According to the BBC, Rafa Benitez has been offered a severance package by Liverpool. If the Spaniard accepts the offer, it would see an immediate end to his tenure at Anfield. If not…well, who knows? Liverpool’s crisis continues, as it seems that the man who led them to European glory and came tantalisingly close to a Premier League crown will be seeking new employment.
Whilst the owners may believe this is the right decision, and that the club needs a change to reinvigorate the players and fans alike, it will create more problems than it solves. There are many criticisms that can be thrown at Benitez about last season, but the blame does not lie solely with him. Key players underperformed, and the Reds had some atrocious luck at times, including a lengthy injury list.
After one poor (albeit very poor) season, all Benitez’s good work seems to have been forgotten. The man created a side that constantly defeated Europe’s best in the Champions League, and brought some quality players to the club. Critics may point to the flops like Morientes, Keane and Aquilani, but what about the world class talent, such as Torres, Mascherano and Reina? And unearthing unknown gems, like Agger and Skrtel?
Whoever the club bring in, it is unlikely that his managerial skills will match those of Benitez. At the moment, there are few good enough who would want the job. Bookmakers are listing names like Hodgson, O’Neill and Van Gaal, but would any of them want to join an unstable club in the process of being sold, and then facing a possible exit when new owners come in?
Benitez had led the club through five years of steady, if at times unspectacular, progression, and then after one admittedly awful season, he is being shown the door. He is a great manager, which shows why he was linked with the jobs at sides like Real Madrid, Inter and Juventus. It is unlikely that Liverpool will realistically be able to bring in a replacement as good as Benitez, and sadly the turbulence at Anfield doesn’t look like ending any time soon.
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What a load of negativity…
Rafa’s negative agenda has totally changed fans mentality..
We are Liverpool Football Club for the grace of God.
Optmism..Optimism..
“At the end of The Storm there’s a golden sky”, Do You Know these words?
We are Liverpool Football Club, a massive Club of british football and hopefully life will not end after Rafa Benitez.
He’s only a man, He’s not the Club.
He will go, and after We always have a Club.
My God.
What a disgrace.
A good reason to keep RB was precisely as you say. We cannot get a first rate replacement at this time. MON is simply inadequate and would continue the sad decline. Hiddink may be available but where is the money to come from to employ his services notwithstanding he is not in RB’s class.
He’s a great tactician and coach, his managerial qualities have been found wanting.
If this sacking keeps Torres and Gerrard then it’ll prove to be a good move. It’ll definately give renewed chances to Babel Yossi and Reira all of who were out the club with Benny in control.
A great article Sean, couoldn’t agree with you more. I am very disappointed that Rafa is being fired after one bad season. He has made some bad buys but also some great buys, like all football managers. He has been operating on a limited budget for the past couple of years. I do feel though that he has lost some of the players in the dresing room & maybe that is why we need a change. I just hope that the good work put in at youth level continues & we don’t see an exodus of guys like John McMahon & Rudolfo Burrell. Who should replace Rafa? Hiddink would be great but it won’t happen. Martin O’Neill is a darling of the media & a great man manager but IMO lacks tactical expertise. Time will tell I guess but its a sad day for Liverpool.
martin oneil,,, jesus christ… what a f**king piss take that is…. rick your a mug,, you judge rafa through your english anti rafa media drival that gets pumped into this countrys tv viw sly sports, you mug you
dear rick,
how about you propose a solution? all you rafa-haters are all the same. you just love munching on media excrement rhetoric, and then just spitting it out, nomnomnom-thats you, rick.
the author is correct, rafa has done SO MUCH MORE THAN HOULLIER. how about that? he has been the best manager we’ve had in the past 20 years. weve had some bad luck this season and players have underperformed, not to mention we had to deal with a new mega money superpower. we conceeded a goal to a sodding beach ball for goodness sakes.
the last thing we need is to change the manager, we need someone to hold the fort down until a new owner can be found.
`Rafa`s gone now so i will start playing again` Gerrard,`Rafa`s gone so i wont get injured again` Torres,`Rafa`s gone no more own goals` Beechball,
`rafa`s gone who can i blame now?` Purslow,`Rafa`s gone did someone mention Klinsmann`Gillett and maybe Hicks!!!! Rafa`s GONE.
Ashamed to be a Liverpool Football Club supporter today
Liverpool are FINISHED. No money, no nothing. Who wants to join a sunked ship? Liverpool are the titanic.
it doesnt matter who comes in it will b very hard wiv em 2 yanks there they shud of been the 1st 2 go just thnk we need 2 gud quick young wingers and a left bk put gerrard in midfield and push aquilani or benayoun behind torres thnk we will get that 4th place again.
Headline’s spot on mate… In our current state where we going to find a better manager!! We aint!!
We’re a dead team!!! All the idiots who’s saying Gerrard can now do this & Torres can now do that will see in the next few months we’re a dead team!!! Who do the fans want??? Kevin Keegan!! As fans not getting behind our manager who goes from Saviour to public enemy no. 1 is shocking!!
THINK YOU LOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT SPONSOR TOO!!! JUST GOT OF THE PHONE HAVING WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY MAKE OF THE CLUB IN THIS STATE BEARING THEIR NAME IN OUR NEW KIT AND WHAT DID I HEAR…
” THERE ARE HUGE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TALKED ABOUT, THEY NEED TO COMING DIRECT FROM THE CLUB” .. I SAID TO HIM, ARE YOU NOT HAPPY,,, HE THEN SAID ” NO ONE IS HAPPY WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION!!!!!! CAN YOU EVEN DREAM THIS MESS UP NOW OUR MAIN SHIRT DEAL IS UNHAPPY WHAT NEXT,,,
WHAT F***ING NEXT,,,,,,,,,,,
thought so,, all you mugs who are going on about rafa this and rafa that, when you hear that your new mega shirt deal is unhappy all the armchair fans have not a clue how the whole club is close to meltdown… i hear no ideas of riots, or emailing the emails or drastic action, just more crap about this and that, i wish we had real fans who really wanted the owners out,, i know we have some, but that is not enough,,,,
From whence came all this 2-year-old posting? OMG I know most fans live deep in the past but this is becoming ludicrous when the postings are!