Rafa eager to resolve future.

[JPK]

The 'not available' thing doesnt mean anything mate, if a manager wants to move on, he moves on - you only have to look at Redknapp just last week to realise this. As i said, plenty of top coaches would love to manage LFC.

I'm sure they would but there is not many out there like I said. Juve is a Prestigeous club and they have Ranieri who has won very little during his career. Bayern have Klinnsmann who is a novice at this level.
Real had Carlos Queroz as coach because there was not a great choice.

[Craig_H]

I'm sure they would but there is not many out there like I said. Juve is a Prestigeous club and they have Ranieri who has won very little during his career. Bayern have Klinnsmann who is a novice at this level.
Real had Carlos Queroz as coach because there was not a great choice.

What do you mean 'not many out there' ?

Not many what?

You can say whatever you like about Juve, Bayern and Real Madrid, the fact remains LFC will ALWAYS have top managers who want the job.

Let's agree to disagree because, to me, you're coming out with stuff that is quite frankly, nonsense and there's little point in continuing to debate under such circumstances.

[JPK]

What do you mean 'not many out there' ?

Not many what?

You can say whatever you like about Juve, Bayern and Real Madrid, the fact remains LFC will ALWAYS have top managers who want the job.

Let's agree to disagree because, to me, you're coming out with stuff that is quite frankly, nonsense and there's little point in continuing to debate under such circumstances.

Suits me
Your were boring the bollix off me anyway

[badpiggy]

outside of mourinho, i think all nearly the best coaches in europe are in the premiership. we're in the most competitive league in europe and one way or nother rafa talks about us in the way we should be talked about - needing to always improve and get the best possible players because that what it takes to win consistently.

[MrMichael]

What do you mean 'not many out there' ?

Not many what?

You can say whatever you like about Juve, Bayern and Real Madrid, the fact remains LFC will ALWAYS have top managers who want the job.

Let's agree to disagree because, to me, you're coming out with stuff that is quite frankly, nonsense and there's little point in continuing to debate under such circumstances.

The problem imo is not whether there would be top managers wanting the job, its whether the clowns in charge would actually offer it to any of them, or be able to satisfy their requirements re. contract, money available etc. There is a pretty fair chance in the current circumstances that we could end up with a significantly worse manager than Rafa were he to leave rather than and equal or better.

What if we kick on this season and really do challenge for, or even win the league, then he walks because he feels his position, without a contract extension and possibly without money to strengthen the team further, is untenable. That would be pretty poor.

[Craig_H]

We wouldnt be 'finished' though MrM.

[MrMichael]

No, you're right, we wouldn't, that's hyperbole, an unfortunate internet affliction suffered by many. and easily overrepresented due to the restrictions of interaction in the written form. Therefore its not really worth over-dwelling on

[Craig_H]

No, you're right, we wouldn't, that's hyperbole, an unfortunate internet affliction suffered by many. and easily overrepresented due to the restrictions of interaction in the written form. Therefore its not really worth over-dwelling on

That's so brilliantly worded, it should be your signature.

[Skillz]

He needs to shut up to be honest and stop moaning to the press through his agent. To warrant a new contract he has to challenge for the league title and we can't judge that in November. Shut the **** up and wait till May I say... this is just distabilising the club for his own gain.

What did Rafa say and in what context?

No they wouldn't. If they want that brand of football, they will get Mourinho.

You are kidding, surely.

Totally disagree. The owners and Parry need to tie him down and Agger and Kuyt too or risk losing them. We will really be in the **** if Rafa goes imo.

Exactly. If we want to compete this year lets sort it out now and give the scribes as little as possible to destabalise us.

I agree about Agger, don't really care what happens to Kuyt.

With regards to Rafa, he has had 4 years, this is his 5th year - there is no way he deserves a new contract until he has us challenging for the title.

How can the best young manager in the world not challenge for the league title in 4 years? Are you suggesting the best young manager in the world needs an Abramovich to finance him? (despite spending more than the othet big 3 these past 2 seasons).

Out spend them? by how much and how far behind did he start? How much extra does Rafa need to catch up first? and he is catching up BTW.


Sunderland, Man City have outspent us, where are they?

The problem imo is not whether there would be top managers wanting the job, its whether the clowns in charge would actually offer it to any of them, or be able to satisfy their requirements re. contract, money available etc. There is a pretty fair chance in the current circumstances that we could end up with a significantly worse manager than Rafa were he to leave rather than and equal or better.

What if we kick on this season and really do challenge for, or even win the league, then he walks because he feels his position, without a contract extension and possibly without money to strengthen the team further, is untenable. That would be pretty poor.

It would be devastating to me that we waste such an opportunity after investing so much. Good post MrM.

[MrMichael]

That's so brilliantly worded, it should be your signature.

I retyped it about 20 times

[Tatterdemalion]

I've been really encouraged by some of the football we have been playing lately. Mostly, oddly enough, in the Spurs game. I remember reading shortly after Benitez joined (a Spanish journo I believe) that Rafa is great tactically but really poor at buying players. This is somewhat borne out by this season I think - we are beginning to play the sort of football that I want to see Liverpool play, and this is his team now, so it is his doing. However, most of our summer signings have been a little disappointing. Nevertheless, Rafa has signed almost everyone in this team, and apart from nor scoring many (and the odd defensive lapse) I think the team is playing well - certainly passing and moving much better, which indicates that players need a great deal of time to get used to playing the way Rafa wants - some of them never will get used to it - which could infer a poor transfer record (i.e. buying 'expensive' players who ultimately don't fit in). Keane may end up to be a player who doesn't get it, as might Dossena (although I have higher hopes for him). It seems to me that Keane blossoms most when he has a freer role, which I'm not sure Benitez will allow him. Like most, I found this purchase bizarre.

As for Benitez, the problem with having the odd failure like Keane, if ultimately that is what he proves to be, at a club which cannot afford to blow £34m on Veron, is that ultimately the more 'return' oriented owners get a little fed up. It would not go down well if Keane falls out of the team and gets sold for £11m or so.

Unfortunately for Rafa, I think the owners have already looked through some of his failures, or indeed still think he is a trouble causer, and that barring a strong challenge this year, our Rafa is being managed out of the club.

I think this would be a disaster. Houllier once said (following the purchases of Diao, Cheyrou and Diouf) that a club like Liverpool ought to be able to lose £5m or so on a speculative transfer - he was right, we just couldn't afford to lose £20m. The point is though that Rafa makes something of most of his transfers even if it is only a small loss. Although position wise we may appear no better off than under Houllier, the league is much much tougher than it was even 7 years ago. We have kept pace with limited resources, which I think is no mean feat. Indeed I think we have caught up a bit. Personally I feel this team is in a different league to that which Houllier managed even during his successful year.

It would be a great problem for Liverpool if Benitez is managed out in my opinion simply because a new manager will seek to rebuild the team. That means fire sales and speculative buys - which we simply cannot afford at the moment.

Currently we have a manager who will take us reasonably far in the Champs league every season, and so pay his way. He is also looking more likely to challenge for the title, and even with Tom and George, once the credit squeeze lifts and the stadium gets built (which I believe it will - they are connected) then we will be looking much better financially and potentially on the field. Better to build from a position of strength with some one who understands what he has than from a position of enforced weakness with some one trying to make their mark.

Unfortunately unless we finish a close second, he's out.

Wow, That's my longest post.

[friedk]

The same was said about Mourinho and Chelsea. No man is bigger than the club.

If we can move on after Dalglish, we'd move on if Rafa went too.

Except we haven't really moved on have we?

[Craig_H]

Except we haven't really moved on have we?

Havent we?

League cup wins, treble, FA Cup wins, consistent CL qualification and success, not to mention Istanbul and Athens.

Yep, we've clearly been finished since Kenny left.

[MrMichael]

I've been really encouraged by some of the football we have been playing lately. Mostly, oddly enough, in the Spurs game. I remember reading shortly after Benitez joined (a Spanish journo I believe) that Rafa is great tactically but really poor at buying players. This is somewhat borne out by this season I think - we are beginning to play the sort of football that I want to see Liverpool play, and this is his team now, so it is his doing. However, most of our summer signings have been a little disappointing. Nevertheless, Rafa has signed almost everyone in this team, and apart from nor scoring many (and the odd defensive lapse) I think the team is playing well - certainly passing and moving much better, which indicates that players need a great deal of time to get used to playing the way Rafa wants - some of them never will get used to it - which could infer a poor transfer record (i.e. buying 'expensive' players who ultimately don't fit in). Keane may end up to be a player who doesn't get it, as might Dossena (although I have higher hopes for him). It seems to me that Keane blossoms most when he has a freer role, which I'm not sure Benitez will allow him. Like most, I found this purchase bizarre.

As for Benitez, the problem with having the odd failure like Keane, if ultimately that is what he proves to be, at a club which cannot afford to blow £34m on Veron, is that ultimately the more 'return' oriented owners get a little fed up. It would not go down well if Keane falls out of the team and gets sold for £11m or so.

Unfortunately for Rafa, I think the owners have already looked through some of his failures, or indeed still think he is a trouble causer, and that barring a strong challenge this year, our Rafa is being managed out of the club.

I think this would be a disaster. Houllier once said (following the purchases of Diao, Cheyrou and Diouf) that a club like Liverpool ought to be able to lose £5m or so on a speculative transfer - he was right, we just couldn't afford to lose £20m. The point is though that Rafa makes something of most of his transfers even if it is only a small loss. Although position wise we may appear no better off than under Houllier, the league is much much tougher than it was even 7 years ago. We have kept pace with limited resources, which I think is no mean feat. Indeed I think we have caught up a bit. Personally I feel this team is in a different league to that which Houllier managed even during his successful year.

It would be a great problem for Liverpool if Benitez is managed out in my opinion simply because a new manager will seek to rebuild the team. That means fire sales and speculative buys - which we simply cannot afford at the moment.

Currently we have a manager who will take us reasonably far in the Champs league every season, and so pay his way. He is also looking more likely to challenge for the title, and even with Tom and George, once the credit squeeze lifts and the stadium gets built (which I believe it will - they are connected) then we will be looking much better financially and potentially on the field. Better to build from a position of strength with some one who understands what he has than from a position of enforced weakness with some one trying to make their mark.

Unfortunately unless we finish a close second, he's out.

Wow, That's my longest post.

And a very good one

[Joe King]

I've been really encouraged by some of the football we have been playing lately. Mostly, oddly enough, in the Spurs game. I remember reading shortly after Benitez joined (a Spanish journo I believe) that Rafa is great tactically but really poor at buying players. This is somewhat borne out by this season I think - we are beginning to play the sort of football that I want to see Liverpool play, and this is his team now, so it is his doing. However, most of our summer signings have been a little disappointing. Nevertheless, Rafa has signed almost everyone in this team, and apart from nor scoring many (and the odd defensive lapse) I think the team is playing well - certainly passing and moving much better, which indicates that players need a great deal of time to get used to playing the way Rafa wants - some of them never will get used to it - which could infer a poor transfer record (i.e. buying 'expensive' players who ultimately don't fit in). Keane may end up to be a player who doesn't get it, as might Dossena (although I have higher hopes for him). It seems to me that Keane blossoms most when he has a freer role, which I'm not sure Benitez will allow him. Like most, I found this purchase bizarre.

As for Benitez, the problem with having the odd failure like Keane, if ultimately that is what he proves to be, at a club which cannot afford to blow £34m on Veron, is that ultimately the more 'return' oriented owners get a little fed up. It would not go down well if Keane falls out of the team and gets sold for £11m or so.

Unfortunately for Rafa, I think the owners have already looked through some of his failures, or indeed still think he is a trouble causer, and that barring a strong challenge this year, our Rafa is being managed out of the club.

I think this would be a disaster. Houllier once said (following the purchases of Diao, Cheyrou and Diouf) that a club like Liverpool ought to be able to lose £5m or so on a speculative transfer - he was right, we just couldn't afford to lose £20m. The point is though that Rafa makes something of most of his transfers even if it is only a small loss. Although position wise we may appear no better off than under Houllier, the league is much much tougher than it was even 7 years ago. We have kept pace with limited resources, which I think is no mean feat. Indeed I think we have caught up a bit. Personally I feel this team is in a different league to that which Houllier managed even during his successful year.

It would be a great problem for Liverpool if Benitez is managed out in my opinion simply because a new manager will seek to rebuild the team. That means fire sales and speculative buys - which we simply cannot afford at the moment.

Currently we have a manager who will take us reasonably far in the Champs league every season, and so pay his way. He is also looking more likely to challenge for the title, and even with Tom and George, once the credit squeeze lifts and the stadium gets built (which I believe it will - they are connected) then we will be looking much better financially and potentially on the field. Better to build from a position of strength with some one who understands what he has than from a position of enforced weakness with some one trying to make their mark.

Unfortunately unless we finish a close second, he's out.

Wow, That's my longest post.

Agree with a lot of that. If what you say about Rafa being poor at signing, which some of us would agree with, should Rafa have a director of football? Someone like a Paco Herrera who is now doing a similar role at Espanyol.