slip of the tongue?

[Herbie von Smalls]

anyone hear Rafa's post-match interview on 5live? usual calibre of comments until he mentioned about wanting to win trophies for 'the next three or four years'. there was a beat, before he added, with a smile in his voice, 'or maybe longer'

 

the way he said both the first part and then the 'maybe longer' made me think that although it was a spontaneous interview, he may actually have his sights already firmly set on seeing out his contract and then moving on. i realise it may be reading too much into a few harmless words, but it was more the tone that got me thinking: 'christ, maybe Rafa is here for the short haul only!'.

 

i do believe he'll bring us great success, but this was a bit of a wake-up call that no matter how well he does, how well he's treated and how much he's loved he may not be the kind of man that has undying emotional obligations to LFC - not that it's the be-all and end-all of being an LFC manager, but i've always like to think that the club, the fans and the city have a way of getting under the skin and 'taking root'.

[aka Dus]

4 more years would make it 6 in total, which wouldnt be short haul.

 

I would say that to expect many more than that is optimistic.

[Molby]

anyone hear Rafa's post-match interview on 5live? usual calibre of comments until he mentioned about wanting to win trophies for 'the next three or four years'. there was a beat, before he added, with a smile in his voice, 'or maybe longer'

 

the way he said both the first part and then the 'maybe longer' made me think that although it was a spontaneous interview, he may actually have his sights already firmly set on seeing out his contract and then moving on. i realise it may be reading too much into a few harmless words, but it was more the tone that got me thinking: 'christ, maybe Rafa is here for the short haul only!'.

 

i do believe he'll bring us great success, but this was a bit of a wake-up call that no matter how well he does, how well he's treated and how much he's loved he may not be the kind of man that has undying emotional obligations to LFC - not that it's the be-all and end-all of being an LFC manager, but i've always like to think that the club, the fans and the city have a way of getting under the skin and 'taking root'.

fwiw, I think that had the 'Liverpool factor' not applied, there could have been many times when he would have walked already

[Herbie von Smalls]

4 more years would make it 6 in total, which wouldnt be short haul.

four years from now is still a short haul, compared to the likes of wenger & ferguson who have achieved the kind of success we'd like to see from rafa's tenure.

[Benitez]

it'd be a long haul for him tho

 

Doubt Rafa thinks too far ahead regards his own career, he's had too many ups and downs in football to think all will be fine and dandy always.

 

And I think it's just realistic to think he'll want to go back to Spain at some point while he's still at the top.

[aka Dus]

four years from now is still a short haul, compared to the likes of wenger & ferguson who have achieved the kind of success we'd like to see from rafa's tenure.

 

If he won a couple of leagues and another CL in that 4 years then it would be more surprising if he stayed.

 

To expect him to stay even as long as Wenger is a nice idea but I think its a non runner.

[£440,000]

anyone hear Rafa's post-match interview on 5live? usual calibre of comments until he mentioned about wanting to win trophies for 'the next three or four years'. there was a beat, before he added, with a smile in his voice, 'or maybe longer'

 

the way he said both the first part and then the 'maybe longer' made me think that although it was a spontaneous interview, he may actually have his sights already firmly set on seeing out his contract and then moving on. i realise it may be reading too much into a few harmless words, but it was more the tone that got me thinking: 'christ, maybe Rafa is here for the short haul only!'.

 

i do believe he'll bring us great success, but this was a bit of a wake-up call that no matter how well he does, how well he's treated and how much he's loved he may not be the kind of man that has undying emotional obligations to LFC - not that it's the be-all and end-all of being an LFC manager, but i've always like to think that the club, the fans and the city have a way of getting under the skin and 'taking root'.

 

Herb, I didn't hear it but that could just as easily be taken as a hint that he sees himself being at the club for longer than the length of his contract. None of us can second guess what he thinks and I have a feeling he'll be around for a good while yet.

[fred milne]

To expect him to stay even as long as Wenger is a nice idea but I think its a non runner.

I don't see why necessarily.

 

Granted managing Real is an attraction for him that no club in France has for Wenger but he is still fairly young in managerial terms and has plenty of time to take up the job at the Bernabeu if he has his heart set on that.

[Herbie von Smalls]

i've not really had expectations, other than that Rafa will see out his contract, though of course i hope he'll stay long beyond his current contract.

 

it occurred to me today that Rafa has already planned his future. i guess i would have felt better remaining under the impression that he would have mapped out his future much closer to the expiry of his current contract.

 

Herb, I didn't hear it but that could just as easily be taken as a hint that he sees himself being at the club for longer than the length of his contract. None of us can second guess what he thinks and I have a feeling he'll be around for a good while yet.

true, true £440k. but for me the tone of his 'maybe longer' comment suggested he felt the need to extinguish any potential protracted debate on his future beyond the contract.

[crisps]

perhaps he's just not taking it for granted he will be offered a new contract (even though he most likely would be)

[Benitez]

i've not really had expectations, other than that Rafa will see out his contract, though of course i hope he'll stay long beyond his current contract.

 

it occurred to me today that Rafa has already planned his future. i guess i would have felt better remaining under the impression that he would have mapped out his future much closer to the expiry of his current contract.

 

 

maybe he has mapped it out to an extent, but then he'll also know he's in a career that can change so quickly, not always for the best.

 

Being as he's alredy gone through some pretty unnerving experiences in football, guess it'd be hard to plan that far ahead, however much you wanted too!

 

TBH tho, I've never expected him to be here long term, just cos I expect him to want to go back to Spain while he is still at the top (rather than when he's winding down his career), and not just cos of his links to Real Madrid. I just think that he still has some bitterness about how things went with Valencia in the end, and will feel that his career in Spain has a long way to run.

[Herbie von Smalls]

I don't see why necessarily.

 

Granted managing Real is an attraction for him that no club in France has for Wenger but he is still fairly young in managerial terms and has plenty of time to take up the job at the Bernabeu if he has his heart set on that.

apart from the emotional pull of LFC, fans & city, i would like to think that there aren't any other 'big' clubs that would permit Rafa such a (comparatively) free reign in the running of the set-up.

 

then again, he's got a young family to consider too.

[trowie]

i've not really had expectations, other than that Rafa will see out his contract, though of course i hope he'll stay long beyond his current contract.

 

it occurred to me today that Rafa has already planned his future. i guess i would have felt better remaining under the impression that he would have mapped out his future much closer to the expiry of his current contract.

true, true £440k. but for me the tone of his 'maybe longer' comment suggested he felt the need to extinguish any potential protracted debate on his future beyond the contract.

I think as the other poster said, he is probably being non assutious. I will be here longer if the club have me.

[fred milne]

apart from the emotional pull of LFC, fans & city, i would like to think that there aren't any other 'big' clubs that would permit Rafa such a (comparatively) free reign in the running of the set-up.

Agree with that and I'm sure similar holds for Wenger at Arsenal.

[£440,000]

maybe he has mapped it out to an extent, but then he'll also know he's in a career that can change so quickly, not always for the best.

 

Being as he's alredy gone through some pretty unnerving experiences in football, guess it'd be hard to plan that far ahead, however much you wanted too!

 

TBH tho, I've never expected him to be here long term, just cos I expect him to want to go back to Spain while he is still at the top (rather than when he's winding down his career), and not just cos of his links to Real Madrid. I just think that he still has some bitterness about how things went with Valencia in the end, and will feel that his career in Spain has a long way to run.

 

I agree. I've heard a few people over here express the opinion that he'd never go to Madrid. He knows it's a poisoned chalice.

 

After managing an English club I think he'd find it hard to go back to a Spanish club and back to the diiferent role being a manager there entails. A high level of success here might put him in a strong enough position to rewrite the managerial job description in Spain.

[Keita]

anyone hear Rafa's post-match interview on 5live? usual calibre of comments until he mentioned about wanting to win trophies for 'the next three or four years'. there was a beat, before he added, with a smile in his voice, 'or maybe longer'

 

the way he said both the first part and then the 'maybe longer' made me think that although it was a spontaneous interview, he may actually have his sights already firmly set on seeing out his contract and then moving on. i realise it may be reading too much into a few harmless words, but it was more the tone that got me thinking: 'christ, maybe Rafa is here for the short haul only!'.

 

i do believe he'll bring us great success, but this was a bit of a wake-up call that no matter how well he does, how well he's treated and how much he's loved he may not be the kind of man that has undying emotional obligations to LFC - not that it's the be-all and end-all of being an LFC manager, but i've always like to think that the club, the fans and the city have a way of getting under the skin and 'taking root'.

 

 

he is a ambitious manager, im sure he wants to manage Spain in a world cup and Real madrid still.

[Guest Kikuchiyo]

I think Rafa's family will have a big say in how long he stays at Anfield. If Mrs B wants back to Spain or his kids start to feel unsettled as they get older (their education might be a factor), then I think that will result in him heading back home. On a straight football front - then as long as the Board back him fully and help him take the club forward then he could be here longer. If we're successful and consistently challenging for PL & CL - then it could be that any other potential move might not be as atractice to him. At lot can happen over the next four years - so who knows? I don't think you can interpret too much from the 5live interview. If he hadn't said "maybe longer" then that could have just as easily be interpreted as him only being willing to see out his contract.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

I don't really think Real Madrid is the invetable pull for rafa. I doubt he is gonna go there without the control he enjoys here. I can see him leaving to manage Spain more than Real.

 

Think him moving on would probably be motivated more by family circumstances.

[kacangpool]

perhaps he's just not taking it for granted he will be offered a new contract (even though he most likely would be)

 

yea, to say he'd be here forever would be lying. cos he had to die sometime.

Edited August 13, 2006 by kacangpool

[Keita]

I think he is in love with Liverpool, and loves the complete control side of things, but if things like his family come into it he will move on, but some of his signings suggest he is he long term.

[Guz]

he is a ambitious manager, im sure he wants to manage Spain in a world cup and Real madrid still.

 

Not until he has created a dynasty here.

 

Stop worrying.

[hideNseek]

He knows our history (and certainly his wife does) so I reckon he'll want to go down in our history as another Shankly, Fagan, Paisley, Dalglish.

 

I'm guessing Rafa will do at least 15 years here before he even contemplates going home.

[cochyn]

Not until he has created a dynasty here.

 

Stop worrying.

 

C*ck on that. Reckon Benitez has picked up on the vibe around Liverpool after the CL win. A city reborn it was!

 

Also, there's no better measure of a manager than one whose built a force from comparatively meagre resources. We're a force, Rafa's force at that!

[Dule]

I think Rafa's ambition to challenge himself will one day see him leaving us. Wether tahts in 4/6/8 years, it will happen.

 

He will either end up leaving us for Real, or my theory, leading spain to there first world cup win? Could you imagine what Rafa would do with the lineup that spain had at the world cup? PLEASE!!

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

This is Liverpool, not any old club. This club gets under your skin & gets into every cell in your body. Once it's there, it's not a 'habit' you can kick like tabs or skag. It's there...

 

Anyway - Jose's longest managerial stint to date is 2.5 years. I think Rafa will be with Liverpool after Jose has fecked off somewhere else