So if Rafa did leave...?

Now let me get my story straight first, I'm not calling for Rafa's head and never have. He's come to the club at a time when the football world is changing and it's harder to compete at the top unless you have the best resources, which Rafa has never had at Liverpool. Considering what he's had available to him he's done a remarkable job. If Ferguson got 7 years to win his first league title in a time when he inherited a lot of quality players, why can't Rafa? But regardless this isn't a topic about Rafa (those are getting kind of samey now aren't they  ), this is about who you'd like to see in the hotseat if Rafa was to leave or was forced out.

Personally I wouldn't mind Guus Hiddink, he showed in his time at Chelsea he's got what it takes to manage in the Premiership, and I admire his achievements with the national teams he's managed. He's done a great job at Russia, turning them into a formidable team to play, and to get South Korea to the semi's is a remarkable achievement.

Another I'd consider is Roberto Martinez. A bit of a gamble admittedly, but I think he's going to be a successful manager, even if it won't be at Wigan. I also respect his attitude and the way he conducts himself, no complaining or mouthing off about referee's and how many pies they're consuming.

So what are your thoughts? If Rafa (god forbid) did leave, who would be your number 1 replacement?

Personally I wouldn't mind Guus Hiddink, he showed in his time at Chelsea he's got what it takes to manage in the Premiership, and I admire his achievements with the national teams he's managed. He's done a great job at Russia, turning them into a formidable team to play, and to get South Korea to the semi's is a remarkable achievement.

Another I'd consider is Roberto Martinez. A bit of a gamble admittedly, but I think he's going to be a successful manager, even if it won't be at Wigan. I also respect his attitude and the way he conducts himself, no complaining or mouthing off about referee's and how many pies they're consuming.

So what are your thoughts? If Rafa (god forbid) did leave, who would be your number 1 replacement?

Hiddink wouldn't join us simple as, he could of taken on the Chelsea job and all the riches that entails, I think I even read he's considering retirement when he finally leaves the Russia job.

As for who I'd go for, with the current financial situation I haven't got a clue, but it won't be a big name manager that's for sure.

Suppose we could always ask Houllier back, he's looking a lot fresher these days!

This is fast becoming a 1 issue forum its getting quite boring.

Somebody who knows and loves the club.

Dalglish or Aldridge for me

Liverpool wouldn't be able to afford another big name manager.

In any case I'm not sure who would come.  With a limited budget coupled with the enormous off field problems - any top manager would only end up staining their copybook by joining Liverpool.

I imagine the board would make some ridiculous appointment to try and appease Liverpool fans only to see it horrendously backfire.  They'd probably appoint Ronnie Whelan or John Barnes or someone else completely unsuited to the job.

No one because the only way Rafa will go, is if Rafa walks (which he wont he knows what he has at his disposal with a fully fit squad)...he wont be sacked  

Rafa is my man for the job.

However if sh*te happens then probably we have to look, dig deep and search for the best possible replacement because there aren't many managers out there who possess the same calibre as Rafa.

For me my first choice would be Guus Hiddink, like you said. He has a magical touch and often gets his tactics spot on. His achievements for South Korea were remarkable and even though he's in international management now, I do think that he's very well qualified for the job to handle things at the highest level.

Frank Rijkaard would be a top choice as well. One of the top bosses and I thought he was very good when he was at Barca, and till now I don't really understand why was he sacked. Frank knows how to build a team into a cohensive and compact unit, with emphasis on flair and an attacking philosophy. With our players, we can definitely implement a possesion kind of football which Rafa has been trying to implement for so long. He also possesses some know-how behind the scenes with the Barca's pass-and-move, and their academy as well. Which could mean he could implement systems that make our Academy a success and bring out a greater crop of youth products into the first team.

Seeing that Roberto Mancini is jobless, then I might also go in for him. He was one of the best coaches and won Serie As with Inter, so he has the calibre to manage at the highest level. What he severely lacks is tactical nous in Europe though, and the EPL is a completely different ball game from the Serie A so even he might not adapt.

If push did come to shove and Rafa moved on, then I hope that Kenny Dalglish has some input into it, because lets face it, the  yanks aren't going to have a clue.

But Rijkaard would be interesting. It would need to be high profile, but I'm not sure the job would interest that calibre of manager simply because of the finances and who could blame them.

Martin O'Neill for me, only if Rafa did leave though.

Martin O'Neill for me, only if Rafa did leave though.

You're joking right?  Martin O'Neill - the Manc who hates Liverpool?

I'd proberly put my money on Jose Mourinho even though I do find him highly annoying sometimes

Could also see King Kenney as a big contender for the job

Martin O'Neill for me, only if Rafa did leave though.

Is this one of the Rafa bashers best suggestions you honestly think MON is a better manager than Rafa.

Somebody who knows and loves the club.

Dalglish or Aldridge for me

I'd go along with that, especially as a double act.

But i wouldn't want Rafa to go. I love the man with a passion and i know he feels the same about the club and us fans. I wouldn't blame him if he did walk as he has being treated like dirt since the yanks took over. Plus i would say it must be embarrassing for him to play such a poor starting XI against Fulham. We all know its not his fault as he hasn't got the resources to fill the gaps left by injuries to key players.

I'd Say the man is hurting by whats going on at the moment. He has a passion for this club and wants nothing but success for us. The club has become his second family. I read his book not so long ago and this man is 100% passionate about LFC.

F**k all the cu*ts out there asking for Rafa to go, He's a world class manager who needs financial backing so he can bring us the success i believe he will bring to us.

Lock it.

Roberto Mancini settles Inter severance as Italian's availability increases heat on under-fire Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez

By Sportsmail Reporter 2nd November 2009

Roberto Mancini has made himself available to replace beleaguered Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.

The Italian has been linked to dozens of vacancies since being given the shove by Inter Milan in May 2008.

But Mancini had refused to settle his £5.5million a year contract with the Italians - until now.

The 44-year-old has been linked with Benitez's job at Anfield, as well as Real Madrid, where Chilean Manuel Pellegrini is under huge pressure despite leading the club to within a point of the top of La Liga.

And Mancini has chosen now to put himself on the job market.

The former Leicester City player had been receiving full pay for doing nothing thanks to an Inter contract that ran till 2012. But he has accepted a pay-off of between £7m and £10m to tear it up.

Reports in Italy put Mancini as a frontrunner for the Madrid job, but sources in Spain say this is wide of the mark.

Benitez, who watched his Liverpool side lose 3-1 at Fulham at the weekend, has emerged in polls as the fans' favourite, but Madrid president Florentino Perez insists Pellegrini will be given time.

'There have appeared the names of great coaches in the papers, but we are happy with Pellegrini and we are sure that he will finish the season positively,' said Perez, who in his previous reign as president of Madrid employed six different coaches in a chaotic three-year period.

Real Madrid respect the press and everything that they say, but it is the club who decide and we are happy how we are.

'There needs to be patience. Real Madrid will have a wonderful season.'

Madrid are second in the Spanish League after beating Getafe 2-0 on Saturday, while leaders Barcelona only drew 1-1 at Osasuna.

But Pellegrini would be back under intense pressure again if his side lose at AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1224663/Roberto-Mancini-frame-replace-Rafa-Benitez-Liverpool-lose-again.html

Interesting.

I'm pretty sure I saw before somewhere Steve Bruce and I pissed myself.

I am fairly sure Rafa will be out if we fail to get a result on wendsday night.This would be one of the worst things that has ever happened to Liverpool,When we look back in years to come we will include Rafa in the same bracket as Paisley and Shankley.He has always done what is right for the team,He has stood up to to the Yanks,and kept quiet when they went behind his back to try and bring in Klinsmann,he is a modern day Shankley.

When he came in 2005 his tactical genius resulted in us winning the european cup for the first time in 20 years with what was an average team we had the likes of Traore playing FFS.The season after we improved our league position and win the F.A cup in stunning fashion,and last season we came so close to winning the league.So everey year we have improved and now we have been forced to sell Alonso and we couldnt even use all that money,and now we are going to have to sell Babel to tie up Reina !

I read today Ronnie Whelan saying that Rafa has lost the plot and he only took of Torres and Yossi so he could win the european cup so he could advertise himself for a job in a top club in Europe,Even our former players are having a pop. .

In my opinion Rafa will be gone one way or the other if we fail to win on Wendsday.One man can only take so much sh*t and at the moment he's getting it from all angles,fans, ex players,media,board,and Real Madrid have already made him their prime target so he might just decide to move home !

And if the unthinkable happens there is only one man to succed him and thats the king,Kenny Dagleish there is no point in suggesting Mourinho,who is a great manager when he has 100 million to spend.Shankley would no doubt be an adequate replacement

But what i cant understand is how our fans can question his decisions.I have no doubt that Rafa was instructed to save our players for Wendsday the board have made it clear to him that we have to get the CL money or face a situation like Leeds ! Rafa bashers are fickle people

My number one choice would be me. Id appoint Rafa as my number 2 and we will win the league in the 2010-2011 season

All speculation aside. If Rafa was to go, the only people we could blame for his downfall would be them two lying c*nts. No support. No stability. No money. 

And another manager would come in and have to deal with exactly the same situation. The only way we are going to assure ourselves of a better future is to have rid of our two lovely wastes of space, Tom and George.

If Rafa did leave ... Jose Mourinho

I think he's capable of taking the club forward and what a laugh that would be.

Man who would come in would be Klinsman wouldnt it.

The yanks are dying to s*uck him off.

And IMO that would be a step backwards rather than a step forwards - would almost be a negative move.

Rafa is still and always will be, the right man for the job

There's no other man than Rafa Benitez for me. Do you even think that Torres would come here if it was not for Rafa. Dream on mate! Has he had the luxury of siging the very best? Nope, he bought most of the unknown and turned them into what they are. Alonso, Sissoko, Garcia, Arbeloa, Riera, Skrtel and Agger are some of his unknown but now being chased or sold to the big clubs.

Yeah, we're in s**te form right now, the same as when we're down 3-0 in Istanbul. I nearly gave up and wanted to switch off the tv but I said to myself that somehow we will turn this around. And we did! 45 minutes was what it took to turn things around so why not 6 months? Just give him the space.

If he really decided to leave (which I doubt), then it'll be a sad day for us! No top managers will want to manage us due to our d**khead owners and their skint budget. The only person I could think of is Claudio Ranieri. I don't know why but I think he got what it takes...but let's hope Rafa stays!

I think if Rafa did leave the new manager would be Dalglish as he is already working at the club and the owners wouldn't have to pay him as much as they would if they brought in a big name manager from somewhere else.