about supporting the manager whoever he may be, but I respectfully disagree. As a supporter my job is to support the club and the players on the pitch, and I will always do that regardless. Not sure how you can expect anyone to give Klinsmann for example the benefit of the doubt when he has achieved absolutely nothing of note as a manager. We can't help but be suspicious of anyone who comes in until he proves himself. And I can't help but hold against Mourinho some of his antics towards us in the past, where he has distinctly held our club in disdain (telling the fans to sshhhhh at Cardiff, telling Carra to **** off, numerous attempts to unsettle Gerrard etc). Not to mention his style of football, his preposterously large ego (which makes me think he would be incapable of putting the club's needs before himself), and the cynicism he instills in his players (diving, play acting etc). I think we have a right to be suspicious of him, and be demanding of him to prove himself before we give him our unequivocal support.

Yes Mourinho is a top manager, I do not doubt that at all, he may even have a better chance of winning the league than Rafa (although I have my doubts), but it doesn't change the fact that he is a repugnant classless weasel and I think he would give the club a bad image.

[anfieldanfield]

If Rafa got sacked and Mourinho came to Liverpool in the summer I would expect a big chant of "Rafa's the special one" for his first game.

He's a cunt. I'd be gutted if he was our manager.

[kop-al-74]

If Rafa got sacked and Mourinho came to Liverpool in the summer I would expect a big chant of "Rafa's the special one" for his first game.

He's a cunt. I'd be gutted if he was our manager.

And what would that achieve?

[The Glove]

If Rafa got sacked and Mourinho came to Liverpool in the summer I would expect a big chant of "Rafa's the special one" for his first game.

He's a cunt. I'd be gutted if he was our manager.

Wont happen. I suspect neither names will be chanted. Rafa wont because its disresectful and Jose's wont because he is just a cunt. Afterall, as much as we dont like Jose, him getting the job isnt his doing, he'll take whats on offer. It'll be the owners who binned Rafa.

[anfieldanfield]

And what would that achieve?

nothing

[sonsofthedesert]

Wont happen. I suspect neither names will be chanted. Rafa wont because its disresectful and Jose's wont because he is just a cunt. Afterall, as much as we dont like Jose, him getting the job isnt his doing, he'll take whats on offer. It'll be the owners who binned Rafa.

Spot on mate, and it would be the best way of dealing with it all if it happened.

[kop-al-74]

nothing

Listen, i can see where your coming from but whoever the manager is we have to support him.Agree or not.

The amount of times i have cringed to see players like Traore,Cheyrou,Pieknik,Kwarme,Diao,Diouf etc pull on the red shirt,but no matter what,i always supported them.

[Dhav]

Listen, i can see where your coming from but whoever the manager is we have to support him.Agree or not.

The amount of times i have cringed to see players like Traore,Cheyrou,Pieknik,Kwarme,Diao,Diouf etc pull on the red shirt,but no matter what,i always supported them.

Understand what you're saying, but a classless cunt like Mourinho, given what he has done in the past, needs to earn my respect and support and prove he is worthy of being LFC manager. Same goes for Klinsmann. Doesn't mean I'll actively be calling for their head or anything, but I won't be chanting their name, that's for sure.

[anfieldanfield]

Listen, i can see where your coming from but whoever the manager is we have to support him.Agree or not.

The amount of times i have cringed to see players like Traore,Cheyrou,Pieknik,Kwarme,Diao,Diouf etc pull on the red shirt,but no matter what,i always supported them.

I would find it EXTREMELY difficult to vocally support Mourinho as manager at the game.

Of course I'd still want us to win every game, but I think he would have to lift the title before I sung his name.

[alunevans]

I'm having real difficulty with this. I'm a Rafaskeptic I must admit. He's done loads that are great behind the scenes in my view in terms of the people he's brought in, the scouting system is clearly loads better, and the youth system has been revitalised by bringing in some great kids.

But his team selection and they way he sets the team up often baffles me. I don't think our squad is strong enough to win the league but we should be doing a hell of a lot better, and Rafa is a contributory factor in my view.

When I think of Birmingham at home, or Wigan at home, I think Rafa contributed to us not getting the full 3 points. If we had got just those we'd now be on 42pts with a game in hand, that if we had won would put us on 45pts, just 3 behind the Mancs and so seriously in the chase for 2nd if not the league itself.

I think we underperform because Rafa sets us up negatively at times and he does it enough to backfire. I also think the supposed "smaller" games are key games to us given our terrible record against the rest of the top 4, but we often arrogantly field a weakened team against them as if we can take the wins for granted. Results have proven that we can't - so why do we?

If Rafa stopped trying to be too clever for his own good on the pitch then all would be well. But will he? I doubt it.

On the other hand, my faith in the new owners is almost non existent and in a direct battle between Rafa and them I know who I'm backing.

They won't give him money to spend on Mascherano which, given that he is 2 million less than Carrick was (!!!) and given he is 23 and one of the best players in his position in the world, is not just short sighted but criminal.

They won't allow him to even plan for his transfer window, even when it didn't involve costing them money, and even though we're desperate for a centre back to come in.

Frankly, I think they're absolutely clueless and the reasons why they want Rafa gone are nothing to do with football.

What troubles me is that if they sack or force out Rafa, who will they bring in? Because I don't trust their judgement at all. And for me, the golden rule of managerial appointment is to get someone who excites and has the support of the crowd. Then they get a honeymoon period. Without that you have an Allardyce situation.

We've already seen TheGlove saying that they'd support Mourhino but would have the knives out quickly for him, and I think many feel the same way about him. So Maureen would have to get it right from day one and save any glitches until he'd won us over (if he ever did!), or we'd have a manager without the support of the fans very shortly after his appointment.

If I was on the board and my vote mattered the question is would I keep Rafa at this time. The answer is that yes I almost certainly would. The only thing that would change my mind is if there was an alternative candidate out there who was top class and would instantly get the support of the fans. And despite my doubts about selection methods, I'd give Rafa the 17 million for Masher, and then I'd back him as fully as I could on other positions he had identified.

After all, I trust him in the transfer market. And I trust his scouting network.

So I'm a Rafa skeptic, and it may well be that I believe that Rafa has to stop pissing about if he is truly going to be successful in the only competition that truly measures your worth (the league).

But I'm far more suspicious of these new owners than I am of Rafa, and if I was sat on the board then for all my doubts, and even for the fact that I voted that I'd lost faith in the poll the other day (and I stand by that, all things being equal), I'd be arguing his corner vociferously unless a standout alternative manager was put before me.

I know that's not a straightforward position, but sometimes not everything is black and white.

[paulcooper4]

I think Rafa should have five years minimum.

In a sane world this would go without saying, unfortunately.....

[kop-al-74]

Understand what you're saying, but a classless cunt like Mourinho, given what he has done in the past, needs to earn my respect and support and prove he is worthy of being LFC manager. Same goes for Klinsmann. Doesn't mean I'll actively be calling for their head or anything, but I won't be chanting their name, that's for sure.

I would find it EXTREMELY difficult to vocally support Mourinho as manager at the game.

Of course I'd still want us to win every game, but I think he would have to lift the title before I sung his name.

Oh i agree with both of you.I wouldn't be rushing out to be at all vocal in appreciation of his appointment.But at the same time,i don't think singing adverse songs aimed at him will benefit anyone.

You would have to be a fool not to know the support anfd the feeling the Liverpool fans have for Rafa.

[paulcooper4]

Morning Coops. Would you mind restricting your description in future to simply a....

"slimy self-promoting charlatan greasy scruffy ****"

.....for me, there's a good chap

That WAS what I called him wasnt it?