Sack the bored (article about Rafa)

[Skillz]

Alot of the **** we get is because we are a target. Rafa's method are new and different so when it doesn't come off he and we are fair game and they go for it. Ferguson, as Craig says, is immune due to his power in the game now.

For most of the media the more controversial the better and I highlight the internet here. I use newsnow to get my updates and it's a ****ing minefield these days. So many articles, a lot of them repeat articles under another controversial headline designed to get your 'click'.

More hits = more bucks

[BFG]

I agree he was the right man for the job at the time. Just as Houllier was the right man for the job back in 1998/9.

However, to progress we now need to find the next 'right man'. Hopefully the next one will be able to break the jinx because the current one has peaked, just like Houllier had.

As for money spent I think there was a massive net spend comparison on a manure site and the figures did not look good (for us). Although we've spent slightly less its not great.

If they've spent more (when they were much stronger than us to begin with) and we've caught up how are we going to find a better man for us than that mate? Catching up with less resources is the definition of the word great imo.

When you also consider that all the evidence this season points to the fact that we're still catching up further I think it's very harsh to suggest he's peaked. If we were in 4th 15 points behind then I'd possibly agree with you.

[Baldemort]

haha. Nice article, but I agree that it was a little too pro Rafa. But then, as others have mentioned, it at least gives some balance when you look at all the anti Rafa press out there.

[memzey]

Genuine question here - do you honestly not feel that winning 11 PL titles has made Ferguson virtually beyond being questioned?

Do you honestly not see a correlation between the notion that someone who has proved himself successful during a 22 year stint doesnt have his ability questioned?

I dont think it's anything to do with 'feeding' the media, Ferguson has run-in after run-in with the media - banning the BBC, the falling out with Sky and Geoff Shreeves etc. He's a loudmouth and he falls out with the media regularly. The thing which saves him from a media onslaught is the fact that he's won ELEVEN fecking league titles. Who in their right mind can ultimately question his record?

That's the point i'm trying to get at.

Sums up my thoughts on why the media appear to love Fergie so much I think they generally scared of getting on the wrong side of him and his record pretty much negates any criticism of his methods.

Ahh... Good Theory

However, Aston Villa are a reasonably successful club from the past (7 Championships). They have haven't won anything since the earlier 80's, their manager has been with them for 3 years, and has taken them to a higher point than recent history, but actually hasn't won anything.

Are the tabloids/forums/talkback sessions and pundits screaming over evey decision, and team selection that Martin O'Neill makes????

I must have missed all the fuss

Aston who? Outside of the midlands nobody gives a **** about Villa, that's why they will never command the same profile or get the same column inches dedicated to them as us. Journos need to fill those columns and what's easier to write than a critical peice on us, until we've won the league?

You are a good boy.

No he's a very naught boy

Surely the game against Portsmouth proved Rafa wrong, not right?
He had to bring the players he rested on to win the game, by the skin of his teeth. It was more down to luck that amazing tactical judgement.

If we had won the game without needing Torres or Kuyt, then Rafa would indeed have been proved correct.

That said, we did play a lot better, and were far more enjoyable to watch than in recent games.

The bottom line is, we do not have a single player outtside of Gerrard and Torres who is reliable in front of goal, and we cant afford to be without both if we can help it.

Kuyt is usually attrocious in front of goal. But he did pretty well, and perhaps coming off the bench helps in that hes not too knackered to kick the ball after running up and down the wing.

What? He won the game mate, surely that's what counts? Look at the outcomes: We got the three points and our top players were rested for two thirds of the game - lovely. Whether it was settled in the first or the last minute is an irrelevance IMHO, and even before they came on we were well on top and any result other than an LFC victory would have been a travesty.

[Vermilion]

You asked whether having a lean spell makes a manager **** (words to that effect), so if you know nobody's calling rafa ****, i'm not sure why you brought up the 'doesnt make a manager ****' point.

Are you intentionally missing the point, you've already said..and i quote..
"The majority of the stick IS about his failure to win the league. Because that's the consequence of all the perceived mistakes added up".

So my point is that the stick is not necessarily deserved just based on that fact alone, and not winning it YET is not imo an indication on his ability, but more a reflection of the task at hand.

Ok, and if you believe Rafa's the one, then those slating him will be proved wrong too. Cant you just satisfy yourself with that fact and feel happy that, ultimately, they'll be made to look silly?

You see, i don't know if he's the one, but i'm judging him on what i feel he's achieved so far, and not on a single issue like winning the league YET or not, i couldn't care less about them looking silly, i just feel Rafa has come in for some unfair stick based on us not having won the league yet, as you said yourself it's why he gets the majority of the stick.

And that progress is open to interpretation. Some people's interpretation is that the progress is minimal and that he'll never reach the objective at hand. Let them think it

Exactly, open to interpretation, but that must be based on the progress made, NOT just on the issue of league won yet or not.

[Craig_H]

Redrascal, they judge him solely on whether he's won the league or not, fairly or unfairly, rightly or wrongly, they just do.

We can look at all the factors surrounding it, but the media dont. End of.

[Vermilion]

Redrascal, they judge him solely on whether he's won the league or not, fairly or unfairly, rightly or wrongly, they just do.

We can look at all the factors surrounding it, but the media dont. End of.

At last you get my point, i believe it's wrong to judge him just on that one issue.

[Craig_H]

At last you get my point, i believe it's wrong to judge him just on that one issue.

You believe that, which is of course fine. But your original question (feels like it was about a week ago now!) was why does he get so much criticism - and i answered it (also about a week ago ) by saying it's because he hasnt won the title, whilst Mourinho, Wenger and Ferguson have.

Whether or not that's a fair barometer is a different question, but they DO judge him by that and that answers your original question.

[Vermilion]

You believe that, which is of course fine. But your original question (feels like it was about a week ago now!) was why does he get so much criticism - and i answered it (also about a week ago ) by saying it's because he hasnt won the title, whilst Mourinho, Wenger and Ferguson have.

Whether or not that's a fair barometer is a different question, but they DO judge him by that and that answers your original question.

I never asked a question. Just gave an opinion that not winning the league yet isn't imo a reflection on Rafa's ability, there is far more to it than that.

[Craig_H]

RedReet, RedRascal...one and the same to me

[Vermilion]

RedReet, RedRascal...one and the same to me

Thanks for the compliment there Craig.

Graig_H, Confused...one and the same to me.

[Craig_H]

Thanks for the compliment there Craig.

Graig_H, Confused...one and the same to me.

I remembered you were red, the rest of it was a blur

[Vermilion]

I remembered you were red, the rest of it was a blur

[Skillz]

Redrascal, they judge him solely on whether he's won the league or not, fairly or unfairly, rightly or wrongly, they just do.

We can look at all the factors surrounding it, but the media dont. End of.

I judge him on progress. Are we improving as a team and results? It's a holistic view but if we are going forward he gets my support.

Trophies are welcome also.

[Craig_H]

I judge him on progress. Are we improving as a team and results? It's a holistic view but if we are going forward he gets my support.

Trophies are welcome also.

I was talking about how the media judge him, not Liverpool fans.