The New Manager Thread

[Guest]

RAfa does get top value for players....definitely.

But think you are quite wrong there, our slump has been all season Kuyt had a great January and been piss poor for the rest of it!! He certainly should have been dropped sooner that wednesday

He still scored important goals and goals are what football is mate and you can never underestimate the work he puts on for the team, tactically and defensively, he is just immense in that area, he's a class of his own. I'm sure Rafa would have put Babel ahead of him if he'd shown his real potential and it wasn't for the lack of trying and persevering with him. Sad fact is that we can't afford to lose him if the money we'll be getting off his sale ain't going to be used for squad rebuilding.

That's how bad things are at the moment and most of it aren't Rafa's failings.

[Vermilion]

Ok, Fredo, question for you. What would it take for you to think it actually was time for Rafa to go?

Genuinely interested.

That's a hard question, because each season is different, and each season would need to be taken in context.

There are so many factors, but i imagine it would be something like...if Fredo felt Rafa had been backed in the transfer market consistently, relative to the sides we are expected to challenge against obviously, and during that time Rafa consistently failed to make the most of what was available.

Up to now, barring one season, i think he's done fine..especially in europe..our results in the Champions league under this manger have been nothing short of miraculous, especially when you consider teams like Inter haven't made the quarters for years.

This season is bad, very bad, but it's by no means indicative of Rafa's results as lfc manager.

[badpiggy]

I'd give him another year but it will have to be under better financial conditions. I'm pretty sure he'll go if he can't see things changing from that point but that may not be the case as he's utterly stubborn and proud.

No manager is going to perform miracles under the same financial constraints, not even god, sorry Moanhihno.



His first two years were building years so you can remove that from the equation. 3rd, 4th and 5th we've been steadily improving in the league but still lacked the extra resources (compared to clubs who invested a lot more than us) which would have made us champions, especially last year. Football is not a science so it's best to analyse things with a bit of perspective and try to plot a bigger picture. But we're too impatient as fans.

his first 2 years was the last time we won anything. although i suppose that does fit your theory that winning stuff doesn't prove anything.

listen pete, i'll level with you. i think your ideas are complicated enough to keep people arguing as you endlessly jump from one point to another (and this is entertaining etc) but they certainly do not add up coherent single idea.

[Neil Young]

Ok, Fredo, question for you. What would it take for you to think it actually was time for Rafa to go?

Genuinely interested.

That's a hard question, because each season is different, and each season would need to be taken in context.

There are so many factors, but i imagine it would be something like...if Fredo felt Rafa had been backed in the transfer market consistently, relative to the sides we are expected to challenge against obviously, and during that time Rafa consistently failed to make the most of what was available.

Up to now, barring one season, i think he's done fine..especially in europe..our results in the Champions league under this manger have been nothing short of miraculous, especially when you consider teams like Inter haven't made the quarters for years.

This season is bad, very bad, but it's by no means indicative of Rafa's results as lfc manager.

PeteBest= fredo = Vermillion



Is anyone here apart from me not fredo? I'm now genuinely worried this whole site is actually the cat's idea of an elaborate practical joke.

[Mattshark]

Yes but its clear since the turn of the year he needed a break, and happy with masher and also happy wiht Lucas just not happy with Lucas/Masher

Disagree, when Torres was out Kuyt got all our crucial goals noting the 2 v spurs and the 1 v Everton especially.

[Mattshark]

So because we lost to Barnsley and their manager has a 1-0 record against rafa he is the better manager

Mourinho IS better than rafa, just face the facts fredo, your wrong, but its ok, you can still show your face in other threads any time

Mike, that is your opinion, not a fact. You can't seriously compare the 2 situations. Chelsea and Inter have far bigger budgets than Rafa has had and the Italian league is not actually that challenging.
Where as Rafa has had us and Valencia and had far harder challenges.

So, learn some terminology please.

[Guest]

PeteBest= fredo = Vermillion



Is anyone here apart from me not fredo? I'm now genuinely worried this whole site is actually the cat's idea of an elaborate practical joke.

We're all the same poster, including you.

[MrMichael]

I'd give him another year but it will have to be under better financial conditions. I'm pretty sure he'll go if he can't see things changing from that point but that may not be the case as he's utterly stubborn and proud.

No manager is going to perform miracles under the same financial constraints, not even god, sorry Moanhihno.

I tend to agree about other managers and miracles. However, given that financial conditions are unlikely to get better, in fact may possibly get worse, does that alter your answer?

See I'm really torn, I guess you could say I'm pretty ambivalent whether he stays or goes. Do you think Rafa has got the best out of what's been at his disposal this year? Personally I don't. Mitigating circumstances absolutely, but our form as well as our results has been consistently poor. Then I start to wonder why that is. Rafa's had worse squads in his time at Anfield, what's different now? Because it does feel like something is, don't you think?

The problem seems to me that we don't have the belief anymore, a real sense of purpose and direction. Body language looks wrong, the atmosphere seems wrong, the whole thing just feels...... off. The question for me is whether that can change, and if it doesn't, how long its allowed to go on for. And how long we avoid the conclusion that another manager, almost any other decent manager, may not perform miracles, but might bring positive change to the team which the incumbent is unable to.

[Vermilion]

I'm quite surprised that one bad season, (especailly after the majority of us wanted Rafa to get control of things behind the scenes not so long ago, and we're only just starting that plan), is enough to convince some fans it's time for a new manager, that quite frankly amazes me, and after a season where we saw him lead the side to second, finshing ahead of those money bags Chavs.

And another thing, if Arsenal had their bad season where they pipped Spurs last game now, they wouldn't have got 4th imo, and some Arsenal fans would like some on here, have been calling for Wengers head, mad eh.

[Neil Young]

I'm quite surprised that one bad season, (especailly after the majority of us wanted Rafa to get control of things behind the scenes not so long ago, and we're only just starting that plan), is enough to convince some fans it's time for a new manager, that quite frankly amazes me, and after a season where we saw him lead the side to second, finshing ahead of those money bags Chavs.

And another thing, if Arsenal had their bad season where they pipped Spurs last game now, they wouldn't have got 4th imo, and some Arsenal fans would, like some on here, have been calling for Wengers head, mad eh.

I seem to recall some Arsenal fans calling for him to go last season.

[Guest]

The problem seems to me that we don't have the belief anymore, a real sense of purpose and direction. Body language looks wrong, the atmosphere seems wrong, the whole thing just feels...... off. The question for me is whether that can change, and if it doesn't, how long its allowed to go on for. And how long we avoid the conclusion that another manager, almost any other decent manager, may not perform miracles, but might bring positive change to the team which the incumbent is unable to.

In the short term a change of manager would certainly be beneficial, just for the sake of changing the entire dynamics but I doubt it will solve our problems long term, I hinted at that in a previous post. The air of resignation and negativity, especially from a couple of our more important players is very worrying but mate, it's up to them to change things, it's not just down to the manager. The belief that everything is down to a manager those days is past its sell by date. Players are paid far more than any manager, so that even changes the whole equation IMO.

[MrMichael]

PeteBest= fredo = Vermillion



Is anyone here apart from me not fredo? I'm now genuinely worried this whole site is actually the cat's idea of an elaborate practical joke.

So does this mean Shaggy is Fredo or Fredo is Shaggy?

[Guest]

I seem to recall some Arsenal fans calling for him to go last season.

Stop sitting on the fence Doggie, join the cat's revolution.

[Vermilion]

I seem to recall some Arsenal fans calling for him to go last season.

Yep, every club has them.

[Neil Young]

So does this mean Shaggy is Fredo or Fredo is Shaggy?

It is confusing.

That's the quintessential chicken/egg question for the Internet Age.