Rafa Benitez - the kingmaker

[Nick77]

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.

This!

[ronanm]

I genuinely don't understand how Rafa's style is thought of as dull and pragmatic yet Rodgers is thought of as an attacking manager. Much as I love Benitez, we have to back Rodgers and stick with him for a couple of years. Getting rid of him now would indicate abject failure and start another need to change the way the club runs football-wise. I don't think any of us want that. My impression of him is that he will be looking for greener pastures in a couple of years any way.

My post was poorly worded (another one to the collection) and may suggest I want BR out, but that's not the case. I do hope BR succeeds for many years at LFC. I'm like the kid in Kramer vs. Kramer, but I prefer my Mum at the moment (Rafa).

[ronanm]

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.

Liverpool used to grind down teams and then turn on the style in the golden years. It wasn't always pretty from the word go (although KD's 80s team were).

[dww]

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

I genuinely don't understand how Rafa's style is thought of as dull and pragmatic yet Rodgers is thought of as an attacking manager. Much as I love Benitez, we have to back Rodgers and stick with him for a couple of years. Getting rid of him now would indicate abject failure and start another need to change the way the club runs football-wise. I don't think any of us want that. My impression of him is that he will be looking for greener pastures in a couple of years any way.

[Eric Swindler]

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.

[ronanm]

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

[bonzai]

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.

Couldn't agree more. Still love the guy, still want him back more than anything else.

[sean_lfc]

His football was pragmatic. He had a vision & a style that he wanted us to play in, but knew he didn't have the players to implement it, nor the resources to go out & get it quickly. Consequently, he played to the available players strengths, whilst continually wheeling & dealing to improve his squad. We remained competitive whilst going through a transitional phase.

He definitely made mistakes but these were compounded, if not intensified by the pillaging of our club by Hicks & Gillette.

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 no internet back in the day...

[Lee]

His football was pragmatic. He had a vision & a style that he wanted us to play in, but knew he didn't have the players to implement it, nor the resources to go out & get it quickly. Consequently, he played to the available players strengths, whilst continually wheeling & dealing to improve his squad. We remained competitive whilst going through a transitional phase.

He definitely made mistakes but these were compounded, if not intensified by the pillaging of our club by Hicks & Gillette.

Completely agree. Well said.

[marksared]

His footy was boring as ****e. Great manager mind.

See the below .

His football was pragmatic. He had a vision & a style that he wanted us to play in, but knew he didn't have the players to implement it, nor the resources to go out & get it quickly. Consequently, he played to the available players strengths, whilst continually wheeling & dealing to improve his squad. We remained competitive whilst going through a transitional phase.

He definitely made mistakes but these were compounded, if not intensified by the pillaging of our club by Hicks & Gillette.

Excellent post.

[kingfunk]

Can not wait to read this book.

[Muddled]

His football was pragmatic. He had a vision & a style that he wanted us to play in, but knew he didn't have the players to implement it, nor the resources to go out & get it quickly. Consequently, he played to the available players strengths, whilst continually wheeling & dealing to improve his squad. We remained competitive whilst going through a transitional phase.

He definitely made mistakes but these were compounded, if not intensified by the pillaging of our club by Hicks & Gillette.

Excellent post.

[barnes10]

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.

[Lee]

Can't wait to read this book.

[peekay]