The 'not Rafa back' thread.

[Silver Sean]

Was chatting about this in some cockney boozer when we were dissecting that abject surrender yesterday, but if Rafa came back (no, no, I'm not saying it) would it be a disaster? I mean, has anyone ever gone back to a club as a manager and succeeded or surpassed their previous achievements?
I guess Maureen is well on the way to doing it, anyone else?

 

[gkmacca]

Pulis at Stoke, I guess.

 

[Oncy]

Capello went back to Madrid and won the title I think.

 

[gkmacca]

That's more like it.

 

[cloggypop]

 

[keniget]

Capello went back to Madrid and won the title I think.

Was gonna say that. Hitzfield has done the same at Bayern I think.

No surprises that the notable cases (Mourinho included) are at clubs that spend an exorbitant amount of money and are contenders for the league regardless of who is at the helm.

Rafa and Liverpool is a bit like Newcastle and Keegan. It just opens up the club to needless ridicule.

 

[Hansern]

Its a big no to Rafa. We cant go back there if we sack Rodgers.

 

[Judge Jules]

I can't see FSG going the Rafa route anyway. One or two lazy hacks looking to fill column space have suggested it might be on, but I'd be staggered if there was anything to that.

 

[jexykrodic]

I always think the best thing to do is rule out an option because of pride.

 

[ILD]

I've always liked Rafa but don't want him back. The media spotlight on him wouldn't be worth it.

 

[jexykrodic]

I've always liked Rafa but don't want him back. The media spotlight on him wouldn't be worth it.

I seem to recall he had a plenty of attention and hostility at Chelsea. Given his personality I doubt it would make a jot of difference.

 

[ILD]

I just don't want to have to endure it. Or deal with rivals fans constantly jibing at him. I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze in this instance.

 

[What What]

I've always liked Rafa but don't want him back. The media spotlight on him wouldn't be worth it.

That's a really strange way to look at it, going by that logic you wouldn't want Suarez back either then?

 

[ILD]

Suarez would be worth it. I'm not bothered what the media or fans would throw at Suarez because at the end of the day he's one of the best players in the World and he'd produce the good for us every week. I don't think it's a wise move reinstating Rafa. I don't think it's worth the 'ridicule' as Keni harshly put it.

 

[Judge Jules]

If I thought Rafa would do a good job I wouldn't give two hoots about the ridicule, which would soon stop if he were successful anyway. Unfortunately I don't think that would happen. Things had gone very sour by the time he left LFC and he's not a guy I can ever see changing the way he works.

 

[gkmacca]

My mention of Pulis was in such bad taste it's turned this thread inside out.

 

[Dreambeliever]

There has been infinitely more cases of managers going back and ruining their memory than ones who have succeeded

Rafa coming back is the worst idea since Mario to Liverpool.

 

[StevieM]

There has been infinitely more cases of managers going back and ruining their memory than ones who have succeeded

Rafa coming back is the worst idea since Mario to Liverpool.

Nearly as bad as wanting Torres to come back, eh dreamy? [emoji3]

 

[Dreambeliever]

Nearly as bad as wanting Torres to come back, eh dreamy? [emoji3]

Nah, players are different. Rush, Fowler even Staunton and Craig Bellamy came back and contributed.

Torres would have added more than Ballotelli did that's for sure.

Managers almost always leave on the back on a bad run or because they have ran out of ideas. Both happened to Rafa and a cameo at Chelsea aside he's been shite since he left us.

Massive no thanks

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Redknapp with Portsmouth?

I'm struggling to think of many where it doesn't work out for at least a period of time. I'm assuming there's loads, but none come to mind besides Kenny.

 

[Silver Sean]

Nah, players are different. Rush, Fowler even Staunton and Craig Bellamy came back and contributed.

Torres would have added more than Ballotelli did that's for sure.

Managers almost always leave on the back on a bad run or because they have ran out of ideas. Both happened to Rafa and a cameo at Chelsea aside he's been shite since he left us.

Massive no thanks

I think it's indicative of how far we've fallen that no manager has left us for bigger things. They all left because it fell apart.

 

[Pesam]

Pulis at Stoke, I guess.

I remember it well; they were about 16th in The Championship and the vast majority of Stoke fans didn't want him back....the prevailing opinion being "we know what he can do and it won't be good enough to challenge for the play offs (the following season)". Some fans thought he might even get them relegated....what the fuck do fans know!

 

[jexykrodic]

I remember it well; they were about 16th in The Championship and the vast majority of Stoke fans didn't want him back....the prevailing opinion being "we know what he can do and it won't be good enough to challenge for the play offs (the following season)". Some fans thought he might even get them relegated....what the fuck do fans know!

They never know what they've got 'til it's gone. The last thing any club should do is listen to it's fans.

 

[peekay]

Depends on the options, I guess. If Brendan is fired and none of the De Boer, Klopp, Ancelotti and managers with similar pedigree are interested, I would rather have Rafa than the next Martinez, Eddie Howe experiment.

 

[jexykrodic]

Depends on the options, I guess. If Brendan is fired and none of the De Boer, Klopp, Ancelotti and managers with similar pedigree are interested, I would rather have Rafa than the next Martinez, Eddie Howe experiment.

I'd much rather have Rafa than any of them*, he's won more and over a lot longer period. He's also able to work on a tight budget.

*bar Ancelotti who is wholly unrealistic.

 

[Judge Jules]

Can't agree with the first bit of that. Rafa's best days are probably behind him anyway but, even if they weren't, fetching him back after the way his original tenure petered out really would be flogging a dead horse. Like you I wouldn't want an up-and-comer, but I'd absolutely take de Boer or Klopp in preference to Rafa.

 

[Skullflower]

rafa bought loads of mid-price shite but he was well fucking better than rodgers at signing decent players.

 

[6TimesaRed]

Napoli will be in the Champions League next season..

Rafa will get there by doing what he does best..

Winning in Europe..

they will win The Europa League.. Probably the strongest team left in it..