Sack Rafa or keep Rafa?

[Unrighteous]

Surprising answer, considering what the rest of your post alluded to.

 

Ah so unrighteous has a hypothesis that those who want rafa to stay are statistically more likely to have a dupe account than those who want him gone. Can't wait to hear the science behind this!

 

Err... I was pretty clear that I don't know who owns alt-accounts, but I'm pretty sure that with a private poll, we can't see if there are a bunch of accounts with less than 5 posts voting in either direction. So, how can we know if the poll served it's purpose?

 

However, I wouldn't be surprised if RAWK-ites paid a visit to vote in favour of Rafa... as we know that a lot of forumites have accounts over there, and I'd suspect it is similar on the return.

[Paul]

Sorry if this seems pedantic, but - even though I want Rafa gone - I wouldn't sack him; the costs would be too crippling in our current state. I want him to go of his own volition. Hopefully the Juve thing comes off.

[Liquid football]

Err... I was pretty clear that I don't know who owns alt-accounts, but I'm pretty sure that with a private poll, we can't see if there are a bunch of accounts with less than 5 posts voting in either direction. So, how can we know if the poll served it's purpose?

 

If it was public i'm sure you'd see a bunch of names you didn't recognise under both options. It doesn't really make any difference, you'd be in the same boat.

[Captain]

Err... I was pretty clear that I don't know who owns alt-accounts,[...]

 

However, I wouldn't be surprised if RAWK-ites paid a visit to vote in favour of Rafa... [...]

 

I think we're at the end of the road here.

[Guest ShoePiss]

Various polls in the past (The GF Animal Tournament comes to mind) showed that posters here had some Alternate Accounts at their disposal... which would/can alter the outcome drastically.

 

I'd, also, suggest that its likely that posters from other Forums whom normally don't contribute anything to the site's discussions would also come in and vote and skew our results.

 

This poll's intention was to see the TLW's bottom line on this issue, not be a pissing contest between sides.

 

The question was also not exactly clear, as some people have suggested otherwise: They want Rafa gone but don't want to pay out the money to sack him... so they'd keep him and let Juve pay us compensation get him, and such.

 

All in all... this poll was a failure for its intentions.

 

You cannot be serious

[Hooch]

Wow, 50/50. Suprising.

[Guest ShoePiss]

Wow, 50/50. Suprising.

 

Well I think that last vote was by an alt-account so I think it's still 75/74 in favour of him staying.

 

I'm basing this on absolutely nothing.

[ronnie38]

You stupid clueless Cunt,

 

You should be frog marched at dawn, to be lined up against a firing squad and fuckin shot on sight.

 

No fuckin wonder the club's in the shit it's in when we've got fuckin clowns like you for FANS!!!!

Fuck knows why? but that cracked me up.

[Ezekiel 25:17]

You stupid clueless Cunt,

 

You should be frog marched at dawn, to be lined up against a firing squad and fuckin shot on sight.

 

No fuckin wonder the club's in the shit it's in when we've got fuckin clowns like you for FANS!!!!

 

Carry on the brain dead moronic posts you idiot, you do realise your opinion is completely ignored and worthless because your of your weak mentality and the inability to to stop the pathetic insults.

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Fuck knows why? but that cracked me up.

 

I'm no psychologist but it probably points to a lack of maturity and intelligence.

[stringvest]

You stupid clueless Cunt,

 

You should be frog marched at dawn, to be lined up against a firing squad and fuckin shot on sight.

 

No fuckin wonder the club's in the shit it's in when we've got fuckin clowns like you for FANS!!!!

 

so, just to clarify. Do you agree with Milan's assertion or not?

[Liquid football]

Wow, 50/50. Suprising.

 

The last one was a heat of the moment, after the final whistle type thing i seem to remember. It was ridiculous timing i thought.

[hamstrung]

I think its probably time for a change, but I have zero confidence in the people making that change.

[Paco]

Wow! I was expecting a lot more to want rafa out.

 

Depends who is lined up to replace him. It needs to be someone better. I suspect we're lining up Mclaren but I think this job is too big for him. If it's between rafa and mclaren I think I'd prefer rafa.

 

also if he does have to go I don't think he deserves to be sacked. can we get back to acting with dignity. No matter what you think of him now, he set the standards for what we expect by bringing us CL football after christmas 5 years running.

[Ezekiel 25:17]

I think its probably time for a change, but I have zero confidence in the people making that change.

 

I definitely agree with that.

[Ezekiel 25:17]

I think lot of people are wanting him to stay because of a fair few other reasons rather than him being the right man for the job, is my honest opinion on why the poll is so close, it hardly matters anyway really, does it.

[JohnnyH]

I think if we had good owners and the manager had money to spend, then after this season the vote about would probably be 90% wanting Rafa sacked. But I'm guessing a lot of the 51% wanting to keep him are a mix of people very nervous about what idiot would replace him given the people chosing the replacement, what they would do in a new job with no money, and some maybe would like to see how Rafa would do on a level playing field if we got good owners.

[redrosetints]

Various polls in the past (The GF Animal Tournament comes to mind) showed that posters here had some Alternate Accounts at their disposal... which would/can alter the outcome drastically.

 

I'd, also, suggest that its likely that posters from other Forums whom normally don't contribute anything to the site's discussions would also come in and vote and skew our results.

 

This poll's intention was to see the TLW's bottom line on this issue, not be a pissing contest between sides.

 

The question was also not exactly clear, as some people have suggested otherwise: They want Rafa gone but don't want to pay out the money to sack him... so they'd keep him and let Juve pay us compensation get him, and such.

 

All in all... this poll was a failure for its intentions.

 

Ha excuses, excuses, Chemical Ali lives on.

[redrosetints]

Carry on the brain dead moronic posts you idiot, you do realise your opinion is completely ignored and worthless because your of your weak mentality and the inability to to stop the pathetic insults.

 

I'm no psychologist but it probably points to a lack of maturity and intelligence.

hmm

[JMARKH]

If we can cast him aside for a better and more successful manager like Mourinho then great, if not then bide our time until something better comes along a year or so down the line.

[supertorres]

It's split down the middle. Must say I'm quite surprised. Thought the majority did feel it was time for a change.

 

I voted to give him another season on the last poll btw, and I still feel the same.

 

why would you give him another season

 

when we have been so poor this season

[ronnie38]

so, just to clarify. Do you agree with Milan's assertion or not?

:biggrin:

[Unrighteous]

Ha excuses, excuses, Chemical Ali lives on.

 

Are you serious? Did you not read what I posted?

[Unrighteous]

If it was public i'm sure you'd see a bunch of names you didn't recognise under both options. It doesn't really make any difference, you'd be in the same boat.

 

No, it's pretty easy. You click on a name that you don't recognise, and ... investigate! Not rocket science.

[ronnie38]

LIVERPOOL Football Club is in Phil Thompson’s blood.

 

A diehard Red from Kirkby who stood on The Kop as a boy and went on to realise his dream of playing and captaining the club.

 

A classy defender who served Liverpool with distinction for over a decade and spent seven years on the coaching staff under Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness.

 

A dedicated servant who couldn’t resist the lure of the Reds when Gerard Houllier came calling to offer him the job of assistant manager.

 

These days Thompson’s passion for his first love burns as bright as ever but the Sky Sports pundit is hurting.

 

At the end of a nightmare season supporters can’t wait to see the back of, his club is wracked by uncertainty – from the search for new owners to intense speculation over the future of manager Rafa Benitez.

 

Liverpool are seriously lacking direction and Thompson admits he fears for the future.

 

“Doing what I do for Sky, I have to fight the demons all the time,” he said.

 

“People love to see the demise of Liverpool Football Club and have a pop at us. What’s going on upsets me – I hate seeing the football club being ridiculed like this.

 

“I’m an ex-player and an ex-assistant manager but overall I’m a fan.

 

“As a club we always did things well in the past but the way things have gone under the current ownership is shameful.”

 

Thompson admits there are parallels between now and May 2004 when Houllier and himself were shown the door after finishing fourth.

 

“I’ve been there and it’s not nice,” he said. “Everyone is talking about what’s going to happen. All the speculation is awful and this is the city when it comes to rumours.

 

“It’s a difficult time for everyone and you have to try to carry on under extremely difficult circumstances.

 

“I don’t relish the position Rafa and his staff are in. The only people who can sort it out are Rafa and those who run the football club.

 

“Whatever way it goes I hope it gets sorted quickly and in a sensible way.

 

“When Gerard left he gave a fantastic press conference. If Rafa does go I hope they come to an amicable agreement.

 

“This club has been in enough mess. We don’t want any more recriminations.

 

“In 2004 we wanted to stay but this time it’s probably going to be Rafa’s decision. It’s a very difficult situation he finds himself in.”

 

Supporters are split over Benitez. Many believe after six years the time has come for a parting of the ways, while others insist the club must fight tooth and nail to retain his services.

 

Juventus are waiting in the wings, desperate to prise Benitez away, and the Reds boss has demanded reassurances about the transfer cash at his disposal.

 

Thompson believes Benitez has been let down by the Anfield hierarchy.

 

“I sympathise with Rafa because a top level club needs strong leadership but it’s not there,” he said. “Our owners handle the club from far away and only seem to agree to disagree.

 

“If Rafa stays he has to be given a lot more help. Not just in terms of money but more consideration for the job he’s doing. He has to be allowed to concentrate on football, not balancing the books.

 

“We have to invest in the team because the squad is clearly not good enough. Spurs, Man City and Aston Villa have risen in recent years and their finances have got a lot bigger. Compare Spurs’ squad to ours, it’s got so much more depth.

 

“When Gerard and I finished fourth that wasn’t deemed good enough. But we didn’t have a billionaire-backed Manchester City in our way and Villa didn’t have the money they’ve spent in the last few years.

 

“If the club don’t back Rafa financially they might force him into the hands of Juventus. He might decide ‘how can I function with no finances to turn it around?'

 

“The other side of it is that a manager is judged on the signings he makes.

 

“Against Atletico Madrid last week he brought on Pacheco, El Zhar and Degen to try to turn things around.

 

“Okay we had injuries to Insua, Skrtel, Aurelio and Torres, but apart from Torres none of the rest would have made much difference.

 

“Our critics always pointed to the fact that big signings like Cheyrou, Diao and Diouf didn’t work out for us. Rafa has spent nearly £20million net, while we only spent £10million net.”

 

If Benitez does go, Thompson insists there is no guarantee Liverpool would land one of the top names who have been linked with the job.

 

And the 56-year-old believes the club won’t be able to progress until Tom Hicks and George Gillett sell up.

 

“The likes of Roy Hodgson, Martin O’Neill, Guus Hiddink and Jose Mourinho have been mentioned but would any of them come amid all the turmoil and if there’s no money to spend?,” he added.

 

“I hate the speculation about Torres and Gerrard leaving and I’m expecting it to go on right through the summer.

 

“There are no guarantees that even if we sold Torres, the manager would be able to use the cash to strengthen the squad.

 

“In a way it doesn’t matter whether Rafa stays or goes because until the club is sold we’re going nowhere.

 

“People are saying chairman Martin Broughton needs to sort out Rafa’s future but he wasn’t brought in for that. His brief was to sell the club and that’s what we need him to focus on.

 

“Martin has to tell the owners what is a proper price for the club and convince them to get the deal done quickly.

 

“These are worrying times and I’m dreading another transfer window where we have to settle for free transfers and cheap buys.

 

“It’s frightening where the football club is going. I fear for my club.”