Surely you dont mean this Rafa ?

[Unrighteous]

Funny. Someone tagged it Houllieresque. It sort of is...

 

"You take the ball, we'll take the points."

[George Costanza]

Didn't you know George the Carling Cup doesn't matter anymore. We have gone all upmarket and snobby now and regularly challenge for the league and the CL these days mate.

 

i must have missed the memo. i'm sure between 2004 and 2008 we were't competing for the league title.

 

We must have a brillaint team to be able to pick and choose.

 

tbh apart from this season i've not thought we could't win the Cl since 2005. Have to give Rafa massive credit for that.

[Vulmea]

Portsmouth won a trophy only 18 months ago.

 

and our in a very healthy financial state now eh?

[Brownie]

and our in a very healthy financial state now eh?

 

What are you saying?

[Carra_is_legend]

What are you saying?

 

We should blame Rafa for the current financial state of Valencia.

[Vulmea]

What are you saying?

 

I was saying winning trophies costs money - to win the fa cup you need to win 6 games and whoever you are have a chunk of luck - and to do that it broke pompei

 

to win the title will cost a hell of a lot more

[Brownie]

I was saying winning trophies costs money - to win the fa cup you need to win 6 games and whoever you are have a chunk of luck - and to do that it broke pompei

 

to win the title will cost a hell of a lot more

 

This is one of those rare occasions where i'm genuinely lost for words.

[SpeedyG]

This is one of those rare moments where i'm genuinely lost for words.

 

Nah, you were lost for words when I told you to examine the semantic gaps between micro and macro economics. Unless dribbling counts as a word of course.

[Brownie]

Nah, you were lost for words when I told you to examine the semantic gaps between micro and macro economics. Unless dribbling counts as a word of course.

 

Yes, Speedy, that's right, that's how you'll hurt me. By criticising my knowledge of micro and macro economics.

 

I think i'll have to go away and re-assess my life's goals and values after this revelation.

[Red Nick]

Very sad to see such a great manager reduced to this and not all his own fault

[Count Morfeo]

Rafa Benitez: Liverpool don't have to win trophies to be a success - MirrorFootball.co.uk

 

Rafa Benitez has claimed success at Liverpool should not be measured in trophies.

 

The Merseysiders pride themselves as being the most successful club in England' date=' with 18 titles and five European Cups.

 

But Benitez, who takes Liverpool into a week that could decide their Champions League fate after Saturday's shock 3-1 defeat at Fulham, said: [b']“I don’t agree when people say that you have to win trophies.[/b]“I always say you have to be there, you have to be close, you have to create a group of players who can fight for trophies.

 

“We got 86 points last season, yet some people were saying that it wasn’t good because we finished second.

 

“I think reducing the gap between the top team and Liverpool to four points was a massive achievement.

 

“Trophies mean a lot to everyone. But the most important thing is to see progression and evidence that you are improving and able to fight for trophies.“It’s not just about one year. It is about what we can achieve in the future.

 

“People say that I have now been here five years. I say, look at the differences here now.

 

“Look at the value of the club before compared to the value of the club now.

 

“Look at the value of the squad before compared to the value of the squad now. You can see the progression.”

 

Benitez’s words will come as a surprise to followers of a club with an insatiable appetite for silverware.

 

As legendary Anfield boss Bob Paisley once famously said: “First is first and second is nowhere.”

 

Spaniard Benitez won the Champions League in his first season at Anfield, but the Reds have not lifted a trophy since the FA Cup in 2006.

 

He was given assurances about his future last week by managing director Christian Purslow.

 

Hours later Liverpool resurrected their Premier League challenge by beating Manchester United 2-0.

 

But they travel to Lyon in the Champions League on Wednesday night with their hopes of progression hanging by a thread following the French club’s 2-1 win at Anfield and a defeat at Fiorentina.

 

Benitez believes he will still have the backing of Purslow and the club’s two American owners, even if Liverpool suffer an early exit from Europe’s premier competition.

 

But he is aware that such a scenario would have serious consequences when it comes to his New Year transfer budget.

 

Benitez said: “Christian Purslow made it very clear that when I signed a new contract for five years it was so that I would be at this club for a very long time.

 

“Now I can control the Academy, I can control the young players we produce and build something very good for the future.

 

“We have analysed the squad together, looking at plans for January and also next season.

 

“My belief is that we will qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, but of course, you have to have plans based on whether you have more money or less money available.

 

“The more money you have, the easier it is.

 

“If you have less money then you have to manage in a different way and find other solutions to improve.”

 

So Liverpool aren't all about winning trophies, we're about being "close". Fuck's sake.

[Brownie]

So Liverpool aren't all about winning trophies, we're about being "close". Fuck's sake.

 

Didn't the Count get the memo?

[Unrighteous]

Didn't the Count get the memo?

 

The Undead have no time for Memos... (Allegedly)

[Red Nick]

Guess who

 

 

or

 

 

or

 

[Count Morfeo]

[Red Nick]

If we had different owners then I thing 70% would want a new manager now

[RedKnight]

The owners and manager are seperate for me. Mixing the two together causes confusion and muddies the waters. If you no longer have confidence that Benitez is the right man for the job then it is what it is.

[Carra_is_legend]

The owners and manager are seperate for me. Mixing the two together causes confusion and muddies the waters.

 

Aye.

 

Owners being cunts doesn't mean Rafa can get away with poor performances, awful substitutions and results.

[Unrighteous]

If we had different owners then I thing 70% would want a new manager now

 

You also have to think that new owners would like a new manager as well.

[Red Nick]

You also have to think that new owners would like a new manager as well.

 

Totally agree with that new owners and I want Rafa out immediately but whilst we have these owners Rafa's incompetance is distracting from the real enemy.

 

Any new manager comming in wont make any difference when Torres and Gerrard are sold to reduce the debt

[Guest TK-421]

The owners and manager are seperate for me. Mixing the two together causes confusion and muddies the waters. If you no longer have confidence that Benitez is the right man for the job then it is what it is.

 

That's true to a certain extent, but would you trust the owners to make the right decision and back the new man? I wouldn't.

 

That said, I retain my own faith in Rafa so it's an easy answer on my part.

 

I can understand why people have reached saturation point with Rafa Benitez, although it's not my own view. I don't agree with those who say that there we'll be inundated with good quality candidates if a replacement is needed.

[Red Nick]

That's true to a certain extent, but would you trust the owners to make the right decision and back the new man? I wouldn't.

 

That said, I retain my own faith in Rafa so it's an easy answer on my part.

 

I can understand why people have reached saturation point with Rafa Benitez, although it's not my own view. I don't agree with those who say that there we'll be inundated with good quality candidates if a replacement is needed.

 

The table doesnt lie and were 11 games in

 

If Man City win tomorrow were in deep shit, just hope the wheels come off Man City and we scrape 4th because for sure we wont finish above Arsenal, Manu or chelsea

[RedKnight]

That's true to a certain extent, but would you trust the owners to make the right decision and back the new man? I wouldn't.

 

That said, I retain my own faith in Rafa so it's an easy answer on my part.

 

I can understand why people have reached saturation point with Rafa Benitez, although it's not my own view. I don't agree with those who say that there we'll be inundated with good quality candidates if a replacement is needed.

 

Put it this way, if you no longer want the manager in charge then why would you tolerate him just because of the owners? You barely see the owners but you'd see the manager and his effects on the pitch week in, week out.

[Count Morfeo]

The Count wouldn't let the owners choose a new tea lady but judging by some of the trash on display yesterday he wouldn't even let Rafa buy him bargain basement socks.

[Guest TK-421]

Put it this way, if you no longer want the manager in charge then why would you tolerate him just because of the owners? You barely see the owners but you'd see the manager and his effects on the pitch week in, week out.

 

I wouldn't tolerate Rafa because of the owners if I didn't think he was capable of turning things around, as I said I agree to a certain extent.

 

I find it difficult to accept that we've gone from second in the league (I know, it's not "success" in trophy terms) to shite overnight.

 

And when it comes to the crunch, it will be our custodians calling the shots. It may be with the help of Kenny but it's still those two who do the hiring and firing, and that's what scares me the most.