Does Rafa deserve one last throw of the dice?

[5europeancups]

No one's is going to do better than Rafa. The sooner people realise this the better. This can seriously hinder your health.

I think Rafa has already told the squad he's off to Madrid

[red g]

Come on now there was more then one swallow last season, i just picked the juiciest one.

I know mate......lot of high points that we will always be grateful for

[Liverbobs]

No, too negative and too bloody stubborn!

[Exiled_red]

My view as I've been saying all season is that our true position is somewhere between where we were last season and where we are now. Last season we played above our level, this season (well) below. We've been making progress under Rafa pushing ourselves upward, whilst working on a modest budget, Rafa has to take alot of credit for that.

Our current struggles are due to a lack of funds, relative to other clubs big spending (City and Spurs), other clubs increased spending raises expectations while our zero net spend puts us at a stand still. Whoever the manager is these problems will still exist, and until this is corrected and we will struggle to compete and the longer we continue being behind in terms of transer funds the longer it will take to catch up on the pitch.

[red g]

Ah, ok, I misunderstood you.

I agree with you there to an extent but I do felt that Rafa has got a rough ride based on previous offences.

The season before last and the beginning of last season where too defensive against the smaller/mid table clubs but in fairness he changed our style and rectified that problem albeit too late.

This Season he has been unfortunate because of our defensive frailties earlier in the Season Rafa reverted back to the old trusted defensive formula in order to build up confidence at the back but unfortunately injuries to two key attackers means we have been stuck in that gear since.

To prove my point you just need to look at the starting line up away to Wigan, proof that Rafa knows he needs to go for it more away against weaker sides, unfortunately we just never got started.

An attacking side with a defensive mentality though? no? and if he truly wanted an attacking line up he wouldnt have started Lucas/gerrard he would have put aquiiliani there ( not that he deserves a start but thats a different point haha!!)

you only need to look at stevie gerrard, how many times did he get over the half way line?

[Armchairkopite]

An attacking side with a defensive mentality though? no? and if he truly wanted an attacking line up he wouldnt have started Lucas/gerrard he would have put aquiiliani there ( not that he deserves a start but thats a different point haha!!)

you only need to look at stevie gerrard, how many times did he get over the half way line?

Do you think that Rafa told Gerrard not to cross the half way line??

[Armchairkopite]

My view as I've been saying all season is that our true position is somewhere between where we were last season and where we are now. Last season we played above our level, this season (well) below. We've been making progress under Rafa pushing ourselves upward, whilst working on a modest budget, Rafa has to take alot of credit for that.

Our current struggles are due to a lack of funds, relative to other clubs big spending (City and Spurs), other clubs increased spending raises expectations while our zero net spend puts us at a stand still. Whoever the manager is these problems will still exist, and until this is corrected and we will struggle to compete and the longer we continue being behind in terms of transer funds the longer it will take to catch up on the pitch.

Rafa is an excellent wheeler dealer another part of his make up which is being over looked.

He is great at getting top dollar for players and if someone else comes in you just couldn't rule out a fire sale to raise funds.

The next manager will also be chosen by the cowboys now there's a whole load of potential problems right there.

[Exiled_red]

Rafa is an excellent wheeler dealer another part of his make up which is being over looked.

He is great at getting top dollar for players and if someone else comes in you just couldn't rule out a fire sale to raise funds.

The next manager will also be chosen by the cowboys now there's a whole load of potential problems right there.

The problem is still a lack of funds, no matter how good Rafa is at wheeling and dealing, it is not sustainable for any club at the top end of the table to have a zero net spend. There are always going to be players, who will retire, or move on because their contract is up or close to being up for whom we will get little or no transfer fee; and these players need replacing. As well as making improvements to the squad.

It seems the position we are in now we are having to scratch around to try and sell a player we don't really want to sell, in the hope we can get a cheaper replacement and strengthen another area of the squad. This is always going to be a gamble, and makes things difficult for everyone at the club

[Armchairkopite]

The problem is still a lack of funds, no matter how good Rafa is at wheeling and dealing, it is not sustainable for any club at the top end of the table to have a zero net spend. There are always going to be players, who will retire, or move on because their contract is up or close to being up for whom we will get little or no transfer fee; and these players need replacing.

Absolutely spot on but i think if rafa stays he will probably move on Kuyt and beeni etc.

I think that he will move players on before they hit their 30s, maybe even Gerrard but he is different.
With Purslow acting on behalf of the bank I think a certain amount of funds will be available in the Summer, how much though is anybodys guess.

[red g]

Do you think that Rafa told Gerrard not to cross the half way line??

are you saying that he told him to, but then Gerrard didnt do what he was told?

arguments for both sides

[red g]

Absolutely spot on think if rafa stays he will probably move on Kuyt and beeni etc.
but i I think that he will move players on before they hit their 30s, maybe even Gerrard but he is different.
With Purslow acting on behalf of the bank I think a certain amount of funds will be available in the Summer, how much though is anybodys guess.

Kuyt is everyhting that rafa believes in, no way will he get rid.

[red g]

Rafa is an excellent wheeler dealer another part of his make up which is being over looked.

He is great at getting top dollar for players and if someone else comes in you just couldn't rule out a fire sale to raise funds.

The next manager will also be chosen by the cowboys now there's a whole load of potential problems right there.

[Armchairkopite]

are you saying that he told him to, but then Gerrard didnt do what he was told?

arguments for both sides

No I am asking you 'Do you think that Rafa told Gerrard not to cross the half way line??'

[Vermilion]

Yes...without any hesitataion, if we really wanto build something that is...otherwise we'll go down the road of mediocre managers, changing them on a whim...and then we'll really see a decline in our fortunes.

[red g]

No I am asking you 'Do you think that Rafa told Gerrard not to cross the half way line??'

I think he asked Gerrard to play as a deep lying midfielder.....i dont think he asked him to play offensively

I think he also asked him to keep it tight and also not to be to adventurous

not sure if he told him not to cross the half way line though