Liverpool FC Forum

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Benitez faces crisis with dressing-room disharmony
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent

November 26, 2009
Rafael Benitez is facing yet another internal crisis as ESPN Soccernet has learned that the players are unhappy with the "bad atmosphere" within the dressing room.

A backlash is to be expected following the club's exit from the Champions League, but it is far more disturbing to learn that the negative environment has existed for some time.

An agent of one of the Liverpool superstars was guarded about the players' state of mind but revealed that the atmosphere within the dressing room at Anfield has been an issue for some time.

"The atmosphere is really bad," he told ESPN Soccernet. "There are a lot of unhappy players around."

Asked if those players were seeking to move away, he replied: "I am sure that there will be some players who would like to move on now, that's for sure."

With the January transfer window opening in five weeks, this is the time when players will be thinking of instructing their agents to find them new clubs.

But moving in January is notoriously difficult and, while Benitez would dearly love to ditch some under-performers and bring in new talent, the whole of Europe is aware of the falling value of their players and the club's need to bring in cash before they can buy due to their financial position.

The whole pressure-cooker atmosphere is building up to such a degree that the Merseyside derby takes on a whole new perspective.

Not only do Liverpool need to win the derby to maintain their top-four hopes, but the scrutiny will be on how the players react. Benitez is sure to inform them that they will need to perform at their best to convince everyone that he has restored harmony within the camp.

Benitez has been given assurances about his future, and five months into a brand new five-year contract, naturally the current owners would be loath to ditch their manager, not least because of the expense involved.

But the cost of failing to qualify for the Champions League next season will put intolerable strain on the club's finances, restricting buying power and making it difficult to attract the world's best players.

The American owners are committed to finding a new investor willing to buy a 50% stake and to raise £100 million, but so far there are no takers. Any investor would become embroiled in the in-house political squabbling that has marred relationships in the boardroom ever since Gillett and Hicks fell out.

Relations between Gillett and Hicks have been repaired out of necessity and the urgent need to raise new capital, but the length of the truce remains to be seen.

-------------------------------------------------- 

More from Babel, or maybe a reason for lethargic performances ?

[Emerald Red]

roberto green

is it his fault that he has taken 76 players to this club and yet we dont have a good bench this year on?

[tubby]

It's probably been an issue since last season when Xabi fell out with Rafa. If true then I can't see any way back for Rafa.

Question people. If we are faced with several top players wanting out if Rafa stays what do we do? Can we even afford to sack him?

[bigmick]

In fairness the article doesn't really say very much. It includes a quote from an unnamed source, and if we were guessing who's agent it was who said it, Babel's would be about tens on.

The truth is nobody really knows for sure whether or not the manager "has lost the dressing room". That does though include the people on here who foam at the mouth if anyone suggests such a thing, all anyone is doing is guessing. I've said a few times now that you don't have a run like we've had for no reason. It's not JUST injuries, bad luck, beach balls and the like, there are fundamental reasons why you win only one match in ten. Whether or not the dressing room is "lost" is debateable, but for absolutely certain confidence will be at a low ebb.

My own feelings on the "lostness" of the players was impacted upon by our insipid display in Hungary I must admit. There was no urgency nor fight, and I cannot accept that the management told the players to settle for a 1-0 in the manner which we did. Something was clearly awry, but whether the players are 'lost" or not is obviously only anyones guess.

[Ben Patrick]

The sad thing is I remember similar arguments in defence of Houllier, the only difference being I was the one making them.

I defended Houllier for too long, even after I could see that things were bad and secretly worried that things were going to get worse. The real final straw for me was Houllier getting a new contract when I though we should have waited , similarly I thought we should have waited with Rafa too.

Passionless football, players only turning up for the big games, too much deadwood filling the squad....... sometimes history repeats its self.

The problem is you never really know in football until its over. I don't really know that we should change manager, though I think that maybe we should, and I am sure in their heart of hearts all the "believers" have their private doubts too.       

I do believe that this manager "worship" that has been a feature of the last couple of managers especially, has and is damaging both to the support and to future of Liverpool FC. IF AND WHEN WE GET A NEW MANAGER I WOULD PREFER HIM TO BE JUST THAT, A MANAGER. It may not be the Liverpool Way, but I believe its the only way forward. Judge them on what they have done for the club not on what you wish they were.

I believe in Liverpool FC, I believe we can and will be great again, I believe we have a team that can win the title, I believe we have the best supporters in the world, maybe I can be forgiven if I don't believe in the manager quite as much.

thats where i am at as well saint.

Good post, and its a point that i have been making for a while.

If and when Rafa goes - thats when people will finally tell the truth about their feelings.

Houllier is ridiculed by some, or if not ridiculed put down at least, that wasnt the case before he went.
He was also backed like Rafa is now, fair play to people for that.
I just dont think they are right in backing him now.

[Scottbot]

Good on you Roberto

I'll leave my 'superfan' rhetoric at the door of this thread and save that for the 'superfans' but it is a pleasant change to enter a thread like this. Even though I don't agree with most of you're post, my faith is all but lost on Rafa. But I don't want to discuss that in here, what I will say is though many people are fed up with people critising Rafa, which is fair enough as I can understand why. By the same token though everytime we lose a match the people who are fed up with the critising of Rafa, critise the owners instead. For every bad result we get the owners are fault and I suspect some of Rafa's critics get fed up with that too. Showing support without alluding yourself to being a 'superfan' which by definition is mocking others who don't have the luxury of visiting Anfield on a weekly basis. People who deem fellow LFC supporters inferior and believe they're not genuine Liverpool fans because they don't follow the same perplexing unconditional faith in Rafa as they themselves do. Is not support its immaturity.

I agree the gist of this except perhaps the inmaturity bit. I'd just say we've been both sides too stuck in the positions, the debate has gone too far.

I think people who support Rafa are not "Rafa supporters" but Liverpool supporters who think Rafa is the man for the job.

The Antis, similarly, have their opinions because they think is the right thing for the club.

I'm tired from the pro-anti debate a long ago and I said so a long ago, not now. I feel too depressed with the team to discuss about my Rafa views. It's easier to be an Anti, because when we're 2nd, and we're in CL semifinals, you have morale to discuss against or for the manager. But when you're 7th and out of Europe, at least I can't do it. Everything I need is the week passing quickly and a victory of the team. It's not that I'm hiding, it's just that after a defeat you think "if you post that you trust Rafa you'll just wind up people now", and you choose to keep the bitterness to yourself.


I trust Rafa, without that meaning I can't see we're in trouble and Rafa has part of the blame.

Two good posts there. i'm pretty much with you on it there Sabes, the whole thing is utterly depressing. I'm not filled with anger or support for, or against the manager, just completely disillusioned with the whole season because it's pretty much over in my eyes. We might get on an FA Cup run and we might scrap our way to 4th place but unfortunately, that's as good as it can get. Right now i feel like all my passion for football has been sucked outta me

[Ben Patrick]

Good on you Roberto

I'll leave my 'superfan' rhetoric at the door of this thread and save that for the 'superfans' but it is a pleasant change to enter a thread like this. Even though I don't agree with most of you're post, my faith is all but lost on Rafa. But I don't want to discuss that in here, what I will say is though many people are fed up with people critising Rafa, which is fair enough as I can understand why. By the same token though everytime we lose a match the people who are fed up with the critising of Rafa, critise the owners instead. For every bad result we get the owners are fault and I suspect some of Rafa's critics get fed up with that too. Showing support without alluding yourself to being a 'superfan' which by definition is mocking others who don't have the luxury of visiting Anfield on a weekly basis. People who deem fellow LFC supporters inferior and believe they're not genuine Liverpool fans because they don't follow the same perplexing unconditional faith in Rafa as they themselves do. Is not support its immaturity.

I agree the gist of this except perhaps the inmaturity bit. I'd just say we've been both sides too stuck in the positions, the debate has gone too far.

I think people who support Rafa are not "Rafa supporters" but Liverpool supporters who think Rafa is the man for the job.

The Antis, similarly, have their opinions because they think is the right thing for the club.

I'm tired from the pro-anti debate a long ago and I said so a long ago, not now. I feel too depressed with the team to discuss about my Rafa views. It's easier to be an Anti, because when we're 2nd, and we're in CL semifinals, you have morale to discuss against or for the manager. But when you're 7th and out of Europe, at least I can't do it. Everything I need is the week passing quickly and a victory of the team. It's not that I'm hiding, it's just that after a defeat you think "if you post that you trust Rafa you'll just wind up people now", and you choose to keep the bitterness to yourself.


I trust Rafa, without that meaning I can't see we're in trouble and Rafa has part of the blame.

Two good posts there. i'm pretty much with you on it there Sabes, the whole thing is utterly depressing. I'm not filled with anger or support for, or against the manager, just completely disillusioned with the whole season because it's pretty much over in my eyes. We might get on an FA Cup run and we might scrap our way to 4th place but unfortunately, that's as good as it can get. Right now i feel like all my passion for football has been sucked outta me

ye see scott am not at all angry against Rafa.
I think he is a great guy and a decent manager.
He to me does love the club and thats great, the kids speaking scouse and Montse loving the area.
That is nice.
But hand on heart i think he is slowly unravelling, we are getting worse and worse and he seems more and more devoid of an idea on how to sort it out.

How many liverpool managers in the past would ever have said without one or two players we arent the same team ?
Thats not me disagreeing, its just the fact that it is hugely discouraging to the other players.
And smacks of excuse making.

[Benny The Noon]

Benitez faces crisis with dressing-room disharmony
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent

November 26, 2009
Rafael Benitez is facing yet another internal crisis as ESPN Soccernet has learned that the players are unhappy with the "bad atmosphere" within the dressing room.

A backlash is to be expected following the club's exit from the Champions League, but it is far more disturbing to learn that the negative environment has existed for some time.

An agent of one of the Liverpool superstars was guarded about the players' state of mind but revealed that the atmosphere within the dressing room at Anfield has been an issue for some time.

"The atmosphere is really bad," he told ESPN Soccernet. "There are a lot of unhappy players around."

Asked if those players were seeking to move away, he replied: "I am sure that there will be some players who would like to move on now, that's for sure."

With the January transfer window opening in five weeks, this is the time when players will be thinking of instructing their agents to find them new clubs.

But moving in January is notoriously difficult and, while Benitez would dearly love to ditch some under-performers and bring in new talent, the whole of Europe is aware of the falling value of their players and the club's need to bring in cash before they can buy due to their financial position.

The whole pressure-cooker atmosphere is building up to such a degree that the Merseyside derby takes on a whole new perspective.

Not only do Liverpool need to win the derby to maintain their top-four hopes, but the scrutiny will be on how the players react. Benitez is sure to inform them that they will need to perform at their best to convince everyone that he has restored harmony within the camp.

Benitez has been given assurances about his future, and five months into a brand new five-year contract, naturally the current owners would be loath to ditch their manager, not least because of the expense involved.

But the cost of failing to qualify for the Champions League next season will put intolerable strain on the club's finances, restricting buying power and making it difficult to attract the world's best players.

The American owners are committed to finding a new investor willing to buy a 50% stake and to raise £100 million, but so far there are no takers. Any investor would become embroiled in the in-house political squabbling that has marred relationships in the boardroom ever since Gillett and Hicks fell out.

Relations between Gillett and Hicks have been repaired out of necessity and the urgent need to raise new capital, but the length of the truce remains to be seen.

-------------------------------------------------- 

More from Babel, or maybe a reason for lethargic performances ?

Apparently its Voronins agent

[heimdall]

That is hardly surprising but it's not good to hear. If it's true then Rafa has effectively lost the dressing room and needs to go.

[Benny The Noon]

Or bitterness from two players who have failed to deliver for Liverpool

[Benny The Noon]

And its worth noting that both Torres and Pepe in recent weeks have come out and said they are all 100% behind the manager

[NANNY RED]

Id lay even money on it being Babels. FECKING DISGRACE OF A PLAYER

[account deleted by request]

If you look at the players who we "know" are unhappy, apart from Masch, most of them are no great loss. Babel, Voronin, Dossena (if he's not unhappy, HE SHOULD BE!) Plessis and Eccleston.

Although Reina still hasn't signed a new contract as far as I am aware, which is a worry.

[Benny The Noon]

Fernando Torres insists there is no better manager than Rafa Benitez to take Liverpool Football Club forward.
Injury meant the 25-year-old was not involved as Liverpool fell out of the Champions League this week but Torres is adamant there will still be plenty to play for this season when he returns to full fitness.

And the Spain international has full confidence in the Benitez project which has yielded our fifth European Cup win and our best title challenge since 1990.

"Benitez has shown that he is the right man to take Liverpool forward," Torres said.

"When the club has needed to be strong it always has been. Now is the time for everybody to stick together from the manager right down to the lowest member of staff because above all else we want to make our wonderful fans happy with our performances and results.

"We must be united to finish as high as possible in the Premier League. I am convinced that we will end up in the top four.

"We also have high hopes for the FA Cup and the Europa League. At this time, this tournament has become a goal for the club.

"Nobody expected to be knocked out of the Champions League because this team has shown itself over recent seasons to be very reliable.

"This is a competition that we won in 2005 and on another occasion [2007] we got to the final. Since I have been with the club we have got to a semi-final and a quarter-final."

[Benny The Noon]

Pepe Reina has spoken of his '100 per cent' confidence that Rafa Benitez will turn Liverpool's season around.
The Reds have endured a disappointing start to the campaign after a raft of injuries to key players - but Reina insists there is still much to play for following our Champions League exit.

"Benitez has 100 per cent credibility and support among the players," Reina said. "He is a great coach and he knows how to get the best out of his players.

"He has done important things for Liverpool and will continue to do so. When he is under pressure, that's when he brings out the best in himself. He is perfectly capable of turning the situation around at Liverpool.

"The fans know that, for a number of reasons, results are not good now but they will be again. We need a bit of good luck for things to get back to normal: we have had so many players injured – like Torres, Benayoun and Riera."

Reina believes the absence of Fernando Torres has been particularly important. The striker has scored 10 league goals this season despite suffering with injury.

"We all know that Torres at 70 per cent fit is still better than lots of strikers on the planet at 100 per cent," added Reina.

"It's important for us that he recovers and recovers fully. Liverpool are one team with Torres and another, different team without him. It's not that we depend on him but he is very important because he inspires respect in the opposition."