18 Nov 2014

Next LFC Boss? 'Inspiring' manager hints that he wants the Liverpool job. BR beware?

Reports this week claim that FSG are currently 'assessing' Brendan Rodgers' position at Liverpool, and although the story smacks of opportunist media scaremongering, at least one of the alleged favourites for the job has hinted that a move to Liverpool is an attractive proposition.

When asked over the weekend about his future at Napoli, Benitez made it clear yet again (albeit indirectly) that he'd love a return to Liverpool. He told CalcioMercato:

“My family is distant, my wife and my two daughters live in Liverpool.

"It’s the first time that they are not with me and it’s not easy. De Laurentiis knows very well how important the value of the family is.”

"De Laurentiis needs to guarantee the future of the club aside from me".


The fact that Benitez wants to return to Liverpool at some point is beyond dispute. Last season, he emphatically told reporters:

"I know I will return to Liverpool as coach one day, almost certainly. What I don’t know is when but my wife and children still live there, so I will be back".

With the reference to his family, this statement mirrors the Spaniard's latest comments on the subject, and if Brendan Rodgers gets the red card, Benitez will - quite rightly - be a major contender for the job.

I strongly advocated Benitez's departure in 2009, and I maintain it was the right decision to move him on at that time. However, five years have passed, which is plenty of time to reflect on his initial six-year tenure, and given his nature, I'm sure Benitez has exhaustively analysed where he went wrong.

As such, he'd probably make a better Liverpool manager now, and despite being one of his biggest detractors, I'd absolutely support Benitez's return to Anfield.

In my view, football opinions should not be inflexible to the point of extreme intransigence; people change, learn, and, most importantly, grow, and with his experiences over the last five years, Benitez remains an ideal candidate for the Liverpool job.

Additionally, given his love for the club, and deep connection with the fanbase, FSG will know that Benitez is capable of picking up the pieces very quickly, which may be necessary if - heaven forbid - Rodgers gets sacked in the new year.

Just to clarify: I am not stating the Benitez is my choice to take over from Rodgers; I'm merely saying that if Rodgers loses his job, I'm not averse to FSG giving him another chance in the Anfield hot-seat.

Benitez - described by Gary Monk in September as an 'inspiring' manager - has unfinished business at Liverpool, and he is destined to return at some stage, and to paraphrase Stanley Kowalski: LFC and Benitez have had this date with each other since the beginning...

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112 comments:

  1. Oh no!..not Benitez please. He has had his time already and no premier league trophy to shout about.

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  2. One thing Rafa would bring is the ability to keep clean sheets! A more pragmatic approach is needed to win the games when we play badly. On a cautionary note though, the last time we came runners up we then finished 7 th under Rafa- history seems to be repeating itself. Personally I'd like to see BR given time but, if they think his time is up, I'd love to see Rafa back.

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  3. Happy to see him given another chance. I agree with most everything that you've said and one thing I've always like about Rafa is his love for the city, not just the football club. He's tactically astute and has shown at Napoli that he's still a good manager at the top level. He's incredibly experienced and has that credibility that comes from winning lots of trophies over the years.


    Rodgers will go to the end of the season for sure. It's far too early to be calling time on his managerial career. His constant line that his teams get better as the season goes on is not just an excuse, it's demonstrated time and time again. He deserves the chance to demonstrate it one last time. I expect this team to improve substantially, all across the park. Goals will come more frequently and results will start to add up. Maybe the defence will come good, maybe not, but from watching the team last season I have great confidence that Rodgers knows how to get a football team scoring goals. If that is good enough to get the club back into the top 4 then he'll be Liverpool manager for a while yet.

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  4. I don't want to see Brendan leave. But if he does it should be for biesla of mariselle. Because he follows a similar football philosophy to Brendan and so it won't take too long for him to settle

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  5. Yes, yes, yes.

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  6. The only positive I see if Rafa comes back is he will attract top players to come in. Rodgers does not have the appeal yet for top top players.
    But by end of season if we fail to qualify for CL. Times up for Rodgers.

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  7. Under Rafa Benitez we had world class players mascherano Alonso Torres agger reins carragher Gerrard kuyt.... We were European power house we had amazing nights beating inter/ac Milan Barcelona Real Madrid juventus reached many semi finals and 2 finals he attracts world class players his biggest mistake was selling Alonso.and he never got the funds Rodgers got he was always on sell to buy policy and remember he was the 1st lfc manager to earmark Suarez gave coutinho his start in inter Milan also he bought Raheem sterling..... He has mourinhos number especially in Europe.... Rafa Rafa Benitez!!!

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  8. He'd be the best option available by a country mile IF he can live with the wage structure and not being in total control...
    I'd say he has more chance of winning both UK and the Euro lotteries in the same week.

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  9. We played boring boring ball under Rafa. Too cautious. Did well enough to contend but never innovative enough to win.....when I first watched the team with him as a manager, it was like watching paint dry.......
    Hire Southhampton's front office, fire ours and let Brendon manager the team and not the scouting and acquisition of players and we will be alright......

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  10. What you're all missing is that under Rafa, we paid top class wages. He may not have had bucket loads to spend on transfers, but they got the going rate.
    Today we won't pay the going rate, hence we end up losing players like Reina to donkeys like Mignolet... why we couldn't even sign Sigurdson.
    RB could attract the right players, but they still wouldn't join because he can't promise them the wages.

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  11. I'm not saying get rid yet but I do think Rodgers needs to be put under pressure. Some of his decisions have smacked of arrogance and his record in the transfer market is poor. He needs to step it up and start thinking practically. If the Gerrard Experiment isn't working change it. You spent big on certain players, play them. Everyone, including Balotelli himself, says he can't play upfront alone, draft in a striker, maybe that guy you spent £11M on! He needs to sort it and recognise that while you get to forge your way the days of losing will doing it are over. If Benitez helps him remember that then so be it.

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  12. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:35 am, November 18, 2014

    YES! YES!YES! YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!


    this has made my day




    RAFA! RAFA! RAFA!


    a true born winner unlike Rodgers


    Valencia
    he won two la ligas vs a real Madrid with zidane,beckham,figo
    and barca with ronaldinho


    liverpool
    won the cl first season almost won it two times more the 08-09 side was the best in 20 years


    inter
    won two trophies although his time went badly
    chelsea
    won europa league first season


    napoli
    won a trophy the italian version of fa cup first season


    RAFA can ahve same effect as jose mournho at chelsea

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  13. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:37 am, November 18, 2014

    that is unfair
    chelsea had their strongest team bar now when rafa was manger


    while man utd had ronaldo,tevez,rooney any utd fan will tell you the 07-09 team was utds best for a long time

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  14. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:38 am, November 18, 2014

    what is rodgers football philosophy?


    losing games?
    playing worse football then roy hodgson?
    wasting a lot of money on players?
    cant get his strikers scoring goals?




    tell me what is Rodger football philosophy?

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  15. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:40 am, November 18, 2014

    exactly
    you do not spend 120m and go down the league table
    2 positions okay fair enough but three or more then its all your fault
    rafa was unlucky that he had no money

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  16. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:42 am, November 18, 2014

    i think its a simple job
    you have to have a big squad but get rubbish players liek el zhar, lucas, degen , caveleri to fill in the squad
    they ahve small wages and pay your big stars more

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  17. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:45 am, November 18, 2014

    Benitez is awesome
    remember:
    .....................................Torres
    Benayoun......................Gerrard....................Kuyt
    ..........................Mascherano.......Alonso
    Aurelio...............Hyypia................Carragher......Arbeloa
    ........................................Reina


    if he got his way the funds i am confident Villa,Barry and Silva would have also been his

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  18. Nevergonnacrackthecode7:50 am, November 18, 2014

    Rafa has the players to build around
    sturridge.sterling,coutinho ,lallana ,can ,henderson


    all are players Rafa can work with
    rafa would want a world class dm someone like Schniederlin
    and a world class striker like Jackson Martinez and players like doumbia his work rate is similar to kuyts

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  19. Rodgers could do the same given a chance if you think Rafa managing Liverpool is going to bring instant results you are deluded.
    Look at United and Tottenham they bought in managers with good records and they have not done squat.

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  20. Did you only join the party recently lad? Didn't you sat your name was too long? Why don't you shorten it to cracked.

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  21. No chance he used to bore me to tears watching his sides play, he's had his turn and they you should never go back just incase it ruins the legacy of before. I'd have Rodgers all day long over rafa

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  22. boring benitez ...we could of win title if he didnt play for draws ...he never bought decent wingers.he wanted barry instead of alonso..All this talk of sacking rodgers is a f@%%%ing joke.What short memories some of ye have.Give rodgers 5 years and we will have the greatest team in the planet...utd spent 300 m and pay huge wages and are only a point or two ahead of us ...watch the difference when we have sturridge and maybe new striker in jan ..To all utd supporters on this site YOU ARE HEADING TOWARDS LEEDS

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  23. can-great buy lallanna - excellent moreno- bargain manquillo bargain markovic - smunreal potential ballotelli -bad buy but should not of been this bad

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  24. I'm open to it because Benitez has Mourinho's number! Remember the look on his face when Garcia scored that "ghost" goal. Hee hee

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  25. utd will finish 6th8:37 am, November 18, 2014

    utd owe 600 m pay huge wages to players with little resale value.Even though they earn vast sums of money they struggle just to pay interest..if they fail again to get c.l they will start to sink...and all the rats will jump ship

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  26. We didn't really. Our total wage bill has always been under Chelsea's, United's, Arsenal's and recently City's.

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  27. He really gets under his skin and that works in his favour for sure

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  28. Poch has had a couple of good years at Southampton that's it

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  29. I still remember the days we outplayed Real Madrid and MU under Rafa's care. I like to see him back. Anyway lets give BR some time to prove. By Jan if we are still not in the top 5 then, lets have Rafa back.

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  30. I also remember that he never brought any cover for Torres and when Robbie Keane was brought for him, he subbed him constantly.

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  31. This is the right time are sack BR why cauz our season is already over here is the math.....the average points needed to reach top 4 is 72 points(to be absolutely safe)....we have 27 games left out of which we need 2.14 points per game i.e a win and a draw for in every for 2 matches which will get us to around 68 points(3-4 points short)......looking at us we are gonna finish 6-8th if I am being generous.....So if we get a new manager he will atleast have time to work with the team and I personally think BR will not get us anywhere and especially his transfers in which he has wasted nearly a quater of a billion

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  32. as much as i'd love to see Rafa coming back to LFC I don't think BR time is over yet, he should be given time, at least until the end of the season.

    IF BR gets sacked, Rafa would be the first choice for me, he loves the club he loves the city, and certainly knows how to win big trophies.

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  33. He can at least attract markee players.

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  34. The football we played last year was the best and most exciting I can remember from a Liverpool side for many years. Benitez's team was tactically great but sometimes difficult to enjoy.

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  35. How that did not win goal of the season I will never understand

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  36. I have to admit that I am in two minds about Rafa.


    Yes he won trophies with us but then he also had a major melt down and wasted so much money it wasn't funny.


    In 6 years he signed 59 players and sold / released 72.


    Yes you can argue he had to sell before he brought, but he still signed some terrible players.


    Yes he brought some great players, but for every 1 great player he brought like 5 crap players.

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  37. Was his time at Malaga bad?

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  38. What do we gain by getting Benitez in? We'd be taking a step backwards imo. Rodgers wants to play attacking football, has good rapport with the board as well as his players and is not distracted by his ego. The one thing he can't get right is his transfers and as such he should not be trusted with more money. Since he doesn't want to work with a director of football, the only way is out. But why on earth should we replace him with somoene we'll be worse off with?

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  39. In all honesty I loved Benitez and have fond memories of this stay, but I don't think he is the right man at the moment, I still think it's BR despite all the current situation etc...

    When Benitez left we were playing some poor football and his negative style were painful to watch at times. At the same time I have fond memories from the the seasons we finished 3rd. We were always the underdogs.

    Tactically you cannot fault the man, man management left a lot to be desired at time but it worked.

    Like BR, he did spend a lot of money of poor players, he did have to sell before he could buy at times but the gems he did uncover were great.

    Apart from winning the Uefa with Chelsea, what has he done since that is so outstanding? If he came, we would starting the cycle again...

    Just my opinion anyway...

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  40. Also remember he sold Arbeloa for 3.5m and signed Glen Johnson for 17m. Forced Alonso out of the club to try and sign G. Barry. Remember Gerrard's face when he subbed Torres off when we needed a goal. Playing Crouch every game til he finally scored then dropped him. Similar with Keane, scored v arsenal and 2 v west brom then dropped like a hot spud!

    Like Jamie, I wouldn't be adverse to him coming back but it wasn't all roses like people like to remember

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  41. I'm a huge admirer of Rafas tactics and to be honest i had absolutely no problem with our playing style at that time.
    Even though i have to agree with you our football last season was the best I've ever seen from liverpool, we're looking shaky in defence since Rodgers was appointed as a manager and i can't see this changing until we get a proper defensive coach, to organise our backline (BR clearly cant manage that).
    What speaks for Rafa is that, like RennyLFC said, he can attract big name quality players (we're struggling to do so under BR). Yes Rafa has his own philosophies, but had a well organised team under Rafa, and Rafa has a long history of winning trophies.

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  42. That's not strictly true is it? We were on par with Arsenal is wages when Benitez first arrived. They may have been paying out slight more for most of his reign but from 2008 until he left our wage bill was higher. Also with City it was only since 2008 that their wage bill was above ours. But then way above. Our wage bill is about fifth highest in yhe league currently but way way below United and the sugar daddy clubs. Football inflation matters quite a bit as players and agents judge by what others get. We are not offering competitive wages currently.

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  43. Sorry every penny has been a waste? So in five years Rafa did those things you say. As this season is not over and we are still in two cups there is every chance of a trophy this season. You think getting a new manager in to give him time with the team is a better idea than giving the current mangers time with the team? Yes mate great math(s).

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  44. I just hate the fact he went to chelski..

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  45. It wasnt great, a couple of mid-low league finishes then sacked... A couple of good years can do wonders for a manager though. I'm not sold on him as a manager but he seems like a nice fella?

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  46. I feel like if we had Benitez, our lineup would look something like:
    Miggles
    Manq-Skrtel-Sakho-Moreno
    Hendo-Gerrard
    Studge-Cou-Sterling
    Balo


    He does like pushing strikers to wing spots (a la Kuyt) and having a double pivot in midfield. We'd certainly have more clean sheets, but scoring is enough of a problem now...

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  47. Weren't Benitez's comments yesterday with regard to the fact that he took a mini-vacation during the international break, and that he went to visit his family in Liverpool.

    Granted, he stated before that he would like a return to Liverpool... but the first quote mentioned is taken out of context and has nothing to do with a return to being Liverpool's manager. It's only that he went to visit his family.

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  48. He did sell us Sturridge...

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  49. I posted yesterday that it would be highly unlikely that FSG appoint Benitez. They never showed any interest when looking for Dalglish's so why would they be keen now when

    1. Ayre was one of the men who relived Rafa of his job
    2. Ayre was was one of the men who brought FSG to the club
    3. I am pretty sure Ayre and FSG did discuss Rafa and doubt much positive would have come out of those discussions.

    So IMHO Rafa and LFC are pretty much history.

    Frank de Boer would most definitely be an option that FSG would look into again. They did approach him before Rodgers was picked but de Boer rejected LFC as he said he was not ready for the job.

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  50. Frank de Boer is a good shout and I trust him to play attacking, free flowing football. The problem is, he wouldn't have use for half the players in the squad, would need serious cash to rebuild and he's also never managed a huge transfer budget before, like Rodgers. So, again, I can't see how we'd immediately improve with De Boer. We need someone to come in who has Rodgers' strengths but not his weakness in the market. Someone who has worked at a big club before. That and the whole Porto scouting system. That would help too.

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  51. If FSG do get rid of Rodgers then the next manager will have a DOF working above him and will not have an issue with that. Overmars is DOF at Ajax.

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  52. Keep on dreaming mate.

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  53. Rafa made Alonso leave and signed the washout Aquilani. Got rid of Arbeloa for peanuts and signed Johnson e etc etc


    He also got rid of Hyypia who still had loads to give.


    i was a massive Rafa fan at one stage until the day I took of my rose tinted glasses.

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  54. Rafa also mentioned he was discussing a new contract with Napoli and that he was happy in Italy.

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  55. I do not think Rafa had much say about who was coming in and leaving at Chelsea while he was there. Abramovich is very much involved when it comes to who goes and stays.

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  56. DOF at Ajax is more of an honorary title though. It's their way of using the Bayern Munich model. Old boys, famous names from a glorious past working at the club. It's a marketing gimmick. De Boer makes his own decisions.

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  57. The quote is not taken out of context. I've included another recent quote where he states that he will return to manage LFC, and in light of that, it's clear (from reading between the lines) that Benitez would welcome a return to Liverpool. He misses his family. He lives apart from his family, ergo to be reunited with them on a permanent basis is appealing. Plus, he also states that Napoli have to 'guarantee the future of the club' without him.

    Why must everything be 100% literal? Benitez is not going to say it outright; he'll also pay lip service to the idea of staying at Napoli, but as his previous comments attest, he ultimately wants to go back to Liverpool.

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  58. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:48 pm, November 18, 2014

    Rafa never made alonso leave in 09/10
    he wanted him out at 08/09 because he performed poorly for two season
    and barry was doing fantastically for villa
    we never know how successful barry could ahve been at liverpool


    johnson was a great signing until last season
    we had for a few seasons the best attacking right back in the league
    hyypia was not better then skrtel or agger at that age

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  59. Nevergonnacrackthecode4:50 pm, November 18, 2014

    he is the favorite with the bookies
    so there could be a possibility

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  60. The next Liverpool manager should be someone who can bring on young players, our youth system is the best it's been in years. He needs to make sure the club is cohesive, no disconnect between the youth and senior team. He needs to make the team play an attractive style of football but above all he'll need time to put it all together. Hold on a minute! Maybe it would be best just to give Rodgers more time.

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  61. Yes, DEFINATELY yes. Benitez is a "Big- name manager" and he has the pull to attract the bigger players that BR can't. I hope BR can stay and do well but if not then Benitez is my first choice. He knows how to spend money properly and he will have that with FSG.

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  62. My point is that the quote you utilized was not said by Rafa in reference to managing Liverpool.

    It was said by Rafa in reference to managing Napoli and the fact that he took a vacation during the international break.


    Reporters were asking him about that vacation, where he went, why he took it, etc.

    The interview, the questions, and the answers had nothing to do with the Liverpool managerial position.

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  63. Marketing gimmick? Really? Ajax and Bayern Munich have the best academy's in world football.


    De Boer does not make his own decisions.

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  64. The bookies. ha ha

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  65. how can u say u stand by the fact it was the right decision! with hindsight it was clearly the wrong decision to have ever let him go, five years have passed and weve had zero success, 3 managers four years without champs league football and only a poxy capital cup won.. the people who wanted him out who are now "open" to him returning need to admit they were wrong or explain how the hell it was the right decision to sack him based on the five years that followed, rafa did wonders during the most unstable period of the clubs history, sickened me to hear people calling for his head and it sickens me more to hear the same people are now "open" to him returning, ha how good of yee, do yourself a favour raf and let buck the championship flop rodgers take the club to mid table nothingness with a big white smile on his face, people should be careful what they wish for

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  66. He doesn't have to make comments directly in reference to LFC. He's already made lots of comments in the past direct and indirectly stating that he wants to return to LFC. The earlier quote I used is just one of them. Based on his obvious desire to return, it is fair and reasonable to infer that he is indirectly referring to LFC here.

    The context is irrelevant. The interview doesn't have to be about LFC. Benitez misses his family; moving closer to them would obviously make him happy. They're still in Liverpool - why do you think that is? You also ignore the part about him saying Napoli must prepare for life without him.

    Benitez's agenda is clear: he wants to return to Liverpool, so everything he says related the subject is open to interpretation, and he will obviously know that.

    Benitez is not stupid - in my view, he is obviously sending a message, so let's just agree to disagree.

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  67. im not sure i would want him back but credit where credit is due he won the Cl WITH ONE OF THE WORSE TEAMS I HAVE EVER SEEN

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  68. No, Rafa fell out with Alonso when he refused to travel to Inter Milan for the second leg of Liverpool's Champions League knock-out match after his girlfriend had gone into labour.


    Xavi has stated that his relationship with rafa was never the same after that

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  69. Could not crack the EPL. He had his chance in 08/09 and blew it by playing for draws when we should have won. The problem with Rafa is that he would always play it safe which lead to negative football.


    I am sure he is a fantastic guy around the dinner table but no thank you to him coming back to manage LFC.


    Forget the past and look forward, that is best.

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  70. Some also still blame Rick parry for signing Keane when Rafa in "An Audience With Rafa" admitted that Keane was his signing.


    To some Rafa is totally untouchable and that is the biggest problem about bringing him back.

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  71. Nevergonnacrackthecode6:10 pm, November 18, 2014

    whats he meant to say
    " my bosses screwed up" ?


    beside everyone makes mistakes occasionally then they rectify it
    Rodger does not he just keeps repeating same mistake in the hope it will one day work

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  72. "An Audience With Rafa" came after Rafa left Liverpool and admitted that he wanted Robbie Keane. Why do you insist on making excuses when I am producing facts?


    Again he is proclaimed in an untouchable way. He is not coming back so best you get over that thought.

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  73. Unfortunately BR is his own worst enemy. I fully expect to get beat by Leicester.

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  74. I take it a game at a time. So I'll worry about the Palace game, then the Ludo game, then the Stoke game. Finally I'll get onto thinking about the Leicester game. Your way ahead of me. : )

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  75. Have u seen the news story Johnson offered 2 yr contract but 60 grand per week- if this turns out to be true then BR deserves daily cow pats

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  76. What about AVB though he didnt last.

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  77. Due to BR's being bereft of any tactics, Benitez looks more appealing but his transfers left me pulling my hair out at times!

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  78. I've been bald since Aquilani signed

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  79. Rodgers did not take LFC to second spot in the EPL last season, Suarez did, now hes gone and Rodgers has been found out.

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  80. Mate, AVB, Pochettino or Moyes. The latter two have won basically nothing, while AVB can't really be compared to Rafa either. Rafa has won the UCL, 2 or 3 La Ligas, an FA cup and a club world cup.

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  81. Well no not strictly. Arsenal may have been always roughly on par with us until very recently, but remember that they didn't sign any superstars with their uncompetitive wages either, not until Ozil.


    That was my point about the inflation. Just because inflation increased our wages, it doesn't mean it made u more competitive, because everyone else's wages rose too. Everyone else mentioned bar City have had their wage bill rise at roughly the same rate as ours. City's line on the line graph looks like a water slide at wet'n'wild.

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  82. Sturridge injured again

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  83. Near on par with Arsenal being around fourth third to fourth best paid club and showing fourth to third most seasons. That equates quite nicely. Rafa was wonderful in Europe and that is why he is still such a legend here. Rafa took over a fourth best team and was paying around fourth wages and came second once. Rodgers took over a seventh placed team with the fifth highest wages and finished second once. I just think the fella deserves more time with his signings. But then again I didn't want Rafa sacked so what do I know.

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  84. Also he would have owners that would support him and give him money. Rafa worked under owner that had Liverpool hours away from Bankruptcy . And a sell before you buy policy . I would rather be Top 4 every season then be where we are and now. we have no Future Right now.

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  85. I totally agree that RB is and will ever be a part of our modern history.It was him,SG,JC and Xabi Alonso the main factors for the great night in Istanbul in May 2005,a match no one can forget.He also guided LFC to big European nights and the unforgetable FA Cup victory in 2006.My view is that we have to move on with a new manager with the ambition to lead LFC to new standards.For me it is either Klopp or Simeone.Both of them have the quality,the passion and the know how to restore our pride and the status as a real European force once again.

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  86. What does it mean by top manager ? Mouriniho ,yes. Klopp ,,guardiola, after that you have van gaal ,ancelotti ,hiddink ,and yes ,Benitez, as for the rest you may name other managers who have had certain success at times but at a lower level and unproven,put it this way if fsg were to conduct interviews for job tomorrow would they hire someone like Rogers ,no record of any success,completely unproven etc ,or try and recruit a more experienced guy with some record to talk of,having a difficult time at reading or Watford was the only time Rogers has been under pressure till now,we don't know what's going to happen as Rogers won't have experienced anything like this before,but my money is on it's going to end badly

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  87. Calling Lucas rubbish is disrespectful to a good loyal player

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  88. Arbeloa wanted to leave after the on the field argument with Carra - when Carra showed him...also Johnson was outstanding attacking full back at Portsmouth - and was bought to give us width on the overlap

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  89. I don't know whether Rafa coming back would be a good or bad thing but there is not a LFC fan in the world who could ever doubt his passion and love for the club, and that in my eyes can only be a positive

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  90. I have an ulterior motive as to why I want Rafa back asap. One, he has the ability to fix what is ailing the club now i.e. a good CF, RB, and CM plus backups,and two I also feel he can do something BR has shown he is unable to do; bench Stevie G. I love Stevie for all he has done to the club, and I want him to win the one last title he hasn't, the premier league. Stevie probably has another 3 more years before retirement, and to get the best of him the club should be bringing him in as an AM after 60 minutes. I want Rafa back as he gives us and Stevie the best chance to compete for the title in the next 3-4 years since he can attract star players. BR is a good manager, but his current plans for the club are not aligned to help us compete for the title any time soon. Yes with BR we could win the title down the line, but imagine how Stevie would feel watching another LFC captain lifting the trophy for a club he had given all for, more than any other player. Yes he would be proud, but also jealous to some extent. In an interview a few weeks ago, he said he would give up him arm just to get to be premier league champion (jokingly of course, but maybe not).
    So, summary of my rant (do not read above paragraph):
    1. Rafa has shown he can attract star players both at Napoli and LFC, and that is what we need.
    2. He has won many trophies, we need that too.
    3. He knows LFC well, we need a manager who does.
    and most important for me 4. He gives Stevie G the best chance to win the premier league as a player (at least better than BR).
    4.5 We can always loan BR to spurs.

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  91. Lucas is rubbish...that's a fact! Move on mate, we need a new era. With Lucas we couldn't win the premier league. Loyal player doesn't win games for us.

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  92. Agreed ..I don't want Benitez back. NEVER!!! Boring football. In fact, he can take his boring loverboy to Napoli asap.

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  93. Rafa for silverwares galore and no humiliating defeats by CFC at our own Anfield backyard!!!

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  94. Never WON ANY PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE under Rafa...

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  95. AVB won the Europa cup and Porto were undefeated in the league and is the youngest manager to win a European title, thats still impressive.

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  96. So who's your first choice Jaimie?

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  97. Really? How many academy players have come through the ranks at Bayern since Van Gaal left? And anyway, the academy at Ajax has nothing to do with them having a DoF. As Bayern did with Hoenness, Rummenige and Beckenbauer, names like Overmars, Bergkamp and Van der Sar bring in sponsors. It gives the club allure. Something the first team players cant. Who gets excited about Ricardo van Rhijn or Jasper Cillissen?

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  98. When you spend 200 million wisely, you dont need five years

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  99. With the real backing of the owners, which was severely lacking in his last time around. Then hell yeah! Bud ur nutts to get rid of Buck Rodgers!

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  100. Very true but you might need more than 2.

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  101. he was only at chelsea for about half a year to refresh his career and make himself attractive for a long term club. the plastic fans hated him and he didn't really feel like he belongs to the club.

    To be honest couldn't really care less

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  102. But he can shout about two Champions League FINALS!!!

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  103. Another incredibly narrow-minded statement. Lucas wasn't great ALL the time but he went through an extended period of being outstanding for Liverpool. To ignore that and label him 'rubbish' IS disrespectful.

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  104. Liverpool have never won any premier league titles under ANY manager, what's your point exactly???

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  105. bzw pal, rafa's scouts were miles better than BR's. Rafa identified n brought relatively unknown players like alonso, mascherano n turned them into world beaters!!! BR stand up n take notice....

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  106. One thing for sure this inept and clueless and arrogant so called manager has to go, the sooner the better. I am sick and tired of hearing his excuses of why we're not performing. He had the funds available to bring in 3 quality players that we badly needed, what did he do, it's their for everyone to see. Please get rid of this imposter ASA P.

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  107. Maybe but that is had he spent the 200 million wisely. What he had done however is peshed every single Penny of it down the drain. Sturridge latest injury takes the last bit of credibility out of that transfer as well

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