Sid Lowe article.

[meredithmathieson]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ben...ks-1671542.html

 

Nothing particularly startling:

 

Benitez vows to decide on Liverpool future 'in next two weeks'

 

 

Friday March 13 2009

 

RAFAEL BENITEZ says he will decide on his future as Liverpool manager within the next two weeks after revealing he will meet the club's owners after tomorrow's Premier League clash with Manchester United.

 

Benitez appears to have already ruled out the possibility of returning to Real Madrid, the club where he began his short-lived playing career and took his first steps as a coach.

 

His stock has risen in Spain following Liverpool's 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night. That has rekindled rumours of a return to the Bernabeu -- a possibility that was all but ruled out after the first leg because of the coach's "defensive" style.

 

But the Spaniard remains irritated at the criticism meted out and insisted: "People who see me leaving for Madrid are wrong. I can't predict my future.

 

"Real Madrid are a great club but I am at another wonderful club -- one that really motivates me. I have a contract with Liverpool, I owe Liverpool and I am only thinking about Liverpool. I am happy here and there is a project under way. I have been here for five years and (if I did stay) from now on things would be easier. What I want is hard to find in Spain. Long-term projects don't exist there like they do in England."

 

offer

 

The message appeared a double-edged sword, however. Benitez made it clear that the offer at Anfield must be right for him to continue and he added: "I will work where I feel I can develop a project."

 

Stability is the key and Benitez believes he deserves to be granted control, defending his record as coach -- and Liverpool's style since he took over -- as he prepared for a meeting with George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Benitez is a hero now but he is acutely aware that the situation was very different three weeks ago.

 

"Next week I am going to study my present and my future with my bosses. I have to decide on my future in the next two weeks," he said. "I want a medium or long-term project. I don't want to be working day-to-day, always hanging on the latest result. I want to develop a club over a period of time.

 

"Competing with Manchester United and Chelsea is very difficult. I am not a cry baby but they have enough money to sign five £20m players and if one or two of them don't succeed, they have three more. I can sign two of them and if one doesn't succeed or I make a mistake with one, then you really notice it," he added. (© Daily Telegraph, London)

 

- Sid Lowe in Madrid

 

 

 

 

Who do you think he could have been referring to in this bit?

 

"Competing with Manchester United and Chelsea is very difficult. I am not a cry baby but they have enough money to sign five £20m players and if one or two of them don't succeed, they have three more. I can sign two of them and if one doesn't succeed or I make a mistake with one, then you really notice it," he added.

Edited March 13, 2009 by meredithmathieson

[Magic8Ball]

"Competing with Manchester United and Chelsea is very difficult. I am not a cry baby but they have enough money to sign five £20m players and if one or two of them don't succeed, they have three more. I can sign two of them and if one doesn't succeed or I make a mistake with one, then you really notice it,"

Does what it says on the tin IMO- meaning, he's referring to the success of his big signings. He's signed 2 had 50% success rate - Man U have signed 6 had a 50% success rate but you only hear them talking about the 3 that are successful.

 

Rafa needs more time and more money to compete. Simples

[Rimbeux]

Does what it says on the tin IMO- meaning, he's referring to the success of his big signings. He's signed 2 had 50% success rate - Man U have signed 6 had a 50% success rate but you only hear them talking about the 3 that are successful.

 

Rafa needs more time and more money to compete. Simples

 

 

Veron and who? Just curious, cos I make it four such players signed with one dud

[Magic8Ball]

Veron and who? Just curious, cos I make it four such players signed with one dud

Ferdinand, Voronin, Nani, Anderson, Berbatov, Tevez, Rooney - the point is Man U have more bites of the cherry, more chances to get it right than Rafa does

[Falconhoof]

Ferdinand, Voronin, Nani, Anderson, Berbatov, Tevez, Rooney - the point is Man U have more bites of the cherry, more chances to get it right than Rafa does

 

Hargreaves and Carrick were almost £20m each aswell.

[Rimbeux]

Ferdinand, Voronin, Nani, Anderson, Berbatov, Tevez, Rooney - the point is Man U have more bites of the cherry, more chances to get it right than Rafa does

 

 

That's a bit wobbly that list to say the least.

 

More chances to get it right and wrong because of? Getting it right enough not to have to continuously solve the same issue. I think there are some interesting points in the United thing post 99 when he was 'finally' given the backing he was demanding, it threw them. The success of Van Nistlerroy, the failure of Veron, trying to replace Keane with mid levels like Djemba and Kleberson, and failing. Was a clear point where they decided to stop shopping for finds/punts (probably trying to pull off the Wenger trick) even if it meant making do with O'Shea and Giggs, Smith too filling the midfield for a season or two and really went for quality and the right player how ever long it took.

[Magic8Ball]

That's a bit wobbly that list to say the least.

 

More chances to get it right and wrong because of? Getting it right enough not to have to continuously solve the same issue. I think there are some interesting points in the United thing post 99 when he was 'finally' given the backing he was demanding, it threw them. The success of Van Nistlerroy, the failure of Veron, trying to replace Keane with mid levels like Djemba and Kleberson, and failing. Was a clear point where they decided to stop shopping for finds/punts (probably trying to pull off the Wenger trick) even if it meant making do with O'Shea and Giggs, Smith too filling the midfield for a season or two and really went for quality and the right player how ever long it took.

So you're saying, " you're more likely to have success when you buy top talent, than when you don't" - which SEEMS true enough. Rafa's only been able to buy 2 players in the 20m bracket, one's a success and the other we got our money back on. Seems to me Rafa's doing alright so far and should be given more money to spend on players in the top bracket.

 

So far only Wenger has consistently taken in cheap talent and "turned" it into top talent

[Rimbeux]

So you're saying, " you're more likely to have success when you buy top talent, than when you don't" - which SEEMS true enough. Rafa's only been able to buy 2 players in the 20m bracket, one's a success and the other we got our money back on. Seems to me Rafa's doing alright so far and should be given more money to spend on players in the top bracket.

 

So far only Wenger has consistently taken in cheap talent and "turned" it into top talent

 

 

Main point is waiting for the right player, regardless of cost. Keane and Veron are cases in point, look more like vanity signings than specific players bought for specific reasons and needs, bought because the managers could.

 

 

Another point that should not get overlooked is that the club is likely giving Rafa al the money it can, borrowed or otherwise, and until we move stadium that level is not going to change so what is the point about banging on about 'proper' backing when what he has got is none too shabby. The way people bang on about it it would seem like sinister forces are deliberately holding back swathes of cash that's sitting in the coffers.

[Magic8Ball]

Main point is waiting for the right player, regardless of cost. Keane and Veron are cases in point, look more like vanity signings than specific players bought for specific reasons and needs, bought because the managers could.

Another point that should not get overlooked is that the club is likely giving Rafa al the money it can, borrowed or otherwise, and until we move stadium that level is not going to change so what is the point about banging on about 'proper' backing when what he has got is none too shabby. The way people bang on about it it would seem like sinister forces are deliberately holding back swathes of cash that's sitting in the coffers.

I agree with what you're saying in general terms :-)

However, It's not clear Keane was a "vanity" signing, Rafa wanted Barry first and foremost. He may not have opted for Keane without Barry, we just don't know.

Also, by full backing I mean, contract that lets him spend the money how he wants, the usual 20-30m +plus the recovered Keane money and any money made through sales. If he gets that this year that should equate to 2 VERY VERY GOOD players, which is what we need, especially out wide.

[The walters step over]

I agree with what you're saying in general terms :-)

However, It's not clear Keane was a "vanity" signing, Rafa wanted Barry first and foremost. He may not have opted for Keane without Barry, we just don't know.

Also, by full backing I mean, contract that lets him spend the money how he wants, the usual 20-30m +plus the recovered Keane money and any money made through sales. If he gets that this year that should equate to 2 VERY VERY GOOD players, which is what we need, especially out wide.

 

And what if he decides to take that money and buy, say five players? Pretty much everyone on here last year was saying the same as you have, ie "forget about the £1.5 to £3m signings and spend the lot on 2 top quality players".

 

It was Rafas choice to sign Degen, Dossena,Riera, N'Gog, Cavalieri and Keane - no one put a gun to his head no matter how much history tries to be re written. He did very much want Barry but at the start of last summer the deal was Alonso out, Barry in for little or no expense (or maybe even a profit) to us.

 

Rafa is a fantastic manager and to my mind he doesn't need history to be re written to make him look infallible.

[Tones]

Ferdinand, Voronin, Nani, Anderson, Berbatov, Tevez, Rooney - the point is Man U have more bites of the cherry, more chances to get it right than Rafa does

 

They signed Voronin for £20m+?? Im surprised Ferguson hasnt had more stick about that!

Edited March 13, 2009 by t1971

[DJS]

So you're saying, " you're more likely to have success when you buy top talent, than when you don't" - which SEEMS true enough. Rafa's only been able to buy 2 players in the 20m bracket, one's a success and the other we got our money back on. Seems to me Rafa's doing alright so far and should be given more money to spend on players in the top bracket.

 

So far only Wenger has consistently taken in cheap talent and "turned" it into top talent

 

There's no way we got our money back on Keane.

[fabfive]

There's no way we got our money back on Keane.

 

 

So he cost us a couple mil for 6 months of work.

 

Basically we got our money back. Just maybe not to the absolute penny.

[Chili Palmer]

There's no way we got our money back on Keane.

 

 

It'll not be a kick in the a*** off

[Andy @ Allerton]

No disprespect to journalists but they are all scum.

 

Probably lower than rapists and muggers.

[John am Rhein]

No disprespect to journalists but they are all scum.

 

Probably lower than rapists and muggers.

 

Most accurate post in the thread

[nvdm]

No disprespect to journalists but they are all scum.

 

Probably lower than rapists and muggers.

 

You need to have a word with yourself if what you're putting on the 'net is what you genuinely believe.