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| Liverpool: If Benitez goes, players may follow | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 22 2009, 05:21 PM (212 Views) | |
| TheReturnOfTheKing | Jan 22 2009, 05:21 PM Post #1 |
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Definitely NOT a Terrorist
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balague A great deal has been written about Rafa Benitez’ contract dispute with Liverpool’s American owners and I find myself disagreeing with much of what has been published. However, one piece in particular, written by the excellent Martin Samuel, stands out above the rest. As we have come to expect, Samuel offers an incredibly insightful analysis on the situation at Anfield and while we may not always agree, his words challenge us to think. On this occasion I find myself agreeing with him more often than not and I’d like to add my own thoughts to his words… “To stay at Liverpool, Rafael Benitez, the manager, does not require a team of lawyers working overtime to insert unworkable clauses into his new contract. He needs something altogether more decent, simple and old fashioned. Trust. A mutually sincere relationship between a senior employee and his employers is what separates Benitez from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, Martin O’Neill at Aston Villa, even David Moyes at Everton.” Martin Samuel is absolutely correct on two counts here. On the question of trust, if Rafa Benitez cannot earn the trust of the Liverpool board now, then the question must be asked: will he ever? If Parry and co. are not prepared to trust the judgment of a coach who has steered the club to the top of the Premiership table with a forward line worth around two thirds that of United’s and his most expensive defender costing around £27 million less than Ferguson paid for Rio Ferdinand; and if they are not prepared to back the judgment of a coach who has led their club to three Champions League semi finals in four years, two Champions League finals, while adding four more trophies to the cabinet – then it does not look as if they ever will. And when Martin Samuel refers to how other clubs are run, he leads me to a real concern I have at the moment; because it appears that nobody at Liverpool is looking beyond what is going on under their noses at Anfield. I am not just talking about the fact that Rick Parry and the board are unwilling to relinquish control and acknowledge the potential in a managerial structure that has brought so much success at Old Trafford; but also about the fact that while they remain determined to dig their heels over this internal power struggle, there are external forces preparing to exploit these divisions for their own ends. The interest in Benitez from other clubs is very real and I am convinced that an approach from at least one of the presidential candidates at Real Madrid is inevitable. Rafa would like certain assurances in writing that the club are willing to back his judgment, yet the club is not willing to grant him that show of faith. If a club is not prepared to trust the coach, then nobody should be surprised if that coach were to leave. That would break Rafa’s heart and it is the last thing he wants, but if he knows that - no matter what he achieves - his employers will never be willing to place their trust in him, then he may be left with little choice. “Fernando Torres, Liverpool’s record signing, said at the weekend that as many as six players would consider their options if Benitez left, so this current dispute must be taken seriously. “ That warning is perhaps one of the most important lines in Martin Samuel’s piece and it has been dismissed in certain quarters. One can only speculate, but if Rafa were to leave, then I think it inevitable that the likes of Arbeloa, Reina, Agger, Mascherano, Kuyt and maybe even Torres – all players who have flourished under Benitez and signed up to his vision of building a dynasty at Anfield – would be forced ‘to consider their options.’ “Losing Rafa would mean abandoning the Rafalution and Liverpool would move, in an instant, from a point where the mission is on the point of accomplishment to one where it is starting again from scratch. In the circumstances, then, it should be imperative to keep him: but not at any cost.” Liverpool Football Club has changed and moving fast towards becoming a modern club. It is at the moment being driven in two directions. Some people want to preserve the Liverpool way (and protect their own self interest) and others want to make it a competitive club less entrenched in abstract philosophy and with more executive decisions. If Rafa goes, then the club will have to start again, from scratch, at all levels. The manager is five years in to a long term plan that is not yet complete; it is his plan and his vision and without him, it is meaningless. It is like spending five years laying the foundations, only to tear up the plans and bring in a new architect. What a waste. As Martin Samuel suggests, Rafa should be allowed to see this project through, but not at any cost. Yet what the Liverpool coach is asking for is so easily affordable: in fact it will not cost the club a penny. Rafa is not demanding more money – merely asking to be allowed to decide how to spend the money they are willing to give him. “The stance of the club is unhelpful because the transfer market has never been an exact science and even the greatest managers make mistakes. Benitez would have paid £18m for Barry with no guarantees, yes, but the executive who killed that deal but agreed Robbie Keane was value for money at £20m from Tottenham is hardly looking the sharpest tool in the box, either. The difference is that few depict the signing of Keane as a boardroom blunder. He is the mistake of Benitez alone. Maybe shouldering the blame has driven the manager to demand full responsibility.” I applaud Martin for making this point, when so many have been quick to criticise Rafa for spending £20 million on Robbie Keane. We will never know what Rafa – if left to his own devices – would have paid for the Spurs striker. But what we do know is that it was not Rafa’s decision to spend £20 million on Keane as he does not negotiate the deals – while at the same time it was the club that decided not to pay £18 million for Gareth Barry. And that is the point. Martin does not mention that, perhaps, if it had been up to Rafa, he would not have bought Keane at the first time of asking, that he may have held out and negotiated the price down. And what of the owners themselves? If they are trying to sell the club, would it not be better to have a successful coach tied down to a long term contract? Is that not of greater value to any potential buyers? None of the above bodes well. The club needs to move forward as quickly as possible and I sincerely hope that it takes a positive step in the right direction. Now is not the time to allow five years of hard work to unravel and the negative publicity can only do harm to Liverpool’s aspirations and ambitions. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 1. do you agree 2. who is martin |
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| Jimmymac™ | Jan 22 2009, 05:32 PM Post #2 |
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Inspirational
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writes for the daily mail as for if I agree or not, i do and I don't. I know that many players are loyal to rafa but they are also very passionate about the club. I admit that if Rafa went then some would consider their position at the club but I can't think of anyone that would immediately jump ship the second rafa dissapeared. They are all sensible enough to know that its worth waiting to see who else comes into the squad in his place and what he decides to do. They will give a new manager at least a small amount of time to see if it they like the way the club is going. Everyone would be sad to see Rafa leave but they wont just run at the first chance. |
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| blah | Jan 22 2009, 05:33 PM Post #3 |
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Y.N.W.A
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martin is a daily mail sports columnist. Ref the points made: firstly , is rafa asking for too much in wanting control of the purchasing side of things and player valuations? doesnt seem unreasonable. is it the norm though with other clubs aswell? i dont know. either way it reiterates our board and manager arent on the same page in regards to transfer policies. = disharmony within. the catalyst obviosuly being from last season when it all came into the open with the spats, the uncertainty of the clubs future in the yank owners hands. the failure to take forth our move to a new stadium , but maybe that wasnt helped with the recent state of the economy. I truly dont know what to make of it all tbh and where our clubs future will fall over the next 1-2 seasons in terms of ownership
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| "My idea was to build Liverpool into a bastion of invincibility.Napoleon had that idea.He wanted to conquer the bloody world.I wanted Liverpool to be untouchable.My idea was to build Liverpool up and up until eventually everyone would have to submit and give in." Bill Shankly | |
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| TheReturnOfTheKing | Jan 22 2009, 05:35 PM Post #4 |
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Definitely NOT a Terrorist
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the owners and manager could not be here next season |
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| blah | Jan 22 2009, 05:38 PM Post #5 |
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Y.N.W.A
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Dont think it would be both...one or the other will go imo. |
| "My idea was to build Liverpool into a bastion of invincibility.Napoleon had that idea.He wanted to conquer the bloody world.I wanted Liverpool to be untouchable.My idea was to build Liverpool up and up until eventually everyone would have to submit and give in." Bill Shankly | |
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| Jimmymac™ | Jan 22 2009, 05:39 PM Post #6 |
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Inspirational
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possibly, but I doubt the likes of Torres, Alonso, Masch, Agger, Skrtel et al would do a runner if things did change in the summer unless it was down to a new manager deciding they were surplus to requirements. All of them I believe, would at least give a new manager time to show his intentions for the squad. At the end of the day, where would they want to go, if its loyalty to Rafa then the suggestion is surely that they would follow Rafa to his next club, what club in the world (bar Man City) would have the money to purchase those players from us? Otherwise they would basically be not only losing the manager but then losing a club they have a passion for in the hope that the grass is greener elsewhere, I don't think any of them are quite that foolish. Sure if come half way through the season these players are not getting on with a new manager then they might consider their options. |
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| Jeffers | Jan 22 2009, 06:57 PM Post #7 |
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Ginger Prince
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a new manager may want to bring in his own players, and if high offers come in for some of those players the manager may take the money to bring in players of his own. loosing bernitez now would be a major setback and it would take liverpool 5 years to get themselves back to the level they r at now |
| "I don't play against a particular team. I play against the idea of losing." - Cantona | |
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| IRL | Jan 22 2009, 07:16 PM Post #8 |
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BANNED
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interesting read, im gona copy and paste this on a liverpool forum and wait for the reaction, i do think that reina(foremost) torres and alonso would consider their options if rafa ever went, i also think lfc need to move with the times,and faster then what it is at the min to compete in the global market, who knows the amount of money we are missing out on, money that could be spent on players, stadium etc |
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| Kenny_lfc | Jan 22 2009, 07:37 PM Post #9 |
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Sausage Warrior
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i said this yesterday, if Rafa leaves, a load of players will follow suit. its absolutely absurd though that now the off the field stuff is all coming out again, Rafa's contract, Agger's contract... its all coming out now of all times, when it should of been sorted ages ago. |
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| flak | Jan 22 2009, 10:43 PM Post #10 |
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It's nearly Christmas
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Yep there seems to be a major distraction every season with the owners or new owners taking over or Rafa's roatation or whatever. Why can't they get this stuff sorted in the Summer then concentrate on the football fully. Not too sure if the players will follow Rafa out...if any though it'd most likely be the Spanish ones wanting to go and play in La Liga back home. |
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| Jeffers | Jan 22 2009, 11:43 PM Post #11 |
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Ginger Prince
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i dont think torres would leave. he had the chance to join united, who were going to pay more than £20m but decide that he was going to try and win it with athletico, then liverpool make a bid and hes gone to them insted |
| "I don't play against a particular team. I play against the idea of losing." - Cantona | |
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| FLOPP'D | Jan 22 2009, 11:44 PM Post #12 |
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The King in the North
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Alonso has made no secret of his desire to play in Italy, he would deffs go I think. Not too sure on anyone else. |
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| TheReturnOfTheKing | Jan 23 2009, 12:36 AM Post #13 |
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Definitely NOT a Terrorist
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arbeloa has trouble settling in and he would go...torres would stay i feel. arbeloa,agger,alonso will leave i think kuyt maybe |
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| Plonker | Jan 23 2009, 12:38 AM Post #14 |
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Oracle of Truth.
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Yes, I agree, Alonso & Agger both would leave. Not sure about Mascherano and Lucas (do Liverpool fans rate him actually?) Torres loves L'pool, can't see him leaving. |
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| FLOPP'D | Jan 23 2009, 12:39 AM Post #15 |
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The King in the North
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I rate Lucas, don't see many that agree with me. |
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1:19 AM Jul 11