Rafa Watch

[McDermotX]

150. At 09:58am on 9th Feb 2011, Dan Walker wrote:

Morning all.

First, thanks for all the comments. I think they are proof that Benitez does divide opinion - just read 74 & 75 to illustrate that point.

Interesting to see some of your accusing him of launching a PR offensive to get a new club and change perceptions. Personally I think that is quite harsh.

Yes, he knows that coming on Football Focus gets him seen by over 2 million people but we were the ones who asked him for an interview. From spending plenty of time with him I can tell you that what you see in the interview is the real him.

He has a calm intensity and defends both his decisions and methods vociferously. The thing that often annoys me about managers is very few admit that they ever make mistakes. I put that to Benitez while we were chatting afterwards and he said that it's very much the nature of the job - nobody can afford to look weak.

For those asking whether he had an agenda and we were 'used' to get 'his' message out there... well, there is an element of that in every interview but at least he has something to say and there are enough people out there who want to listen.

The one thing that really comes across in the interview is his love of Liverpool. I don't support the club and have had several run ins with fans both on here and twitter but, for me, that is an admirable quality in a world where loyalty is hard to find.

Anyway, thanks again for the comments. Keep them coming and hopefully we'll try and make longer interviews available on the website after they've been on Focus in the future. It seems there is an appetite to see them untreated.

[Arn]

Get him on here.

[Shanks]

Really surprised some lfc fans are just unwilling to give the man a break, and always go for the negative.

I'm not saying he did a bad job and I have a lot of respect for the guy..
I just think we need to move on..

He did make some good decisions but tactically, he also made some crazy ones....

You only have to look through some old matchday threads, to see how frustrated people were with him.....

[Fredo]

I'm not saying he did a bad job and I have a lot of respect for the guy..
I just think we need to move on..

He did make some good decisions but tactically, he also made some crazy ones....

You only have to look through some old matchday threads, to see how frustrated people were with him.....

Some people were even frustrated with Kenny lately (strange substitutions, formation etc ...). We've all 'moved on', don't worry mate.

[Shanks]

Some people were even frustrated with Kenny lately (strange substitutions, formation etc ...). We've all 'moved on', don't worry mate.

The whole "he had a lack of funds, and wasn't backed" is getting a bit tiresome.. ...That is all....

[Shaggy]

The whole "he had a lack of funds, and wasn't backed" is getting a bit tiresome.. ...That is all....

Haha , what?!

Not half as tiresome as the Sky Sports/tabloid myth that you're peddling.

I suppose it boils down to individual definition. If you think £6m per transfer window constitutes heavy backing, and is enough to overhaul a ****e squad and rebuild it into title winners, while your rivals are outspending you by about 4-1, then that's your prerogative.

[Fredo]

The whole "he had a lack of funds, and wasn't backed" is getting a bit tiresome.. ...That is all....

Tiresome or not, they are facts. It's tiresome to read ignorant posts arguing the contrary.

[Rich]

Haha , what?!

Not half as tiresome as the Sky Sports/tabloid myth that you're peddling.

I suppose it boils down to individual definition. If you think £6m per transfer window constitutes heavy backing, and is enough to overhaul a ****e squad and rebuild it into title winners, while your rivals are outspending you by about 4-1, then that's your prerogative.

Stop with your reasonable arguments! We all know that Rafa The Squanderer knew how to through bad money after bad. Single-handedly dismantling the bastion of invincibility that Houllier had constructed.

[barnes10]

Tiresome or not, they are facts. It's tiresome to read ignorant posts arguing the contrary.

That is the absolute truth.

I find is sickening that so called liverpool fans can so willfully ignore these facts when slagging rafa off.

Sure he made mistakes, yes we all felt a change was needed of of course we're all delighted with kenny and the fresh start but for ****s sake, why cant our fans give rafa his well earned credit? his reign was almost entirely with one hand behind his back, ridiculously so in the last season. thats black and white.

[Shanks]

In hindsight, I would have liked to have seen him have a full season with the current owners..

[Shanks]

Sure he made mistakes, yes we all felt a change was needed of course we're all delighted with kenny and the fresh start.

and that is exactly what fans are saying.. No one is slagging him off as a person..The guy done a lot of good things for this club but for me, it was time to move on..

It's not about a lack of respect, in any way shape or form..

[Shaggy]

Maybe not from you but there are plenty of 'our own' who happily slag him off, disrespect him, belittle him, ignore the facts etc. And that to me is really, really wanky. With non-LFC fans it's to be expected. So-called Reds have no excuse.

[Fredo]

and that is exactly what fans are saying.. No one is slagging him off as a person..The guy done a lot of good things for this club but for me, it was time to move on..

It's not about a lack of respect, in any way shape or form..

So what's your point then, trying to tell people to 'move on' as well?

[Shanks]

I think a lot of it was frustration and comments may have been interpreted as disrespectful..

I just saw this on another forum which a lot of people do forget sometimes..

There may be some points that people disagree with but it's pretty much spot on..

1) Istanbul 2005 CL Winners.
2) European Super Cup Winners 2005.
3) Staying with the team during the 2005 Club World Cup championship after his dad passed away.
4) FA Cup 2006 Winners.
5) Charity Shield Winners 2006
6) Athens 2007 CL Finalists.
7) Bringing Fernando Torres to Liverpool.
8) Bringing Javier Mascherano to Liverpool.
9) Bringing Yossi Benayoun to Liverpool.
10) Bringing Glen Johnson to Liverpool.
11) Bringing Pepe Reina to Liverpool.
12) Bringing Daniel Agger to Liverpool.
13) Bringing Martin Skrtel to Liverpool.
14) Bringing Dirk Kuyt to Liverpool.
15) Bringing Luis Garcia & Xabi Alonso to Liverpool.
16) Bringing future stars such as Eccleston, Pacheco, Ngoo, Amoo , Gulácsi, Nemeth & Della Valle to Liverpool
17) Bringing King Kenny & Sammy Lee back to Liverpool.
18) Staying at Liverpool even when Hicks & Gillett went behind his back to talk to Klinsmann
19) Liverpool qualify for the Champions League 4 years in a row (Record)
20) Champions League Semi-Finalists 2008-2009 season.
21) League Cup Finalists 2005
22) Best defensive record in the 2006-2007 season
23) Finishing Runners up in the PL in the 2008-2009 season with only 2 losses
24) Loves the club and is a true Red, he could have taken the money and gone to Real Madrid but stayed at LFC for less money.
25) Jamie Carragher developed into a world class defender under Rafa.
26) Stevie G. developed into a world class player under Rafa.
27) Manchester United 1 – Liverpool 4
28) Liverpool 4 – Real Madrid 0
29) Stood up to Fergie
30) Just the way he says “KWALITY”

[Shanks]

So what's your point then, trying to tell people to 'move on' as well?

I said "WE" and in my opinion.. I was trying to get a mob together..

You would have him back tomorrow, I wouldn't... No big deal..
So continue with your Rafa flag waving...