Rafa Watch

[kingfunk]

Would Rafa want to re- sign Torres?

[Lee]

I doubt it now mate. Unless he was available at a knockdown price.

[Mattshark]

See, here's my problem and why i'm doing all this a bit tongue in cheek, where you're concerned. Because you're selective. Your memory of this season is selective. Deliberately or not, i dunno but it's very selective.

No it is not, I remember how good we played against Bolton at home for example, but that has not been the norm at home sadly.

Firstly, it's inconceivable to take the best parts of January-May 2011 and expect that to be repeated at will forever more. It's beyond the realms of realism for that to happen.

I don't think it is inconceivable to build on them, I don't think we have.

Secondly, we went into the season trying to get several new players adjusted - to do that and not drop points while the adjustment happens, is also very optimistic.

I accept that, doesn't mean we have had to become so one dimensional though does it.

I agree with you that some of the signings could have settled better, but what's gone is gone, we cant change that right now. Actually, i'm not sure if i agree with you because you generally seem to think all the news signings are just ****

I think that Enrique and Bellamy are good.

But yeah, when you look at the bigger picture, the fact is that for about 90% of our games, we've been the better side. The goals havent flowed as much as they should but in terms of playing percentages, everyone knows if you play better than the opposition you're on the right track long term - and that's the case with us.

We we have held the ball better, but we haven't been good enough in the final third by a long way and that has a lot to do with the lack of quality in a lot of our signings. They are not players we are going to build on, sadly we have done exactly what I expected this season .

So yes, there has been improvement. It's not the finished article by any means, but like any work in progress there's ups and downs. Overall though, it's fairly clear to see that the general movement is an upward one and one of development.

I don't think there has been an improvement. You think there is I think we have gone sideways at best.

If you want to go down the misery-guts road and just see everything as black and white with no grey areas, then fair enough, be downtrodden and follow a mindset that makes you miserable, negative and unhappy.

And if you think that our league performance has been good enough despite the lack of improvement in our league position from how we finished last season then I would suggest you are utterly blinkered.

[dom9]

really, you would give the greatest player ever to have graced the anfield turf, one and a half seasons while 'only' spending nett 40m oh and potentially taking home 2 trophies and cutting the wage bill. Not sure how you could justifty a sacking tbh

Actually, winning a pair of cups will do just fine.

[Darkon]

I like the fact that there is consideration of letting a manager go after slightly more than 1 year in charge, and not a single full season yet, on the basis that he might not finish 4th and replace him with a manager that have twice let us outside top-4... Makes perfect sense.

Kenny needs time, he can't be judged on 1 season, we need continuity and stability not changing managers all the time. And as likeable as Rafa was/is it's selective hope that we will be guarenteed to be any better under him. I'm very happy with having Kenny in charge, and besides the last couple of months off pitch stuff, we finally have everything outside the actual footballing swept aside so we can concentrate on what matters - namely the on pitch action.

[Phoenix07]

There would be division over any manger, there was over Kenny of all people so that's not an issue at all. I bet even if Mourinho was to take charge there would be a division, some people can never be pleased.

There were doubts and then there were divisions.

When Kenny came back, it was just doubts from some.

If someone like Klopp walked in the summer, there would just be doubts.
If Rafa walked in the summer, there would be doubts & divisions. There are plenty who doubt he could have the same impact again.

For me, I'd love to see him at Real Madrid and go up against Guardiola. He needs a new club, new ideas, new challenge, new philosophy. What better club than his hometown team?

Then once and for all, everyone can make a fair and clear judgement. If he walks the league and cups for them, he'd be welcomed back here if there was a vacancy by FSG, the players and moreso the fans.

[Phoenix07]

I like the fact that there is consideration of letting a manager go after slightly more than 1 year in charge, and not a single full season yet, on the basis that he might not finish 4th and replace him with a manager that have twice let us outside top-4... Makes perfect sense.

Kenny needs time, he can't be judged on 1 season, we need continuity and stability not changing managers all the time. And as likeable as Rafa was/is it's selective hope that we will be guarenteed to be any better under him. I'm very happy with having Kenny in charge, and besides the last couple of months off pitch stuff, we finally have everything outside the actual footballing swept aside so we can concentrate on what matters - namely the on pitch action.

Mourinho said it himself that he could not return to Chelsea and make the same impact as he did the first time around. The same is applicable in Rafa's case.

[Chris]

For me, I'd love to see him at Real Madrid and go up against Guardiola. He needs a new club, new ideas, new challenge, new philosophy. What better club than his hometown team?

Then once and for all, everyone can make a fair and clear judgement. If he walks the league and cups for them, he'd be welcomed back here if there was a vacancy by FSG, the players and moreso the fans.

Yep, if he wants another shot here he's going to have to earn it somewhere. His next job is a huge one really, success and he gets his early reputation back but mess up and it'd be 3 sackings in a row. Will be interesting to see what he does, he must be getting itchy feet by now!

[Roger]

rafa's a legend.

[Mattshark]

I like the fact that there is consideration of letting a manager go after slightly more than 1 year in charge, and not a single full season yet, on the basis that he might not finish 4th and replace him with a manager that have twice let us outside top-4... Makes perfect sense.

I don't think there is a serious level of consideration of that at all.
I don't think Rafa not getting in CL is in any way all applicable to how we have not done it this season is it?

Kenny needs time, he can't be judged on 1 season, we need continuity and stability not changing managers all the time. And as likeable as Rafa was/is it's selective hope that we will be guarenteed to be any better under him. I'm very happy with having Kenny in charge, and besides the last couple of months off pitch stuff, we finally have everything outside the actual footballing swept aside so we can concentrate on what matters - namely the on pitch action.

Of course he needs time, but this season in the league has not been a push forward on what we achieved in the latter last season despite being completely backed in the transfer market. Make all the excuses for that you like, not getting back in the CL this season is in my eyes a failure in what is a weak league and Kenny is the one who has to take responsibility for that.

[Muddled]

Before the season started Matt, what would you have taken in terms of a successful season? Ignoring hindsight and whatnot, what did you want from us around August last year?

[Mattshark]

Before the season started Matt, what would you have taken in terms of a successful season? Ignoring hindsight and whatnot, what did you want from us around August last year?

Champions league qualification, you can go back and check my posts on the subject too, I said it was a minimum requirement but I thought we didn't bring in the right quality to achieve that.

[red g]

I don't think there is a serious level of consideration of that at all.
I don't think Rafa not getting in CL is in any way all applicable to how we have not done it this season is it?



Of course he needs time, but this season in the league has not been a push forward on what we achieved in the latter last season despite being completely backed in the transfer market. Make all the excuses for that you like, not getting back in the CL this season is in my eyes a failure in what is a weak league and Kenny is the one who has to take responsibility for that.

I think we would have done better this season without being backed in the transfer market We might have gone for Larsson instead of Drowning.

[red g]

Champions league qualification, you can go back and check my posts on the subject too, I said it was a minimum requirement but I thought we didn't bring in the right quality to achieve that.

I think the Lucas Injury has been the biggest loss this season and not many wanted to get a DM in.

[Darkon]

I don't think there is a serious level of consideration of that at all.
I don't think Rafa not getting in CL is in any way all applicable to how we have not done it this season is it?



Of course he needs time, but this season in the league has not been a push forward on what we achieved in the latter last season despite being completely backed in the transfer market. Make all the excuses for that you like, not getting back in the CL this season is in my eyes a failure in what is a weak league and Kenny is the one who has to take responsibility for that.

on the first part: No it's not directly linked, it's more pointing out the irony that some are asking back a manager that twice left us outside top-4, on the basis that our current manager might do the same and that being the succes criteria for an LFC manager (apparently) - or is the irony totally lost?

Of course Kenny have to take responsibility for his actions and results, and so far I havn't seen him make up any excuses for what he has achieved so far. IMO, and I know you don't share that view, I think it's more down to unrealistic fan-expectations for what could be achieved over a summer-transfer window, rather than us being in a dissapointing situation right now. And that view is often hold in a comparison to our opponents being static, while they in reality have been far more active than we have! I never expected us to do any more than push for fourth and perhaps doing well in a domestic cup, som I'm fairly happy. Play wise I think we have taken many steps forward except for our finishing.

And btw. we still have a good chance of finishing fourth if we start taking our chances.