Rafa - I'm here to stay

[Craig_H]

I'd forgotten why I don't bother reading much in the LFC forum any more.

The first half page of this thread was enough to remind me.

It must be terrible when us young-uns dont do as we're told and just agree with you...not like the 1920s, eh?

[Craig_H]

When the Academy players are coming through in a couple of years time, then it's time to judge him because the Academy is a big part of his plans.

Say for example that Nemeth and Insua will make it, then it will save us £30m+.

That's no justification for struggling with City, Everton and Villa in a fight for 4th.

[pezzzer]

I dont think he HAD to. He bought numerous average players, several of which werent much better than the deadwood he'd previously shipped out. Except, they cost far more than he'd received for the deadwood.

THIS is why he 'couldnt' spend big on top players - he chose to fill the squad with average backups instead of top quality first teamers.

arrrr, so thats why rafa put his job on the line by stating publicly that he was sick and tired of missing out on top targets due to the clubs reluctance in the transfer market.

the very thought that any manager would choose deadwood over quality if given the choice is beyond madness

nothing to do with rafa having to build a squad on a budget that is incompareable to his title rivals then??

[barnes10]

I hear what you're saying about next season, but again, i cant help but have a general feeling about what he's achieved thus far and what i feel he will achieve in future. I suppose it's like if you have an employee who has been with you a certain time, but is still short of their 'review' period. You obviously have to wait til that time before making your official judgement, but during the leadup to that, you see how he's performing and that still impact on your opinion of him. Hope that makes sense.

Enjoy your dinner.

inherits **** squad so needs to overhaul. hasnt got funds to buy 5 top drawer ones AND revamp the squad.

you seem to ask why he didnt just say fook it and keep the **** ones but spend on the 5 first teamers and just play them? that right?

if so the answer is injuries and the sheer number/frequency of games we play. recipe for burnout without some rotation. never win anything. top this off with the 'schevchenko risk' that some won't work out and he could have blown 50 mill and only gotten 2 effective players out of it. thats too risky mate. Gotta have decent backup,

[Craig_H]

arrrr, so thats why rafa put his job on the line by stating publicly that he was sick and tired of missing out on top targets due to the clubs reluctance in the transfer market.

the very thought that any manager would choose deadwood over quality if given the choice is beyond madness

Hold on though, he HAD £20m and £30m to spend, so he COULD have had his 1st choice targets - why didnt he just spend big on them, the money was there...

He chose to have a 'big squad'...the lot of good it's done.

[AFII]

That's no justification for struggling with City, Everton and Villa in a fight for 4th.

It's if you spend a part of your transfer budget on youth team players instead, like Wenger.

He could have decided to spend that money on another player instead but he is looking more long term than that.

[Craig_H]

inherits **** squad so needs to overhal. hasnt got funds to buy 5 top drawer ones AND revamp the squad.

you seem to ask why he didnt just say fook it and keep the **** ones but spend on the 5 first teamers and just play them? that right?

if so the answer is injuries and the sheer number/frequency of games we play. recipe for burnout without some rotation. never win anything. top this off with the 'schevchenko risk' that some won't work out and he could have blown 50 mill and only gotten 2 effective players out of it. thats too risky mate. Gotta have decent backup,

He inherited a team that was 4th best in the country though. He could've stuck with that squad in the most part, for a period of time, brought in one or two top players a season and gone from there. The squad was already good enough to finish 4th - i hear how he 'needed' to 'revamp the whole squad' and it makes me think 'hmm, did we finish 10th before he came?'
No we didnt. We had injuries the season before he came, and they still finished 4th. Why did the whole squad need to be revamped?

[barnes10]

That's no justification for struggling with City, Everton and Villa in a fight for 4th.

they are playing well and we've had the biggest season of turmoil in our history and an undermined manager as discussed countless times before. oh and we've still only lost 3 league matches and started the season brilliantly. we're now starting to look good again so hopefully its behind us.

[Neil Young]

It must be terrible when us young-uns dont do as we're told and just agree with you...not like the 1920s, eh?

Yes, that's it. I'm just so old I can't appreciate witless bickering any more.

[Steve101]

That's no justification for struggling with City, Everton and Villa in a fight for 4th.

Why not? Arsenal did last season, and now theyre youth players are playing an integral part of the team, hopefully like ours will.

[Craig_H]

It's if you spend a part of your transfer budget on youth team players instead, like Wenger.

He could have decided to spend that money on another player instead but he is looking more long term than that.

No it isnt...unless you're seriously suggesting that our squad ISNT better than Everton, City and Villa's...which would be absurd.

If it is, 4th place shouldnt even be a contest.

[Nic83]

Alright sydney baby

[Craig_H]

they are playing well and we've had the biggest season of turmoil in our history and an undermined manager as discussed countless times before. oh and we've still only lost 3 league matches and started the season brilliantly. we're now starting to look good again so hopefully its behind us.

So let's just get this straight - the reason we're so rubbish in the league is the off field stuff? None of it is down to the manager, is that right?

Or if it's not, tell me what's down to the manager, what he's got wrong.

[Craig_H]

It's if you spend a part of your transfer budget on youth team players instead, like Wenger.

He could have decided to spend that money on another player instead but he is looking more long term than that.

If he can do that and guarantee CL football every season, then fine.

Looking a bit ropey, mind...

[barnes10]

He inherited a team that was 4th best in the country though. He could've stuck with that squad in the most part, for a period of time, brought in one or two top players a season and gone from there. The squad was already good enough to finish 4th - i hear how he 'needed' to 'revamp the whole squad' and it makes me think 'hmm, did we finish 10th before he came?'
No we didnt. We had injuries the season before he came, and they still finished 4th. Why did the whole squad need to be revamped?

mate thats exactly what he did. but he had an average of 25 mill a season to spend. how many top players do you want to get for that net sum? players contracts come to an end too don't they. even the ****e that were backup had to be replaced by more backup on longer contracts.

he inherited the 4th best team, has spent an amount similar to the others so is still 4th best. arsenal are the exception for sure but we've finished above them twice and been in 2 CL finals. since Rafa's been here, our record has been better than theirs.