Liverpool FC Forum

[Bad Bob]

It's a good statement that Rafa is getting rid of Gonzalez.
Two years ago when we first bought him, he was denied a work permit. Rafa was annoyed and said that if the deciding panel knew how good this boy was, then there wouldn't be an issue. Rafa had high hopes for him and was willing to wait for him to get his Spanish passport whilst constantly banging the drum in the meantime. When we eventually got him to the club last summer, Rafa was telling us all that he was looking even better than anticipated during pre-season training.
After just one season, Rafa has in effect held hands up and admitted he was wrong. Compare this behaviour to his predessesor Mr Houllier. Houllier didn't like to be proved wrong, and at times stood steadfastly by his poor signings - even persisting with them season upon season.
I know this isn't a first for Rafa. He's already been as ruthless with his fellow countrymen Josemi, Nunez and Morrientes, while also axing Pellegrino after just four months. But I think this has been more significant due the the protracted transfer and the surrounding hype.
With that said, I'd like to wish Gonzo all the best. He didn't do much wrong, other than was simply not good enough.

In Rafa we trust! (I do anyway )

Good point, mate.

[RedorDead]

It's a good statement that Rafa is getting rid of Gonzalez.
Two years ago when we first bought him, he was denied a work permit. Rafa was annoyed and said that if the deciding panel knew how good this boy was, then there wouldn't be an issue. Rafa had high hopes for him and was willing to wait for him to get his Spanish passport whilst constantly banging the drum in the meantime. When we eventually got him to the club last summer, Rafa was telling us all that he was looking even better than anticipated during pre-season training.
After just one season, Rafa has in effect held hands up and admitted he was wrong. Compare this behaviour to his predessesor Mr Houllier. Houllier didn't like to be proved wrong, and at times stood steadfastly by his poor signings - even persisting with them season upon season.
I know this isn't a first for Rafa. He's already been as ruthless with his fellow countrymen Josemi, Nunez and Morrientes, while also axing Pellegrino after just four months. But I think this has been more significant due the the protracted transfer and the surrounding hype.
With that said, I'd like to wish Gonzo all the best. He didn't do much wrong, other than was simply not good enough.

In Rafa we trust! (I do anyway )

Good point, mate.

I agree with that post too, it is a very positive statement that says that Rafa is not scared to admit to his mistakes.
It bodes well for his sometimes extreme squad rotation too. If he is prepared to say "I bigged him up but he didn't cut it so I am selling him now" then I guess he might also be capable of saying "On occasion I rotated my squad a bit too much in the league and might play my best 11 more often"
Regardless....all the best Speedy, you weren't awful and I think you'll do well in Spain but you didn't quite cut the mustard here.

[JamCar05]

Goodbye Speedy, I wish you all the best in Betis, where I'm sure you will fit in much better (having already played in La Liga and made a name there). It's not that he did that bad for us, he was just never going to live up to all the hype surrounding his arrival, was he? Anyway, good to see Rafa realising a mistake, as NiftyNeil pointed out. Onwards and upwards for the Red Armada

[JC_81]

Never watched the lad for Albacete, but I saw a few of his games for Sociedad and a game he played for Chile V Ireland and he looked the business.  I thought he'd turn out a decent buy, but a combination of him being built up too much before he arrived, failing to adapt to the Premiership and injuries have gone against him.

I think he'll make a decent player in La Liga, but please stop calling him 'speedy', he was anything but.

Have to say this is one player I'm surprised Rafa let go so quickly.  He had his share of injuries and was in and out of the team.  Never looked convincing for us, but considering his age and the fact that Benitez had such high hopes and moved hell and earth to get him here in the first place, I thought he might have given him another season or even loaned him out.  I think it's the right decision though, Rafa's bloody ruthless when he wants to be.

[Rafa D]

He was a bit shit in the end wasn't he?

Never looked like the player some made out he was.

Ta-ra.

[Penguins]

He cost £2m and played like a £2m player.
The work permit situation just brought up the hype about this guy. Not his fault, but he was never good enough.
Once again Rafa gets a profit on a player not good enough.
Nice 

[ConnO'var]

Can't say I'm sad to see the back of him to be honest.... After all the hype, he turned out to be dissapointing to say the least.

Good luck Mark....

[SoppMeister]

I was very excited at the thought of him lining up for us at the start of last season, but it was obvious after just a few performances that he was never going to be able to hold a regular place. Shame. Good luck to the lad.

[god_bless_john_houlding]

Ah well, he's gone, not disappointed. Good luck lad, just don't return to anfield

[Emerald Red]

Tried too hard to impress, I reckon. He just didn't have the balls to pull on that red shirt and give it a proper go. And all the talk of him being 'Speedy' Gonzalez - please, he was barely any faster than an unfit Harry Kewell.

[god_bless_john_houlding]

To give Gonzalez a bit of support because he isn't getting a lot at the moment, the fella got a bad injury on his first training session as a Liverpool player, which hampered his settling in period and I know it's not an excuse for some of the performances he made as a Liverpool player, I still think this injury had a slight affect on his time at Anfield.

[pooltogether]

If we get £4m+ for him than I think it's a great result!

[alxy]

He wasn't half-bad. But that's the point nowadays with LFC: half-bad is not good enough! And I'm glad that we can finally do away with those journeyman players. Rafa is clearly building up a team with 2 good players in every position. And that is what we need to seriously challenge for the Premiership.

Good luck Speedy. As someone said, he didn't do that much wrong - just that he didn't that much right either.

[heimdall]

He wasn't half-bad. But that's the point nowadays with LFC: half-bad is not good enough! And I'm glad that we can finally do away with those journeyman players. Rafa is clearly building up a team with 2 good players in every position. And that is what we need to seriously challenge for the Premiership.

Good luck Speedy. As someone said, he didn't do that much wrong - just that he didn't that much right either.

You're right he wasn't half bad he was all bad. he wasn't quick and he couldn't cross the ball to save his life, kind of like a poor mans Pennant, if that is possible   

Having said that I wish him all the luck  in the world, I reckon he'll need it.

[lfcseb]

not to sad that he is gone