Rafa Watch

[Craig_H]

That's a very emotive and compelling bit of writing but it doesn't necessarily mean that bringing Rafa back would guarantee success.

There's no outcome in the world that would 'guarantee success'.

[Tee]

Well, he's not done too badly if I look at it closely though.

European Super Cup winner. Tick
Qualification for the second round of the CL. Tick
World Club Cup Winner. Tick

Off the pace in the league but based on the above, he hardly merits to be sacked on poor results does he?

Off the pace in the league is not just a minor blip you can cover up with those one off cup wins. CL group stages they were poor and took a hammering away at Spurs and Wolfsburg.

Serie A is the bread and butter - as defending Champs they should be doing much better, no matter how ageing their squad is perceived to be. It is still good enough, but Inter have been average at best this season.

Rafa has been poor this year but that does not mean he cannot turn it around. I just think Moratti is entitled to have expected more - taking over the European and Italian Champs, a powerhouse of a club on a high and with quality players throughout sounds like a straightforward job. However, as with many other things, Rafa has managed to make a pigs ear out of it and cannot and should not hide behind excuses of broken promises etc etc.

Rafa should show some restraint, knuckle down and do what he does best. Prepare his team ON the ptch and leave off field matters to those in charge of the club.

[Fredo]

I think he's done that on the main mate. He's changed Inter's style of play, making them play better football, made their game more 'expansive' and flexible. It does require a change in training methods I'd imagine, needing more stamina/fitness. Knowing how hard he can be in training, I can understand some players not liking it. Then, he's a different ******* to Mourihno, less of a man's man and more of someone who'll think as the team being first.

What are Inter's prospects and strategic planning in the next 5 years if they aren't going to invest in the squad though? If injuries are hampering the team's progress, then there's only one way to resolve that, unless there's fundamental flaw in his training methods, which sees a high rate of players getting injured.

[badpiggy]

There's no outcome in the world that would 'guarantee success'.

Of course but I think that the consequences of Rafa - or Kenny for that matter - failing after the mire Hodgson is landing us in would be far worse than a totally new guy coming in and failing. Or, more accurately, I think the appointment of a top class and totally new guy is less risky than bringing back Rafa (or giving Kenny a go).

That doesn't mean that I don't think Rafa is a very appealing candidate at the moment but I think people's desire to see him return is more based on sentimentality than reason. Unless you count Arn's "reason" as being the same as actual reason. Same with Kenny. Would I be be pissed off if Rafa comes back? Probably not but I'd be seriously worried about the consequences of it going wrong.

[Shaggy]

Rafa is back at home!

SSN's Vinny O'Connor standing outside his house on the Wirral and Rafa walks out with a cup of tea for him

[dom9]

They said that in one of those other articles I think.

[badpiggy]

Vinny should tell him to **** off and that he wanted to come in and make his own cup of tea rather than being given the cup of tea that Rafa though he would like. To be ironic like.

[Reece]

[Tee]

Rafa should have come out dressed as a Milkman or a Priest.

[Reece]

I thought he was actually wearing a Liverpool coat at first

[Harv]

Its bloody hard not to love the guy

[Craig_H]

I thought he was actually wearing a Liverpool coat at first

How funny would that have been? If he'd come out in a Liverpool coat, with a notepad entitled "Blackpool away" and a load of formations & tactics scribbled all over it...

[Tee]

The guy just has a presence, he really does.

[Fredo]

[Craig_H]

For those who watched it - presumably SSN are outside his house with some kind of 'news' angle? Did they question him about Liverpool and stuff?

Any info would be appreciated. I'm looking at you here, shaggy