Rafa Watch

[Shaggy]

If I understand correctly the point that you are making (that Evans is pro-Rafa and that the article is biased) then almost every article written about Rafa over the last 3-5 years has also been biased but not in his favour. Some of the ****e that supposedly respected writers like James Lawton were coming out with at the time of Rafa's sacking where absolute hatchet-jobs.

It's a rare pleasure to see one weighted in his favour.

[Phoenix07]

If I understand correctly the point that you are making (that Evans is pro-Rafa and that the article is biased) then almost every article written about Rafa over the last 3-5 years has also been biased but not in his favour. Some of the ****e that supposedly respected writers like James Lawton were coming out with at the time of Rafa's sacking where absolute hatchet-jobs.

I want balanced articles, not one to suit either agenda. It's why journalism is going down the drain. If it's going to be biased, stock it up with facts (i.e. Tomkins). Dion Fanning's article on the 'Golden Age' is a good example of not going over the top.

[Jas]

That'd rule us out then

I am guessing he would make an exception for us.....

[Gibbo]

I don't think he will ever be back here.

[Neil Young]

Rafa won't replace Rodgers.

[Catrin]

Isn't repeating the same mistake over and over again supposed to be a sign of insanity, or stupidity? Surely someone eventually will realise how everything turned to ****e as soon as Rafa was sacked and that getting him back is the only way to fix things?

[Daniel 7]

But we just won 5-3 today.

We seemed to have a style of play that was a proper ****ing laugh. I loved the game tonight. Lets not say it won't be fixed until an ex manager comes back, because its unlikely and a bit depressing.

I love Rafa, but I don't want to put my support on hold until we go back in time looking for answers. I want to enjoy being a Liverpool fan now!

[Red_Polo]

Rafa won't replace Rodgers.

Even if he would, who would he replace him with?

[MrMichael]

Well ****in said

I enjoyed reading that.

He was definitely wrong about Alonso though

[MrMichael]

Surely someone eventually will realise how everything turned to ****e as soon as Rafa was sacked and that getting him back is the only way to fix things?

But it isn't.

It might be one way to "fix" things. If they are broken, which I'm not sure they are at all. But the "only" way? That's crazy talk imo

But we just won 5-3 today.

We seemed to have a style of play that was a proper ****ing laugh. I loved the game tonight. Lets not say it won't be fixed until an ex manager comes back, because its unlikely and a bit depressing.

I love Rafa, but I don't want to put my support on hold until we go back in time looking for answers. I want to enjoy being a Liverpool fan now!

[Shaggy]

But we just won 5-3 today.

We seemed to have a style of play that was a proper ****ing laugh. I loved the game tonight. Lets not say it won't be fixed until an ex manager comes back, because its unlikely and a bit depressing.

I love Rafa, but I don't want to put my support on hold until we go back in time looking for answers. I want to enjoy being a Liverpool fan now!

Likewise, that's where I am. I want to enjoy it, I want to enjoy Rodgers' football and give him a chance. I absolutely love Rafa and if Rodgers doesn't work out he'll be the man I want to replace him, but I'm not even thinking about Rodgers going. I like him, he gives me confidence, I want us to play his way. Let's enjoy it.

[Phoenix07]

Anyone read the book yet?

If so, is it a summary of his tenure here, or does go into more tactical and preparatory stuff?

[Neil Young]

Even if he would, who would he replace him with?

Blame Gibbo for the ambiguity.

[Lee]

But we just won 5-3 today.

We seemed to have a style of play that was a proper ****ing laugh. I loved the game tonight. Lets not say it won't be fixed until an ex manager comes back, because its unlikely and a bit depressing.

I love Rafa, but I don't want to put my support on hold until we go back in time looking for answers. I want to enjoy being a Liverpool fan now!

Likewise, that's where I am. I want to enjoy it, I want to enjoy Rodgers' football and give him a chance. I absolutely love Rafa and if Rodgers doesn't work out he'll be the man I want to replace him, but I'm not even thinking about Rodgers going. I like him, he gives me confidence, I want us to play his way. Let's enjoy it.

[McDermotX]

Anyone read the book yet?

If so, is it a summary of his tenure here, or does go into more tactical and preparatory stuff?

About 80% of the way through.....

if I'm being honest, its not really a great read. Very by the numbers with no shocking insight into the inner workings of Liverpool.
Pretty much know everything he's mentioning around signings, owner disputes, run-ins with other managers (although he hasn't mentioned Big Fat Sam yet). Definitely holding back, not a doubt in my mind about that, so it comes across as more of a factual piece on the European campaigns (very, very little of the League gets a mention) rather than a stirring account of the man.

You certainly can see his analytical side, and get an appreciation for the amount of time and hard work the man devoted to realising his ambitions for us......talks about how he studies the opposition, makes his notes, plans his training schedule, keeps files of everyone and everything.
Most of the European games he talks about contain small nuggets of how he set the team up, specific roles for players etc......such as how he liked to afford Real Madrid's CBs (as well as Vidic in the league) time on the ball in order to draw them out and open the space beyond them once we pressed them over the halfway line, or how he liked the wide midfielder, fullback and nearest side CM to press the opposition on the flanks, or the importance of winning second balls.
Doesn't go into it enough IMO, deciding to keep a chronological version of events rather than fully exploring his tactical views.

Signings nearly all get a mention including how the Jovetic thing nearly happened, how out of respect for Alonso he wouldn't go into the details of what happened when Xabi came to him about a move (which is fair enough), Keane barely gets a mention, the Traitor gets a few pages, how five mins after meeting Fowler in a bar he was trying to sell himself to Rafa etc etc
Very depressing when he's talking about missed opportunities and the problems with being a bank manager at the club.

Nothing earth-shattering to anyone on Liverpool forums I might add, but it makes you think back to that time, about how he very nearly got it right, only for it to be taken away from him due to the gross mismanagement of the club towards the end.