I believe it is time for a new manager!

[carlton]

we've lost 4 games this year and in at least half of our drawn games we were leading. we'll finish 3 and 1/2 games behind the league winners, probably the mancs, turn those drawn games we were leading into wins and its very interesting. Lots of ifs I know but the worst thing this club could do is lose Rafa. He is reorganising the club from top to bottom, we have a reserves team thats won the league and a youth squad with some very, very promising players. Our depth is getting better and alot of people on here say we are only 2-3 players away from being title challengers. We are the most consistent side in the CL now after years in the wilderness and the highest scoring side this year.

I think Rafa has done an outstanding job with the squad as player for player against the other top 3 we are still behind. To achieve this with all the other bull**** going on is formidable. I would love Rafa to have access to the sort of funds chelsea and the mancs have so he could get his first choice players. He would prove his doubters wrong.

[friedk]

It cost Chelsea (a far better team than ours when Rafa took over) hundreds of millions to simply bridge the gap with United.

We don't have that luxury, so we need steady improvement and good cup runs, both of which we are getting.

In the nine seasons prior to Rafa's arrival (from when the league was 20 teams) we averaged 66.44 points a season.

Since his arrival we have averaged 70.25 points a season.

Take away his first season getting used to the league and that average goes up to 74.33 points. Which is a marked improvement over what came before and would have been better, but for resting numerous players last season to concentrate on the European Cup.

Add to that we have been in at least one final every season, but for this one when we were in touching distance.

Rafa is the best thing to happen to Liverpool since King Kenny was manager, to get rid of him would be a monumental mistake.

[MrMichael]

we've lost 4 games this year and in at least half of our drawn games we were leading. we'll finish 3 and 1/2 games behind the league winners, probably the mancs, turn those drawn games we were leading into wins and its very interesting. Lots of ifs I know but the worst thing this club could do is lose Rafa. He is reorganising the club from top to bottom, we have a reserves team thats won the league and a youth squad with some very, very promising players. Our depth is getting better and alot of people on here say we are only 2-3 players away from being title challengers. We are the most consistent side in the CL now after years in the wilderness and the highest scoring side this year.

I think Rafa has done an outstanding job with the squad as player for player against the other top 3 we are still behind. To achieve this with all the other bull**** going on is formidable. I would love Rafa to have access to the sort of funds chelsea and the mancs have so he could get his first choice players. He would prove his doubters wrong.

It cost Chelsea (a far better team than ours when Rafa took over) hundreds of millions to simply bridge the gap with United.

We don't have that luxury, so we need steady improvement and good cup runs, both of which we are getting.

In the nine seasons prior to Rafa's arrival (from when the league was 20 teams) we averaged 66.44 points a season.

Since his arrival we have averaged 70.25 points a season.

Take away his first season getting used to the league and that average goes up to 74.33 points. Which is a marked improvement over what came before and would have been better, but for resting numerous players last season to concentrate on the European Cup.

Add to that we have been in at least one final every season, but for this one when we were in touching distance.

Rafa is the best thing to happen to Liverpool since King Kenny was manager, to get rid of him would be a monumental mistake.

Amen to that

^2 excellent posts those^

[Roboklopp]

What I'm asking is more whether, looking at our squad on paper, you believe that it is worth significantly more points than we got. Because I don't really. I genuinely think that, objectively, taking the sum of all the parts in our current squad, somewhere around the mid 70's, about 10 points off the eventual winners, is probably around par. We certainly do not have the best squad, or first XI, in the league imo.

Couldnt agree more- I just do not get it at all when fans & pundits assume that just cos we are LFC that we should be winning everything in sight. We just dont have the sqaud strength- Scum & the Chavs have added massive investment to already positions of strength. We just cannot afford that. The benchmark has been raised sky-high- It is no coincidence that 3 of the 4 last teams in the CL were English & had the Gooners had Barca's route through, it wouldnt have surprised me to see al 4 of us there.

WE have had to improve massively to stand still. For me, 2 new decent FBs, a top top clas playmaker & winger would see us really challenge. I doubt we can afford that tho (), so we will have to continue taking small steps. It's the only way & it aint Rafa's fault that we havent won in 14 years before him & that Scum are approaching our League record is it tho?

[DeeTheDog]

The genesis of this thread was obviously a wind-up; however, some good points have come from it. I think one point we have not considered in regards to our league form/placing was the backroom squabbles and the pressure the manager was under. We were unbeaten in the league when the Klinsmann saga came to light and from October to February the manager's job was under real threat; no coincidence that it was during this time we lost pace with the leaders.

Jones and Barry, not the marquee signings we were expecting; however, our midfield has not been the best midfield in the world contrary to the song. In both games against United that is where we lost the game, the addition of Barry would also offer greater balance to the team as a whole, being left sided. Further, he has dovetailed well with Gerrard in England and can offer another dead ball option.

Kenwyne Jones: it is obvious Crouch is going and we will need another player to give us a physical presence up front. Jones is fast and strong and can attack a ball in the air, his goals to games ratio is nothing to write home about; however, Shearer was not that prolific until arriving at Blackburn and similarly Torres was not setting any records at Atletico.

It will be a critical summer, both full back positions have to be a priority, like most on here I believe Rafa is the man to deliver 19. I hope that the boardroom will be sorted and we can enjoy next season focusing on the football.

[Roboklopp]

I think we desperately lack creativity tho- & that should be addressed before a Jones- style player (assuming them rumours to be true).

[Darth Marty]

Whilst in no way adding to this thread I simply have to say - what a complete and utter pile of horse **** the first post is and as a direct result the whole thread.

That is all.

[Red_hot]

There's only one answer. Sack Rafa, get Kevin Keegan, attacking football here we come.....


What complete nonsense. Talk about looking at everything with rose-tinted specs; 20 years ago football was very different, and although we had an "exciting side" with Barnes & Beardsley, do yourself a favour and check out the league table from 1988.. Notts Forest and QPR were in the top 5!

What really amazes me is how simple some "fans" make it sound. All we need to do is set the team up to attack everyone no matter what because we're the great Liverpool and we should win every single game? Great ideal.... in reality if we did that we probably wouldn't even finish in the top 10. Did ManU, recognised as the best attacking side in England, go helter skelter attack when they played Barca? Did they ****. Do "attacking teams" Arsenal and ManU end up drawing 5-5 every time they play? Do they ****.

If it wouldn't be such a disatser for the team I love, I almost wish some of the pillocks on this (and other) sites would get what they want, rid of Benitez and O'Neil or someone in charge, see how long it takes them to realise what a piece of complete madness they'd just supported. We have no divine right to win the league, and the idea that bringing in another manager, especially one like Hiddink, with absolutely no experience in this league at all, would suddenly transform us into glorious attacking league winners, is just nuts. Benitez has restored our reputation as one of the best sides in Europe, and started bringing genuinely world class talents like Mascherano and Torres to the club.... to abandon the project now would be insane, and absolutely NOT what the Liverpool Way is about.

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rafa's goin nowhere! Rafa's goin nowhere! Na na na na. OY na na na na

(repeat til it sinks in)

[Tom]

With the money Rafa has spent and the way he has performed in the League, in my eyes he has to go. We are no closer to winning the league now at all, if anything the distance is greater than under Houllier.

We need a manager who will not set us out to not lose a game, we should be looking to win and attack every opponent no matter who they are! We are Liverpool ffs!!!

I long for attacking exciting football like we had with Barnes, Beardsley and co.

The man who I would like to take us forward is Gus Hiddink.

Rafa benitez has just delivered a record not matched since shankly, 3 seasons in a row in which we've only lost 1 home match. He's also got us to the european cup final twice and the semi-final once in that time. You are insane sir.

[paulc]

We have been competeing with efc av and pompey for 4th, cuz we aint been competing for the title. We may have a better squad but are we any closer to winning the title? No we are not!

how old are you mate? You are typing in text talk so I assume you were not around in the 80's?

[jayjay]

Rafa benitez has just delivered a record not matched since shankly, 3 seasons in a row in which we've only lost 1 home match. He's also got us to the european cup final twice and the semi-final once in that time. You are insane sir.

Put very politely indeed. Haven't seen you around for a while.

[rage]

rafa has failed to come anywhere near the league. if he blows our transfer budget on barry and jones i'll be livid.

[Darth Marty]

rafa has failed to come anywhere near the league. if he blows our transfer budget on barry and jones i'll be livid.

Regardless Rafa has done well since he arrived. He took over a team basing everything on the past, now we are amongst the favourites for the Champions league every single year, always qualify for the next years Champs league and have some real superstars. Its a far better place than we were when he took over. Give the man some credit.

[rage]

he took over a team that finished 4th in the league - this year we've finished 4th in the league. granted the calibre of players are better, no doubt, but five years ago we were crying out for a winger, better fullbacks and someone creative to play alongside owen. today we're still crying out for a quality winger, better fullbacks and someone creative to play behind torres.

not enough has changed imo. we seem to have forgotten the good things that happened under houllier.

i have no doubt whatsoever that this will be rafa's last chance....players like barry and jones, ffs jones!!! will mean he blows it

[Darth Marty]

If only things were as black & white as it is in Rages world. We were struggling to qualify year after year before Rafa, with a seriously **** squad and no chance of european success at all, if the uefa cup isnt included that is. We are now looked upon as one of the current european giants and its based on our achievements of the past 4 years, not the past 24 years. If you cant see that then its pointless me saying anything else on the matter.