The New Manager Thread

[Rich]

His interview afterwards basically confirmed Real Madrid and then winning the Champions League with an English club.

[Mattshark]

How about the away form Matt?

How did you find that?

Very disappointing, but I personally feel that is a confidence issue and can be resolved.

[anfieldanfield]

His interview afterwards basically confirmed Real Madrid and then winning the Champions League with an English club.

Yep. And, let's be honest, he wont be at Madrid long. Three years absolute maximum I would say.

[Rich]

I also thought he came across fairly humble too. He's bascially "rent-a-winner" what ever way you look at it.

[Craig_H]

He will come to our club one day. His ego wont be able to resist it.

Two or three years at Madrid to win the league and Champions League and then....

And then he'll go to Old Trafford. Wait and see.

This was our best chance of getting him. Once he's done Man Utd, he wont come to us.

[Craig_H]

Very disappointing, but I personally feel that is a confidence issue and can be resolved.

Well let's hope so. If rafa COULD have resolved it though, i'd wonder why he didnt. He didnt choose not to, after all.

[BigChief]

Actually the Charity Shield and the European Super Cup are still trophies, so it is 4.

Why is he not? Because you say so? You who also think he only just deserved another chance for not winning the league last season?

We beat Stoke 4-0 at Anfield this season btw.

If we're counting the Super Cup, then dubious. If we're counting the Charity Shield then we've finally found our level under Rafa.

As for why, because I say so argument. My daughter is bright and trying for a tough secondary school. But I know in my head she is not 'that' bright unfortunately and I don't have the heart to see her fail. But I love her all the same. That's how I see Rafa.

[kris90210]

Well let's hope so. If rafa COULD have resolved it though, i'd wonder why he didnt. He didnt choose not to, after all.

I think we struggled to find momentum at the beginning of the season. A bit of bad luck, injuries, and loss of form to key players and we were out of the title race before we knew what had hit us. From very early on you could sense a lot of heads dropped.

Hopefully a few decent signings and the optimism a new season brings, coupled with reduced pressure, should mean a better season next year - that's if we keep our best players and sort out our weaknesses

[Guest]

As for why, because I say so argument. My daughter is bright and trying for a tough secondary school. But I know in my head she is not 'that' bright unfortunately and I don't have the heart to see her fail. But I love her all the same. That's how I see Rafa.

Sorry mate, I mean no disrespect but that's a load of bollocks. You've got a confidence issue.

[Craig_H]

I think we struggled to find momentum at the beginning of the season. A bit of bad luck, injuries, and loss of form to key players and we were out of the title race before we knew what had hit us. From very early on you could sense a lot of heads dropped.

Hopefully a few decent signings and the optimism a new season brings, coupled with reduced pressure, should mean a better season next year - that's if we keep our best players and sort out our weaknesses

I find it worrying if heads dropped early and the manager was unable to raise them again throughout the rest of the campaign. Very worrying indeed.

Just to clarify, because your post doesnt really say so - do you actually put any blame on the manager? Just curious.

[Guest]

I find it worrying if heads dropped early and the manager was unable to raise them again throughout the rest of the campaign. Very worrying indeed.

Just to clarify, because your post doesnt really say so - do you actually put any blame on the manager? Just curious.

Was that aimed at me?

I'll answer you mate. Yes, I DO think he's partly to blame, for example the confidence issue. Rafa is simply not that kind of manager but I'm sure he's learning and trying to change. It may be a bit too little too late, but I've seen signs that he's trying to improve. He's always given the thumbs up to every player being substituted, but he's not the one who will behave like a friend, like a lover.

I don't think he's stupid Craig, so I hope he improves in that regard. Morale may have been bad but that's down to a poor start to the season and our team performing way under our expected level. We were too far behind early on and they never believed that they could overturn that deficit, last year's spirit was gone. Rafa has failed in that aspect but I don't think it's enough to state that he isn't good enough for this club.

[red g]

Was that aimed at me?

I'll answer you mate. Yes, I DO think he's partly to blame, for example the confidence issue. Rafa is simply not that kind of manager but I'm sure he's learning and trying to change. It may be a bit too little too late, but I've seen signs that he's trying to improve. He's always given the thumbs up to every player being substituted, but he's not the one who will behave like a friend, like a lover.

I don't think he's stupid Craig, so I hope he improves in that regard. Morale may have been bad but that's down to a poor start to the season and our team performing way under our expected level. We were too far behind early on and they never believed that they could overturn that deficit, last year's spirit was gone. Rafa has failed in that aspect but I don't think it's enough to state that he isn't good enough for this club.

give him a 10 year contract

[Guest]

give him a 10 year contract

[Maxiedge]

The problems with Liverpool this season were quite simple.

The player to replace Alonso was injured for ages.

Our left back was a liability at times and would have struggled to make a team in the bottom three of the league such was his confidence.

And Fernando Torres was injured too often and his replacement David N'Gog was not good enough.

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In all fairness this team and squad isn't a million miles away from being a top side again. It's just all the above issues led to lost confidence and poor results.

Agree with all of that.

Can I just elaborate a bit on that and say the more advanced central midfield position vacated by Alonso is a pivotal position and if you have a player playing there that would not get into the top 6 respectively then you end up 7th which is what happened.

[nebbers]

What about Louis Van Gaal? He's done well with Bayern and plays some good football.