Liverpool FC Forum

[Reg]

Looks like he ate all Crouchie´s pies as well......

[AussieKopite]

I think that Mourinho would likely increase our chances of winning the prem but not more than once or twice. I think he would be too abrasive with the owners, although I'd like to see what he would CHOOSE in the transfer market without Kenyon of Abrahamovich to muddy the waters.

[kunilson]

i thought the exact same thing about a day or two, and if we sign mourinho we would definately win the premiership and there's no question in my mind about that. same goes for fergie, wenger and even alot of other managers who are half-way decent i.e martin o' neil.


But i wouldn't want anyone but rafa in charge, he's not looking for a quick fix he's looking to create a legacy again with this the best club in the world and i wouldnt have it any other way....
how do you come into being manager of a club with as illustrious a past as ours? simple(for rafa) you make a team that will be remembered forever. rafa will be mentioned in the same breath as our top managers of the past if he hasn't made his name already.

its all about perspective, and to do that you have to watch the games, not listen to the commentary, immerse yourself in the culture of the club, when you read the newspapers or listen to tv reporters ignore the pundits opinions and just listen to what the players/manager THEMSELVES are saying.....thats what i have been doing for a while now and i find myself being less shocked and surprised by every twist and turn of the season. i see at as bad patch = no loss in the PL. good enough for me....

Obviously not everyone is the same and some like to ride the rollercoaster and enjoy it that way, some dont. i like to jump on the rollercoaster (not bandwagon   ) whenever i want to but always look at the big picture and try get in the minds of what our club representatives are thinking, not other supporters, no matter who they are but always LISTEN. (there's some brilliant posters on this site for that)

me im sounding like a preacher recently but i guess im maturing as a fan and adult recently...

[AussieKopite]

Also, Rafa's man-management worries me especially after Paco left.

[Judge]

Rafa looks happy enough anyway

pepe is saying ''im playing tonight are you pete''

[kunilson]

never seen rafa laugh like that, its like he's actually happy!

[Scottbot]

I knida liked Maureen, he was entertaining, full of shi..t.e most of the time but entertaining. No doubt he is a great manager but the thought of singing 'We love Mour-i-n-ho' instead of 'Fu..c..k off Mour-in-ho' at Anfield makes me a feel a bit sick to be honest.

I haven't even considered it tbh and while i have been frustrated with some of Rafa's decisions this season i haven't lost faith in his ability to get the job done.

As far as i can see it, we are hanging in there at the moment, not playing well, struggling with injuries, trying (and gradually succeeding) to find some form and confidence but STILL hanging in there. Still in touch, still haven't lost in the league and perhaps? just perhaps, this little run could be as bad as it's gonna get this season.

[JC_81]

In answer to Mick's initial post - yes I do think that next season Mourinho would have more chance of winning Liverpool the title than Benitez.  But Leon has also called it right imo in terms of Mourinho being the man for the short term fix, which would not necessarily bring success in the long term.  Apart from the fact that he'd build players up and perhaps get the best out of certain players for a few seasons, he simply pi.sses too many people off for him to be able to stay in the same job for a long time.  He could never achieve what Wenger or Ferguson have done at their clubs.

I said at the start of this season that this was Benitez's crucial season.  IMO he now has a squad that is more than capable of winning the title.  If he doesn't at least come close (by that I mean in the race to win it down to the last couple of weeks of the season), then questions have to be asked.

Unfortunately we look no more creative going forward than we did last season.  Torres apart, who obviously looks a class act, there is no penetration from our forward line, who look slow and bereft of ideas.  Babel looks a prospect, but he's young and still adapting, and I still don't think we've found his best position.  Kuyt convinces me less by the week - hard worker but no goal threat whatsoever.  Crouch would probably get goals given a run in the team but I don't think Benitez wants him anymore and I don't think he wants to play for Benitez anymore.  Voronin should be no more than backup.

The more I think about it though, the more I wonder why our forward line looks so flat.  Have these players lost the ability to score goals, or are they so weighed down with tactics that they can't properly express themselves on the field?  To be honest I'm starting to believe the latter.  For that reason a motivational and less tactical manager (like Mourinho for the sake of argument) might just get the best out of this squad to get us over that final hurdle and win the premier league.

I tend to think that whatever happens this season, Benitez will still be backed in the summer and start next season in charge.  If we get to this time next season and haven't got off to a good start, having finished way off the pace this season, I think he will be sacked.  I really hope that's not the case because I want to see Benitez bring us the title after all the work he's put in here, but football is cut-throat these days and we have to be realistic.

A tactical manager isn't necessarily the best manager.  Our greatest manager ever would only highlight a few strengths and weaknesses of the opposition and concentreate on building up his own team to make them feel invincible.  Obviously football's moved on since the days of Shanks, but I feel Benitez has to find the right balance between tactics and allowing the players to express themselves.  Then there's the issue of rotation - almost went a whole post without mentioning it there!

[Graeme Noble]

I think Benitez is the superior manager, and I don't want him to go. I do believe he needs to stop rotating as frequently as he has been

Just remember that Liverpool have twice beaten Chelsea in the big European Cup when Chelsea had the much superior squad. Benitez tactics one us those games (and I don't care if one of them was decided on penalties)

mate, who did that Torres signature for you?

greame?

Back on topic, St Mike, as I say, I don't want to see Rafa go. But would it be a sad day for this club if we were to sack Rafa, bring in Jose… and win the title in his first season?

No doubt the forum would then split into two camps - the 'it was Rafa's team that won it' vs the 'Jose is clearly better than Rafa' mob.

I did it. You like it?

I think he means Graeme is spelt wrong mate

Okay, should have noticed. Stupid mistake.

[metalhead]

In answer to Mick's initial post - yes I do think that next season Mourinho would have more chance of winning Liverpool the title than Benitez.  But Leon has also called it right imo in terms of Mourinho being the man for the short term fix, which would not necessarily bring success in the long term.  Apart from the fact that he'd build players up and perhaps get the best out of certain players for a few seasons, he simply pi.sses too many people off for him to be able to stay in the same job for a long time.  He could never achieve what Wenger or Ferguson have done at their clubs.

I said at the start of this season that this was Benitez's crucial season.  IMO he now has a squad that is more than capable of winning the title.  If he doesn't at least come close (by that I mean in the race to win it down to the last couple of weeks of the season), then questions have to be asked.

Unfortunately we look no more creative going forward than we did last season.  Torres apart, who obviously looks a class act, there is no penetration from our forward line, who look slow and bereft of ideas.  Babel looks a prospect, but he's young and still adapting, and I still don't think we've found his best position.  Kuyt convinces me less by the week - hard worker but no goal threat whatsoever.  Crouch would probably get goals given a run in the team but I don't think Benitez wants him anymore and I don't think he wants to play for Benitez anymore.  Voronin should be no more than backup.

The more I think about it though, the more I wonder why our forward line looks so flat.  Have these players lost the ability to score goals, or are they so weighed down with tactics that they can't properly express themselves on the field?  To be honest I'm starting to believe the latter.  For that reason a motivational and less tactical manager (like Mourinho for the sake of argument) might just get the best out of this squad to get us over that final hurdle and win the premier league.

I tend to think that whatever happens this season, Benitez will still be backed in the summer and start next season in charge.  If we get to this time next season and haven't got off to a good start, having finished way off the pace this season, I think he will be sacked.  I really hope that's not the case because I want to see Benitez bring us the title after all the work he's put in here, but football is cut-throat these days and we have to be realistic.

A tactical manager isn't necessarily the best manager.  Our greatest manager ever would only highlight a few strengths and weaknesses of the opposition and concentreate on building up his own team to make them feel invincible.  Obviously football's moved on since the days of Shanks, but I feel Benitez has to find the right balance between tactics and allowing the players to express themselves.  Then there's the issue of rotation - almost went a whole post without mentioning it there!

JC its a good post, However there is one quote I would like to comment about

IMO he now has a squad that is more than capable of winning the title.

Ok, IMO I still don't think so, my commet to your post is that you stated our attack force, par from Torres looks utter cr@p, Hence we are still short of a quality striker to even challenge the league. Our attacking depth isn't capable of challenging us for the title, so thats why I don't think we are capable of winning the league. A winning title squad would have all their areas covered, not 1 or 2, but all.

As for Mourinho, I wouldn't be too convinced that he would win us the league, because I'm still not convinced we have the necessary depth in the squad (par our Central Midfield and defence). Maybe Mourinho's attitude and way would be a success, but also there is a risk of being a failure (i.e the way mourinho sees whose good enough or not).

[zarababe]

RAFA BENITEZ... RAFA BENITEZ ... RAFA RAFA BENITEZ !!!! I LURVE THIS MAN - HE'LL WIN US THE LEAGUE I BELEIVE IN HIM TODAY, AS I HAVE FROM THE DAY HE WAS APPOINTED -UNWAVERED IN MY SUPPORT OF HIM.. HE'LL DO IT FOR US I KNOW IT!!