Liverpool FC Forum

[anfieldadorer]

If rafa couldn't make both 4th spot and CL cup, should he be said failed? (definition of 'fail' is down to you) is he not better than Houllier?

[Nando]

failed would be if he failed to make an impact on the team whatsoever, yes there is the possibility we might not finish 4th but rafa has inspired so much confidence and spirit into the players and fans alike, he has taken us from the long ball merchants to a pretty exciting and attacking team with a bit of flair, and this is with most of players GH had, he has turned around players such as pongolle, traore and biscan and doesnt play players out of position, unlike GH rafa is a proven manager at the top level and won 2 spanish titles and the UEFA cup, he has a bit more tactical awareness than GH and the fact he hasnt bemoaned our endless list of injuries tells you a lot about the integrity of the man and his character

[Ciggy]

Its his first season so no in my eyes he wont have failed, but next season I would like him not to be changing a winning team for every game.
its really getting on my nerves.
Still love him though, maybe some assistance would come in handy with an ex red on board.

Ok they are saying Stevie is injured but I just feel theres something more to it, maybe I am getting paranoid, I dont know?  But I think theres something fishy about all this.

With the reports on saturday in every paper player nor club has come out to protest against these rumours once again.

p.s. I am very depressed at the moment and its all Liverpools fault  

[murphy0151]

Its his first season so no in my eyes he wont have failed, but next season I would like him not to be changing a winning team for every game.
its really getting on my nerves.
Still love him though, maybe some assistance would come in handy with an ex red on board.

Ok they are saying Stevie is injured but I just feel theres something more to it, maybe I am getting paranoid, I dont know?  But I think theres something fishy about all this.

With the reports on saturday in every paper player nor club has come out to protest against these rumours once again.

p.s. I am very depressed at the moment and its all Liverpools fault  

AND ON THAT NOTE

HES FAT, HES ROUND, HE BOUNCERS ON THE GROUND SAMMY LEE, SAMMY LEEEEEEEE.   

[welshred]

SAMMIE LEE what a player
  didnt buy a paper this weekend what were they saying or was it the usual gerrard to chelsea saga

if we dont get 4th you cant really say rafas a failure geez hes only been here 5mins......

[zarababe]

Tansitional year calls for understanding and faith... we have a top Boss.. and a squad that is gonna change yet more.. while alread strengthened... he will attract the top names and whatever happens.. he has already improved the team and individuals .. he's grt..

[Ola Mr Benitez]

Rafa is the man to take LFC forward... what a terrible season he has had.  Losing Owen to Real, constant speculation about his captain and then the injuries!!!  yet we are still in the champions league and still in a dog fight to qualify again.

You can't call Mr Benitez a failure.

[kopite]

If we dont secure champions league football next season
it could be disastrous . That will give Stevie G an excuse to leave
and we might not be able to attract big name signings to the
club .

[the return of HAS]

It may seem harsh but it WOULD be a failure by the manager and the players if we didn't get 4th spot, and I think that deep down Rafa will think so as well, even if he didn't say so.

The simple fact is that we have a better team/squad then anyone else outside the top 3. Even the fact that we are in a 'transitional' season', doesn’t change our overriding objective of achieving Champions League football.

Even with all the injuries, new manager and new players I still think that Rafa will be disappointed we haven’t picked up more points this season. Even with all the players missing, most of the time our team has been better than the oppositions on paper, but we have failed to produce on the pitch.

But really we shouldn’t be thinking like this, that 4th place is still very much up for grabs and we can and must get it.

[zarababe]

.. of course it would be dissappointing .. but to call the Boss a failure,... when clearly he has a plan to take this colub forward.. is unfair..

.. all plans have there ups and downs.. having said that we are on the verge of one of the clubs biggest games and leading 2-1 ppl.. and 4th spot is well in sight.. so lets see what happens..

[the return of HAS]

I wouldn’t call the boss a failure if we didn’t achieve 4th place, I just think that the season would be a failure (and so would the boss, in his mind that is), because we wouldn’t have achieved our primary objective.

[zarababe]

... a lot of "ifs" in this thread..

[Igor Zidane]

absolutly not no way  not a faliure,1 cup final already 1/4s cl at least top 5 finish totally new atmosphere about the club,and very optomistic about next season, i am very happy with that considering the dross he inherited and its his 1st season in the Epl and yes going on this 1st reason alone he is better than GH IMHO.

[Lando_Griffin]

Houllier finished 7th in his first season, sole-charge or not. Rafa is a magician, and there's no way we'd even finish 5th under that fruit-bat houllier this season with the injuries. Don't forget that Rafa has used the "******" from last season in times of need (Biscan, Traore, Pongolle, etc) and actually got some fab performances out of them. Would Gerry have managed that? I think not. Remember against Arsenal? We'd have been battered under GH. We'd have lost at least once to each of the bottom 8 sides, limped out of the CL in the group stages and missed out on 4th by several places. We wouldn't have Alonso, Garcia, Baros (Would've gone if GH stayed), Mori or Josemi (Ahem!), but we'd have blown £30m on some more Diouf's, Ferri's and Cheyrou's. Beni-boy is the master, and we WILL return to the top under his leadership, regardless of if Stevie stays. Up the 'pool!

[Dalglish]

If we dont secure champions league football next season
it could be disastrous . That will give Stevie G an excuse to leave
and we might not be able to attract big name signings to the
club .

I've said this before but will repeat for your benefit.......

Firstly , Stevie doesn't need an excuse

Secondly don't underestimate the drawing power of raf Benitez with reagrds to players coming to play for LFC ....