Why This Romantic Return Would End In Disaster For LFC
WITH question marks hanging over Kenny Dalglish’s head after such a poor Premier League campaign, one name has been spoken about most regarding a potential successor to the King. Rafael Benitez, known as ‘Rafa’ to those who love him dearly, is the manager that seems to be the popular choice with the Media and supporters alike.
The Spaniard led Liverpool to the Champions League title in his first season, an FA Cup trophy in his second and almost supplied the Reds with their first Premier League success in 2009.
However, towards the end of his reign, a lot of people seem to forget that his Liverpool team simply went stale. In his final season, Liverpool’s title challenge ended before it even had the opportunity to shape itself with two defeats in their first three games. This coupled with a Champions League group stage exit afforded Liverpool fans their biggest opportunity yet to voice their concerns over Benitez’s reign. This they did and with notable anger. The fans were seeing a completely different style of football to what they were used to under Rafa, and it was a style of football that simply did not work.
After a trophy-less season, with even the Europa League evading the Reds, Benitez left by mutual consent. Every fan, including Rafa himself, knew it was time for change. Now, though, a lot of Reds fans are calling for the Spaniard to be re-instated.
There is no questioning the desire, commitment and passion that Rafa Benitez has for Liverpool Football Club however the alarming way in which his spell as manager faded out to a dull end should not be forgotten. As well as this, Mr Benitez spent a lot of money during his time at Liverpool on players such as Jermaine Pennant, Ryan Babel, Robbie Keane and Alberto Aquilani who simply never made the grade at Anfield.
Rafa was also to blame for the loss of one of Liverpool’s best players of the past decade; Xabi Alonso. After one uncharacteristically poor season at Anfield, Rafa decided it was time to move Alonso on and replace him with England midfielder Gareth Barry. After failing to both sell Alonso and sign Barry from Aston Villa, Alonso remained unhappy and felt unwanted for the next 12 months. The Spaniard responded with his best season of his career and as much as this benefited Liverpool, Real Madrid stepped in and snapped up the midfield maestro.
There are several reasons why Benitez should not return to Anfield but the most important and necessary one for me is how he lost control of the dressing room and struggled to get his players playing in his style. Turning to Rafa would be a step back in my opinion and as much as he will always be held in the hearts of every Liverpool fan, a fresh face is needed if Dalglish is relieved of his duties.
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April 30th, 2012
When rafa was in charge, ferguson treat liverpool as their main rival,now….he didn’t even bother mentioning liverpool,it’s man city he’s looking after so which manager is better???? You dicide elliott.
April 30th, 2012
Ohh..on your topic headline did you mean king kenny cause we love liverpool too much and we’re not prepare to let anyone ruin it not even a liverpool legend.it’s part of our obligation as a supporters and fans to voice out of any mismanage by poor manager.
April 30th, 2012
guys why don’t we try both kenny and rafa to lead the team together!@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love to see this combination
April 30th, 2012
I think a large percentage of liverpool fans would love to see that, but could you see the 2 working together? Who would be boss and who would be assistant?
April 30th, 2012
You seem to have forgotten that Rafa had to manage a team that was being systematically dismantled by Hicks & Gillett whilst sumultaneously being stabbed in the back by Purslow.
Amazing what passes for thought amongst those with such preposterously selective memories.
You’ll be telling us next that Liverpool experienced a renaissance under Hodgson.
Kenny is our manager and he should be shown the same loyalty he shows to the club, the team and the fans.
April 30th, 2012
Rafa was expected to challenge for the title under the worse ownership possible. We had two owners that put our club on the brink of destruction. We are so forgetful sometimes. People point to the last season…guess what, negativity filtered all the way through . True, mistakes were made. The gamble that was aquilani and glen Johnson did not pay off. Replacing alonso with aqua backfired. It is what happens when you are forced to sell first then buy.
Kenny had enough resources to get the top 4 but chose to spend it on mediocre players. If downing, adam honoured their contracts with middlesborough and blackpool they would be championship material. The sooner we face the truth, the better. look at the best performers of our team, and some of the champions league players . How many we’re rafas players ?
Kenny has asked for another director of football. It shows either lack of knowledge or another scapegoat needed for his failures. We all wanted Kenny to succeed but time to face the truth…
April 30th, 2012
Some say Keane was a Parry signing and not one Rafa sanctioned. Johnson was expensive but after his first choices were all taken and the homegrown rules there was a necessity of buying the best English talent.
As for the cost of the signings a lot of it was down to Parry and Purslow towards the end. For Kenny it was Commoli’s negotiation skills that ended up with the extortionate prices even if Kenny was the one to push at whatever the cost within the budget.
As for Alonso being pushed away, there was a need to strengthen the depth in the middle. I believe he was asked to stay but if Real came asking at 30 million and the player puts in a transfer request what can you do.
Arbeloa was only happy to leave because he was homesick. Anyway maybe Rafa wasn’t arm around the shoulder manager but he did well under such curcumstances while his competitors with more settled squads were able to add at will.
May 1st, 2012
I think Rafa should return, but to take over Damien Comolli’s role. The next manager of LFC should be Jamie Carragher but we need Kenny and Rafa to rebuild LFC to a stage where we can push on with the experience of Rafa and Kenny as the boot room think thank that Shankley used to have with Fagan and Paisley
May 1st, 2012
Thanks to everybody that has given me feedback on this article. I take in everything that has been said as it thoroughly interests me to hear the opinions of fellow passionate Reds. Just to give you an insight into my opinion; I am completely against Dalglish’s reign as manager. It was a good idea to steady the ship after Hodgson’s woeful six months, but it was never going to work long term. I strongly think Benitez is twice the manager Dalglish is it is just my opinion that going back to Benitez would not be best for the club. Don’t forget guys, this is just an opinion piece, I am no way trying to convince any of you LFC fans that this is fact. I am asked to write an opinion piece by my editor, so I do. A lot of you seem to have a lot to say so why don’t you get involved, contact the editor and post your own opinion articles? Don’t just hide in the comment section. Don’t forget.. You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Cheers,
Elliott
May 18th, 2012
Do you know what guys no-one has mentioned Parry at all,if anyone shackled Rafa while brown nosing the H&G reign it was Parry,now Ayre is at it but consequently everything comes from up above.
Rafa IS the man,AVB,Martinez,Rodgers etc are just little boys in comparison ,who will stand up to rednose? who will out-think Maureen? and dont you think that Rafa will have learned from his mistakes??? Are the new owners MAN enough to give him a second chance?? for all our sakes i certainley hope so YNWA