Remember when God re-signed

[CJ]

Rafa has weaknesses as do every manager.

I dont agree with ultra defensive football. I might have agreed when rafa took over, but to me roys football is ultra defensive. I can see a clear difference in approach. We are in many ways comparing when Rafas system wasnt working as he would like to Roys functioning in many more ways to his satisfaction. Not saying that roy is happy with results but his sit off and let them attack really is awful.

With Rafa i could see he had a plan and i think of the way valencia crushed people and how we played at our best under rafa.

i remember debates about how he wanted every team to play a certain way and many said we didnt have the players to play that way.

his weaknesses are well documented, some overplayed some underplayed but every one has a slightly different take on him.

I dont think he didnt get the prem, i think it took him time but he understood Europe and with the resources available he did on many occasion prioritise Europse. I wonder what would have happened if he didnt? would he have been a flop in Europe? would he have been castigated for that.

I think many that want him back do so for sentimental reasons and some just to see what would happen with backing. I also think that he is more of a known quantity than some of the other names mentioned. So we dont really know what we get with Klopp or Boas but we do with Rafa. However all mentioned will bring certain strengths and weaknesses. I think when the owners have set the direction and philosophy (obviously with input from people) then we can start to build again within that.

In my heart i would love him back but in my head i am not sure its the best thing to do.

I think if he doesnt come back by the summer then thats it, move on.

I would be interested in some of the names given on here ie the german and portugese fella.

In my opinion and that is all it is in order to move on we need to become less sentimental that includes manager, players, stadium etc The best clubs move forward not look back. Yes we have a good history but remember when it was being built we didnt look back we looked forwards, you can reference the past but always whats best for the future.

anyway those are my random thoughts.

[Fernandinho]

Marsh in good post shocker!

[G]

I disagree with your view on Rafa , but I completely agree with the bit in bold. The whole football forum has become completely unenjoyable, filled with the same small group of posters going round and round in circles with tired, pedantic debates and attacking posters personally rather than attempting to entertain reasoned debates.

Too many people who think this place is their own personal playground where they can bore the **** out of everyone else.

Ahhhh that feels better.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Ban them

[G]

There wasn't a single season with Rafa in charge that didn't exasperate me as far as Rafa's attitude towards the Premiership was concerned, and yes, I include the 2008-2009 season in that. We may have been the most feared in Europe, but Rafa never seemed to understand the Premiership and often seemed to sacrifice it in favour of European glory. He'd have his team going all out against the 'big 3' but then stupidly underestimate the likes of Stoke, Middlesborough, Crystal ****ing Palace et al. I stated this repeatedly during last season when people like yourself endlessly repeated the tired old "one bad season" argument. We did not have a single consistent season under Rafa, and even the 2008-2009 season was one characterised by several ultra-defensive displays where the team was set up to not lose rather than to actually win. The last 3 months of that season were great, no one can deny that, but Rafa didn't grasp that to win the title you have to go for the jugular of every single game.

As for H&G, can you actually explain how their off-field behaviour determined the minutiae of Rafa's on-field match tactics? Every time Rafa, for instance, took off a striker when we were desperately needed to get a goal - was that H&G's fault? The constant playing of underperforming players and resting of in-form players - was that their fault? Anyone who threatened to score a hat trick getting taken off for a defensive player - was that their fault? The alienation of Alonso and consequent loss of this crucial player - was that their fault? The 'replacement' of Alonso with a crocked Italian for £20M - was that their fault?

I brought up Sammy Lee because so many people act as if referring to Rafa as red through and through wins them the argument. Stop pretending to think I intended otherwise.

Brilliant Post mate.

I Thought Rafa was treated badly in the manner that he left but I absolutely felt it was the right decision and in no way should he come back for all of the reasons you mention here.

People have short memories,others then try to remind us of the good times while glossing over the equally important stuff that did our heads in like you mentioned here.

Rafa is a good manager,but he needs a break from the game and a fresh start elsewhere,as do LFC.I'm living for the day Roy gets sacked and we get his replacement,even more so now than previously so I no longer have to see this "Rafa must come back" stuff.

[CJ]

Marsh in good post shocker!

well after 7600 i am due one.

[Fernandinho]

.

[redstaralex]

Ha.

Actually, if people do take notice of what I said, then it may help encourage more people to begin/resume posting in the football forum, so yeah - a bit of marketing if you like.

I'm one of the ones that doesn't tend to post in the footy sections any more, roy has sucked all the football enthusiasm out of me, I can't even be bothered watching MOTD any more

I'm not taking sides on the Rafa back campaign, as although I would like him, there's some face saving from the club there, like Rafa not paying madrid daft amounts to get Owen back, unfortunately there's only one manager who I think could get us back to where we want to be (I refuse to say belong) and I doubt after madrid we would be his top priority

[Neil Young]

It seems to me that part of the problem is we all hate the present so much and the future seems to be on hold until the summer so it's easy to dwell on the past.

The bandwagon about Benitez coming back shuddered to a halt a few days ago for me. Now he's available, there's nothing new to say, no arguments that haven't been made. It's just a question of waiting for any developments, which include the idea being quashed. (Personally I don't think there's any chance of him coming back).

But, like power, the internet abhors a vacuum so the space gets filled with all sorts of wishful thinking, wild speculations, obsessive bickering and demented point scoring, all rooted in our frustration and dissatisfaction with the current impasse at the club.

A lot of people need to give it all a rest.

[little dave hedgehog]

It seems to me that part of the problem is we all hate the present so much and the future seems to be on hold until the summer so it's easy to dwell on the past.

The bandwagon about Benitez coming back shuddered to a halt a few days ago for me. Now he's available, there's nothing new to say, no arguments that haven't been made. It's just a question of waiting for any developments, which include the idea being quashed. (Personally I don't think there's any chance of him coming back).

But, like power, the internet abhors a vacuum so the space gets filled with all sorts of wishful thinking, wild speculations, obsessive bickering and demented point scoring, all rooted in our frustration and dissatisfaction with the current impasse at the club.

A lot of people need to give it all a rest.