Here we go again

[Rashid]

Rafa doesn't need to talk in public, in fact he needs to shut his mouth and get on with the business of winning football matches. His board refused to play a certain amount for a player, so what? It happens in every boardroom in the world. Get over it.

Rafa is getting his excuses in early, and having a sly dig at Bascombe is ridiculous.

[Elvoz]

Rafa doesn't need to talk in public, in fact he needs to shut his mouth and get on with the business of winning football matches. His board refused to play a certain amount for a player, so what? It happens in every boardroom in the world. Get over it.

Rafa is getting his excuses in early, and having a sly dig at Bascombe is ridiculous.

tell me rashid - where do you think we will finish this year ?

[Rashid]

tell me rashid - where do you think we will finish this year ?

4th. Because he hasn't addressed the areas that needed addressing and that's the two positions wide of Torres. I also doubt he will have the team playing the quality of football we need to consistently challenge for the league.

[Finnish_Red]

4th. Because he hasn't addressed the areas that needed addressing and that's the two positions wide of Torres. I also doubt he will have the team playing the quality of football we need to consistently challenge for the league.

Any names?

[El Jefecito]

Rafa doesn't need to talk in public, in fact he needs to shut his mouth and get on with the business of winning football matches. His board refused to play a certain amount for a player, so what? It happens in every boardroom in the world. Get over it.

Rafa is getting his excuses in early, and having a sly dig at Bascombe is ridiculous.

Rafa is just protecting his reputation. If I was getting "credit" for Parry's handywork, I'd be doing the same.

[Elvoz]

4th. Because he hasn't addressed the areas that needed addressing and that's the two positions wide of Torres. I also doubt he will have the team playing the quality of football we need to consistently challenge for the league.

for the record fella you do imo make some good points on rafa and the team - even thought you get hammered but lets give the manager say 10 games in - i know your not a fan but i have feeling we will know our destiny by then

[Rashid]

for the record fella you do imo make some good points on rafa and the team - even thought you get hammered but lets give the manager say 10 games in - i know your not a fan but i have feeling we will know our destiny by then

I think we will know our destiny as early as our September date with Manchester United.

[the rev leeroy brown]

I disagree,how on earth will they know what anyone is worth if they know **** all about the game.All they'll see is a man who's Villas player of the year nearly every season and who's an England international,like Hargreaves and Carrick who both cost that much or thereabouts.They'll then ask someone who's been involved in the English game for years,like Parry,if he thinks he's worth it.Neither Hargreaves or Carrick were worth 18 million either and both are behind Barry in the England pecking order.Sometimes you just have to pay the price quoted to get the players your manager feels will make you better.I remember laughing when the Mancs bought Carrick,well guess what,he now has 2 league and one champions league medals.I'm no longer laughing.

first up, you could sit me down to watch a rugby game ( a gay sport that i know **** all about ) and i could easily tell you who is a good player or not. it's that easy. thats how they'll know he's not worth 18 million.

secondly, why were you laughing when the mancs bought carrick? he was a great young player playing in a postion where united were crying out for a player to do his job for their mob. he was at a younger age than barry is therefore giving utd a chance to make a profit on him. oh yeh, and he's a better player than barry is.

[Elvoz]

I think we will know our destiny as early as our September date with Manchester United.

i told me mates (yes i have some) last week that after tomorrow and the scum game we will know if we will have a chance of the league

i truly believe that

[Rashid]

Good point Mr Browm. United needed a Carrick, we have 3 other midfielders already here that are better than Gareth Barry.

[Dhav]

Good point Mr Browm. United needed a Carrick, we have 3 other midfielders already here that are better than Gareth Barry.

I'm of the school of thought that we don't need Barry, like you say we are well stocked in his position, plus Wednesday showed that it is more creativity and ball carrying player that we need, not a Gareth Barry type.

Having said that, it is the board's responsibility to back their manager, and if the money is there they should allow him to spend it as he sees fit. Basically, they should back him or sack.

[El Jefecito]

Good point Mr Browm. United needed a Carrick, we have 3 other midfielders already here that are better than Gareth Barry.

I see it differently, with SG moving into the attacking unit and Xabi not performing well enough to keep Lucas out of the team last year, I'd say that area was ripe for an upgrade.

[JPK]

EXCLUSIVE: Rafa Benitez thought of resigning from Liverpool last week and even discussed leaving the club with his closest allies, according to sources close to the Spanish manager. The only thing that stopped him from leaving Anfield was his respect for the Liverpool fans and for the people that work with him on a daily basis.

This is the first time since his arrival that Benitez has come this close to resigning, although on two other occasions offers from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and a couple of other major European clubs led him to reassess his future at Anfield. On both occasions he decided to stay put and the club improved his contractual situation.

According to sources this time around, it is his desperation with the Barry transfer deal, the lack of a satisfactory conclusion to the Alonso transfer and the gaping hole on the left hand side of midfield - yet to be filled - that are the major causes of his dissatisfaction and frustration. This has nothing to do with his contract. “Rafa doesn’t care about what he is getting paid, he thought he was being undermined this summer and was close to giving up”, says a friend of the manager.

The situation at Anfield has been so confusing over the last few weeks - with the Gareth Barry saga and Xabi Alonso's failed move to either Juventus or Arsenal - that Benitez felt the need to explain, at his Friday press conference, that he was not involved in the Barry transfer: another way of saying that if it did not take place, then it was not his fault.

“Since I started talking with Martin O'Neill in April, I didn't talk with Aston Villa. All of the talks have been between Rick Parry and the owner and chief executive of As ton Villa and they have been pretty good... I was not doing the talks about Barry, I was not doing the talks about Alonso, so if someone wants to talk about these players, then they have to talk with the chief executive of our club. If you want to talk about football, talk with me," said Rafa.

According to different sources, Benitez would have liked Gareth Barry to have been his first signing of the summer, ahead of even Robbie Keane, and by now the squad would have been closed. Instead, there is at least one new player to come in, although Liverpool have not yet given up hope in signing the Villa midfielder. The club, according to sources close to Tom Hicks, can afford Gareth Barry or a new left winger without the need to sell anybody.


One final factor, that influenced Benitez' decision to stay, was his belief that the team is set for a very good season and that they are in a position to improve on last year.

http://www.guillembalague.com/blog_desp.php?id=57

[Elvoz]

I'm of the school of thought that we don't need Barry, like you say we are well stocked in his position, plus Wednesday showed that it is more creativity and ball carrying player that we need, not a Gareth Barry type.

Having said that, it is the board's responsibility to back their manager, and if the money is there they should allow him to spend it as he sees fit. Basically, they should back him or sack.

parry said this doesnt question the managers judgement by not paying 18 mill for barry

surely nothing questions it more

i am also no huge fan of barry - and your spot on we imo need a flair player - someone who can run at players or change a game with a spot of brilliance - not easy to get but thats why we have scouts - thats why they get paid isnt it ?

if we dont hit the ground running this liverpool "saga" is going to get a whole lot worse

[the rev leeroy brown]

I see it differently, with SG moving into the attacking unit and Xabi not performing well enough to keep Lucas out of the team last year, I'd say that area was ripe for an upgrade.

exactly, an upgrade, as with every team, was required for our midfield. barry, however, is a "sidegrade" if you get me.