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Just what is going on at Anfield?
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The public row between Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez and co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett sent the media into hyperbolic overdrive. Just yesterday, Benitez was variously described as “living on borrowed time” and a “dead man walking“.
The Spaniard certainly seemed to be playing a dangerous game by calling into question how much the co-owners knew about the transfer system and after that bizarrely monotone press conference you couldn’t help but wonder if Benitez was about to reach the same point of no return as another seemingly unsackable manager, a certain J. Mourinho two months ago.
Now the story, according to last night’s Liverpool Echo, is that Benitez wants to call a truce. The problem is, the club’s owners won’t be visiting again until the December 16 home game with Manchester United, leaving three long weeks for every comment to be interpreted. Oliver Kay in The Times this morning still says the most likely outcome to all this is the departure of the man who guided Liverpool to their fifth European Cup win.
We have a poll running at the main soccer site over whether Benitez could yet lose his job and we’d like your views back here on what could or should happen next.
Benitez spent a lot of money over the summer and it’s unclear as yet whether Liverpool are any more serious candidates for the title than in previous years. Certainly they are unbeaten in the league and only six points from the top but four home draws out of six is not league championship form.
But perhaps the key question is a simple one. If Hicks and Gillett believe Benitez is not the right man for Liverpool, then who is?
PHOTO: Benitez gestures as he speaks to his players during training at Melwood, November 5, 2007. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis
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Testing your strength with a couple of American gazillionaires is a dangerous game indeed. I hope Rafa hasn’t already gone too far.
is he that good a manager? They were very lucky getting to two European Cup finals and some of the players he has bought not not been successes (Josemi, Gonzalez, Morientes…Bellamy didnt work out and neither really has Kuyt)
The Americans clearly dont trust him much if they wont decide on even minor signings before mid December.
Ice hockey and baseball dont work like football and needing to tee up players ahead of the transfer window seems to have bemused them. However, you would think Rick Parry could fill them in.
Surely there will be a lot of business pressure from EasyJet to keep him in post – they have built an industry on flying a multitude of Spanish players and their families into and out of Liverpool. I’ll be that any successor will be of an Iberian bent.
Seriously, though, I hope that he’s not forced out. Despite the lack of difference resulting from the summer’s shopping spree, he’s done a lot of good things for the club, and has a lot more to offer.
Benitez has seen relative success. CL winners, FA Cup winners, CL finalists, Charity Shield Winners, not bad for a work in progress. Look how long Fergy and Wenger had to make their marks. The yanks will have to spend to compete, simple as that. Benitez spent £40M but also re-couped £25M on players out.
As much as rotation policy winds me up at times I think it would be a huge step backwards to sack him and start again with new staff, new tactics and probably new players if the Benitez-loyal players walk away.
Dont really rate him but you cant ignor what he has achieved… Did Liverpool really deserve to get to those CL finals?… If not for the FA Cup ‘Wonder’ goal from Gerrard they didn’t really deserve to beat West Ham.
I know it cant all be luck but even the die-hard fans can’t deny that they had alot of help along every recent road to success.
You have to look at the players that Benitez has brought, barr Torres & Alonso none have been world beaters. He has spent alot on mediocre players.
Also look at Liverpool in the Permiership… Its all well and good done well in europe but they have really let themselfs down in the league. Along with Newcastle on of the biggest under-achivers in the Premiership.
As for the americans… i dont think there Rafa fans, and if Liverpool dont qualify to the knock-out stages of the champions league, i can see there being a new anfield boss in the pipeline.
I see it as a difference of understanding. What are the Yankies trying to do now? Believe me, if they’re ever pressured Benitez to leave, you all will see the Liverpool team will go downhill again from a work in progress.
Lots have been said about Liverpool’s form in the league so far this season. Even a statement suggesting that 4 home draws out of 6 is not league championship form. What is this? Did Man U’s 2 defeats so far a CHAMPIONSHIP FORM? Remember, Liverpool still have one game in hand and by winning that one would send Liverpool at equal points with Man U and 3 behind Arsenal. So, need I explain more?
We all do witness Liverpool blip of form last month but don’t ever forget that Man U had came across that form too. So do Arsenal. And remember, Arsenal nearly came out with a draw until Gallas scrap an opener last saturday followed by Rosicky for the second. So, still not a convincing win.
I realise that too many unfair judgements has been splash on Liverpool and the rift between Rafa and the Yankies Co-owners just increase the hype.
To all the true REDS! Remember, Liverpool are now at the best position in the league compared to previous seasons and keep having faith in Rafa is the only way. The team and coaching staffs we have now are from Rafa’s recruitment.
To the stupid YANKIES! Remember, any bad decision or judgement will make you losing money. And money is all that you have. We all the Liverpudian had the true PASSION and FAITH.
Some points to reiterate for the uninitiated
1) Benitez has spent lesser than the other big 4 clubs (or at least he has recouped some of the money)
2) The American owners have no idea how the european transfers work.
3) In a way, the Americans are correct to wait till that date because in a business-sense, they must wait to see if Liverpool will qualify for the later stages of the CL.
4) Let’s compare the facts. Together with Mourinho, Benitez is a successful manager and yes of course with some luck, but don’t all teams need some luck to win. So please don’t be blinded by sensational tabloid articles. If brought to the court of law, the facts irrefutably prove that Benitez is a winning manager.
5) Liverpool fans are not stupid. We will be fair and give our support to Benitez 110% all the way till the end of this EPL season and then reassess.
So expect fire IF the Americans dare to sack Benitez prematurely.
I think it’s a bit unfair to brand Benitez ‘lucky’ Mark. Were United therefore lucky and undeserving of the treble in ’99? You make your own luck in this game, as even all those silky Italian players will surely tell you.
As regards Benitez’ transfer record, he’s bought his fair share of turkeys but he’s always shipped them without being financially hit El Hadji Diouf style. He got burned a little on Morientes but made money on Bellamy. Likewise Josemi, Gonzalez, Kroenkamp filled a gap in the squad and were quickly moved on.
While Liverpool haven’t impressed to the degree Arsenal have, Telle is right, they’re unbeaten and would go second if they won they’re game in hand. At Valencia, Benitez won his first title with a stubborn side and then expanded for his second the year after. Despite a blip or two, he’s still going forward according to form.
I think a solution has to be found with Benitez being less belligerent in public and the chairmen understanding the need to move early for targets (the idea of not sanctioning Bosman moves is baffling). Because if they don’t find one, people, who do Liverpool turn to next? Paul Jewell!!?
Hopefully, both sides will cool off, we can’t have Benitez taking on the England job. There is no budget to begin with, work with the existing players or the youth team, he will kill himself on the job.
I have written a post on this topic:
http://soccernetlive.com/2007/11/24/live rpool-strolls-to-3-0-victory-against-new castle/
I saw something in one of the Spanish newspapers at the weekend saying if Benitez goes the logical choice to replace him would be Mourinho. Now I wonder what Liverpool fans would make of that, given events of the last few years.
Mourinho has my approval IF (big IF) Benitez goes.
I mean Mourinho was complaining that the Chelsea fans weren’t backing Chelsea up even though they were winning. No such thing when it comes to Liverpool fans
Win or lose, support will always be 100%. The only thing he has to contend with, like Benitez, are the 2 American Scrooges.
Benitez is doing well at Liverpool. All this talk about Liverpool being lucky when the won the Champion’s League in 2005…errm, did anyone see the teams that Liverpool beat on the way to the final?
Its the league title that’s required of him. I’m not convinced that Liverpool will win it this season but I do expect them to push it to the wire.
Leave off the American owners. These two are incredible business people and they know that investment is required for continuous success. I’m sure Rafa will get enough money to buy new players. At the same time, I’ll sure he will ship out players who are not cutting it.
I think Liverpool deserve the win the way they played yesterday. To owner of Liverpool just a short note, Rafa is on a good track of changing Liverpool Team & changing a new manager won’t do any good as the new manager have his own way & will takes time & any manager sits there can’t do it over night.
I think Liverpool Team are getting better & give him what he ask, we can see Liverpool in GLORY.
I can`t believe that anyone can take mark meadows and plumbey`s comments seriously. Mark says “The Americans clearly dont trust him…” then totally contradicts himelf by sying “Ice hockey and baseball dont work like football …” Plumbey criticises Benitez`s signings, but hes always been on a budget, and has spread the money around to buy a certain type of player to fit a certain role within his system. Unsuccesfull signings have been sold on for profit (bar Morientes). Not quite the open checkbook policy like is used at Chelski and Manure. Disagree with Benitez`s methods if you wish, but at least try understand what hes about before posting your drivel!
Really, Mark, I think you can’t say Kuyt is not successful à L’pool. He score and defends extremely well. IMHO probably the most versatile striker we have now at Anfield.
There’s a good list of Benitez transfer dealings in the Liverpool Echo here: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool -fc/liverpool-fc-news/2007/11/23/rafa-be nitez-s-transfer-history-100252-20150499 /
It looks the only real failure there was Fernando Morientes, as well as maybe Antonio Nunez.
I expect they’ll make a lot of money if and when they sell on Scott Carson as well.