"It's not about the manager"

[Tom]

At first yes, but then, when I heard the full answer, no.
HE clearly said he wanted the headlines to be about football tomorow. Which means, he wants the speculation about Rafa to be over. Which translates into him wanting Rafa to be manager.

Making an issue out of nothing here.

Is right.

[Gazzla]

It just sat a little uneasy for me, he had the perfect opportunity and he didn't even have to elaborate just something like 'Yes we always want to play well for the manager, this club and win football matches'

Maybe I'm reading too much into it because it's been a real **** of a week so far

[Graybach]

Main reason I came on here right now was to discuss this.

I was so dissapointe wityh his response. As you say it was the perfect opportunity for him to say eg 'yeah the whole team is behhind the manager' etc etc

I was gutted with his response!

Since then though I'm starting to wonder if he was just trying to take 'heat' off Raffa by saying it's about the team and results etc.

I'm a little usure about this now but was fuming at the time.

Thought Raffa was cool though in his interview!!

[tomasjj]

Don't feed the media. I thought he did the right thing, even if the chance was there.

[sonsofthedesert]

who gives a **** what he's been instructed to say, what are they going to do sack him (gerrard) if it'd been me i'd have said something

Maybe they are thinking that if anyone said anything the back pages would be full of it tomorrow, saying what he said means only football matters on the back page. I hope all parties just keep their mouths shut now so nothing can be printed.

[Graybach]

****in hell, I can't believe there was so many posts between me reading the thread and then reading it again after i'd typed my post!

I could have just quoted someone and said 'like what he said'

[Morph]

It's not you though is it? It's them and they're towing the line.

good for them, I hope they have no regrets

[Kilteragh]

If he had said we're 100% behind the manager the papers would have twisted that into: "Gerrard slams Hicks" or some ****.

They probably had the headlines written already. Now they have nothing to say and will have to report the football, if they can remember how.

[Morph]

Youre a real rebel, aren't ya?

not really I just like an argument

[Morph]

Maybe they are thinking that if anyone said anything the back pages would be full of it tomorrow, saying what he said means only football matters on the back page. I hope all parties just keep their mouths shut now so nothing can be printed.

you know a hack could twist his comments to mean they don't care about the manager tho, that's about their level

[Craig_H]

My thoughts, Syd, are that no matter what they think as individuals they have been instructed to say nothing on the situation.

I genuinely believe that they have been instructed that the matter is closed for discussion...in the public eye at least.

I think that's the case too scott. Which is worrying, and adds more fuel to the fire IMO, that rafa's days are numbered.

Somewhat ironic of those two gob****es to gag the players, when hicks has been polishing his pedestal and spouting ****e to the media.

[Morph]

If he had said we're 100% behind the manager the papers would have twisted that into: "Gerrard slams Hicks" or some ****.

They probably had the headlines written already. Now they have nothing to say and will have to report the football, if they can remember how.

would you have a problem with gerrard slams hicks? I know i wouldn't, infact i'd be quite happy if he slammed him through a ****ing wall

[kurtangle01]

Don't feed the media. I thought he did the right thing, even if the chance was there.

Exactly. He gave them nothing to go on but the media, as they normally do, will twist his words anyway.

[Morph]

Somewhat ironic of those two gob****es to gag the players, when hicks has been polishing his pedestal and spouting ****e to the media.

exactly my point, if those 2 ****ers want to start something, then might as well just have a free for all, our clubs already been dragged through the mud as it is, so what difference does it make

[Craig_H]

If he had said we're 100% behind the manager the papers would have twisted that into: "Gerrard slams Hicks" or some ****.

They probably had the headlines written already. Now they have nothing to say and will have to report the football, if they can remember how.

Can they not twist what he DID say into something akin to 'Gerrard doesnt back manager' ?

It'd be bollocks, but this is the media we're talking about.