Quote:
Originally Posted by KurtBevacqua
Looks like Rafa Benitez is about to get canned. I'm not sure what to make of this. On the one hand Liverpool is always in the EPL top 4, has won a Euro Cup with him and played in the finals last season. On the other hand obviously he pissed off the new ownership, but besides that it doesn't seem like he will ever get the team over the hump to actually win the EPL.
You have to wonder what the future holds though for both the club and Benitez. I know there have been whispers about Benitez taking over team England, but I know of no evidence that he is suited to manage at the national level. And just who would Liverpool get who will be as good or better. Considering the way Rafa is leaving I couldn't imagine the Chosen One would want to work for these guys. So who else is there? Jol? McLaren?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle2943513.ece |
Up until about 2 months ago, I'd never been entirely sure of Benitez as the manager to take us to the PL title. But there have been signs since then that he's learned the lessons of how to be successful in England. We're playing a more settled style of football - which, though you won't hear much in the papers, is actually looking very attractive: good tempo pass and move. The new signings are settling and performing. He's found a system that suits the personnel, with Gerrard marauding in the centre with 2 DMs behind him, Torres up top with Kuyt and Kewell or Babel (who's beginning to look outstanding) inside left/inside right; a very 'Dutch' 433, or 4231.
As for the PL... we're unbeaten. If we win our game in hand, we go second. Above Chelsea, above United (who lost at Bolton at the weekend). Arsenal are certainly going strong at the moment, but they've had a relatively comfortable start to the season (lots of home games against lowly opposition) and their youthful side has to prove it can battle out results through the winter. This season is far from over, and Liverpool are right in it.
Losing Rafa now, for what are non-football reasons, would be a disaster. There is growing feeling that Rick Parry, CEO and never a great ally for Benitez, has manufactured this current situation to a degree, possibly as part of power-games between Hicks and Gillet. There is to be a huge show of support from the fans for Rafa before and during Wednesday's "must win" CL game against Porto, when Foster Gillett will be in attendance.
BTW, a fans forum I post on is running a poll - who do you 'support' in the dispute: Benitez, the owners (includes Parry), or both (i.e. both sides have handled it badly). Over 700 votes so far, with a steady 83-85% supporting Benitez, 14%-15% 'both' and 2% the ownership. Mods on the site (who can see the votes) have said most of the 2% are fans of other teams, plus a couple of American posters.