Rafa Benitez issues Liverpool FC warning

[FatTony]

Agreed. I was talking about up to this point. I think the purchase of Keane, Babel, Masch and Torres in the last Year for a combined fee of around 70 odd million shows a shift in Rafa's transfer policy. I want to see results as much as anyone else and I believe we are very very close to a title winning team.

I wish I had that much optimism, I fear we'll be off the pace come January again though.

[Darth Marty]

I think there are 5 contenders, theres no doubt the chavs and scum are, us and the arse are outside bets but we definitely could win the league and given whats happened with city that makes 5. These teams will take points off each other so if we get a good run against them we almost certainly would win the league.

5 it is.

[Skillz]

Unfortunately, this may well be the case. You have the Chavs, Mancs and now Citeh, and of course the gooners are in a better position than us with the extra money they get for each home game.

The reality is going to now become cup runs and fighting for a place in Europe (most likely the UEFA Cup). If this does then become the most common of European competition for us, can you see the likes of Torres and Gerrard hanging around? I can't. The knock on effect will be immense.

Possibly. As for Liverpool we need to finish top 4 and should be competing for the title. What Rafa is saying is that the owners have more power because they throw so much money at it, surely the manager should win the title. The big problem now is everyone will be throwing money at it, yet we still only have one winner.

Noone, not initially anyway, will direct there anger for failing to win the title at the sugardaddy. It (the anger) will be turned up against the manager and I can see Real Madrid/Newcastle (LOL) shenanigans everywhere. Every one loves a scapegoat.

EDIT: Both Keegan and Curbishly earnt a lot of cred with me this week.

Wouldn't have either of them here as manager but.

[Vermilion]

Agreed. I was talking about up to this point. I think the purchase of Keane, Babel, Masch and Torres in the last Year for a combined fee of around 70 odd million shows a shift in Rafa's transfer policy. I want to see results as much as anyone else and I believe we are very very close to a title winning team.

But the point is, that's how we stand now, then when the next window opens..if the top teams strengthen with better players than we can, say they buy Messi..Kaka, players of that quality, would we still then expect our side to be title winners??

Football is changing..these players like Kaka/Messi etc will be playing in the prem in future, if not those exact ones then the next ones to emerge, and unless they are playing for us then any manager we have will be at a disadvantage.

What if Rafa doesn't win it in 2 seasons, sack him, or don't sack him, either way a Player like Torres wont hang about, we will get bids for him every window from the super wealthy, if we don't win he'll go where he can, or if we sack Rafa he may go sooner, so many things to consider, as we stand now we are at a big disadvantage to 3 of the teams in the prem, as the competition between them grows they will all be after the best players..the very best....it only gets tougher from here.

[FatTony]

I think there are 5 contenders, theres no doubt the chavs and scum are, us and the arse are outside bets but we definitely could win the league and given whats happened with city that makes 5. These teams will take points off each other so if we get a good run against them we almost certainly would win the league.

5 it is.

2

[blacky]

But the point is, that's how we stand now, then when the next window opens..if the top teams strengthen with better players than we can, say they buy Messi..Kaka, players of that quality, would we still then expect our side to be title winners??

Football is changing..these players like Kaka/Messi etc will be playing in the prem in future, if not those exact ones then the next ones to emerge, and unless they are playing for us then any manager we have will be at a disadvantage.

What if Rafa doesn't win it in 2 seasons, sack him, or don't sack him, either way a Player like Torres wont hang about, we will get bids for him every window from the super wealthy, if we don't win he'll go where he can, or if we sack Rafa he may go sooner, so many things to consider, as we stand now we are at a big disadvantage to 3 of the teams in the prem, as the competition between them grows they will all be after the best players..the very best....it only gets tougher from here.

I don't believe you need to have the BEST players in the world to win the league. A set of quality players and a great manager is enough IMO

[Vermilion]

I don't believe you need to have the BEST players in the world to win the league. A set of quality players and a great manager is enough IMO

I would agree normally, but against such odds as having 3 of the richest clubs in the world in our league it's difficult, yes i believe it could be done, no doubt, but not sustained.

[Slinky Skills]

I love Rafa and don't want him to go but I do believe he's under a lot of pressure and if we have another wankey season he'll be gone.

Everytime he makes a big statement like this one he always goes on about how he doesn't feel like he's under pressure, he says it in every statement. To me that's a sign that he clearly is under pressure. He's also always going on about how we don't have any money which is fair enough but that's not going to change.

The more he goes on about it the more G & H will get pissed off and sack him off. I'm not agreeing with Rashid here but he does have a point. He just needs to get on with it.

[Rich]

It does sound like he's moaning a bit....

I think most sane people know its getting increasingly difficult to win things but perhaps he shouldn't come and out with it so often.

And he did splash £20m on a player this summer.

[Slinky Skills]

It does sound like he's moaning a bit....

I think most sane people know its getting increasingly difficult to win things but perhaps he shouldn't come and out with it so often.And he did splash £20m on a player this summer.

It's almost like he's saying he'll always have an excuse if or when he does lose his job.

[rage]

he should just keep his gob shut and do his talking on the pitch. i don't hear scolari, fergie or even wenger saying such things this early.

rafa' on the defensive and anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves.

[Vermilion]

It does sound like he's moaning a bit....

I think most sane people know its getting increasingly difficult to win things but perhaps he shouldn't come and out with it so often.

And he did splash £20m on a player this summer.

He did, but in todays football climate we'd be hard pressed to find a season when our rivals didn't spend £20mill on a player.

[Vermilion]

he should just keep his gob shut and do his talking on the pitch. i don't hear scolari, fergie or even wenger saying such things this early.

rafa' on the defensive and anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves.

If you haven't heard Wenger on the defensive then your not listening.

[Rich]

He did, but in todays football climate we'd be hard pressed to find a season when our rivals didn't spend £20mill on a player.

True, and it remains to be seen how Keane integrates into the team, early days and all that.

I'm just concerned we spent £20m on a player that doesn't seem to fit into the 4231 formation that worked so well for a lot of last season.

[rage]

If you haven't heard Wenger on the defensive then your not listening.

this early?