Liverpool Fans: What is Rafa Benitez playing at?
Is it me or has Rafa lost his pen? He keeps saying he’s going to sign that new Liverpool contract but never quite seems to get round to it. Either his biro has run out of ink or the Spaniard is winding everyone up.
I’ve lost count of the number of times he’s said he’s ‘on the verge’ of putting pen to paper. He loves the club, he’s got no plans to go anywhere else and yet the new deal remains unsigned. It’s a saga that’s been going on for months but shows no sign of being resolved.
Rafa is playing a dangerous game. To be fair, he’s nobody’s fool but the longer he leaves it, the weaker his position will become – assuming Liverpool can’t overhaul United in the title race and they don’t lift the Champions League trophy again.
It was canny of him to come out and talk about the delay in sorting out the deal the day after his side beat Real Madrid but if the Reds end the season potless, maybe the Americans will finally decide to look elsewhere for the man to return the club to the glory days.
I know Liverpool fans say they’re all behind Rafa but would you really be devastated if you got a new manager? Are you really any nearer winning the title today than you were five years ago when he arrived at Anfield to replace Monsieur Houllier?
The truth is, after the season which saw the end of the ill-fated partnership with Roy Evans, Houllier took the side to fourth, third, second, fifth and fourth in his seasons as sole manager. Rafa’s done fifth, third, third, fourth. From where I’m looking, there’s no real difference between the two records.
Of course, Benitez can always point to the 2005 Champions League final. It was a great achievement but four years on, he should be careful of relying too heavily on past glories.
Written by Iain Spragg from Sport Media Solutions and previously published on 4sportsake.com.
As a Liverpool fan, I agree that I wouldn’t be too sorry to see him leave… but who to replace him? Frank Riijkard? Personally, I would love Jose Mourinho, but I cant really see that happening.
Screw that Parry’s gone!!
Benitez is nothing if not clever. He knows without doubt (last season was a good example) that his job lives or dies by the fans. He’s a hugely political animal.
How many times has he washed Liverpool’s dirty linen in public just to get the fans on his side?
It started last season. Only 3 months after declaring he was very satisfied with his summer spending and confident of the season ahead it was Benitez who decided to go to the media and decalre that he was unhappy that yet more money was not available in the January transfer window.
Funny how this coincided with widespread fan and media criticism of his rotation policy, following a good start.
The rest of that saga is history but Benitez started the whole fracas and the fans bought it.
Fast forward to this season and suddenly, as Utd start to overtake Liverpool, it’s Utd get preferential treatment and Gill influences the FA. Stir up the fans time again…quickly followed by ‘I’m not signing my contract because I don’t have enough control over transfers’.
You will, of course, note that he was never specific on that but it was a ruse to suggest that, having completely mis-managed Keane, he was not responsible.
Next follwed the thinly veiled attack on Parry over Agger’s new contract. It was ‘The Clubs’ fault for delaying the offer. It has since emerged that Agger is unhappy that he is not 1st choice….a player management issue!
Now he’s back talking about his contract!
Most of the above should be handled in private but Benitez plays the fans and, up until now, they have bought it.
It’s been an incredibly emotional season for Liverpool fans. The Benitez out camp has been increasing as their PL challenge has started to disappear. But then they beat Real away and all is rosy again.
My own opinion is that Benitez has been extremely poor in the transfer market, is tactically naiive (except in Europe where he is supposedly a genius!) and plays the fans constantly while exposing the club to ridicule.
He’s had his 5 year plan and to me it looks like Houllier all over again. Liverpool fans have been seduced by leading the PL for so long this year. That was just down to a set of very unusual circumstances which I won’t revist now.
In truth, Liverpool are no better than they were last year and will not win anything.
The choice of whether Benitez goes or stays is in the hands of the fans and, so far, they have bought his political deception.
As a Utd fan I hope he stays for a long time!
Another astute disection of Liverpool’s problems by Mr B(edited – no name calling please) that well known non-Mancunian.
For many years longer than he has been a Man U fan, Liverpool was by far and away the best run club in the country. The fact that the good name of the club has been dragged through the mud and are now a by-word for mismanagement and internal strife can be laid at the door of those two American carpetbaggers Hicks and Gillett.
Given this, I am surprised that Rafa manages to motivate his team the the extent that they are second in the League and doing so well in Europe. It is hardly surprising that at times Rafa lets his frustrations get the better of his discretion.To suggest that Liverpool fans have been conned by Benitez is pure cobblers. Liverpudlians know a con-man when they see one hence their intense dislike of H&G.
If Rafa is so politically deceitful why has he not jumped ship already to more lucrative feeding grounds in Europe? He surely does not need all the hassle he’s got at Liverpool. Clubs both here and on the continent are forming a small queue for him.
The fact is Rafa and his family love Merseyside, want to stay and will stay for a good while IF the ownership issue can be resolved. I admit this is a big if but if it can’t be resolved then Liverpool are in big trouble.
But if Rafa does leave he might end up at Man City and then BD with have a closer target to aim at.
I’ve just remembered Rafa has been at the Pool for 5 years, what was the general consensus on Alex Ferguson after such time at Man U ?? Rafa won the European Cup in his first season.
The difference between Rafa and G&H is that Rafa is a football man and has proven himself with a CL win, while G&H have had a public spat and not done anything for the club in the public eye.
If you can remember 5 years ago, surely you can guide your mind back to when Liverpool was taken over by the Americans and how euphoric the Liverpool supporters were at the assurances of G&H that they were ‘fans’ and would ’support the club’ through thick and thin?
Rafa knows footy fans better than G&H. So does Mourinho and Ferguson, mind you, before someone complains about their mind games.
#5
It is precisely because of the total banality of H&G’s failed assurances that they are so despised on Merseyside. Yes they were welcomed as benefactors who would not load the club with debt when they arrived. Trouble was in addition to Moores & Parry the fans also believed them. Now we’re all older and wiser.
@Jofrad: It’s your delusional type of Liverpool fan that all Man U fans love. Keep Benitez there. Like Houllier before him he’s way past his sell-by date.
In your usual fashion you don’t address the issues I raise.
So you are happy with his record in the transfer market? You probably believe that it is all Parry’s fault and Benitez had no say in the matter.
You don’t believe that he has constantly washed the clubs dirty linen in public to his own advantage?
You think Liverpool are better this season than last? If so list personnel that have come and gone and players that are contributing more.
You’re not one of the (recently legions) of Liverpool fans who recognise that his defensive tactics, his choice of players (Lucas being the most criticised)and his general composure (or lack of)are detrimental factors?
In our last exchange I suggested that Liverpool were just not good enough to win the title and in that exchange you, once again, repeatedly refused to address the detailed points I made to support that assertion. That was long before Utd were 7 points clear and cruising to another title. So do you still believe that Liverpool can win the title this year?
Look, it’s not a question of me trying to suggest that you are delusional….I’m just trying to establish just how delusional you actually are???
How long did it take for Alex Ferguson to win a trophy ? Long after his sell by date thats for sure.
Rafa Benitez is a very good manager who’s efforts for success at Liverpool are being frustrated by the internal strife at the club. Liverpool are going nowhere until this is resolved.
The sale of Liverpool to H&G has severely damaged the club and my only concern is that the club regains its stability and discreet managemant style for which it was renowned, ideally with new owners who will actually build the new stadium the club needs to compete with the best (yes that includes United).
Yes Liverpool can win the title this year, yes they can win the CL but they they are favourites for neither but Istanbul happens you know.
@Jofrad: Boro 2-0 Liverpool. See what your fellow fans think of Benitez on the BBC forum!
Correction Liverpool cannot win the League this year !
@BD Condell: You would do well to stick with your brassy flock instead of trying to rile up the Liverpudlians. Rafa is definitely one of the ablest managers out there and knowing his previous record : La Liga and UEFA CUP with underdogs Valencia, and ofcourse winning the Champions league and losing in the final once. Your Sir Alex, in his Zillion years at your club could win the Champions league only twice, and the last one luckily, owing to a bit of slippery mud under Terry’s feet. Further, he didn’t come near even winning the EPL in his first 5 years.
Finally, if only you knew what your and our fellow fans think of you, you would drip right out offa cow’s a*se, right about now.
@light: Bitterness won’t solve the issue! I’m all for you sticking with Benitez. Has my 100% support!
Better to stick with the issues under debate than making a show of yourself.
Actually the purposes of my post were 2 fold: supporting Benitez and telling you off. Both are the issues under consideration, and both really easy to do.
@light: No the issues under consideration are the ones the article is about. I listed in some detail why I don’t thing Benitez is up to the task.
The funny thing is that a huge number of Liverpool fans have been making the same points over the past weeks. So it’s OK for them to have an opinion but if I give the same opinion that’s not acceptable to you?
Just go on the BBC Liverpool forum right now and see what is being said by your fellow fans.
That doesn’t mean that you ahve to agree but it shows that the tide is turning against Benitez and I think the views those fans are expressing are valid.
What the hell does it matter to any Liverpool supporter what you think BD ?
Ditto me and Man U.
BD, I’m really sorry if you were just mentioning your opinion. Just happens that I’ve come across too many troll fans who just try rile up their opposition fans’ by criticizing everything about the club. I don’t agree with your comments about Benitez being dishonest/user/inciter but I guess the events could be seen that way too. But he is definitely respected among his peers, as well as his players and most importantly, his fans. It would be really hard to fool them all imo. He even left his previous club because of interference from above, despite winning the La Liga and Uefa Cup double. These reasons tell me that it is more probable that Be nitez is really being given the short end of the stick. His biggest signing is Torres, and he has become the biggest contributor to his team, along with Gerard. Keane’s failing is truly a mystery because he was already adjusted to EPL. But I guess he wasn’t ready to move to the top 4 yet, despite being a wonderful player for Tottenham. All other signings were small because he couldn’t compete with the bigger teams considering his small budget, and with all small signings, it is a hit or miss, especially because they’re expected to play wonderfully consistently, and right away. Man to man, Liverpool has the weakest team of the top 4, and if you’re expecting to beat teams like ManU, Chelsea and Arsenal, you need to have at least one good player in every position. It calls for a complete overhaul and that in turn requires money. Owen was let go just before he arrived, and he finally replaced him with Torres. After his first year, the club almost let go Gerard, the backbone of the team, despite his requests. Luckily Gerard decided to stay back and then, they missed out on Daniel Alves before he got big, and in many more cases. The Klinsmann fiasco was a big deal too, but Benitez overlooked the mark of direspect and stayed back.
I’m not saying Benitez is a saint, but considering all these, he has been an absolute miracle worker. Sorry again if you didn’t have a partisan attitude in criticizing Benitez, but just stating your opininon,
@jofrad: I’m always interested in the views of other fans. We all get so caught-up in our own team and of course can become biased and blinkered at times. Opposing fans can often see something from a more objective perspective.
And why participate on Blogs and forums if you don’t care about others opinions? I thought that was the whole point?
@light: Fair comments but interestingly I was suspicious of Benitez’ similar problem at Valentia. The only common factor in the 2 instances is Benitez and it could suggest that he has a problem in this area. Every manager has to answer to a hierarchy and learn to play the game.
On the question of where Liverpool fans stand in general, my reading is that more and more are turning against Benitez but this is based on what I’m reading which may not be representative or is partly based on emmotive reactions to poor results. What’s you take on this?
I believe that as long as the fans back him he’s protected but if he loses them I think he’ll jump rather than wait to be pushed.
Because of the internal problems at Liverpool Benitez may well go, pushed or not. But whatever happens, he has been a good manager for Liverpool and will not be short of offers from the very best clubs in Europe.
However my very real concern is for the future of the club itself. I fear that Tom Hicks has not the slightest intention of selling his holding, in which case the character of club will be permanently damaged. The “Old Liverpool” will be gone forever and will become just an international brand to be exploited.
I was born in Liverpool and have supported the club through the 2nd Division and throughout my life, (that gives some idea of my age !) I just want those American carpetbaggers out of the club, everthing else is secondary, but I fear its not going to happen. Its really really sad.
Bye Bye Benitez…Out Benitez, IN Mourinho …
Jofrad: I’m absolutely with u. It looks like the carpetbaggers just wanted to make a quick buck out of it. It looks they keep alternating between “shall I sell the damn club?” or “let me try to tinker and change things though I don’t know squat about this ’soccuh’”. The Klinsmann affair was just ridiculous. Here’s a guy who tried to coach Germany without leaving his home in California, and with almost no club experience at all and you try to replace a La Liga, Uefa Cup and Uefa Champions league winner(in all cases with underdogs) with him. He is managing Bayern Munich right now, who are in 5th place, despite having the best squad by far, in the league. Just imagine what he would have done to Liverpool. It’s a miracle that we are still managing to compete at the highest level, with barely 3 or 4 players who could even get into the rest of the top 4. Benitez is doing his best, which is probably as good as anybody can do, and we need a proper board to support him. The thing of utmost importance is to retain him for as long as we can. Luckily for us, it looks like he loves the club as much as we love him.
BD: Actually, he left Valencia, because of interfence from above. Obviously it was beyond his tolerance to leave a club where he achieved so much. Ofcourse he has to work under superiors but he is expected to perform miracles without giving proper funding to give him a squad worthy of competing with the top clubs is ridiculous. It is an untenable situation. As for some our fans, they’re frustrated because we’ve been at 1 and 2 for quite some time this year that they’ve forgotten that we don’t have a squad good enough to win the league. If we climb on Benitez’s back along with the board, we would staring at a bottomless well very soon.
#7 BD
Liverpool 4 R Madrid 0
Man u 1 Liverpool 4
Sell by date extended indefinately.
Delusional Moi ??
#7 BD “Look, it’s not a question of me trying to suggest that you are delusional….I’m just trying to establish just how delusional you actually are???”
Er, you were saying…………..!!!!!!!!!