Rafa is still the best manager in the world,

[ricflairandy]

I cannot think of another manager in football today who under the same circumstances would have done any better than rafa since he took over. For me he is still the best manager in the world, and the most important person at the club.

 

As for those who are questioning his signings, why? . I know he hasnt signed ronaldinho or henry, but with the money available and the players needed hes done a good job. As good as or better than anyone else with a simlar budget. The money has had to be spread thinner becasuse of the amount of players we need. We where left with a right load of dross from the prevous regime , 1 or 2 world class players beside.

[shaq]

I cannot think of another manager in football today who under the same circumstances would have done any better than rafa since he took over. For me he is still the best manager in the world, and the most important person at the club.

 

As for those who are questioning his signings, why? . I know he hasnt signed ronaldinho or henry, but with the money available and the players needed hes done a good job. As good as or better than anyone else with a simlar budget. The money has had to be spread thinner becasuse of the amount of players we need. We where left with a right load of dross from the prevous regime , 1 or 2 world class players beside.

 

Agreed. All those that are saying we should get rid of Rafa, I notice that none of them has suggested a replacement.

[ricflairandy]

Dont get me wrong, he got it totally wrong in the league cup game and fa cup game mainly by playing dudek.

 

However name me one manager in the league who hasnt gotten it wrong a few times? Did Fergie get it wrong when we beat them in the fa cup last year? Did jose get it wrong when drawing the last 3 or 4 league games? Did wenger get it wrong this year in the league , resulting in them being behind us?

[DarthVader]

Some people on here seem to think Rafa is going to bring us instant success.The great Liverpool teams of the 70's and 80's was not built in 2 or 3 years.We are making steady progress under Rafa but we have to accept that there will be some hicccups along the way.When you compare the fact the he has been in charge for about 2 yrs + and Wenger (10 years) and Ferguson (20 yrs) his achievement of winning the CL and FAC in that space of time is very good.With new funding soon in place he will not have to worry about money for transfers any more.

[Archangel]

He's a very talented perceptive and shrewd manager who pays attention to everything in meticulous detail. He thinks systems not personalities and conducts himself in a most professional manner. He has his own ways which you have to accept as part of the package and never complains about the financial restrictions which must frustrate him at times.He's no messiah but anyone who thinks that they could name a successor who would bring more success to the club are kidding themselves. I hope he serves out and then he extends his contract , I for one appreciate what he is doing here but its not a smooth ride

Edited January 10, 2007 by Splint

[M4TTA]

I'd like to put a perpesctive view on this that i've been thinking for some time.

 

the two most succesfull managers in the Premier league are Slur Alex and our dear friend the Paedo down south at the New Library.

 

How long did it take both managers to become as successful as they did in their respective great days?? I dont knoow the answer, but a wild stab in the dark would say more than 3-4 years. Taking time to instill in the current sqaud, the new squad member bought by the managers and the young members how to play like the 1st teamers so that when they break through, there is a straight swap for player, how the manager wants the club to play and be succesfull.

 

Now i'd also take a wild stab in the dark that those two managers won some silver ware on the way to being at the top of their game.

 

Its just an observation, not a dig at anyone, but would just like to say that in Rafa i believe he is the right person without a shadow of a doubt, to take this club to the next level. That i am sure of. It's just going to take time..

 

If we win some sliver on the way, top notch, if we don't, its not the end, the man is a perfectionist, and he will perfect Liverpool.

 

that is all.

[anny road]

I'd like to put a perpesctive view on this that i've been thinking for some time.

 

the two most succesfull managers in the Premier league are Slur Alex and our dear friend the Paedo down south at the New Library.

 

How long did it take both managers to become as successful as they did in their respective great days?? I dont knoow the answer, but a wild stab in the dark would say more than 3-4 years. Taking time to instill in the current sqaud, the new squad member bought by the managers and the young members how to play like the 1st teamers so that when they break through, there is a straight swap for player, how the manager wants the club to play and be succesfull.

 

Now i'd also take a wild stab in the dark that those two managers won some silver ware on the way to being at the top of their game.

 

Its just an observation, not a dig at anyone, but would just like to say that in Rafa i believe he is the right person without a shadow of a doubt, to take this club to the next level. That i am sure of. It's just going to take time..

 

If we win some sliver on the way, top notch, if we don't, its not the end, the man is a perfectionist, and he will perfect Liverpool.

 

that is all.

 

 

ferguson installed in 86..won the league in 93..

 

Wenger took a lot less...BUT he inherited the best back four in the country plus a great keeper

[Hassony]

I'd like to put a perpesctive view on this that i've been thinking for some time.

 

the two most succesfull managers in the Premier league are Slur Alex and our dear friend the Paedo down south at the New Library.

 

 

can you stop calling him that, its not funny

[£440,000]

can you stop calling him that, its not funny

 

I agree.

[psl]

I agree.

 

Me too. And he won the league in his first season.

 

Rafa won the CL in his though...

[guernseygareth]

can you stop calling him that, its not funny

 

aye, isn't he professor yaffle?

 

[Hassony]

Rafa has won more games in his first 100 league games than either wenger or ferguson

[Magic8Ball]

Not meaning to talk Rafa down, he is meticulous, shrewd and a good manager but his reluctance to trust genius and ingenuity could be his undoing - several times now what we've been lacking is that creative spark - wide players who can score 10 goals a season and force defenders into errors - until we get those we will be also rans

[Guz]

We fell short of a proper title challenge last season because of 6 games - home and away to chelsea, a***, mancs. The same will happen again this year. We just need some more individual quality in the side and we'll finally make the next step. It'll happen with Rafa in charge, just needs patience and lessons to be learnt from mistakes.

[ricflairandy]

Not meaning to talk Rafa down, he is meticulous, shrewd and a good manager but his reluctance to trust genius and ingenuity could be his undoing - several times now what we've been lacking is that creative spark - wide players who can score 10 goals a season and force defenders into errors - until we get those we will be also rans

 

 

 

I wouldnt say its his reluctance, id say its more the lack of funds available to search out and find the few top quality players who can do this,

[Molby]

Me too. And he won the league in his first season.

 

Rafa won the CL in his though...

 

 

what??

 

he won the league in 98

[M4TTA]

erm it was said in jest if i've offended then i'm sorry...

[Snookie]

 

the two most succesfull managers in the Premier league are Slur Alex and our dear friend the paedo Paedo down south at the New Library.

 

 

A reasonable post spoilt by some petty small mindedness

[Sion]

Am I reading too much into this, or does anyone else think these odds are crazy?

 

 

Next Premiership manager to leave

SELECTION

Gareth Southgate 5/2

Stuart Pearce 3/1

Alan Curbishley 7/1

Chris Coleman 10/1

Paul Jewell 10/1

Rafa Benitez 10/1

Aidy Boothroyd 12/1

Glenn Roeder 12/1

Jose Mourinho 14/1

Alan Pardew 16/1

Mark Hughes 16/1

Sam Allardyce 33/1

Harry Redknapp 40/1

Martin Jol 40/1

Neil Warnock 40/1

Martin O'Neill 50/1

Steve Coppell 50/1

Arsene Wenger 66/1

David Moyes 66/1

Sir Alex Ferguson 66/1

 

Ladbrokes reckon only Southgate, Pearce and Curbishley have a greater chance of leaving?

Edited January 10, 2007 by Sion

[psl]

Am I reading too much into this, or does anyone else think these odds are crazy?

Next Premiership manager to leave

SELECTION

Gareth Southgate 5/2

Stuart Pearce 3/1

Alan Curbishley 7/1

Chris Coleman 10/1

Paul Jewell 10/1

Rafa Benitez 10/1

Aidy Boothroyd 12/1

Glenn Roeder 12/1

Jose Mourinho 14/1

Alan Pardew 16/1

Mark Hughes 16/1

Sam Allardyce 33/1

Harry Redknapp 40/1

Martin Jol 40/1

Neil Warnock 40/1

Martin O'Neill 50/1

Steve Coppell 50/1

Arsene Wenger 66/1

David Moyes 66/1

Sir Alex Ferguson 66/1

 

Ladbrokes reckon only Southgate, Pearce and Curbishley have a greater chance of leaving?

 

Why is Moyes considered so safe?

[RafaShanks]

Why is Moyes considered so safe?

 

Maybe it's got something to do with they've got feck all chance of winning anything or even coming close.

[Magic8Ball]

I wouldnt say its his reluctance, id say its more the lack of funds available to search out and find the few top quality players who can do this,

I hope you are right, I would prefer to think its down to not being able to afford the creative attack players Rafa believes in

 

I just feel ( right now) that he doesn't know/get the creative/impromptu side of the game and this makes us a good team, with often great tactical positioning and play

but in attack it makes us REALLY VERY PREDICTABLE

 

Chelsea when they were doing well had Duff, Robben, Cole, Drogba ( who this season has come of age)

Utd have Rooney, Ronaldo, Scholes, Giggs, Saha

Arsenal have their creative players too ( too many to mention)

 

we dont we just have a Good potentially great attacking midfielder - Gerrard .....

 

I dont think its a fluke that we beat Chelsea last year for the FA cup final when Kewell bust a gut down the left

[Hassony]

Am I reading too much into this, or does anyone else think these odds are crazy?

Next Premiership manager to leave

SELECTION

Gareth Southgate 5/2

Stuart Pearce 3/1

Alan Curbishley 7/1

Chris Coleman 10/1

Paul Jewell 10/1

Rafa Benitez 10/1

Aidy Boothroyd 12/1

Glenn Roeder 12/1

Jose Mourinho 14/1

Alan Pardew 16/1

Mark Hughes 16/1

Sam Allardyce 33/1

Harry Redknapp 40/1

Martin Jol 40/1

Neil Warnock 40/1

Martin O'Neill 50/1

Steve Coppell 50/1

Arsene Wenger 66/1

David Moyes 66/1

Sir Alex Ferguson 66/1

 

Ladbrokes reckon only Southgate, Pearce and Curbishley have a greater chance of leaving?

 

its probabLy because cappelo is struggling at madrid and rafa is bound to be linked once again with the madrid job

[LFCJari37]

What gets me is that Rafa is routinely panned in the media while Martin Jol for instance is said to be doing a great job despite not having won a sausage and Spurs being no closer to the top 4 than when he arrived. You can bet that had it been us that dipped out of 4th last season in the last game Rafa would have been flogged mercilessly in the press.

I dont understand the kneejerk reaction here as soon as we have a loss, granted it was pretty embarrassing but every manager has to swallow a result like that at some point, Wenger 6-1 at OT, Slur Alex 6-3 v Soton and 5-0 v Newcy just some examples. Rafa is a top manager, hes a top man and he is bringing better times to LFC, im sure of it.

[stressederic]

what??

 

he won the league in 98

 

That was his first full season. Pretty sure he had to wait to take over from Bruce Rioch until a couple of months into the 96/97 season.