Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:41 pmby Ade
I've spoken to someone with good contacts at DIC. Yeah, yeah, I hear you say… Well, take it or leave it, I know who I'm talking to. And if any mods want to PMS me about it, feel free.
Anyway, this isn't earth-shattering news, but it is a good source. He's told me that if DIC do buy the club, and they are seriously interested, they want to buy it with Rafa in place. DIC would want as little friction as possible, and know that keeping the fans onside is essential. They know what the Yanks have done wrong, and have no desire to repeat those mistakes: they know what the majority of fans feel about Rafa, so they would prefer to buy the club with Rafa in situ.
This means that if the Americans are interested in selling up, it is in their financial interests to sell LFC with Rafa at the helm. And for as long as Rafa remains, the chances of a sale can't be ruled out.
Conversely, if you see Rafa get the boot before the end of Feb, the chances of DIC buying the club will diminish. Not disappear, but they would view the instability and potential loss of key (Spanish) players as a serious loss, which would reduce what they'd be prepared to pay for the club. H&G will know this.
Looking ahead, if DIC do buy the club, I'd imagine they'd lob a pretty healthy wad Rafa's way this summer for transfers. I'd bet on him getting at least two years with DIC in charge, but properly funded to make the signings he wants. He will have every opportunity then, and no excuses.
Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:42 pmby Ciggy
Any fool can see the sh!t going on behind closed doors in the natinal media is getting to the players.
We looked great at the beginning of the season but since all this palava has been going on since November its no big suprise that we have suffered on the pitch due to it.
Ok some of our players are not good enough but for people to be ignorant to the fact that it is not having a huge impact on the players is just stupid.
Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:13 pmby SouthCoastShankly
The whole topic is over Benitez and success is going to be sensitive. On one hand he has provided us with the greatest success since Dalglish but on the other hand he seems to have lost the plot with rotation and team selection. People say that no one mentions Rafa's rotation policy when we win but when we've won this season it has rarely been comfortably.
In terms of league performance our best season in recent years was 2001-02 under Houllier, that season we doubled Man Utd and finished second. That year we had a stable squad with great chemistry which in my opinion has never been bettered. Yeah at times we have seen hints of our potential under Benitez, Istanbul being the most prominent example, but when Benitez is refusing to play the obvious players and sticking with the sh!te players for the sake of his rotation policy the effects are seen in results and team chemistry.
I still for the life in me cannot see how Benitez has not realised that the system he used at Valencia will not and cannot work in the Premiership.
Posted:
Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:18 pmby Owzat
Even if our transfer budget isn't enough to match Chelsea and Man Utd, it is more than enough to be ahead of Arsenal and not struggling to stay ahead of the also rans in what we're making a race for fourth. We should be beating the likes of Wigan, brum and villa at home having spent plenty more than them. We lack consistency because too many of our players aren't good enough.
