Rafa Signs New 5 Year Deal - OFFICIAL

[RedReet]

Well I’m hoping the Gods are now shifting over towards Merseyside, and even if Fulham don’t show, we get a match like our Sao Paulo WCC.

[RedReet]

Surprised Kuyt hasn’t given his obligatory interview / quote about this yet. I swear, if he got royalties for every time his interviews and quotes were used he’d be a billionaire. ‘Newsnow’ should be changed to, ‘Kuyt says…(and a few other stories).’

Not that I mind, I love the man.

[Skillz]

Yes yes, very good. Everyone's a comedian

With all this control over transfers and the like, i'm still clinging to a minor sense of belief that Rafa might wangle us a league title. More fool me?

Let's hope we win 9 out of 9, the mancs only win 7 and we claim the title.

Then i'll take all the egg you can throw onto my face, with relish

Fair play and I'll definitely dish a bit out if we win after about 2 months of solid running amok.

However, you do know you are one of the most public flip floppers on the net

[Craig_H]

I cant find my flip flops, as it goes. Just as the weather's warming up, too

[Kenneth]

I'm made up about this but I'm surprised that no one (or no one I have seen more likely) has raised any questions about the length of the contract. Only a few weeks ago lots of people were questioning Rafa and the wisdom of giving him a new contract. Have all these people left or are two good wins all it needed to convert people?

I would have thought people with genuine concerns about Rafa's suitability would have thought 5 years much too long.

I like the fact that we are planning long term and hope that we now see some joined up thinking and strategic planning from academy to first team. If we get a feeder team in Almeria then I think everything for the long term development of the team on the pitch is in place.

It's a fair comment. Personally, I don't know if Rafa can take us to the next level, but as you say, stability is the key. It makes sense to singnal the intent of providing long term stability. Should stettle the dressing room, persuade players to resign, attract players to the club, make the club more saleable etc etc. Even if it all goes tits up and he gets sacked next summer (i.e. not the coming one) it will cost an extra 10/15 million in compo. A price probably worth paying. And if he walks out, the length of contract makes no difference.