Liverpool FC Forum

[Bad Bob]

Personally, I think one of three things will happen.  In one scenario, the Yanks will stay and that'll mean the end of Rafa as Liverpool manager come May (if not sooner).  In a second scenario, DIC comes in and decides to replace Rafa at the end of the season.  In the final scenario, DIC come in and look to give Rafa another crack at the whip next season.  Personally, I'm in total support of the latter scenario because with the presumed boardroom stability and financial backing that DIC would bring, we might actually get to see what Benitez can accomplish with this club.  If the title challenge goes t!ts up during a season where he doesn't have the off-field distractions, I'll be more than prepared to join the ranks of the Rafa-outers.

How likely do you think it is that DIC will takeover?, and when do you think they would be more likely to takoever, now or in the summer?

If they took over in the summer, do you think Rafa would be gone by then?, if so do you think it would be of his own accord i.e. a resignation?

My view is that Rafa will not walk, every recent indication points to him persisting in the job - his love for the club, he's settled in Liverpool, his signings to whom he owes a duty of responsibility having brought them here, his comments that reinforce this, players' comments - Torres' for example. In the current climate, I just can't for the life of me see Hicks and Gillett getting rid of Rafa any time soon. They'd probably get lynched, I think they're now aware of this hostility. If our performances were so poor that we ultimately finished outside the top four (god forbid), they have a ready made excuse to sack him. I think we will finish in the top four though, and have a run in one of the cups. In which case, what happens next?

I don't think Rafa would leave, and I don't think he'd be sacked.

I don't think Rafa will resign but if the Yanks stay on, I'm certain they'll sack him at the end of the season, regardless of whether we secure CL football for next season or not.  The only thing I think that would save him is actually winning the CL this season.

Sacking Rafa in May will doubtless incur the wrath of some supporters but I just bet that H & G will gamble that, if they keep there heads down for most of the close season whilst giving a new manager some cash to splash, they'll be able to ride out the storm of supporter backlash.

That's why I truly hope all of these rumours about a DIC buyout amount to something now.  Whether that will actually come off, though...

[account deleted by request]

Personally, I think one of three things will happen.  In one scenario, the Yanks will stay and that'll mean the end of Rafa as Liverpool manager come May (if not sooner).  In a second scenario, DIC comes in and decides to replace Rafa at the end of the season.  In the final scenario, DIC come in and look to give Rafa another crack at the whip next season.  Personally, I'm in total support of the latter scenario because with the presumed boardroom stability and financial backing that DIC would bring, we might actually get to see what Benitez can accomplish with this club.  If the title challenge goes t!ts up during a season where he doesn't have the off-field distractions, I'll be more than prepared to join the ranks of the Rafa-outers.

How likely do you think it is that DIC will takeover?, and when do you think they would be more likely to takoever, now or in the summer?

If they took over in the summer, do you think Rafa would be gone by then?, if so do you think it would be of his own accord i.e. a resignation?

My view is that Rafa will not walk, every recent indication points to him persisting in the job - his love for the club, he's settled in Liverpool, his signings to whom he owes a duty of responsibility having brought them here, his comments that reinforce this, players' comments - Torres' for example. In the current climate, I just can't for the life of me see Hicks and Gillett getting rid of Rafa any time soon. They'd probably get lynched, I think they're now aware of this hostility. If our performances were so poor that we ultimately finished outside the top four (god forbid), they have a ready made excuse to sack him. I think we will finish in the top four though, and have a run in one of the cups. In which case, what happens next?

I don't think Rafa would leave, and I don't think he'd be sacked.

That raises the number of reasons for him not leaving voluntarily to 6million and 4. £6million pay off, plus whatever other reasons people can add to it.

I don't know how true it is but I read somewhere that it would actually cost closer to £10million to sack Rafa, if that included some of his closest backroom staff. New managers tend to want to bring in their own team.

I still honestly believe if Hicks and Gillett stay he is as good as out in the summer. If DIC take over he may get a stay of execution, but I wouldn't bank on it.

I think an "arrangement" may be agreed if another big club such as Real M. came back in for him. Which is probably the best solution for all concerned except for maybe LFC and the fans.

[LFC2007]

Given that we've now established the yanks haven't a clue about football managers, who on earth would they possibly opt for (worrying thought) should they choose to relieve Rafa of his duties?, and would that candidate require a 5 year plan with significant funds to begin re-building the side?

Unless relations between the two and Rafa are severely strained even at this moment, having made clear recently that initial communication difficulties had been resolved, I can't see why they would sack him. They know nothing about football, who are they to judge whether Rafa's been a success during his time here or not?

I'm not so sure Rafa is on his way regardless of results, and barring a UCL victory.

[account deleted by request]

Given that we've now established the yanks haven't a clue about football managers, who on earth would they possibly opt for (worrying thought) should they choose to relieve Rafa of his duties?, and would that candidate require a 5 year plan with significant funds to begin re-building the side?

Unless relations between the two and Rafa are severely strained even at this moment, having made clear recently that initial communication difficulties had been resolved, I can't see why they would sack him. They know nothing about football, who are they to judge whether Rafa's been a success during his time here or not?

I'm not so sure Rafa is on his way regardless of results, and barring a UCL victory.

The yanks may know nothing about football, but they seem to have a keen interest in money. If we fail to qualify for the CL next season and don't get to a cup final, then their love of the green stuff will supply them with all the knowledge they need.

[Kharhaz]

Given that we've now established the yanks haven't a clue about football managers, who on earth would they possibly opt for (worrying thought) should they choose to relieve Rafa of his duties?, and would that candidate require a 5 year plan with significant funds to begin re-building the side?

Unless relations between the two and Rafa are severely strained even at this moment, having made clear recently that initial communication difficulties had been resolved, I can't see why they would sack him. They know nothing about football, who are they to judge whether Rafa's been a success during his time here or not?

I'm not so sure Rafa is on his way regardless of results, and barring a UCL victory.

I think rafa is on borrowed time. The yanks are not as dumb as some would believe. They have kept quiet throughout this whole episode but I look at the people who turned up at anfield for the villa match. There was a small protest but thats all, a small one. I think a lot of people are getting fed up with not only rafa, but the players also. Yes, there is unsettlement within the club but not everything can be blamed on the owners. If that was the case the "R" thread would not exist in many forums.I personally look at the Reading match as the turning point in our season as I just cannot for the life of me figure out what was in rafas mind during that match. I also think many of the fans who signed the petition supporting rafa are having there doubts. There is a lot of discontent amongst the club, and its not just the board who are in question.

[Bad Bob]

I personally look at the Reading match as the turning point in our season as I just cannot for the life of me figure out what was in rafas mind during that match.

I'm pretty sure the upcoming Marseille match was foremost on his mind that day, especially given the likelihood that he had been informed about the Klinsmann approach by the owners and made to understand that failure to qualify for the knock-out round would cost him his job.  Hicks has basically implied as much in his recent admissions.

[Kharhaz]

I personally look at the Reading match as the turning point in our season as I just cannot for the life of me figure out what was in rafas mind during that match.

I'm pretty sure the upcoming Marseille match was foremost on his mind that day, especially given the likelihood that he had been informed about the Klinsmann approach by the owners and made to understand that failure to qualify for the knock-out round would cost him his job.  Hicks has basically implied as much in his recent admissions.

But surely if he was well aware of the Klinsmann approach he would do everything he could to show he is irreplacable? No the position of the players he played in that match, and the fact he gave up trying to win it shows something more to me. If he knows that we are unbeaten in the league up until that point, if he knows all us supporters want the league more than anything, why give up in a match against reading?

[LFC2007]

Given that we've now established the yanks haven't a clue about football managers, who on earth would they possibly opt for (worrying thought) should they choose to relieve Rafa of his duties?, and would that candidate require a 5 year plan with significant funds to begin re-building the side?

Unless relations between the two and Rafa are severely strained even at this moment, having made clear recently that initial communication difficulties had been resolved, I can't see why they would sack him. They know nothing about football, who are they to judge whether Rafa's been a success during his time here or not?

I'm not so sure Rafa is on his way regardless of results, and barring a UCL victory.

The yanks may know nothing about football, but they seem to have a keen interest in money. If we fail to qualify for the CL next season and don't get to a cup final, then their love of the green stuff will supply them with all the knowledge they need.

Assuming we do qualify for the UCL next season, and given this statement from Hicks;

"This business has to do with fan affinity and brand devotion. It doesn't necessarily have to do with winning."

I'm not so sure they'd have legitimate reason to sack Rafa, as their footballing judgement is extremely limited.

In the short-term, the point at which their financial plans would be inhibited by poor results would have to be quite drastic, i.e. failing to qualify for the UCL and I don't think that will happen.

The only reasons they'd have would be i)*Strained relationship with Rafa, the negative publicity resulting from this has the propensity to affect their investment (Through, as above fan affinity and brand devotion)ii) to get their own man in and start afresh - a bit like Mike Ashley and Newcastle. That often happens when football clubs are taken over, it's a convenient excuse.

* Their incapacities in dealing with the media have actually spurned far greater streams of negative publicity than anything Rafa's come out with, his only real blemish was the 'As always...' remark. It would be quite hypocritical to use this as justification to sack Rafa.

[account deleted by request]

I personally look at the Reading match as the turning point in our season as I just cannot for the life of me figure out what was in rafas mind during that match.

I'm pretty sure the upcoming Marseille match was foremost on his mind that day, especially given the likelihood that he had been informed about the Klinsmann approach by the owners and made to understand that failure to qualify for the knock-out round would cost him his job.  Hicks has basically implied as much in his recent admissions.

But surely if he was well aware of the Klinsmann approach he would do everything he could to show he is irreplacable? No the position of the players he played in that match, and the fact he gave up trying to win it shows something more to me. If he knows that we are unbeaten in the league up until that point, if he knows all us supporters want the league more than anything, why give up in a match against reading?

If it was a choice between upsetting the supporters (who can't sack him) or the owners (who can sack him) who would you expect him to try to satisfy? A calculated gamble failed at Reading, but enabled him to retain his job by fielding a reasonably fresh side successfully against Marseille, qualifying for the knockout stages and the extra revenue, AND also against the mancs,with unfortunately less success.

[bigmick]

I'll try and keep it less than 1000 words. If the owners are still here by the Summer, I hope Rafa is too because he has a lovely knack of getting under their skin. If however we have changed ownership, I will be advocating a change of manager before next season barring a seeing of the light moment on team selection, squad building and game approach.

[account deleted by request]

This business has to do with fan affinity and brand devotion. It doesn't necessarily have to do with winning."

I think even if we manage to qualify they will probably look at what he has achieved and the amount of money he has spent and think that they can get better value for money with someone else.

As for the above quote I think they are talking about winning games, not winning the the huge rewards that come from the CL. I think they showed this by their impatience in speaking to Klinsmann when we looked out of this years comp, while we still had everything to play for.

[account deleted by request]

I'll try and keep it less than 1000 words. If the owners are still here by the Summer, I hope Rafa is too because he has a lovely knack of getting under their skin. If however we have changed ownership, I will be advocating a change of manager before next season barring a seeing of the light moment on team selection, squad building and game approach.

You just want to see H&G getting as frustrated as you are with rotation 

[Kharhaz]

I personally look at the Reading match as the turning point in our season as I just cannot for the life of me figure out what was in rafas mind during that match.

I'm pretty sure the upcoming Marseille match was foremost on his mind that day, especially given the likelihood that he had been informed about the Klinsmann approach by the owners and made to understand that failure to qualify for the knock-out round would cost him his job.  Hicks has basically implied as much in his recent admissions.

But surely if he was well aware of the Klinsmann approach he would do everything he could to show he is irreplacable? No the position of the players he played in that match, and the fact he gave up trying to win it shows something more to me. If he knows that we are unbeaten in the league up until that point, if he knows all us supporters want the league more than anything, why give up in a match against reading?

If it was a choice between upsetting the supporters (who can't sack him) or the owners (who can sack him) who would you expect him to try to satisfy? A calculated gamble failed at Reading, but enabled him to retain his job by fielding a reasonably fresh side successfully against Marseille, qualifying for the knockout stages and the extra revenue, AND also against the mancs,with unfortunately less success.

Id like to think he sticks to his principles and put the supporters first. Many on here complained that we were on our way out of the champs league and many said "so what, concentrate on league" It would appear its not only rafa in two minds. For the record I would love rafa to stay but he really must find an assistant to share the burden. Get things stable on the playing field that way he has some weight to carry when hes trying to bargain with the board.

[LFC2007]

This business has to do with fan affinity and brand devotion. It doesn't necessarily have to do with winning."

1) I think even if we manage to qualify they will probably look at what he has achieved and the amount of money he has spent and think that they can get better value for money with someone else.

2) As for the above quote I think they are talking about winning games, not winning the the huge rewards that come from the CL. I think they showed this by their impatience in speaking to Klinsmann when we looked out of this years comp, while we still had everything to play for.

1) I don't think they're qualified to make that sort of judgement, but would they have the audacity to do so, I think so but it wouldn't be legitimate as far as I'm concerned.

2) What I'm saying is; in the short-term the point at which their financial planning for the future would be affected is if we didn't qualify for the UCL this season. Nothing else comes into the equation, and if winning games doesn't necessarily equate to having a successful business they can't use poor results this season (outside of qualifying for the UCL) as an excuse to sack Rafa on the basis that he is harming their investment (I have to stress - short-term).

[LFC2007]

I'll be more than prepared to join the ranks of the Rafa-outers.

OMG