All hail to the Raf-meister

[David Hodgson]

Whatever happens now, he's proved himself truly a magician in this competition. It is the sporting world's premier trophy, after the World Cup, and Rafa is this competition's 'special one'.

 

In January as we limped out of title contention, playing more increasingly badly by the week, I felt Rafa's Liverpool career was at it's crossroads. His loyalist fans here wouldn't hear it, and felt he should be our manager next season, regardless.

 

My view then, as now, was that his 'right' to the job depended on what happened next. Back then, the possibility of falling behind Everton, and surrendering to Inter Milan in the Champions league looked not impossible prospects. I felt Rafa had to put in a run in the CL and finish strongly in the prem. to earn another season at our helm.

 

Well, the season ain't over but he's already completed half the 'job', in my book. We can ask no more of him than this season's CL campaign, whatever may happen next. In the league we are on a brilliant run, which dates back to Sunderland at Anfield, and was blipped only by the result at Old Trafford.

 

I thought Rafa's team selection was superb last night, even if it took a while for it to look so. We're quick to damn managers when things go wrong, so no holding back when a man achieves this much for one club.

[Bootle Buck]

I am sitting here listening to that t*** Adrien Durham on Talksport who slaughtered Rafa a few months ago. Today he is asking callers to talk about the magic Rafa creates in the CL and wondering if Wenger is finished

 

Edited April 9, 2008 by Bootle Buck

[Guest Raisbeck]

He has clearly lost the dressing room though.

[Guest Prongsy]

I disagree with most of that post, I have to admit. I do agree that he deserves massive respect and credit though.

[David Hodgson]

I disagree with most of that post, I have to admit. I do agree that he deserves massive respect and credit though.

 

Of course you do.

 

So you don't think he's turned around what was begining to look a pretty disappointing season ?

[David Hodgson]

He has clearly lost the dressing room though.

 

Well, if he ever came close, he now seems to have found it again. Maybe it was behind the back of Packo's couch.

[MFletcher]

I've maintained all season that the man is a genius.

 

He's lost one two legged tie in four years - that's an absolutely unbelievable record.

[sutty]

Well, if he ever came close, he now seems to have found it again. Maybe it was behind the back of Packo's couch.

 

 

Isn't it always

[Jim D]

Rafa as a manager in Europe has now appeared in 4 semi-finals in the past 5 years, fantastic record.

Edited April 9, 2008 by Jim D

[Guest Ant]

Rafa is a fantastic manager in Europe.

[Maldini]

Rafa is a fantastic manager in Europe.

 

WUM

[David Hodgson]

Rafa is a fantastic manager in Europe.

 

I see what you did there Ant.

 

I'm slowly coming round to the view (actually it's purely knee-jerk) that I could happily see out my days without us ever coming close to the title, if Euro glory is on the menu this regularly.

[mooks]

Whatever happens now, he's proved himself truly a magician in this competition. It is the sporting world's premier trophy, after the World Cup, and Rafa is this competition's 'special one'.

 

In January as we limped out of title contention, playing more increasingly badly by the week, I felt Rafa's Liverpool career was at it's crossroads. His loyalist fans here wouldn't hear it, and felt he should be our manager next season, regardless.

 

My view then, as now, was that his 'right' to the job depended on what happened next. Back then, the possibility of falling behind Everton, and surrendering to Inter Milan in the Champions league looked not impossible prospects. I felt Rafa had to put in a run in the CL and finish strongly in the prem. to earn another season at our helm.

 

Well, the season ain't over but he's already completed half the 'job', in my book. We can ask no more of him than this season's CL campaign, whatever may happen next. In the league we are on a brilliant run, which dates back to Sunderland at Anfield, and was blipped only by the result at Old Trafford.

 

I thought Rafa's team selection was superb last night, even if it took a while for it to look so. We're quick to damn managers when things go wrong, so no holding back when a man achieves this much for one club.

Yep, if the score had remained 2-2 last night we would be looking for a new manager now

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Whatever happens now, he's proved himself truly a magician in this competition. It is the sporting world's premier trophy, after the World Cup, and Rafa is this competition's 'special one'.

wrong.

 

AHEAD of

[David Hodgson]

Yep, if the score had remained 2-2 last night we would be looking for a new manager now

 

 

That's just being silly now isn't it Mooksy.

[Jim D]

Rafa is a fantastic manager in Europe.

 

Undoubtedly, he would be a fantastic manager at home if his squad had more strength in depth. That is what separates us from the Mancs. Until Rafa can afford to have £15-20million players on the bench, like the Mancs have, then he can seriously challenge for the title.

 

Our starting 11 is as good as anyone else's, that is proven by our performances in Europe, however over a league season we just need that little more throughout the squad.

[Guest Ant]

I see what you did there Ant.

 

I'm slowly coming round to the view (actually it's purely knee-jerk) that I could happily see out my days without us ever coming close to the title, if Euro glory is on the menu this regularly.

 

Give it till October

 

Seriously though instead of posting in mutliple threads I seen Huyton Red's post before, and this response goes out to that thread as well.

 

The important thing for Benitez now is to build his team around the formation which he has found (Yes he has stumbled upon it) and improve upon it for next season, yesterday was great and it isn't luck, Benitez is a legend of a manager in europe, yet he hasn't quite done the same in the league.

 

Benitez like this season should have used last seasons loss to AC Milan as a stepping stone towards a title challenge, and regardless of the result v Chelsea, he needs to do the same, only properly this time.

 

I'm fed up of the same old story, where we build our hopes up for a title challenge, only to have it dashed come Christmas.

 

As I have said Benitez is a fantastic manager in Europe, but as for the league I would go as far to say average-to-good IMO, he needs to make this dominance of Europe count for something in the league, and the Mancs are only 2 titles away from number 18.

 

You've heard my posts for many a month now, and I'm only reposting the same arguement.

 

Bottom line is if Benitez is to learn anything from this year, or the previous year or the year before that, in this league it's more about consistancy than it is ability and that point is proven after outplaying Arsenal in all 4 Games we played them this season.

 

I have faith.

[mooks]

That's just being silly now isn't it Mooksy.

I rail against short-termism - especially from you, DH

[Guest Ant]

Undoubtedly, he would be a fantastic manager at home if his squad had more strength in depth. That is what separates us from the Mancs. Until Rafa can afford to have £15-20million players on the bench, like the Mancs have, then he can seriously challenge for the title.

 

Our starting 11 is as good as anyone else's, that is proven by our performances in Europe, however over a league season we just need that little more throughout the squad.

 

Our strength in depth beats that of which Arsenal and Chelsea have, this season was about challenging for the league, something we haven't done.

 

But based on what Arsenal have achieved with in my opinion a poorer side than ours, we should have done much better in the league.

[Guest Prongsy]

So you don't think he's turned around what was begining to look a pretty disappointing season ?

Well, instead of answering questions that require powers akin to those of mystic meg, I'll tell you what I disagreed with.

 

Whatever happens now, he's proved himself truly a magician in this competition. It is the sporting world's premier trophy, after the World Cup, and Rafa is this competition's 'special one'.

To me, at least, he proved himself as a magician long before last night. La Ligas, European cups, FA cup and major finals by the fistful. His exploits in the European cup in the past three seasons alone have given him that reputation, in Europe at least.

 

I felt Rafa's Liverpool career was at it's crossroads. His loyalist fans here wouldn't hear it, and felt he should be our manager next season, regardless.

I'm one of those fans. I'm not sure why his career was at a crossroads just because of a bad patch through January and the possibility it might not work out. He wasn't making particularly bad decisions.

 

My view then, as now, was that his 'right' to the job depended on what happened next.

My view then, as now, was that his 'right' to the job depended on what happened previously. He's proven so much, with relatively little (in both Spain and England), in such a short time. I believe that to sack Rafa would require starting over with a new manager, new idea's, new players and in 4/5 years it'll be the same again... Jose/Gus/Fabio/Juande will be at the crossroads, fighting for next seasons employment. Push the roundabout, I wanna go faster.

 

Back then, the possibility of falling behind Everton, and surrendering to Inter Milan in the Champions league looked not impossible

When have we ever judged our manager by what's 'not impossible'? Even if it happened, we should never have stopped the process. We're far too good for that too happen, that's why it isn't.

 

I felt Rafa had to put in a run in the CL and finish strongly in the prem. to earn another season at our helm.

As I've said, I feel he's already earned it and if we constantly require the manager to earn the next season's employment during a building period, then we're going to come unstuck pretty quickly and never finish building.

 

I thought Rafa's team selection was superb last night

This is my final disagreement, I thought Gerrard on the left and Kuyt on the right of 4 was a poor selection. Gerrard was constantly trying to come in the middle, Torres was having to go wide on the right... It came together after a while but I don't think it's superb. That's just my opinion on that, we won the game having used at least two systems in the game, I'm more than happy with the result, the rest is just semantics.

 

I'm not having a go at your post, I just disagree with some of your points. Why do we all feel the need to argue over trivialities after a massive win. Sadistic bunch of b******s, we all are.

[Guest Prongsy]

But based on what Arsenal have achieved with in my opinion a poorer side than ours, we should have done much better in the league.

 

Well, that's undeniable. Can't stop the process now though. I think we'll win the title under Rafa, I think it'll be soon. Dominating the best club title will have to do until then, though.

[Lee W]

I have faith.

 

 

The Ant is not for turning.

 

Don't use just love the euphoria of the European Cup.

[Guest Raisbeck]

The important thing for Benitez now is to build his team around the formation which he has found (Yes he has stumbled upon it)

 

You really are a complete Sky-gen sucker arnt you?

 

Stumbled upon it FFS

[Guest Ant]

You really are a complete Sky-gen sucker arnt you?

 

Stumbled upon it FFS

 

Oh so what, he actually planned to play this system all along?

 

He was just waiting till the league was lost to apply consistancy?

 

Where is your messiah now bitch

[Guest Scot]

Oh so what, he actually planned to play this system all along?

 

He was just waiting till the league was lost to apply consistancy?

 

Where is your messiah now bitch

 

'kinell