Rafa the merciless

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Josemi - season and gone

Nunez - thanks but goodbye

Nando the goldenboy got 18mths but gone

Kromkamp - 6 months and gone

Pellegrino his adopted son - gone after 6 months

Garcia even, started most games in the 1st season but now is being confined more and more to the bench

 

On June 1st 2005 we had the following strike force

Baros

Cisse

Morientes

Pongolle

Mellor

 

15 months later on the 1st of September 2006 we have

Crouch

Fowler

Bellamy

Kuyt

 

Though he must have a real soft spot for The Sheriff

 

Seriously though, I respect the man especially because not only does he improve the squad constantly but if his own purchase of Spanish players dont work out then he is not afraid to let them go. I think that shows character that not many managers have !

[johngibo YPC]

The demise of Garcia is being largely exaggerated. He has started the last two games

[Falconhoof]

I always hated the way Houllier kept players year after year when they weren't coming good.

 

Rafa is doing what needs to be done, whats astonshing is his accuracy and ability to pick a player on a limited budget who will do exactly the job he want. Also his ability to build not only a team for now but, a squad to cover almost any tactical need and if thats not enough, a reserve squad of talented youngsters that don't cost 6 million a pair.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

The demise of Garcia is being largely exaggerated. He has started the last two games

 

I am going on last season to be honest mate, the % of games he start from his 1st season to his 2nd dropped I reckon and now with more wide and front players I dont see that changing too much

[johngibo YPC]

I am going on last season to be honest mate, the % of games he start from his 1st season to his 2nd dropped I reckon and now with more wide and front players I dont see that changing too much

 

i think its more horses for courses though. I don't think Rafa ever saw him as someone to play every game. I don't think he's lost any faith in Garcia in the right matches, or situations (Chelsea in cup semi for example)

 

agreed with the rest of the post anyway, sorry to be pedantic

[Guz]

I love the way he said he was happy with the strikeforce he inherited (Owen, Cisse, Baros, Pongolle) but now none of them are here anymore.

 

Rafa is doing what needs to be done, whats astonshing is his accuracy and ability to pick a player on a limited budget who will do exactly the job he want.

 

Hasn't quite mastered signing a good enough cover for right back mind you

[Benitez]

its hardly 'ruthlesness' though is it with Garcia. You are slightly overstating there.

 

It's more a case of Rafa doing something else he's very good at - strengthening the depth of the squad every transfer window.

 

Being ruthless is getting rid of Morientes. Not starting Garcia in 50 games isn't being ruthless! It's making good use of the squad he's now built.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

i think its more horses for courses though. I don't think Rafa ever saw him as someone to play every game. I don't think he's lost any faith in Garcia in the right matches, or situations (Chelsea in cup semi for example)

 

agreed with the rest of the post anyway, sorry to be pedantic

 

No worries mate, in fact I see Garcia as the one player who is truely different to everyone else and I dont just mean cause he scores winners against the Chavs in Semi-Finals.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

I could sign s**** players and quickly sell them on - piece of piss

[Stevie H]

I could sign s**** players and quickly sell them on - piece of piss

 

KAMF = rafa benitez / arsene wenger?

 

[Guest Scot]

KAMF = rafa benitez / arsene wenger?

 

 

Rafa/Wenger x Dowie = Ferguson

[Rory Fitzgerald]

I could sign s**** players and quickly sell them on - piece of piss

 

Well then I label your 1st mission - "Offload The Sheriff"

[elmer dinkley]

I could sign s**** players and quickly sell them on - piece of piss

Option 1: Watch player. Sign player. Observe in training and matches. If player is deemed unsuitable, sell immediately, ideally for the same amount as initial investment. Watch next player.

 

Option 2: Sign player based on youtube video. Insist player signs lucrative long-term contract. Change system to accommodate player. If player is deemed unsuitable, loan to other clubs while continuing to pay their wages. Watch next youtube video.

 

Not hard is it?

[hideNseek]

If Rafa was really merciless he'd hire a hitman to get rid of Diao.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

If Rafa was really merciless he'd hire a hitman to get rid of Diao.

 

Silence you fool !

 

Everyone knows that you cant outgun.........THE SHERIFF

[Guest daveD]

I always hated the way Houllier kept players year after year when they weren't coming good.

 

Rafa is doing what needs to be done, whats astonshing is his accuracy and ability to pick a player on a limited budget who will do exactly the job he want. Also his ability to build not only a team for now but, a squad to cover almost any tactical need and if thats not enough, a reserve squad of talented youngsters that don't cost 6 million a pair.

 

That was actually the biggest symptom of geds decline. He was equally ruthless in getting rid of the likes of ziege and westerveld in his glory years.

[magneto]

I thought Westerveld's riddance was the most ruthless bit of work by any LFC manager in 20 years.

[Bootle Buck]

After two seasons he has moved on those players he either felt were not good enough or didn't have the right attitude. Most of Houllier's buys are gone and he has even culled some of his own purchases. Even those youngsters who were being touted as future first teamers have been tested and moved on.

 

Players we have moved on such as Kirkland, Murphy, Owen, Heskey, Baros, Diouf, Cheyrou, Smicer, Morientes, Cisse, Henchoz, Kronkamp, ALT, FSP, Hamman, Josemi and Nunez would be a good enough squad team to compete in the premiership.

 

Include youngsters such as Welsh, Carson, Otsemebor, Barragan, Raven, Whitbread and Mellor and it is obvious Rafa is very much his own man and doesn't stand on sentiment

[Guest Cardie]

Josemi - season and gone

Nunez - thanks but goodbye

Nando the goldenboy got 18mths but gone

Kromkamp - 6 months and gone

Pellegrino his adopted son - gone after 6 months

Garcia even, started most games in the 1st season but now is being confined more and more to the bench

 

Don't think it's that ruthless to be honest.

 

Pellegrino, Kromkamp and Nunez were only ever going to be short term signings, Morientes and Josemi never really settled and so it was just sensible management.