Rafa Benitez Leaves Liverpool

[Reece]

This was in an Independent article, and it casts doubts on the whole players wanting rid of Rafa line, or at least it shows there are two sides to the story.

"The departure of Rafael Benitez as Liverpool manager yesterday raised fears that that an exodus would follow, led by Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Pepe Reina, according to sources inside the club.

The end of Benitez's six-year tenure, which was confirmed at around 3.45pm, has been greeted with dismay by the Liverpool squad and a well-placed source has confirmed that he is unlikely to be the only person leaving Merseyside this summer.

Although the Liverpool dressing room was anything but satisfied with last season's seventh-place finish in the Premier League, talk of dressing-room unrest is relatively wide of the mark. Benitez may have maintained a professional rather than paternal relationship with his players, but he was widely liked by his squad.

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The loss of any of the four names mentioned above would be little short of catastrophic for Liverpool, whose chronic lack of strength in depth was a leading cause of last season's failings and Benitez's subsequent downfall.

Although Reina has only recently signed a six-year contract, he is thought to be furious at the developments, while Mascherano and Torres are equally concerned, not just about Benitez's exit but also by the lack of funds available to strengthen the squad. It is the combination of those two issues that is thought to lie behind the belief that they could be on their way."

[Shaggy]

Fair play Craig, I think there's absolutely nothing wrong or contradictory about your stance.

[Kenneth]

I think it wll depend on who we line up as a replacement and I also think the owners will find some money to spend from somewhere (money that wouldn't have been available to Rafa.) No point in all this speculation at the moment really.

[oldschool]

One season out of six - nice selection to support your arguement.

And for the two seasons since then?

The quote was for the past few as in 3 season's. 3 Season's ago we spent heavily.

[Lecter]

Of course I do, but:

TRANSFERS: 2007/08
Total bought: £70.7m
Total sold: £36.7m
Net spend: £34m

Maybe had he won the league in 07/08 he would have had an increased transfer fund, maybe he was given 2 season's worth of transfer funds in 07/08.

Which is again all well and good but what happened last year when he had to trade at a profit??

Was he given more than 3 years money in one season?

No matter how you dress it up even including the above spend Rafa has spent circa £27 million NETT over 3 years

Thats an investment of £9 million per annum

Again less than he was receiving under the chairmanship of David Moores and even more significantly the market has dramatically increased in value over the last few seasons. So at a time when inflationary market forces should advocate an increase in the budget hes actually faced a decreasing budget

You also have to remember we finished 2nd (two seasons ago) and at a time when many expected us to push on and actually invest money in the playing squad the owners did exactly the opposite and Rafa had to trade at a profit

In my mind people can argue about players hes signed and tactics, substitutions etc.. but anyone claiming hes been financially backed should frankly take a long hard look at the figures because they certainly do not show that

[oldschool]

See, bet he attends creationist argument classes.

Maybe you should have paid attention to the original post.

[Lecter]

Is it realistic for Real to expect their manager to win the CL and League every year? What are your expectation's for LFC?

Rafa inherited a squad, Rafa didn't see the squad as up to it and wanted to 'rebuild' it. He had 6 years to do so, he was given funds, he must have known that we weren't going to spend Chelsea type money thus had to work within the financial limitations, despite his constant cry's for more money. Do you think the squad is now better or worse than when Houllier left? I would say maybe slightly better, but not 6 years and almost 80M better.

Rafa always had funds made available bar last season, and the minimum he would need to achieve every season I am sure is 4th to survive.

Just remind me how much Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema & Alonso cost Real?

Good god you really are doing a good job of supporting everyone elses argument

[Kenneth]

Anyway, there's still hot chicks in short skirts outside

[CJ]

Maybe you should have paid attention to the original post.

why you have paid no attention to any facts that show he hasnt been backed enough to meet our expectations.

[oldschool]

Just remind me how much Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema & Alonso cost Real?

Good god you really are doing a good job of supporting everyone elses argument

And that has helped the previous Managers how? A lot of them have failed. A lot of them only survive a couple of season's, so I really don't know how it helps you. RM have spent heavily still sack Managers quickly, their expectation is you win everything or you go, obviously RM budget isn't realistic.

[Kenneth]

why you have paid no attention to any facts that show he hasnt been backed enough to meet our expectations.

Trying not to get involved, but he has. I don't expect a top 2 finish, never have. I expected a 4th place finish, and he has had enough backing, and enough quality to achieve that. Which, to be fair, he has done with the exception of last season.

Now you can say 7th was a blip, or it was a sign of a manager losing his grip. I tend to think it was more the latter.

[rob_247]

Is it realistic for Real to expect their manager to win the CL and League every year? What are your expectation's for LFC?

Rafa inherited a squad, Rafa didn't see the squad as up to it and wanted to 'rebuild' it. He had 6 years to do so, he was given funds, he must have known that we weren't going to spend Chelsea type money thus had to work within the financial limitations, despite his constant cry's for more money. Do you think the squad is now better or worse than when Houllier left? I would say maybe slightly better, but not 6 years and almost 80M better.

Rafa always had funds made available bar last season, and the minimum he would need to achieve every season I am sure is 4th to survive.

I think the team is a fair old improvement on what Rafa inherited and I think that's been shown by achieving 2 records points finishes in the league.

And as for 80M better, well in the current market that covers Torres and possibly leaves you a little change for another player.

Of course Rafa knew he wasn't going to have 'Chelsea type money' to spend but I don't suspect for a moment when he took the job that he would end up having a make a profit at any point in the transfer window to service debt put on the club by its owners.

And as for comparing the expectation with Real??!?! If Rafa had spent the simply obscene amount Real invested last summer then, yes, I would have expected him to have been winning the league. But, and I realise this is a minor point, Liverpools net spend last summer amounted to £0. Nothing, nadda, zilch.

I think a realistic expectation for Liverpool this season just gone was a top 4 finish but there are extenuating circumstances surrounding our club that meant that didn't happen. Do I think that's acceptable? No. Do I lay the blame at the managers feet? Sure, some of it but certainly not all of it.

Given Rafa's record since his arrival and especially given the situation the club is in I, personally, would have given him another season. I can understand the view that finishing 7th cost him his job but I don't believe that was the real reason he went. More politics than football there. More importantly I abhor the manner in which it was done.

[CJ]

operation

that blip or loosing of grip is after having to trade at a profit in the transfer market

there may be a link there.

oh and all the trouble with the owners.

[dww]

And that has helped the previous Managers how? A lot of them have failed. A lot of them only survive a couple of season's, so I really don't know how it helps you. RM have spent heavily still sack Managers quickly, there is expectation is you win everything or you go, obviously RM budget isn't realistic.

With a nett result of winning what of late?

Your argument appears to be we should keep sacking managers because Real do. Despite a lack of success even with transfer funds we can only dream of having.

[Havors]

so the rumours doing the rounds are that we have new owners lined up and that they wanted Rafa out but wanted G&H to do it so they didnt alienate the fans as soon as they took over. Not sure if anyone has already posted this but just thought id let people know.

Aparently its coming from the guy who broke the story of rafa going. Makes sense in a way too, why would owners on their way out offload the manager and pay him £6m if they selling up anyway?

Whos knows if its true but thats the rumour doing the rounds at the moment.