[Neil G]

This poll is prompted by the fact that some people on here seem convinced that Rafa will be sacked in the summer come what may. I've suggested a couple of times now that even if G&H are determined to get rid of him because of the dispute over transfers, he can make himself unsackable if the team achieves enough for the rest of the season.

Winning the title would have ensured this, but that's all but gone now. However I still think that if the team goes on a long winning run in the league for the rest of the season and finishes on or around 80 points (which would probably put us within 10 points of the winners), and also gets to the final of the CL, he'd get enough support from the players and the fans to make G&H back down. It's a big ask, but both of those achievements are possible, as Rafa has managed them in his previous seasons. A high points total in the league would show that we'd be set up for a title challenge next season under Rafa, and a good run in the CL would confirm that he's as well equipped as anyone else to bring success in Europe.

So, if you think that the owners are determined to get rid of Rafa no matter what - in which case it will be for non-footballing reasons - do you think that there's a certain level of achievement that will keep Rafa in a job despite this? If so, can it be achieved?

Do you think that G&H will only sack Rafa for footballing reasons? In that case, the target he needs to hit to keep his job will surely be lower than in the first scenario. Won't it?

Or do you think that G&H would go ahead and sack him even if he did turn things around significantly between now and May – even by winning the Champions League? If that happened, most people would see that the sacking was for non-footballing reasons, and it would be a massive 'fuck you' to the fans from G&H that could rebound on them. Do you think they'd have the audacity to do that?

As I posted on another thread, it seems for the most part that the people on here who have most faith in Rafa's ability as a manager are the same people who are convinced he'll be sacked no matter what happens. Surely there's a contradiction here – if Rafa's most fervent supporters believe he can deliver much improved results in the second half of the season, then why don't you think that he can do that to the extent where his job will be secure?

And to pre-empt one of the anticipated responses: if Rafa needs a massive achievement to keep his job then I agree, it's unfair pressure and he shouldn't be subjected to it. But if that really is the situation then the only thing Rafa can do about it is do the best he can and hope it's enough to make his sacking for footballing reasons impossible.

This poll assumes that G&H are still the owners come the end of the season – if they're not then the situation is completely changed.