No risk & a proven winner Rafa Benitez

[PaulMcC]

Benitez or AVB?

 

Both. It's common knowledge Lampard wasn't happy not getting picked and even said in public that his relationship wasn't the best with Vilas Boas.

[stringvest]

Go on then elaborate, seeing as Rafa brought him to back to the club. Kenny probably wouldnt have been in position to get a second crack at the job if it was'nt for Rafa.

 

Dearie me.

[Brownie]

 

You're drifting into the thorny issue of player power now though. It could quite easily be read that at both Chelsea and Liverpool there were players who considered themselves to be bigger than the manager and therefore felt quite justified in actively trying to get rid of the boss. In Chelsea's case though, there was probably more about self-interest - ie players not playing, or feeling like they were being edged out - whereas at Liverpool they may well have been actively trying to get rid of the manager because Purslow made it much more possible for them to do so, pallying up to them and slagging off Rafa behind his back.

 

At the end of the day, we'll never know will we? One thing i'll say though, is that I can't think of one senior player that we've had over the last 10 years who has done anything other than give his all for the club.

 

The likes of John Terry etc are a totally different breed to our senior players. To me, I choose to believe that our players lost faith in their manager on a professional level because it seems far more plausible than the allegations of them somehow acting like children.

[Brownie]

 

Both. It's common knowledge Lampard wasn't happy not getting picked and even said in public that his relationship wasn't the best with Vilas Boas.

 

Common knowledge, or media rumours? How would you know either way?

[stringvest]

After Benitez brought Kenny back to the club, this populist move needed to be undermined. So then we had stories about Benitez exiling Kenny to the Academy. This is the sort of shit which has led up to the current debacle.

 

I never credited you with a complete absence of a sense of humour.

 

While you're on the subject though, you may be keen to know that Parry brought KD back. A welcome PR move, given the shit that was flying around, and also a contingency plan should any of Rafa's grumblings turn into actions. How he ended up at the academy is anyone's guess.

[PaulMcC]

Common knowledge, or media rumours? How would you know either way?

 

Lampard said something along the lines of not having a great relationship with Vilas Boas.

 

It isn't a rumour.

 

Not been ideal is the words he used.

[stringvest]

Lampard said something along the lines of not having a great relationship with Vilas Boas.

 

It isn't a rumour.

 

Not been ideal is the words he used.

 

he did. he said it on the telly. I saw it with me own eyes.

[BCM]

After Benitez brought Kenny back to the club, this populist move needed to be undermined. So then we had stories about Benitez exiling Kenny to the Academy. This is the sort of shit which has led up to the current debacle.

 

Benitez came out and said he wanted Rafa as a figurehead and go between first team and academy. Said it was Purslow who Marginalised his role.

[corro]

I never credited you with a complete absence of a sense of humour.

 

While you're on the subject though, you may be keen to know that Parry brought KD back. A welcome PR move, given the shit that was flying around, and also a contingency plan should any of Rafa's grumblings turn into actions. How he ended up at the academy is anyone's guess.

 

So well informed and then. Where can I get hold of anyone? He seems in the know.

[Brownie]

 

Lampard said something along the lines of not having a great relationship with Vilas Boas.

 

It isn't a rumour.

 

Not been ideal is the words he used.

 

Okay, so you said both, so which Liverpool player said the same thing?

[xerxes]

Benitez came out and said he wanted Rafa as a figurehead and go between first team and academy. Said it was Purslow who Marginalised his role.

 

Typical Rafa, insists on doing everything.:P

[Anubis]

I never credited you with a complete absence of a sense of humour.

 

While you're on the subject though, you may be keen to know that Parry brought KD back. A welcome PR move, given the shit that was flying around, and also a contingency plan should any of Rafa's grumblings turn into actions. How he ended up at the academy is anyone's guess.

 

Fair enough about the appointment, but Rafa did give him the role, didn't he. I'm pretty sure Kenny has said that.

[Gym Beglin]

If all of that is true, does it not make you wonder why a section of the players turned on him so much? In every dressing room there will be players who like the manager and players who don't, that's just the way it is.

 

But so much so that they actively want to get rid of the manager? That just sets alarm bells ringing to me and its the one thing that worries me about AVB (if the same rumours were true).

 

Define ' a section' of the players.

 

My guess is Gerrard, Carra, and those players unhappy with their playing time, who latched on to those two.

 

I think the sale of Alonso brought it all down.

[PaulMcC]

Okay, so you said both, so which Liverpool player said the same thing?

 

I didn't. I said maybe it happened at Liverpool and Chelsea.

[Kevin D]

At the end of the day, we'll never know will we? One thing i'll say though, is that I can't think of one senior player that we've had over the last 10 years who has done anything other than give his all for the club.

 

The likes of John Terry etc are a totally different breed to our senior players. To me, I choose to believe that our players lost faith in their manager on a professional level because it seems far more plausible than the allegations of them somehow acting like children.

 

I think you're lying to yourself if you don't believe senior players would act in their own self-interest. Without turning this into a character assassination; modern players are petulant, rich and egotistical, if they're allowed influence they will exercise it for their own selfish ends.

[piscinin]

I think you're lying to yourself if you don't believe senior players would act in their own self-interest. Without turning this into a character assassination; modern players are petulant, rich and egotistical, if they're allowed influence they will exercise it for their own selfish ends.

 

Or, more charitably perhaps, their own inflated egos will whisper to them that they actually know best.

[Stouffer]

This thread makes me want a smoke.

[Brownie]

 

I think you're lying to yourself if you don't believe senior players would act in their own self-interest. Without turning this into a character assassination; modern players are petulant, rich and egotistical, if they're allowed influence they will exercise it for their own selfish ends.

 

You misunderstand me, I totally agree about footballers, which just brings it back to having faith in their manager. If a player isn't playing, then he'll be unhappy but if the team are winning they can't do anything about it. If a team is playing poorly and not getting results, then the situation can spiral out of control can't it?

 

To me, it comes down to whether the manager is doing a good job with what he has, that will always be the key.

 

If the whole finger rubbing thing was true and we were winning, I couldn't give two fucks about it. When we're losing though and playing poorly?

 

Know what I mean?

[Best Believe It]

At the end of the day, we'll never know will we? One thing i'll say though, is that I can't think of one senior player that we've had over the last 10 years who has done anything other than give his all for the club.

 

The likes of John Terry etc are a totally different breed to our senior players. To me, I choose to believe that our players lost faith in their manager on a professional level because it seems far more plausible than the allegations of them somehow acting like children.

 

What would you class as a senior player? I think several senior players have been guilty of not giving their all on the pitch under the last three managers.

[Brownie]

 

What would you class as a senior player? I think several senior players have been guilty of not giving their all on the pitch under the last three managers.

 

I disagree. They may have played poorly but I don't think any players have purposely not tried.

[BCM]

What would you class as a senior player? I think several senior players have been guilty of not giving their all on the pitch under the last three managers.

 

That penalty at Blackburn still makes me wonder......

[Kevin D]

You misunderstand me, I totally agree about footballers, which just brings it back to having faith in their manager. If a player isn't playing, then he'll be unhappy but if the team are winning they can't do anything about it. If a team is playing poorly and not getting results, then the situation can spiral out of control can't it?

 

To me, it comes down to whether the manager is doing a good job with what he has, that will always be the key.

 

If the whole finger rubbing thing was true and we were winning, I couldn't give two fucks about it. When we're losing though and playing poorly?

 

Know what I mean?

 

I did get the wrong end of the stick, you're right. I thought we were discussing player power and the extent to which it does or doesn't exist at Anfield.

[Brownie]

 

That penalty at Blackburn still makes me wonder......

 

You see this type of thing is just ridiculous. You actually think there is a chance that Gerrard would purposely miss a penalty? Staggering.

 

This season has brought about our lowest finish for years and we've missed loads of pens, so maybe they wanted Dalglish gone as well?

 

It's just childishness.

[Brownie]

 

I did get the wrong end of the stick, you're right. I thought we were discussing player power and the extent to which it does or doesn't exist at Anfield.

 

Player power will always be there and at every club.

[corro]

How do you think the players will react to Michael Laudrup being our next manager? If he is.

 

Just asking like.