RAFA BENITEZ IN BALANCING ACT By CHRIS BASCOMBE

[Molbystwin]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=35554.msg935356#msg935356 date=1251655909]
I said it at the beginning of the year, if the Yanks were interested in success January was the time to add a difference maker. Last year was our chance, and we didn't take it. We all knew this year would more difficult because City would add a lot to their squad.

They're in it for one thing and one thing only (as wereDIC), that was my issue with the takeover from the beginning. A well run football club should have nothing to do with hedge funds, leveraged buyouts and investment groups and all those others parasitic fuckers who are only in it for what they can get out of it.

We can argue the toss over what should and shouldn't be available to Rafa now, but the fact is our transfers over the past two years have been shit. That makes it virtually impossible for us to lift the title now, because we haven't got the ability to spend our way out of the shitness we're currently experiencing.


[/quote]

All true no doubt about it, to be fair to Rafa no-one could have predicted that Keane would flop so spectacularly, I quite like Riera for the money we paid. Dossenna god knows what happpened there.. babel, lucas ,degen ... all fair comment.

Pleased with Insua and delighted with Johnson....

Just imagine the stink if Johnson had been shit!!!

We need a stronger squad and Spurs actually having adecent manager and Man city spending huge amounts have mens that no team is comfortable now in the top 4. It will be a dogfight. Shit though we looked at times yesterday at least we still have that fighting spirit from last season, when we get the defence settled and have a look at this aquilani fella... we still could come good, at least i know we will be trying our damndest.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=35554.msg935356#msg935356 date=1251655909]
I said it at the beginning of the year, if the Yanks were interested in success January was the time to add a difference maker. Last year was our chance, and we didn't take it. We all knew this year would more difficult because City would add a lot to their squad.

They're in it for one thing and one thing only (as wereDIC), that was my issue with the takeover from the beginning. A well run football club should have nothing to do with hedge funds, leveraged buyouts and investment groups and all those others parasitic fuckers who are only in it for what they can get out of it.

We can argue the toss over what should and shouldn't be available to Rafa now, but the fact is our transfers over the past two years have been shit. That makes it virtually impossible for us to lift the title now, because we haven't got the ability to spend our way out of the shitness we're currently experiencing.


[/quote]

you have to wonder what moores thinks about all of this, he sold to him on the promise they would place debt on the club and they would build the stadium I think he would have been less eager to sell if he known what would have happened, wsn't the sole reason moores sold up because he didn't have the assets to secure loans for the stadium? ha ha if you don't laugh you'll cry.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=35554.msg935360#msg935360 date=1251657260]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=35554.msg935356#msg935356 date=1251655909]
I said it at the beginning of the year, if the Yanks were interested in success January was the time to add a difference maker. Last year was our chance, and we didn't take it. We all knew this year would more difficult because City would add a lot to their squad.

They're in it for one thing and one thing only (as wereDIC), that was my issue with the takeover from the beginning. A well run football club should have nothing to do with hedge funds, leveraged buyouts and investment groups and all those others parasitic fuckers who are only in it for what they can get out of it.

We can argue the toss over what should and shouldn't be available to Rafa now, but the fact is our transfers over the past two years have been shit. That makes it virtually impossible for us to lift the title now, because we haven't got the ability to spend our way out of the shitness we're currently experiencing.


[/quote]

All true no doubt about it, to be fair to Rafa no-one could have predicted that Keane would flop so spectacularly, I quite like Riera for the money we paid. Dossenna god knows what happpened there.. babel, lucas ,degen ... all fair comment.

Pleased with Insua and delighted with Johnson....

Just imagine the stink if Johnson had been shit!!!

We need a stronger squad and Spurs actually having adecent manager and Man city spending huge amounts have mens that no team is comfortable now in the top 4. It will be a dogfight. Shit though we looked at times yesterday at least we still have that fighting spirit from last season, when we get the defence settled and have a look at this aquilani fella... we still could come good, at least i know we will be trying our damndest.
[/quote]

rubbish signings for two seasons is an exaggeration, last season was the season that did the damage. 28 million spent on two payers who didn't even play in the final game of the season.

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=35554.msg935360#msg935360 date=1251657260]

All true no doubt about it, to be fair to Rafa no-one could have predicted that Keane would flop so spectacularly, I quite like Riera for the money we paid. Dossenna god knows what happpened there.. babel, lucas ,degen ... all fair comment.


[/quote]

I predicted Robbie Keane would be a massive flop, and sold for a loss after 18 months. So not even I was right.

Dossena - rumour has it Rafa never saw him play and signed him on a recommendation from Giovanni Trappatoni.

 

[peterhague]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=35554.msg935361#msg935361 date=1251657303]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=35554.msg935356#msg935356 date=1251655909]
I said it at the beginning of the year, if the Yanks were interested in success January was the time to add a difference maker. Last year was our chance, and we didn't take it. We all knew this year would more difficult because City would add a lot to their squad.

They're in it for one thing and one thing only (as wereDIC), that was my issue with the takeover from the beginning. A well run football club should have nothing to do with hedge funds, leveraged buyouts and investment groups and all those others parasitic fuckers who are only in it for what they can get out of it.

We can argue the toss over what should and shouldn't be available to Rafa now, but the fact is our transfers over the past two years have been shit. That makes it virtually impossible for us to lift the title now, because we haven't got the ability to spend our way out of the shitness we're currently experiencing.


[/quote]

you have to wonder what moores thinks about all of this, he sold to him on the promise they would place debt on the club and they would build the stadium I think he would have been less eager to sell if he known what would have happened, wsn't the sole reason moores sold up because he didn't have the assets to secure loans for the stadium? ha ha if you don't laugh you'll cry.
[/quote]


i think moores is too fucking thick to think anything at all about it to be honest.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=35554.msg935372#msg935372 date=1251658218]
[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=35554.msg935360#msg935360 date=1251657260]

All true no doubt about it, to be fair to Rafa no-one could have predicted that Keane would flop so spectacularly, I quite like Riera for the money we paid. Dossenna god knows what happpened there.. babel, lucas ,degen ... all fair comment.


[/quote]

Dossena - rumour has it Rafa never saw him play and signed him on a recommendation from Giovanni Trappatoni.
[/quote]


Personally i'd be a little happier to think this rumour was true, but we all know that it's total bollocks Rosco.

 

[Mors]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=35554.msg935350#msg935350 date=1251655249]
Calm down dude.

Fourth place isn't that bad.
[/quote]

Need I point you in the direction of Hardcastle's signature? lol

Quote from: Rosco
Settling for second is for cunts Mors.

Fourth is that bad !

 

[Mors]

With all this jibber jabber about how much Rafa has/hasn't spent this summer - I wonder how much him signing a new contract, Agger/Gerrard/Torres signing a new contract cost the club in signing on fee's? The best part of 10mill I'd have thought :s

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35554.msg935427#msg935427 date=1251666561]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=35554.msg935372#msg935372 date=1251658218]
[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=35554.msg935360#msg935360 date=1251657260]

All true no doubt about it, to be fair to Rafa no-one could have predicted that Keane would flop so spectacularly, I quite like Riera for the money we paid. Dossenna god knows what happpened there.. babel, lucas ,degen ... all fair comment.


[/quote]

Dossena - rumour has it Rafa never saw him play and signed him on a recommendation from Giovanni Trappatoni.
[/quote]


Personally i'd be a little happier to think this rumour was true, but we all know that it's total bollocks Rosco.



[/quote]

How do we know that ?

 

[acejmk]

We will still finish top four no bother and I still have this feeling we will win it this year just, around 84 points will win it this season come on you reds.
Can I just say this is well funny "The pissant shit fiends the leaching robberdog cunts. If i found either of them asleep i'd shit in their ear".one of the funniest things I've read for a long time

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=35554.msg935434#msg935434 date=1251667784]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35554.msg935427#msg935427 date=1251666561]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=35554.msg935372#msg935372 date=1251658218]
[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=35554.msg935360#msg935360 date=1251657260]

All true no doubt about it, to be fair to Rafa no-one could have predicted that Keane would flop so spectacularly, I quite like Riera for the money we paid. Dossenna god knows what happpened there.. babel, lucas ,degen ... all fair comment.


[/quote]

Dossena - rumour has it Rafa never saw him play and signed him on a recommendation from Giovanni Trappatoni.
[/quote]


Personally i'd be a little happier to think this rumour was true, but we all know that it's total bollocks Rosco.



[/quote]

How do we know that ?
[/quote]

Everything we know about Rafa suggests he is a very detail oriented, obsessive person. We can't say definitively that it isn't true, but it seems quite unlikely to me.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=35554.msg935434#msg935434 date=1251667784]
[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35554.msg935427#msg935427 date=1251666561]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=35554.msg935372#msg935372 date=1251658218]
[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=35554.msg935360#msg935360 date=1251657260]

All true no doubt about it, to be fair to Rafa no-one could have predicted that Keane would flop so spectacularly, I quite like Riera for the money we paid. Dossenna god knows what happpened there.. babel, lucas ,degen ... all fair comment.


[/quote]

Dossena - rumour has it Rafa never saw him play and signed him on a recommendation from Giovanni Trappatoni.
[/quote]


Personally i'd be a little happier to think this rumour was true, but we all know that it's total bollocks Rosco.



[/quote]

How do we know that ?
[/quote]

The same way we know that Elvis is dead.

 

[Richey]

[quote author=Rafa4PM link=topic=35554.msg935427#msg935427 date=1251666561]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=35554.msg935372#msg935372 date=1251658218]
[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=35554.msg935360#msg935360 date=1251657260]

All true no doubt about it, to be fair to Rafa no-one could have predicted that Keane would flop so spectacularly, I quite like Riera for the money we paid. Dossenna god knows what happpened there.. babel, lucas ,degen ... all fair comment.


[/quote]

Dossena - rumour has it Rafa never saw him play and signed him on a recommendation from Giovanni Trappatoni.
[/quote]


Personally i'd be a little happier to think this rumour was true, but we all know that it's total bollocks Rosco.



[/quote]

Really? I don't think I would be happy to think that our manager was willing to spend such a large amount of our resources on a player he personally had not even made the effort to watch, especially whilst at the same time complaining about the amount of money he had been given and demanding more control.

Personally I don't believe it anyway though. From what we heard when he arrived Benitez was renowned for having detailed knowledge of players from all over. Seems unlikely that an Italian international would slip under his radar. Unless of course he has become very lazy since then.

 

[Squiggles]

I'm not sure Rafa is a detailed, obsessive person when it comes to transfers.

If it were, we'd have had much less flops within the team, IMO. It all seems very adhoc at times, and there's been many glaring errors with his transfer policy. 

 

[Oncy]

We just need to keep winning games. 102 points still available, we've got 6 points. If 90 points is the high water mark for the year we need 84 more points.
That means we can still lose 6 more games this season and win the cunt. So EVERYBODY fuck up and remember what it was like when you were a kid. When you believed we would win it right up untill the point we couldnt anymore.
Half of you have given up fucking hope in 3 weeks even though were averaging over 2 goals a game (something that cost us in the early part of last season). Our defence with games will sort itself out as it always does and we'll be flying.
Quit fucking talking about fourth. We WILL win the league this year. And thats the bottom line......

 

[HC]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35554.msg935454#msg935454 date=1251676202]
We just need to keep winning games. 102 points still available, we've got 6 points. If 90 points is the high water mark for the year we need 84 more points.
That means we can still lose 6 more games this season and win the cunt. So EVERYBODY fuck up and remember what it was like when you were a kid. When you believed we would win it right up untill the point we couldnt anymore.
Half of you have given up fucking hope in 3 weeks even though were averaging over 2 goals a game (something that cost us in the early part of last season). Our defence with games will sort itself out as it always does and we'll be flying.
Quit fucking talking about fourth. We WILL win the league this year. And thats the bottom line......
[/quote]

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=35554.msg935455#msg935455 date=1251676332]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35554.msg935454#msg935454 date=1251676202]
We just need to keep winning games. 102 points still available, we've got 6 points. If 90 points is the high water mark for the year we need 84 more points.
That means we can still lose 6 more games this season and win the cunt. So EVERYBODY fuck up and remember what it was like when you were a kid. When you believed we would win it right up untill the point we couldnt anymore.
Half of you have given up fucking hope in 3 weeks even though were averaging over 2 goals a game (something that cost us in the early part of last season). Our defence with games will sort itself out as it always does and we'll be flying.
Quit fucking talking about fourth. We WILL win the league this year. And thats the bottom line......
[/quote]

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
[/quote]Hope's for pussyoles. Im talking about belief. About faith. About understanding. About perspective.
The world is ours. We just have to be ready to take it.

 

[Molbystwin]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35554.msg935457#msg935457 date=1251676495]
[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=35554.msg935455#msg935455 date=1251676332]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35554.msg935454#msg935454 date=1251676202]
We just need to keep winning games. 102 points still available, we've got 6 points. If 90 points is the high water mark for the year we need 84 more points.
That means we can still lose 6 more games this season and win the cunt. So EVERYBODY fuck up and remember what it was like when you were a kid. When you believed we would win it right up untill the point we couldnt anymore.
Half of you have given up fucking hope in 3 weeks even though were averaging over 2 goals a game (something that cost us in the early part of last season). Our defence with games will sort itself out as it always does and we'll be flying.
Quit fucking talking about fourth. We WILL win the league this year. And thats the bottom line......
[/quote]

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
[/quote]Hope's for pussyoles. Im talking about belief. About faith. About understanding. About perspective.
The world is ours. We just have to be ready to take it.
[/quote]

for all my puking and mither about the owners i for one am right with you on that Oncy.

We all fucking need to will it to happen and forget the rest...

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=35554.msg935460#msg935460 date=1251677064]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35554.msg935457#msg935457 date=1251676495]
[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=35554.msg935455#msg935455 date=1251676332]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35554.msg935454#msg935454 date=1251676202]
We just need to keep winning games. 102 points still available, we've got 6 points. If 90 points is the high water mark for the year we need 84 more points.
That means we can still lose 6 more games this season and win the cunt. So EVERYBODY fuck up and remember what it was like when you were a kid. When you believed we would win it right up untill the point we couldnt anymore.
Half of you have given up fucking hope in 3 weeks even though were averaging over 2 goals a game (something that cost us in the early part of last season). Our defence with games will sort itself out as it always does and we'll be flying.
Quit fucking talking about fourth. We WILL win the league this year. And thats the bottom line......
[/quote]

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
[/quote]Hope's for pussyoles. Im talking about belief. About faith. About understanding. About perspective.
The world is ours. We just have to be ready to take it.
[/quote]

for all my puking and mither about the owners i for one am right with you on that Oncy.

We all fucking need to will it to happen and forget the rest...
[/quote]Every single one of these 'we'll be lucky to get 4th' type of posts is a work of cowardice. Total chickenshit bollocks.
You dont want to get hurt or be proved wrong, you dont want to open yourself up to bitterness pain and derision. So you take the WORST case scenario and you cling to it, knowing that if your wrong, your embarrasment will be tempered by the joy of victory.
Its like someone who's had their heart broken again and again and again, who has met the girl of his dreams but wont allow himself to fall in love and open his heart for fear of more pain and misery.
Life isnt risk free. If we slump it hits those of us who dare to dream harder, thats true. But i wouldnt trade my 10 months of happiness, belief and unshakeable confidence for their 'knowing' apathy. You HAVE to dare to dream. You have to believe in love. You have to take a chance. Otherwise you arent really living. Your barely alive.
Quit being fucking cowards. When you aint got nothing you got nothing to lose.

 

[drizzt]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35554.msg935454#msg935454 date=1251676202]
We just need to keep winning games. 102 points still available, we've got 6 points. If 90 points is the high water mark for the year we need 84 more points.
That means we can still lose 6 more games this season and win the cunt. So EVERYBODY fuck up and remember what it was like when you were a kid. When you believed we would win it right up untill the point we couldnt anymore.
Half of you have given up fucking hope in 3 weeks even though were averaging over 2 goals a game (something that cost us in the early part of last season). Our defence with games will sort itself out as it always does and we'll be flying.
Quit fucking talking about fourth. We WILL win the league this year. And thats the bottom line......
[/quote]

You are me and I claim my 5 pounds!

 

[FoxForceFive]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35554.msg935470#msg935470 date=1251678316]
Every single one of these 'we'll be lucky to get 4th' type of posts is a work of cowardice. Total chickenshit bollocks.
You dont want to get hurt or be proved wrong, you dont want to open yourself up to bitterness pain and derision. So you take the WORST case scenario and you cling to it, knowing that if your wrong, your embarrasment will be tempered by the joy of victory.
Its like someone who's had their heart broken again and again and again, who has met the girl of his dreams but wont allow himself to fall in love and open his heart for fear of more pain and misery.
Life isnt risk free. If we slump it hits those of us who dare to dream harder, thats true. But i wouldnt trade my 10 months of happiness, belief and unshakeable confidence for their 'knowing' apathy. You HAVE to dare to dream. You have to believe in love. You have to take a chance. Otherwise you arent really living. Your barely alive.
Quit being fucking cowards. When you aint got nothing you got nothing to lose.
[/quote]

well said that man.

 

[jexykrodic]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35554.msg935470#msg935470 date=1251678316]
[quote author=Molbystwin link=topic=35554.msg935460#msg935460 date=1251677064]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35554.msg935457#msg935457 date=1251676495]
[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=35554.msg935455#msg935455 date=1251676332]
[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35554.msg935454#msg935454 date=1251676202]
We just need to keep winning games. 102 points still available, we've got 6 points. If 90 points is the high water mark for the year we need 84 more points.
That means we can still lose 6 more games this season and win the cunt. So EVERYBODY fuck up and remember what it was like when you were a kid. When you believed we would win it right up untill the point we couldnt anymore.
Half of you have given up fucking hope in 3 weeks even though were averaging over 2 goals a game (something that cost us in the early part of last season). Our defence with games will sort itself out as it always does and we'll be flying.
Quit fucking talking about fourth. We WILL win the league this year. And thats the bottom line......
[/quote]

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
[/quote]Hope's for pussyoles. Im talking about belief. About faith. About understanding. About perspective.
The world is ours. We just have to be ready to take it.
[/quote]

for all my puking and mither about the owners i for one am right with you on that Oncy.

We all fucking need to will it to happen and forget the rest...
[/quote]Every single one of these 'we'll be lucky to get 4th' type of posts is a work of cowardice. Total chickenshit bollocks.
You dont want to get hurt or be proved wrong, you dont want to open yourself up to bitterness pain and derision. So you take the WORST case scenario and you cling to it, knowing that if your wrong, your embarrasment will be tempered by the joy of victory.
Its like someone who's had their heart broken again and again and again, who has met the girl of his dreams but wont allow himself to fall in love and open his heart for fear of more pain and misery.
Life isnt risk free. If we slump it hits those of us who dare to dream harder, thats true. But i wouldnt trade my 10 months of happiness, belief and unshakeable confidence for their 'knowing' apathy. You HAVE to dare to dream. You have to believe in love. You have to take a chance. Otherwise you arent really living. Your barely alive.
Quit being fucking cowards. When you aint got nothing you got nothing to lose.
[/quote]

I was welling up as I read that and then I roared like one of those Spartans in that 300 film.

 

[Judge Jules]

Now this is the kind of thread I like to see. Well said, all the last few posters. We are Liverpool FFS, still the most successful in English football. We created the miracle of Istanbul. There is no "impossible".

 

[gkmacca]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=35554.msg935453#msg935453 date=1251675472]
I'm not sure Rafa is a detailed, obsessive person when it comes to transfers.

If it were, we'd have had much less flops within the team, IMO. It all seems very adhoc at times, and there's been many glaring errors with his transfer policy.
[/quote]

I'm not sure how one measures attention to detail in relation to how a player actually turns out once signed. It's a bit misleading to suggest that successful signings are proof of superior attention to detail. Do we know enough about each manager's preparation? Was Veron a sign of poor attention to detail, or Ronaldo a sign of good attention to detail? Money is a factor, and so is success. As we showed in the 70s, 80s and 90s, if you can pretty much get your first choices it's easier to back your judgement. It's harder if you're competing with other big clubs in the top competitions, and can't guarantee to match other offers, etc etc. In that situation I'm not wildly surprised that we keep struggling to find the right peg for the right hole. Finding, for example, a left back who is good enough in defence and attack, and suited to the league, and the right temperament, and wants to come to the club, and we can afford him...well, it's not straightforward. If you look at the spine of the team, however, it seems well-chosen.