Rafa Benitez Leaves Liverpool

[Fierce]

First off, I will let it be known that the biggest problem at the club is the owners, and it will not move forwards until we get new ones in.

Lastly, I will say hoe else did you expect the board to move on Rafa? Both Rafa and the board have acted in a disgraceful fashion IMO. Both have been using mouth pieces in the media to further themselves and strengthen their position. Long gone are the days of the Liverpool way. I would have been more appreciative of Rafa if he had just kept his mouth shut instead of using his ghost writer Guillem ballague to drag the club through the media week after week. He could quite easily have just spoken to the Echo and let them be aware of any problems. That would have been best advised.

Secondly, I will say that the squad of players Rafa had last season was good enough for 4th place. It wasn't a title challenging squad, but it was not exactly a squad that should have come 7th.

This bit I don't agree with. Our first 11 is/was absolutely good enough to finish top 4. Our squad though? I don't believe it was good enough no. I don't believe we had relevant cover or alternative strategies available to us should they be needed

[Kenneth]

I've backed him for a long while myself, despite the boring football. When everyone on here was calling for his head last year, I said (and I was in the minority) that Rafa deserved until the end of the season due to his title challenge the year previous.

Well I waited until the end and we came 7th with nothing else to show for it. That is why he has to go.

Yet now, all of a sudden people are piping up that they are gutted to see him leave. Why exactly? Not so long back the majority of you wanted him out.

I know what you are saying. I am not sure I fully understand Craig's take on all of this. Llike myself, he believed it was time for Rafa to move on, and now, because of the **** storm surrounding the club, he's changed his mind. Whilest I see where he's coming from, the sorrow on the back of today's announcement does seem a little contradictory. Suppose it's like breaking up with a girl who you still like, even though you wanted it, it's still painful.

Anyway, don't know why I am talking to you about this rather than asking Craig.

Who am I talking to?

Is there anyone there?

[Craig_H]

I've backed him for a long while myself, despite the boring football. When everyone on here was calling for his head last year, I said (and I was in the minority) that Rafa deserved until the end of the season due to his title challenge the year previous.

Well I waited until the end and we came 7th with nothing else to show for it. That is why he has to go.

Yet now, all of a sudden people are piping up that they are gutted to see him leave. Why exactly? Not so long back the majority of you wanted him out.

Because, regardless of the rights or wrongs of his management and decisions, he's a lovely fella who cares about the club and the fans, and worked his arse off, fighting tooth and nail to try and make things better for the club, for US.

He's been shat on and deserves so much better. I'm sad because he's been treated like **** and he's a billion times a bigger and better man than all those in the cowardly boardroom who have done this.

[DannyMan2006]

For a start, they could've taken that £6m they've paid him, and given it to him to strengthen the squad.

They're cunts and wholly responsible for the downfall of this club.

Why would you give a manager who failed in his job £6m extra to spend in the transfer market?

Yes the owners are a nightmare, but that does not give Rafa a reason to fail at his job so badly. I accept a title challenge was not realistic. But if you can tell me that you think our squad last year was only good enough for 7th then I'll be happy to hear it.

You know as well as I do Craig that Liverpool FC should not have finished 7th last year. The owners are the ones who don't give him money, they are the ones plunging the club in debt and they are the ones giving broken promises on stadiums. But they don't coach the players and they don't pick the teams.

[Craig_H]

Agree.

Hearts ruling heads at times.

Maybe that's true. But we're human and i'm not ashamed of being influenced a little by emotion.

[dww]

Interesting enough summary of events but I must take issue with the "Spanish Harry Redknapp" crap.

It implies that Old 'Arry could have turned a profit and taken the club on but he has only ever operated at a much lower level and with limited success. Yes, he had to wheel and deal at West Ham but they never did anything of note. He spent way beyond the club's means at Portsmouth, which may not have been entirely his fault, but he must take at least some of the blame for the parlous state they are in today. He's spent a lot at Tottenham too and they've got their one season in the sun before Man City leap over them, relegating them to fighting for "best of the rest" once again.

The point is I can't see how anyone would have done better in the appalling circumstances at Anfield. A bad season was inevitable - it took longer than might have been expected.

Also worth noting that his wheeling and dealing at both West Ham and then Portsmouth resulted in both teams running up huge debts - the idea he generally gets value for money seems to be a myth to me. He is simply involved in a lot of transfers and has a decent success rate, nothing more.

I find it odd that, given the circumstances, anyone thinks a single bad season is enough to sack a manager. Realistically the history of someone like Moyes at Everton who has had good and bad seasons, flirting with relegation on occasion, seems to be one that is worth looking at. Also Rafa's history at Valencia would indicate that one bad season is not necessarily the indication of consistent decline.

I think that the mindset that a single failure is enough to damn someone is an unfortunate one that doesn't pay long term dividends.

[Big-Red-Ed]

Goodbye rafa. Thanks for the memories. Istanbul, best night ever. Pity our great club couldn't engineer a more dignified way to say goodbye.

[Craig_H]

I know what you are saying. I am not sure I fully understand Craig's take on all of this. Llike myself, he believed it was time for Rafa to move on, and now, because of the **** storm surrounding the club, he's changed his mind. Whilest I see where he's coming from, the sorrow on the back if today's announcement does seem a little contradictory. Suppose it's like breaking up with a girl who you still like, even though you wanted it, it's still painful.

Anyway, don't know why I am talking to you about this rather than asking Craig.

Who am I talking to?

Is there anyone there?

Firstly, i always maintained that i wanted new owners before changing manager.

Secondly, i never wanted him chucked out like this. If i wanted him gone, it would've been with new proper owners at the helm and it would've been done with a lot more class and dignity.

[Craig_H]

Why would you give a manager who failed in his job £6m extra to spend in the transfer market?

Yes the owners are a nightmare, but that does not give Rafa a reason to fail at his job so badly. I accept a title challenge was not realistic. But if you can tell me that you think our squad last year was only good enough for 7th then I'll be happy to hear it.

You know as well as I do Craig that Liverpool FC should not have finished 7th last year. The owners are the ones who don't give him money, they are the ones plunging the club in debt and they are the ones giving broken promises on stadiums. But they don't coach the players and they don't pick the teams.

I'm not remotely suggesting 7th should've happened, but after a £27m net budget over the last three years and now being told we have no money to strengthen the squad when it was badly needed, they suddenly find £6m for a payoff?

No, i'm sorry, but that stinks.

[DannyMan2006]

Because, regardless of the rights or wrongs of his management and decisions, he's a lovely fella who cares about the club and the fans, and worked his arse off, fighting tooth and nail to try and make things better for the club, for US.

He's been shat on and deserves so much better. I'm sad because he's been treated like **** and he's a billion times a bigger and better man than all those in the cowardly boardroom who have done this.

He is a lovely fella. He did work hard. he did have the best interests of the club at heart.

BUT

He wasn't good enough as a manger.

Football is a results business. He didn't get them, pure and simple. He walks a way with £6m of the clubs money after failing in his job. I'll shed no tears for that man.

[Kenneth]

I'm not remotely suggesting 7th should've happened, but after a £27m net budget over the last three years and now being told we have no money to strengthen the squad when it was badly needed, they suddenly find £6m for a payoff?

No, i'm sorry, but that stinks.

Don't worry, the sale of Riera or Yossi might cover it.

[Craig_H]

He is a lovely fella. He did work hard. he did have the best interests of the club at heart.

BUT

He wasn't good enough as a manger.

Football is a results business. He didn't get them, pure and simple. He walks a way with £6m of the clubs money after failing in his job. I'll shed no tears for that man.

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.

[DannyMan2006]

I think that the mindset that a single failure is enough to damn someone is an unfortunate one that doesn't pay long term dividends.

I would agree, if it weren't for the fact that we've not won anything for four years and only ever been in the title race once. I think that pretty much indicates it's not just one bad season.

[Kenneth]

He is a lovely fella. He did work hard. he did have the best interests of the club at heart.

BUT

He wasn't good enough as a manger.

Football is a results business. He didn't get them, pure and simple. He walks a way with £6m of the clubs money after failing in his job. I'll shed no tears for that man.

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.

[captainfog]

I would agree, if it weren't for the fact that we've not won anything for four years and only ever been in the title race once. I think that pretty much indicates it's not just one bad season.