Maxi Rodriguez on loan for rest of the season?

[FoxForceFive]

[quote author=Tinto link=topic=38216.msg1025468#msg1025468 date=1262525370]
Which part?
[/quote]

He's made more mistakes than both Mourinho & Fergie in the transfer market.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Tinto link=topic=38216.msg1025468#msg1025468 date=1262525370]
[quote author=FoxForceFive link=topic=38216.msg1025462#msg1025462 date=1262525075]
[quote author=Tinto link=topic=38216.msg1025453#msg1025453 date=1262524311]
People keep talking about Rafa's transfer mistakes and yes he made plenty, but no more than Maureen did at his time at Chelsea and no more than Ferguson has done in recent years at United. The big difference is that those clubs can absorb them and carry on regardless, whereas we can't.
[/quote]

I beg to differ.
[/quote]

Which part?


[/quote]

All of it most likely, because it's a load of bollocks.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

Come on lads, even the most ardent Rafa supporter must be having serious doubts about his abilities.

The latest glaring issue is Aqualani, forget the fact it has taken him this long to get fit, he does not look that well equipped for the premiership. We might as well have not replaced Alonso and brought in a decent striker.

Rafa guaranteed us the other day a top four finish. Can anyone answer me this. What happens when we don't do it? It sounds to me like he has to fall on his sword if he fails on a promise like that, who disagrees?

regards

 

[Le Chacal]

I said he should be sacked even if we finish 4th let alone 5th or lower
Mourinho would have something to build on.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=Le Chacal link=topic=38216.msg1025484#msg1025484 date=1262527925]
I said he should be sacked even if we finish 4th let alone 5th or lower
Mourinho would have something to build on.
[/quote]

That's beside the point I was making Lech, as far as I can see he has put his head on the block, is that the way everyone else sees it?

regards

 

[jimmy]

I think it will take a huge effort trying to justify him not falling on his sword if we fail to finish within the top four. I still hope we will.

And yes, he's made some mistakes, no doubts. A couple of questions for you Vlad:
1. Are you not too quick to bury Aquilani?
2. Do you really think we'd get anywhere near the top four with a CM pairing of Mascherano & Lucas? (for the record, Gerrard does not look like he's interested/capable of playing CM right now).

 

[SaintGeorge67]

I think so Vlad

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=jimmy link=topic=38216.msg1025488#msg1025488 date=1262528073]
I think it will take a huge effort trying to justify him not falling on his sword if we fail to finish within the top four. I still hope we will.

And yes, he's made some mistakes, no doubts. A couple of questions for you Vlad:
1. Are you not too quick to bury Aquilani?
2. Do you really think we'd get anywhere near the top four with a CM pairing of Mascherano & Lucas? (for the record, Gerrard does not look like he's interested/capable of playing CM right now).
[/quote]

I am not exactly burying him yet, but on the evidence thus far we are not going to see the player Rafa thought we purchased this season, I just have an inkling he is not going to settle in the prem, I hope to God I am wrong.
Gerrard does not look like the player he has been in any position right now.
I really do feel the only way out of this is to revert to a 442 pair Gerrard with Mascher or Aqualani and bring in another striker.
I think we have had it anyway, but it might give us some chance

regards

 

[Tinto]

[quote author=FoxForceFive link=topic=38216.msg1025474#msg1025474 date=1262525920]
[quote author=Tinto link=topic=38216.msg1025468#msg1025468 date=1262525370]
Which part?
[/quote]

He's made more mistakes than both Mourinho & Fergie in the transfer market.
[/quote]

Rafa's big money cock ups are Dossena, Babel and Keane. Yes, there are a whole lot of freebies which does add up too.

Mourinho: Parker, Wright-Phillips, Kezman, Del Horno.

Ferguson: Nani, Anderson, that Serb lad, and Berbatov.

None of those players have justified the fees that Mourhino and Ferguson paid for them. Winning trophies mean you can overlook this to a large extent.

If Rafa had won the league last season, we would be looking at Dossena, and Babel and the Keane saga in a different light too. Although I would say that probably most of us still wouldn't think Dossena is a good defender, would remain unconvinced Babel has what it takes to make it here and say the Keane saga was a fiasco.

 

[Judge Jules]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=38216.msg1025481#msg1025481 date=1262527728]
Come on lads, even the most ardent Rafa supporter must be having serious doubts about his abilities.

The latest glaring issue is Aqualani, forget the fact it has taken him this long to get fit, he does not look that well equipped for the premiership. We might as well have not replaced Alonso and brought in a decent striker.

Rafa guaranteed us the other day a top four finish. Can anyone answer me this. What happens when we don't do it? It sounds to me like he has to fall on his sword if he fails on a promise like that, who disagrees?

regards


[/quote]

Rafa's the most guarded of individuals, so when he commits himself publicly to this extent it's likely to be significant. Things might possibly be different if he brings either or both the remaining cups home, but if we finish outside the top four AND trophyless I think he'll either jump or get pushed.

As for "when we don't do it" though - don't count your chickens on that one. The last unequivocal public prediction I remember Rafa making was that we and Milan would be CL finalists again in 2007.

 

[Tinto]

[quote author=Vlads Quiff link=topic=38216.msg1025481#msg1025481 date=1262527728]

Rafa guaranteed us the other day a top four finish. Can anyone answer me this. What happens when we don't do it? It sounds to me like he has to fall on his sword if he fails on a promise like that, who disagrees?

regards


[/quote]

I don't disagree, but for some reason I think Rafa and the Yanks are in it together and that Rafa will stay so long as they are still here.

 

[the_khl]

Have Maxi signed?

 

[dee]

Maxi Rodriguez La Liga Stats [Games started (as Sub) goals-assists]

Athletico Madrid
Current 9 (5) 2-0
2008/9 29 (4) 6-5
2007/8 33 (3) 8-6
2006/7 6 (4) 6-2
2005/6 25 (5) 10-3

Espanyol
2004/5 34 (2) 15-?
2003/4 29 (5) 4-?
2002/3 36 (1) 7-?

 

[Le Chacal]

Ideally he would resign if we dont finish 4th.
I just cant see him giving up on £10M+

 

[Skullflower]

maxi is out of our price range 'cos he is demanding a wage.

 

[Peatcheo]

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=38216.msg1025558#msg1025558 date=1262531426]
maxi is out of our price range 'cos he is demanding a wage.
[/quote]

Yosser Hughes wouldnt play for us at the moment...

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=FoxForceFive link=topic=38216.msg1025474#msg1025474 date=1262525920]
[quote author=Tinto link=topic=38216.msg1025468#msg1025468 date=1262525370]
Which part?
[/quote]

He's made more mistakes than both Mourinho & Fergie in the transfer market.
[/quote]

Not more than Mourinho Jon. No way.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Not more than Fergie either.

 

[keniget]

Ferguson's record has been very questionable in the past couple years as it's probably fair to say that none of his big money signings have quite had the impact he was after. Still, when you keep on winning titles every year, it's easy to shrug that off.

 

[Halmeister]

Rafa has made so many mistakes in the transfer market. Ferguson is going to have made his fair share but because he's been there longer. Mourinho made some but not as many as Rafa has had. In the last 5 years we've made more bad signings than the other top 4 in my opinion.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Jose's great in the transfer market:

Tal Ben Haim
Khalid Boulahrouz £8m
John Mikel Obi £16m
Ben Sahar Hapoel £320,000
Andrei Shevchenko £30.8m
Salomon Kalou £8m
Shaun Wright-Phillips £21m
Asier Del Horno £8m
Jiri Jarosik £4.83m
Tiago £8m
Mateja Kezman £5m
Paulo Ferreira £13.2m

 

[Ryan]

Quaresma - 17M

 

[Avmenon]

Don't forget the 2 Premiership titles tho.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Latest from Ballague:

Benitez was actually seeking to purchase a pack of Maxi pads to stop the hemorrhaging on and off the field.

He was denied unless he can sell Babel.

 

[Halmeister]

I'm on about Jose's Chelsea.

Mikel has turned into an integral part of their squad by all accounts, although I don't particularly rate him.

To be honest, though, Rafa's list could be double that. And the money is much more important to us, and hurts us much more than it hurt Chelsea and Abramovich.

 

[Skullflower]

did mourinho actually buy any decent players?

 

[keniget]

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=38216.msg1025810#msg1025810 date=1262544734]
did mourinho actually buy any decent players?
[/quote]

Essien, Drogba and Carvalho

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=38216.msg1025810#msg1025810 date=1262544734]
did mourinho actually buy any decent players?
[/quote]

Yup, some great bargains.

Carvalho - 24M
Essien - 24M
Drogba - 26M
Cole - 15M + Gallas

Snips.

 

[Avmenon]

Probably Drogba, Essien and Malouda...

 

[manwithnoname]

Cole, Drogba, Essien and Carvalho.

Four of the best players in the world in their respective positions

Chelsea must be gutted

Especially when one considers the two titles he won for them, after a gap of half a century