Rafa's not had enough to spend...

[Baldemort]

Or has he? I see the same argument come up time and time again, and has done again today in other threads on this site. It all seems to be estimates from different people arguing it out. No real figures. I dug this up a while back and it makes for interesting reading. From what I can see in the figures, there seem to be no obvious errors.

Make of it what you will, but it seems to me that Rafa has been backed very well by our club. He may harp on about how he can't compete with other teams and their spending power etc, but it seems as though he's making excuses....

http://www.peoplesrepublicofcork.com...+modern&page=5

[Craig_H]

This isnt news to most people mate. Everyone knows, even if they choose not to admit it, that Rafa's had plenty to spend.

[Baldemort]

That's my point, Craig. To make it numerically clear to those who for some reason refuse to admit that Rafa hasn't been backed, that he bloody well has been. Unfortunately, he hasn't spent it very wisely. He has bought some gems, but by and large, he's wasted a lot.

[Craig_H]

That's my point, Craig. To make it numerically clear to those who for some reason refuse to admit that Rafa hasn't been backed, that he bloody well has been. Unfortunately, he hasn't spent it very wisely. He has bought some gems, but by and large, he's wasted a lot.

You'll simply get the argument that lots of players left the club and he had to plug the holes, so he couldnt spend his budget on one or two top players at great expense, he apparently 'had' to buy average player after average player (and then ship them out 2 years later for peanuts).

Despite being right, you'll never win this debate on here.

[Tee]

Another Rafa bashing thread.... :yawn:

This is getting really ****in boring guys and is driving a lot of people out of this forum. FFS we are challenging this year and Rafa is desperately disappointed with recent results - his face said it al after Wigan. He cares and he is trying his best so let him get on with the job and save this **** for the summer, if and when we miss out on a title.

[Craig_H]

Another Rafa bashing thread.... :yawn:

This is getting really ****in boring guys and is driving a lot of people out of this forum. FFS we are challenging this year and Rafa is desperately disappointed with recent results - his face said it al after Wigan. He cares and he is trying his best so let him get on with the job and save this **** for the summer, if and when we miss out on a title.

How do you define 'bashing' ? Criticising?

I'm sure he's disappointed and cares, but he simply wont change his thinking and wont accept that certain things he does, dont work.

When someone is making the same kind of mistakes consistently, and refuses to be modest enough to consider that he might be in the wrong with some things, it's hard to sympathise.

Its more the way we deal with transfers rather than the amount with spend if Rafa had this way we would have signed players like Alaves, Vidic, Evra, Simao, Walcott, rather than the players we have.

To be honest, i think our squad is good enough. He's bought relatively well, barring the odd turkey.

It's the way he goes about using the squad that's costing us, IMO.

[Liverpool]

Its more the way we deal with transfers rather than the amount with spend if Rafa had this way we would have signed players like Alaves, Vidic, Evra, Simao, Walcott, rather than the players we have.

[MrsB]

Walcott didn't want to join us iirc.

[Craig_H]

Walcott didn't want to join us iirc.

Yeah, there were reports suggesting this. He was a big Liverpool fan throughout his childhood though, but apparently he didnt think he'd get the same first team opportunities under Rafa as he would with Wenger.

Cant fault his thinking, to be fair. Not many kids get a chance under rafa, certainly not British ones.

And given that Walcott is a 'flair' type of player, with pace and directness, i cant blame him for thinking that he wouldnt fit into the style of play Rafa uses.

If i was a footballer in Walcott's position, of the same age and ability, and not a Liverpool fan, i'd have made exactly the same choice as he did.

[Baldemort]

Another Rafa bashing thread.... :yawn:

This is getting really ****in boring guys and is driving a lot of people out of this forum. FFS we are challenging this year and Rafa is desperately disappointed with recent results - his face said it al after Wigan. He cares and he is trying his best so let him get on with the job and save this **** for the summer, if and when we miss out on a title.

How is it Rafa bashing? I read another thread and saw comments about how Rafa hasn't had enough to spend, but it always seems to be estimates and opinions without facts. I very much doubt that folks criticising Rafa will cause others to run away from the forum. If it is the case it's ****ing pathetic. Can we not have a debate about Rafa's inadequacies? Should there be a warning every time we log in that we are not allowed to criticise Rafa? That's ridiculous. When he gets it right,he should get all the credit in the world, but when he screws up, we have the right to question him and his failings. He carries the success and future of our beloved club on his shoulders and unfortunately for him, is answerable to the fans.

[Tee]

How do you define 'bashing' ? Criticising?

I'm sure he's disappointed and cares, but he simply wont change his thinking and wont accept that certain things he does, dont work.

When someone is making the same kind of mistakes consistently, and refuses to be modest enough to consider that he might be in the wrong with some things, it's hard to sympathise.

Well the large majority of your posts are negative and always focussed on 'whats wrong', and there is always a criticism of Rafa.

Of course he is not beyond criticism but personally it pisses me off when i log on and just read that **** post after post.

Make a new months resolution to post positively about the team/manager because your views on the game can be very intersing to read, aside from the Rafa bashing (Yes that is what it is IMO, sorry).

He has spent a lot but he has also recouped alot and not been afraid to get rid of those players who have not cut it. If he was given the opportunity/money to sign players that he really wanted, e.g. Alves and even Barry, who knows how much better we would be doing now.

[Leyton388]

Rafa has had enough to spend to make sure we should be in the title hunt but he has chose to spend it on **** like

Pennant
Lucas
Josemi
Dossena

plus others that i cant think of at the minute but he is obsessed with buying defensive players so it is no wonder we a clueless when teams park the bus and when he buys a great prem striker for £20m he ****ing leaves him out the team.

[Exiled_red]

You'll simply get the argument that lots of players left the club and he had to plug the holes, so he couldnt spend his budget on one or two top players at great expense, he apparently 'had' to buy average player after average player (and then ship them out 2 years later for peanuts).
Despite being right, you'll never win this debate on here.

He has bought some average players but overall we haven't made huge losses by selling them on for peanuts, usually we are close to making our money back on the players that didn't work out

[Craig_H]

Well the large majority of your posts are negative and always focussed on 'whats wrong', and there is always a criticism of Rafa.

Of course he is not beyond criticism but personally it pisses me off when i log on and just read that **** post after post.

Make a new months resolution to post positively about the team/manager because your views on the game can be very intersing to read, aside from the Rafa bashing (Yes that is what it is IMO, sorry).

He has spent a lot but he has also recouped alot and not been afraid to get rid of those players who have not cut it. If he was given the opportunity/money to sign players that he really wanted, e.g. Alves and even Barry, who knows how much better we would be doing now.

I post according to how i see things mate. About 5 weeks ago, i felt we could win the title and posted accordingly. I still think we CAN win it, but i dont think we will because Rafa persists with the things that have (and will continue to) cost us.

I'm sorry if it pisses you off. It also pisses me off when i see people reeling off a list of excuses, whilst not being willing to point some of the blame towards the manager.

We're all different though, we can learn to live side by side in harmony.

He has bought some average players but overall we haven't made huge losses by selling them on for peanuts, usually we are close to making our money back on the players that didn't work out

On most of them yes. The most recent case however is Pennant.

In any case, i'm not really disputing the point you've made, but breaking even in the market isnt really the priority i'm going by.

Doing the best with what you've got is the ultimate measure of a manager's success or failure, and i dont think rafa is making anywhere near the best of what he has. It's of no real consolation if he's doing well on the profit/loss sheet.

[Tee]

I post according to how i see things mate. About 5 weeks ago, i felt we could win the title and posted accordingly. I still think we CAN win it, but i dont think we will because Rafa persists with the things that have (and will continue to) cost us.

I'm sorry if it pisses you off. It also pisses me off when i see people reeling off a list of excuses, whilst not being willing to point some of the blame towards the manager.

We're all different though, we can learn to live side by side in harmony.

Absolutely mate.

Like I said, no one is above criticism but just take some perspective on our situation. ALL things considered, on and off the pitch, he has done a remarkable job.