Rafa Benitez issues Liverpool FC warning

[FatTony]

we all know that the media can twist things beyond recognition and somebody probably asked him if it would be harder to win trophies this season with the influx of money coming into the premiership.

He answered yes - as anybody would have - and could have left it there but why waste the chance air our dirty laundry and get a dig in at the owners.

there is no doubt that rafa comes from the continental style of management where the managers are as big as characters as the players, and these guys are not afraid to speak out when things are not going as they want and know how to use the media to their advantage.

in this country we're not used to managers coming out and speaking about off-pitch matters relating to finance etc but it happens all the time in europe.

Rafa benitez is known as what the spanish call a protagonista.

This is from the Daily Post, not a national tabloid with a hidden agenda.

[Rich]

They aren't in it for money-no-object. There'll come a point where they want a return. May not seem like it now but they will

Chelsea have an internet free £500m "loan" from Abramovich.

How is that for a ROI?

[el matador]

Then why does he want so much say in transfers then? On the continent they do as they are told.... the most successful clubs in Europe these past 20 years have operated with sporting directors...it works.

its normal for any manager whether in europe, england or azerbijan to know about players coming in or out.

Only the most arrogant and ******est clubs in europe employ arseholes like mijatovic who are there to fight the manager and not let him get on with stuff.

No top shelf manager like rafa would want to be dictated to in terms of which players he wants.

[Sarb]

Chelsea have an internet free £500m "loan" from Abramovich.

How is that for a ROI?

We'll see what happens if they ever go through a period of struggling and regulalry miss out on the Champions League.

I'd like to live in a world where you can get £500m for nothing. It doesn't exist. There is always an agenda or a hidden benefit in every big money deal

[FatTony]

Chelsea have an internet free £500m "loan" from Abramovich.

How is that for a ROI?

Where can one get an Internet free loan?

I can't even find interest free ones!

[-V-]

I used to think our fans were intelligent but there are some really stupid ones on these forums. Usual names who have no respect for the boss. He is telling it how it is and exactly what iv been saying. Man Utd and Chelsea are not going to be easy to catch and far as im concerned Rafa is doing a good job keeping up.

[el matador]

This is from the Daily Post, not a national tabloid with a hidden agenda.

that's why i said that he couldnt resist having a dig and everything he said has been reported as fact.

If rafa hadnt have said anything beyond 'yes it is more difficult to win trophies' there wouldnt have been a massive article. Its only because he couldnt keep his mouth shut that they wrote the story.

This hasnt been sensationalised and i didnt mean to sound like i thought it had.

[Rich]

Merely illustrating my point that Abramovich isn't in it to make money.

Unless he's using Chelsea to "clean" money.

This jokers that have rocked up to City don't look like they're in it to make money.

I don't like this phenomenon but the fact is its happening.

[Sarb]

So how come the likes of V get away with personal insults then? and yet when someone posts something that a lot of people don't agree with they get called WUMs.

Joke

[el matador]

Merely illustrating my point that Abramovich isn't in it to make money.

Unless he's using Chelsea to "clean" money.

This jokers that have rocked up to City don't look like they're in it to make money.

I don't like this phenomenon but the fact is its happening.

at some stage somebody has to put a stop to this because its getting way out of hand.

There have to be some rules on spending because otherwise football will bankrupt itself and the fans will be the ones who have to suffer.

There has to be some sort of cap on spending and salaries and even if we are taken over by the guys from Dubai i still think this is a good idea. Link the level of transfer spend to a fixed % of turnover or profit. Force clubs to look at other ways of increasing turnover and decreasing costs.

But if man city want to piss £30m away on robinho all the better cos he's absolute wank.

[Darkon]

Of course it is going to get harder for us in the future, if money keeps pooring in to the PL like they do now. Man City will start to challenge in a couple of years, with the investment they are recieving now. If we can't keep up financially there is a big risk we will be left behind in the championship race.

We will proberly need big investment to keep up in the long run. Unfortunatly that means we will be selling another part of the clubs (and footballs) soul. The more investment/money talk becomes a part of football, the less charming it gets, and the less passion I will be able to show for the game (I'd still love the club!)

[Vermilion]

When a man over 10 years has near on PROFIT on his transfer dealings, he can moan as much as he likes.

Wow, that long and STILL...STILL not won the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. Wenger MUST be an idiot to have not won old Big ears at least once in TEN LONG years..

[blacky]

I'd accept that if Rafa hadn't won more with Houllier's "duds" than he has with his own collection of superstars.

Rafa has spent loads on players mainly buying players of the same ability of the players he has sold for less.

Torres, Mascherano, Alonso, Agger, Skrtl, Keane, Reina ?????? Far superior players than those sold from the Houllier Era.

[Skillz]

when i say DIC i mean the sheikh - i realise that people will not make any money from football and to think otherwise is folly.

the possible returns from investment into LFC would not meet DIC's minimum requirements for any ROI.

LFC will be a showpiece for dubai - the jewell in the dubai crown.

If Dubai are successful. If they are, I agree.

[Craig_H]

Torres, Mascherano, Alonso, Agger, Skrtl, Keane, Reina ?????? Far superior players than those sold from the Houllier Era.

He hasnt just bought Torres, Mascher, Alonso, Agger, Skrtel, Keane and Reina though, has he?

7 players out of about 50 odd there.

How about Pennant, Kuyt, Benayoun, Lucas, Voronin, Morientes and the like?

It goes both ways.