I WAS torn, I mean seriously torn, about whether Kenny should be given the opportunity to stay for another year to show exactly what he can or cannot do at Anfield.
I just didn’t want to have to suffer another season of frustration and disappointment like the one we just had to endure, especially in the league, and be no better off 12-months from now, falling even further behind the likes of Man City and Man United.
I was a huge advocate for having Dalglish be offered the job when Rafa left Anfield but the then powers to be decided on Roy Hodgson and once that turned into a disaster the right decision was made and Dalglish was called upon to bring back order and get Liverpool back on track.
But 18 months later, and a lot of money spent on new players, the decision to cast aside the Manager was made and we will now never know if Kenny was indeed the man to lead us to the promised land of the Premiership title, never mind the so-called success of finishing in the top four.
No one can doubt Dalglish is one of Liverpool’s biggest fans. He loves the club and the poor showing this season must have bene killing him as much as anyone else. We all know the issues with Kenny with his frustrating team selections and substitutions throughout the season and reading some of his team-sheets before many of the games you just knew Liverpool were going to get beaten, so the question was why couldn’t Kenny see it as well?
But when you look back at the way Liverpool have dominated games, especially at Anfield, and failed to score from the endless opportunities that were created, and ultimately wasted, was he really that far away from a creating a consistent, winning, team? He certainly proved this season that he’d taken both cup tournaments seriously, reaching two finals and winning one of them. It is no mean feat but once again his failure to recognize his starting line-up at Wembley on May 5th wasn’t working led to delayed substitutions that likely cost Liverpool the FA Cup. But if you are on the side of agreeing with the sacking of Dalglish would you consider having Rafa back?
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Without question Benitez is tactically gifted. He took Liverpool back to the pinnacle of Europe once more and established them as one of the top clubs in Europe and the world. In 2008/09 he almost delivered the league title only losing 2 games all season. But towards the end I was one of those who thought Rafa had lost the plot with his constant team rotation and negative tactics but after reading Brian Reade’s book ‘An epic swindle: 44 Months With a Pair of Cowboys’ I realized just how difficult a job Benitez had under Hicks and Gillett and the fact he managed do what he did under such incredibly difficult circumstances was quite amazing.
I can only imagine what Rafa might be able to achieve with the full backing of the ownership and the funds to get the players he needs. I’ve seen many Liverpool supporters expressing their thoughts that they would love to see Rafa back at Anfield. The key advantage with Benitez is that he is a proven, successful, manager in the modern game whereas Dalglish was yet to re-establish his credentials. Kenny hasn’t been given one more year to prove what he can do and have Liverpool back to winning ways and whether FSG would even consider Benitez is completely unknown, however I have to assume that savvy sports owners such as Henry and Werner will be considering all their options over the next few days and weeks ahead including Rafa Benitez.
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FSG are now proceeding with their own monumental cock-up!
As RAFA had always said he has unfinished business at Liverpoolfc.. so bring hm to the helm..he knows the expectations…he knows the spirit…he knows what fans of liverpool want…he almost made us reach the final point…this time he will do so… God bless liverpool… God bless Rafa
and he loves liverpool almost as much as kenny!
I would give` Rafa a chance. Unlike KD he has not lost touch with modern day football and very nearly brought us the holy grail not too long ago, at a fraction of what KD spent this season alone.
Oh did i mentioned he won us the CL in his first year? KD can’t even qualify despite blowing 113 mill.
FSG did their cock-up a year ago, by appointing KD. Its good they undo that this time
yes rafa please
would love rafa back, he had us on the verge of greatness but for getting too involved with battling the cowboys. not a criticism, he brought the problems behind the scenes to the forefront and would love to see him in charge with proper backing. love ya king kenny always.
???????§,rafa benitez should come back! The fustration last season was unbearable.???????§,he won the league cup,I thank him for that because he knew we the fans wanted something so cheer about. I wish him the best.long live the king.
Iread around that Martinez will probably be our new manager (whit Rafa free)…god save us
I honestly don’t know how to feel bout this one. Don’t think KK was goin to make it. Rafa on the other hand his style of football is effective but hard to watch. Wat odds as long as ur winning trophies. I don’t think Martinez is the answer either. Bring in somebody like pep guardioula and make carra number two for experience.
I agree with you that the football wasn’t always beautiful under Rafa. He is like an Italian Manager who builds the team from the back. Once we become difficult to beat, he focuses his attention on attack. With the right backing though, and the right players I could easily see us winning the league under him. Fact is we would have a much MUCH better squad if he was given 110m at the start of this season.
Anyways this is all irrelevant because I seriously doubt that the owners will sign a manager that used to manage the club again. They will want to show that they are heading in a new direction.
Rafa Wud be ideal. Cost nothing to bring in. Still lives on merseyside.
Cost nothing? He was already paid off his last contract, he in effect owes the club 4 years service, will he come back for free seeing as hes already been ‘paid’? I doubt it as he is a greedy man.
He donated 96k pounds to Hillsborough family support group, you call him greedy? He was well ENTITLED for his pay as per the contract, I would not call him greedy.
Yeah 96k after he made 30million out of LFC overall! How charitable!
I fear the eventual appointment, when ever that may be. Of all the names linked with the position, non are what we really need and we no longer offer an attractive option for the top quality manger we despirerately need. IMO, forget Rafa and all the good, but unproven names like Rogers and Lambert.
I think the owners should take a risk and go with someone with the club running through his soul. This person would need an experienced team around him and cut some slack by the media. It would be a brave choice, but I’d like to see Jamie Carragher appointed as player manager. He has the passion and the drive to motivate the squad. He knows the players and the club as well as anyone. With the support of an experienced team, time and financial backing, he could be the man to revive a once great team.
God save us if Jamie becomes manager. I have read his biography and I can tell you that his managing style would be as old fashioned as Roy’s. We would be like Stoke City beta version.
Rafa knows half the team, was responsible for radically improving the youth system, still lives locally, is available and would jump at the chance of the job.
He consistently had the club punching above its financial weight and made us a force to be reckoned with in Europe. Bring him back tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock.
Oh, and Jamie Carragher? Give me strength.
Improving the youth system? Spearing was the only player who made it into rafas team from the youth system, Rafa was the one who gave Spearing his debut and look how that turned out, even keeping Sissoko was a better option but rafa was clueless.
shows how little you know, kenny made a point of thanking rafa for changing academy / youth system bringing in seguero etc. youth systems are obviously going to take a few years to see results, spearing was part of the former youth system, flanagan, robinson (who rafa made the youngest ever reds player) an sterling will be just the start of rafas work. unfortunate that champ manager purslow binned rafa before the results became more obvious!
yeah, Rafa brought in Shelvey too, one of his final acts before leaving.
Would love Rafa back
Jamie Carragher no way
Rafa isn’t the man, yeah he did ok at the club, but some of the dross he brought in on limited finances? He’d be a nightmare with backing. 79 players in his time and how many we’re any good? We don’t need a manager that wastes money and alienates players.
Who ever comes in will need time and unfortunately the fans and press won’t give him that. The club is in need of a major over haul, and that will take time.
dross he brought in on lmited finances?? you expect world class on limited finances?? with little money you take a chance and hope it works out. with money he got us alonso, pepe, masch, torres, johnson, skrtel, agger…wud love that team now with stevie, suarez an lucas (oh yeh he signed him too…)
Jamie Carragher thinks he’s bigger than Liverpool FC puts his own self interests before that of the club, no way in hell.
Rafa Benitez is the man, he’s got the love of the fans, but he can actually manage as well.
Nah Robbie, you’ve got that money bit back to front. The number of players bought reflects the wheeling and dealing he had to do to improve the squad. Much of the “dross” you describe went on to be sold at a profit and the overall improvement of the squad was massive in Benitez’s time here, on a remarkably low overall spend (thanks to those profitable sales).
Liverpool are currently at a significant financial disadvantage, compared to our top rivals, and Rafa’s nous in the transfer market, plus his tactical expertise, is exactly what we need.
typical rafa lovers with no consideration for the style of play we will have to endure. kenny should have had another year, but alas now we need a manager who will continue the football priciples which the club is built on and famous for. could be a bad time for owners if they dont get it right. sacking kenny before he had another season to put things right deserves a top top manager in place and not rafa, not martinez. fsg be warned
No, you’re the typical anti Rafa idiot who says Benitez teams plays bad, don’t you remember all the home games ending 3-0 or 4-1? the 8-1 vs Besiktas, the poker vs Real Madshit, this year i don’t even remember a home win -__- and have you ever seen the Valencia under Benitez? well, i don’t think so…
its great to see you two morons defend rafas style of play. its pretty obvious ye dont know what the beautiful game is, let alone the pass move football the club was built on, but lost under the likes of houllier and rafa. get glasses lads.
Get over it mate..kenny had enuogh time and more than enough money…spent on sh!t…if Rafa had what kenny has been given we would be plying C/L next year…god only nows why kenny bought henderson and played him as much as he did..henderson makes my blood boil..shocking!Rafa Rafa Rafa!
Rafa’s football was a great cure for insomnia….
YAWN!
Sure there were one-off wins against weak teams like Besiktas but youre seriously clutching at straws mate.
yeh 4-1 mancs was awful football, as was 4-0 real. 2 champions league finals?? forget it! an as for 2nd in league, 2 points off wiinning it with a record number of points for us?? nah that rafa was crap wasnt he??!!
@Red Rod, one off wins against weaker teams like Besiktas???? Seriously are you insane?
Whats the point berating Rafa, love him or hate him, the guy did deliver some great moments for the club the recent history, and since the time when he is gone we have had precious little to cheer about.
Bring back Rafa immediately should never have been sacked in the first place !!
yes he don realy good job in 5 years but LFC went 2 wrong hands [yanks] thanks for god we got da club back and we need rafa back aswel
Stuff Rafa, bring in Moyes. He’s been making the Toffees bat above their weight on a shoe string for years, imagine what he could do with a few quid to spend. He lives local too and has nous on the transfer market.
Seriously, never go back. Rafa had his day and got the push after a poor season, just like KK. Hiddiink is a better choice, has all of Rafa’s qualities and plays attractive winning football too.
Your off your head…moyes sh!ts more blue than what hiddiink does for chelsea…even though i love hiddiink and think he would do a great job…but moyes leave him over the over side of town…He’s grown to hate us…let it stay like that!
It was Rafa that caused his own downfall by pushing Alonso and Paco out of the door. He may know the club and have nous in the transfer market, but he doesn’t promote team spirit and plays dull footie. If he could communicate with the players, maybe, but he has shown he can’t and we’ll never get back to the top with a manager players can’t talk to.
Colin mentioned two better choices, Moyes knows the league and can spot quality players. I can forgive him being a bluenose if he brings back the good times. And we’d save a few quid on his relocation package.
It doesn’t always work that if you can run a club on a shoestring than you will definitely be amazing with funds. Different situation, different pressures. Seen many ‘talented’ managers struggle after going to ‘bigger’ clubs.
Bring back Rafa, that’s the best option liverpool have right now, we need a quick change in livepool and Benitez is the best man to bring that becauz he knows a lot about the club before, and some players he had worked with are still in the club, all he need is just to bring in some experienc players. Most expecially in that flop midfiled, Daglish bought, all floped
All you RAFA haters can go and support everton. I cannot believe that liverpool fans would be that dumb and not see RAFA as the solution to our problems. The main argument you have against rafa is “dull and boring football”, well I’m sorry but are you seriously telling me that one of the best passers in the world (alonso, gerrard, masch, lucas,benayoun) play boring football. Seriously, get a grip guys. RAFA return
No, all you Rafa lovers go support someone else!
What’s this talk about R. MARTINEZ, are we fighting relegation now. Realistic RAFA, dream mourinho, possible rijkaard, martinez n lambert would be the last I would consider.
If you even mension MOYES you seriously need some medical attention Y.N.W.A KENNY DALGLISH