Liverpool spoke to Roberto Mancini about replacing Rafa Benitez: Gary Cook

Liverpool spoke to Roberto Mancini about replacing Rafa Benitez, claims Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook

Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook claimed the approach to Roberto Mancini weeks before they sacked Mark Hughes wasn't unusual, and said Liverpool had also 'sounded out' the Italian about succeeding Rafa Benitez.
Cook came under fire this week after it was revealed that club owner Sheik Mansour had first met Mancini in early December to discuss the Italian's availability should the manager's job at Eastlands become vacant.
Despite claiming they had not decided to part company with Hughes at that point, Cook insists the club were simply following the normal process used by Premier League clubs.

He even went one step further by suggesting that Liverpool, whose co-owner Tom Hicks talked to former Germany boss Jürgen Klinsmann in November 2007 about taking over at Anfield, also met former Inter Milan coach Mancini in the past.
'It is naive to think that clubs are not looking at their options,' said Cook. 'Of course they are. Do we think that Liverpool just talked to Klinsmann? I am sure they also spoke to others, and I have no doubt Roberto Mancini was one of them. Of course he would have been.
'The fact that Mancini met the owner on December 7 in London is not the same as saying we had made up our minds then to sack Mark Hughes. We decided to sack the manager after the Spurs defeat.
'The fact that conversations took place prior to that is what lots of people do in football, and is part of what we do. But there is nothing misleading about what we told the public, the fans and the media in our press conference.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1238141/Liverpool-spoke-Roberto-Mancini-replacing-Rafa-Benitez-claims-Manchester-City-chief-executive-Garry-Cook.html
What is he trying to do?
Does he think it will cause unrest at the club? 

With our pair of clown owners, it wouldnt surprise me in the slightest.

Sounds like it.

Who's arsed? As long as it wasn't last week then I'm not. It's old
news if he's referring to the Klinsman shambles.

If it's when the cu*ts talked to Klinsmann then whatever.

What worries me most is they chose Klinsmann over Mancini!

If it's when the cu*ts talked to Klinsmann then whatever.

What worries me most is they chose Klinsmann over Mancini!

Didn't think of that. Idiots.

This w**ker is just spouting sh*t to deflect the attention he is receiving with regards to his shambolic treatment of Mark Hughes. Cook, you're a useless c**t, just accept it like a man and face up. 

What a sh*t article.

He doesn't even know for sure that the owners spoke to Mancini, just says:

Do we think that Liverpool just talked to Klinsmann? I am sure they also spoke to others, and I have no doubt Roberto Mancini was one of them. Of course he would have been.

Which basically means he assumes everything he says, without any proof. And anyway, does anyone actually give a F**k? If they spoke to one possible replacement for Rafa years ago or several, changes nothing.

And why the F**k do all these tossers always have to bring up Liverpool when we have nothing whatsoever to do with their situation? Piss off back to your own bollocks of a club, Cook, and F***ing do one whilst you're at it.

Funny how all the press say we're finished, yet any time anyone speaks to them about something, they can't help but talk about us. Jealous tw*ts, just because they don't have any history.

The dickhead has just caught himself in a media sh*t-storm where he has stuck his foot in it more than once already, and is being a coward and trying to deflect some attention back to someone he knows is a media sh*t draw as well. F***ing low blow to try and drag us in i reckon, F**k him. Anyone on the man shitty board can go jump as far as im concerned, bunch of ruthless & clueless sh*t for brain cu*ts.

Worst bit of knee jerking journalism I've read in the past week.

You know what they say "no news is good news" and this is definitely no news.

You know what they say "no news is good news" and this is definitely no news.

True that, just another blatant attempt by the media and man shitty to try and undermine our club. Tired of this kind of sh*t.

They must be getting desperate..

Even if it happened, it was 2 years ago.

Let the matter rest Cook, you're sounding as if you're smug because you've got the best man in business.

Let the matter rest Cook, you're sounding as if you're smug because you've got the best man in business.

Do you really think Mancini is the best manager in the world?

Do you really think Mancini is the best manager in the world?

No I'm talking in Cook's perspective. As in he's talking as though he thinks he's got the best manager - but in his own opinion.

The tw*t is just trying to unsettle us.

I F***ing hate Manchester so much.

Looks like Cook has achieved his objective, he got you lot going and if you read his statement he does not say Liverpool talked to Mancini, can't you see that he his trying to convince people that Mancini was a good choice, given the fact that he appeared to be the only out of work 'foreign' high profile manager available and hey lads, is it not possible to post without being interspersed without so many ******* being employed and use your spell check.

Is Mancini Aquilani's Dad?

Would anyone be that suprised with our current owners, they are F***ing scumbags and only admitted to Klinsman when they were caught out.

No I'm talking in Cook's perspective. As in he's talking as though he thinks he's got the best manager - but in his own opinion.

That's a relief!

"Deflector shields up" Stupid manc c**t trying to take the pressure off city with a remark like that. Even if its true what the fook business is it of his or anyone at city. C**ts to a man in that clubs board

Complete clown. Trying to deflect attention from his own sh*t clubs treatment of Hughes.

Don't care what some no mark tosser has to say about us.

It just reminds me of when Chelsea came into money, having a few bob doesn't give them the right to come out with this crap , all the money in the world can't buy CLASS .So f**k off and keep your nose out of LFC and our buisness.

Lmao, he's assuming Liverpool spoke to Mancini, no facts or evidence to back up what he only assumes, Can not believe the Journalist had the balls to print that to be honest, not only has he made Cook look an Idiot but also himself & his Editor.

Its like me saying well I don't think Man City spoke only to Mancini, they also spoke to Hiddink, Benitez, Wenger and Mourhino, how ever Mancini was 5th choice, It basically amounts to a fictitious comment.

Funny how all the press say we're finished, yet any time anyone speaks to them about something, they can't help but talk about us.
Jealous tw*ts, just because they don't have any history.

No one ever kicked a dead dog.

We get under their skin thats why. Ferguson has been f .....ing obsessed by us for years.

He dreams about us. Usually nightmares.  The media have f...k all else to do.

City deflecting the flack no doubt

Liverpool upset by Garry Cook’s claim of Roberto Mancini approach

Garry Cook, the chief executive of Manchester City, has sparked fury at Anfield by claiming that Liverpool approached Roberto Mancini with a view to the Italian replacing Rafael Benítez as manager.

Cook’s latest controversial comments have landed him in hot water with the Liverpool hierarchy, who have refused to comment. Privately, they have not been impressed by Cook’s outburst and are likely to regard it as a smokescreen after the sacking of Mark Hughes and subsequent appointment of Mancini as City manager.

The City chief executive was criticised after he claimed that Mancini had not been offered the job until last Thursday but it had emerged that the decision to replace Hughes had been taken three weeks ago.

In an attempt to explain his actions, Cook shifted the attention on to Liverpool, using their approach to Jürgen Klinsmann as a potential replacement for Benítez two years ago as evidence that clubs often have managerial successors lined up before the incumbent has been dismissed. “It is naive to think that clubs are not looking at their options,” Cook said. “Of course they are. Do we think that Liverpool just talked to Klinsmann? I am sure they also spoke to others, and I have no doubt that Roberto Mancini was one of them. Of course he would have been.”

Shortly after talks were held with Klinsmann, in November 2007, Tom Hicks, the Liverpool co-owner, confessed that an approach had been made to the German but said it was only as a contingency in case Benítez left the club to join Real Madrid.

At the time, Liverpool were not linked with any other manager nor was there any evidence that they had launched a recruitment offensive, with agents employed to sound out potential successors to the Spaniard.

Benítez will also see Cook’s comments as an unnecessary distraction as he attempts to reinvigorate Liverpool’s flagging fortunes. However, one issue that he believes will right itself is the form of Steven Gerrard, which Benítez insists will improve as his captain’s fitness levels increase, enabling him to play and train more regularly.

“He knows that he needs to improve but that in itself is very positive for me because it shows that he realises he is an important player for us,” Benítez said.

“He was doing much better, we were analysing his data and this was very clear. In the last game [against Portsmouth] he wasn’t at the same level, but this can sometimes happen and he knows that he is improving physically and this is the main thing for his confidence.

“We have a lot of conversations, not just with Stevie, but with a lot of players. They want to improve and sometimes that can be a problem because they can try to too hard and that makes it more difficult.

“If you analyse our team, people always talk about Gerrard and [Fernando] Torres. They are very important for us and they would be for any team. They have to be good because this means the rest of the team will be better and if they don’t play at the level they can, it can affect the team.

“Steven is a very good player and because the fans have seen him play very well they expect him to play at the same level, but it’s not easy when you’re not training with the team. If he has no [injury] problems, I am sure he will be better.”


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article6967062.ece?

Well

This really isn't worth a comment it's re hashed sh*t rag gossip.

However, one issue that he believes will right itself is the form of Steven Gerrard, which Benítez insists will improve as his captain’s fitness levels increase, enabling him to play and train more regularly.

“Steven is a very good player and because the fans have seen him play very well they expect him to play at the same level, but it’s not easy when you’re not training with the team. If he has no [injury] problems, I am sure he will be better.”


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article6967062.ece?
[/news]

Well

Just had to pick up on that and sorry for straying off topic, but just like I said to all these Idiots calling for Rafa's head over Selections, selections can be pretty much dictated to Rafa through the medical team as they are qualified to make judgments on players injuries/fitness levels, Gerrard is the only one mentioned but I'm 100% certain others will be in a similar situation as Stevie, I.E Yossi for example who has played some part in every match for us so far this season but was/is carrying an injury that led to Horse Placenta treatment.

As for cook give him a "Scouse Kiss"  Rafa.

Totally mixed up this. By his recent carrying on it seems that cook is more suited to working with the likes of Gillete and Hicks, and we should have the wealthy arabs at anfield. They wouldn't have had to worry about changing their manager then as with sensible transferr funds, we would be cruising.

Who the F**k is Gary Cook ?

Why would anyone want to listen to this jumped up little tw*t.  He's acting like his rich daddy has just let him loose with his credit card, and he wants to show off a bit....smug little c**t. 

And I bet he used to get the sh*t beat outta him at school as well.

You'll get yours Cook ya knob. 

f***in 'ell, Manchester is just a magnet for dickheads!

absolute b'ollocks

Gary Cook is just the voice for the Arabs and nothing else the Arabs are shrewd businessmen and have people around them that know how to deflect the flack they are receiving. With us being sh*t at the moment we are easy targets...

What a sh*t article.

He doesn't even know for sure that the owners spoke to Mancini, just says:

Which basically means he assumes everything he says, without any proof. And anyway, does anyone actually give a f**k? If they spoke to one possible replacement for Rafa years ago or several, changes nothing.

And why the f**k do all these tossers always have to bring up Liverpool when we have nothing whatsoever to do with their situation? Piss off back to your own bollocks of a club, Cook, and f**king do one whilst you're at it.

Funny how all the press say we're finished, yet any time anyone speaks to them about something, they can't help but talk about us. Jealous tw*ts, just because they don't have any history.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

F*ck right off.

Mancini has denied the comments by Cook.

Mancini refutes Reds approach

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has denied speculation that he was contacted by Liverpool to potentially succeed Rafa Benitez.

City chief executive Garry Cook claimed that the Merseyside club would have spoken to Mancini if they had parted company with under-fire Benitez.

But Mancini - appointed in controversial circumstances following the sacking of Mark Hughes on Saturday - has rubbished suggestions that he had spoken to Reds' owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

When asked by Sky Sports News whether he had spoken to Liverpool, Mancini said: "No, never. Liverpool have a good manager. Rafa (Benitez) is a good manager. Absolutely not."

SS Link.

Reckon we should look into taking action against what Cook says because with Mancini himself saying it never happened it is clear he was just trying to cause trouble.

P**ck!

Well theres my estimations of Mancini gone up, least he's got the balls to go against the man who employed him.

i just want to knock this cook's bloody block off..