Vote: The tide is turning against Rafa?

I think the fans have been fairly patient so far but from the responses we get via email and comments on the site it would appear that the tide is beginning to turn against Rafa.

Vote in the poll above.

Should Rafa be Liverpool's manager next season?

The results will be published on Saturday.

Yes, consistency is the key, and if the fans succeed in buying the club, then I can't see them getting rid of Rafa, he is a favourite with the fans.

Definitely yes! Why would you want to change the manager and then go through yet another "rebuilding" period. Consistency is what breeds success!! The players also need to start shouldering some of the blame!! We have been crying out for Rafa to play his strongest team and when he does and results don't improve some people still have a go at him!! The man cant do anymore than pick the team, after they cross the white line its up to them to do the business!! As the article on the home page says, some of the players aren't fit enough to wear the shirt.

Question: Who out there and available is a better manager than Rafael Benitez??
Answer: Nobody

RAFA has done well in his first 3 seasons at Anfield and could very well add the F.A.Cup and the European Champions Cup to his tally this season.OK we are not doing as well as we would of liked in the league but we have not had a manager since Kenny Dalglish who has done anything  in the league.Hopefully Tom and George will back RAFA with funds to buy the players he needs to take us to number 19.

I voted yes.

He deserves one more year. The only thing keeping him in a job as far as I am concerned is a combination of 3 things.

1. He has won some major trophies.

2. Hicks behaviour.

3.The fact that we are still in the FA Cup and European Cup.

lets act now we kept houlier a couple of seasons to long i hope we don't make the same mistake again.Thanks for the memories but it is time to go. i read  star players may go with him, would that be both of them and are they going to stay if this carry on I don't think so

I have to admit I was disappointed with the tactical awareness from Rafa last night. I really couldn't work out what he was trying to do when replacing Kewel with Lucas, and was not sure why he didn't bring Crouch on and be more direct with Crouch being the link man. We have had a couple of games like that now, where it feels like half the players on the pitch don't seem to know what they are supposed to do when the gameplan is set in motion. However having said that I do think Rafa has a done a good job but the lack of consistency is rather worrying this season, but do bear in mind the immense pressure that he has been under from the continuing press harassment. And having said that the players should also stand up and take responsability, I hear SG in an interview stating that all the off field antics with the yanks and what not are affecting the players. Well I'm sorry chap but you are all pro footballers who are paid a lot of money to do your job, things like this should not in anyway effect you and you should be totally focused on what is going on on the pitch and not what is going on in the board room, after all you are all professionals aren't you ??

I for one do think we should keep going with Rafa and not jump to any hasty decisions regarding his future at this time, however I do believe in the club and not just Rafa, and will not be blinded by past glories when our future is at stake.
We need to get a run of results now and if we dint then I not only believe Rafa should take responsability but also a number of players should stand up as well to be counted due to lack luster performances. As for the vote In this thread I really don't know what to think yet as the season is not over by some way and as I have stated in previous posts I will make my assumptions and judgment's once the season is over, and not now over a hypothetical scenario.

In the meantime I do think we should get behind the team as never before and give them our whole hearted support to show them they are not alone in these dark times, lets put the west ham game behind us roll up our sleeves and get a good result against Sunderland CMON YOU RED MEN..

I don't think he's done enough to keep his job.

He's now been quoted in saying "We will finish in the top four" - where's the quotes "Will be much closer this year" gone.  Say's it all in my opinion.

The so called 'tactical genius' can't seem to get the tactics right in the league - which is the bread and butter!

I have to admit I was disappointed with the tactical awareness from Rafa last night. I really couldn't work out what he was trying to do when replacing Kewel with Lucas, and was not sure why he didn't bring Crouch on and be more direct with Crouch being the link man. We have had a couple of games like that now, where it feels like half the players on the pitch don't seem to know what they are supposed to do when the gameplan is set in motion. However having said that I do think Rafa has a done a good job but the lack of consistency is rather worrying this season, but do bear in mind the immense pressure that he has been under from the continuing press harassment. And having said that the players should also stand up and take responsability, I hear SG in an interview stating that all the off field antics with the yanks and what not are affecting the players. Well I'm sorry chap but you are all pro footballers who are paid a lot of money to do your job, things like this should not in anyway effect you and you should be totally focused on what is going on on the pitch and not what is going on in the board room, after all you are all professionals aren't you ??

I for one do think we should keep going with Rafa and not jump to any hasty decisions regarding his future at this time, however I do believe in the club and not just Rafa, and will not be blinded by past glories when our future is at stake.
We need to get a run of results now and if we dint then I not only believe Rafa should take responsability but also a number of players should stand up as well to be counted due to lack luster performances. As for the vote In this thread I really don't know what to think yet as the season is not over by some way and as I have stated in previous posts I will make my assumptions and judgment's once the season is over, and not now over a hypothetical scenario.

In the meantime I do think we should get behind the team as never before and give them our whole hearted support to show them they are not alone in these dark times, lets put the west ham game behind us roll up our sleeves and get a good result against Sunderland CMON YOU RED MEN..

Agreed.

Likewise I have to totally agree with you Prag

Yes, Si.

Understand Liverpool, the city, the club, the sentiment... trying desperately to turn the club round... this season for the first time got hold of youth, doing well.

Pako exit + Parry sale-fiasco = Difficult season to win anything.

Rafael Benitez will prove to be the new messiah/Shankly - just give him time to finish what he has start, decent money ...and most importantly (for him) Respect/Love, if not... he won't need to be pushed (he won't have any trouble finding a new job in Spain/Europe) - HE,  my friends, will walk.

I R W T

I've got a problem with this.

This is just fanning the flames for the Get Rafa Out brigade. Oh look...... the usual Suspects are on here





Firstly it wasn't so long ago on this forum that we had the 'I back Rafa' Campaign. I think if you are going to back Rafa, then back him through thick and thin. Don't run around in circles like headless chickens just because of a recent run of bad form.


I just like to know who'd you replace Rafa with and also whether we should hold the players to account?

I'd like to discuss a possible link maybe between the bad run of form and the upheaval going on at the club?

I've got a problem with this.

This is just fanning the flames for the Get Rafa Out brigade. Oh look...... the usual Suspects are on here

Firstly it wasn't so long ago on this forum that we had the 'I back Rafa' Campaign. I think if you are going to back Rafa, then back him through thick and thin. Don't run around in circles like headless chickens just because of a recent run of bad form.

I just like to know who'd you replace Rafa with and also whether we should hold the players to account?

I'd like to discuss a possible link maybe between the bad run of form and the upheaval going on at the club?

Great shout mate.

Gerrard has a lot to do with this bad run, ok we are a club, not a one man show, but this guy is our CAPTAIN, our LEADER OF MEN WALKING THROUH THE STORM ffs.

I don't even see Gerrard being verbal on the pitch anymore, he walks around looking pissed-off... so unlike what a Liverpool captain should be doing, irrelevant of his ability.

Maybe instead of talking if Rafa has gone by his sell by date, we should be thinking if it's the right time to get mega-bucks for a lad (I can't believe I'm typing this, but seems almost logical !) - the lad has proved to have itchy feet before  ...and is without doubt a world class player, but might be dragging down the team in his (seems to be) ever-cyclical emotional rollercoaster... I mean WHEN will the REAL Stevie G step forward ...play and lead?

To say the players are not affected is daft they live and work at the heart of LFC so the rumours at the height of the Hicksgate must have been the major talking point,is Raffa being replaced,is DIC taking over,is Doris the tea lady being dismissed,of course it affected them and some more than others and because of all the nonsense that went on and is still going on it's still the talk of the league,you can point your finger no further than Hicks for this mess and for Benitas having to work through it all must have been difficult mind you thats not an excuse for the teams he's picked but it may point to a reason why Raffa's been more unpredictable than he normally is......

Great shout mate.

Gerrard has a lot to do with this bad run, ok we are a club, not a one man show, but this guy is our CAPTAIN, our LEADER OF MEN WALKING THROUH THE STORM ffs.

I don't even see Gerrard being verbal on the pitch anymore, he walks around looking pissed-off... so unlike what a Liverpool captain should be doing, irrelevant of his ability.

Maybe instead of talking if Rafa has gone by his sell by date, we should be thinking if it's the right time to get mega-bucks for a lad (I can't believe I'm typing this, but seems almost logical !) - the lad has proved to have itchy feet before  ...and is without doubt a world class player, but might be dragging down the team in his (seems to be) ever-cyclical emotional rollercoaster... I mean WHEN will the REAL Stevie G step forward ...play and lead?

I think you are being harsh there don. Reason being is you seem to be trying to lay the blame of the disapointments on one or two people and I dont think that is justified to be honest. I would agree with you that SG has not been on par for sometime now, and his non existance expecially in the first half in last nights game was the iceing on the preverbial cake.
Personnally I think its the whole team that should take the critisisim this includes the management. There is no evidence as of late of the well oiled red machine that Rafa so often refers too, and in my honest opion the whole team needs to sit down and have a bloody good word with itself, people are not performing to their full potential this is true. But bear in mind as supporters we still need to remain positive and shout our support and in some way this could help eliviate the obvious problems that are in evidence at this time.

My point being is being negative as a supporter could lead to more problems and by singling out scapegoats could cause the inner fighting to get worse and worse. I Would argue we need to be more positive, even in a bad game like that we need to look for positives and try to bulid on them but keep shouting our support no matter what. In a results driven industry like football its obvious that a bad run will culminate in changes, but as supporters we still need to show some positive understanding when the chips are down.

I voted yes, simply because he needs another chance and with that chance he must be given freedom to his job and to do it his way.

I believe that he should be given freedom to spend in the summer, and he should not AT ALL be interfeared during the season when doing his job!

I've voted yes. We've gone through so much rebuilding in the past few years, and have still achieved success. If we persevere and get behind Rafa and the team then there'll be more to come!

We're still in the FA Cup and the Champions League so there is still a hope of silverware at the end of the season (which would be more than we achieved last season!) One more win and we're fourth again on the current points tally.

He's now been quoted in saying "We will finish in the top four" - where's the quotes "Will be much closer this year" gone.  Say's it all in my opinion.

You can read into the quotes of 'we're looking to finish fourth' instead of our early title hopes as much as you want. Get f*cking real! What do you want him to say. 'We're still going to win the league'? We're out of the race now, and Rafa isn't disguising that! Could you see the likes of Mourinho doing that? To be fair to Rafa though, he's did well to manage to stay in the job with all the sh*t hanging around the club! Any sh*te like that, especially with owners going behind your back for a replacement, and most would be off!

I think it's so easy to jump on and slag the manager off when things aren't going right. We know that he's tactically capable in the league, so what's been going wrong? We can't completely lay the blame on Rafa! I've heard a lot of comments that the teams he's put out should have taken apart the opposition (whether it be Luton, H & W, West Ham, etc) so why didn't they? If the tactics are fine, then the players must be affected about all of the uncertainty surrounding the club!

Getting rid at the end of the season would push us back a few years. A lot of the squad would leave. The players that stay may not necessarily be the new manager's cup of tea, or they might not be able to adapt to the new style of playing. Why do that to ourselves when we have experienced success first hand with Rafa and we know he is capable of getting a Premier League winning tally of points (82 points in his second season, enough to win the league most years!)

Now get behind the team. Swerve all of this negativity! We're Liverpool Football Club. We have to answer to nobody! We let our success do the talking and one day soon we'll be pushing ahead in League Titles. Don't let us end up like Newcastle fans, calling for heads at the first sniff of a bad patch, and consistent in nothing but under achieving!

i insist that rafa should
no matter how bad he did he had brought us two champions
we should be patient

I have said it time after time. Wait till the end of the season. ow can you people judge before the season is over. The people who say he must not go are as ignorant as those who say he must! Lets wait towards the end of the season to judge the man.

I hope he does well because i really like and believe in Rafa but if he does not show us the results we are expecting, I am afraid he must go. If not this season, at most the next season. Next season at most should be his last chance.

It will be interesting to read the posts if RAFA was to win the F.A.Cup and the European Champions Cup again.If that were to happen I would hope it will not be too late to convince RAFA to stay.AS regards players being affected,they get well paid and there is no suggestion that they will not get paid-so whats to worry about.They should try living on a working mans wage with a family to feed and clothe then they might have something to worry about.I dont begrudge them earning good money,all I ask for is 100% effort from them when they wear the RED SHIRT of LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB.

so we have had a bad time of it as of late dont care what anybody says the recent goings on must not of helped results and ok last night we could say was a game where we might say but the goings on have appeared to have settled down and that is a fair point but lets not get to hasty saying rafa should go or shouold he be in charge next season.

It is not in the realms of impossibility that we could still win 2 cups here and we may all bleat on about how badly we need to win the league and i couldnt agree more but nobody has ever said we need to win the league this year i think we all got a bit carried away with things myself included with new owners and torres and a 6-0 demolition of derby county where we went top when all we really wanted to see was progress which i honeslty believe has been made the squad is better than it has been for a long time and is the league over....no to win maybe but we can still finish top 4

The media circus surrounding us has been going on for the best part of 3 months which must surely have hampered our chances of winning games now depending on what goes on behind the scenes and everything remains rosie at least on the surface rafa stays and gets full backing from the yanks or whoever maybe in control of the club then we start a real assault on the prem as a happy club as either f.a cup holders or....champions of europe

Right now, if you are asking for Rafa's head, in my opinion you are a glory hunter ...the kind of which doesn't really reflect the sentiment that characterises the supporting of this great club and institution.

Period. Basta. Finito. End of.

IRWT

It's strange what a win or defeat does to some of us.A win makes us feel invincible like we'll never lose again.A defeat following on from 4 draws brings out the rope to hang the guy who put us in this position.Look at these things from different angles and we all come up with a different view and I guess that's the debate football brings out in all of us.

I am looking now from the angle that raffa is used to and that's a winter break. It's something Raffa has been used to in Spain,a time to recharge the batteries and to sit and not have to think of football for 3wks but here in England he hasn't had that and it's the first time here I believe that Raffa has been under real pressure,first the owners undermine him and at the time that this is going on the team ups and loses it's confidence. It's enough to try the patience of a saint and if that's not bad enough some so called fans decide to have a go and at the end of the day most of us mere mortals would have cracked so my respect for the man Benitas is unbounded and I really hope he shows all just what he is about as I really think that given the time and backing he will show all who and what he's about so give him your patience...Sack at your peril repent in haste...

I voted YES, do we need to start again fram the beginning 
 A new manager will have to change some players to play his style of football
  Rafa has to have another year atleast,yes we are in a bad spell at the moment,
 But changing rafa still wont bring the off form players to their form,(which for me is the main reason for our worst run in months)
 Rafa hasent gone from a very good manager to a bad one overnight, does anyone think he will be jobless if he leaves or be sacked
 there are  a few BIG european clubs ready to jump to get  him as soon as he leaves Anfield
 So Yes we still need rafa
 

I am going to start by saying I am not going to vote.  I think any manager should be given time to put his stamp on the club and prove that they are capable of bringing the success we all crave.  However if it is clearly not working and, for whatever reason, we are going backwards then it might then be time to look for an alternative.  If at the end of this season we can all see that the team is moving forward then Rafa should be given another year to demonstrate what his management can achieve.  If it slumps into a disaster then we should look elsewhere.  Nobody has a right to unquestioning support.

Rafa has a reputation as a good manager and a shrewd tactician.  What he has achieved in the past does not however mean jacksh*t.  It is what he is doing now that counts.  Some of his recent selections and tactics have left me, and a lot of other people on this forum, totally mystified.  Why does he persist with Kuyt when he is clearly not up to it and why does he make substitutions so late in a game there is little chance of turning the match around?  I think dropping players when they are playing well does little for their confidence.  Some players need a decent run to demonstrate their best.  I think Peter Crouch is an example of this.

We seem to be playing very defensive and unadventurous football against teams that quite frankly we should take apart given the quality we now have.  The season started well and we played some good football but the confidence seems to have gone out of the team and we look scared of losing.  There is still time to turn this around and I think we have the players to do it.  It has to start on Saturday against Sunderland and keep going until the end of the season.

As I have said I am willing to keep faith with Rafa until the end of the season but if the results don't start to improve soon our American owners may not be so patient.  Champions League football is a must to support their financial plans.



  

Yes, i have grown disillusioned by Rafa this season, though i believe the mans record speaks for itself.

One last season, make or break time.

Martin O'Neill

The biggest turning point of the season has been the Reading game. Obviously the players had all attention on the Scum game and coming into the Reading match on the back of a 4-1 win over Porto, i can see why they were so excited to play Scum. This was the match to test their title credentials. One loss was a blow but the loss after the Scum hurt more so. These 2 losses lead graudally into a form slump and dip in morale.

As for Rafa, he isn't managing this side, Tom, George and Rick are and its being played through Rafa. If Rafa had some privacy and let go to do his job the way he wanted then we wouldnt see all this crap in the media and on the field. The board need to step back because this isnt America. They need to talk at the beginning of the season on tranfer targets and a kitty for Rafa to spend. They need to keep as far away as possible from Rafa when it comes to match days and let him run his team. He has brought in talent from all over the world for the youth system and would be suicide to our youth teams if Rafa was let go and have another guy at the top. It is only fair to let him work his own magic and not be their bi*ch.

I R I T

Y N W A

Yes, I have grown disillusioned by Rafa this season, though I believe the mans record speaks for itself.

One last season, make or break time.

Fair enough.

He said he would be here for minimum eight years when he joined... I bet we end up asking him to stay longer...Hicks mouth/ego permitting of course.

I just want him and Pako back and working together again... Parry should work on fixing that between them NOW!

I think Rafa should be given one more season to try and get it right. I don't believe in jumping on band wagons either. But the truth is I do feel short changed in paying for my season ticket this year and ripped off in the money I have spent following The 'Pool away from home. Long before all the stink with the Yanks kicked off the football has been sh*te in the league and the results have been poor. This won't improve unless Rafa changes his policy of Tinkering with every team he picks. We must average about five changes in every team that plays! I don't mind on or two changes to keep players fresh or for tactical reasons but Rafa makes that many changes that the football becomes disjointed.Players can't develop relationships on the field, and I believe this is the reason for a Liverpool team that gives the ball away so much. I've never seen so many passes go astray. The other top managers don't make that many changes and reap the rewards of having a settled team, I have been very impressed by the way Chelsea have worked their way into contention and are sitting there just behind the top two and well in with a shout. Rafa has proved he is a tactical genius at times, especially in the big games against the likes of Chavski, Juve and most famously Milan. But at times I do think he puts to much tactics into games when there is no need for it. The Wigan game at home was a fine example of this and one month on I'm still scratching my head trying to work out what he was trying to do! In games like that a simple 4-4-2 and just go at them and allow you team to express themselves. Another good example of this tactical craziness is the prolonged "headless chicken" role with he gives to Dirk Kuyt. The only reason that a striker would take up the positions that Kuyt does is if the services is poor or none existent and he goes hunting for the ball or if he is acting on the managers instructions. Kuyt's reward for this is to look a complete tw*t on the field and constant barracking from the fans! This lad was a fine player for his last club and looked great when he first came to Liverpool. I blame the club for whats happening to him, and he should be playing as a striker, with a partner when selected.

So I do think we should give Rafa one more season to sort this out, I think he's earned that at least. But I won't be on any marches or demonstrations in support of him and deep down I don't think he will change his managerial policies and I don't think we will challenge for the League next year. I do pray that I'm wrong! It's got to the point where I go to the match just out of loyalty and love for my club. I don't expect to see any kind of good football being played and if we win it's a bonus. The sad and worrying thing for Rafa is hand on heart I do think that we have the talent at the club to challenge for the League. True we do have some dead wood, but I think that if Rafa was to go Martin O'Neil would come in and have us challenging in his first season. And he would be my choice of mananger.

We must average about five changes in every team that plays!

So let's say we have five/spine that are the ones usually not changed:

Pepe
Carra
Masch StevieG
Torres

They HAVE played MOST of the games... but have ALL had nightmare games along the way... without exception and probably each indifferent performance by either of those has cost us, at least, a draw... jeez even Pepe hasn't been pulling off the world class saves we know he has in his locker!

We need our BEST players DELIVERING CONSISTENTLY... and it drags the rest of the team up by their socks... you can't be on mega-bucks and not deliver, it's exactly the reason you ARE on mega-bucks, because you deliver a lot more often than not.

End of rant.

So let's say we have five/spine that are the ones usually not changed:

Pepe
Carra
Masch StevieG
Torres

They HAVE played MOST of the games... but have ALL had nightmare games along the way... without exception and probably each indifferent performance by either of those has cost us, at least, a draw... jeez even Pepe hasn't been pulling off the world class saves we know he has in his locker!

We need our BEST players DELIVERING CONSISTENTLY... and it drags the rest of the team up by their socks... you can't be on mega-bucks and not deliver, it's exactly the reason you ARE on mega-bucks, because you deliver a lot more often than not.

End of rant.

My opinion is that a spine of 5 players to remain unchanged is not enough. I would prefer a defense of 4 unchanged. A central midfield of 2 unchanged and 2 up front unchanged. I feel this would build partnerships/ relationships. I think players have to get to know each other and how the play. how many times do you see Liverpool fire a dangerous ball across the six yard box but there's no one there to tap the ball home? Liverpool are a team of players that don't know what each other are going to do. I believe this is what makes the players that you have mentioned look poor and brings on poor form.

My opinion is that a spine of 5 players to remain unchanged is not enough. I would prefer a defense of 4 unchanged. A central midfield of 2 unchanged and 2 up front unchanged. I feel this would build partnerships/ relationships. I think players have to get to know each other and how the play. how many times do you see Liverpool fire a dangerous ball across the six yard box but there's no one there to tap the ball home? Liverpool are a team of players that don't know what each other are going to do. I believe this is what makes the players that you have mentioned look poor and brings on poor form.

Crazy Horse, wake-up smell some coffee... do you realise how many squad players have suffered injuries this season - we have had Melwood probably resembling ER... and you talk about entire blocks of the team being unchanged - Rafa hasn't been able to do it, even if he wanted to...

This season, starting pre-season (Pako exit) has been swimming against tide (rotation/media) after tide (injuries) after tide (G&H rumours) after tide (DIC rumours) after tide (Rafa exit rumours) after tide (Fans revolt)...

This has been anything BUT a normal season my friend... certainly not one to even (realistically) contemplate a serious title charge.

...but it ain't over until it's over and I fully expect us to have more silverware this May... because there is so much frustration and energy caged in the squad, that when it is realised we will be simply, unstoppable. Convinced.

Crazy Horse, wake-up smell some coffee... do you realise how many squad players have suffered injuries this season - we have had Melwood probably resembling ER... and you talk about entire blocks of the team being unchanged - Rafa hasn't been able to do it, even if he wanted to...

This season, starting pre-season (Pako exit) has been swimming against tide (rotation/media) after tide (injuries) after tide (G&H rumours) after tide (DIC rumours) after tide (Rafa exit rumours) after tide (Fans revolt)...

This has been anything BUT a normal season my friend... certainly not one to even (realistically) contemplate a serious title charge.

...but it ain't over until it's over and I fully expect us to have more silverware this May... because there is so much frustration and energy caged in the squad, that when it is realized we will be simply, unstoppable. Convinced.

Excuse me for having an opinion. What I couldn't understand is that when we had injurys and changes were forced up on the manager why he chose to make a few more changes on to for good measure. What I can't understand is when Peter Crouch comes on and scores against Villa, starts and scores against Havvent he is dropped for the West Ham game , now I'm going to make a cup of coffee!

The other top managers don't make that many changes and reap the rewards of having a settled team

They do make just as many changes actually, it's just the media don't like to pick up on that fact.

I think the problem is that our expectations are too high, not that it's a bad thing. The facts are we have spent like a mid table club for years, mainly due to the fact that our commercial setup is of that sort of standard. Why should we have some God given right to be challenging for the league ahead of teams like Spurs & Villa, who've been spending the same sort of money as us? If anything Rafa is a victim of his own success, due to the CL & FA Cup victories our expectations have been raised, but we are not gonna win the league whilst spending the money we have been.

 Yes. Consistency is the key to any successful clubs, it's obvious. Eddie make a valid point in his post above, our expectations are probably too hight. Once thing for sure is that there are not top quality managers available if RAFA is going.

 The stories around our club this year have been a major source of disruption and any club would have had problems to cope with it.

They do make just as many changes actually, it's just the media don't like to pick up on that fact.

I think the problem is that our expectations are too high, not that it's a bad thing. The facts are we have spent like a mid table club for years, mainly due to the fact that our commercial setup is of that sort of standard. Why should we have some God given right to be challenging for the league ahead of teams like Spurs & Villa, who've been spending the same sort of money as us? If anything Rafa is a victim of his own success, due to the CL & FA Cup victories our expectations have been raised, but we are not gonna win the league whilst spending the money we have been.

Absolutley agree with you eddie..

I would also like to add that I feel we have missed pennant more than we think. I dont think he's the best player in the world but he does what he does, and thats staying on the wing and puts acurate crosses in. Rafa doesnt see a player as good or bad, but rather what he brings to the team as sort of a tactical attribute (if you can call it that). As a result of his absense I felt we have been very/too congested in the middle, which against some of the worlds best centre backs in the prem, is not the best idea.

due to the fact that our commercial setup is of that sort of standard.

Haven't we had a new Marketing Director in place since the Yanks joined...

Can anybody see the difference??

On line shop, joke

Ticketing, joke

Hospitality, joke

AIB - Association of Intl Branches - complete and utter joke.

I'm not so sure abt rafa.. Like the guy.He has been grt 4 club- but whether He's the man to win us epl, i'm not sure.he seems to be stubborn abt a few things.main being his reluctance to start crouch despite pathetic form of kuyt n vernoin.i still cant figure the reasons out?his constant change in formation and personnel is confusing everybody including players.We definitely lack killer instinct and unfortunately rafa has failed to change that.Will we ever play aggressive attacking game  from start like manu or arsenal- i wonder! We have a good enough squad to be atleast close to top of table.i cant be sure why we are lagging so much.Rafa simply cant be blameless. The only good thing to come out of past few days has been that vernoin is injured and out for few weeks.i want some responses guys

They do make just as many changes actually, it's just the media don't like to pick up on that fact.

I think the problem is that our expectations are too high, not that it's a bad thing. The facts are we have spent like a mid table club for years, mainly due to the fact that our commercial setup is of that sort of standard. Why should we have some God given right to be challenging for the league ahead of teams like Spurs & Villa, who've been spending the same sort of money as us? If anything Rafa is a victim of his own success, due to the CL & FA Cup victories our expectations have been raised, but we are not gonna win the league whilst spending the money we have been.

Ed, we dont agree on much....but what you have just typed, i agree with 150%!!!
When we buy players like benayoun, and a name like torres/morientes pops up occassionally with some success and 'world-class' tag next to them, we shouldnt expect to be winning the title. As they say,"you pay peanuts, and u get monkeys". We dont necessarily get monkeys, however, we dont get the players who are likely to bring us and contribute to success.
Like Ed said, if we want to win the league and ensure success, we must spend big on players of a high caliber over the next 2 season, and following this, begin buying youth after a few years of success. So, after 5-6 years, we have an outstanding combination of experienced and youngsters who have made a name for themselves. (like what wenger did at arsenal, when he had established a strong squad with the likes of henry, bergkamp, pires, sol campbell, patrick vieirra he then introduced cesc....now, hes become one of the best players in the world at 20 years old)

There is no other coach but rafa who i want to coach us. However, every game we play, his tactics/player choice always comes under scrutiny. We dont feel he starts our best/strongest squad, he makes incorrect subs, sometimes he makes them too late, or not at all. In addition, I personally believe we're not aggressive and attacking enough, especially at Anfield. Teams have to start playing on our terms, and they should be on the backfoot when they play against us. We cleary get lost and dont know what to do with the ball when we get into our attacking third of the pitch...rafa's fault?? Maybe, i duno.

I still don't believe that the managers of the top three teams make as many changes as Rafa, I can't find any statistics to prove this! I am going to be watching this now 'cos its doing my head in! As for expecting to much or thinking we have a god given right to success, all I want is Liverpool to make a genuine tittle challenge, just be up there compeating in the League. I believe we have the squad to do it, but in answer to the question of the thread my opinion is that I have doubts about Rafa. This is born from the fact that from my seat in the Kemlyn Rd the football is poor and hasn't been good enough for a while. Like I said I think Rafa has earned the chance to try and put it right but I wouldn't like to see him get more than another season. For me Rafa has it all to prove. I don't want to see Liverpool owned by some multi Billionaire who just throws all the money he wants at the club (like Chavski). Just a steady stream of a transfer budjet so we can earn the right to be champions.

Agree 100% Eddie and something i have noted a few times before.

maybe other managers dont make as many changes but they still make them albeit maybe 1 or 2 so why is that when they do it its called resting and when rafa does it iits called rotation i fail to see the difference a change is a change no matter which way you look at it or calli it

I consider myself to be a loyal supporter of our manager, and thats through thick and thin, and not fall in with the fickle pack mostly drive on by the red tops. In my personal assessment of Rafa I'm absolutely sure that he is cognoscente of his our tactical short comings at times. To that end I am equally sure he will be addressing them over the coming months.
IRWT
YNWA

In Rafa I trust. The Rafalution must continue

I voted yes, he should still be here. Fair enough he's having a bad season but a lot of sh*t has happened as well. I'd still like to give him another season or two.

In Rafa I trust. The Rafalution must continue

...and will.