Daniel Agger, Lucas, Xabi Alonso, Mascherano, Torres, Reina, Skrtel et al all turned out to be fantastic signings at great prices and the subject of firm interest from europe's elite.
Our campaigns in europe between 2004-2009 saw us systematically shut down some of the best teams in europe and on occasion, wipe the flloor with them. Although there were many nail biting moments e.g against mournho's chelsea.
But on the whole Rafa tended to have the right ideas. Zonal marking and squad rotation are the norm in 2012. Rafa was building a great team, it's a shame we didn't get to see it come to fruition.
I wish i had more time and the necessary writing skills to do his career thus far justice. But i'll leave that to you guys, from his time at valencia to his and Montse's charity work today, Rafael Benitez is a class act.
The Genius of Rafa Benitez.
posted on 3/8/12
posted on 3/8/12
Rafa's faults were not just highlighted in the bad year(s), they also blew the league when they should have won it with some of his weird substitutions and squad rotation.
Rafa is a quality manager, he has proved it in Spain and England, with a special skill in doing well in europe. But he is not without his flaws. Fans seem to lay the blame on the drying up of money, when if you looked at many teams, they have sold and spent little but still maintained standards.....LOFC sold Alonso, bough Aquilani & Johnson and went from 2nd to 7th.
United sold Ronaldo and replaced with Valencia from Wigan and have still maintaied standards.
Rafa spent a lot in his early days, adding to a good squad that were regulars in Europe.
he was responsible for Alonso leaving. Decided to spend £38m on Johnson & Aquilani when the squad was thin on quality backup.
While he had many many highs at LFC, he had his fair share of flaws which were particularly evident over the course of a league season.
posted on 3/8/12
>>While he had many many highs at LFC, he had his fair share of flaws
just like every other top manager
posted on 3/8/12
he was responsible for Alonso leaving. Decided to spend £38m on Johnson & Aquilani when the squad was thin on quality backup.
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Yes he was responsible for Alonso leaving, but Alonso had also had two pretty average seasons, no-one would pay £14m for him the previous summer.
Portsmouth owed us £10m from the Crouch sale and were about to go under, Johnson was the deal to claw back that money.
Rafa was told he could only buy from Roma by H&G, I forget the exact reasons for this but it's documented somewhere.
This isn't defending Rafa for no reason, he did do many things wrong, but no more than most other managers I think, these are just the facts I know of in these cases you've mentioned.
posted on 3/8/12
if if if
....
Actually, the 'if' is quite important.
Stats show that when Rafa had more to spend, Liverpool were a better side, competing for and winning trophies.
The reduction in his pocket money coincided with our drop in form.
IF - only you thought before you typed
posted on 3/8/12
Metro_, the days of Rafa, and Kenny for that matter, are behind us. BR has clearly convinced the owners that he doesn't need a mega-budget, he is his own man, and wants to develop raw talent, at his time and at a cost he decides. An example? here's a question. Last night, with Joe Cole injured, would either Rafa or Kenny, especially Kenny dared to have put Raheem on? There's the difference, the club is in completely new, completely different, hands. Unless Greatteams disagrees of course, and I agree with him. JimmyTheRed
posted on 3/8/12
Yes the are Jimmy, but this doesn't mean we cannot talk about the man anymore. As for Raheem, Kenny did play play him, albeit begrudgingly.
posted on 4/8/12
Of course you can, any time you want. JimmyTheRed
posted on 6/8/12
Stats show that when Rafa had more to spend, Liverpool were a better side, competing for and winning trophies.
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well duh!
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IF - only you thought before you typed
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you took the words right out of my mouth! better luck next time
posted on 6/8/12
comment by joelie_the_goalie (U14826)
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so instead of typing if if if
you should have been a bit more mature and said it's true, Rafa was a top manager when his resources matched those competing for the top prizes.
Let me reiterate my earlier point - IF only you thought before you typed.
p.s Jimmy - i'm fully aware those days are behind us. my point was that Rafas decline started with the drop in expenditure