Liverpool FC Forum

LFC2007 wrote:

Bad Bob wrote: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.

LFC2007 wrote:

Bad Bob wrote: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.

LFC2007 wrote: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.

LFC2007 wrote: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.

Kharhaz wrote: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.

Bad Bob wrote:

Kharhaz wrote: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 wrote:

Bad Bob wrote:

Kharhaz wrote: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?

bigmick wrote: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 

s@int wrote:

Kharhaz wrote:

Bad Bob wrote:

Kharhaz wrote: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.