Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

_blank_ · 25-02-2009 03:02PM

Melion wrote: »

Balague rubbishes the rumour
http://www.guillembalague.com/rumores_desp.php?titulo=Benitez%20Rumour%20Not%20True&id=175

He does nothing of the sort.

All he says is that Rafa won't be sacked.

The rumour is that Rafa is close to walking out.

Entirely different.

Balague has basically rubbished a rumour that never existed.

uRbaN · 25-02-2009 03:03PM

Originally Posted by Melion
If the unthinkable happens tomorrow night and he does walk out, it will set us back years. We will be years away from ever putting together a challenge like this again so for anyone going to Anfield this season, how about this?

My thoughts on Liverpools challenege this year are that we had a decent run, and profited greatly (as did Villa) from a slow start by Utd and Chelsea & Arsenal losing the plot.

When the real tests came Liverpool failed everywhere; tactics on the pich and quality in the dressing room. I believe its either face the same crap next year as an also ran or look for new ideas with a new manager.

I look at the squad and see nothing to be proud of...Its pointless sticking with this failed bunch of players with a spine of 3-4 quality players and hoping we can mount a challenge. i'd take "Set us back years" over maintaining the current rhetoric.

LuckyLloyd · 25-02-2009 03:07PM

MementoMori · 25-02-2009 03:08PM

Full statement from Ballague website.

Somehow I don't think Rafa is going anywhere this season on the basis of the bit about "At the moment, the situation is delicate - and there have been developments with regard to the ongoing contractual negotiations at Anfield – and this is something that we will discuss here, on the website, once the Real Madrid fixture has been concluded in a couple of weeks time" If he's prepared to wait until the Real tie is finished with then he must be of the opinion that Rafa will be there until then at least.

Of course some may not believe this but I think it has the sniff of truth to it. It sounds to me like contract negotiations are ongoing at the moment.

25/02/2009

Benitez Rumour Not True

In the last few hours the site has been inundated with emails asking if I can shed any light on the rumour that Rafa Benítez is on the brink of being sacked by Liverpool Football Club this evening.

There are reports that betting has been suspended on this particular market and the rumour that Benitez will be gone by the morning has spread like wildfire around the Liverpool supporters out here in Madrid and on the internet.

If I am honst, I am not entirely comfortable indulging in these stories at the moment as there is so much mis-information being spread around that it is impossible to respond accurately to every single report or rumour. However, because of the number of people who are getting in touch with us today, I feel I should respond.

I can say with absolute certainty, categorically, that Rafa Benitez will not be sacked as manager of Liverpool this evening and that these rumours are not true.

At the moment, the situation is delicate - and there have been developments with regard to the ongoing contractual negotiations at Anfield – and this is something that we will discuss here, on the website, once the Real Madrid fixture has been concluded in a couple of weeks time.

http://www.guillembalague.com/rumores_desp.php?titulo=Benitez%20Rumour%20Not%20True&id=175

Boggles · 25-02-2009 03:08PM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

ManU are obviously massive favourites, and Liverpool need to win each of their remaining games (something they did from this point onwards last season in the league).

:eek::eek::eek:

I think United, Arsenal and Birmingham might disagree with you on that one edit: sorry Rebel.

Melion · 25-02-2009 03:09PM

uRbaN wrote: »

I look at the squad and see nothing to be proud of...Its pointless sticking with this failed bunch of players with a spine of 3-4 quality players and hoping we can mount a challenge. i'd take "Set us back years" over maintaining the current rhetoric.

If you're not proud of our players then why the hell are you supporting Liverpool? You're not proud of Pepe, Alonso, Carra, Skrtel, Agger, Masch, Gerrard, Torres? Why do you even bother?

shakespeare · 25-02-2009 03:10PM

Mr Alan wrote: »

so you think 4 points over 11 games is impossible?

you have no idea what it means to be a football fan.

thats 4 points "IF" you beat united at old trafford (a feat not many have managed of late and not even a liverpool fan could class as even a probability) and "IF" you WIN ALL OF YOUR REMAINING GAMES AS WELL AS UNITED SLIPPING UP...considering your current form this also is not what any liverpool fan could call call even a probability...

so therefore, its not impossible that liverpool are still in with a shout of the premiereship...but its not probable now is it? and we both know...thats what he was getting at...

so maybe its you that has no idea what it means to be a football fan...

Karmafaerie · 25-02-2009 03:12PM

You know what's really depressing?

As Liverpool fans over the last few decades, we can often be excussed for feeling a bit set upon.
It's natural.
We're the most successfull team, and we've come from a period of complete dominance, to struggling badly, and that will always make your rivals jump on you when you're down.
Fair enough.

What I've (and I'm sure many here can say the same) always said, is that as soon as we properly challenge, or dare I say win, all we'll hear from the ABL's is that we only won because the others failed to perform.
Or because we were lucky.

We expect it, we're used to it.

But to hear that sh*te from our own "supporters" is fuc*ing sickening!

It shows me how much football has changed since I was a kid, more so that any amount of flashy, epilepsy inducing, crap from Sky Sports could ever do.

Mr Alan · 25-02-2009 03:15PM

uRbaN wrote: »

I look at the squad and see nothing to be proud of...Its pointless sticking with this failed bunch of players with a spine of 3-4 quality players and hoping we can mount a challenge. i'd take "Set us back years" over maintaining the current rhetoric.

you look at our squad & you see nothing to be proud of?!

you wonder why people with attitudes similar to yours are ridiculed?

some of the best players in their respective positions in the world are at our club.......Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Tommy Mascherano, Pepe Reina?! nothing to be proud of?!

This season we have beaten Utd in the league for the first time in some time & we have beaten Chelsea twice....yet you see nothing positive there?

constant improvement year upon year....yet, no, nothing to be happy about!?

Some extremely exciting young new signings Insua, Nemeth, Pachecho, Agger, Skrtel....yet you can find nothing to be proud of?

are you ****ing for real?

~Rebel~ · 25-02-2009 03:16PM

Boggles wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek:

I think United, Arsenal and Birmingham might disagree with you on that one edit: sorry Rebel.

my mistake. 30points from 37 was still pretty good though, considering the CL run to the semi's too!

~Rebel~ · 25-02-2009 03:19PM

shakespeare wrote: »

thats 4 points "IF" you beat united at old trafford (a feat not many have managed of late and not even a liverpool fan could class as even a probability) and "IF" you WIN ALL OF YOUR REMAINING GAMES AS WELL AS UNITED SLIPPING UP...considering your current form this also is not what any liverpool fan could call call even a probability...

so therefore, its not impossible that liverpool are still in with a shout of the premiereship...but its not probable now is it? and we both know...thats what he was getting at...

so maybe its you that has no idea what it means to be a football fan...

Sure in that case, why dont we just look at the fixtures before the opening weekend, ascertain thats its most probable United will win the league and hand over the trophy! The POINT is that if Liverpool beat united, anything can happen. Christ, just look at Spain, an incredible Barca team which was winning the league at a canter has had the lead almost halved - Its Football!

event · 25-02-2009 03:19PM

Highsider wrote: »

Liverpool have a huge game and the press are making the rumours up to unsettle the team. That's the way i see it anyway's.

yeah thats it, they are all out to get ye

Melion wrote: »

Delighted to see that nobody could come up with a proper choice to replace Rafa.

ancellotti
lippi
hitzfeld
Rijkaard

Boggles · 25-02-2009 03:19PM

~Rebel~ wrote: »

my mistake. 30points from 37 was still pretty good though, considering the CL run to the semi's too!

It was brilliant, different kettle of fish to do under the pressure of competing for the title thou I'm sure you'd admit.

Mr Alan · 25-02-2009 03:20PM

shakespeare wrote: »

so therefore, its not impossible that liverpool are still in with a shout of the premiereship...but its not probable now is it? and we both know...thats what he was getting at...

so maybe its you that has no idea what it means to be a football fan...

was it ever probable? a team without a title in nearly 2 decades, a team who are at war on boardroom level, a team who are unable to attract/afford the worlds best players, was it ever probable they were going to go from fourth to first in one season, all Liverpool fans wanted at the start of this year was to last longer in the title race & to improve, we are doing both those things.

when Liverpool win the league again, it will be done so in a not probable fashion, we will not walk it, we will not destroy all challengers in the way we have in the past, because we are not the same team we were in the past, all we can hope is to move towards that again.

jesus_thats_gre · 25-02-2009 03:20PM

Des wrote: »

You can keep clinging to that Al.

But you know, in your heart, it isn't true.

It isn't dead until the match versus United at Old Trafford...

If we don't win that match, it is well and truely over.

United still have Arsenal to play and Arsenal can defo beat them.. Throw in Villa and a City derby into the mix and there is defo hope still.

whatawaster · 25-02-2009 03:23PM

uRbaN wrote: »

I look at the squad and see nothing to be proud of...Its pointless sticking with this failed bunch of players with a spine of 3-4 quality players and hoping we can mount a challenge. i'd take "Set us back years" over maintaining the current rhetoric.

Net Spend over 5 years: £81 million

nothing to show for it? Look at our starting X1 - barring Carra and Gerrard, who he inherited
Reina 7.5m, Arbeloa 2.5 Skrtel 6.5m, Aurelio FREE, Mascherano 17m, Alonso 10.5m,Kuyt 9m, Reira 8m, Torres 20m

Total = £81 million. So Rafa has an entirely new starting eleven to show for that money (which by modern standards isn't much at all. It's also a far, far stronger eleven than the one he inherited.

Oh, and i forgot to mention, he has also assembled squad players like Babel (11m), Benayoun (5m), Dossena (7m), Lucas (5m), Agger (6m), Cavalieri (3.5) and a host of talented youth players, at effectively no net cost at all.

I think that counts as something to show for his 4 and a half years work.

slingerz · 25-02-2009 03:24PM

Mitch Connor wrote: »

To be honest, I don't think Mourinho would leave Inter this summer, not unless he is sacked (which i don't think will happen). I also think he will be the next United manager.

The powers that be have to bring in Mourinho. He's a winner and not a bottler like Benitez. This season was the perfect opportunity to give the league a good rattle and he threw it away with his shocking team selections and a sickening transfer policy.

Benitez walking out would be like winning the lotto for Liverpool provided they got Mourinho in

Karmafaerie · 25-02-2009 03:26PM

Boggles wrote: »

It was brilliant, different kettle of fish to do under the pressure of competing for the title thou I'm sure you'd admit.

But Liverpool have always excelled in preasure games under Rafa, I'm sure you'll agree.

We are a "Cup Team" (:rolleyes:) after all and High Preassure games like being 2 or 3 nil down in a cup final have been adequete tempering I think.

zing · 25-02-2009 03:28PM

Tom Hicks camp denies Rafael Benitez is on the brink of leaving Liverpool
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article5802715.ece

The Spaniard's future as manager appeared more uncertain than ever this morning, as rumours swept Madrid and Liverpool suggesting he was about to leave Anfield. Leading bookmakers suspended all bets on his future at the club, however the Hicks camp has moved swiftly to play down the reports, with sources claiming that despite the antagonism between the owners and Benitez, they will not allow the manager to walk away.

That last bit is the interesting one for me as I've said it numerous times - I honestly don't believe the pair/the club can afford for him to leave

Boggles · 25-02-2009 03:29PM

Karmafaerie wrote: »

But Liverpool have always excelled in preasure games under Rafa, I'm sure you'll agree.

Not in the league, Reading last season the point the towel was thrown in.

Karmafaerie wrote: »

We are a "Cup Team" (:rolleyes:) after all and High Preassure games like being 2 or 3 nil down in a cup final have been adequete tempering I think.

Long time ago Karmafaerie, substantially different team too.

~Rebel~ · 25-02-2009 03:29PM

slingerz wrote: »

The powers that be have to bring in Mourinho. He's a winner and not a bottler like Benitez. This season was the perfect opportunity to give the league a good rattle and he threw it away with his shocking team selections and a sickening transfer policy.

Benitez walking out would be like winning the lotto for Liverpool provided they got Mourinho in

Mourinho will Not be coming.

His wages alone are more then our entire transfer budget last summer. Even if we wanted him (which i dont) we cant afford him.

jesus_thats_gre · 25-02-2009 03:30PM

whatawaster wrote: »

Net Spend over 5 years: £81 million

nothing to show for it? Look at our starting X1 - barring Carra and Gerrard, who he inherited
Reina 7.5m, Arbeloa 2.5 Skrtel 6.5m, Aurelio FREE, Mascherano 17m, Alonso 10.5m,Kuyt 9m, Reira 8m, Torres 20m

Total = £81 million. So Rafa has an entirely new starting eleven to show for that money (which by modern standards isn't much at all. It's also a far, far stronger eleven than the one he inherited.

Oh, and i forgot to mention, he has also assembled squad players like Babel (11m), Benayoun (5m), Dossena (7m), Lucas (5m), Agger (6m), Cavalieri (3.5) and a host of talented youth players, at effectively no net cost at all.

I think that counts as something to show for his 4 and a half years work.

Tis also interesting to note that he is practically breaking even after the Keane saga on players that he has purchased and subsequently sold.. Prior to the Keane debacle, he was actually up money.

I can say that with great confidence as it was calculated on the most conservative figures regarding moneys received for players sales, i.e. based on the money recieved at the time of transfer and excluding any add ons, loan deal payments or 50:50 ownership in the likes of Paletta with Boca.

I must admit that I was extremely suprised to discover that that was the case.

PiE · 25-02-2009 03:30PM

slingerz wrote: »

The powers that be have to bring in Mourinho. He's a winner and not a bottler like Benitez.

Ooh big bait. Whose gonna bite I wonder.

BolBill · 25-02-2009 03:31PM

whatawaster wrote: »

Net Spend over 5 years: £81 million

nothing to show for it? Look at our starting X1 - barring Carra and Gerrard, who he inherited
Reina 7.5m, Arbeloa 2.5 Skrtel 6.5m, Aurelio FREE, Mascherano 17m, Alonso 10.5m,Kuyt 9m, Reira 8m, Torres 20m

Total = £81 million. So Rafa has an entirely new starting eleven to show for that money (which by modern standards isn't much at all. It's also a far, far stronger eleven than the one he inherited.

Oh, and i forgot to mention, he has also assembled squad players like Babel (11m), Benayoun (5m), Dossena (7m), Lucas (5m), Agger (6m), Cavalieri (3.5) and a host of talented youth players, at effectively no net cost at all.

I think that counts as something to show for his 4 and a half years work.

Your points are noted BUT his starting 11 has won NOTHING. The Champions League Final winning team of 2005 contained 2 players Rafa bought, it was basically Houillers team so it was hardly weaker than the current one. Winning the FA Cup the following year was hardly progress. The team of 2007 was more his team but he totally bottled it that night playing Gerrard it a role he wasn't used to.
I'd love to know who the "host of talented youth players" are. The squad players you mention are generally dross and make little or no impact when brought on.

Boggles · 25-02-2009 03:33PM

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

Tis also interesting to note that he is practically breaking even after the Keane saga on players that he has purchased and subsequently sold.. Prior to the Keane debacle, he was actually up money.

I can say that with great confidence as it was calculated on the most conservative figures regarding moneys received for players sales, i.e. based on the money recieved at the time of transfer and excluding any add ons, loan deal payments or 50:50 ownership in the likes of Paletta with Boca.

I must admit that I was extremely suprised to discover that that was the case.

Would be highly commendable if he were hired as an accountant, but alas he wasn't.

jesus_thats_gre · 25-02-2009 03:37PM

Boggles wrote: »

Would be highly commendable if he were hired as an accountant, but alas he wasn't.

What is your perception of his record in the transfer market since joining the club?

I am pretty sure that somewhere in there will be a notion that he has wasted a bucket load of cash on players that didn't work out and were quickly sold on?

~Rebel~ · 25-02-2009 03:38PM

PiE wrote: »

Ooh big bait. Whose gonna bite I wonder.

x2

Boggles · 25-02-2009 03:39PM

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

What is your perception of his record in the transfer market since joining the club?

I am pretty sure that somewhere in there will be a notion that he has wasted a bucket load of cash on players that didn't work out and were quickly sold on?

No I am record as saying that he is excellent at recouping money.

Melion · 25-02-2009 03:41PM

Why the fúck are people talking about the money he has spent AGAIN?

We all know he has spent 100 billion and recouped a fiver. We've been through this at least 100 times. Fúcking hell.

LuckyLloyd · 25-02-2009 03:42PM

event wrote: »

ancellotti
lippi
hitzfeld
Rijkaard

I don't think 'proper' means what you think it means.

Liverpool FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

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