Rafa Benitez Leaves Liverpool

[Craig_H]

End of the day, whatever people thought of whether he should've stayed or not, today's events and those of last night in the media, must surely leave a very bitter taste in the mouth for every one of us.

[DannyMan2006]

There's still a way of treating people.

Whether he was good enough or not, he always gave his all and did his best in good faith. He deserved some kind of respect for that.

Operation's analogy from earlier was about right, it's like splitting up with your woman, you know it's the right thing but you cant just switch off the emotions.

I'm sorry, but how has he been trated badly with regards to being let go? I don't think there is ever a nice way of telling someone they are not good enough, but I am failing to see how the treatment of him during his sacking has been any worse than past dismissals.

The only nice one i remember is where Houllier had the good grace to step down himself ater realising he had not been good enough, this despite finishing 4th and in a champions league place.

[Marineboy]

A sad, sad day. Adios Rafa, muchas gracias amigo.

Has anyone started a Caragher for player manager thread yet?

[5europeancups]

If it's M O'N, i think there could be a Liverpool legend in the making. Steady management, serious passion, good with players. If he can steady us and get us playing to our potential again, see out 6-9 months and be ready for new investment, he could be the next manager to make the step up into the bigtime.

I couldnt agree more.

Martin Oneil would be great for the club.

[DannyMan2006]

I am sure we can all agree that the manner of his departure has been a ****ing mess, and not at all fitting for the man or the club.

The manner of the departure has been this way because the club are skint and could not afford to sack him. So both the Club and Rafa have been releasing info to the press to belittle the other in what in essence became a game of poker.

[el matador]

i cant see the likes of torres and mascherano giving o'neill the respect that he should get as the manager.

I really dont think he has the personality or the power to control such big name players.

Players would sniff this out quickly.

[Shanks]

There's still a way of treating people.

Whether he was good enough or not, he always gave his all and did his best in good faith. He deserved some kind of respect for that.

Let's hope he didn't read any of your post match posts, eh!

[Rich]

Let's see what trophies Rafa's won in 5 years time then to say whether he's a crap manager.

I'd be bloody surprised if Inter Milan haven't been on the phone already.

[el matador]

I am sure we can all agree that the manner of his departure has been a ****ing mess, and not at all fitting for the man or the club.

i am genuinely surprised by the speed of it all.

I wonder what all of a sudden prompted the board to get a move on with this decision.

Was it Inter Milans interest in rafa, the players looking to move on to other clubs quickly, or whether a new buyer has been found and they dont want rafa.

Otherwise why the rush and why now ? If rafa wanted to go to inter then we could have sat and waited and not paid out a penny.

[kingfunk]

Well, I've been been waiting for him to leave for a season and a half now, I don't like his football, I don't rate his transfers, I don't like the way he plays the fans in the media and I think he's crap at man management. I like him as a person and I wanted him to win us the league, but it has become blatantly obvious that he was never going to be able to do that.

Thanks for the memories, Rafa, but to be honest I'm delighted he's gone.

I would agree with most of this, however rather than delighted, I feel a weight has been lifted off our shoulders, Im thankful for 2005 but thats about it. Time to move on, Respect to Rafa but we needed the change.

[Neil Young]

Agree.

Hearts ruling heads at times.

OK, if we're going for unnecessary sniping at other posters who disagree with us, then I'd suggest you and DannyMan are blind to the reality of the situation and have no understanding of how power works but we aren't going in for that so I won't.

[Neil Young]

Maybe, but that bad? I'm not so sure.

Of course it's entirely a matter of conjecture but just the one bad season? And, OK it was fairly stultifying to watch at times and very disappointing in the end but was it that bad in terms of results? We weren't all that far off fourth and with better luck with Torres' injury might well have been in the UEFA cup final against Fulham.

[Craig_H]

I'm sorry, but how has he been trated badly with regards to being let go? I don't think there is ever a nice way of telling someone they are not good enough, but I am failing to see how the treatment of him during his sacking has been any worse than past dismissals.

The only nice one i remember is where Houllier had the good grace to step down himself ater realising he had not been good enough, this despite finishing 4th and in a champions league place.

Leaked to the press, while he's on holiday, with a derisory offer of £3m out of the £16m his contract is worth and having given him a net budget of £27m in the last 3 years?

Yeah, they treated him brilliantly...

[kingfunk]

End of the day, whatever people thought of whether he should've stayed or not, today's events and those of last night in the media, must surely leave a very bitter taste in the mouth for every one of us.

What events exactly? In this day and age it is inevitable that the press get hold of these stories before the "right" time, Happens every day now in every walk of life.

[Broner]

It hasn't really hit me yet that Rafa has left.

I loved the man, ok he had a shocker last season but who didnt at LFC?

I just hope Rafa knows that all us Reds appreciate what he's done for the Club and the moments of sheer joy he's given us.

Is there any chance he'll be on LFC TV at some point in the next week or two in a final interview?