Big interview with Rafa in Echo

[Johnny]

So did they tell you Parry would come and deny these stories to the press too ?

I'm not daft Quinncy. I'm fairly certain that there's something wrong between the owners and Rafa. And I'm not sure it's something related to how he manages the team or brings us success or not.

Calling me Quinncy,Why??Childish!!!!



Your fairly certain but your not sure why.That`s me sold then.

[Guest]

Calling me Quinncy,Why??Childish!!!!



Your fairly certain but your not sure why.That`s me sold then.

Why is it childish ? Wasn't it your previous name ?

Mate, I'm over this really. Not wanting to debate all this again. It's my take on this, wrong or not. Hopefully I'm wrong.

But the rumours just won't go away ...

[Shanks65]

Don't know if its worth a read or not. Haven't read it yet. Just found it on the beeb website.


Liverpool Must end Benitez Uncertainty

By BBC Chief Football Writer, Phil McNulty.


Rafael Benitez's mind will be on Manhattan as opposed to Merseyside when chief executive Rick Parry meets Liverpool co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks on Tuesday.

Benitez's ears will be burning as a New York summit ostensibly called to choose the design for Liverpool's new stadium strays into the hazardous territory of his own uncertain future.

The meeting between Liverpool's true power-brokers - Benitez having been firmly put in his place after recent petulant outbursts - comes at a time of turmoil inside Anfield.

It also comes at a juncture when there is a growing sense that Father Time is about to tap Benitez on the shoulder and tell him the bell has tolled on his Liverpool reign.

Liverpool's title challenge is fading with grim familiarity. They lost to Chelsea in the Carling Cup and were lucky to escape with a draw from an abject display at Luton Town in the FA Cup third round.

Gillett and Hicks have plenty on their mind, even before they come to the thorny problem of a manager whose outbursts could lead them to believe he is a carping political animal who is more trouble than he is worth.

The Americans are currently attempting to put in place a replacement for the futuristic new stadium they were forced to ditch as costs spiralled out of control.

This was a particular embarrassment for Hicks, who declined to heed words of caution about going public too soon with the unveiling of a stadium that was meant to be the Americans' monument to their ownership.

They are also still in the process of trying to raise a reported £350m from banks to refinance their takeover and the new ground.

The debate on the future of Benitez is a headache they did not need, but it appears the truce recently reached between manager and owners is uneasy at best.

Benitez has not been helped by quotes from "friends" at the weekend revealing he expects to be sacked at the end of the season.

He vehemently denies he was behind those words, with added suggestions that he would be welcomed at Real Madrid and a host of top European clubs if Liverpool did not want him.

If Gillett and Hicks feel this is another attempt to stir the pot, or stoke pressure in the knowledge the majority of fans still back the manager, it could be that those same "friends" have written Benitez's suicide note for him.

Benitez has proved a better coach than politician at Liverpool, and has found it more difficult to pull off his manouevrings at Anfield than he did at Valencia.

Javier Mascherano has signalled his discontent at Liverpool's failure to close out his £17m move, despite Benitez's desire for a deal to be done.

He wanted Mascherano signed in January. If it was a move designed to prod Gillett and Hicks into action, it failed.

But the question must still be posed - would Gillett and Hicks be wise to get rid of Benitez?

Benitez has proved guilty of muddled thinking in selection and tactics recently, with results a reflection of the lack of clarity in his approach.

And there is growing evidence that uncertainty over Benitez's future is seeping through to his players.

This needs to be addressed immediately.

Liverpool's owners needs to make Benitez's future clear - if not to the public, at least to the manager.

As Les Lawson, secretary of the Merseyside branch of Liverpool's supporters' club rightly said, the uncertainty is clouding the whole club.

Liverpool should not simply rid themselves of Benitez for the sake of it.

If he goes, and I believe he will in the summer at the latest, Liverpool must have a better replacement lined up.

Benitez has won and lost finals of the Champions League, as well as lifting the FA Cup, in his time at Liverpool.

Like him or not, this does not make him a failure and there are not too many out there better qualified to manage Liverpool.

The worst mistake Gillett and Hicks could make would be to sack in haste and regret at leisure.

This is where the name of Jurgen Klinsmann, the reported front runner to replace Benitez, is something of a mystery.

Klinsmann resides in California and is known to Gillett, but this hardly makes him the identikit Liverpool manager.

The German is undoubtedly a charismatic figure, whose reputation was enhanced by guiding his country to the World Cup semi-final in 2006.

But this was a one-off tournament with a team fuelled by national fervour.

Klinsmann has no other coaching credentials. He has never managed a club, worked with players on a day-to-day basis for a long period, or worked the transfer market.

He may pull it off - but that would be one massive gamble by Gillett and Hicks.

The ideal scenario for most Liverpool fans would be for Benitez to make peace with the American pair and move forward.

This, however, appears a long shot, although the meeting in America is unlikely to make an immediate decision on Benitez's job.

What is needed now is clarity of thought on and off the pitch.

Benitez needs to know where he stands. Liverpool's supporters need to show where they stand.

And Liverpool's owners need to provide leadership at the club.

[Guest]

The owners are starting to have what they wanted. Divide opinions on Rafa.

As for my part, I'm 100% behind the manager.

[sonsofthedesert]

Calling me Quinncy,Why??Childish!!!!



Your fairly certain but your not sure why.That`s me sold then.

You were Quinncy weren't you?
Some of us still think of you that way.

[Guest]

You were Quinncy ?
Some of us still think of you that way?

Thought that everyone knew of that now. My bad.

[sonsofthedesert]

Thought that everyone knew of that now. My bad.

I did, I was helping you but also talking on the phone so messed up what I was saying.

[Skillz]

Going to be an interesting week this one IMO.

[calvoboy]

Owners:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...422/index.html

Rafa:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-20323782/

New signing in January that we were assured wouldn't happen as the yanks don't trust Rafa:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-20323779/

And the new plans for the stadium are being presented to Gillett, Hicks and Parry tonight. We are promised it will have a single tier Kop, 70,000 capacity and will be impressive.

I'm not a head in the sand sort of person, but I always said I'd wait and see how things panned out in the aftermath of Bascombe's article. I'd say things are looking pretty rosy at the moment, all things considered?

It's what's happening on the pitch I'm concerned about at the moment, rather than what's happening off it.

[Red_Polo]

Don't mean to be a wet blanket but I tend to agree that the interview wasn't as positive as it might seem. Yes it's great to hear Rafa wants to be here so much, but that interview hasn't really scotched any of the most worrying rumours. Hopefully we'll get something from Parry or the owners that does exactly that soon.

[CAD]

Don't know if its worth a read or not. Haven't read it yet. Just found it on the beeb website.

Like I said: A contract extension is the only way forward to end the press.

[AFII]

There isn't a chance in hell that Rafa makes an interview like this by a coincidence the day before Parry will meet G&H.

A well planned move by Rafa. He has now made his point 100% clear. G&H will now take all the blame if Rafa walks.

[Shanks65]

Like I said: A contract extension is the only way forward to end the press.

Pretty sure we won't get that though. Or even a verbal statement saying Rafa's job is safe for years to come. Businessmen just wouldn't commit to that kind of thing.

I mean, what if Citeh and the Blue****e continue their good form, and we continue our **** form, and we end up 7th in May, and we go out of the CL to Inter?

It would be a total failure of a season and any owners of a club the size of LFC would have to take a look at the managers' position. But if G&H had given Rafa a contract extension in January, they'd be looking to pay Rafa millions to terminate his contract. From G&H's point of view, it would make no sense at all to back Rafa to the hilt right now.

[CAD]

Pretty sure we won't get that though. Or even a verbal statement saying Rafa's job is safe for years to come. Businessmen just wouldn't commit to that kind of thing.

I mean, what if Citeh and the Blue****e continue their good form, and we continue our **** form, and we end up 7th in May, and we go out of the CL to Inter?

It would be a total failure of a season and any owners of a club the size of LFC would have to take a look at the managers' position. But if G&H had given Rafa a contract extension in January, they'd be looking to pay Rafa millions to terminate his contract. From G&H's point of view, it would make no sense at all to back Rafa to the hilt right now.

Fair enough, Shanks. I already stated why I think they will do the opposite earlier in the thread so i won't go there again. If nothing happens Rafa is DMW in my world.

[The_weatherman]

Owners:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...422/index.html

Rafa:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-20323782/

New signing in January that we were assured wouldn't happen as the yanks don't trust Rafa:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-20323779/

And the new plans for the stadium are being presented to Gillett, Hicks and Parry tonight. We are promised it will have a single tier Kop, 70,000 capacity and will be impressive.

I'm not a head in the sand sort of person, but I always said I'd wait and see how things panned out in the aftermath of Bascombe's article. I'd say things are looking pretty rosy at the moment, all things considered?

It's what's happening on the pitch I'm concerned about at the moment, rather than what's happening off it.

I hadn't seen the whole interview from Sports Illustrated, sounds much more positive I must say, feel a little better now.