Brendan Rodgers VS Rafael Benitez Transfer Spend

You don't happen to have Rafa's squad after 3 seasons, going into his fourth, as comparison Day?

The Squad we had in the 2008/2009 season.

Goalkeeper
   1    Diego Cavalieri    [Brazil]    Brazil    01/12/1982
   30    Charles Itandje    [Cameroon]    Cameroon    02/11/1982
   40    David Martin    [England]    England    22/01/1986
   25    Pepe Reina    [Spain]    Spain    31/08/1982
Defender
   5    Daniel Agger    [Denmark]    Denmark    12/12/1984
   17    Arbeloa    [Spain]    Spain    17/01/1983
   23    Jamie Carragher    [England]    England    28/01/1978
   39    Stephen Darby    [England]    England    06/10/1988
   27    Philipp Degen    [Switzerland]    Switzerland    15/02/1983
   2    Andrea Dossena    [Italy]    Italy    11/09/1981
   12    Fábio Aurélio    [Brazil]    Brazil    24/09/1979
   4    Sami Hyypiä    [Finland]    Finland    07/10/1973
   22    Emiliano Insúa    [Argentina]    Argentina    07/01/1989
   37    Martin Škrtel    [Slovakia]    Slovakia    15/12/1984
Midfielder
   15    Yossi Benayoun    [Israel]    Israel    05/05/1980
   31    Nabil El Zhar    [Morocco]    Morocco    27/08/1986
   8    Steven Gerrard    [England]    England    30/05/1980
   21    Lucas Leiva    [Brazil]    Brazil    09/01/1987
   20    Javier Mascherano    [Argentina]    Argentina    08/06/1984
   28    Damien Plessis    [France]    France    05/03/1988
   11    Albert Riera    [Spain]    Spain    15/04/1982
   26    Jay Spearing    [England]    England    25/11/1988
   14    Xabi Alonso    [Spain]    Spain    25/11/1981
Forward
   19    Ryan Babel    [Netherlands]    Netherlands    19/12/1986
   9    Fernando Torres    [Spain]    Spain    20/03/1984
   18    Dirk Kuyt    [Netherlands]    Netherlands    22/07/1980
   24    David N'Gog    [France]    France    01/04/1989
   29    Krisztián Németh    [Hungary]    Hungary    05/01/1989
Manager
      Rafa Benítez    [Spain]    Spain    16/04/1960
Ass. Manager
      Sammy Lee    [England]    England    07/02/1959
      Mauricio Pellegrino    [Argentina]    Argentina    05/10/1971

NET SPEND: £2.5m.

Doubled to factor in inlfation

NET SPEND: £5m.

The squad who started the 2009/2010 season.

43    Dean Bouzanis    [Australia]    Australia    02/10/1990
   1    Diego Cavalieri    [Brazil]    Brazil    01/12/1982
   42    Péter Gulácsi    [Hungary]    Hungary    06/05/1990
   44    David Martin    [England]    England    22/01/1986
   25    Pepe Reina    [Spain]    Spain    31/08/1982
Defender
   5    Daniel Agger    [Denmark]    Denmark    12/12/1984
   23    Jamie Carragher    [England]    England    28/01/1978
   40    Daniel Sánchez    [Spain]    Spain    07/11/1990
   27    Philipp Degen    [Switzerland]    Switzerland    15/02/1983
   12    Fábio Aurélio    [Brazil]    Brazil    24/09/1979
   22    Emiliano Insúa    [Argentina]    Argentina    07/01/1989
   2    Glen Johnson    [England]    England    23/08/1984
   34    Martin Kelly    [England]    England    27/04/1990
   16    Sotirios Kyrgiakos    [Greece]    Greece    23/07/1979
   49    Jack Robinson    [England]    England    01/09/1993
   37    Martin Škrtel    [Slovakia]    Slovakia    15/12/1984
Midfielder
   4    Alberto Aquilani    [Italy]    Italy    07/07/1984
   15    Yossi Benayoun    [Israel]    Israel    05/05/1980
   31    Nabil El Zhar    [Morocco]    Morocco    27/08/1986
   8    Steven Gerrard    [England]    England    30/05/1980
   21    Lucas Leiva    [Brazil]    Brazil    09/01/1987
   20    Javier Mascherano    [Argentina]    Argentina    08/06/1984
   28    Damien Plessis    [France]    France    05/03/1988
   11    Albert Riera    [Spain]    Spain    15/04/1982
   17    Maxi Rodriguez    [Argentina]    Argentina    02/01/1981
   33    Jonjo Shelvey    [England]    England    27/02/1992
Forward
   19    Ryan Babel    [Netherlands]    Netherlands    19/12/1986
   47    Dani Pacheco    [Spain]    Spain    05/01/1991
   9    Fernando Torres    [Spain]    Spain    20/03/1984
   18    Dirk Kuyt    [Netherlands]    Netherlands    22/07/1980
   24    David N'Gog    [France]    France    01/04/1989
Ass. Manager
      Sammy Lee    [England]    England    07/02/1959
Goalkeeper-Coach
      John Achterberg    [Netherlands]    Netherlands    08/07/1971

NET SPEND: -£4.39m.

Doubled to factor in inflation.

NET SPEND: £0m.

The Squad we had in the 2008/2009 season.

Goalkeeper
   1    Diego Cavalieri    [Brazil]    Brazil    01/12/1982
   30    Charles Itandje    [Cameroon]    Cameroon    02/11/1982
   40    David Martin    [England]    England    22/01/1986
   25    Pepe Reina    [Spain]    Spain    31/08/1982
Defender
   5    Daniel Agger    [Denmark]    Denmark    12/12/1984
   17    Arbeloa    [Spain]    Spain    17/01/1983
   23    Jamie Carragher    [England]    England    28/01/1978
   39    Stephen Darby    [England]    England    06/10/1988
   27    Philipp Degen    [Switzerland]    Switzerland    15/02/1983
   2    Andrea Dossena    [Italy]    Italy    11/09/1981
   12    Fábio Aurélio    [Brazil]    Brazil    24/09/1979
   4    Sami Hyypiä    [Finland]    Finland    07/10/1973
   22    Emiliano Insúa    [Argentina]    Argentina    07/01/1989
   37    Martin Škrtel    [Slovakia]    Slovakia    15/12/1984
Midfielder
   15    Yossi Benayoun    [Israel]    Israel    05/05/1980
   31    Nabil El Zhar    [Morocco]    Morocco    27/08/1986
   8    Steven Gerrard    [England]    England    30/05/1980
   21    Lucas Leiva    [Brazil]    Brazil    09/01/1987
   20    Javier Mascherano    [Argentina]    Argentina    08/06/1984
   28    Damien Plessis    [France]    France    05/03/1988
   11    Albert Riera    [Spain]    Spain    15/04/1982
   26    Jay Spearing    [England]    England    25/11/1988
   14    Xabi Alonso    [Spain]    Spain    25/11/1981
Forward
   19    Ryan Babel    [Netherlands]    Netherlands    19/12/1986
   9    Fernando Torres    [Spain]    Spain    20/03/1984
   18    Dirk Kuyt    [Netherlands]    Netherlands    22/07/1980
   24    David N'Gog    [France]    France    01/04/1989
   29    Krisztián Németh    [Hungary]    Hungary    05/01/1989
Manager
      Rafa Benítez    [Spain]    Spain    16/04/1960
Ass. Manager
      Sammy Lee    [England]    England    07/02/1959
      Mauricio Pellegrino    [Argentina]    Argentina    05/10/1971

It's not even funny to compare that to what we have now.

It's not even funny to compare that to what we have now.

Updated with the 2009-2010 squad and net spends, factoring in inflation Rafa had a net spend of £5m during his last two seasons at the club, without inflation he had a minus £1.89m net spend.

It's not even funny to compare that to what we have now.

Luke when its all spread out in black and white like this it looks even worse , if im honest I'm struggling to see how Rodgers tenure is justified its scary mate .

Luke when its all spread out in black and white like this it looks even worse , if im honest I'm struggling to see how Rodgers tenure is justified its scary mate .

Couldn't agree more Andy.

It's not even funny to compare that to what we have now.

Rafa's best squad was a sight to behold mate. I always think back to that photo that was posted on here of the 11 lining up before the Madrid game, at least I think it was that game, and they truly looked like world beaters.

From what we can see by Benitez's tenure, the wheels started to fall off when the purse strings were tightened, a NET SPEND:  of minus £4.39m.  net spend following the season you finished 2nd and losing arguably your best midfielder (Alonso) and your best right back (Arbeloa) was criminal.

Some blame can be apportioned to Rafa for transfer of the much Maligned Aquilani and to some degree Glen Johnson, but I believe at the time we were pretty much forced to deal with Portsmouth at the time for Johnson as they still owed us Money from the Crouch deal and were in financial difficulties.

This is a non starter, as the cost of players has dramatically changed since rafas days.
TV money is crazy now. I mean ffs. £49m for sterling etc.

We all know what happened to rafa he started fighting with the cowboys, as they were screwing us, and he could see that. But he made mistakes in the transfer market as well, as do all managers, christ some of the duds souness and evans brought in, then GH at the end of his tenure when the job made him Ill.

This is a non starter, as the cost of players has dramatically changed since rafas days.

We've doubled Rafa's spend to factor in inflation and to give fairer comparisons.

Forgive me but I don't understand why inflation should make such a huge difference? After all, the players Rafa sold came under the same market conditions to the ones that he bought, therefore net spend should not be greatly affected even when comparing two different periods of time. As an example, Alonso was bought for 10m in 2004 when he was 22 and sold for 30m in 2009. If the same thing happened under Rodgers' tenure, we would've paid around 25-30m in 2012 for a similar player (see Real Madrid paying 28m for a 22-year-old Asier Illaremendi two years ago), and probably got close to 45-50m providing this player became as good as Alonso was if we sold him in a couple of years. The difference in net spend though is zero - both a gain of around £20m.

Of course there are anomalies that can skew the data and players that were "inherited" which both managers can benefit from. Ultimately though, the players Rafa bought were a whole lot cheaper than now, but at the same time the ones he sold were a lot cheaper than the transfer fees we could've got now. That is why after just three years Rodgers has already bought AND sold far more in proportion to what Rafa did in six.

LFCAcrossTheWater is strangely silent in this debate (I see he is viewing the topic but not weighing in).

Lets face it if you were an owner with big money to spend Rafa would be a far better choice to give it to - nearly all rhe "big" money soent by him gave us a fantastic return.

Purely for the things he has won Mouringo can arguably be put forward as one of the best managers of all time - good chance he will win the Champions League three tines with three different teams but Rafa is in the same stratosphere whoch is why he is the current manager or Real And had managed two of Mouinhos previous teams in Chelsea and Inter.


If Rodgers fails here it is a long, long road for him toget to the levels that Rafa will achieve in his career - which other club woould back him with money at the moment?

Either Brendan turns it around this season or he will have to do an ibcredible job at a mid-table club before he gets the chance at another big club.

Comparing the two managers at the moment is comparing a ferrari to a fiat.

Rodgers had a lot of talent and can still pull things round but at the end of the day this is a results driven business - in managerial performance so far this season he is behind the likes of Gary Monk, Alan Pardew and Slaven Bilic. Admittedly so is Mourinho.

The situation of our club is also different. We were a consistent force in the Champions League, and a Champions League winner under Rafa. We were more appealing for players than we are now I imagine.

The situation of our club is also different. We were a consistent force in the Champions League, and a Champions League winner under Rafa. We were more appealing for players than we are now I imagine.

two Champions league Finals and another semi final WTF that is so far removed from who we are now its F***ing embarrasing.
He also new the media only wanted to hurt him so like Kenny he kept them at arms length and said what had to be said then left he did not F***ing hold court.
wish you hadn't started this thread it just reminds me how far we have fallen since he left he breathed new life into this club the glorious new songs were only matched by the victories.
Just to mention Brendan and Rafa in the same sentence is frankly disrespectful to Rafa (I know its not meant that way) We have become a shadow of our former selves in every possible way. When We took the Dollar from Hicks and Gillette we actually sold the Soul of this club and we have never been the same since.

I don't think it is easy to compare the two.

Rafa used to drive me insane at the end, and I was not surprised to see him go.
His rigid 62nd minute substitution policy was nuts. But he loved the club, and the people. He had a belief and he stuck to it. His personality showed.

Now saying that Rodgers, well I just have very little emotion towards the man, all these buys just seem to enable to keep our heads above water, buying players and then putting them out on loan, falling out with them, not playing them in their correct positions, seriously? I know Rafa did have a few issues with Alonso and the Barry situation, but as far as I can remember he never dropped him.

So the reason I think you can't compare the two, well it's the owners, H&G were quite influential with their promises, or lack of following up of them, the loan required for Torres, the lack of confidence. Rodgers has had owners who have backed him without him giving the club any silverware, just imagine if their tenures were reversed, all those players we have been in for during Rodgers time here, but went to other clubs, would they have turned us down if we had the Rafa of old? No, I don't think they would. Could have Rodgers have signed the players Rafa managed too? I doubt it.

I don't think you can judge the spending of the 2 managers, trophies won, yes, spending no. Quality of players yes too. I can't see inflation being an issue, as it's been around 1-3% for a while, but player greed has increased tremendously.

The Steven Gerrard factor is missing in this. I think we sometimes forgot just how f**king good he was in his prime and before injuries at 30 hampered him. One of the best players in the world, bar none. God, what a player.

Rafa used to drive me insane at the end, and I was not surprised to see him go.
His rigid 62nd minute substitution policy was nuts. But he loved the club, and the people. He had a belief and he stuck to it. His personality showed.

Reason for this was that Rafa has always been driven by the best scientific data.

His game relied on effective pressing and therefore he would measure physical output vs blood lactate levels in training which showed the maximum efficiency at 60 minutes. In other words, the players had to give 100% effort then started to burn out at the 60 minute mark at which point they were replaced under the allowable rules so that our team would generally always be producing the maximum effort for the maximum amount of time on the pitch (allowing for rotation). They are all cogs in a machine.

Brendan's philosophy is to trust the players more if they have produced the goods - if he had changed the team around and lost 0-3 to West Ham people would be up in arms about it (whereas Rafa didn't give a f**k and trusted in the process).

wish you hadn't started this thread it just reminds me how far we have fallen since he left he breathed new life into this club the glorious new songs were only matched by the victories.

Credit to RLFCBlood for starting the thread not Bier

LFCAcrossTheWater is strangely silent in this debate.

I'm still trying to work out what the point of it is? Given pretty much everything about them is different.

Rafa had 6 years to win a league championship armed with a who's who of the world's best footballers to do it against fewer, weaker competitors, and persistently, repeatedly failed at it.

Rodgers got three years to make the top 4, and did so after two years. In that regard, he has ALREADY succeeded at the task he was given, and duly has a new contract to show for it. His task is exactly the same now as when he showed up. Atm, we're one point off with 34 games remaining to reel it in. I don't see any reason for the yankers to panic just yet.

In terms of transfer dealings, both have bought some terrible players, but Rafa also bought some undoubtedly world-class players so I'd say he is the better manager in this regard.

In a broader picture, Rafa was a better tactician, had empathy with the fans and city, and was ultimately replaced as manager because he wasn't happy with the owners undermining the club.

If we were back in the CL tomorrow, I know who I'd want picking the team, formation, and even giving the pre and post match interviews.

However, Brendan is our man, and I hope for his and our sakes that he will do what is seemingly impossible to me now. Win back the trust of the fans, reimpose a genuine footballing vision to the club and get us back challenging where we should be.

Rafa's best squad was a sight to behold mate. I always think back to that photo that was posted on here of the 11 lining up before the Madrid game, at least I think it was that game, and they truly looked like world beaters.

This?

This?

The very one Ayrton.

This?

That team lining up used to send shivers down my spine, especially when Anfield was rocking. What a difference in quality.

That team lining up used to send shivers down my spine, especially when Anfield was rocking. What a difference in quality.

The look on those faces shows they mean business.

I'm actually getting goosebumps thinking about that night.

Forget net spend, I would prefer to judge a manager by his transfer successes and failures.
Unfortunately Brendan has had to work with the shackles of a committee, whereas Rafa didn't, although Rafa was screwed by the cowboys towards the end, so he had his own problems.

Rafa proved himself to be a winner, I sincerely hope Brendan does the same.