IN the eleven days that have passed since Kenny’s departure we’ve seen a who’s who of managerial candidates linked with the position from Roberto Martinez & Didier Deschamps through to Andre Villas-Boas & Jurgen Klopp. But so far the only links between LFC and Rafa Benitez have been either via the press or by the massive wave of optimistic support from the fans themselves. Despite what we may or may not want, it really is beginning to seem as if Rafa is not going to be under consideration this time around and there can really only be one reason for this:
Something about him scares FSG.
The first and perhaps most obvious reason, would be that he’d been sacked from his last two jobs. Two very, very high-profile jobs. He was moved on from Liverpool after the clubs worst league season under him and Inter Milan sacked him after an average start to his first season. However, his final season with the Reds was still a better one than either of our last two and after Jose Mourinho won Inter the treble, he was always going to be under intense scrutiny from Massimo Moratti – a man renowned in Italy for his impatience with managers.
I feel that they would have much greater foresight than this though (they must have if Roberto Martinez is their main candidate for the job!) because even a cursory glance at his CV shows a man that is more than capable and easily qualifies for the job. 2 La Liga titles with what was (during his time there) one of the least fashionable and smallest clubs in the Spanish elite league, and a UEFA Cup. Then on to Liverpool and a Champions League in his first season, followed by the FA Cup and a number of other cups and minor trophies at Inter, Liverpool and Valencia. Perhaps most importantly for us, as Liverpool fans, he took us as close as we’ve ever come to the Premier League title in 2009 and that means a lot because we know he is one of the few that would know what it takes to get us back there.
So surely all of this would see him at least qualify for an interview? Well, you’d certainly think so but it would appear that the answer is no, as despite the conflicting reports between press, it seems that he still hasn’t been approached by FSG. Given his popularity amongst the fans though – and his exemplary CV – it really is hard to understand why. I mean sure, they’re supposedly looking at younger managers with potential but he isn’t exactly ancient, being in his early 50’s so there has to be something else.
A look over his previous period as manager shows that he earned himself a reputation for being something of a troublesome figure, so this would probably end up being a factor. While his relationship with Hicks and Gillett got off to a positive start it quickly deteriorated when the owners absenteeism became more and more prevalent, when transfer promises weren’t keep and when the transfer kitty began to dry up toward the end of his reign when Benitez felt like we were at a potential turning point, having finished 2nd. The following season did not go well and Rafa and his supporters still put that down to his identified transfer targets not being chased and promises made over policy, etc. not being kept.
Also, Benitez had a penchant for not being afraid to voice his concerns through the media, as he did several times during his term. The press would – often willingly – allow themselves to be used as a conduit through which he could pass messages to the fans about the situation at the club and speak about other issues that he was unhappy over, such as referees, opposition players and managers (one in particular springs to mind) and I think that this would provide a sore point in particular, given how much was made of the situation Kenny created around the Suarez affair during his press interviews and conferences at that time. Like Kenny, Rafa is not a man that is afraid to speak his mind and after the bad press the club received between December and February this year, they may well be looking to ‘more press friendly and affable’ as a pre-requisite for the new boss and Benitez does not fit that bill at all.
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Of course, whether he was press-friendly, board-friendly or owner-friendly matters little, as everything Benitez did was for the benefit of his club and team and all of his problems with the previous owners stems from one thing: he wants total control over the club, academy, staff, player recruitment and transfer policy to achieve these ends, and between 2004-2010 he gradually got his way. Depending on your POV regarding Benitez the club was either better or worse for it but the Spaniard does not like to work ‘under’ anybody and I think this would perhaps be the main sticking point, given that the owners have a Director of Football or Sporting Director position in mind, with a younger manager working under them. Benitez would neither want, nor be happy in this role and he would undoubtedly kick up a fuss at some point should he be shoehorned in to this situation. Many still remember his parting shot at the Valencia owners when he was quoted as saying ‘I wanted a sofa and they bought me a lamp’, which sums up his attitude to owners that try to interfere with the day-to-day working of a top European club side – he finds it irritating and completely unacceptable and a DoF advising him or ‘interfering’ when he was busy looking for new players would not sit well.
From what we know of Fenway, they’re a group of businessmen – fronted by John Henry – that like to have a tight grip on their ‘franchises’. Sure, they’ll pretty much let the club run itself for the most part but, as we saw on Wednesday 16th, they will take the action that they feel needs to be taken to protect their investments. Allowing a volatile, outspoken, borderline obsessive man like Rafa full control of the club would be a couple of sidesteps outside of their comfort zone.
Not to mention the man himself but any appointment of Benitez to the club would present another problem to the owners, one which they have been made all too aware of already in their short time at the club: fan power. The Spanish coach is very highly thought of amongst fans and is known to have very close ties with fan-groups in the area. Indeed, he still lives in the area himself, with his family and home being just on the Wirral. With the pressure the fans exerted on the previous owners, it wouldn’t take too much of an imagination stretch to foresee any potential flashpoints down the line, should all promises not be met or his preferred transfer targets be missed out on.
Ironically, fan-power may well end up working against us in this case though as despite being the clear fan-favourite, Benitez’s popularity with the fans – and his past – appears to have ruled him out. At least as far as we can see. Of course, as far as we’re aware only Roberto Martinez has been approached by the clubs’ owners, despite what the press might’ve said about all of the potential candidates. One thing is certain though and that is that, of all the men that are possibly in the running, Rafa Benitez would present the owners with the most headaches and this may well give them cause to fear him and, unfortunately for us, will ultimately rule him out altogether.
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RAFA’s the man!
No offence but you’re wrong, the fact we sacked him proves that.
“we” sacked him. For a start “we” didn’t sack him. Purslow, Ayre, Hicks and Gillette “parted” with him under mutual consent, as they refused to continue with his project despite the huge progress made, and they themselves contributed to the 7th place finish and damage to Rafa’s reputation.
Effectively a sacking when it all comes down to it. Rafa didn’t want to leave but to save face they refer to it as mutual consent. Amounts to the same thing.
He had made progress and then he chucked it away by hacking our best players off, bringing in crap and basically losing the plot like he did at Inter
dress it up however ya like! he got dumped!
you seem to be highlighting the word “we” perhaps you think “we” should have the power to hire & fire, or maybe just “YOU” maybe you should put yourself forward for interview!
all your blethering about H&G and rafa won’t bring him back! so why not just get behind our new owners, they blew it doing it “our” way by appointing fans-favourite kenny, so let them try it THEIR way now and judge them after that!
The reason for Rafa being sacked wasn’t because of the placing in the league. It was because he was at odds with the owners and they wanted the most money they could get and having a manager who was butting heads with them, even if he was right in his reasoning, was not an attractive selling prospect, so they got in someone who was a yes man, Hodgson. I honestly think that Rafa fits in pefectly with what FSG are all about. They are about statistics, the statistics under Rafa don’t lie, we were our most successful in the Premier League era under Rafa. FSG are also all about young talent with potential, Rafa overhauled the academy and brought in some top youth talent, talent that are just now starting to break into the side.
No offense but you’re wrong, since sacking him we’ve gone backwards, so the fact you used his sacking as a measuring stick, shows how very stupid you really are..
Kenny didn’t want to leave either and turned down another job role and he got sacked no mutual consent.
Lee, the fact the the pay-off was considerably lower than the amount stipulated in his contract says it wasn’t a straight sacking.
Steve I was using “we” in the ironic sense to Lee’s use of “we” sacked him. I DO want Rafa back but that is not to say I will not do my best to be fully supportive of any manager FSG choose, so stop putting words in my mouth, and I would hope that all fans will get behind the new manager despite their personal preferences.
It must hurt you that the plastic king got sack and Rafa maybe back.
Lee matey, we meet alot of manure supporters on our blogs and you are one of them!!! You and Fergie definately don’t want Rafa back, but please give us respect and stay on your Man U sites!! You’ll never bump into us there,so please…….
yeeeeeh i wish Rafa back to anfield. The whole world scared liverpool the whole world support liver because of who benites. Now where is liver gone we a fighting for top ten tomorrow will fight for relegation
We finished 7th in his last season. the H & G thing was just a smokescreen. Lets not forget he blew 20million on a crippled Italian sop money wasn’t an issue.
But then you’ve “forgotten” certain other things, like after finishing second and a good run in the champions league, his budget was slashed DURING the transfer window and the plan to buy Johnson, a class centre back, a class striker and Jovetic to replace Alonso, turned into Johnson, Kyriakos, returning Voronin from loan, and a big gamble on Aquilani.
His budget was slashed thus forcing him into paying out 20million on a crippled Italian who hadn’t played in months.
Perhaps if he hadn’t wasted it, we may not have ended up with Kyrgiakos and co. I ignore Jovetic because paper talk doesn’t equal fact.
I would also question why he needed to waste money on a centre midfield. Oh yeah…he hacked Alonso off and was then surprised by him wanting to leave.
I’d like to add to Lee’s support.Rafa blew up liverpool’s chances in transfers, look at how much he spent on babel and how much he used him. He had no plan B on striker, if torres failed then his best bet was Ngog, please GOD.when likes of mordic was being bought by spurs we were busy giving our 18 mil or so for jhonson who is now being kicked around by our academy graduate. and yes money was being dried out but if you buy keane for 20+ when we needed a class forward.and to replace the best player alonso by Injured Aquaman in handsome fee of 25 mil then you know that manager cannot take you forward.and the likes of degen who had no future to fet. in expense of better mid or say likes of babel you how his talent spoting mind was.. Yes he won champions league but he won it coz of earlier manager’s team. when his team was organized we became a boring defensive team who was soon popular as the team that gives away point to relegation battlers
absolute rubbish. He wanted to replace Hyypia – they gave him £1.5m!! If you look at his nett transfers over his time here it was less than Spurs, Sunderland and Villa let alone the big guns.
Bring him back
I like you.
What worries me is that Henry and his comrades have acted like school kids, Kenny is the only one who has come out of this mess with any honour! Henry and pals have acted like kids, delighted at winning one cup but sulking because we lost the cup final. Then we understand Henry refused to give an interview to the press, we are told he ignored Kenny! thats not the action of Professionals, They have to understand that all clubs lose games and Kenny is to be admired for defending his players. Im very worried that these characters will wreck Liverpool with their autucratic actions, Leave the club to make its own decisions or Liverpool will be wrecked
I think personally the fans should react against henry and support Kenny by agitating for a further 12 months contract, This decision is a typical Moneymaking decision, They dont understand football and that it takes time to forge a new team not a few months. This is a typical American decision by a group who probably havent got the money to run a professional club like liverpool properly and thought they could buy instant success. And not allowing the club to decide on its new manager just shows the lack of professionalism and understanding of football in their group, I hope they dont appoint the Wigan Manager or they might as well appoint the captain of the local schools football team, It worries me as to how many players will stay or who we can buy undrr this man
seriously?? kenny is legend in in own terms but not this year he messed up liverpool’s potential squad with 100+ mil. just look at who he bought and played with downing , headless henderson, adams being the biggest joke in BPL. his persistent denail to failure has pushed LFC to this stage where a manager like martinez is not a sure thing.If henderson was not bought in 20mil then shelvey was the better man anyday but kenny’s pride clouded his judgement. and when players dont get repayed especially after scoring goals then it’s hopeless case , look how maxi was handeled. he proved as good as anyone when given chance but kenny was too arrogant to see that .May be you should start clearing some cloud before pointing to FSG. it’s their money and they want it to be handled with care not on some headless brits
Martinez brought Vitor Moses to Wigan for £2.5m. Dalglish brought Downing to Liverpool for £20m. Moses is ten times the player Downing is. Martinez brought Maloney to Wigan for £1m. Dalglish bought Adam for £16m. Maloney is an infinetely better player.
I’d have reacted if Liverpool had kept Dalglish
Should read £9m for Adam – typo
And give him money to spend….. We need to dig deep…. 50m plus is a must … We are miles away from the big clubs…
RAFA IS THE ONLY MAN WHO CAN GET US INTO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!!!
…is the same view that every small minded Liverpool fan has becausethey lack the intelligence to understand that there are other managers out there who could do the same.
Name them clown boy
I think you lack the intelligence to look at the bigger picture whilst Rafa was in charge!
Intelligent are not, for the most part the football we played under Rafa was as boring as watching paint dry. fans keep saying we finish 2nd under him that year. forgetting that we were best team in the league and should have won it, but for rafa’s defensive tactics and lacking a fearless that is needed to turn draws into wins (something the scum are really good at). I thank rafa for what he gave us in 2005, however he had his chance not sure if i think martinez is the right man for the job personally i would prefer AVB, but whoever gets the job will have my full support LFC YNWA
In the modern era of football money talks.
Tell me which title winning club are running with shoestring budget?
Personally I felt FSG now only realised the amount of money they need to spend to get us there. A nett spend of $50million will not bring us near where we want to be.
FSG is looking for miracle worker in small time coach like Roberto Martinez who will try to get into the top four without spending a penny.
I bet there will not be anyone coming in except those going out. Young players will be promoted to first team to replace those going out.
Never mind no CL football just cut the expenditure and get the top four using more young players.
That’s what FSG have in mind.
Perhaps the advisors of FSG are the ones who want him to stay away! If he did control the club and brought the glory it seeks what dif would it make his age or past experiences that others didn’t like? Do the owners want results or style of organization?
Rafa would produce results and probably few would dispute these words.
Since when….he tried, failed and got the sack. That proves that he didn’t produce the results required.
Are you Martinez?
No, your mum!
Do you wanna give me a blow job Paul?
rafa is the one who spoil the good players in liverpool and make the twp american owner bankrup.. PLEASE appoin Luis Van Gaal as Director of football & Frank Rijkaard as manager… LIVERPOOL WILL SUCCESS…
failed? Look at the points total of Rafa whilst he was here. Now go compare that to Fergie’s during the same period!! Look at some facts you moron before you just bleat on with your blind hatred for the best manager we’ve had in the last 20 years!
I fancy the arse off Rafa,it must be the goatee
oh for the love of God, will y’all get over rafa benitez!!!!!!!!! sick to the back teeth of listening to people bleeting on about the past! he’s gone! now please move on and get behind whoever it is the owners appoint!
do you really think FSG are trying to ruin our club? they are very successful and are well aware that financial success comes from on-field success, so give them a break and let THEM decide on the manager, we all (me included) pushed for kenny and look where that got us! dress it up all you like, but it DIDN’T work! we all know KK wasn’t their preferred choice but they gave us what we wanted, now we must allow them to do it THEIR way!
You forget to mention they never gave Dalglish a proper chance. He was judged on so called bad buys that were comming good, His media skills were poor but His daughter left Sky previously and it could have stemmed from that.
Then don’t come on to a Rafa blog!! Not rocket science is it!!
This is totally ridiculous. You guys base your assumptions off of nothing. FSG are not idiots. They are billion dollar company for a reason. Let them do what they do best… Run multi million dollar sport franchises. Also, to the idiot who said they are hoping to spend nothing. What the hell are you basing that on?!?! They spent over a 100 million last summer. The Boston redsox payroll is the second highest in baseball. They spend what is needed to win. Dont let you emotions cloud your judgement.
Actually they didnt spend over 100 mil last summer. The notion of net spend seems to complicated for your fickle head! If I give someone 10 pounds for a beer and he gives me back 5 pounds changes, then SHOCKINGLY I only paid 5 pounds for beer! FSG net spend is considerably lower than 100 mil
The concept of net spend is, in and of itself flawed. If an ownership group allows a manager to spend 100 million outright, aquirring the talent to actually play and win – then parts company with excess – that seems smart business. One shouldn’t be keeping players whom no longer have a future at the club or no viable role simply to appease the “net spenders”. It is simply good budiness to recoupe expenditure.
Another odd story-line …
I enjoy articles about the club I support but this stuff is real poor, sorry but it is!
No real arguement, just ego’s and beer talk …
No they just realise that Rafa’s had his chance and was rightly sacked in the end. Why employ him again?
Some fellow fans shouted for Dalglish, some now for Rafa, who next….Souness, Evans, Houllier perhaps the ghost of Joe Fagan?
Quit looking to the past to solve today’s problems FFS.
Picture of me and the wife lads not bad eh?
http://www.funky.co.uk/assets/images/article_images/uploads/54161284734673.jpg
Rafa did make some mistakes in his time with Liverpool but without interviewing him and asking him about these, it isn’t clear whether his approach would be any different if he were to come back. The most surprising thing about him not being interviewed is that Rodgers and Martinez are the leading candidates for the role now. Rafa’s track record compared to these two is far superior and he is probably the best manager that we can attract currently. FSG should at least interview and consider him for the role, otherwise they will lose a little credibility with the fans.
Why should they interview him, his first hand experience at Anfield speaks for itself.
As for losing credibility; FSG know what they’re doing, they rich and they haven’t gotten there from being stupid. Fan opinion counts for something but when it comes to making money (through making the club great again) why should they listen to the fans.
Btw, Rafa had to start somewhere like Martinez and Rodgers. Someone has to give him a break. As for his record: yes he won two primera league titles with Valencia but he didn’t win the league with us, the record we should judge him on is the one that he forged when he was with us but he eventually got sacked so what does that tell you about this record.
Rafa Benitez is good men
‘Rafa is good men’
I always thought he was a bit of a schizo!
Ya Mar Schizo
Who said that?
Me
Mak Lu punya puki! If u dun understand the u can ask your mother or your sister.
The owners want a manager to deal with training and matches. This means he will not be able to bring anyone with him (except maybe an assistant) . But he will not be allowed to sign players, just give his opinion on players coming in . There is a structure taking place that will make it easier to replace a manager or sporting director in the future. This is how it is in the USA and it will be tried and tested here. So how would rafa , a control freak, fit into this ? He won’t !
If FSG are indeed scared of Rafa then they don’t know what they’re getting themselves in for with LVG he can be alot worse then Rafa.
FSG wan’t yes men Rafa is not one of those and LVG is deffo not he will give as much as he gets. Also LVG never stays around too long, i’ll be suprised if he stays 3 years if we do indeed get him.
Don’t get me wrong LVG would be great for the club and i would love to see him come, but will he work well with Martinez i mean Martinez will have to answer to FSG and LVG aswell as the fans if he doesn’t hit the ground running…
Yeah LVG old crazy bollocks,makes Rafa seem like a a peace loving Hippie, think they need to stop listening to Ayre and that stupid think tank.
More fool FSG then
FSG alias John Henry are not to be trusted, they lied over Dalglish and they are now treating the fans like they are stupid – no other person has been interviewed other than the one they picked (Martinez)before they sacked Dalglish. They are not fitted to pick a football Manager, just look at Hodgson (did that england rubbish remind you of anything)and Camolli – they are dangerous to our future.
firstly they DIDN’T appoint roy hodgson! secondly, how did they lie about kenny? they appeased the fans by appointing kenny, he wasn’t their preferred option!
and please enlighten us to your inner knowledge that they had roberto lined up prior to sacking dalglish, what is your source.
they are not treating the fans like they are stupid, some fans are just showing themselves to be stupid…..STUPID!!!
Red My next post, I ont call you stupid just misguided.
This morning Lee said that a “pletora” of “yes men” were around Rafa and that He loved this way of doing things. He wanted around him Men Who nurtured his ego. He said the true in my view, and Paco suffered Rafa’s desire to nurture his ego so, when You say that FSG want to be surrounded by “yes man”, I can say it was the same for Rafa.
Probably what they fear is his arrogance and stubborness. They are right to do it. Personally I would love to see a statement issued to the effect that Benitez will never UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES manage LFC again. That would clear up all the doubts and hopefully the club could begin to move forwards again. It might even cool the passion of the thousands of Benitez attack dogs determined to savage anyone who is not Rafa Benitez. What is it about old fat face anyway? Was he cooking paella for you all?
Dontknow what your problem is are you a Liverpool fan? And when did `Lee` have all the right answers,because if you two think Martinez is going to be able to cope with jumping to a big club, US as fans with our expectations and Europa cup football in his first season, Oh and finishing in the top 4 then you both need your heads examining,if not Rafa then someone who can cope under what will be extreme pressure. YNWA
and martinez hasn’t coped under pressure???? of course he has! i wonder how many of the so-called big boys could cope with the pressure of battling relegation!
As for Rafa, they dont want a fans Manager after all they know better. They think football is like Baseball stats etc. The way they panicked over Dalglish shows they have no idea. And to think they thought they would have got away with sacking Him if He won both Cups shows they are deluded.
i think you’re the deluded one stan! rafa certainly isn’t this fan’s manager!
I think you’ll find many fans want the man back. Definitely over Martinez. However whoever our manager is come the start of the season EVERYONE should give him the support AND THE TIME to turn this mess around.
ye, but your not important