Liverpool FC Forum

by **Avi Cohen** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:51 pm

Go.

Not now, but at the end of the season.

by **account deleted by request** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:52 pm

heimdall wrote:
tonyeh wrote:
GYBS wrote:
tonyeh wrote:
GYBS wrote:how can it be assessed then ?

By how the team plays compared to previous years.

Utd are going to win the league this year.

But they're playing badly and barely scraping wins. They certainly are not repeating or "progressing" on the standard they had last year.

Does the fact that they will end the year at top spot that mean they progressed on their form, from last year. No, it doesn't.

Bettering how you achieved a certain result in the past is real progress. Simply looking at the end result doesn't show the whole story.

So we have to stuff teams compared to last season to show we have progressed ? we have to play teams off the park ? getting wins and points isnt enough for some then ?

I think maye and just maybe people ask too much of the team an players . way to much .

No...we just have to play better than last year and so far we haven't done that.

Dude I take my hat off to you still trying to explain this to GYBS, you certainly have a lot more patience than I have.

by **GYBS** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:12 pm

It is a good post loopey - unfortunatly not everyone thinks that way or acts that way .

by **The_Rock** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:12 pm

now soccernet is running this story.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news....cc=3888

Bookies suspend betting on Rafa to leave Anfield

Britain's top bookmakers have suspended betting on Rafael Benitez leaving Liverpool.

GettyImages

Rafa Benitez: Punters believe he is out

Both Skybet and William Hill have taken large sums of money on the Spanish manager to depart since Tuesday evening forcing them to stop taking bets on Wednesday morning.

William Hill reported that they were forced to drop the odds on Benitez being the next Premier League manager to leave his job, either sacked or through resignation, from 20/1 into even money before they suspended the market. And Skybet saw a flurry of bets on Benitez not to be at Anfield at the start of the 2009-10 season before reinstating that market at odds of 2/5.

Rumours circulating on Tuesday afternoon claimed Benitez would leave the club before Saturday's trip to Liverpool though it was clearly business as usual ahead of the Champions League trip to Real Madrid with the manager walking with the players and continuing preparations for the Round of 16 tie.

The odds on former boss Kenny Dalglish returning as their next manager have been shortened to 3/1.

Fans may question the timing with Liverpool at the Bernabeu. Real have been strongly linked with Benitez for some time and with his Anfield contract wrangle no nearer a conclusion the rumours are sure to intensify.

Benitez has been in discussions over a new contract on Merseyside for months but has failed to reach an agreement with his current deal running out next summer. It was reported at the weekend that the 48-year-old has rejected four separate drafts of the contract.

Benitez dodged questions about his future during Tuesday's press conference in Madrid.

The main sticking points have surrounded control of transfers and the club's Academy, with Benitez wanting full responsibility for the direction the club is taking.

It appears owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are reluctant to rubber stamp a move which would marginalise the position of chief executive Rick Parry.

Benitez is a hugely popular figure among Liverpool fans and his departure would cause great anger, no matter what the circumstances, though at present there is no concrete evidence that Benitez will walk away from Anfield.

by **Paul C** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:14 pm

akumaface wrote:Just read that some broker had suspended the bet on whether Rafa is leaving. The article says that some expected Rafa to leave by Sun

http://www.premiershiplatest.com/news/25-02-09/5517260.html

I hope this is not true as I'm not surprised if anything happened. It's been such a weired season..

lmao, thats for the breaking news

by **GYBS** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:17 pm

bunglemark2 wrote:
GYBS wrote:
tonyeh wrote:
GYBS wrote:
tonyeh wrote:
GYBS wrote:how can it be assessed then ?

By how the team plays compared to previous years.

Utd are going to win the league this year.

But they're playing badly and barely scraping wins. They certainly are not repeating or "progressing" on the standard they had last year.

Does the fact that they will end the year at top spot that mean they progressed on their form, from last year. No, it doesn't.

Bettering how you achieved a certain result in the past is real progress. Simply looking at the end result doesn't show the whole story.

So we have to stuff teams compared to last season to show we have progressed ? we have to play teams off the park ? getting wins and points isnt enough for some then ?

I think maye and just maybe people ask too much of the team an players . way to much .

No...we just have to play better than last year and so far we haven't done that.

well it doesnt help being without two of your best players for large pasrt of the season - so to me to be where we are when we have had to play a lot of matches without them shows great improvement

That's a cack excuse mate....
Look at who Manure bring on from the bench, or the Reserves when one of their big guns is injured.
Even if they don't the others in the team pick up the slack
Blaming our misfortunes on injuries to SG or El Nino is a lame excuse

who is blaming anything ? i was saying that we are were we are at the moment despite not having our two best players for the whole season .yes the mancs are able to put on 30 mil pound strikers as reserve as well as youngesters costing 18 mil pound each that what happens when you can spend whatever you want .

by **GYBS** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:17 pm

Its all rubbish and rumours

by **The_Rock** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:18 pm

On the other hand, benitez "official" spokesman denies it on his behalf..... :glare:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_4972700,00.html

Balague: It's rubbish

Guillem Balague says reports that Rafa Benitez is on his way out of Liverpool are "rubbish".

Sky Sports' Spanish football expert was quick to play down the rumours after leading bookmakers had suspended betting on the next Premier League manager to go market amid speculation the Spaniard could leave Anfield.

The rumours had suggested Benitez, who is in discussions over a new deal with the club's American owners, would be on his way after the first leg of the Champions League tie with Real Madrid.

But Balague, who has published a biography on the Liverpool boss, says there is no truth whatsoever in the story.

"All it is is basically a bunch of people exchanging text messages and betting firms going by that," he told Sky Sports News.

"Honestly, I've been checking with people at the club and they are more or less saying it's rubbish - that's what they're telling me.
Comment

"There is absolutely no clue that anything like that could happen. Basically Liverpool is the type of place where something that is comment is passed on to somebody and becomes news that everybody then starts passing to each other, that's all it is.

"By the way it is a rumour that started on Friday and I've discussed it with people at the club since and they've all come out with the same answer."

Benitez has threatened not to sign a new contract unless he gets total control over all transfers and is involved in a public stand-off with chief executive Rick Parry.

But with the club seven points behind Manchester United in the Premier League, many people feel the Champions League - which Benitez won in his first season on Merseyside - represents Liverpool's best chance of silverware this season.

Surprising

Which, says Balague, makes the chances of him leaving now even less likely.

"It really amazes me; the decision of some bookmakers almost becomes automatically the truth," he said.

"It's been a surprising reaction to something that if you think about coolly, just doesn't make sense.

"Why would you sack somebody like that in the middle of a tie like this - or after it when you don't even know what's going to happen?

"Not only does it not make sense, it's a bit mischievous."

by **Effes** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:19 pm

s@int wrote:
heimdall wrote:
tonyeh wrote:[quote=GYBS,Feb. 25 2009,14:17

by **account deleted by request** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:20 pm

Just been reading that Gerrard was fit for the Citeh game but Rafa decided we could beat Citeh without him

Good news is he is fit and will start tonight

by **zarababe** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:21 pm

Paul C wrote:I can't believe some of the muppets on here, I usually just read and havent posted for a bit but I'm shocked by the comments from some 'fans'

I'm behind Rafa, the guy has made mistakes but what you also have to remember is that all the decent managers are contracted by other clubs and their arent too many better than Rafa imo

Fingers crossed all this gets sorted out and this contract can get signed once and for all

Don't be surprised Paul.. this place despite the support for Rafa being shown by the number of 'stays' in this thread, has been awful - like a friggin mancs site.. :help

by **mistyred** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:22 pm

I think he will go at the end of the season.

Do i want him too, Yes if he can't keep his mind on football
matters and leave the boardroom politics away from the press.

No, if he stops the above and stops fannying around with
the team selections.

by **GOAT_2.0** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:25 pm

zarababe wrote:
Paul C wrote:I can't believe some of the muppets on here, I usually just read and havent posted for a bit but I'm shocked by the comments from some 'fans'

I'm behind Rafa, the guy has made mistakes but what you also have to remember is that all the decent managers are contracted by other clubs and their arent too many better than Rafa imo

Fingers crossed all this gets sorted out and this contract can get signed once and for all

Don't be surprised Paul.. this place despite the support for Rafa being shown by the number of 'stays' in this thread, has been awful - like a friggin mancs site..

So we're all mancs for doubting his ability

I'm not against rafa completely but it seems that if you dont want to lick rafas bell end then you're not a real fan

I've had my doubts lately whether he will be able to lead us to the title like a lot of other people

by **taff** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:41 pm

Been reading where mate

Why then is he still 50/50 for tonight

by **account deleted by request** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:45 pm

Times OnlineFebruary 25, 2009

Players back Rafael Benitez over contract row, says Tony Evans
The Times Football Editor says that Spaniard has the support of his players in the ongoing power struggle at Anfield. He talks to Ben Smith

Do you think the rumours surrounding Benitez's position will have filtered down to the squad? Will they be aware of it?

They are extremely aware of it and members of the squad have dismissed the possibility of Benitez leaving despite rumours that he told the squad he was ready to leave the club. It's just not true. However, the squad are upset about two things:

1. The speculation over the change of ownership.
2. The speculation over the manager's future.

As a rule they are behind Benitez. For instance a number of players will refuse to sign contracts until Benitez signs his. Support in the dressing room, while not rock solid, is probably around 80 per cent.

Related Links
Hicks camp deny Benitez on brink of quitting
Torres will be key on return to Madrid
Gerrard both inspiration and millstone
Do you imagine all the talk today will have an effect on tonight's performance?

It can't help but affect the performance. Of course there is the possibility that it could be a positive effect, in that there could be a siege mentality.

But the nonsense surrounding Benitez's position and the ownership has had a severe effect on the players. Certainly more than they would admit and it has been extremely detrimental to the failed title challenge.

What's the latest on the fitness of Steven Gerrard. Will he start tonight?

He's fit so he starts. There was never any doubt about that as he did not have a tear in his hamstring. They did a scan but there was no tear.

Benitez thought Manchester City were beatable without Steven Gerrard and that's why he didn't play on Sunday. He could have played, no question about it.

It's a massive night for Fernando Torres, what do you expect from him?

He has always struggled against Real Madrid and as an Atletico boy he will want to come back home and prove a point.

He will be as keen to score as he has ever been and I would expect him to put in a performance tonight. He has struggled to reach match sharpness since his injury but he will really want to play well.

What kind of an approach will Benitez adopt. Will he be happy with a 0-0 or do you think he want an away goal?

Rafa will be happy to take a 0-0 and get them back to Anfield for the second leg. Having said that, it is notoriously difficult to predict how he will play and in similar circumstances a couple of seasons ago Liverpool went to Barcelona and beat them convincingly.

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