Rafa Watch

[Craig_H]

It would be polite and respectful. So there's no chance of that.

No it's fine, i'll happily respect those wishes. If i was like you on that 'latest scores' thread the other week, i'd just do it even more to annoy people. But i'm not.

[Neil Young]

You didn't already.

So which is it - are you stupid or a hypocrite?

[The_weatherman]

Not to mention he risked compromising his position by tackling the owners head on - he played a key role in exposing them. We have a lot to be grateful to him for.

I can't fathom why our fans wanted him replaced with Roy, I hope Roy does well, but I can't help thinking we are our own worst enemy.

[Craig_H]

I can't fathom why our fans wanted him replaced with Roy, I hope Roy does well, but I can't help thinking we are our own worst enemy.

Did people specifically want rafa replaced by ROY? I'm not so sure mate.

[The Birdman]

Did people specifically want rafa replaced by ROY? I'm not so sure mate.

No 99% of the morons who wanted him gone thought we would get Van Gaal or Mourinho or Hiddink or Capello.

Hence the saying be careful of what you wish for.

[Fierce]

Someone should tell Roy that Rafa has nothing to do with transfers at Inter. Pissed me off that did. Roy of all people should know that, having worked under Moratti himself.

But Benitez has nothing to do with transfers at Inter, does he?

And apparently Hodgson had an agreement not to go back for any Fulham players. Hasn't stopped him admitting an interest in Konchesky though.

Just a quick and possibly moot point. Does anyone actually believe that Rafa has no input whatsoever in which players to go for? That would be ridiculous. He might not have anything to do with handling transfers, but I'm positive he identifies which targets he wants and the 'nowt to do with transfers' amounts to little more than semantics

As Reece said though, hypocritical from Roy as he clearly said he gave Fulham his word he would not go back to sign any former players, yet he publicly stated his interest in that crock of ****e Konchesky.

That said though........

I certainly dont think there's a massive amount in it, and i agree that they're both top class managers.

Yep, fairly close to me also. Possibly Mourinho because of his successes, but I think it's a tad unfair to look at their relative time in England side by side without taking into consideration the unbelievable differences in spending



As a fan of Rafa, I find it difficult to understand why almost everybody who isn't a Liverpool fan didn't like him? I just don't get the vitriol, seemingly from all sides

[dww]

Just a quick and possibly moot point. Does anyone actually believe that Rafa has no input whatsoever in which players to go for? That would be ridiculous. He might not have anything to do with handling transfers, but I'm positive he identifies which targets he wants and the 'nowt to do with transfers' amounts to little more than semantics

He may well have some level of input but I don't think he gets to decide. It's not that uncommon as far as I can tell that the board have the biggest say in who is bought and sold. Obviously if they want to keep their manager they are unlikely to go completely against his will. I'd say it is reasonable to say though that it is likely Rafa has no control over transfers even if he has input into the process.

[the rev leeroy brown]

He may well have some level of input but I don't think he gets to decide. It's not that uncommon as far as I can tell that the board have the biggest say in who is bought and sold. Obviously if they want to keep their manager they are unlikely to go completely against his will. I'd say it is reasonable to say though that it is likely Rafa has no control over transfers even if he has input into the process.

i agree with phil thomson . . . .rafa saying he had no input over transfers as he was only a coach and not a manager was embarrasing, pathetic and poor form. i may not have thought he was a good enough manager for us anymore but i always thought he was a gent - his comments of late leave a bad taste in my mouth.

[Fierce]

He may well have some level of input but I don't think he gets to decide. It's not that uncommon as far as I can tell that the board have the biggest say in who is bought and sold. Obviously if they want to keep their manager they are unlikely to go completely against his will. I'd say it is reasonable to say though that it is likely Rafa has no control over transfers even if he has input into the process.

Well no, but then surely that's the same as everywhere else

I find his comments slightly mendacious; there is no football manager in the world that has control over transfers unless that manager is also the one who signs cheques

To suggest that Moratti went for/enquired about Kuyt with no input from Rafa seems highly unlikely to me

[Zapater]

From Skysports:

Dossena is also looking forward to coming up against former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez who is now in charge of Italian champions Inter Milan.

"I have a good rapport with him," added Dossena. "He's also a person who likes to joke around, so the moment he sees me I'm sure he'll make me laugh.

"It'll be nice to see him again."

Hmm, has a laugh with his players? Thought he was a monster and had no interaction with this players?

[wiw]

****sake, still can't quite believe he's not our manager anymore

Interesting comments those, I think we know he's totally different outside the game

[Craig_H]

Either that or Dossena was just pissed

[chadrtc]

A good piece by Sid Lowe on Rafa here..

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/sid_lowe/09/06/rafa.benitez/index.html

[Shaggy]

That is a brilliant article.

[Alex]

A good piece by Sid Lowe on Rafa here..

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...tez/index.html

Read that yesterday, brilliant article