Rafa Watch

[Fredo]

Apparently the Inter squad age quicker than the rest of the human population, sources say its some kind of genetic abnormality

Oh stop it you little cretin, I've never said that they 'aged', the expression I used can have a wider meaning. They've had a gruelling year, won everything in sight, then a lot of players needed to be replaced or back up bought. It would have been extremely difficult for any manager, even Mourihno himself.

[danperkins]

Oh stop it you little cretin, I've never said that they 'aged', the expression I used can have a wider meaning. They've had a gruelling year, won everything in sight, then a lot of players needed to be replaced or replacements bought. It would have been extremely difficult for any manager, even Mourihno himself.

Personal Insults is not a good way to go Nige

[Tee]

As much as I love Rafa he clearly has his faults and I still remember how incredibly frustrating he was.

In answer to Neil Young's question, I am definitely lukewarm about him. Fact is though, he would be a far better option right now than Bodge.

[Fredo]

to paste from an earlier post I made:



can't really see how the team is old now compared to other squads. The biggest problem with the current squad is perhaps that no changes happened, and the team is hard to motivate due to them not being hungry enough anymore.

Where did I specifically refer to an 'ageing team'? Some players were indeed past their sell by date, or had a gruelling season and needed a bit of a break.

[Imy]

Oh stop it you little cretin, I've never said that they 'aged', the expression I used can have a wider meaning. They've had a gruelling year, won everything in sight, then a lot of players needed to be replaced or replacements bought. It would have been extremely difficult for any manager, even Mourihno himself.

Personal Insults is not a good way to go Nige

At this point in time you two have exactly the same number of posts

[Tee]

They may have lost some of their hunger though.

Can't remember which ex Liverpool player said it (Hansen i think), but Bob Paisley was very ruthless, even after so much success he'd buy a couple of players each summer, ship some out and thus keep the squad on it toes.

Moratti rested on his laurels and it backfired.

Coutinho was introduced, and Bebangiya(sp) looks good. Eto'o back up top as well and Milito dropped. Yes, I think Rafa did try and freshen it up but maybe he did not need to???

[danperkins]

As much as I love Rafa he clearly has his faults and I still remember how incredibly frustrating he was.

In answer to Neil Young's question, I am definitely lukewarm about him. Fact is though, he would be a far better option right now than Bodge.

I guess the only way to know LFC fans true feeling on the matter is to know the possible list of candidates available as alternative to Roy, as the Rafa vs Roy is a no contest.

[Tee]

At this point in time you two have exactly the same number of posts

[Fredo]

Personal Insults is not a good way to go Nige

Then stop behaving like an idiot, or try to debate sensibly. Where did I say that team was too old, answer this.

[Darkon]

Where did I specifically refer to an 'ageing team'? Some players were indeed past their sell by date, or had a gruelling season and needed a bit of a break.

fair enough if it wasn't what you ment, it was the way I understood the word 'tether'...

We are probably in agreement then, that the team needed replacement to stay hungry enough and that is their biggest problem right now.

[Fredo]

At this point in time you two have exactly the same number of posts

[Imy]

Coutinho was introduced, and Bebangiya(sp) looks good. Eto'o back up top as well and Milito dropped. Yes, I think Rafa did try and freshen it up but maybe he did not need to???

I think they needed one or two top class proven players to add to the mix rather then recall the talented kids from their loan periods.

I also think he tried to make them play a more expansive game vs the defensive type football that Mourinho played, however that defensive gameplan suited that set of players. I think Rafa tried to differentiate his team to that of Mourinho and with that squad it didn't work.

It was a stupid decision for him to go there in the first place

[danperkins]

Then stop behaving like an idiot, or try to debate sensibly. Where did I say that team was too old, answer this.

Try wording your posts a bit better so: "That team was at the end of its tether"
and sensible debate goes out the window when its not a balanced debate and with you on the subject of Rafa it most certainly is not balanced

P.S. Again with the personal insults over the net Nige not cool, say it to my face hardman

[Neil Young]

Maybe not lukewarm, but I am torn.

I think if I behave like that at work, I'd get the elbow too.

Things are really tight resource wise, and I have to make do with what I have.

Yeah, I think a lot of people are torn. I'm torn about the idea of him coming back but if it was a fait accompli I'd be very enthusiastic.

But as you say, that's not the same at all as being lukewarm.

I understand your point about working within the limitations of the job but if you felt you were unable to achieve your pre-agreed objectives because of tight resources then you'd make it known, you'd be daft not to. But if you knew the money situation when agreeing your objectives, then it's only right you work within the agreed constraints.

From what I've read - and obviously it could be b*ll*cks - Benitez seems to have expected to make some buys in the summer (hence the links with Kuyt and Lucas, among others) but didn't. If he was told at the outset he would have money to spend, it would necessarily affect what he thought would be achievable.

On the other hand, Hodgson, with his "I can get more out of the players" schtick, seems to have agreed to have little or no money to spend. He knew the constraints when he took on the job - in fact he used them as a way to get the job in the first place!

So, from my point of view, Benitez had a perfect right to issue his ultimatum whereas Hodgson's stated desire to sign some players to improve the squad is nothing more than an admission of failure to do the job he said he would do.

Of course Benitez could have issued his ultimatum in private but that's another issue. FWIW though I don't think a public 'back me or sack me' call is any more petulant than a private one.

[Mattshark]

Coutinho was introduced, and Bebangiya(sp) looks good. Eto'o back up top as well and Milito dropped. Yes, I think Rafa did try and freshen it up but maybe he did not need to???

Both those players are kids though (something which Inter are reliant a lot on at present) and gives a slight false impression to the squads average age as many of the senior players are over 30 or approaching 30, the only senior player not in that range is Sneijder. I think it is fair to say that he may have to look at the training and the injury problems, but those injuries have also meant a massive over reliance on young players. That is not something that they had so much last season (though they did nearly through the league away). They simply haven't improved the squad and they have lost a first team player. All in all that is not a great combination and it would be near impossible for any manager to work in that scenario.