Rafa Watch

[Phoenix07]

I'd love to know what this theory is based on and how much credence there is to it. Seems awfully random to me.

The board unanimously voted for Benitez to be removed. Gillett, Hicks, Nash, Purslow and Ayre.

Contrary to other beliefs, Broughton only signed off the decision. He had no part in the vote, although the reports at the time were he wasn't too impressed with him either.

[Shaggy]

I'd love to know what this theory is based on and how much credence there is to it. Seems awfully random to me.

What, the fact I called him a glorified middle manager or that he's believed to hate Rafa?

I've nothing concrete at all but plenty of people say it's true, including the Anfield Wrap lot. Apparently Ayre was caught out, pissed up, singing anti Rafa songs but personally I dunno.

[Yozza]

I'd love to know what this theory is based on and how much credence there is to it. Seems awfully random to me.

Lec told us.

[Shaggy]

The board unanimously voted for Benitez to be removed. Gillett, Hicks, Nash, Purslow and Ayre.

Contrary to other beliefs, Broughton only signed off the decision. He had no part in the vote, although the reports at the time were he wasn't too impressed with him either.

And that too

[Craig_H]

What, the fact I called him a glorified middle manager or that he's believed to hate Rafa?

I've nothing concrete at all but plenty of people say it's true, including the Anfield Wrap lot. Apparently Ayre was caught out, pissed up, singing anti Rafa songs but personally I dunno.

The hating Rafa bit

What 'anti-Rafa' songs are there, out of interest?

[Rich]

But why though?

He might disagree with his methods and not like some of his footballing philosophies, but it seems to go more personal than that, if we're to believe some of the forum murmerings.

Rafa got the best out of Gerrard, turned him into a regular and world class matchwinner, turned him into a 20 goal per season midfielder and basically made him the world star that he became.

Cant get my head around why Gerrard would have such an issue with him. Ok, he may think there are better ways to do things than how Rafa does them and it's perfectly normal they might have differing opinions on football. But surely Gerrard must view Benitez with a large degree of respect and some affection, for what Rafa helped Gerrard and LFC achieve?

I think Gerrard likes to be praised and that isn't something Rafa is particularly good at. Gerrard has admitted as much that he was surprised with how cold Rafa could be sometimes, even after a good performance.

Gerrard also wants to play central midfield and I don't think he really appreciates just what Rafa did for his career by pushing him further forward.

We only have see what has happened since Rafa was sacked to see Gerrard revert to a deeper position and become less influential - only having barnstorming games every so often.

[Shaggy]

I think Gerrard likes to be praised and that isn't something Rafa is particularly good at. Gerrard has admitted as much that he was surprised with how cold Rafa could be sometimes, even after a good performance.

Gerrard also wants to play central midfield and I don't think he really appreciates just what Rafa did for his career by pushing him further forward.

We only have see what has happened since Rafa was sacked to see Gerrard revert to a deeper position and become less influential - only having barnstorming games every so often.

Also Didi Hamann says in his book that he had many debates with Stevie over Rafa's methods - Didi thinks he's a genius, Gerrard apparently not.

[dom9]

The hating Rafa bit

What 'anti-Rafa' songs are there, out of interest?

To the tune of the Rafa song....

Rafa, we hate you
Rafa, we hate you
Rafa, we hate you
Rafael Benitez

[Shaggy]

The hating Rafa bit

What 'anti-Rafa' songs are there, out of interest?

I dunno man, wouldn't take a genius to make one up though.

Ayre's not done such a **** hot job himself, in fact he's been crap and should be demoted/gone altogether.

[Craig_H]

I think Gerrard likes to be praised and that isn't something Rafa is particularly good at. Gerrard has admitted as much that he was surprised with how cold Rafa could be sometimes, even after a good performance.

Gerrard also wants to play central midfield and I don't think he really appreciates just what Rafa did for his career by pushing him further forward.

We only have see what has happened since Rafa was sacked to see Gerrard revert to a deeper position and become less influential - only having barnstorming games every so often.

Aye, this crossed my mind and i thought it might play a part, but one would have hoped that Gerrard was a little more mature and intelligent than that. Clearly Rafa is hyper professional and always wants more. That doesnt make him 'cold' it just makes him wholly focused within his professional role.

Of course you'll get some players who cant fathom this or dont like it, that's natural. It's highly disappoint though if Gerrard's one of them.

[dom9]

I dunno man, wouldn't take a genius to make one up though.

Ayre's not done such a **** hot job himself, in fact he's been crap and should be demoted/gone altogether.

He was excellent in his original financial role. He brought in a lot more revenue than those before him.

CEO, much less so.

[Chrono]

Hes moved onto bigger and better jobs, can you blame him? He was sacked from chelsea or reached a mutual agreement to part ways.

Moved to inter and won them the first treble in Italian history. He has also just claimed that he will one day return to inter.


Real Madrid came looking for him, who would turn that job down?

He's a great football manager.

Absolutely

I'm no Mourinho fan but implying he isn't brilliant is amusing. It's always some excuse or another for why he succeeds but he always succeeds and in some fashion. What he did with Chelsea was quite incredibly, treble with Inter and most likely going to win the league with Madrid but the same arguments get rolled out about the money he had or the weakness of the opposing squads from rival teams, etc. The guy won the UEFA cup and Champions League with Porto, if that isn't an incredible achievement then I don't know what is. His win percentage with every team since Porto is absolutely amazing.

It's completely fair to accuse him of being a cunt and to not like him but anyone that questions his ability is bitter or insane.

[CJ]

He was excellent in his original financial role. He brought in a lot more revenue than those before him.

CEO, much less so.

commercial role i think wasnt it?

on Rafa even taking into account that Ayre doesnt like him i dont think Rafa wanting total control fits with them

and whether we like it or not he is a divisive figure

though if Kenny cant unite us can anyone?

[Dhav]

That glorified middle-manager Ian Ayre is widely believed to despise him. John Henry consulted Parry & Purslow amongst others - so you can imagine the feedback he got there.

Bascombe (I know ) did a webchat in the last day or so and basically said the club made it clear that as long as FSG own the club Benitez won't be returning as manager.

Then there's a couple of very senior players who it seems fairly obvious to me are not his biggest fans.

I'd sooner get rid of all those you mention and have Rafa managing us, than keeping the players, having the same owners etc and put up with whatever stooge of a manager FSG decide to bring in next. They've been taking advice from Purslow and Parry, they dithered when they should have got rid of Roy about three months earlier than they did, they purportedly approached Deschamps before they offered the permanent job to Kenny, they've dithered over the new stadium and 18 months down the line we're no closer it seems to a decision, they've appointed Commoli who it seems no one knows what his responsibilites are excpet for presiding over a disastrous "buy-British" policy which although has set us back about three years is at least agreeable to Carragher and his wife as she now has someone to talk to at club functions. Their record during their short time at the club is questionable and frankly I don't trust them to bring in someone competent, or to delegate that responsibility to anyone with any kind of reasonable judgement, if that is what they decide to do.

[Dhav]

Hes moved onto bigger and better jobs, can you blame him? He was sacked from chelsea or reached a mutual agreement to part ways.

Moved to inter and won them the first treble in Italian history. He has also just claimed that he will one day return to inter.


Real Madrid came looking for him, who would turn that job down?

He's a great football manager.

How about Rafa, twice, to stay at LFC? Time to bring him home.

Not sure what we're doing talking about that gob****e Mourinho in this thread. Outstanding manager that he is, he is also an utter cunt who would never come here because it would be too big a challenge and pose too much of a risk to the CV of a man who is used to spending fortunes to gain success.