Rafa Benitez has commented after leaving Liverpool by mutual consent. He said in Liverpool’s official statement:
“It is very sad for me to announce that I will no longer be manager of Liverpool FC. I would like to thank all of the staff and players for their efforts.”
The club have announced Kenny Dalglish will help Managing Director Christian Purslow in searching for a new manager and chairman Martin Broughton thanked Benitez for his time at the club:
“Rafa will forever be part of Liverpool folklore after bringing home the Champions League following the epic final in Istanbul but after a disappointing season both parties felt a fresh start would be best for all concerned.”
so sparq, you reckon rafa has done well in the transfer market then? so you think the £38m spent on alberto and glenn was good business when nando’s only deputy was ngog? surely what money he had should have been directed where it was most needed! i agree aquilani does look like a good prospect but i think we bought him a year too early due to his injury and our obvious need of a striker, you have to concede that the lack of strength in depth is down to rafa’s poor choices
I agree with the fact a back up striker was needed, it’s hard to buy a world class back up striker to play off the bench, they are just too few and far between. Rafa choose to play Gerrard as a 2nd striker just behind Torres, It worked wonders the season before last.
Unfortunately injuries for Gerrard and Torres hindered our title tilt this year, and ultimately we faltered with dramatic consequences.
So to throw £20 million on a striker ( Aquilani ) or £17 million ( Johnson ) ((which we didn’t actually pay, due to money owed to us by Pompey)) I cannot see where a high profile player would come and warm the bench for us. Crouch didn’t want to ( I can’t say I blame him either ).
Real Madrid, Inter and AC Milan were all sniffing around Aquilani, to say we bought the guy 12 months too early is just daft, he wouldn’t have been available now, he would be at one the 3 clubs I just mentioned.
I think Johnson is a very good player (obviously better going forward than defending), his crosses are excellent, a fit Torres will thrive on his crosses. Yes his price was other inflated, just like any English player going to an English club, look at Villa’s price tag on Milner ( Another Benitez target ((TWICE)), yet funds not available )25-30 million.
The same applies to Spanish players going to Spanish clubs, we’ve got the 3 foreigner rule all over again( except it’s now 6 plus 5 ) so prices are going to be massively inflated from now on in.
All I am saying is to say Benitez on the back of one dreadful season is a bad, bad mistake.
Like I said before, it’s a smoke screen for the excuse not to buy anyone in this transfer window.
We lost 11 times this season, awful.
But this has been a season like no other.
Tottenham and City both spent massively the past 12 months, they lost 10 and 7 matches respectively.
United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Villa lost 7, 6, 9 and 8 matches respectively, again a season like no other.
Get real, with no permanent manager, no funds, no signings and with all the above mentioned teams strengthening in the summer, we’ll be lucky to escape finishing mid table next year.
I just hope you’re this happy come May 2011, I for one, am not so sure.
Sparq2112
Further more, I don’t know where Sky got there figures from but in 6 years in charge of Liverpool Football club Bentitez spent £249 Million and recouped £139 in player sales.
That equates to £110 Million over six years.
Now ‘am not a mathematician, but that £110 million over 6 years doesn’t equal the £20 millon a year transfer kitty plus what ever he generates from playes sales.
He was told when he signed, there would be £20 million per season and 100 % of the money recouped on players.
You work it out.
The guy should of had at least another £100 million at his disposal. The like of Villa, Silva, Etoo, Simao, Milner and Heinze like I mentioned earlier could quite easily and realistically been Liverpool players now.
We also enquired on Alexanda Pato now at AC Milan, Kerrison Da Sousa (Kerrison)instead of having to do with cheaper inferior players.
Sparq2112
Steve. u know nothing about football. Happy to see Rafa go but have no definate answer to someone better. you only fantacise..