Rafa...

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Hmmm not so sure about that, if it wasnt for all the **** with the Yanks he would be getting slaughterd.

Certainly a lot of people where i sit on the Kop have lost confidence in him.

if it wasn't for all the **** with the yanks, we'd be higher up the table

Really? I didn't realise it was the Yanks who continue to select Dirk Kuyt up front.

The Owners have a lot to answer for but blaming them solely for the pathetic performances on the pitch this season is just a convenient way of deflecting things away from Rafa because people think he deserves the unbounded support of the fans.

[kris90210]

To be fair Kris, its got nothing to do with hindsight when it appears that the overwhelming majority of people have been saying it for yonks. I certainly have.

I wouldn't disagree with your final paragraph incidentally. They offered very little and got lucky.

But its still unfair to say that calling for a Crouch-Torres partnership has anything to do with being wise after the event, as I'm sure you'd admit.

The thing is its not as if Torres and Crouch havent been tried as a partnership - I havent been that impressed with the pairing when they've played together. Im more confused as to why Torres and Babel havent been given a go.

Benitez clearly rates Crouch very highly. He persisted with him when we all thought he was wank (well some of us kept the faith but you know what I mean) and couldnt hit a cows arse with a banjo. There must be a very good reason as to why he doesnt think the partnership can work. Something fundemental.

[alunevans]

The thing is its not as if Torres and Crouch havent been tried as a partnership - I havent been that impressed with the pairing when they've played together. Im more confused as to why Torres and Babel havent been given a go.

Benitez clearly rates Crouch very highly. He persisted with him when we all thought he was wank (well some of us kept the faith but you know what I mean) and couldnt hit a cows arse with a banjo. There must be a very good reason as to why he doesnt think the partnership can work. Something fundemental.

Well I'd love to know what it is because he's miles better than Voronin and Kuyt but doesn't get a look in. I can't fathom it at all.

I actually agree about Babel. I think he is an out and out forward and wouldn't you be terrified facing Babel and Torres.

So I'd go with that and would see the logic in it. But otherwise it has to be Crouch and Torres. I don't see any reason why he isn't played, and I'm not one to say "rafa's not doing it so there must be a good reason why."

[Morph]

Really? I didn't realise it was the Yanks who continue to select Dirk Kuyt up front.

The Owners have a lot to answer for but blaming them solely for the pathetic performances on the pitch this season is just a convenient way of deflecting things away from Rafa because people think he deserves the unbounded support of the fans.

no mate I said higher up the table I never said where we are capable of being, there are too many things that have gone on this season, but two of the three most important things to Rafa have left him in the lurch - his number 2, and the owners, also he doesn't get on well with Parry by all accounts nor Foster Gillett.

When you're working against all this **** it is going to affect you, now of course some of the blame must lie with Rafa and also his players, but at the moment the pressing issue is the ownership and hierarchy of the club and that's what i'll be focussing my attentions on till it's sorted. After that, then we can pick the bones of rafa and his squad and backroom team.

[bigfooty]

Our three best strikers by a country mile are Torres, Crouch and Babel. Yet of those three one never gets a game up front, instead being forced to play as a winger cos Rafa Knows Best, and the other is reduced to cameo appearances.

Only Rafa could take a guy who was one of the top scorers in the Champions League and the club's overall top scorer and reduce him to a bit-part "save us" role barely half a season later.

[Dhav]

Only Rafa could take a guy who was one of the top scorers in the Champions League and the club's overall top scorer and reduce him to a bit-part "save us" role barely half a season later.

Yep, only Rafa :whatever:

Ignore the piss-poor form he's been in ever since pre-season

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Ignore the piss-poor form he's been in ever since pre-season

I think the problem for some is that Voronin and Kuyt have been toilet as well all season, but they've gotten more starts than Crouch, who, to be fair, hasn't been given a fair crack - for whatever reason.

[Cisseshairdresser]

He's knocking off Montse!

[bigfooty]

Yep, only Rafa :whatever:

Ignore the piss-poor form he's been in ever since pre-season

So he had some bad games pre-season, isn't that when you want your players to have bad games?

Like I've said before Rafa's treatment of Crouch last season was poor, culminating in that shocker of a decision for Athens. His handling of him in the league was largely lead to me taking the position that Rafa just didn't have what it takes to deliver us the league title.

His treatment this season has been even worse.

Whenever he has come from the bench he's done his best to try and turn things in our favour and I can remember a few games where he's had an impact. Blackburn & Besiktas away we looked much more dangerous after he arrived on the pitch. Today he bagged a goal from the subs bench, matching Kuyt's tally for the season from open play despite only starting 4 ****ing league games all season.

[Nicey]

I'm worried for him, i really am.

I know he had a cold but he really didnt look well, looked extremely stressed (as you'd expect) and almost looked like a man who's doing all he can, but to no avail.

You cant blame anything on him tonight, we played well, we controlled the game...villa did nothing other than benefit from sloppy defending and good luck. Rafa could've done little more than he did (other than play Crouch from the off) but in fairness, the side he picked did everything but kill the game off.

Rafa, bless him, didnt do much wrong and yet still the side dont win.

I really felt sorry for him when i saw his post match interview and i hope he still has the strength and will to keep fighting, he's done a great job of fighting the yanks from the inside and i hope he keeps going.

Rafa.

[Fiddy]

Why should we give a **** about them? Rafa is our manager not them.

Too right Hottie...shove Capello and Rijkaard up your arse Rashid, no one on here gives a monkeys

[Reece]

I'm worried for him, i really am.

I know he had a cold but he really didnt look well, looked extremely stressed (as you'd expect) and almost looked like a man who's doing all he can, but to no avail.

You cant blame anything on him tonight, we played well, we controlled the game...villa did nothing other than benefit from sloppy defending and good luck. Rafa could've done little more than he did (other than play Crouch from the off) but in fairness, the side he picked did everything but kill the game off.

Rafa, bless him, didnt do much wrong and yet still the side dont win.

I really felt sorry for him when i saw his post match interview and i hope he still has the strength and will to keep fighting, he's done a great job of fighting the yanks from the inside and i hope he keeps going.

Rafa.

One of the few good posts you've ever done

[Craig_H]

And another to your usual standard reece...

[DeeGame]

To be honest IF the yanks do remain in control of the club and not sell to the arabs i really hope Rafa does leave this summer. I'm not saying he should be sacked but i do not think he deserves to be treated the way he has by the owners. One thing for certain is as long as the yanks are here Rafa will be gone this summer.

Yes you can argue results have not gone our way but the reasons for that i am not going to get into. Rafa has done a brilliant job transforming the club from the mediocrity squad he inherited under the previous regime. i will always be grateful for the miracles he has performed helping the club win our 5th European cup and the FA Cup as well as taking us to our 2nd European final in 3 years. You could argue that due to his unexpected success early on the levels of expection were raised to high too quickly and the squad was never really ready to mount a title challenge.

But at the end of the day nobody deserves to be treated the way he has by the owners. Maybe we have "misinterpreted" the yank's honsety of admitting they approached Klinsmann and it was more of a culturial issue where in the states these sort of things are admitted. But there was no doubt it was wrong to openly admit they had an "insurance policy".

Yesterday Rafa did not look well at all, whether it was because of he cold he was suffering from or the stress of recent events nobody can be for sure for certain. But i'm sure everyone will agree Rafa's health is more important than our club. Dont let the stress get to you like it got to Ged. One's life is more important than their job. Walk away with your head held high this summer before its too late.

[RedJedi]

Rafa Benitez position still unclear whoever owns LiverpoolJan 22 2008




by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post


RAFAEL BENITEZ will have to prove he should stay as Liverpool manager if the rumoured takeover of the club takes place.

The Dubai International Capital (DIC) – the investment arm of the Dubai government – is thought to be readying a £350million offer to buy out American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Benitez’s position has come under intense scrutiny since the duo assumed control of the club last February, particularly after confirmation last week from Hicks that Jurgen Klinsmann had been approached with a view to taking over from the Spaniard.

There were protests at Anfield last night during Liverpool’s Premier League game with Aston Villa in support of Benitez and a possible DIC takeover.

But while DIC chairman Sameer al-Ansari is a keen Liverpool supporter, the business will demand the best possible man for the manager’s role.


And that would mean Benitez having to convince the prospective new owners he remains the ideal choice to end a championship drought that stretches back to 1990.


Hicks and Gillett are currently looking to refinance the club’s debt and are hopeful that a deal could be struck in the next few days, with the announcement of designs for the new stadium revealed next week.


However, it is feared the package could compromise Benitez’s summer spending plans.