by Bam » Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:45 am
I'd give him a two year contract, if by then he hasnt produced the goods then maybe some of the Melons around here who blindly stick up for the man will eventually realise time has to be called upon.
As undoubtedly puzzling and annoying Rafa can be with certain stratergies, this is the FIRST season in his tenure where I've actually believed, or have been given something to believe about. I think it would be a waste of time and effort to wave him goodbye come the end of the season. We just dont know what lurks around the corner, granted this year more than any other year IMO has looked the easiest dare I say to challenge for the title but so what. We still are in a decent position and still have a chance, even if we finnish second I'll be happy to see Rafa give it another shot next year. If by miraculous discovery next season the league proves to be much sterner than our current campaign and we finnish fourth, I'd be happy for the club to pay-out Rafa on his final year's contract and give him the boot.
Sounds, quite nasty and sinister really, but football is a cut throat business, and its the business end of Rafa's tenure and plans need to be made. Its nice there are so many 'Love ins' with the likes of Lando and Sabre (for obvious reasons) but time will come when enough is enough.
I think its a bit of a gamble either way TBH, see Rafa off at the end of the season and hope some other bloke can come in a get the job done with players like Carra and Gerrard entering the twighlight of their careers. Or given the Spainard the honour of having Carra and Gerrard under him in the prime of their careers, and finnishing off their careers possibly without a title medal. If that were the case I'm sure in years to come Rafa will be remembered for two things, winning the CL in glorious fashion, and having the likes of Carra and Gerrard in his team without winning a title. Just like how Houllier and his reign seems to be remembered, not for the exhilerating 5-4 UEFA cup final or that brilliant treble season. But more like a man, who was making the same old tiresome excuses post match and a manager one who turned Liverpool into a route-one football team, and was remembered more for buying the "next Zidane" Cheyrou than he was for Hyypia.
People reading that will go on about the old "stevie me" thing and all that old tosh, but I think its important for a club to maintain its roots, and nurture its homegrown talent. Of which under Rafas tenure there certainly doesnt look as though any more Scouse lads will be coming through. Did Rafa put an end to the Academy production line of homegrown talent, if not, surely he's suffocated the life and blood out of it. Which now is only producing mediocre foreign talent from afar without any rewards.
Not only the fact that possibly Gerrard and Carra two of Liverpools best players over the last ten years end their careers without a winners medal, which I think would be one of the biggest injustisies in modern day football and obviously from a bias Liverpool supporter. But even the likes of Reina, Hyypia who's been a great servant, Alonso, Mascha and Torres all quality footballers who deserve a winners medal from a bias Liverpool supporters point of view.
I cant see another manager coming in and with the possibilty of certain players following Rafa out, building a team in quick succession and getting them the winning title. I think alot has got to be done behind the scenes firstly and thats as mammoth task as getting our boys back on our perch. Then the day to day training drills and methods of possibly for arguements sake a more offensive minded coach, there will be a big transition period and by then Carra almost definately and Gerrard possibly will already be thinking .... 'What might of been, if I swapped Anfield for Romans Rupples' many moons ago.
So for the sake of the club and the foreseeable and for the sake of our two local lads who've sweated blood for this club down the years and to have any chance whatsoever in winning a Premiership medal Benitez needs to stay and produce the goods, its the business end of his era and now would be a bloo.dy good time to prove all those doubters (myself included) wrong.
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out of me , sad thing is we know we get a performance from our players in the chav game yet so many fail to impress in the little games.
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