Rafa - I'm here to stay

[kopdan]

I suppose the advantage Fergie had was that there wasnt as much pressure from the media, the money men and the fans back then. It was just a game.

The issue I guess is, Fergie made improvement after improvement in the league as did Wenger. Under Rafa, we seem to be the same.

Rafa HAS to take some of the blame for his rotation / resting / picking best team on the day.

[Guest]

I suppose the advantage Fergie had was that there wasnt as much pressure from the media, the money men and the fans back then. It was just a game.

The issue I guess is, Fergie made improvement after improvement in the league as did Wenger. Under Rafa, we seem to be the same.

Rafa HAS to take some of the blame for his rotation / resting / picking best team on the day.

But I don't think it's an issue.

The blame he should take is to have ****ed up everything as regards PR with the americans and for entering into a slanging match in public. If this hasn't destabilized the team to a certain extend, I'm prepared to convert myself into a Hare Krishna preacher.

[Vermilion]

I constantly hear people say the Champions league is easier to win, yet utd under Ferg have won 1, compared to how many Prem's. Wenger Has Not won it yet, Moaner with Chelsea won the Prem immediately, but not the Champ's league. I dont get that logic at all.

It may be a different competition to win, with different style of football, but i would not say it's exactly easier. Most players when they retire site A Champions league win as the glorious moment in their career.

The Premier league & the DESPERATE need to win it is a Liverpool thing, it's a weight of pressure on our whole club now, affecting us on & off the park, the media love to tell us & our players of this as often as possible, like we needed reminding.

[Guest]

I constantly hear people say the Champions league is easier to win, yet utd under Ferg have won 1, compared to how many Prem's. Wenger Has Not won it yet, Moaner with Chelsea won the Prem immediately, but not the Champ's league. I dont get that logic at all.

It may be a different competition to win, with different style of football, but i would not say it's exactly easier. Most players when they retire site A Champions league win as the glorious moment in their career.

The Premier league & the DESPERATE need to win it is a Liverpool thing, it's a weight of pressure on our whole club now, affecting us on & off the park, the media love to tell us & our players of this as often as possible, like we needed reminding.

Exactly, it's all a question of culture IMO. Rafa being more used to playing a cagey type of football, because in Spain it's like that. Whilst in England, it's all attack and never say die and a very physical approach.

It takes time to fully understand and take stock of this sort of stuff. Wenger was a student of the English game for a long time before he took over at Arsenal, so he knew what was required from the off.

[Pacman]

I suppose the advantage Fergie had was that there wasnt as much pressure from the media, the money men and the fans back then. It was just a game.

The issue I guess is, Fergie made improvement after improvement in the league as did Wenger. Under Rafa, we seem to be the same.

Rafa HAS to take some of the blame for his rotation / resting / picking best team on the day.

Wouldn't and couldn't argue with that however I fail to see how replacing Rafa would help.

He IS a world class manager and he still believes he will win us the league. For all his faults this season and previous seasons he has brought us players like Torres, Reina, Agger, Mascher, Babel and Alonso.

Look at our current squad compared to when Rafa took over from the previous manager. He's replaced players like Biscan, Diao, Dijmi and Dudek with genuine world class talent.

Sacking him would only lead to the new manager having a squad that isn't his. It would only lead to some of the world class talent Rafa has brought to the club getting shipped out and more players coming in and having to settle.

IMO winning the CL has made Rafa's job a lot harder it has raised our expectation levels when in fact he's had to ship out and ship in a stupid amount of players to try and make us title contenders.

I firmly believe he knows what he is doing and he knows what he needs. Gone are the days where he would have 20mil to fill 4 or 4 positions we don't need that anymore we need 2 or 3 top draw player of Torres ilk and we will be there.

[kopdan]

But I don't think it's an issue.

The blame he should take is to have ****ed up everything as regards PR with the americans and for entering into a slanging match in public. If this hasn't destabilized the team to a certain extend, I'm prepared to convert myself into a Hare Krishna preacher.

it clearly has been an issue in games. Players playing well then dropped? For no reason.

[kopdan]

Wouldn't and couldn't argue with that however I fail to see how replacing Rafa would help.

He IS a world class manager and he still believes he will win us the league. For all his faults this season and previous seasons he has brought us players like Torres, Reina, Agger, Mascher, Babel and Alonso.

Look at our current squad compared to when Rafa took over from the previous manager. He's replaced players like Biscan, Diao, Dijmi and Dudek with genuine world class talent.

Sacking him would only lead to the new manager having a squad that isn't his. It would only lead to some of the world class talent Rafa has brought to the club getting shipped out and more players coming in and having to settle.

IMO winning the CL has made Rafa's job a lot harder it has raised our expectation levels when in fact he's had to ship out and ship in a stupid amount of players to try and make us title contenders.

I firmly believe he knows what he is doing and he knows what he needs. Gone are the days where he would have 20mil to fill 4 or 4 positions we don't need that anymore we need 2 or 3 top draw player of Torres ilk and we will be there.

I didnt say replace him would help. I do think he needs to stick to a winning team. He needs money in the summer. He needs our best players to perform.

Its not all about Rafa but he does hold the keys to a lot of cupboards

[Red_hot]

Wouldn't and couldn't argue with that however I fail to see how replacing Rafa would help.

He IS a world class manager and he still believes he will win us the league. For all his faults this season and previous seasons he has brought us players like Torres, Reina, Agger, Mascher, Babel and Alonso.

Look at our current squad compared to when Rafa took over from the previous manager. He's replaced players like Biscan, Diao, Dijmi and Dudek with genuine world class talent.

Sacking him would only lead to the new manager having a squad that isn't his. It would only lead to some of the world class talent Rafa has brought to the club getting shipped out and more players coming in and having to settle.

IMO winning the CL has made Rafa's job a lot harder it has raised our expectation levels when in fact he's had to ship out and ship in a stupid amount of players to try and make us title contenders.

I firmly believe he knows what he is doing and he knows what he needs. Gone are the days where he would have 20mil to fill 4 or 4 positions we don't need that anymore we need 2 or 3 top draw player of Torres ilk and we will be there.

Spot on mate!

[Pacman]

I didnt say replace him would help. I do think he needs to stick to a winning team. He needs money in the summer. He needs our best players to perform.

Its not all about Rafa but he does hold the keys to a lot of cupboards

As people have already said Fergie rotates but he replaces players like Ronaldo with Nani, Scholes with Hargreaves and Rooney with Tevez.

IMO the idea of rotating is essential in the modern game with all the matches the players have to player however when you replace Torres for the crow or Pennant for Babel that's where it falls down.

[kopdan]

fair dinkum

we've all got opinions, not all right, not all wrong

[carlton]

Exactly, it's all a question of culture IMO. Rafa being more used to playing a cagey type of football, because in Spain it's like that. Whilst in England, it's all attack and never say die and a very physical approach.

It takes time to fully understand and take stock of this sort of stuff. Wenger was a student of the English game for a long time before he took over at Arsenal, so he knew what was required from the off.

Arsenal and Man U are also streets ahead of LFC in some crucial areas as well. Man U has a massive commercial advantage and stable long term management. Arsenal have had stable management on and off the field too and are also becoming richer. Frankly Moores and now the Yanks and Parry dont stack up. The current manager is trying to rebuild the club and sadly may not be given the time. There's a reason we're 4th and its not just the managers fault, our squad whilst getting better is not that great. Challenging for the title every season is beyond the capability at the moment but thats the expectation and its unrealistic. We require a squad of greater depth and quality than we have at present together with a return to a stable off field culture.

[Craig_H]

He might not but I know I do.

Why cant i disagree with people? What rules am i breaking? Am i being abusive?

Is my input only allowed if it goes along with the majority?

[Craig_H]

But I don't think it's an issue.

The blame he should take is to have ****ed up everything as regards PR with the americans and for entering into a slanging match in public. If this hasn't destabilized the team to a certain extend, I'm prepared to convert myself into a Hare Krishna preacher.

How is it not an issue??? It's a fundamental thing which influences whether we win or dont.

[Red_hot]

Why cant i disagree with people? What rules am i breaking? Am i being abusive?

I was actually referring to the whole thread and the constant sniping between certain posters but yes you are one of them.

[MrMichael]

Why cant i disagree with people? What rules am i breaking? Am i being abusive?

Is my input only allowed if it goes along with the majority?

No, but you don't have to do everyone's head in all the time.

And as for breaking rules, well, they're long overdue an update on this site, and are getting one shortly.