Poll - Should Rafa stay?

[Skillz]

For just how long exactly?

Will you be happy to keep him, if we win nothing this season and
finish 5th/6th?

I chose stay because he has been given what he wants and is 6 months into his project. The reason he got that contract was due to a long negotiation where we as a club have decided we are going to back him to build the club up under tight restrictions.

He has agreed to those restraints but still backs himself and his vision. I believe the squad still believes in him and I'll be ****ed if I am ready to give up on it after 6 months.

[Mattshark]

Rafa out - the patience has run for me - the squad he has assembled is not deep enough, and his team selections are still ridiculous. Enough's enough.

You don't have any patience then if you give up after half a bad season.

Short termism is not the Liverpool way.

[Craig_H]

I chose stay because he has been given what he wants and is 6 months into his project. The reason he got that contract was due to a long negotiation where we as a club have decided we are going to back him to build the club up under tight restrictions.

He has agreed to those restraints but still backs himself and his vision. I believe the squad still believes in him and I'll be ****ed if I am ready to give up on it after 6 months.

Sorry mate, but this doesnt wash.

I dont want him gone, but he's in his sixth SEASON. None of this 'six months' malarky.

[dww]

Sorry mate, but this doesnt wash.

I dont want him gone, but he's in his sixth SEASON. None of this 'six months' malarky.

Hmmm. I can see his point in a couple of ways.

Firstly the first team. It is pretty clear that last summer Rafa decided (partly due to being forced into it by Alonso) to alter the way we play. It hasn't been a huge success but change is often painful. I think the fact that people expect us to always pick up from where we finished last season is unfair. We don't have the money or depth of squad provided by young players who understand the team that allow that.

Secondly the development on the youth/reserve setup clearly took a huge step last summer and is key to our long term success.

That said the judgement of whether Rafa should stay or go should obviously weigh the achievements/development made since Rafa took over.

[Craig_H]

I dont see his point at all, if he's implying that Rafa's six months into 'his project'. I'm not making a point that he should be gone, but six months? Come off it.

He's been at the club for over 5 years and during the majority of that time, he's worked under pretty similar 'constraints' as most other top managers. Who else has the kind of control that Rafa does, in their job? It's not the norm.

To say he's 6 months into it, sounds like the most laughable bending of circumstance yet.

If people actually believe this, then Rafa's a better escapologist than Houdini.

[Redspin]

I dont see his point at all, if he's implying that Rafa's six months into 'his project'. I'm not making a point that he should be gone, but six months? Come off it.

He's been at the club for over 5 years and during the majority of that time, he's worked under pretty similar 'constraints' as most other top managers. Who else has the kind of control that Rafa does, in their job? It's not the norm.

To say he's 6 months into it, sounds like the most laughable bending of circumstance yet.

If people actually believe this, then Rafa's a better escapologist than Houdini.

Didn't take you long to revert to type, did it? I'm waiting for your anti-Lucas rants to recommence too

[Craig_H]

Didn't take you long to revert to type, did it? I'm waiting for your anti-Lucas rants to recommence too

Rather than posting antagonistic, confrontational nonsense, actually substantiate your opinions. Nobody can ever say anything contrary to you, without you responding in such an antagonistic manner.

I'm not sure what 'type' is required, to say that Rafa's been in the job for over 5 years. If you think he's 6 months into his reign, then that's your lookout.

[Reece]

Didn't take you long to revert to type, did it? I'm waiting for your anti-Lucas rants to recommence too

Rather than posting antagonistic, confrontational nonsense, actually substantiate your opinions. Nobody can ever say anything contrary to you, without you responding in such an antagonistic manner.

I'm not sure what 'type' is required, to say that Rafa's been in the job for over 5 years. If you think he's 6 months into his reign, then that's your lookout.

Let's try and keep the personal stuff out of it eh Redspin and just concentrate on the points at hand

[Skillz]

Rafa did well, not great but very well in his first 5 years IMO but the club had to decide if we went forward with him as he obviously was demanding more control. It was a big decision for the club and one that took near on 4 months to resolve.

Rightly (or wrongly) Rafa won and got what he wanted in a long term contract and a lot more control. I personally think this is the best way forward for us a club and therefore I am a long way from saying 'Rafa out' despite a **** year so far.

Hope that helps explain my position.

[Craig_H]

Rafa did well, not great but very well in his first 5 years IMO but the club had to decide if we went forward with him as he obviously was demanding more control. It was a big decision for the club and one that took near on 4 months to resolve.

Rightly (or wrongly) Rafa won and got what he wanted in a long term contract and a lot more control. I personally think this is the best way forward for us a club and therefore I am a long way from saying 'Rafa out' despite a **** year so far.

Hope that helps explain my position.

I've no issue with that viewpoint at all. You seemed to be implying that since he's had this new control, it's a completely new start and his first 5 years (good and bad) shouldnt be taken into account when discussing whether he's right for the job or not. That's what i didnt agree with. If you werent implying that, then it's immaterial either way.

[Skillz]

I've no issue with that viewpoint at all. You seemed to be implying that since he's had this new control, it's a completely new start and his first 5 years (good and bad) shouldnt be taken into account when discussing whether he's right for the job or not. That's what i didnt agree with. If you werent implying that, then it's immaterial either way.

I think the club have invested heavily in Rafa's vision and backed it with a long term contract, most likely on agreement that things will be tight while they (G&H) try to get the stadium started. Infact I think things could actually happen on this front before the end of season, not necessarily a spade in the ground but finance for it to be finalised.

If that does happen I think having a stable management is most desirable and will take a level of understanding by both the board and supporters, much like Arsenal with Wenger whilst the Emirates was built.

[-V-]

Same old ****e. Same ****ing mistakes Rafa. He'll never learn. He wins a couple of games and suddenly thinks his mistakes have been rectified. ****ing awful decision making again.

Just leave please, give us a chance to get a Manager who can pick a team that will attack for 90 minutes and create chances

[JohnDoe]

If we don't finish 4th, I still fully expect him to resign and if he doesn't then he's a cunt and I'll lose all respect for him.

[-V-]

He won't. He's too stubborn and the problem is that our fans are so fickle they see us get a couple of wins and suddenly think he's cracked it. We've again dropped 2 massive points by once again making the same stupid ****ing mistakes. Boring, crap, boring ****e football.

What the **** is the use of playing 2 defensive mids against ****ing WOLVES!!!!! ARRRRGHHHHHHHHHHH

[kingfunk]

He won't. He's too stubborn and the problem is that our fans are so fickle they see us get a couple of wins and suddenly think he's cracked it. We've again dropped 2 massive points by once again making the same stupid ****ing mistakes. Boring, crap, boring ****e football.

What the **** is the use of playing 2 defensive mids against ****ing WOLVES!!!!! ARRRRGHHHHHHHHHHH

100% correct.