But Rafa has changed quite alot from the mess Houllier left behind. Not just the 1st team but also made effective changes to the youth system. We now have many young spanish/argentine kids, Pacheco, Leto, Insua to name a few.
Yes but from the early 2000's how further on are we? It's something I've always argued. From the highest point of Houllier's reign we've not massively improved in my opinion. It looks like miracle work because of our embarrassing side of 2003/04 but in my opinion Benitez has taken us back to where we were in 2001/02 probably with added success in the Champions League which Houllier never acheived, although had the heart attack not happened I fully believe he would of.
As for the youngsters, I think we had some decent talent under Houllier as well, not quite to this standard mind you, but I always thought Pongolle was a good player along with the likes of Darren Potter, John Welsh, Paul Harrison, David Raven, Jon Ostemboar who I think could of been a good player for the club if they wasn't shifted out after only a handful of games. I think Houllier was under the impression that if you wasn't Pele on your debut you wasn't good enough and it's meant that no youngster has really been able to establish himself for some time. The current crop of youngsters are very talented and hopefully some can follow in Insua's footsteps and make the step up on a regular basis soon.
Rafa came here with a 5 year plan. 1st year he worked on the goalkeeping, 2nd on the defence, 3rd on the midfield, 4th on up front and he tipped in the 5th year we will be ready. Looking how the season is going we are doing better than we thought in July 08 we would do. We are top of the league between the Big four. We have dramatically improved on that front.
We're not doing better than I expected mate. I always expect Liverpool to win the league because in my opinion we should be the best team in the world every year. I know that can't happen but it's still what I expect. And I don't care if we're top of the big four table if we're not top of the big twenty. Being top of the league is more important than being top of the big four table.
Plus he did come with a five year plan and that five year plan shouldn't have to go on to six (or more) years. I know it's difficult with other factors that go on in a world of football but we were well on corse to achieve the league in that five year plan at the end of 05/06 when we were as good as I've ever saw us under Benitez. Since then I think we've stood still, certainly in the last two full seasons, this one seems to be moving forward however. Maybe this is the year.
New contract is needed, even though it is not guaranteed we will win the title because, the players dont know what is going on wth his contract, therefore it is effecting the lads. It really shouldnt but it does because players do think "if gaffer goes, then i am off too".... You may not agree but the players like Torres, Alonso, Riena, Riera, Masch, Lucas, Kuqt, Aurolio, Arbeloa..... do i need to carry on but these boys came here because of Rafa... Is Rafa goes, i can put my mortage on this that all these players would leave too.
I don't agree at all mate. If players are here for Rafa Benitez then I don't care if we lose them or not. They should be flattered that Liverpool Football Club even wanted them. I don't for one minute think Benitez being at the club hasn't helped influence them but I still don't expect there to be a mass exodus just because Benitez leaves. If there is, then they're not the type of player I want at this club anyway. I want people playing for the club, fans and shirt not just the manager.
Can we really be patience with another 5 year project with another manager?
Well with the set of players we have, I don't think it'd take a manager five years to win the league with them. That of course providng they want to play for Liverpool and not Rafa Benitez. In the same breath, I don't think with these players it'll take Benitez five years to win the league. So either way, with this group of players the league should be on it's way within five years. New manager or not.
Maybe I've just convinced meself that Benitez should be here for those five years then because it's his team and he deserves to lead them to the glory. In fact I think I have
Rafa is a proven manager but having poor control over the football matter hasnt helped him too.
He also has a track record of problems with owners. I'm not saying the yanks haven't caused grief for the manager but he does have a track record of upsetting people, so I'd say he's hardly blameless. And at the end of the day, it's Benitez who picks the XI lads to go out on the field and implenment his tactics. He still has control over the football side of things, unless Parry is telling him to pick which I highly doubt. As far as I know the only questionable transfer as to whether it was Benitez' or not was Robbie Keane. And lets be honest how many of us (other than Mags) wasn't happy with that signing at the time?
I can understand your point mate.
But Rafa has changed quite alot from the mess Houllier left behind. Not just the 1st team but also made effective changes to the youth system. We now have many young spanish/argentine kids, Pacheco, Leto, Insua to name a few.
Rafa came here with a 5 year plan. 1st year he worked on the goalkeeping, 2nd on the defence, 3rd on the midfield, 4th on up front and he tipped in the 5th year we will be ready. Looking how the season is going we are doing better than we thought in July 08 we would do. We are top of the league between the Big four. We have dramatically improved on that front.
New contract is needed, even though it is not guaranteed we will win the title because, the players dont know what is going on wth his contract, therefore it is effecting the lads. It really shouldnt but it does because players do think "if gaffer goes, then i am off too".... You may not agree but the players like Torres, Alonso, Riena, Riera, Masch, Lucas, Kuqt, Aurolio, Arbeloa..... do i need to carry on but these boys came here because of Rafa... Is Rafa goes, i can put my mortage on this that all these players would leave too.
Can we really be patience with another 5 year project with another manager?
Rafa is a proven manager but having poor control over the football matter hasnt helped him too.
Although I've picked it bit by bit, overall it's a good post mate.
