Liverpool FC Forum

[lakes10]

over the last few years it is clear that some of our players have not got on with Rafa.
It is now being reported that Xabi  is leaving due to him not getting on with Rafa.

you can start to make a list of players that habe ad a problem with him, we also know that from time to time Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard  have had problems with him, who can forget the West ham game when Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard  both stood there with hand on hips asking Rafa what was he trying to get them to do.

robbie keane had a big problem with Rafa and due to this never got the chance to show us what he could do and when he did  he got left out of the next game.

Peter Crouch was a great player for our club, this is not down to Rafa but despite Rafa.

We know that Rafa is a top manager but should he he be made to work on his people skills.


Last night i put on my History of Liverpool fc video, i think Rafa should be made to see it every day. there are some things Bill Shankly says that might make Rafa a better person and a even better manager.


This is not a total pop at our manager but more of " i am puzzled that he keeps upsetting the players"

[Dundalk]

No hugs or bedtime stories

[tubby]

In a nutshell he isn't an 'arm around the shoulder' type manager. I think he probably makes an exception for Stevie or Torres but generally he probably doesn't interact on that level the same with someone like say Harry Redknapp.

But it's no point trying to change that. He has got where he is today by doing what he does best. Sure managers can evolve but I doubt Rafa would change his stance on man managment on that big a level. Sometimes though the players need to toughen up a bit. Im sure the 60k a week they get should help to sooth their feelings. They are well paid professional athletes. If they cannot handle not having their egos massaged every 5 minutes then I don't see why Rafa should waste his time on them.

[RobinHood6969]

I never liked my best teacher.. But later realised that she was my best teacher... Thats how it goes..
Simple: Rafa aint a frnd but a well desciplined manager
Another example is Fabio Capello

[tubby]

Capello has his favourates too - Rooney.

[lakes10]

In a nutshell he isn't an 'arm around the shoulder' type manager. I think he probably makes an exception for Stevie or Torres but generally he probably doesn't interact on that level the same with someone like say Harry Redknapp.

But it's no point trying to change that. He has got where he is today by doing what he does best. Sure managers can evolve but I doubt Rafa would change his stance on man managment on that big a level. Sometimes though the players need to toughen up a bit. Im sure the 60k a week they get should help to sooth their feelings. They are well paid professional athletes. If they cannot handle not having their egos massaged every 5 minutes then I don't see why Rafa should waste his time on them.

But if it means that some of our best players leave then he should be made to see that he got it wrong.

how would you all feel if Steven Gerrard and  Fernando Torres walked out the club due to not getting on with him, yes he is getting it right with them so why is iot so hard for him to get it right with the other players.

keane was never going to make it at our club and that was down to Rafa just not getting on with him, Rafa did not care if he was getting a goal every game, he still would not have kept him at the club.

[tommycockles]

Usually i'd agree and wonder whether he should be a better man-manager but some of the recent qutoes i've read from players that say "He explains what he'd like you to do and why he wants you to do it, and if you don't understand, he'll explain it again until you do!"

Now i'd rather the manager working on making players better than giving them big hugs and hope that improves their game. As Bav said, they're earning 60k a week- grow some balls and do your job as there's a million others that would love to be in their position.

[lakes10]

I never liked my best teacher.. But later realised that she was my best teacher... Thats how it goes..
Simple: Rafa aint a frnd but a well desciplined manager
Another example is Fabio Capello

yes but did your best teacher make you ask to leave the school as you did not get on with him....no

[lakes10]

Usually i'd agree and wonder whether he should be a better man-manager but some of the recent qutoes i've read from players that say "He explains what he'd like you to do and why he wants you to do it, and if you don't understand, he'll explain it again until you do!"

Now i'd rather the manager working on making players better than giving them big hugs and hope that improves their game. As Bav said, they're earning 60k a week- grow some balls and do your job as there's a million others that would love to be in their position.

yes you make a good point but it still stands that it has cost us a very good player.

[tubby]

In a nutshell he isn't an 'arm around the shoulder' type manager. I think he probably makes an exception for Stevie or Torres but generally he probably doesn't interact on that level the same with someone like say Harry Redknapp.

But it's no point trying to change that. He has got where he is today by doing what he does best. Sure managers can evolve but I doubt Rafa would change his stance on man managment on that big a level. Sometimes though the players need to toughen up a bit. Im sure the 60k a week they get should help to sooth their feelings. They are well paid professional athletes. If they cannot handle not having their egos massaged every 5 minutes then I don't see why Rafa should waste his time on them.

But if it means that some of our best players leave then he should be made to see that he got it wrong.

how would you all feel if Steven Gerrard and  Fernando Torres walked out the club due to not getting on with him, yes he is getting it right with them so why is iot so hard for him to get it right with the other players.

keane was never going to make it at our club and that was down to Rafa just not getting on with him, Rafa did not care if he was getting a goal every game, he still would not have kept him at the club.

I guess it's something he has thought about and doesnt see the need to do it on a wider scale. In the book 'A Season on the Brink' there is a mention of this topic actually and I think it says something along the lines of 'Rafa was forced to make an exception with Steven'.

Who knows maybe things will change this season.

[Sabre]

I don't have the answer to your questions, I didn't know Alonso had a bad relationship with Rafa for instance (apparently from long ago, both according the press and uncle alberto).

The thing is that last year, one of the points I used to defend Rafa was that he was able to keep together in the same team a lot of important players, that I'd see decay in the moment that big players left the club.

Alonso leaving is not enough to say that, but I'm worried, because I can see how more important players might leave if we don't win something important this season. I didn't like whatsoever to hear yesterday Reina's dad talking about the move of Alonso and saying that "you have to respect the desire of players".

I didn't like the Crouch affair, although I'm unsure about that one, as I can't understand how Crouch preffers to have a safe place in pmpey and not competition in liverpool.

My point is this, I don't know what's going inside Melwood, and I don't know what part of the guilt is Rafa or just the personality of the player. But the truth is that more players than I'd like are willing to leave the club, or considering it. And it's worrying.

[kopite_1232002]

Usually i'd agree and wonder whether he should be a better man-manager but some of the recent qutoes i've read from players that say "He explains what he'd like you to do and why he wants you to do it, and if you don't understand, he'll explain it again until you do!"

Now i'd rather the manager working on making players better than giving them big hugs and hope that improves their game. As Bav said, they're earning 60k a week- grow some balls and do your job as there's a million others that would love to be in their position.

yes you make a good point but it still stands that it has cost us a very good player.

It's clear rafa dint like keane. So he bombed him out. As for peter cRouch rafa wanted to play torres and gerrard up top. In the end we scored alot more goals.

Xabi is another matter. I bet you rafa woke up this morning with a big fat smile on his face. He got 30 million for a player people were offering 15 a year ago.

He must think that with the money he can make the team a better one. I bet he is like a kid in a sweet shop this morning. Hmmm what world class player should I buy.

In rafa we trust and if he is a tit to a player then there is a reason. The man is a legend. Look were we were at the end of 2004 to now.


Come on red men !!!

[lakes10]

Usually i'd agree and wonder whether he should be a better man-manager but some of the recent qutoes i've read from players that say "He explains what he'd like you to do and why he wants you to do it, and if you don't understand, he'll explain it again until you do!"

Now i'd rather the manager working on making players better than giving them big hugs and hope that improves their game. As Bav said, they're earning 60k a week- grow some balls and do your job as there's a million others that would love to be in their position.

yes you make a good point but it still stands that it has cost us a very good player.

It's clear rafa dint like keane. So he bombed him out. As for peter cRouch rafa wanted to play torres and gerrard up top. In the end we scored alot more goals.

Xabi is another matter. I bet you rafa woke up this morning with a big fat smile on his face. He got 30 million for a player people were offering 15 a year ago.

He must think that with the money he can make the team a better one. I bet he is like a kid in a sweet shop this morning. Hmmm what world class player should I buy.

In rafa we trust and if he is a tit to a player then there is a reason. The man is a legend. Look were we were at the end of 2004 to now.


Come on red men !!!

lets just see what happens to the Money.

[Reg]

Rafa is in a viscious business under massive pressure from club, fans, media etc.. he's exposed to whatever smartarse making comments on the net.

Its difficult to appreciate how the job has changed since Shanks' time or even since Evans. Too much pressure.

If a player needs mollicuddling then lets get a professional babysitter in but I dont see it as Rafas job to breast feed players as well as cope with his other enormous responsibilities.

Which top manager is 'nice' today? 

[Sabre]

Which top manager is 'nice' today? 

That's a fair point, we all have heard what Tevez has said about his ex, or how Ibra couldn't stand Mou.