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Benitez summit as Parry flies to US for crunch talks on Liverpool boss
By JOHN EDWARDS


Rafa Benitez's Anfield future will be discussed on Tuesday following fresh claims that he fears his Liverpool reign will end with the sack.

Chief executive Rick Parry is flying to America for a summit meeting with co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett about plans for a new stadium at nearby Stanley Park.

But it is understood Benitez's increasingly uncertain position has been added to the agenda and yesterday's 1-1 FA Cup draw at League One strugglers Luton is unlikely to have improved his standing.

Benitez is desperate to remain at Anfield and said: "It is very clear. I love the club, I love the fans and I want to stay. I have two more years left on my contract and if I can stay for longer I will be really happy. I think the people at the club want me to stay.

"We are working together trying to improve the squad, now and also for the future."

Benitez saw his weakened line-up take the lead through Peter Crouch, only for John Arne Riise's own goal to earn Luton a replay tomorrow week.

All this on a day which started with the Liverpool manager's misgivings being aired by an unnamed confidant in a move that seemed to underline how he senses there may be no healing his rift with co-owner Tom Hicks.

For all the recent attempts to patch up their differences following a two-hour meeting over Christmas that was described as cordial and constructive, Benitez was said to be resigned to his fate and bracing himself for the axe.

There are echoes of Jose Mourinho's downfall at Chelsea about the way Benitez has taken on a wealthy club owner in a power struggle and antagonised him by stubbornly refusing to climb down.

Like Roman Abramovich at Chelsea, Hicks, in particular, has taken exception to what he views as his manager overstepping the mark.

Matters came to a head when Hicks felt Javier Mascherano's £17million permanent transfer was being pushed through without due consultation and he responded by ordering Benitez to back off and concentrate on the players already at his disposal.

Benitez evidently believes the unwavering support of Liverpool's vast following will stand him in good stead.

There are even claims that Hicks and fellow co-owner George Gillett, beset by problems over financing a new stadium and with their own relationship strained, may look to sell up before having the chance to dismiss the manager.

Even so, Benitez appears to be playing a dangerous game.

Suggestions that Real Madrid are waiting to offer him a fresh start hardly tally with the views of Bernabeu insiders.

Real are looking unstoppable at the top of the Spanish league, while coach Bernd Schuster has been widely credited with restoring discipline and harmony in the dressing room and revitalising the careers of Robinho and former on-loan Arsenal forward Julio Baptista.


If the bit about Parry flying off to visit the rest of the clowns is right, I think we can guess why those stories came out today.

[KOPMATT]

Well guys, I have to say i'm not happy at all about all the stories flying about at the moment!
I'm really worried for Rafa's future. I know as much as any of us results can't go on the way they're going and some of Rafa's selections have left me not just scratching my head but pulling my hair out at times. For what my opinion is worth I love RAFA at the club and beleive he's worth sticking with.
I can't stand the way the American owners are so bloody far away in the States this sort of thing would neva be happening I believe if Mr.Moores was still the Chairman of our club. He must be shaking his head and wondering what the hell is going on at the way the media are having a field day with us at the moment.
I agree that Rafa was a bit childish the other week with "that news conference" but he is clearly fustrated that it appears the owners don't seem to share the same passion to bring success to the club. We don't need to be rocket scientists to see that we've spent alot of money over the years but it has brought us success to  degree, however it's the league that we all want and crave for. But we need to be spending the same if not more than the Munsters and Chavski to be able to catch them up and overtake them at the moment we don't appear to have much chance of that.
Yes we have Torres, Reina, Gerrard, Carragher & Agger (when he eventually comes back), Marsherano(for how long?)  but so many of the other players are IMO so bloody average! And a few well below average such as Voronin, Pennant and Sissoko are just not good enough for our squad simple as that.
What the club, fans and Rafa really needs is for the Yanks to come out and say NOW what they feel for the manager or the media stories and bickkering of the pundits will just make the team more and more edgy with every game that goes.
It's starting to get me down all the speculation regarding Rafa's future.
Has his relationship broken down with Rick Parry too? This is what we are also being led to believe and the longer that no one comes out to say anything one way or another just makes matters worse.
I had my doubts when they outbid the Arabs earlier in the year and that appears to have come right at least for me, the results are enough to get me down but the stories on Sky, the newspapers and what everyone else feels right now help to make me even more miserable.
Sorry guys but it's just bad press after bad press and I just hope that the team can play with some more passion and help Rafa get the backing I feel he truely deserves before it's too late!

[Paul C]

Hmm Rick Parry, I won't say what I think exactly of the guy but if he's having talks with the Americans then I'd be worried if I was Rafa, I wouldn't trust Parry as far as I can throw him!

[KOPMATT]

Hmm Rick Parry, I won't say what I think exactly of the guy but if he's having talks with the Americans then I'd be worried if I was Rafa, I wouldn't trust Parry as far as I can throw him!

Why? What makes you say that?
If you don't wanna post ere then please pm me.

[Paul C]

Hmm Rick Parry, I won't say what I think exactly of the guy but if he's having talks with the Americans then I'd be worried if I was Rafa, I wouldn't trust Parry as far as I can throw him!

Why? What makes you say that?
If you don't wanna post ere then please pm me.

From past dealings he's a muppet, take the whole Gerrard saga, when Stevie is pulling his hair out and on the verge to joining Chelsea Rick Parry is sipping a Pina Colada in the Bahamas!!!

He's too nice when it comes to transfers, etc.

I'm not the only person who thinks he should leave 

[KOPMATT]

I only ever really see him at the Champions league draws with them dodgy ties! 

[Kharhaz]

Hmm Rick Parry, I won't say what I think exactly of the guy but if he's having talks with the Americans then I'd be worried if I was Rafa, I wouldn't trust Parry as far as I can throw him!

Why? What makes you say that?
If you don't wanna post ere then please pm me.

From past dealings he's a muppet, take the whole Gerrard saga, when Stevie is pulling his hair out and on the verge to joining Chelsea Rick Parry is sipping a Pina Colada in the Bahamas!!!

He's too nice when it comes to transfers, etc.

I'm not the only person who thinks he should leave 

Yes, lets take the whole Gerrard saga. Every liverpool supporter around the world thought he was god, everybody in liverpool recognise him as a god and that whole saga had him quoting "I feel unloved" hmmmm. Does support matter or money? I have a rough idea !

[maguskwt]

what the f**k has them being jewish got to do with it?

I'll second that

Youve never heard that age old myth of how Jewish people run the world?

Anyway there was no need to add the word Jewish to your statement maguskwt, this is a football forum.

I have indeed heard about it. As you I just find it out of place really. No need to stereotype in that way whatsoever.

nothing wrong with my statement... it's not a racist statement, it's not a religiously insensitive statement,... i'm not slamming them, i'm praising them (the glazers)...

it's a football forum yeah... so what? we can't talk about russians, thais and jews if they're the owners of football clubs? the word 'jewish' not only means the religion, it means the ethnicity as well... so get a grip...

it may be a myth that the jewish people run the world but it is a FACT that the jewish people run NYC the economic capital of the world... yeah so I praise the jewish people for being smart... what's wrong with that? and I slam the red-nec americans for being stupid... it's the same sort of stupidity that made Bush invade Iraq... now we're seeing the same sort of stupidity at anfield...

[Bermenstein]

Quote from Liverpool's co-chairman George Gillet in May 2007

"If Rafa said he wanted to buy 'Snoogy Doogy' we would back him. Rafa's feeling is we need more depth because of the rigours of the schedule to be competitive. That's where the genius of the manager is so essential and that's where Tom and I have to defer to his background and genius."

Lets hope he sticks to his guns.

[The Manhattan Project]

Snoogy Doogy is a good player.

But it looks as though we've settled for Martin Skrtel.



In unrelated news, David Pleat has been found with his head in an oven.

[destro]

What are the chances that Parry is going to meet G and H to tell them what a fantastic manager Rafa is and that they should start spending some of their money on improving the team that is going to be playing in the wonderful stadium that they are happy to go into debt to build

This whole thing is really starting to p1ss me off, either they back him or sack him, I am not buying into this bollox that Rafa is looking for a way out so he can say I wanted to build a great team and "They got rid of me"

[zarababe]

Hmm Rick Parry, I won't say what I think exactly of the guy but if he's having talks with the Americans then I'd be worried if I was Rafa, I wouldn't trust Parry as far as I can throw him!

Why? What makes you say that?
If you don't wanna post ere then please pm me.

From past dealings he's a muppet, take the whole Gerrard saga, when Stevie is pulling his hair out and on the verge to joining Chelsea Rick Parry is sipping a Pina Colada in the Bahamas!!!

He's too nice when it comes to transfers, etc.

I'm not the only person who thinks he should leave 

I agree - where was he when Rafa was imbattled defending and leading the team during the so-called but-up.

The P.rick looked like Kenyon - owner a.ss hug

He should go !

[Bermenstein]

What are the chances that Parry is going to meet G and H to tell them what a fantastic manager Rafa is and that they should start spending some of their money on improving the team that is going to be playing in the wonderful stadium that they are happy to go into debt to build .........

Well the chances should be good if he reminds them that Benitez was the man who helped Valencia win their first title since 1971, spanning a time lag of 31 years in waiting.(2001-2002)

His rotation policy causes a few upsets, sometimes resting his best players, but he is confident his system will get the results.

Benitez’ tactics earned Valencia their first title in 31 years, winning it by a good margin of seven points over Deportivo La Coruna in 01-02.

He did manage to win the title a 2nd time in 3 years (2002-2003) before being appointed Lpool manager.

Thats all Rick has to say.

Now give Rafa the cash..........

[Emerald Red]

the word 'jewish' not only means the religion, it means the ethnicity as well... so get a grip...

I have to correct you on that. The Jewish faith has nothing to do with ethnicity at all whatsoever. It's a faith, not a race. A common misconception that people seem to make these days.

[LFC2007]

the word 'jewish' not only means the religion, it means the ethnicity as well... so get a grip...

I have to correct you on that. The Jewish faith has nothing to do with ethnicity at all whatsoever. It's a faith, not a race. A common misconception that people seem to make these days.

Incorrect.

Being Jewish may be considered one facet that defines a person's ethnicity. 'Ethnicity' can be distinguished from 'race' also.