Rafa Benitez - the kingmaker

[Tee]

Arsenal may be the sole exception to the general rule. But even they have been pretty awful to watch some seasons. The season we finished second they were particularly turgid IIRC.

I don't think things are as simple as you make out. It is perfectly reasonable to equate quality with winning, however about the better quality of football if we assume you mean more entertaining then I think that is far from true. I'm sure you remember the particularly galling period where United won a string of games 1-0 playing boring, unattractive, largely attritional football imaginable (was that also the season we finished second, seems likely to me).

Last season was odd. We played some nice stuff but without control or clinical finishing - the worst combination in terms of getting results. People are more down on our style of play under Dalglish than is really true IMO because of the results.

Honestly do not remember them ever being poor to watch. Just my opinion and I may be wrong, but they tend to (more often than not) be exciting to watch or be involved in exciting games.

I suppose when I say better quality of football I mean I expect a high level technically and with a good tempo, which naturally leads to a good fluid passing game. May not always win games but if the style is there and better players added, it will do IMO.

[Lee]

And this is why Rodgers doesn't stand a chance with our fanbase.

This whole thing has once again piled the pressure on Rodgers, just like people saying little things about hoping Rafa would return in a few years when Kenny Dalglish was here, I mean, Kenny Dalglish!

Just goes to show any manager doesn't stand a chance until Rafa's back in the hotseat.

Yeah I sort of agree.

I really wanted Rafa back in the summer and reading these articles reminds me again of how good things were under him.

However, Rodgers is our manager now. He's a young guy with a vision and he did very well at Swansea. I'd like Rafa back in the future but (barring a disaster), we need to give Rodgers at least three seasons to do his stuff.

We need to forget about Rafa now and back our current manager.

Still a legend.

[dww]

Take Arsenal for example, even if they lose, if I was a fan I would at least enjoy watching a team play a fluid game where players can interchange passes quickly and with techincal competence. Something we are yet to do consistently.

So, whilst I agree we can over estimate other teams, in general the better teams play consistently better quality of football, in terms of results and also watchability, than us. IMO.

Arsenal may be the sole exception to the general rule. But even they have been pretty awful to watch some seasons. The season we finished second they were particularly turgid IIRC.

I don't think things are as simple as you make out. It is perfectly reasonable to equate quality with winning, however about the better quality of football if we assume you mean more entertaining then I think that is far from true. I'm sure you remember the particularly galling period where United won a string of games 1-0 playing boring, unattractive, largely attritional football imaginable (was that also the season we finished second, seems likely to me).

Last season was odd. We played some nice stuff but without control or clinical finishing - the worst combination in terms of getting results. People are more down on our style of play under Dalglish than is really true IMO because of the results.

[kingfunk]

IMHO The previous owners AND Rafa HAD to go when they did, both became toxic to the club. Therefore BR has my full support. Fans are fickle and forget Rafa's bad side, imaging the war RB would have played out transfer deadline day in the press? More negativity, more upset players. No thanks.

[sean_lfc]

I just said that. keep up.

Great minds think alike, Bozo!

[Phoenix07]

I'd like to see him back in the near future - sorry BR!

And this is why Rodgers doesn't stand a chance with our fanbase.

This whole thing has once again piled the pressure on Rodgers, just like people saying little things about hoping Rafa would return in a few years when Kenny Dalglish was here, I mean, Kenny Dalglish!

Just goes to show any manager doesn't stand a chance until Rafa's back in the hotseat.

[kingfunk]

I still believe we could have pipped united to the title were is not for some of Rafa's bizarre decisions/tactics.

[g.red]

There was no internet back in the day...

I just said that. keep up.

[g.red]

the treatment of rafa by some fans exposed the myth that we have the best fans in the world. Maybe we did in the 70s, 80s & 90s but certainly not any more.

I think the growth of the internet has put an end to that myth.

Fortunately there are still a few intelligent LFC fans.

[Chazza]

Took Wenger a few years to get them playing like that too.

Although I do know a fair few Gooners who would take winning ugly occasionally to get another trophy in the cabinet.

[Tee]

I think people tend to over estimate the amount of 'good stuff' other teams play.

Take Arsenal for example, even if they lose, if I was a fan I would at least enjoy watching a team play a fluid game where players can interchange passes quickly and with techincal competence. Something we are yet to do consistently.

So, whilst I agree we can over estimate other teams, in general the better teams play consistently better quality of football, in terms of results and also watchability, than us. IMO.

[dww]

I think people tend to over estimate the amount of 'good stuff' other teams play.

[Tee]

I enjoyed going to the game far more under most other managers than I did under Rafa. Houllier's football was worse mind. Both got fairly decent results, but the style was awful at times. Most of the time in fact.

I was raised on Liverpool great style of the 80's so for me it's not the 'Liverpool Way' to be pragmatic (boring as ****e). In the golden years, we won, but with style. Hopefully Rodgers can implement that again.

Not to take anything away from Rafa's achievements though, he was a great manager, and brought us some great nights. Just not the right man for me. If that makes me a bellend, then so be it.

We did play some good stuff under Rafa, just nowhere near often enough. Houllier destroyed the footballing philosophy of the club and I like you hope Rodgers can bring back that relentless fluid style of play we mastered in the 80s. It was an absolute joy to watch and never ever boring as far as I can remember.

[Kenneth]

those who genuinely wanted rafa gone - and some said some pretty disrespectful things - were / are bellends. simple as that. many others should have gone before him. Owners, board, leading players if rumours are true.

far too many couldnt see the wood for the trees and allow him any slack for the difficult circumstances he had to work under

the treatment of rafa by some fans exposed the myth that we have the best fans in the world. Maybe we did in the 70s, 80s & 90s but certainly not any more.

There was pretty much war inside the club and it couldn't carry on. I agree that others should have been the ones to make way, but there was no sign of that being the owners. If they weren't going, Rafa had to imo. A victim of circumstance really. Well that was my main reasoning for supporting his sacking.

[Neil Young]

Jose wanted the LFC job before he took the Chelsea one. He asked about it before his CL victory with Porto though and I don't think we were too impressed with him.

I think it was around January time, maybe before his triumph at Old Trafford that really put him in the public eye. And in all fairness our lack of interest could have been down to still having a manager at the time.

And I guess if you compared Mourinho to Rafa back then, there probably wasn't too much to say Jose would have been the better choice.

And, anyways, I'm not even sure Mourinho could have achieved what Rafa did, let alone surpassed them.

I was talking about 2010 when Craig wanted Rafa out and for Mourinho to replace him.