Following on from the big thread

[Bailo]

No "league-position dependent" crap. Back him or not.

 

And don't vote Yes just to spite Cobs.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

no. He needs to prove more to get an extention.

 

He also needs another season to prove it, mind.

[Hassony]

no. He needs to prove more to get an extention.

 

He also needs another season to prove it, mind.

 

so 3 seasons, a cl, a cl final, a eurpoean super cup, an fa cup, a league cup final, and finishing 5-3-3, getting the highest number of points in our Premiership history is not enough for you to suggest that he deserve "backing"

[honourablegeorge]

I'd like to see Rafa get some form of backing from the owners - not a dreaded vote of confidence, or anything like it, I don't think words from the owners carry any weight any more - but I think a contract goes too far - Rafa's performance needs to improve too. Proper backing in the summer, and a season where the he's not working with a sword hanging over him.

[whitewidow]

In a heartbeat

[Guest Anders Honoré]

so 3 seasons, a cl, a cl final, a eurpoean super cup, an fa cup, a league cup final, and finishing 5-3-3, getting the highest number of points in our Premiership history is not enough for you to suggest that he deserve "backing"

 

he has shown enough to suggest he deserves backing this season and next at the least. His results in that period would determine if he deserves an even longer extention.

[Gunga Din]

i'd wait till next december. the performances in the league cannot all be contributed to what is going on behind the scenes, and we've been badly underperforming.

[Tones]

He deserves backing but doesnt deserve a new contract yet. How much did it cost to pay of Gerrard Houllier and the rest? £10m - £14m wasnt it. We cant afford to loose that sort of money again. Rafa has enough time left on his contract. I think he should show considerably better league form before we give him a new multi million pound contract.

[fred]

How much longer does his current one have to run?

 

At this point, he'd be safe from me for 1.5 years if I was an owner: if this season continues the way it's going ATM then he should get the full next season to try and turn it around. If that doesn't happen then I don't think it's going to if he's given one more...

[benno2]

I voted no.

 

If I were in G&H's position (if they are staying) and to dispel press pressure, quash the rift rumours and promote mid-term stability, I'd offer him a 1-year extension. That gives him three years from the end of this season, which is plenty and would be the first time that they have given him a deal, which ought to tell Rafa and the press something, at least for the rest of this season. By the season's end we could have won the FA Cup and CL. But the pressure on the CL is enormous now given the financial millstone around the club's neck. As is securing 4th spot. Some sort of commitment to stability is needed to help secure this.

 

It's very difficult to know how much of an effect the furore has had on the team, but I really doubt it's that great. Given this, the fact that we've struggled this season is undeniable and a good part of this has to be lain at Rafa's door. Overall, we've done nothing but tread water in the league.

 

As an aside, if Rafa is as astute and thorough as he's meant to be, he'll scrutinise the finances, work out what it means for future spendability and reject an extention anyway.

[Cobs]

How much longer does his current one have to run?

2.5 years

[Gunga Din]

How much longer does his current one have to run?

 

At this point, he'd be safe from me for 1.5 years if I was an owner: if this season continues the way it's going ATM then he should get the full next season to try and turn it around. If that doesn't happen then I don't think it's going to if he's given one more...

 

2 seasons after this one. and lets be honest, if we finish this season badly, and dont have a proper title challenge next, i dont think any discussion on contract extensions wil be needed.

[Bailo]

2 seasons after this one. and lets be honest, if we finish this season badly, and dont have a proper title challenge next, i dont think any discussion on contract extensions wil be needed.

So effectively you're saying that a new manager only has 5 years to win the league in?

[fred]

So effectively you're saying that a new manager only has 5 years to win the league in?

 

I wouldn't put it that way. Up to now, there's been an improvement season on season - this season is the first one that's shaping up like it may be a disappointment. In my book, Rafa should have the chance to turn this around, but frankly, if it doesn't happen next season, I don't think it will. I think the main problem in this scenario would be that the players would have lost the belief in the manager that is necessary for success. I believe this happened with Houllier and that is why it was time for him to go.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

So effectively you're saying that a new manager only has 5 years to win the league in?

 

more that 3 years without improving in the league is not worth an extention.

[Rimbeux]

I voted no because I'd extend him by a year up to 2011.

[honourablegeorge]

I wouldn't put it that way. Up to now, there's been an improvement season on season - this season is the first one that's shaping up like it may be a disappointment. In my book, Rafa should have the chance to turn this around, but frankly, if it doesn't happen next season, I don't think it will. I think the main problem in this scenario would be that the players would have lost the belief in the manager that is necessary for success. I believe this happened with Houllier and that is why it was time for him to go.

 

 

A disappointing/transitional season is often the way though, Wenger's had them, Ferguson's had them, even Moyes had one when he nearly relegated them.

 

Rafa's done enough in hs time here to warrant at least next season. But he needs to be backed in the summer, and backed fiercely.

[mally]

he's gone at the end of the season so it's immaterial

[Tones]

he's gone at the end of the season so it's immaterial

 

Any creedible source on this or just your feeling?

[Guest Scot]

How much longer does his current one have to run?

 

At this point, he'd be safe from me for 1.5 years if I was an owner: if this season continues the way it's going ATM then he should get the full next season to try and turn it around. If that doesn't happen then I don't think it's going to if he's given one more...

 

Exactly what I think.

[johngibo YPC]

Yeah i'd give him a 1 1/2 year extension too

Unfortunatly that doesn't appear to be an option

[usualsuspect]

Voted no. Agree with the 1.5 yr extension regime.

And to answer an earlier question any manager at a club like Liverpool should at least be up there challenging for at least 2 yrs of his 1st 5 yr tenure, or at the least producing undeniable progress. There can be no doubting that Rafa has struggled to get to grips with the PL but if he can get it right then we might see the consistency shown in our CL filtering thru to the league.

[hideNseek]

How much longer does his current one have to run?

 

At this point, he'd be safe from me for 1.5 years if I was an owner: if this season continues the way it's going ATM then he should get the full next season to try and turn it around. If that doesn't happen then I don't think it's going to if he's given one more...

He hasn't got that much to turn around. A decent winger and partner for Torres. We've still only lost 2 premiership games.

[psl]

He hasn't got that much to turn around. A decent winger and partner for Torres. We've still only lost 2 premiership games.

 

And drawn 10, won fewer at home than Sunderland/Bolton etc.

[Keita]

If we hand Rafa a new contract, and we don't improve in the league(not saying we wont) and they then decide to sack him the small matter of compensation will come into it. Wasn't we crippled by paying Houllier off?