rafa back as manager - how does that make you feel?

[Judge Jules]

Rafa wouldn't pull any roots, it's basically his roots + Suarez.

I don't think that's true (for example there are quite a few players besides Suarez in the squad whom Rafa never had under him in his time at LFC) but in any case this is beside the point. I wasn't saying Rafa *would* change everything - I was saying a new young manager probably would. Neither option would be the one I'd want.

 

[Modo]

I meant the only decent players in the team:
Reina, Agger, Skrtel, Johnson, Gerrard, Maxi, Lucas were his players basically.
If becoming a top team in Europe means Gerrard having to leave his comfort zone, than so be it.
I couldn't give a flying fuck if Gerrard doesn't want him in the club.
I bet all the Spanish and latin american lads would. I bet he could get us Martinez and Munian as well.

 

[Leo]

Heart ruling head yes but I think we could become a laughing stock for the next 20 years if we brought him back and it failed miserably.

 

[dmishra]

Why?? If that's unfair, you must have forgotten the non=stop abuse he got on here four months, if not years, on end!

I can't answer for others, but Rafa's account at Liverpool will always be in credit for me. And I think it's unfair because your suggestion that we'd face 'several years' of arid football, and strange signings. While that last season was horrendous, and there were things about him that made you tear your hair out at times, for the large part, we played extremely effective (and often pleasing) football under him. Not to mention that despite his list of strange signings, no manager in recent Liverpool history bought as many top quality footballers as he did.

That said, the Rafa ship has sailed, and I'd look elsewhere if we were to replace Kenny.

 

[Richey]

Depends if the players were happy to see him. Carra and Gerrard seemed to have lost faith in him towards the end, so they might be unhappy to see him return

Indeed. Benitez lost his job for a reason, and that reason was not just because we had the two cunts in charge (although granted that hardly helped matters). He also did some extremely baffling things and bought some right old shite at times.

Also, there is the issue of whether Benitez would be able to fit in with the way the current owners want to do things? He was very much into total control wasn't he? Not sure he would be getting that.

 

[Modo]

That said, the Rafa ship has sailed, and I'd look elsewhere if we were to replace Kenny.

He loves Liverpool and would love to come back so in that way it hasn't really sailed, but I know what you mean. We shouldn't look back.

 

[Richey]

He loves Liverpool and would love to come back so in that way it hasn't really sailed, but I know what you mean. We shouldn't look back.

I'm sure Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier would too (well, not together) but that's not really the point is it?

 

[gkmacca]

Rafa's got a book out next autumn -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Champions-L...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332777629&sr=1-1

I've got nostalgia-fatigue so I think I'l give it a miss.

 

[Richey]

Rafa's got a book out next autumn -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Champions-L...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332777629&sr=1-1

I've got nostalgia-fatigue so I think I'l give it a miss.

Hmmm. I think I'll wait 'til its remaindered.

 

[Judge Jules]

At £20, you're darn tootin'.

 

[keniget]

I'm very grateful to Rafa for his early successes - and that first season will always strike me as one of the truly great managerial performances in Europe. But his last season was agony to watch: it was joyless, witless and painfully aimless. He seemed more interested in solving abstract puzzles than actually playing a game. In fact he always seemed not so much eager to play football as demonstrate logical theorems. If he came back we'd be facing several years of arid non-football and probably yet more strange signings. I couldn't bear it.

That's not too far off how I feel about it.

All the old arguments and debates would be back in force again as well. RCNDW, RCDNR, the issues with media... ugh, it'd just awful. And boring.

No, I want someone new when Kenny goes.

 

[Tal]

I wonder if the Inter fans will tonight be discussing whether to welcome Rafa back there.

 

[LadyRed]

This thread title does not make me feel good.

Not sure if it's been posted on here, but did others hear that FSG has AVB lined up for the summer after Kenny had taken over as caretaker but as Kenny done so well they realised it would have been an unpopular decision to give the job to anyone but him. But their man was AVB, they might look to him again.

 

[localny]

would be relieved. We'd have no issues attracting top players. Hope it works out with KK, but he's got to sign better players.

 

[LarryHagman]

I'm very grateful to Rafa for his early successes - and that first season will always strike me as one of the truly great managerial performances in Europe. But his last season was agony to watch: it was joyless, witless and painfully aimless. He seemed more interested in solving abstract puzzles than actually playing a game. In fact he always seemed not so much eager to play football as demonstrate logical theorems. If he came back we'd be facing several years of arid non-football and probably yet more strange signings. I couldn't bear it.

100%.

 

[Modo]

The question we have to ask ourselves is simple, are we looking for a quick fix or possibly a long term fix that might end in a trophy-less season?
What I'm suggesting is, bringing in a new manager like Klopp for instance would mean that he'd have to acclimatise himself with a new country/city a new language and a new team.
With Rafa, we'll just hit the ground running.

It's not a secret that I'm an avid Rafa supporter but I'm still quite undecided about him returning.

I'm still backing Kenny to the end of the season, but my trust in him has hit a new low lately.

 

[Judge Jules]

This thread title does not make me feel good.

Not sure if it's been posted on here, but did others hear that FSG has AVB lined up for the summer after Kenny had taken over as caretaker but as Kenny done so well they realised it would have been an unpopular decision to give the job to anyone but him. But their man was AVB, they might look to him again.

They didn't make any secret of the fact that their initial preference was for someone younger, but I hadn't heard that it was definitely AVB or that things had got as far as you describe. Hopefully they'll have learned their lesson from the way he crashed and burned at Chavski.

 

[spider-Neil]

Depends if the players were happy to see him. Carra and Gerrard seemed to have lost faith in him towards the end, so they might be unhappy to see him return

no offence but who cares? I seriously couldn't care less what gerrard and carra think with regards to who is in charge of LFC.

 

[Judge Jules]

I know what you mean, but I don't think we can afford to be that purist about it. Unless and until the game as a whole changes and players are put back in their box a little bit, the reality is that a manager's losing the dressing-room means losing his job.

 

[mark1975]

And he lost the dressing room in that last season, as we saw with the Torres at Birmingham fiasco and as an accumulation of a few years of mistreating players who were clearly dressing room favourites, like Crouch and Alonso.

 

[refugee]

no offence but who cares? I seriously couldn't care less what gerrard and carra think with regards to who is in charge of LFC.

Gerrard and Carragher were examples (obviously).

If there are multiple players unhappy then it becomes harder and harder to install an unpopular manager as more and more players will need replaced. Gerrard and Carragher might be easy(ish) to replace, but Gerrard, Carragher, Skittles, Agger, Magic, Dirk and Reina, might will be a bit harder.

Not too mention the effect it will have on the youth system as legends like Gerrard and Carra are used to attract youngsters to the club in the first place. Highly sought after players are often introduced to Gerrard when they come to Melwood for their trial or for a look around as it helps them decide to come here. Can't imagine Carroll, Henderson, or to an extent Suarez having the same effect.

 

[RolandG]

Going back is sometimes a mistake but I'd take Rafa back in a heartbeat. We would have excelled with Rafa at the helm if we had a Sporting Director at the club would have acted as a buffer and would be responsible for scouting and buying players. He would have prevented many of Rafa's dud buys which would have allowed him to concentrate on football matters only.

Rafa was a brilliant tactician. He lost the plot when Paco left. They were a formidable team and we were hard to beat.

He needs to get back into the game and stay active to be relevant. Winning trophies is still the best cv in the market.

 

[Hansern]

It wont and shouldnt happen for obvious reasons.
Dont want him back at all. That would be another step sideways, again.

Young, modern football thinking manager. Klopp would be ace but thats not happening.
I'd go for AVB and let him build a team and tactics after his philosophy.
Had an impossible job at Chelsea but will have learned a great deal about the league and what it takes to succeed.

 

[LadyRed]

I honestly can't believe anyone would want Rafa back, it's utter madness

 

[Richey]

Going back is sometimes a mistake but I'd take Rafa back in a heartbeat. We would have excelled with Rafa at the helm if we had a Sporting Director at the club would have acted as a buffer and would be responsible for scouting and buying players. He would have prevented many of Rafa's dud buys which would have allowed him to concentrate on football matters only.

Rafa was a brilliant tactician. He lost the plot when Paco left. They were a formidable team and we were hard to beat.

He needs to get back into the game and stay active to be relevant. Winning trophies is still the best cv in the market.

I highly doubt that Benitez would have excelled with someone else involved in scouting and buying players. It is something he has always moaned about.
And as for concentrating on football matters, do you not remember that time when he was asked to do this and made a big thing about turning up to the press conference in a tracksuit?

It wouldn't take long before he started demanding full control again

He is a great tactician, but I'm not so sure he is a great manager in terms of other aspects of the job

 

[Judge Jules]

It wont and shouldnt happen for obvious reasons.
Dont want him back at all. That would be another step sideways, again.

Young, modern football thinking manager. Klopp would be ace but thats not happening.
I'd go for AVB and let him build a team and tactics after his philosophy.
Had an impossible job at Chelsea but will have learned a great deal about the league and what it takes to succeed.

You need medical help.

 

[Judge Jules]

I highly doubt that Benitez would have excelled with someone else involved in scouting and buying players. It is something he has always moaned about.
And as for concentrating on football matters, do you not remember that time when he was asked to do this and made a big thing about turning up to the press conference in a tracksuit?

It wouldn't take long before he started demanding full control again

He is a great tactician, but I'm not so sure he is a great manager in terms of other aspects of the job

This.

Though I'd take him back sooner than sign up Villas Boas. FFS.

 

[themn]

Everybody RUN and HIDE.

We.

Are.

Fucked.

 

[Fabio]

You need medical help.

Why Jules?

It was quite obvious that the players didn't like him and the owner gave him no time. The chelsea job is a poisoned chalice. AVB was a fool to go there this early in his career, but he can obviously make a team play attractive football.

 

[gkmacca]

I highly doubt that Benitez would have excelled with someone else involved in scouting and buying players. It is something he has always moaned about.

I take your point but let's not forget he let Eduardo Macia, as scout, get away with murder.