Rafa has taken us as far as he can.

[Manofthebog]

Hmmmn, don't think this is true, but a mate of mine (well, my boss actually) just got a text saying the rumour is Rafa has gone...

...like i said, it's just a text my boss received and passed on, so it could be complete bollocks. Can't see it myself, not with contract negotiations ongoing, but i figured i'd pass it on.

From a well known poster on another forum.

The below was being circulated by some people at work.
All were taken in until I questioned where it come from (after reading through this entire thread).

Turns out blue nose ****s spreading it about.


Quote:"Benitez set to walk from Kop"

LFC press conference at 4:30pm today set to confirm departure

As we reported earlier Benitez is said to of attended Liverpool’s training ground for late training (due to away game at Wigan last night) this afternoon where he has apparently said farewell to his players and staff at the Melwood training ground.

Benitez who has been a crowd favourite at Anfield is said to have become increasingly annoyed with the LFC board in particular over player contracts and signings. Just last week the Spaniard the turned down his own contract due to control over the teams comings and goings. A current run of team draws has also apparently left the former Valencia boss unhappy.

Benitez who has constantly been liked to a move Real Madrid could will not be short of further offers

[Manofthebog]

I think I probably would mate.

I look at our squad and it has some incredible talent running right through it and then I look at their squads and notice that it is their average players that make the difference. I wouldn't want Fletcher but the guy does a better job than a lot of our squad and Villa are looking strong with a squad that doesn't compare to ours at all. This to me points to the fact we don't get the most from our players and I think this is because Rafa trusts nobody but himself and regiments his players too much without letting them express themselves.

We do not get the most from our squad and yesterday I was amazed how often we were second to a ball we should have won yet we didn't compete in a mini-tournament in Tokyo.

Fair enough mate.

I'd just like to see Rafa given a fair crack at the whip, an even playing field, if you like, before we got shot.
And, I think the bloke deserves more than alot of the ****e that's being thrown around here, and other forums. He has done alot for us, completely turned us around, and is getting slated, from pillar to post, because we are not 125 points clear at the top, and are, in fact, in a title race, which, I might add, is probably what the problem is with some of our fan base - they haven't got the stomach for a scrap. (like some of our players at times)

[Elvoz]

I'm glad I stayed away from threads like this today.

Tis getting daft at the moment. The time to dissect the season is at the end, not at the end of January, when we're still slap bang in the middle of a title race.

Grow some balls, the lot of you.

If we finish outside of the top four this season, then you have my consent to slag away, but now?

Our fan base is getting worse.

No matter who our manager was, we would back him.
I can never remember this much hatred towards a manager who has steered our great club to where it is, today.

I must admit it, we are nearly as bad a Real Madrid.

mate we were top and should of been clear
now a top 4 finish is ok ??
sorry but that attitude is what imo is doing our club no good at all

settle for top 4 ?? ****in hell

[Elvoz]

And with the proper financial backing he would have brought in quality youngsters as well, such as Walcott.Despite shaking my head in disbelief at some of his decisions I still believe he is the best man for this job. And I am sure that once we get out of this sticky patch we will be very very close to winning that title.

mate he has spent plenty dont go down that route please

[bobbyfallon]

stayed away for the day today cos i didnt know what i was likely to say on any matter lfc related.

rcdnw my bollix - hes making more mistakes than steve wonder in a colouring competition at the min.

havent read the thread but im sure someone suggested mourinho and hiddink.

much as it pains me and i am aware a new manager will take time to settle putting us back in terms of years, rafa aint going to win us the league so i think a change wouldnt be the worst thing in the world.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Part of it.

We can't compete with the Chavs or the Mancs, and that's the honest truth.
Would you disagree with that?

Well if money is an issue (which personally I don't think it is), we can't afford to be refusing to play a 20 million pound striker.

[barnes10]

Thats the great thing about football. I know exactly where you are coming from but I don't agree. I believe the team we have should beat 90 percent of teams in this league. I dont expect us to because you do have the odd day and sometimes teams luck just doesn't go your way but our team and squad is superior to most other teams in the league.

My belief is that our primary concern is not to lose which is not a bad thing at all when looked at in isolation. It becomes a problem though when it is to the detriment of our attacking games which I sometimes believe it is. Maybe I am being simple but perhaps at some point and I know it is an old cliche but maybe should let the opposition worry about us for a change and not the other way around.

I can remember screaming for our full backs to get forward and provide width sometimes this season but you could see that they just wouldn't pass the half way line. It is not that they couldn't (because they did it in the previous game) but it was definite that they were under instruction not to (I think Insua hinted at this in one of his interviews). I cant prove this but I am 99% sure about it.

But onwards and upwards - lets enjoy the rest of the season and see what happens. One thing I would love Rafa to do for the rest of the season is: Take a chance once in a while.

nice post and i do agree that this is the issue with rafa now. regardless of backing or first choice targets, we should give it our best shot 100% of the time. get the best out of what we have rather than accepting a mediocre performance because 'my tactics would be working if i had better players'.

I also agree that this is the difference between us and aston villa/everton and even man u in their approach as a squad. those managers generally get the best out of what they have.

we, and by we i mean rafa, needs to focus on coaching the team to get the best out of it. can't believe i've said that given what happened 14 months ago but at this point in time, its completely true isnt it.

i wish he would not lose sight of that. we have the players to have won all those frustrating draws so surely the only answer is that we can't get the best out of them.

i do think rafa should be backed or sacked however and i do think parry has cost us a lot over the years with his dithering. he defo needs to go before rafa does and rafa should be given an extension, albeit of only 2 years, and allowed the reigns to spend the budget as he sees fit. this is a fairly basic right of anyone in a position like him. he has to call the shots and if the current model isnt allowing him to do that successfully, then the model needs to change.

rafa needs to prove to us that he's the man to lead and get the best out of our team. but he needs to be given all the support and power to do what it takes to make it happen. otherwise we've tied our own hands havent' we and we're constraining on one of the best managers in world football from giving it his all and producing his best for us.

[Baldemort]

Well if money is an issue (which personally I don't think it is), we can't afford to be refusing to play a 20 million pound striker.

Of course it isn't Sheikhy. He's had more than enough to spend, but he's wasted a lot of it. Babel, Kuyt , Keane and Dossena. That's nearly £50 mill there alone. I've seen it worked out in detail in threads elsewhere that he's spent nearly as much as Ferguson in net terms. Seeing Keane on the bench is sickening when you think what we could have done on the right and left wings with that amount. Save the money spent on Riera and add the Keane dosh to it and we could have made a real difference. Instead we buy a striker who Rafa mismanages and leaves sat on the bench.

[Fan65]

[/B]


not enough mate
evans was such a man - in fact its nonsense

2 league titles with two different teams and that's not enough....in fact you think it's nonsense.

There's no pleasing some people.

[Angryred]

Crazy?!!!

Rafa siad the second half was a crazy game?

Yeah, full of crazy decisions from yourself!

Taking off Benayoun who was playing well!

Taking our Captain who can play out another 10 mins & quite possibly unleash another bullet into the back of the net with that right leg!

For not taking off a player who was clearly out of his depth & leaving him on to concede a penalty!

For not bringing on Alonso so Gerrard could push up further with Keane who should have came on for Torres...

I think it is that medication for your Kidney stones are giving you side effects, I have looked it up & it called "Houllieritis"...classic symptoms are inane decisions & babbling to yourself, as well as giving pathetic excuses in interviews.

Rafa, take a couple of days off & reflect on what you are doing to thousands of supporters hopes & dreams!

[Elvoz]

why didnt you put this in a rafa thread already open

[Rashid]

I can't believe people are still going on about Rafa has no money spend, I thought we had enough of that? He has two £20m striker, a back of £12 and £10m in Babel and Kuyt... a £18m defensive midfielder and another £12m defensive midfielder.. need I go on?

This from a guy who buys 3 players as opposed to 1 for any position, if he did what United did and buy less, he would have about £50m on the bench.

[Clapper]

I can't believe people are still going on about Rafa has no money spend, I thought we had enough of that? He has two £20m striker, a back of £12 and £10m in Babel and Kuyt... a £18m defensive midfielder and another £12m defensive midfielder.. need I go on?

This from a guy who buys 3 players as opposed to 1 for any position, if he did what United did and buy less, he would have about £50m on the bench.

Didn't Carragher in hos book say, that Liverpool didn't have the spending power of ManUre & Chelsea?
Maybe you know better.

[DannyMan2006]

I can't believe people are still going on about Rafa has no money spend, I thought we had enough of that? He has two £20m striker, a back of £12 and £10m in Babel and Kuyt... a £18m defensive midfielder and another £12m defensive midfielder.. need I go on?

This from a guy who buys 3 players as opposed to 1 for any position, if he did what United did and buy less, he would have about £50m on the bench.

Didn't Carragher in hos book say, that Liverpool didn't have the spending power of ManUre & Chelsea?
Maybe you know better.

Rafa has had plenty of ime to build a good squad, and for the most he has. Had Dossena and Keane proved a hit this year, and Degen stayed fit we would probably be flying right now.

Insua coming back should cover over the fact Dossena has been poor, we remain in hope that Keane will find form or be sold. IMO we are a couple of players short of a fantastic squad - A world class RW (are there any?) and a good alternative to Torres/Gerrard.

In all honesty Babel and Keane are both capable of being the requisite players we need, but it's all about finding form at the right moment.

[Robster007]

Rafa has had plenty of ime to build a good squad, and for the most he has. Had Dossena and Keane proved a hit this year, and Degen stayed fit we would probably be flying right now.

Insua coming back should cover over the fact Dossena has been poor, we remain in hope that Keane will find form or be sold. IMO we are a couple of players short of a fantastic squad - A world class RW (are there any?) and a good alternative to Torres/Gerrard.

In all honesty Babel and Keane are both capable of being the requisite players we need, but it's all about finding form at the right moment.

People also seem to forget the importance of a stable and secure working environment, regardless of how much the players get paid and the various other reasons they are villified for when not performing to everyone's expectations.

If my company was going through the sort of public demise that LFC are currently experiencing, I too would find it near impossible to work to my full ability.