Rafa Raphael...

[Oncy]

So Rafa is going to be in charge next season. How do you feel about that?
When we aren't playing football games I don't quite have the same rancour towards the man, and with all the details becoming available about the lies he's been told, the promises broken and constraints he's been working under and STILL he wouldn't abandon us for Juventus. Even with our chairman saying it'll take 3 years to turn round he's still here concentrating on the next game.
He's a bit like Batman really.

 

[Spionkop69]

I'm satisfied that he's staying. Unsurprisingly.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

I won't be 100% convinced that he's staying until the Inter job is filled.

If he does then i'll be quite relieved.

 

[Y1]

do we have a choice really?

 

[FoxForceFive]

I dont want him to be our manager.

However, there's no-one better to replace him & quite frankly anyone would be mental to agree to take us over now, so he's the best option we have.

 

[keniget]

It's more than likely the best option we have right now. Regardless of how you think he's done at Liverpool, Rafa is still a very good manager and I don't agree with changing for changes sake. It's not ideal to be changing managers in a time of such instability but when there is fuck all money to spend as well, you're pretty much setting up the new guy to fail.

 

[doctor_mac]

I'm disappointed because I think we need to take stock and rebuild. I don't think Rafa inspires our players, and despite being an excellent manager, I no longer think he's the man to take the club forward through the troubled times that are coming.

I've never hated Rafa, but I thought it was time for him to go.

 

[Richey]

Don't want him because I don't think he'll take us any further. If he has been told things that are not true then I feel sorry for him but the fact is that if we are operating under those kind of constraints he is not suited to that kind of circumstance.

If we get new owners and a huge amount of cash then it could be worth giving him another chance

 

[RedStar]

I dont want Rafa in charge next season, he has blown it. He is now manager by default simply because the club couldnt afford to fire him, hardly a ringing endorsement, we are stuck with him until either he gets a better offer or a new owner is found.

The only way the situation could come to a head before that is if Torres or Gerrard issue a him or me style ultimatum to the board regarding Rafas future, hes all weve got at the moment but its certainly not cause for celebration

 

[the count]

[quote author=RedStar link=topic=40435.msg1110343#msg1110343 date=1275296262]
I dont want Rafa in charge next season, he has blown it. He is now manager by default simply because the club couldnt afford to fire him, hardly a ringing endorsement, we are stuck with him until either he gets a better offer or a new owner is found.

The only way the situation could come to a head before that is if Torres or Gerrard issue a him or me style ultimatum to the board regarding Rafas future, hes all weve got at the moment but its certainly not cause for celebration
[/quote]

That would be a no brainer for the board in the present financial climate I am afraid.
Sack Rafa and pay out millions in compensation or sell one of our prized assets and get all the transfer fee as the player foregos his cut by asking for a transfer.

 

[mark1975]

I don't see it any other way really, thanks to the financial state of the club. The problem now is that if things stay as they are, without sound investment on the pitch, he's already got his excuses ready.

As others have said, we've gone stale and it's like the players don't want to play for him. We need a motivator, if only as a short term solution.

 

[TheBunnyman]

Asked about rumours linking him to other clubs, TheBunnyman responded: 'I'm concentrating 100% on the World Cup. I'll review my options at Liverpool when that's all over and we can see more clearly what the situation is. I have never said that I couldn't support Liverpool with Rafa Benitez in charge. He's a good manager, of course, but we'll see. Right now, I'm only thinking about supporting England in South Africa... and possibly Spain, if England get knocked out.'

 

[Judge Jules]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=40435.msg1110351#msg1110351 date=1275296842]
I don't see it any other way really, thanks to the financial state of the club. The problem now is that if things stay as they are, without sound investment on the pitch, he's already got his excuses ready.

As others have said, we've gone stale and it's like the players don't want to play for him. We need a motivator, if only as a short term solution.
[/quote]

Something's got to give. Either the owners have to allow him money, or he has to accept that they're not going to and leave, or they have to sack him. The current butting of heads will just keep the club stuck where it is.

 

[Molbystwin]

Im pleased he is staying.

Cant say the same about the owners.

 

[Spionkop69]

[quote author=RedStar link=topic=40435.msg1110343#msg1110343 date=1275296262]
I dont want Rafa in charge next season, he has blown it. He is now manager by default simply because the club couldnt afford to fire him, hardly a ringing endorsement, we are stuck with him until either he gets a better offer or a new owner is found.

The only way the situation could come to a head before that is if Torres or Gerrard issue a him or me style ultimatum to the board regarding Rafas future, hes all weve got at the moment but its certainly not cause for celebration
[/quote]

I'm pretty certain that paying Rafa compensation is dependent on him not having another job? So, while we will have to pay him something, its not going to full whack as he won't be out of a job for that long.

I don't remember people getting so uptight against Houllier when it was revealed that it cost us £10m + to get rid of him and his staff.

Anyway, looks like Rafa is here for at least another season so we should rally behind the team and him.

 

[spider-Neil]

I'm pleased he's staying but another season of underachievement (finishing outside the top 4) then he has to go if for no other reason then to bring in fresh ideas.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=40435.msg1110392#msg1110392 date=1275301047]
I'm pleased he's staying but another season of underachievement (finishing outside the top 4) then he has to go if for no other reason then to bring in fresh ideas.

[/quote]

I hope we don't start to lower our sights. Regardless of the current situation, we shouldn't forget the fact that we should be striving to consistently be a top four side. While the competition is probably as fierce as it's ever been, explaining the emerging gulf between us and the top as being down to finances should be put into some perspective. We've spent considerably more than the likes of Villa and Everton yet didn't achieve much more than they did last season.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=40435.msg1110398#msg1110398 date=1275301567]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=40435.msg1110392#msg1110392 date=1275301047]
I'm pleased he's staying but another season of underachievement (finishing outside the top 4) then he has to go if for no other reason then to bring in fresh ideas.

[/quote]

I hope we don't start to lower our sights. Regardless of the current situation, we should forget the fact that we should be striving to consistently be a top four side. While the competition is probably as fierce as it's ever been, explaining the emerging gulf between us and the top as being down to finances should be put into some perspective. We've spent considerably more than the likes of Villa and Everton yet didn't achieve much more than they did last season.
[/quote]

personally I think making the top four is a case of keeping hold of the the best players and keeping them fit and challenging for the title is same but adding two quality players (and keeping them fit).

however keeping hold of our best players in the current state the club is in will prove to be difficult. last year was the time to spend and consolidate our position of challengers but instead of spending more we spent less.

 

[vikas]

Overall, I'm still a fan (just), he did test my patience hugely at some points last season. I'm happy if he stays, about 60% because I still want him here, 40% because there's nobody I can think of who'd be avaiable to replace him and would give us the impetus we so desperately need. Plus if we're going to be a bit buggered for a couple of years off the pitch, its good to keep continuity in terms of management.

 

[DHSC]

I think I'll reserve my expectations until I see how all the teams shape up before the season starts.

 

[the_khl]

I'm still rooting for Batman.

I'm glad he's staying actually even though I was as fed up with the past Season as the next man.

He just seems... right?

 

[the_khl]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=40435.msg1110331#msg1110331 date=1275295402]
It's more than likely the best option we have right now. Regardless of how you think he's done at Liverpool, Rafa is still a very good manager and I don't agree with changing for changes sake. It's not ideal to be changing managers in a time of such instability but when there is fuck all money to spend as well, you're pretty much setting up the new guy to fail.
[/quote]
Well, that's a good post Keni.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Red Mullet]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=40435.msg1110318#msg1110318 date=1275292134]
He's a bit like Batman really.
[/quote]

No he's not. Bats had some money to spend, quite a lot in fact.

 

[Red Mullet]

Oh and I'll like Rafa to stay for at least another season. I want to see him right a few wrongs.

Not sure how he'll do it but I like to see it.

 

[SummerOnions]

I think he's going to surprise everyone this year, and either challenge for the title, or come mid table and get sacked before the season's out.

 

[Judge Jules]

Despite the fact that I've defended Rafa longer than most, I don't think a change of manager now could really be described as "changing for change's sake". The more extreme of Rafa's critics on here are far too quick to dismiss the very real difficulties he's been up against, but IMO there's no question that he - and we - should still have done better after six years. As for the availability of money, it's at least possible that Rafa's very stubbornness in hanging on to the job is preventing the investment we need.

 

[keniget]

I absolutely agree with you JJ - we should not be in this position without Champions League football right now.

The reason I said "changing for changes sake" is because even his most vocal detractors recognize that there isn't a stand-out candidate to replace him and in the discussions we've had, the main argument for some of the names being mentioned is that they're not Rafa and represent a much needed change.

I wouldn't be against change if circumstances were different, but I don't think we should throw caution to the wind and simply hope that a change at the top will be enough inspire the bunch of players we have to do better. It could backfire spectacularly.

 

[Avmenon]

Well, my name often comes up when we're talking about his extreme detractors 8)

But I dont think he's totally to blame for where we are now.

I'm just incensed by the extent to which he and others exculpate his failures.

Anyway, my views are well known so I'll say no more.

As for Oncy's question, I'm bitterly disappointed.

KHL and keniget actually make very logical reasons as to why sacking Rafa might be a bad idea; not least of which is the massive payout Rafa arranged for such an event.

My view is that he wont turn this around, although I hope to be proven wrong.

 

[Bernowatson]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=40435.msg1110318#msg1110318 date=1275292134]
So Rafa is going to be in charge next season. How do you feel about that?
When we aren't playing football games I don't quite have the same rancour towards the man, and with all the details becoming available about the lies he's been told, the promises broken and constraints he's been working under and STILL he wouldn't abandon us for Juventus. Even with our chairman saying it'll take 3 years to turn round he's still here concentrating on the next game.
He's a bit like Batman really.
[/quote]

Although I'd love to say thats the measure of the man, its pretty obvious he probably would have left if it were someone like Real Madrid asking for his services (the comment about Jose he made looked like he had his nose put out of joint).

However, at this present time I think we have no better options, and at the end of the day, Rafa will know his mistakes from last year and we all know he has the ability to get us back into the top 4 (as long as the team believe again in his management style).

I think we will see Gerrard leave this summer and I do believe in some ways it will help the team overall, a new captain could be what we need and also it could mean other players step up rather than taking a back seat.

One thing for sure, if he doesnt get it right now he'll be gone next summer if not by Xmas.

 

[jexykrodic]

Good to see the reality of our situation is beginning to be realised after the hysterical reaction to last seasons disappointments. As said before, if we ain't getting Mourninho then Rafa's a much better bet than a wild card change for someone 'who isn't Rafa'.

Rafa will be hurt by the underperformance and intense criticism last time out, I'm sure he's itching to make amends. I wish him luck and hope his new Doctor can manage the players fitness better than what's gone before. I still think our core team is better than most.