Carragher Blasts Yanks and Rafa

[Sarb]

Jamie Carragher has blasted the politicking inside Liverpool between manager Rafa Benitez and the club's American owners.

In his new autobiography, 'Carra: My Autobiography', the former England defender wrote: "For richer or poorer, we'd sold Liverpool to two ruthless businessmen who saw us as a moneymaking opportunity.

"They didn't buy Liverpool as an act of charity; they weren't intent on throwing away all the millions they'd earned over 50 years ... They wanted to buy us because the planned stadium offered a chance to generate tons of cash and increase the value of the club."

Carragher said the internal strife swelled in the aftermath of the May 2007 Champions League final defeat to AC Milan when Benitez demanded that Tom Hicks and George Gillett quickly invest more money in the squad.

"These words sparked a chain reaction that brought problems into the open, almost cost (Benitez) his job a couple of months later, riled Liverpool's owners into an ill-fated meeting with Juergen Klinsmann, and ended Hicks' and Gillett's honeymoon relationship with The Kop (fan base)," Carragher wrote.

Hicks acknowledged talking to former Klinsmann about replacing Benitez last November during their public spat over player transfers. Klinsmann, the former Germany coach, is now with Bayern Munich.

Carragher said he was surprised that Benitez defied standard workplace practice by going public to "slag off your boss."

"I understood why the owners were unhappy with him too," he wrote. "They'd been undermined by Rafa and now they were undermining him.

"It was a political rather than football battle, and although the fans wanted to see it in black and white terms, with the owners the bad guys and Rafa their hero, I saw far more shades of grey."

Love Carragher. Says it how it is

[magicalbarnes]

Any player who does not publically back the boss needs selling - end of. The Liverpool of the 70's and 80's wouldnt stand for this 'player power'

On another note i dont see the point of releasing autobiographies whilst your still playing.

[Van Halen]

Not sure what this will do for his relationship with RAFA?

[Gazmo1]

Not sure if you guys have read the book yet? I'm about half way through it and only got it yesterday. You really need to consider the context that Carra has written the book in. He is very articulate and explains his statements in the most part.

[magicalbarnes]

Not sure if you guys have read the book yet? I'm about half way through it and only got it yesterday. You really need to consider the context that Carra has written the book in. He is very articulate and explains his statements in the most part.

Iv got the book but 'cheated' and started reading at the Houllier chapter. So far i have read the Treble and am half way through the Rafa chapter.

[blacky]

Have said it before many times but I disagree with footballers releasing biography's while they are still playing. Have to admit I thought Carra would have been different. Dissapointed that he couldn't have waited a few years.

[barnes10]

we know how ruthless rafa can be. is jc going up against the boss in public? if he is then its because he believes he'll win.

interesting to see how rafa reacts to this. i think and hope he'll accept it as jcs opinion that he's entitled to and no more to say on the matter. inside tho, he'll be pissed no doubt.

[Parm]

Any player who does not publically back the boss needs selling - end of. The Liverpool of the 70's and 80's wouldnt stand for this 'player power'

On another note i dont see the point of releasing autobiographies whilst your still playing.

its not as if they need the money

[carheex]

Carragher comes across as a bit of a buffoon with his opinions on why "the yanks" purchased LFC. So what if they saw it as a money making opportunity? I might be mistaken but apart from charities, aren't ALL businesses supposed to be about making money?! He's seriously deluded if he thinks that the club should only be bought by someone who loves LFC and doesn;t care about the financials. The only way they would profit is if the club does well, attracts better players, wins things etc and they want/need that as much as anyone else. What a tit!

[The Birdman]

Nothing to see here, move along.

[Elvis]

It's worth remembering that it almost certainly wasn't written by Carra. He probably did an interview with a ghost writer who then wrote something down approximating to what Carra actually said.....

[rage]

go jamie! always knew you were a straight upfront type of fella that tells it how it is.

[Sarb]

Not the Liverpool way. Would be interesting if he'd have had a section on our summer transfer dealings and whether they were in keeping with the Liverpool way

[dom9]

Carragher said he was surprised that Benitez defied standard workplace practice by going public to "slag off your boss."

Isn't is he doing exactly that now?

Pointless.

[Michael]

The lad has let a lot of things go to his head lately ……. He certainly has a very high opinion of himself…. He passes judgement in an almost mocking fashion and has quite obviously fallen into the celebrity trap of being surrounded by yes men….

He’s just a young boy who thinks he knows it all ……..