Would we be better off points wise if...

[meffin]

Rafa's contract had been sorted out months ago?

i get the feeling benitez is protesting against the owners by not trying to win when we easily could. I also feel that certain players would be playing better if they new that benitez would still be here next season and others if they had their contracts sorted out?

Not trying to pass the blame on as Rafa's decisions recently have been nothing short of ludacris, but would he have made them if he had signed a new contract?

[MrMichael]

Rafa's contract had been sorted out months ago?

i get the feeling benitez is protesting against the owners by not trying to win when we easily could. I also feel that certain players would be playing better if they new that benitez would still be here next season and others if they had their contracts sorted out?

Not trying to pass the blame on as Rafa's decisions recently have been nothing short of ludacris, but would he have made them if he had signed a new contract?

No.

This ridiculous hypothesis is also being discussed in this thread, and although I've heard some silly things on this forum, that one tops it all. We're drawing games because Rafa is deliberately not trying to win?

Little test, anyone at work? Turn round and tell your nearest football supporting colleague (not a liverpool fan) that we would be winning the league by 6 points if Rafa wasn't throwing games. I'm sure it will amuse them greatly

The very idea that dropping in the title race could help Rafa in any way getting a new contract is just a bit mental. Do you think the owners, or any potential new owners, would find it harder to refuse a manager in the summer who just won the league for the first time in 20 years and risk fans rioting, or one who "chucked it away" with crazy irrational decisions?

Crazy.

Whether the team would be performing better if we hadn't had the Anfield soap-opera going on for the last 18 months is a completely different subject than whether anyone at the club is not trying their best for the red shirt, or even deliberately sabotaging things.

[Kenneth]

Agree. This is a crazy theory.

[Elvoz]

unbeeeeeelievable

[meffin]

No.

This ridiculous hypothesis is also being discussed in this thread, and although I've heard some silly things on this forum, that one tops it all. We're drawing games because Rafa is deliberately not trying to win?

Little test, anyone at work? Turn round and tell your nearest football supporting colleague (not a liverpool fan) that we would be winning the league by 6 points if Rafa wasn't throwing games. I'm sure it will amuse them greatly

The very idea that dropping in the title race could help Rafa in any way getting a new contract is just a bit mental. Do you think the owners, or any potential new owners, would find it harder to refuse a manager in the summer who just won the league for the first time in 20 years and risk fans rioting, or one who "chucked it away" with crazy irrational decisions?

Crazy.

Whether the team would be performing better if we hadn't had the Anfield soap-opera going on for the last 18 months is a completely different subject than whether anyone at the club is not trying their best for the red shirt, or even deliberately sabotaging things.

im not saying he is deliberatly throwing matches away, im saying he is not trying hard enough to win. Completly different statement.

Once wigan went level, he didnt even try to win the match, he practically gave up which he never used to do.

[The_weatherman]

im not saying he is deliberatly throwing matches away, im saying he is not trying hard enough to win. Completly different statement.

Once wigan went level, he didnt even try to win the match, he practically gave up which he never used to do.

Actually I think you are not far off. I think he is trying to win by the leanest means possible, if you get what I mean. Despite what he says, he seems like he is always looking four games ahead, which means he might be conserving the energy of the team as much as possible. Therefore if he thinks we should get away with fielding a relatively weakened team against Stoke and Wigan, he'll do it on the percentages that we should get the three points.

Regarding Wigan, I think Bruce just has Rafa figured out. If teams just get in our face, hustle, harry and abandon methods and organisation it seems to throw us off balance a bit.

[Dessy]

Actually I think you are not far off. I think he is trying to win by the leanest means possible, if you get what I mean. Despite what he says, he seems like he is always looking four games ahead, which means he might be conserving the energy of the team as much as possible. Therefore if he thinks we should get away with fielding a relatively weakened team against Stoke and Wigan, he'll do it on the percentages that we should get the three points.

Regarding Wigan, I think Bruce just has Rafa figured out. If teams just get in our face, hustle, harry and abandon methods and organisation it seems to throw us off balance a bit.

Problem there is that it ain't just Steve Bruce now is it?

As for the OP, I think it pretty ludicrous to suggest he ain't trying to win whatever way you want to package it. We'd be better of points wise if Rafa's stubborn streak was replaced by a willingness to learn AND then adapt accordingly.

[The_weatherman]

Problem there is that it ain't just Steve Bruce now is it?

No but I stand by my points.

[Kenneth]

Kill thread

[Dessy]

No but I stand by my points.

Fair points to make.

[Woobus]

I also feel that certain players would be playing better if they new that benitez would still be here next season and others if they had their contracts sorted out?

Not trying to pass the blame on as Rafa's decisions recently have been nothing short of ludacris, but would he have made them if he had signed a new contract?

Dont agree with the first point but do with this. The players form went down hill last year when his job wasnt safe. I remember fergi saying he would never announce his retirement again due to the attitude and form of his players the last time he announced it.