Liverpool reveal Klinsmann talks

Any mass support rally for Rafa is definitely worth doing Venom-C, the impact even if we here nothing from it is a positive in the fans favor, and lets some fans voices be heard while putting pressure on board.

No disrespect for americans online but Ive always been very cynical about G&H simply because they do not know enough about football (as they've stated in the interview on lfc.tv) to be aloud to open there gobs, they should keep them shut and let the professional do his job.

Though i do believe nothing will come of this as they stated they are behind Rafa now and both party's seem happy now.

Another reason why and another lesson they could learn from Rafa in doing so is not to listen to the papers! that in itself proves they shouldn't have the authority to open they're gobs, they do not know enough about football.

Good quote from the opposing manager for this evening. Makes some good points...

Luton boss Blackwell: Liverpool's Hicks a disgrace

Luton boss Kevin Blackwell has slammed Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks ahead of their FA Cup replay.
 
Hicks admitted yesterday he had talked with Jürgen Klinsmann about taking over from Rafa Benitez.

And outgoing Hatters chief Blackwell said: "Football is losing all credibility. It's a disgrace that Tom Hicks has the cheek to go behind Rafa's back and speak to someone about his job.

"Rafa's a dead man walking.

"As managers, we accept we'll lose our job at some stage but there is a way of doing it.

"If the morals of an alley cat persist in the boardroom, then you can't expect players to show leadership on and off the pitch. The board of directors are normally pillars of the community and should set good standards."

Well said Sir, couldn' have put it better myself...

What a great chap for coming out and saying that. Now lets give 'em a spankin!

I heard that Rafa is taking legal action against Tom Hicks. If Rafa wins ( i bloody hope so) this could mean the end of Tom Hicks.

Once again, Blackwell is a champion for saying what everyone here is thinking. Lets hope he goes one further and give's Hicks the bird tonight.

If all we were winning games...maybe we wouldn't be in all this mess.
The players also need to take responsibility for screwing Rafa's credibility...

Gees...hope we'll cruise over LUTON ...

Insurance policy my @r** its getting more and more like the Martin Jol situation everyday Rafas a dead man walking we need to start winning games and get things back on track on and off the field ASAP unless we will be in the Uefa cup next season and not the champions league.

We were 3 points off Man Utd in November, when Mr Pricks sorry Hicks went talkabout with Jürgen.

Now tell me Rafa and his team have not been affected... of course they have... wouldn't you if you were living a long way from home (players, family, staff, coach)... and you thought your job was about to go cazooom!

The amount of folks at this club that have hung their caps at Liverpool because of Rafa is truly frightening in one way... but a measure of the man himself in another.

IRWT.

Jürgen Klinsmann On January 11, 2008, it was confirmed that Klinsmann would take over as manager of Bayern Munich from July 2008.[9] This will mark Klinsmann's first managerial position at club level, succeeding current coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.'




Rafael ("Rafa") Benítez has been the manager of Liverpool F.C. since June 2004. On June 2, 2006, Benítez signed a new four-year deal with Liverpool. He has previously managed Valencia CF and five other La Liga teams. Benítez became the most successful Valencia CF manager in their history after just three seasons in charge. In 2002, he led the club to their first La Liga title since 1971, and in 2004 he led the club to a La Liga/UEFA Cup double. In 2005 he guided Liverpool to victory in the UEFA Champions League and the European Super Cup and in 2006 he led them to victory in the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield.


Who would you rather have as a manager?



 answers on a postcard please

It was quite clear from last night TIA .tv show who the fans want... and how angry they/we are at Parry in particular.

David Johnson did as best as he could - but his boss (works within commercial dept) at Liverpool FC is... wait for it... Mr Parry himself!!

may sound daft but i applaud hicks for speaking honestly and at least he's keeping the fans in the picture, but what a absolute t*$$er just don't understand there motivs they allready have a class manager wtf would klinsman be able to do better than rafa! other than mouriniho there isn't anyone out there who comes close to rafa!
this iis gonna drag to end of season every game every press confrence so i hjust want to say thanks for letting us know that ya gonna sack rafa you absolte pr$ck

You just know Maureen is waiting in the wings...  with Pako probably part of package.

If I were Rafa I would feel like Indiana Jones ...will the walls and ceiling closing in on me working for the likes shoot-from-the-hip (or is it mouth?) Sherrif-Hicks and Judas-Parry...

Mr Tom Hicks you are now officially knicknamed Sheriff Hicks...

You can imagine hearing Sherriff Hicks speaking to Rafa "...this town, I mean club, isn't big enough for both us..."

...and Rafa replying... "so when you leaving Tom ?!"

The reason why Hicks publicly stated this?
Easy, because he wants Rafa to resign other than sacking him and paying off the rest of his contract!
These American owners of ours are very snidey in what they are doing!

That actually makes a lot of sense.......mite be some truth in that sumwhere !!

I saw on skysports.com that Guillem Balague had spoke about the Yanks approaching Kilnsman and after what he said I think he deserves a medal seeing as he also put an end to all the Benitez to Madrid talk. If only he was Rafa's lawyer, then no-body would even think about slating him

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_3049046,00.html

Hehe i was thinking he would be good at ending rafa speculation too.

The article in full!....

Jürgen JOKE

Guillem Balague told Sky Sports News he finds it 'laughable' that Liverpool considered replacing Rafael Benitez with Jürgen Klinsmann

Benitez's future at Anfield is once again in the spotlight after club co-owner Tom Hicks revealed in a newspaper interview that he held discussions with former Germany boss Klinsmann in November about taking over at Anfield.

And top Spanish journalist Balague, who is a close friend of Benitez, insists the media are surprised by the way Liverpool's owners are behaving

He said: "It's fascinating because what is happening is very much unlike Liverpool and very much like a Spanish club.

"There's all this politics going on and there aren't any footballing reasons to want to get rid of Rafa Benitez.

"It seems to be something else - something to do with the chemistry with the owners.

"But from the point of view of the media, it is quite laughable that they thought of replacing him with Jürgen Klinsmann, who we don't regard as a manager of the calibre of Benitez."

Balague also feels Benitez has made good progress with the team this season, but fears the uncertainty at the top of the club is starting to affect performances on the pitch.

He continued: "I think it has been affecting the side in the last few weeks because the players read the papers and cannot stay relaxed and focused. I think that is something the club should seriously consider.

Good job

"These are things Benitez will not want to hear - especially when you think you are doing a good job.

"Liverpool have never had as many points under Benitez at this stage as they have this season.

"So there is a progression, but the problem is that all the other clubs are progressing as well. But everybody would have to agree that he is doing more than good job.

"And so for him to hear that the owners are talking to somebody else - that would frustrate anybody. I'm completely convinced he wants to continue at Liverpool and what he cannot control, he had better not get upset about."

Balague also indicated there are a number of top sides around Europe monitoring the situation and would be keen to offer Benitez a job, should he leave Anfield.

But he reckons Benitez wants to stay, despite the upheaval in recent months.

Jobs available

"I know for a fact that there are three top European clubs that would take him straight away and the national team would seriously think about it as well - although in Spain that option is usually reserved until the end of your career.

"There is no doubt there will be jobs available for Rafa Benitez, but if you read the brilliant interview in the Liverpool Echo with Tom Hicks you can see excellent work from the journalist, Tony Barrett , who got Hicks to say things that he didn't want to say.

"But at the same time you can see positives. The meeting with Klinsmann happened in November, but there have been a couple of meetings with Benitez since then and the communication has improved.

"So Liverpool might now be working as they should do - though it would be better if the owners didn't keep telling little stories about what they've done in previous months. But the communication is improving and everyone is happier than that interview would make you think."

Balague also suggested there might be an exodus of players if Benitez was to leave, but he feels star striker Fernando Torres is happy to stay at Anfield for the long term.

"I'm sure some players will feel a new manager wouldn't get the best out of them and they might take advantage of that and move on.

"They would say that if Liverpool keep changing their manager, they will not progress at the pace that everybody wants.

"But at the same time, look at the way Fernando Torres celebrates his goals, look at the way he proudly wears the shirt and gets upset when they lose or draw. I am 100 per cent convinced Torres is here to stay, as this is where he thinks he will produce his best football.

"He feels loved at Liverpool and things are working out fine. If Benitez goes, I'm sure Torres will stay."

I like Balague! He's level headed and always seems to give us credit when it's due, which is pretty rare for journo's! I'm in total agreement with him!

Balague lived in Liverpool from 91-97 as he completed his Uni studies and worked as a part-time journo... he loves the city, the loves the people and he is very close to Rafa.

Top, top man.

Want him as our honorary member of the Madrid LFC Branch... even if he is from Barcelona!

IRWT

Balague lived in Liverpool from 91-97 as he completed his Uni studies and worked as a part-time journo... he loves the city, the loves the people and he is very close to Rafa.

Top, top man.

Want him as our honorary member of the Madrid LFC Branch... even if he is from Barcelona!

IRWT

He's welcome in our boozers anytime! Top man!

I'm purely speculating here, but I have a theory about all this.

A few people have expressed surprise at the reports that DIC might only buy Hicks' share of the club rather than all of it, and I have to admit it surprised me too. It has seemed from the start to me that Gillett is more serious about this club than Hicks, so maybe Hicks was willing to sell but Gillett wasn't. If DIC insisted they buy all the shares or none of them, as I believe they probably would have, Hicks would have been stuck in the position of wanting to sell but not being able to. Initially I couldn't understand what Hicks felt he possibly had to gain by admitting the approach to Klinsmann, but could it be that Hicks revealed this to make Gillett's position untenable, and therefore forcing him to sell?

I think it's become apparent that Hicks doesn't really want to be involved in the club anymore, but I'm not so sure Gillett wants to pull out. This could have actually been a very smart move on Hicks' part, Gillett doesn't have the money to buy his stake and if DIC take an all or nothing approach the only way to get out is to force Gillett to sell. And what better way than getting the end user, the fans, to turn on him?

Both Hicks and Gillett are equally culpable in all of this. 

In fact, if anything at least Hicks had the gall to come out and speak about it.

If Gillett is more serious about the club how come we haven't heard a word from him.

Haven't Klinsmann agreed to be Bayern manager?

amazing how much fun you can have on photoshop in the early hours

Very good LondonRed, like the way you've left the expletives out. 

Cheers redkenny - I couldn't fit the expletives in