Rafa deserves the chance to overachieve with Liverpool again

Burned_Alive · 20 Jan 2010 at 13:52

Of course wanting to leave makes a difference, particularly in the final year of a contract. Arbeloa wanted to leave for Real Madrid only, certainly puts the ball in their court in any negotiations.

BaZ87 · 20 Jan 2010 at 15:48

It's amazing the amount of people that make an opinion on a player then totally refuse to change it no matter what. Anybody that's seen Johnson week in week out for Liverpool would see that he's not as bad as some like to think defensively.

As I said earlier, he's far from great defensively but he's more than capable and even post-injury, he was far from awful too.

LoadsaMoney · 20 Jan 2010 at 16:17

The best a man can get backs him

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5873504,00.html

Smit · 20 Jan 2010 at 16:35

LoadsaMoney said:
The best a man can get backs him

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5873504,00.html

That's because the best a man can get, can't afford not to back him

Burned_Alive · 20 Jan 2010 at 17:06

LoadsaMoney said:
The best a man can get backs him

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5873504,00.html

Doesnt that mean he's now as good as gone?

red11 · 20 Jan 2010 at 17:14

Liverpool can afford to get rid of him if they really wanted to, but it runs so much deeper than just bringing in a new manager. Benitez has brought in so many of his own coaching staff (like most managers do), a change in management would start a massive overhaul of the club from top to bottom, it'll effect Liverpool for years. The two main stalwarts Carragher and Gerrard will both be in their thirties during this phase. Replacing them will need serious investment, something the current owners can't guarantee.

mmj_uk · 20 Jan 2010 at 18:17

Did I read it right he's putting Liverpool's poor form down to the beach ball incident? :confused:

Burned_Alive · 20 Jan 2010 at 18:22

He didn't say or imply that anywhere, so I would say no.

HangTime · 20 Jan 2010 at 18:29

Mr.Pink said:
they have had a good return for 'all that money'. (which actually isnt all that much when you look at net spend

I disagree, when you look at net spend it is a HELLUVA lot of money, in fact the only teams that have a higher net spend during his time at the club are Man City (a work in progress, need to monitor them over the coming years) and Chelsea, who have won all four domestic trophies multiple times since Rafa took the reigns.

Now obviously if you compare them to the likes of Spurs, who have spent nearly as much net, you would say the return looks not too bad, but is that really the sort of benchmark a club of Liverpool's stature want to be measuring themselves against?

DanH84 · 20 Jan 2010 at 19:54

quick challenge then:

We believe if you were to put a list together of the top five managers in the world, he would definitely be on that list for us

right or wrong? can anyone think of 5 better managers? and if they did would people dispute it?

Pigeon_Killer · 20 Jan 2010 at 19:56

More PR bull****. If they could afford to get rid of him they would.

red11 · 20 Jan 2010 at 19:57

To be honest that statement I heard earlier isn't fair on a lot of managers around Europe. Benitez isn't top 5 in Europe nevermind worldwide.

Pigeon_Killer · 20 Jan 2010 at 20:00

Linoge said:
To be honest that statement I heard earlier isn't fair on a lot of managers around Europe. Benitez isn't top 5 in Europe nevermind worldwide.

To be fair to him he did extremely well in Spain and has done very well in Europe for both Valencia and Liverpool.

In addition he's often linked to some of the biggest teams around Europe so he's obviously rated quite highly outside of England.

red11 · 20 Jan 2010 at 20:02

Pigeon_Killer said:
To be fair to him he did extremely well in Spain and has done very well in Europe for both Valencia and Liverpool.

In addition he's often linked to some of the biggest teams around Europe so he's obviously rated quite highly outside of England.

I don't deny that, but to say he's top 5 worldwide, I don't agree.

Pigeon_Killer · 20 Jan 2010 at 20:04

Linoge said:
I don't deny that, but to say he's top 5 worldwide, I don't agree.

I don't agree with the statement because I don't believe they mean it but as far as European competitions go he's up there with the best and his record proves that.

Tummy · 20 Jan 2010 at 21:44

I like Rafa, I ****ing loved the comments he made about going to see Robben in hospital a few years ago.

Pigeon_Killer · 20 Jan 2010 at 21:53

Wrong thread.

player · 21 Jan 2010 at 01:19

nice to see the fairweathers stayed away... can't get a ticket indeed.

Slogan · 21 Jan 2010 at 02:31

Linoge said:
I don't deny that, but to say he's top 5 worldwide, I don't agree.

It's fair enough to disagree but it's not really that surprising a comment. Yes the current season has been pretty poor and I've not always been his biggest fan. However with the dressing down of the Sky Sports circus that goes in this league and all things taken into consideration, he's a pretty good coach.

player · 21 Jan 2010 at 02:45

drunkenmaster said:
If Real Madrid hadn't wanted him, he'd likely have left for less than was offered last year for him. Ok he took advantage, any manager would have, take off th2 15-20mil overspend on him and Rafa's net spend for the transfer window looks significantly different.

Yes he's taken advantage of other managers awful decisions, Sissoko wasn't worth what you sold him for, neither was Crouch, Alonso or a bunch others. The ONLY area I give him credit for is getting decent cash on players when he sells, but thats mostly down to other managers being stupid, than Benitez being somehow brilliant.

This thread is fantastic. Love the bit in bold. 2nd paragraph is a corker aswell.

I'm not worth my dividends but I still get em.