Liverpool FC Forum

[cpc4eva]

Ive been a supporter of rafa from the start but this season ive wavered and now believe its time for rafa to go.  its my opinion and everyone entitled to their own opinion.  I can no longer look through red coloured glasses.  Yes we had a decent win against spurs in the last outing but we cant always be looking to win the race for fourth and a CL spot.  That would be wonderful if we were the like of villa, hull, everton, etc etc but we are not we are LFC with a strong and proud history of being among the big clubs of europe and it all starts at home in the League the once bread and butter of the club which we havnt seen for 2 decades.  I like many are sick of being also rans in the League and the only way we are going to win the our next title is through quality player purchases and not doing what rafa keeps on doing year after year making the same mistakes when it comes to player management.

I read this article below and have decided to post it.......   the "yes" and "no" comments after each player are the journalist thoughts of wether the player was successful for LFC or not.


http://www.sportingpreview.com/columns/317314.php


THE WILLIE GANNON COLUMN - RAFA'S TRANSFER RECORD. GOOD OR BAD?


Rafael Benitez is under the kind of pressure that no Liverpool manager before him has ever had to endure. Presiding over the club's worst run in decades, Rafa has had to brave abuse from a growing number of fans, Tweet's from players, and questioning from ex-players.

His detractors point to his "poor judgement" in the transfer market, negative tactics, atrocious man management skills, and a growing sense that the dressing room is turning against him.

While his many "Rafaelites" portray a man who has has his hands tied as far as the transfer market is concerned, a tactical genius who his players worship, and the only man capable of bringing the glory years back to the club.

It is now twenty years since Liverpool last won the league title. The empire built by Alex Ferguson has all but eclipsed the old world order.

In a bid to move the club back onto a level playing field with the immense finances enjoyed by the red half of Manchester, ex-chairman David Moores agreed to sell the club to American's Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Under the duo Benitez's future has always been questioned. Not long after taking over they approached Jurgen Klinsmann for the manager's job. This in turn led to a massive break down in communications and the club basically splitting into two factions.

In short, Rafa has had to operate under severe duress. But he has also shown himself to be an adept politician too, brokering a five year deal during this time. With the board split into equal factions making each other impotent, Benitez became the king maker, and received his demands.

However, this season, which started with such optimism, has now all but faded to a mere shadow.

The expected title challenge is gone, as is the lucrative Champions League, minor distractions like the FA Cup and League Cup's ended before they even began and Liverpool find themselves battling with four other teams for that last vital Champions League position. And being entered in a meaningless cup competition that will provide more distraction than is needed but may yet provide the club's only glimmer of silverware this year.

Rafa was able to point to an injury crisis of biblical proportions as his title challenge faded by October, while critics said many of the players were mere squad players.

Either way, the club who once were a Who's Who of football became a Who's That? as Rafa picked some fringe reserve players who obviously were not good enough.

And as it stands many now feel that the team who challenged for the league last season, finishing second, are now a very average side when without their star duo of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

It all comes back to Benitez's dealings in the transfer market. He is the man who had to re-build the mess that was careering out of control under Gerard Houillier, and over the past six years he has had ample time.

Is this current squad good enough to win the league? Evidence would suggest no. Does it only require tweeking or does the club need a massive face lift? Your answer would suggest which side of the fence you sit regarding Benitez.

When all is said and done, Rafa has brought some incredible players to the club.

The Spanish trio of Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, and Pepe Reina are all supreme talents, Yossi Benayoun has grown immensely as a players since he came in in 2007 and Gerrard was re-invented as a player under Rafa.

There is no doubting that he has done much right.

On the other hand, he has been accused of not knowing what he is doing in the transfer market. By bringing in 72 players, many feel he is buying quantity over quality. Although only 49 of those 72 players would be recognised as being of first team or reserve quality.

One rumour now surfacing is that Rafa has placed much faith in the Prozone statistic system, and that his 49 signings may have been influenced statistics over scouting.

This could go some way to explaining why the Spaniard has moved on so many of his purchased players. Only 24 of 49 players signed remain at the club, and that includes four players who joined this season.

Here is a list of all the major players bought and sold by Benitez during his six year reign.

PLAYERS IN FEE OUT FEE SUCCESS
Josemi 2004 £2.0m 2005 swap No
Luis Garcia 2004 £6.0m 2007 £4.0m Yes
Xabi Alonso 2004 £10.5m 2009 £30.5m Yes
Antonio Nunez 2004 swap 2005 undisclosed No
Mauricio Pellegrino 2004 free 2005 free No
Fer. Morientes 2004 £6.3m  2006 £3.0m No
Scott Carson 2004  £0.7m 2008 £3.2m  No but... 
Markus Babbel      2004 free   
Danny Murphy     2004 £2.5m   
Michael Owen      2004 £8.0m   
Chris Butler      2004 free   
Stephane Henchoz     2004 free   
Wlad. Smicer     2004 free   
El Hadji Diouf     2004 undisclosed   
Patrice Bernardi      2004 free   
Alou Diarra      2004 free   
Igor Biscan     2004 free   
Pepe Reina 2005 £6.0m     Yes
Mark Gonzalez  2005 £4.5m 2007 £4.2m  No
Bou. Zenden 2005 free 2007 free No
Antonio Barragan 2005 undisclosed 2006 £0.6m No
M. Sissoko 2005 £5.6m  2008 £8.2m  No
Peter Crouch 2005 £7.0m  2008 £9.0m  No
Godwin Antwi 2005 undisclosed 2009 free No
Jack Hobbs 2005 £0.7m 2009 undisclosed No but...
Paul Anderson  2006 swap 2009 £0.2m   
Jan Kromkamp 2006 swap 2006 undisclosed No
David Martin 2006 undisclosed       
Daniel Agger  2006 £5.8m       
Robbie Fowler 2006 free 2007 free Yes
Craig Bellamy 2006 £6.5m 2007 £7.5m No
Gabriel Pauletta 2006 £2.0m 2007 swap No
John Otsombor     2005 free   
Gregory Vignal      2005 free   
Richie Partridge      2005 undisclosed   
Milan Baros      2005 £6.5m   
Paul Harrison     2005 free   
Mark Smyth     2005 free   
John Welsh     2006 swap   
Conal Platt      2006 free   
Zak Whitbred     2006 free   
Bruno Cheyrou     2006 free   
Calum Woods     2006 free   
Paul Willis     2006 free   
Fabio Aurelio 2006 free     No
Jermaine Pennant 2006 £6.7m  2009 free No
Dirk Kuyt 2006 £9.0m      Yes
Nabil El Zhar  2006 undisclosed       
Alvaro Arbeloa 2006 £2.6m  2009 £3.5m No
Fran. Duran 2006 undisclosed 2007 free No
Javier Mascherano  2006 £18.6m      Yes
Andrei Voronin 2006 free     No
Krisztian Nemeth 2006 undisclosed       
Charles Itandtje 2006 free     Yes
Fernando Torres 2006 £26.5m      Yes
David Raven  2006 free       
Ramon Calliste     2006 free   
Dietmar Hamann      2006 £0.4m   
Carl Medjani     2006 undisclosed   
Robbie Foy      2006 free   
Djimi Traore      2006 £2.0m   
Neil Mellor     2006 undisclosed   
Chris Kirkland      2006 undisclosed   
David Mannix      2007 free   
Darren Potter      2007 free   
Stephen Warnock      2007 £1.5m   
Salif Diao     2007 free   
Flor. Pongolle     2007 £2.7m   
Danny O'Donnell     2007 £0.1m   
Djibril Cisse     2007 £6.0m   
Yossi Benayoun 2007 £5.0m     Yes
Ryan Babel 2007 £11.5m      No
Emilio Insua  2007 swap     Yes
Damien Plessis 2007 undisclosed*       
Martin Skrtel  2007 £6.0m     Yes
Jerzy Dudek     2007 free   
Lee Peltier     2008 free   
Craig Lindfield     2008 free   
Besian Idrizaj     2008 free   
Miki Roque     2008 free   
Ray Putterill     2008 free   
James Smith     2008 free   
SJ Dominguez     2008 free   
Philip Degen 2008 free     No
Andrea Dossena 2008 £7.0m      No
Robbie Keane  2008 £19m  2009 £12m  No
Diego Cavalieri 2008 £3.5m       
David Ngog  2008 £1.5m       
Vitor Flora 2008 free 2009 free No
Albert Riera 2008 £8.0m     No
Anthony La Tallec     2008 free   
Harry Kewell     2008 free   
Danny Guthrie     2008 £2.5m   
John Arne Riise     2008 £4.0m   
Steve Finnan      2008 free   
Glen Johnson 2009 £18m       
Alberto Aquilani 2009 £20m       
Sot. Kyriakos  2009 £2m      No
Sebastian Leto     2009 £1.3m   
As Azdarivic      2009 free   
Sami Hypia      2009 free   
Sh. O'Connor     2009 free   
Adam Hamill     2009 free   
Maxi Rodriguez 2010 £1.5m       

As mentioned before, there have been some spectacular successes, but there have also been some disastrous signings. Ryan Babel, Robbie Keane, Andei Voronin, and Alberto Aquilani come to mind.

It may be harsh to include the £20m Italian in this list as he was injured when Benitez signed him, but as far as this season is concerned he has been an un-mitigated disaster.

[roberto green]

There is so many threads like this now.It's all becoming too boring and repetitive

sorry mate





sorry mate





sorry mate

[tubby]

Oh ffs not this again. What you fail to realise cfcforver is that Rafa has never been allowed to spend large sums on each player aside from Torres and a few others. The rest have been small to medium fees so it was always going to be hit and miss in that respect.

[mart]

As mentioned before, there have been some spectacular successes, but there have also been some disastrous signings. Ryan Babel, Robbie Keane, Andei Voronin, and Alberto Aquilani come to mind.

Really out of all those transfers this is the "disasters"?

[Greavesie]

Alberto Aquilani a disaster, the lad's barely started playing for christ sake. I hope he doesnt read this ffs he's hardly played and being labelled a disaster. do me a favour

Wasn't Maxi a free?
And Riera £6m?
was Torres £26.5m? That's the first time I've seen that figure

ah it, its doing my head it, its full of  

[Dinger]

I     

As mentioned before, there have been some spectacular successes, but there have also been some disastrous signings. Ryan Babel, Robbie Keane, Andei Voronin, and Alberto Aquilani come to mind.

It may be harsh to include the £20m Italian in this list as he was injured when Benitez signed him, but as far as this season is concerned he has been an un-mitigated disaster.

"un-mitigated disaster"   I think thats somewhat of an overstatement however you look at it. He's coming back from a long time out and looks to be improving to me, I really think the lad will have you eating your words by the end of the season.

[Greavesie]

M. Sissoko 2005 £5.6m  2008 £8.2m  No

he wasn't a failure, was he? he put in some crackin peformances in the CL
just Masch was better

I might actually pull my hair out reading this 

[leep33]

I cannot understand how that journalist can put Itandje down as a yes!!

[Greavesie]

cpc4eva, you're reading what you want to see mate, a lot of that is bullsh!t

[supersub]

willie gannon......

oh dear

[Owzat]

Unfortunately the ground has been covered over and over, to such an extent the replies become predictable - "Rafa hasn't spent................" and the usual question marks over fees, don't you know they all paid us to take the players off them in exchange for nets? Wouldn't it just be easier to say Rafa is a failure because he hasn't won the league, at least that cuts to the chase without all the speculative bull vs bull of "such and such cost X and was a flop" vs "but Wafa hasn't spent more than five pesetas (net)"

I laugh at the wording "major players" then see Putterill, Willis, Woods etc who never played for the 1st team. And why oh why do people mispell player names so much, I mean "Hypia"

[sivapc]

Ryan is a disastrous signing because the manager has no idea how to use him??

cool

[roberto green]

Unfortunately the ground has been covered over and over, to such an extent the replies become predictable - "Rafa hasn't spent................" and the usual question marks over fees, don't you know they all paid us to take the players off them in exchange for nets? Wouldn't it just be easier to say Rafa is a failure because he hasn't won the league, at least that cuts to the chase without all the speculative bull vs bull of "such and such cost X and was a flop" vs "but Wafa hasn't spent more than five pesetas (net)"

I laugh at the wording "major players" then see Putterill, Willis, Woods etc who never played for the 1st team. And why oh why do people mispell player names so much, I mean "Hypia"

spot on Ozwat

[cpc4eva]

yes they are pretty fair dinkum comments from all of you.....

i do hope i eat my words....

but i just cant see how the hell we can win the League under rafa and the decisions he makes re player transfers and player management.

[Boocity]

That article has got to be one of the biggest loads of garbage I have ever read. It makes Tomkins seem like a Turner prize winner.