Liverpool FC Forum

by **andy_g** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 7:22 pm

Bad Bob wrote:FFS, someone just quote from "A Few Good Men" and draw this all to a close!

you mean like this?

"Maybe, if we work at it, we can get Dawson charged with the Kennedy assassination."

by **Bad Bob** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 7:49 pm

by **bigmick** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 8:33 pm

A very odd discussion that one. Anyway I broadly agree with S@ints point, in the past there has often been an over-complication in terms of selection, formations and the rest. The Reading Away game was probably the most glaring example, and Crouch did play on the left wing (whether he just decided to wander over there or whether he was actually told to do so we'll never know). Liverpool were absolutely outplayed by Reading who picked up a notable scalp before unfortunately for them, getting relegated at the end of the season.

That was the same game where we took our best players off with twenty minutes left, and actually seemd to "concede" defeat. It was an unfortunate episode all in all, the Reading game being more of a symptom than the cause. The main problems had been caused previously with styling in the Champions League group stages, meaning we were in danger of not getting out of the group. This would have course have been a disaster, not just in financial terms but also in terms of chronic underachievement. Unfortunately because of that the Reading selections, formation and substitutions, unsurpirisingly the performace was something of a train smash.

Thank God though we've now learned our lesson though. No more having to win the last three group games in order to qualify, no more getting beat 2-1 by a team which you are capable of beating 8-0, or 1-0 at Home by a team you can beat 4-0 Away. No more Readings either. All in all, we've come a long way since then.

by **Sabre** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:04 pm

BTW, you're not used to it with Liverpool, because they're a top club, but sometimes, the manager has an idea, say, playing a 4-3-3 with a fluent football, and he gets the match that wrong that the team ends up in their own half and one of the supposed strikers up front, ends up as if he was a winger.

Rafa, no doubt, has been mistaken in some games like any other coach, but I think more often than not he's a coach that gets right the matches.

Maybe sometimes a game shouldn't have been thought that much? the reports of the scouts not analysed too much? stick to a simple idea that worked the other day? Maybe, but I think that you don't try to be clever by doing that. It's like in real life sometimes we make complicated things when we could have done it easier, but you realise it after the fact.

by **stmichael** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 4:32 pm

Excellent article from the offal:

Rafa's Red Grinding Machine

The adjective that was perhaps most often applied to Rafa Benitez's Valencia side was "unfancied": an unfancied style of play, an unfancied sort of club and certainly not a club that anyone would have fancied to win La Liga twice in three years.

Yet, despite the apparently inherent unfanciability of the club, it became known as the "crushing machine": a side that dominated games and crushed the opposition, with the players working as a single unit for a singular cause. It might not have had the stars that other sides had, but Rafael Benitez brought something that the others didn't have and couldn't buy: league titles.

Liverpool under Benitez has been a work in progress for much of his tenure; although conversely the Spaniard has proved his abilities on the European stage and the club now stands at the head of UEFA's list. All the same, the comparatively poor showing in the domestic league has given rise to cries from some quarters that "Rafa does not understand the English game".

However, as Benitez surveys the league table a quarter of the way through this season, it's from a position 3 points ahead of their nearest rivals Chelsea, who have just surrendered to Liverpool an unbeaten run of home games that stretched back to February 2004. The side that Rafa built is delivering domestically at long last.

The change has been subtle, but the results marked: this is a side that grinds out results through gritty resolve and determination. Liverpool have fallen behind four times in the league this season and have then gone on to win. Whilst crushing victories may not yet be an integral part of the Reds' repertoire, there's no denying that the Liverpool of 08/09 is fast gathering a reputation as a grinding machine, an unfanciable side that gets results.

To find the roots of this, one should perhaps go back to December 2004, to a side relying on third-choice strikers and sheer single-mindedness that battled its way through the group stages of the Champions League. In the final game of the group stage, Liverpool were out of the competition with 45 minutes to go. They needed three goals and it was hard to see where they'd come from; however, a couple of inspirational substitutions and a moment of magic from Steven Gerrard proved that determination could overturn the odds.

The progress to the final was marked by similarly dogged battles and was perhaps best summed up by a tale recounted by Five Live's Alan Green: as the press corps flew to watch Liverpool defend their 2-1 lead at Juventus, the talk was of how Chelsea would cope with the Italians in the semi-final, so certain were the Reds to crash out of the competition. Yet, even with the unfancied Igor Biscan standing in for a suspended Steven Gerrard, a dogged 0-0 saw the stage set for an all-English semi-final which still stands as one of Benitez's best tactical victories.

And then, of course, there was the 'miracle' of Istanbul: 3-0 down at half time and ol' big ears still came home - and it certainly wasn't because Liverpool were the best footballing side. It was that dogged determination again, perfectly expressed by the magnificent Jamie Carragher, who saved the team again and again in extra time, despite the inconvenient fact that he should have been on the treatment table. History was made by a perfect blend of the astute tactics of Benitez and the grit and determination that has defined Liverpool teams down the years.

Yet whilst the European performances have been outstanding, the domestic showing has not been so fabulous and that perseverance has not been translated to the league. To an extent, that could be attributed to the fact that Benitez has been working against two clubs that have massive spending power and can field an array of world-class stars, whereas Liverpool have been shopping at the cheaper end of the transfer market. Similarly, there have been accusations that the drive to win may not have been there week-in, week-out, with the mentality perhaps being that lowlier sides would succumb rather than having to be ground down.

Taking the latter point first, it may be that the addition of Sammy Lee has been the final major piece in the jigsaw: whilst he may not be the world's most tactically astute manager, he's one of football's best motivators. That's certainly showed through in several games so far, when the side has been behind heads have stayed up and the desire to win has overcome the opposition. In simple terms, determination and sheer belief have ground out results and the fusion of Scouse heart and Spanish genius seems to be working well.

Historically under Benitez, Liverpool have proved a very difficult side to beat: a siege mentality set in and the fruits of a concerted fitness programme saw red players chasing down their attacking opposition in numbers until the very last minute. What was perhaps lacking was the ability to move forwards and strike the killer blow: the addition of Fernando Torres last season certainly improved this, but the accusation that the side had become a two-man team prevailed.

Questions still remained about some players in the squad, with the "tireless" Dirk Kuyt in particular being singled out as someone who simply wasn't of "Liverpool quality": yes, he might run his socks off and have an incredible workrate but that wasn't considered enough to win trophies. This, of course, overlooks one simple but fundamental point: players do not win league titles - teams do. And that's where Benitez is king.

The defeat of Chelsea may prove to be pivotable; and it is certainly an illustration of what Benitez has created. With the absence of the talismanic Torres, Liverpool were shorn of their greatest goal threat, a loss that lead many to believe that a draw was the best that could be achieved. Again, this overlooked one vital point: one man does not make a team - and it was a team that Benitez fielded, not a collective of star footballers.

The victory at Stamford Bridge is perhaps Liverpool's most significant game in the league in a decade: the Reds got back in numbers, chased down whichever Chelsea player had the temerity to have the ball and - more importantly - on several occasions the red hoarde flowed forwards in a fluid movement with the ball being interchanged between players who seemed to have a telepathic link. And finally, the belief and perseverance broke through the glass ceiling that hadn't seen an away win against a top side for what seems like an age.

The grinding machine's attack starts from its defence; its defence starts from the attack - indeed with the "tireless" Kuyt proving exactly why Benitez bought him. Despite the lack of goals so far, Robbie Keane has proved to be another vital cog in the machine: the team may contain several unfancied players, but the end product is still the side that's standing at the top of the Premier League. As someone once said, you don't have to buy the best leg you can buy for the table; you have to buy the leg that fits the table.

Tactical flexibility has finally been made to work: shifting to what was in effect a 2-4-4 when you're 2-1 down and your defence is suffering at the hands of the league's most in-form striker is possibly not the most obvious of switches but it worked, perhaps through belief as much as logic. And then there's what could perhaps best be described as a 'lockdown': when the side is protecting its lead with a few minutes to go, on comes a third central defender and the game is put to bed. It's not so much parking the bus as akin to a shopkeeper pulling down the shutters and locking the door so he can get on with counting the takings and taking stock at the end of the day: thank you for playing against us, but the game's over now, whatever the referee may think.

This Liverpool side is not yet a purveyor of pretty football: yet it is grinding out results with a regularity that's not been seen from Liverpool at this stage of the season for some time. Perhaps for the first time, Rafael Benitez has got the team he wants: a team of players working hard with the determination to win every game; a team that understands each other and plays the sort of fluid football that their maestro wants; and most importantly, a side that beats with a scouse heart that just won't accept defeat.

While Benitez's usual expression may be that of a poker player who gives nothing away, he must be quietly confident with progress so far: his creation is now delivering its potential; the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, even when its stars are missing. And at the back of his mind, Benitez must be looking forwards to letting the team off its leash and allowing the unfancied grinding machine become the new red crushing machine: make no mistake about it, this is only the beginning.

by **GYBS** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 5:10 pm

The point about the team winning the title is a good one but you still need special players within the team to help - would man utd won last year without ronaldo ? doubt it same with drogab couple years ago .

by **Reg** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 12:52 am

Rafael Benítez revolution is reaching its peak

Oliver Kay
In his compelling recent autobiography, Jamie Carragher, in the nicest possible way, likened Rafael Benítez to a “pub bore” - a man with an answer to everything. Yesterday morning at the club's Melwood training ground, with his Liverpool team top of the Barclays Premier League table and about to travel to White Hart Lane, scene of his first match in English football in August 2004, seemed a good time to put the theory - and the Spaniard's memory - to the test as he was asked to name his starting line-up that day.

For a moment, it seemed that the Liverpool manager was about to rise to the challenge - Dudek, Josemi ... - but he stopped short, saying that he did not want to tarnish his reputation by making any mistakes. You sensed that, with a little cajoling, he would have got it, right down to the men on the substitutes' bench, but instead he preferred to advance the conversation. “It shows that we have improved, no?” he said.

Of the 16 men in Benítez's squad against Tottenham Hotspur that occasion, for a 1-1 draw on the first day of the 2004-05 campaign, only three - Carragher, Sami Hyypia and Steven Gerrard - are still at the club. The pace of change has been even more dramatic at Tottenham - they were managed at the time by Jacques Santini and had such luminaries as Noureddine Naybet, Phil Ifil and Johnnie Jackson in their starting line-up - but Liverpool's return to White Hart Lane this evening seemed the ideal context for Benítez to reflect on the evolution of a squad that finally looks as if it may be equipped for a title challenge.

Catch him in the right mood and Benítez might joke about the paucity of the group of players he encountered on his first day at pre-season training at Anfield in 2004 (Patrice Luzi, Salif Diao, Bruno Cheyrou) and even about the team, who miraculously, won the Champions League that season. He can reminisce fondly about those who have served a purpose in the short term (Mohamed Sissoko, Peter Crouch, Craig Bellamy) and those who came and went without making an impression (Antonio Núñez, Jan Kromkamp, Mark González) and even that he has an entirely different backroom staff now, but, for all that the pace of change has been dizzying at times, Liverpool look a force to be reckoned with in the league once more.

“When you arrive in the Premier League you have a lot of confidence and you think that maybe in one year, maybe in three years, you can change everything,” Benítez said yesterday. “But then you can see the Premier League is really difficult and you know that if you want to be a contender you have to change many things. So little by little we have changed these things and you can see now the difference between that squad and the squad we have at the moment. We are improving. That is clear.

“When we were being successful in Europe, people were talking about the Premier League. We were trying to bring in players who could settle down quickly in the Premier League, so we signed players like [Jermaine] Pennant, Bellamy, Crouch. They knew the Premier League. You need quality, desire, passion, character, a lot of things together. That is the reason why you need to change players, players who can bring something and perform during the season.

“And now, little by little, you have to say that now Daniel Agger has almost everything, Martin Skrtel, Javier Mascherano, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso. We are improving and I think we will improve over the next year.”

The impact made by this summer's signings has been limited, with Albert Riera the pick so far. The improvement has been brought about primarily by those players already at the club. Benítez firmly expects Andrea Dossena to establish himself at left back, once he has adapted to English football, and for Robbie Keane, whose two goals for the club have come in the Champions League, to start to show the form that prompted Liverpool to pay £20.3million to sign him from Tottenham during the summer.

“I am sure Robbie will score more goals,” Benítez said. “He is doing better and I am really pleased with him. The understanding with his team-mates is better. He is getting in good positions for finishing, so he will score more. It is just a question of time.”

A question of time is a good way of putting it and, having presided over a gradual improvement in a team who were spearheaded in his first season by Milan Baros and Djibril Cissé, before flirtations with Crouch, Bellamy, Fernando Morientes, Robbie Fowler and Andriy Voronin, Benítez is entitled to feel that, with Keane supporting Fernando Torres, Liverpool finally have a worthy strike partnership. Indeed the club have been good enough to thrive in Torres's recent absence, but yesterday's bulletin, that the Spain forward is close to fitness after a hamstring injury and has a chance of being among the substitutes this evening, will only heighten the optimism among Liverpool's fans.

Such has been their faith in Benítez from Day 1 that they could not have imagined, when heading to White Hart Lane, that it would take until his fifth season for a credible Liverpool title challenge to be under discussion. It may have taken longer than they expected, but, as a pub bore will tell you, good things come to those who wait.

by **Bam** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:44 am

Have to say that was a cracking article to read Mike (just glad you didnt make out it was your own

) None the less I enjoyed that and this part in particular ....

And then there's what could perhaps best be described as a 'lockdown': when the side is protecting its lead with a few minutes to go, on comes a third central defender and the game is put to bed. It's not so much parking the bus as akin to a shopkeeper pulling down the shutters and locking the door so he can get on with counting the takings and taking stock at the end of the day: thank you for playing against us, but the game's over now, whatever the referee may think.

by **Sabre** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 12:36 pm

What does Tomkins say these days anyway?

He was my favourite journo in the gloom & doom days. These days all the journos are happy clappers!

by **Raffmaker** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:32 am

Newbie here!.

I don't think some of the long posts on this or other topics, really matter to any certain individual posters out there. as i don't believe anyone really cares!!! A lot of you take yourselves far too seriously!

basically the score is this.

Bill shankly said, 1st is 1st, 2nd is nowhere. and I will stick by that as a measure-stick for LFC's progress.OK Rafa's main forte is to buy spanish, but we don't see Arteta on Fabregas coming to anfield. When I watch LFC play, especially last couple of games, its always.,..rely on Stevie G. he always does the biz, and carries 90% of the weight of the team. we need more.

ok rafa has been here for 5 seasons or so. but how many more will it take to win the league you ask yourself.?
Houllier got 4 seasons???

this season, 2nd place has to be the minimum. failing to that.... Mourhinio maybe?

by **Raffmaker** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:35 am

stmichael wrote:Excellent article from the offal:

Rafa's Red Grinding Machine

The adjective that was perhaps most often applied to Rafa Benitez's Valencia side was "unfancied": an unfancied style of play, an unfancied sort of club and certainly not a club that anyone would have fancied to win La Liga twice in three years.

Yet, despite the apparently inherent unfanciability of the club, it became known as the "crushing machine": a side that dominated games and crushed the opposition, with the players working as a single unit for a singular cause. It might not have had the stars that other sides had, but Rafael Benitez brought something that the others didn't have and couldn't buy: league titles.

Liverpool under Benitez has been a work in progress for much of his tenure; although conversely the Spaniard has proved his abilities on the European stage and the club now stands at the head of UEFA's list. All the same, the comparatively poor showing in the domestic league has given rise to cries from some quarters that "Rafa does not understand the English game".

However, as Benitez surveys the league table a quarter of the way through this season, it's from a position 3 points ahead of their nearest rivals Chelsea, who have just surrendered to Liverpool an unbeaten run of home games that stretched back to February 2004. The side that Rafa built is delivering domestically at long last.

The change has been subtle, but the results marked: this is a side that grinds out results through gritty resolve and determination. Liverpool have fallen behind four times in the league this season and have then gone on to win. Whilst crushing victories may not yet be an integral part of the Reds' repertoire, there's no denying that the Liverpool of 08/09 is fast gathering a reputation as a grinding machine, an unfanciable side that gets results.

To find the roots of this, one should perhaps go back to December 2004, to a side relying on third-choice strikers and sheer single-mindedness that battled its way through the group stages of the Champions League. In the final game of the group stage, Liverpool were out of the competition with 45 minutes to go. They needed three goals and it was hard to see where they'd come from; however, a couple of inspirational substitutions and a moment of magic from Steven Gerrard proved that determination could overturn the odds.

The progress to the final was marked by similarly dogged battles and was perhaps best summed up by a tale recounted by Five Live's Alan Green: as the press corps flew to watch Liverpool defend their 2-1 lead at Juventus, the talk was of how Chelsea would cope with the Italians in the semi-final, so certain were the Reds to crash out of the competition. Yet, even with the unfancied Igor Biscan standing in for a suspended Steven Gerrard, a dogged 0-0 saw the stage set for an all-English semi-final which still stands as one of Benitez's best tactical victories.

And then, of course, there was the 'miracle' of Istanbul: 3-0 down at half time and ol' big ears still came home - and it certainly wasn't because Liverpool were the best footballing side. It was that dogged determination again, perfectly expressed by the magnificent Jamie Carragher, who saved the team again and again in extra time, despite the inconvenient fact that he should have been on the treatment table. History was made by a perfect blend of the astute tactics of Benitez and the grit and determination that has defined Liverpool teams down the years.

Yet whilst the European performances have been outstanding, the domestic showing has not been so fabulous and that perseverance has not been translated to the league. To an extent, that could be attributed to the fact that Benitez has been working against two clubs that have massive spending power and can field an array of world-class stars, whereas Liverpool have been shopping at the cheaper end of the transfer market. Similarly, there have been accusations that the drive to win may not have been there week-in, week-out, with the mentality perhaps being that lowlier sides would succumb rather than having to be ground down.

Taking the latter point first, it may be that the addition of Sammy Lee has been the final major piece in the jigsaw: whilst he may not be the world's most tactically astute manager, he's one of football's best motivators. That's certainly showed through in several games so far, when the side has been behind heads have stayed up and the desire to win has overcome the opposition. In simple terms, determination and sheer belief have ground out results and the fusion of Scouse heart and Spanish genius seems to be working well.

Historically under Benitez, Liverpool have proved a very difficult side to beat: a siege mentality set in and the fruits of a concerted fitness programme saw red players chasing down their attacking opposition in numbers until the very last minute. What was perhaps lacking was the ability to move forwards and strike the killer blow: the addition of Fernando Torres last season certainly improved this, but the accusation that the side had become a two-man team prevailed.

Questions still remained about some players in the squad, with the "tireless" Dirk Kuyt in particular being singled out as someone who simply wasn't of "Liverpool quality": yes, he might run his socks off and have an incredible workrate but that wasn't considered enough to win trophies. This, of course, overlooks one simple but fundamental point: players do not win league titles - teams do. And that's where Benitez is king.

The defeat of Chelsea may prove to be pivotable; and it is certainly an illustration of what Benitez has created. With the absence of the talismanic Torres, Liverpool were shorn of their greatest goal threat, a loss that lead many to believe that a draw was the best that could be achieved. Again, this overlooked one vital point: one man does not make a team - and it was a team that Benitez fielded, not a collective of star footballers.

The victory at Stamford Bridge is perhaps Liverpool's most significant game in the league in a decade: the Reds got back in numbers, chased down whichever Chelsea player had the temerity to have the ball and - more importantly - on several occasions the red hoarde flowed forwards in a fluid movement with the ball being interchanged between players who seemed to have a telepathic link. And finally, the belief and perseverance broke through the glass ceiling that hadn't seen an away win against a top side for what seems like an age.

The grinding machine's attack starts from its defence; its defence starts from the attack - indeed with the "tireless" Kuyt proving exactly why Benitez bought him. Despite the lack of goals so far, Robbie Keane has proved to be another vital cog in the machine: the team may contain several unfancied players, but the end product is still the side that's standing at the top of the Premier League. As someone once said, you don't have to buy the best leg you can buy for the table; you have to buy the leg that fits the table.

Tactical flexibility has finally been made to work: shifting to what was in effect a 2-4-4 when you're 2-1 down and your defence is suffering at the hands of the league's most in-form striker is possibly not the most obvious of switches but it worked, perhaps through belief as much as logic. And then there's what could perhaps best be described as a 'lockdown': when the side is protecting its lead with a few minutes to go, on comes a third central defender and the game is put to bed. It's not so much parking the bus as akin to a shopkeeper pulling down the shutters and locking the door so he can get on with counting the takings and taking stock at the end of the day: thank you for playing against us, but the game's over now, whatever the referee may think.

This Liverpool side is not yet a purveyor of pretty football: yet it is grinding out results with a regularity that's not been seen from Liverpool at this stage of the season for some time. Perhaps for the first time, Rafael Benitez has got the team he wants: a team of players working hard with the determination to win every game; a team that understands each other and plays the sort of fluid football that their maestro wants; and most importantly, a side that beats with a scouse heart that just won't accept defeat.

While Benitez's usual expression may be that of a poker player who gives nothing away, he must be quietly confident with progress so far: his creation is now delivering its potential; the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, even when its stars are missing. And at the back of his mind, Benitez must be looking forwards to letting the team off its leash and allowing the unfancied grinding machine become the new red crushing machine: make no mistake about it, this is only the beginning.

I'm a little confused........

your post does not suggest , that how a lot of the time we look like a wek side, failing to create enough chances, being dominent, and pasting teams for and five?

a different analogy of a strong squad i guess.

by **LFC2007** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 2:25 am

Owzat has a very simple formula which explains our successes in the league this season in comparison with previous seasons.

No Crouch :angry:

= top of the league

by **inglis5** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 12:11 pm

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N162002081107-1049.htm

Rafa Benitez today spoke of his delight after hearing that talks on a new contract are set to begin.
Co-chairmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett contacted the manager this week to offer congratulations on the team's progress and discuss a new deal.

Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I received a phone call from Tom Hicks on behalf of George Gillett also. They are talking about a meeting with my advisors and a contract extension. This is very positive news.

"We decided to meet in the next week and now my advisors are in contact with them.

"We haven't spoken about the length of the contract but we talked and we all want to find a solution as soon as possible.

"For me it's easy. I want to stay here - I am where I want to be. It's very simple.

"My family and I know how good the fans have been with us. The club is going forward and we have the new stadium project. There are a lot of positive things.

"I want to stay here for a long time. Clearly I would like to be here when the new stadium opens. The other day I was joking that if they offered me a 20-year contract I'd be really pleased."

Benitez added: "The team is in a very good position, so if I do not have to talk about my contract from now on it will be perfect.

"The last two or three press conferences I have been asked and asked, so the stability is really important.

"The owners know we are doing well. The atmosphere is really good, we are at the top of the league and our Champions League group. The team is playing well."

Gillett and Hicks are known to be delighted with the team's form so far this term.

A statement on behalf of the pair said: "Rafa continues to do a great job, we are really pleased with the progress of the team and we look forward to talking to him and his advisors about extending his contract."

About F*CKING time as well

by **GYBS** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 12:12 pm

good news

by **stmichael** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 12:17 pm

inglis5 wrote:http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N162002081107-1049.htm

Rafa Benitez today spoke of his delight after hearing that talks on a new contract are set to begin.
Co-chairmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett contacted the manager this week to offer congratulations on the team's progress and discuss a new deal.

Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I received a phone call from Tom Hicks on behalf of George Gillett also. They are talking about a meeting with my advisors and a contract extension. This is very positive news.

"We decided to meet in the next week and now my advisors are in contact with them.

"We haven't spoken about the length of the contract but we talked and we all want to find a solution as soon as possible.

"For me it's easy. I want to stay here - I am where I want to be. It's very simple.

"My family and I know how good the fans have been with us. The club is going forward and we have the new stadium project. There are a lot of positive things.

"I want to stay here for a long time. Clearly I would like to be here when the new stadium opens. The other day I was joking that if they offered me a 20-year contract I'd be really pleased."

Benitez added: "The team is in a very good position, so if I do not have to talk about my contract from now on it will be perfect.

"The last two or three press conferences I have been asked and asked, so the stability is really important.

"The owners know we are doing well. The atmosphere is really good, we are at the top of the league and our Champions League group. The team is playing well."

Gillett and Hicks are known to be delighted with the team's form so far this term.

A statement on behalf of the pair said: "Rafa continues to do a great job, we are really pleased with the progress of the team and we look forward to talking to him and his advisors about extending his contract."

About F*CKING time as well

This is excellent news

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