A poll

[Taxi]

With Mourinho's ego, that might be even more of a reason to come to LFC and, as he would see it, outdo Rafa's achievements.

I have a feeling that Mourinho will be the next Man Utd manager, in fact, I think its nailed on. He will not manage LFC because of that.

[Craig_H]

I think it depends which job comes up first.

[MrMichael]

The fact that so many people are still loyal to rafa is touching and is a part of the reason why I think our club is special.

I love rafa. I have admired his persona, his dignity (mostly). I desperately wished he would be the one. However I think we are going backwards. I think the 2nd place finish may end up being viewed as a blip, an over achievement in the face of an ongoing inability to make a real go of winning the league.

The evidence is there for all to see. In the league over the whole of his reign we have mainly played unattractive, negative football. We give lesser teams far too much respect. I am sick of seeing each win as "turning the corner" to be followed by further evidence of decline in the next match.

I hope I am wrong but as I see it Rafa is a goner. I think he has lost the players and he is starting to lose the fans with his stubbornness. I also see evidence in his pitch side mannerisms and interviews that he knows his time is nearly up.

I know this issue divides us all greatly, as can be seen by the poll above but I think it is time for a serious debate about who should replace the boss.

I am deeply sorry to appear disloyal but this utter mediocrity cannot continue.

Much though it saddens me greatly, increasingly I've found myself sharing this (well expressed) view point over the last month or two.

[Pippo]

I always got the feeling from seeing him at the 2005 Semi at Anfield, that he would jump at the chance to be our manager.

Despite a heartbreaking defeat that was in no small part due to the din the supporters created that night – he stayed on the pitch, clapped the fans and took the atmosphere in.

I voted yes, but still stand by Rafa at least 'til the end of NEXT season. The man is allowed a blip.

[Darkon]

The fact that so many people are still loyal to rafa is touching and is a part of the reason why I think our club is special.

I love rafa. I have admired his persona, his dignity (mostly). I desperately wished he would be the one. However I think we are going backwards. I think the 2nd place finish may end up being viewed as a blip, an over achievement in the face of an ongoing inability to make a real go of winning the league.

The evidence is there for all to see. In the league over the whole of his reign we have mainly played unattractive, negative football. We give lesser teams far too much respect. I am sick of seeing each win as "turning the corner" to be followed by further evidence of decline in the next match.

I hope I am wrong but as I see it Rafa is a goner. I think he has lost the players and he is starting to lose the fans with his stubbornness. I also see evidence in his pitch side mannerisms and interviews that he knows his time is nearly up.

I know this issue divides us all greatly, as can be seen by the poll above but I think it is time for a serious debate about who should replace the boss.

I am deeply sorry to appear disloyal but this utter mediocrity cannot continue.

Well said, and I think that is how many of us feel right now and myself included.

Rafa is by far the manager in the last 20 years that I have had such sympathy for and really hoped would make it more than anyone else.

[-V-]

The fact that so many people are still loyal to rafa is touching and is a part of the reason why I think our club is special.

I love rafa. I have admired his persona, his dignity (mostly). I desperately wished he would be the one. However I think we are going backwards. I think the 2nd place finish may end up being viewed as a blip, an over achievement in the face of an ongoing inability to make a real go of winning the league.

The evidence is there for all to see. In the league over the whole of his reign we have mainly played unattractive, negative football. We give lesser teams far too much respect. I am sick of seeing each win as "turning the corner" to be followed by further evidence of decline in the next match.

I hope I am wrong but as I see it Rafa is a goner. I think he has lost the players and he is starting to lose the fans with his stubbornness. I also see evidence in his pitch side mannerisms and interviews that he knows his time is nearly up.

I know this issue divides us all greatly, as can be seen by the poll above but I think it is time for a serious debate about who should replace the boss.

I am deeply sorry to appear disloyal but this utter mediocrity cannot continue.

Well said. Iv had alot of affection for Rafa for a long time but I no longer believe in him as he gets it wrong more these days than he gets right. Its depressing

[Vermilion]

I always got the feeling from seeing him at the 2005 Semi at Anfield, that he would jump at the chance to be our manager.

Despite a heartbreaking defeat that was in no small part due to the din the supporters created that night – he stayed on the pitch, clapped the fans and took the atmosphere in.

I voted yes, but still stand by Rafa at least 'til the end of NEXT season. The man is allowed a blip.

Not according to some, it seems that the years previous to this season, and the backing the fans gave during that time, when his methods were taking us to European finals, semis etc etc, 3rd, 2nd, in the Prem, always moving forward with just a little investment, improving...well, that's all gone out the window with one bad season, NOW his methods are wrong, he's too stubborn to be manager, and they want Maureen, but hey they all still love Rafa.

Rafael Benitez is the right man for Liverpool, did anyone really think we'd have no bad times under a new manager, all things considered, if this season had been his first, then we'd had the Champions league final win, fa cup, european runs, improvement in the Prem, would the doubters still want him gone, it's still just one season in nearly 5.

And his attempt to progress this club has been hampered nearly all the way through, especially compared to our direct rivals which are the clubs he's judged against.

For me, there is no doubt in my mind that Rafa deserves next season, then i'll take stock, taking everything into consideration and decide, but if he's still only getting the present amount of funding, dumb and dumber are still ****ing around in the boardroom nicking transfer funds from the kitty, then i don't really know what people expect. handshake:

[BobTheCharmer]

but hey they all still love Rafa.

I don't. I've always found him too similar to Houllier in his broken english, his negative attitude, his style of play and his bull**** excuses. When he won the CL I forgave him this and thought my original feelings were wrong and I'll always appreciate that success and the FA Cup. But when the trophies dry up and the football is rubbish what are you left with? I honestly think he's a nice man and he does care greatly. I have more admiration for him than I ever did for Houllier. But ultimately neither are/were good enough imo.

The next manager has to have a positive attitude. That doesn't mean gunho but merely able to make changes according to what is happening rather than a predefined scientific approach. Someone that says to the players go out and play rather than worrying about what the other team is doing. Mourinho has the swagger but his football isn't a lot different to what we've had for 10 years imo. I don't think I could stand another 5 year plan that didn't bring us the title and still had us playing defence first style football. It would be too much to bare. Thats why Capello is a 100% NO option for me.

Its up to the club to find the right man.

[Vermilion]

I don't. I've always found him too similar to Houllier in his broken english, his negative attitude, his style of play and his bull**** excuses. When he won the CL I forgave him this and thought my original feelings were wrong and I'll always appreciate that success and the FA Cup. But when the trophies dry up and the football is rubbish what are you left with? I honestly think he's a nice man and he does care greatly. I have more admiration for him than I ever did for Houllier. But ultimately neither are/were good enough imo.

The next manager has to have a positive attitude. That doesn't mean gunho but merely able to make changes according to what is happening rather than a predefined scientific approach. Someone that says to the players go out and play rather than worrying about what the other team is doing. Mourinho has the swagger but his football isn't a lot different to what we've had for 10 years imo. I don't think I could stand another 5 year plan that didn't bring us the title and still had us playing defence first style football. It would be too much to bare. Thats why Capello is a 100% NO option for me.

Its up to the club to find the right man.

It's amazing really, the description of Liverpool you gave there, rubbish football etc, i just don't see it that way, with progression we were superb last season, with proper finanace Rafa can imo give us expansive exciting football.

His methods worked, got us to finals, consistent league finishes, progressive, if you don't have the best players compared to your rivals you do what you need to do, it worked for us so far.

With better players i see absolutely no reason why he wouldn't play great football.

I don't see at as being set in stone, all that's stoipping us playing exciting WINNING football is finanace, it's no use playing great football if you lose all the time because you don't have the correct players to do it, Spurs have done that for years, and finished out of the top four because of it.

[Mike]

Mourihno is a disgraceful cunt of the highest order, and I'm not talking about his managerial talents here. He doesn't have any respect whatsoever for his fellow managers and though I think he uses this to motivate himself, it still is out of order. I wouldn't mind him back in England for another club though, as I think it adds to the spice, but he should be nowhere near Anfield.

Your entitled to your opinion, but i disagree. I think he did respect the other managers and their teams, otherwise he wouldnt play a strong XI week in week out.

I would love it if he was our manager, imo. I like him.

[Kenneth]

See, this place is more interesting with Craig around.

[Craig_H]

It's amazing really, the description of Liverpool you gave there, rubbish football etc, i just don't see it that way, with progression we were superb last season, with proper finanace Rafa can imo give us expansive exciting football.

His methods worked, got us to finals, consistent league finishes, progressive, if you don't have the best players compared to your rivals you do what you need to do, it worked for us so far.

With better players i see absolutely no reason why he wouldn't play great football.

I don't see at as being set in stone, all that's stoipping us playing exciting WINNING football is finanace, it's no use playing great football if you lose all the time because you don't have the correct players to do it, Spurs have done that for years, and finished out of the top four because of it.

So we need better players then.

Do you not think we have better players than Spurs and Villa?

Forget about title challenges, but our squad as it is, is easily better than those two. And i think we have a better side than City too.

The problem is that, whilst we have the 4th or 3rd best team, we're languishing around struggling to finish 4th.

That's not good enough and there's no money excuse there. We've got plenty a good enough side to finish above those sides comfortably.

[EwarWoo]

See, this place is more interesting with Craig around.

May not always agree with him, but he does have genuine passion.

[Vermilion]

So we need better players then.

Do you not think we have better players than Spurs and Villa?

Forget about title challenges, but our squad as it is, is easily better than those two. And i think we have a better side than City too.

The problem is that, whilst we have the 4th or 3rd best team, we're languishing around struggling to finish 4th.

That's not good enough and there's no money excuse there. We've got plenty a good enough side to finish above those sides comfortably.

And we have been doing consistently, along with Challenging in europe at the same time, are you saying that this season has un done all that, and that Rafa should be judged only on this season, because that's what it seems some people are doing.

Spurs so they say play nice passing football, but have won nothing and have never been in the champions league, yet they spend more or less the same as us give or take.

Our performances are weighed against the likes of Chelsea, Utd, Madrid, Barca, etc, we are expected to compete with those sides, and i believe it skews the overall picture and opinion that fans and media alike have, and give.

[Craig_H]

And we have been doing consistently, along with Challenging in europe at the same time, are you saying that this season has un done all that, and that Rafa should be judged only on this season, because that's what it seems people are doing.

With our status and the importance of CL revenues, yes - failure to qualify for it is catastrophic and it should cost him his job.

4th place is a bare minimum, not the extent of our ambitions.

Doing it consistently isnt something to be proud of, or some major achievement.