Liverpool owners want Rafa to prove his worth
Rafa Benitez has done an admirable job at Liverpool since taking over. He hasn’t been brilliant – that would be Jose Mourinho’s 3-year stint at Chelsea – but in his own way he has given Liverpool respect and bit by bit transformed them into formidable opponents in Europe.
That he hasn’t enjoyed similar success in the Premier League has as much to do with the heavy spending of his rivals as it does with the time Rafa has taken to adapt to the Premier League and the frequent chopping and changing of his squad. Every year Liverpool look a step closer to the title and every year one thing or the other undermines their quest for success.
On the basis of his performances in the last few years, Benitez deserves an extension to his contract. However, Hicks and Gillett will have looked at the situation from a distance (no pun intended) and come to the conclusion that, if Liverpool want to compete on an equal footing with Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, then at the very least Liverpool need to match Arsenal’s form of last season till Christmas.
In other words, Rafa needs to earn the contract extension. He needs to get Liverpool in a position to be a genuine challenger for the title, not mathematically-possible outsiders of past years. And Liverpool finish in the top 2 or top 3 in a close title race, there wouldn’t have been a significant enough improvement in Liverpool’s performances to merit resigning Rafa for several more years, regardless of what he’s done in the past.
Topics: English Premier League, Liverpool, Rafael Benitez
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Get an idea dude! Rafa is wanted at more clubs than you can shake a stick at!
October 8th, 2008 @ 15:18Hope he stays at Liverpool and the yanks “see” for a change!
Rafa has done a fantastic job with a shoe string budget! Rebuilt a team extended the youth accadamy and outstripped Jose in Europe. Jose was covered in a pool of money! Hes no mastermind. Give Rafa the same backing and you would be all left in LFC wake!
October 8th, 2008 @ 16:07“then at the very least Liverpool need to match Arsenal’s form of last season till Christmas.”
Excuse me if i’m wrong here, but haven’t LFC won more trophies than Arsenal since Rafa’s arrival at the club. Arsenal have spent less, however Wenger has had his youth policy in place for longer, Rafa has had to reconstruct the youth set up at LFC in a very short time. As for the 1st team the gulf between what Rafa had in his first Champions League winning season and Mourinho’s premier league debut is huge. Hat’s off to Mourinho it was some feat but one i doubt he would have done at LFC without the money. He left Chelsea when he ran out of ideas and when the money was turned off due to his poor dealings in the market. He had got as far as he could go with Chelsea, there was no long term plan for sustained success. I’m sure it will be the same at Inter.
October 8th, 2008 @ 16:27It is very clear that united fans are worried about what rafa can do at liverpool and it is because of this they want him out.
October 8th, 2008 @ 19:37I’d love to know where the bit about ‘matching the run of Arsenal……’etc came from. And what did Arsenal win last year? And who knocked them out of Europe??
The noises coming from behind the scenes are that the club will soon change hands and Rafa will THEN be offered a new deal.
The other point is, if the yanks are unfortunately staying – I doubt there is another manager out there who could do what Rafa has done. If we lose him, we’ll be set back another 5/6 years and the club will probably end up like Leeds. They have shown nothing but a lack of knowledge for the game by trying to hire Klinsmann (who is ALREADY under pressure at Bayern!!!) and all the rest of the shite that happened. Their idiotic behaviour derailed us last season. The least they can do now is agree a sale and just GO …..NOW!!!!!
YNWA Rafa
October 8th, 2008 @ 20:35The idea that Rafael Benitez has anything to prove to Ms Hicks & Gillett is absolute nonsense. It is they who had something to prove to Liverpool FC but have blown it for good.
October 8th, 2008 @ 23:02The owners say rafa have prove his worth but G&H broke every worth what they promise and rafa want a new contract stupid owners promise promise over and over again and do nothing for the club
October 9th, 2008 @ 06:42prove his worth IN THE LEAGUE. Read, goddammit, read.
October 9th, 2008 @ 07:05I personally think that Rafa is worth more then the owner worth for the Liverpool fans & for the Club.
Rafa have brought in a marvelous players around him & starting to show sign of improvements recently. With Limited Fund he can do this!
Hicks & Gillett – The Worst Thing That Have Happen To Liverpool is having owners like them.
October 9th, 2008 @ 09:29If the yanks want rafa to prove his worth,then they have to keep their promises and back him in the transfer market.
Something they have failed to do.
Rafa has had to go and buy his 3rd or 4th transfer targets because they didn’t want to put their hands in their own pockets.
The sooner the yanks are gone the better liverpool will be.
October 9th, 2008 @ 10:00If Rafa goes then the final nail in the yanks coffin will be put in place.
October 9th, 2008 @ 13:44We must stand up and let the yanks know we the faithfull want them out – hey it worked at Newcastle – so why not at Liverpool.
More protests, more voices in the crowd against the yanks – come on the kop and every red bloodied Liverpool supporter let your voices be heard………
GET OUT HICKS AND GILLETT
Rafa has nothing to to prove to Hicks & Gillett in the LEAGUE, FA CUP, CARLING CUP,CHAMPIONS LEAGUE or on the Birkenhead Ferry.
October 9th, 2008 @ 14:09When did you write this article, last year? Someone should let the americans know they are not living up to expectations, not Rafa…
October 9th, 2008 @ 19:50The americans own the club, they don’t answer to anyone, except maybe the banks. Rafa on the other hand has yet to challenge for the top 2 in the league after several years in England.
October 10th, 2008 @ 04:16“However, Hicks and Gillett will have looked at the situation from a distance (no pun intended) and come to the conclusion that, if Liverpool want to compete on an equal footing with Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, then at the very least Liverpool need to match Arsenal’s form of last season till Christmas.”
Have they indeed? They told you this did they? Or is it a dream you had?
October 10th, 2008 @ 07:54Let’s clear up the point about Arsenal first. The comment was in relation to what Liverpool need to do this season to establish a genuine title challenge. It was NOT a comparison of what has been achieved in recent years. Stop being paranoid and read what is said.
Secondly, while Benitez is a good manager and should DEFINITELY be retained, I believe that the problem with the owners is a relationship one. What Liverpool fans refuse to accept is where this all started, so let’s recap.
New owners arrive in summer 2007, front-up 50million for transfers, expedite plans for the new stadium and stay out of interfering with the football side of things. A dream start you might say. Rafa declares himself delighted with his squad (additions) as the season starts and all is rosy on Merseyside. After a good start Rafa hits a bumpy patch and comes under scrutiny for his rotation policy (by Liverpool fans as well as the media). To take the pressure off, Rafa goes to the media and slags off the owners for not promising MORE money to spend in the January transfer window. All this just 3 months after he was ‘delighted’ with his squad for the season. As has been said, even if he did have a legitimate gripe it is not the Liverpool way to wash your dirty laundry in public.
Now if you can bring yourself to ignore everything that has happened since you may be able to see that it was Rafa who started the relationshop problem. Gillet and Hicks are very successful businessmen, regardless of what you think of them, and as such they as used to a level of diplomacy and respect in business dealings. Rafa showed none of this so I understand why the relationship is a problem, even if Liverpool fans will never buy into this.
The other legitimate criticism of Rafa is his record in the transfer market…average at best. But that’s not to say he hasn’t got the all round quality to take things forward.
As for: “It is very clear that united fans are worried about what rafa can do at liverpool and it is because of this they want him out.”
Thats an understatement my friend. As a Utd fan when I look at the relative quality of the two squads I’m not worried…..I’m terrfied!!
Not!!!!!!!!
October 10th, 2008 @ 12:08“Gillett and Hicks are very successful businessmen, regardless of what you think of them, and as such they as used to a level of diplomacy and respect in business dealings.”
October 10th, 2008 @ 15:20Complete bollocks, a pair of lying conmen whose promises are as worthless as Christiano Ronaldo’s loyalty and gratitude to Man Utd. It was H&G who screwed up “the relationship” by approaching Jurgen Klinsmen and telling Rafa to concentrate on coaching.
Oh and I’m really pleased you’re not terrified of Liverpool. From your position in the table, why should you be ??
“The americans own the club, they don’t answer to anyone, except maybe the banks”
October 10th, 2008 @ 16:22Wrong again. H&G like all football club owners are answerable to the fans who pay the wages, salaries, directors fees and expenses of everyone employed by the club.
@Jofrad:
The sooner you let go of that fantasy the easier it will be for you when something goes tits up and you realise that fans are powerless.
October 10th, 2008 @ 17:33The fans are getting rid of Ashley at Newcastle and they will get rid of H&G at Liverpool.
October 10th, 2008 @ 18:02The fans are NOT powerless, they can vote with their feet. All professional sports clubs are dependent on bums on seats, merchandise etc. You can’t get more real than that. Owners who upset fans are asking for trouble and H&G have really upset Liverpool fans. It won’t take much for the club’s income to fall (eg failing to qualify for the Champions League)and then what ?? Sack Rafa recruit Jose Mourinho. You’ve got to be joking. Neither of these 2 conmen have got the bottle to sack Rafa because he’s too popular with the fans. He’s only been at Liverpool for 4 years, how many years did it take Alex Ferguson to win his first title ?? Its you who needs a reality check.
Jofrad, the approach to Klinsman came after rafa threw his toys out of the pram. He started it but, as I said, it just suits Liverpool fans not to accept this.
Your point about the fans is partly true. the problem is that fans are so committed that they never vote with their feet.
And if you think the current positions in the table means something you’re setting yourself up for a fall again I’m afraid!
October 11th, 2008 @ 02:55BD Nothing lasts forever, execept of course if you’re a Man U fan but Sir Alex (whom I Like by the way) will retire soon.
October 11th, 2008 @ 09:25Rafa “toys” episode was born of frustration at lack of funds immediately after losing the CL Final to AC Milan and was not aimed at the new owners who’d only just bought the club. Perhaps he could have been a little more diplomatic but by and large he has handled his position under H&G’s disastrous ownership very well. H&G on the other hand have shown themselves worthy of no respect whatsoever.
Rafa is the man to take Liverpool forward,he loves the city and the club and the fans will support him to the hilt. That is the Liverpool way.
Notwithstanding the credit crunch any bank considering loaning money to H&G will take into account the owners’ unpopularity before doing so. Liverpool fans will get rid of these two shysters one way or the other.
Jofrad, The following link is a reminder of what happened at the time. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article2943513.ece
October 14th, 2008 @ 01:40I’m not making any case for G&H. Personally I have little time for American owners.
I’ve always felt though that the undying support for Rafa and the vitriolic hatred of the Amreicans is a little unbalanced and does not reflect the real facts.
Rafa should have tried harder against Athletico I think…
August 15th, 2009 @ 12:18“Difficult game”