Goodbye Brendan

[Judge Jules]

I don't get why Benitez get so much flak on here..

The guy brought us number 5, and made us a force in Europe.. Everyone feared us..

He put Liverpool back on the European map..

Yes I called for his head when all went pear shaped.. But when I look back on it, it was probably more for political reasons than football reasons why he was eventually sacked..

I'd have him back in heartbeat if Rodgers tenure ends prematurely..

No, it really wasn't. We'd stopped making progress on the field, regardless of anything off it. Managers going back to previous clubs rarely succeed. About the only exception I can think of is Mourinho at Chavski now, and that's only because he's got Abramovich's ill-gotten to throw around.

 

[SummerOnions]

People have short memories. We played a lot of terrible football

 

[davud graham]

Yes, thanks for the history lesson, I was there, but my point about experience in Europe still counts. If you think tactics was at the root of all problems then and now then good for you, but I disagree. And it's probably not that wise an idea to assume you're the only person who's seen these games. It helps the discussion if you stick with opinions.

How does your point about experience still count? We were poor in the few european games that Dalglish managed us in Europe, if his experience counted then shouldn't we have been better for it. I only mentioned tactics in regard to the few european games that Dalglish managed so where you get they idea that I think that tactics were the root of all problems now and then i don't know because that's not what i said at all.
Also i never said anything about being the only one who seen the games either so who's assuming things now?
the following is taken from the Liverweb match report on the second game against Braga when Dalglish was in charge which seen us eliminated from the Europe League

'As the half wore on though the Reds just seemed to struggle to break down Braga. We were lacking vision and movement which when accompanied by long ball tactics just meant we were one dimensional and played right in to the hands of the opposition.'

I only put this in to illustrate my point about Dalglish being somewhat out of touch tactically in Europe amd it's not supposed to be a history lesson and i'm not making any assumptions about anyone. I had nothing to do with the writing of that match report by the way.

 

[mark1975]

Nice edit. I think he has a point though. Benitez seemed to get tactics right more often than not when we played in Europe, in my opinion of course.

He did, but he wasn't above getting outclassed by the minnows in the league (or domestic cups) and he was better alot of the time over two legs/ties in Europe than in one off games.

 

[6TimesaRed]

Put it this way... If it becomes apparent that our best chances of qualifying for next seasons Champions League would be to win the Europa League..

I'd certainly rather Rafa be at the helm...

 

[peekay]

Loved Rafa when he was there. Was completely against it when he was sacked. But to bring him back if Rodgers tenure ends prematurely would be madness.
The infighting would be terrible. And that would be before he decides to give Lucas a new five year contract🙂

One thing which I hated about Rafa is his constant ability to play things out in the press. Look at the following article. Napoli had a bad start. They have overcome that with wins over Roma and Fiorentina. Everyone is happy. His position is secure. And he goes and does this.

Benitez throws Napoli future in to doubt

Rafael Benitez has refused to confirm that he will be in charge of Napoli at the start of next season, but insisted that if he isn't it won't be down "to money or signings".
The Spaniard's current contract expires at the end of the campaign and the former Liverpool manager is seemingly in no rush to sign a new deal.

"Experience tells me we have to work on the current project," Benitez told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I often speak with (sporting director) Riccardo Bigon, and I always say to (owner, Aurelio) De Laurentiis that he must ensure the future of the club regardless of myself. "The problem isn't the renewal, but sharing the same vision, it's not a question of money or signings. "We need to work to see if we can win together going forward or not, and then we'll see.

"My family are away from me, my wife and two daughters live in Liverpool. It's the first time I haven't had them with me, it's not easy. "De Laurentiis knows how important my family values are to me."

Napoli made a poor start to the season losing two of their opening three Serie A games but are unbeaten since and find themselves in third, seven points off leaders Juventus. "I don't want to be boring, but I'm taking it one game at a time," Benitez added. "Otherwise you run the risk of not doing on the park what you say you'll do off it and then everything becomes more difficult. "At the moment we're third, and looking ahead I'm not saying we can't do more, but we have to do it week-by-week."

http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2014-11-17/benitez-throws-napoli-future-in-to-doubt/

He just cant help creating chaos through the press.

 

[6TimesaRed]

Chaos, give me a break ??.. he is just missing his family... he is being honest as honest can be.. The media as always will make more of it than it actually is..

 

[mark1975]

Rafa wanted Martinez.
Xabi joined us because of Rafa.
So did Torres.

So Rafa did have some pulling power.

I didn't say he didn't have pulling power, the original point was that players turned us down because of Rodgers. There's actually a smidgeon of truth in that he doesn't have the pedigree of some managers (everyone starts somewhere), but to surmise that that's the main reason we've lost out on players is wrong. We've done it for years, under every manager. Location has gone against us alot (aswell as money, wages, glamour) and for all of our ability to draw the big players, we were never that attractive that we could keep hold of them indefinitely. There's a reason why your Lucas' are here for life, but you're Mascherano's, Alonso's etc move on.

By the end of Rafa's tenure, you felt the team itself was coming to it's end, many of the players were either on the wain (Kuyt, Reina), not good enough (Johnson, Babel) or looking like they weren't playing for him (Alonso and arguably to a lesser extent, Torres & Mascherano).

The team had languished outside the CL and the departure of the manager was expected by most. For a manager who was fighting our corner against the owners, there was irritation in that, while arguing about "money", he was doing it on the back of squandering a huge amount, it was difficult to sympathise wholeheartedly. As said, there's a fair amount of history rewriting going on. We came 2nd in the league with minimal impact from that Summer's signings, then dropped like a bomb the following the season. He didn't just go for "political reasons", as others have suggested. He went because we turned to shit and he moaned about money having spent a wad on flops. Rodgers may well have done the same but I don't hear him moaning about the backing - and he hasn't had half the time to get it right.

 

[jexykrodic]

Loved Rafa when he was there. Was completely against it when he was sacked. But to bring him back if Rodgers tenure ends prematurely would be madness.
The infighting would be terrible. And that would be before he decides to give Lucas a new five year contract🙂

I think it would be water off a duck's back to Benitez. Look at his stint at Chelsea, if you can screen that abuse and animosity out I think you could count on him to work unaffected.

 

[mark1975]

I think it would be water off a duck's back to Benitez. Look at his stint at Chelsea, if you can screen that abuse and animosity out I think you could count on him to work unaffected.

that was a great fuck you to them bellends, they didn't deserve him and I'm glad he left with his head held high.

 

[peekay]

I think it would be water off a duck's back to Benitez. Look at his stint at Chelsea, if you can screen that abuse and animosity out I think you could count on him to work unaffected.

It was different. I dont think Rafa himself expected to be at Chelsea more than the end of the season. It was a perfect temporary job for him to put himself on the shoplist of some European clubs. It would be different with us.

 

[6TimesaRed]

Balotelli to Napoli and Rafa to bring Higuain with him..

I'd take that..

 

[peekay]

Chaos, give me a break ??.. he is just missing his family... he is being honest as honest can be.. The media as always will make more of it than it actually is..

We will have to learn to disagree on this one. Loved Rafa but knowing him I find it hard to believe that this is just a honest outburst from a guy who is missing his family.

 

[jexykrodic]

He did, but he wasn't above getting outclassed by the minnows in the league (or domestic cups) and he was better alot of the time over two legs/ties in Europe than in one off games.

All said and done though, Benitez' win percentage was up there with the best. Funnily enough Rodgers has a similar record to date. Just shows the expectation for LFC managers. I think only Ferguson and Wenger (marginally) have better records than Benitez and Rodgers.

 

[peekay]

All said and done though, Benitez' win percentage was up there with the best. Funnily enough Rodgers has a similar record to date. Just shows the expectation for LFC managers. I think only Ferguson and Wenger (marginally) have better records than Benitez and Rodgers.

He is highly underrated especially in England. There was a post with a screenshot from a Villa forum few years ago on whom they want as a new manager. Rafa was below Moyes, Hughes, Allardyce.

 

[mark1975]

He is highly underrated especially in England. There was a post with a screenshot from a Villa forum few years ago on whom they want as a new manager. Rafa was below Moyes, Hughes, Allardyce.

I think there's a perception of him, which is exaggerated in some quarters and warranted in others. I don't think it's that he's underrated, I think people see baggage with him and know his flaws, while there's this whole image of him being a bit "off it" because he once dared to challenge Ferguson. He was bang on with that, and in many other respects, but with alot of the things he came out and said, he could be pretty contradictory too. I just think that, in the end, alot of it didn't wash, because he went on about money while the facts were there that he's spent a fair amount to challenge, but had a fairly indifferent transfer record. Like I said though, he's not alone in that respect, no managers are flawless when it comes to spending money - just don't moan about it!

 

[Leo]

Balotelli to Napoli and Rafa to bring Higuain with him..

I'd take that..

Yes let's all live in this fantasy mentalist world that you've created over the last month.
Fuck me.

 

[mark1975]

Yes let's all live in this fantasy mentalist world that you've created over the last month.
Fuck me.

Yes, Rodgers the man who "could flourish into a great manager", but if he doesn't improve things in the next 10 games, "he should go".

I guess someone should give the poor bastard Miracle Grow, or he'll be out on his ear.

 

[Leo]

Yes, Rodgers the man who "could flourish into a great manager", but if he doesn't improve things in the next 10 games, he should go.

I guess someone should give the poor bastard Miracle Grow, or he'll be out on his ear.

And bringing a manager that 'guarantees' European success that got knocked out of the Champions league qualifiers by a team that's in the relegation zone of their league and have subsequently got stuffed in their Champions league group.
You couldn't make it up.

 

[peekay]

And bringing a manager that 'guarantees' European success that got knocked out of the Champions league qualifiers by a team that's in the relegation zone of their league and have subsequently got stuffed in their Champions league group.
You couldn't make it up.

There are multiple reasons to not want Rafa back. But let us not knock his European pedigree based on two results. He is as close to "guaranteeing" European success we can get based on the managers we can attract.

 

[Leo]

There are multiple reasons to not want Rafa back. But let us not knock his European pedigree based on two results. He is as close to "guaranteeing" European success we can get based on the managers we can attract.

I think we could get Di Matteo.

 

[6TimesaRed]

Yes let's all live in this fantasy mentalist world that you've created over the last month.
Fuck me.

Yeh we have been really great under BR this season haven't we..

 

[Leo]

Yeh we have been really great under BR this season haven't we..

Why don't you start another thread about it then?

 

[keniget]

Man, I hate threads about Rafa.

There are many reasons to not want Rafa back but weirdly the one that stands out for me first and foremost is not wanting to have to endure these tedious debates with any greater frequency than I do now.

 

[Rafiagra]

Let's team Rodgers up with Rafa in a new dream team.

 

[gkmacca]

Let's team Rodgers up with Rafa in a new dream team.

Rodgers up until the last four games, then lock him in a cupboard and bring in Rafa.

 

[6TimesaRed]

People have short memories. We played a lot of terrible football

We also played a lot of wonderful football.. That being said the football being played at the moment ain't great either and we are nearly a 1/3 of the way through the season..

 

[localny]

I'm very pleased to finally have reached a point in my life, when I no longer feel the need to contribute through debate or comment to a Rafa thread. Come join me, it's exhilarating.*


















*This comment is excluded

 

[Ryan]

What a fucking shite thread.

 

[Skullflower]

i'd take rafa back right now tbh