Topic: Rafa Revolution

[mysterio_86]

I am not sure, if this has been posted earlier or not, OR should I be creating new thread for this but I certainly believe this needs to be read by everyone here

http://liverpool.theoffside.com/team-news/rafas-english-revolution.html

Christian Purslow wanted an English revolution to sweep away the Spanish one foisted on the club by Rafa Benitez. It would include the likes of Joe Cole and Paul Konchesky. It would satisfy the talking heads on Sky. It would be led by Roy Hodgson, recipient of the manager of the year award from his peers in the old boys’ network. And it would use many of the foreign players brought in by Benitez as easily disposed of scapegoats, reasons to place beside the departed manager that would highlight the club having taken a wrong turn somewhere along the line, at least as Purslow, some quarters of the media, and those fans who chose to follow them saw it.

It didn’t turn out the way he had hoped, of course, the managing director departing in shame as the severe under-performance of his chosen manager and his manager’s chosen players served only to highlight some of Benitez’ qualities that had perhaps been overlooked or taken for granted while he was still at the club. What did remain, though, even after his short-lived experiment was over, was a belief that for good or ill the club seemed to have shed itself of its Spanish revolution and would now be able to continue down a road that embraced an English one. And that on some level this remained a denouement of Rafa Benitez’ time with the club, an undoing of anything he may have built or managed to achieve.

In large part this was because under the returned Kenny Dalglish, the newly revitalized academy–suddenly stocked full of local youth–finally seemed on the verge of making meaningful contributions to the club once again. However, even if this return to relevance by the Liverpool academy does signal a kind of English revolution, it is a revolution that owes its existence to the club’s departed Spanish manager–not to mention a pair of integral Spaniards still with the club, former Barcelona academy gurus Jose Segura and Rodolfo Borrell. It was in fact Rafa’s final victory in a long battle to fix the broken youth system that in the end put him in a position to lose his job, and as much as for a time the face of the club was that of Torres and Alonso, of Arbeloa and Riera, of the still with the club Pepe Reina and a cadre of Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian speaking players on top of that Spanish core, this newly emerging, largely local youth movement owes just as much to his work as what existed before he left.............http://liverpool.theoffside.com/team-news/rafas-english-revolution.html

[Hazell]

Good read, thanks for posting. Think we need to wait a while in terms of the success of the academy but the signs are promising.

Re Purslow: What exactly were his motivations? Was it just his ego and selfishness or was he genuinely doing what he felt was best for the club?

[mysterio_86]

What I really enjoyed reading was the fact that now with the kind of academy talent we have, we dont have to spend money to fill our squad with fringe players. We can concentrate on quality signings to lead the team, and academy to help out in injury crisis and step up for the ageing players when time comes.

I have been Rafa fan and now I appreciate him n his efforts even more

[Aido LFC]

Purslow knows fuck all about football the prick

[JovaJova]

Nothing new here really but these are issues that will never be known by non Liverpool fans. Rafa should have been around to take much of the credit for the crop that will break through into our first team. Kenny is already and will continue to get the credit for it by the unknowing press. Thankfully Kenny is the sort of person who will deflect an element of the praise to it's rightful place.

[El Ninos Black Eye]

Purslow knows fuck all about football the prick

Yes but he's the Fernando Torres of the business world you know.

[RedinExile]

Purslow knows fuck all about football the prick

yup.

[xerxes1]

An odd article - Kenny has delivered on a home grown revolution.A British assistant, Kelly,Wisdom, Wilson,Sterling, Flanagan, Jonjo, Carroll, Spearing etc with the "best of the rest" in Suraez. And the results have been immediate. he also looks as though he is getting the best out of GJ and I expect JC to come good too next season.

The future is bright.

[Hazell]

An odd article - Kenny has delivered on a home grown revolution.A British assistant, Kelly,Wisdom, Wilson,Sterling, Flanagan, Jonjo, Carroll, Spearing etc with the "best of the rest" in Suraez. And the results have been immediate. he also looks as though he is getting the best out of GJ and I expect JC to come good too next season.

In what way is it odd? And it was Rafa who instigated things and should be praised for it. Not sure why you've ignored him. Or maybe I am.

[Billy The Kid.]

The joint appointment of Segura and Borrell was a masterstroke by Rafa.

Just another one of many great things that Rafa did for the club, yet he got shit for thanks.



 

[dustygator]

In hindsight, Joe Cole is obviously overrated and overpaid but at the time, most people were at least relatively happy with us signing him. And if we don't offload him in the summer, I have feeling he'll pretty well next season. He was plagued by injuries, a shit manager and loss of confidence this season.

I don't know if we can blame signing Konchesky on Purslow. Almost all of the blame should fall on Hodgson; bringing in someone from his old club who's clearly not top 4 material or anywhere near it.

[1021]

An odd article - Kenny has delivered on a home grown revolution.A British assistant, Kelly,Wisdom, Wilson,Sterling, Flanagan, Jonjo, Carroll, Spearing etc with the "best of the rest" in Suraez. And the results have been immediate. he also looks as though he is getting the best out of GJ and I expect JC to come good too next season.

The future is bright.

Who is the JC you refer to at the end?
The article accurately credits Rafa with revolutionising the academy and helping ensure that we have this wealth of "British/homegrown" players coming through the ranks, nothing weird about it.

Reaffirms what a gobshite Purslow is/was/ever shall be.
Complements Rafa and his acheivements within the academy, something Kenny has also made a point of doing.

I love Kenny for giving these lads a chance, although we have been so hampered by injury this season that it has been as much out of necessity as it has been desire to do so, but such is their apparent skill/ability they would have come through whether we were managed by Rafa/the King/anyone ept at managing a football club. I think Kenny will get a little bit more out of them than anyone else (especially the local ones by virtue of who he is and what he does in terms of making them feel like world beaters even at 17).

And as Kenny himself has said, he isn't intrested in places of birth he is intrested in how good a player they are, it just happens to be the case that our academy is now producing quality, at times local/English footballers. Plus in terms of transfers Comolli has huge clout and his areas of expertise (markets he knows better than others, Gerard brought in French. French based players, Rafa knew the Spanish speaking leagues better than others) will be where our signings come from.

[Billy The Kid.]

In what way is it odd? And it was Rafa who instigated things and should be praised for it. Not sure why you've ignored him in your praise.

It's odd to him because it's suggesting that the quality of our current youth set up may have had something to do with Rafa placing specific emphasis on restructuring the academy for our long term benefit. It's a good job we fucked Rafa off when we did though, what with his Spanish assistant Sammy Lee and a youth academy swarming with Spanish players. At least we can go back to having the first team and youth teams being ordered to communicate solely in English now. You know, like they always fucking did.

[1021]

It's odd to him because it's suggesting that the quality of our current youth set up may have had something to do with Rafa placing specific emphasis on restructuring the academy for our long term benefit. It's a good job we fucked Rafa off when we did though, what with his Spanish assistant Sammy Lee and a youth academy swarming with Spanish players

[TSC]

The current state of the team is down to Dalglish.  He's the manager and he's the key to Liverpool being basically transformed since Hodgson.  And also a big contributing factor is Kenny's willingness and indeed bravery to pitch youngsters into the front line while established key players are out injured.

Rafa may well have put the wheels in motion like re the overhaul of the academy originally, but current state of affairs is down to Kenny, with a little help from Clark.

[mickeydocs]

Purslow should never ever have been the MD of our beloved club.

[neel2108]

Purslow should never ever have been the MD of our beloved club.

His vote in the boardroom was vital in ridding us of Hicks and Gillett. Other than that he was an absolute failure. Another example of an idiot with too much power unfortunately.

[1021]

His vote in the boardroom was vital in ridding us of Hicks and Gillett. Other than that he was an absolute failure. Another example of an idiot with too much power unfortunately.

He voted the way he had too.

[Aristotle]

The joint appointment of Segura and Borrell was a masterstroke by Rafa.

Just another one of many great things that Rafa did for the club, yet he got shit for thanks.

How much did that actually cost?
I mean it's totally worth it I just think Barca were (and probably still are) unhappy to lost them and would've demanded compensation

[SMD]

An odd article - Kenny has delivered on a home grown revolution.A British assistant, Kelly,Wisdom, Wilson,Sterling, Flanagan, Jonjo, Carroll, Spearing etc with the "best of the rest" in Suraez. And the results have been immediate. he also looks as though he is getting the best out of GJ and I expect JC to come good too next season.

The future is bright.

Keep banging that drum.

[Mr Bojangles]

Yes but he's the Fernando Torres of the business world you know.

In that he's Pure-slow?

[Billy The Kid.]

His vote in the boardroom was vital in ridding us of Hicks and Gillett.

Do you know what? At the time, I was willing to forgive him for his past fuck ups due to his role in helping us to get rid of the yanks. I thought fuck it, fair enough, he played his part. But after the dust settled, and the more I thought about it, his decision to side with Broughton wasn't exactly a hard one was it? Considering that virtually the entire fan base were also doing their level best to rid the club of the yanks as well. He couldn't possibly have been stupid enough to even think about taking their side. He didn't exactly do anything that's really worthy of forgiveness did he? Purslow done more harm than he done good here. If he ever darkens the door of our boardroom again he should be sent packing with a swift kick in the bollox, the prat.

[CarraG238]

It's not just the fact that Rafa reformed the academy and youth ranks. Think about how much money the promotion of youth players will save/make the club.

Instead of buying the Degens of the world, Liverpool can simply call up a right back who knows the Liverpool way from back to front as a stopgap and hopefully be seen as a right back for the future.

Even if most of these lads don't make the first team, the reputation of the Liverpool academy will mean some of them will be sold for profit to either lower-tier Premier League teams or Championship teams.

Sigh. It's like Rafa is Moses in some way. Got to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, but wasn't able to lead us all the way to the promise land.

[jaffod]

An odd article - Kenny has delivered on a home grown revolution.A British assistant, Kelly,Wisdom, Wilson,Sterling, Flanagan, Jonjo, Carroll, Spearing etc with the "best of the rest" in Suraez. And the results have been immediate. he also looks as though he is getting the best out of GJ and I expect JC to come good too next season.

The future is bright.

Absolute bollocks.

Out of the players you name only Kelly, and recently Spearing, has made any significant contribution this season. I've been very impressed with Flanagan but we were saying the same things about Darby not so long ago so I'm not getting carried away.
 I just cannot begin to imagine why you think 'JC' will come good next season and Johnson continues to be average while reputedly being the top earner at the club.
The real stars of the revolution have been Suarez, Kuyt, Lucas, Meireles and an ever-improving Skrtel.
The only thing I agree with you on is the future looks bright.

[opsteo]

It's not just the fact that Rafa reformed the academy and youth ranks. Think about how much money the promotion of youth players will save/make the club.

Instead of buying the Degens of the world, Liverpool can simply call up a right back who knows the Liverpool way from back to front as a stopgap and hopefully be seen as a right back for the future.

Even if most of these lads don't make the first team, the reputation of the Liverpool academy will mean some of them will be sold for profit to either lower-tier Premier League teams or Championship teams.

Sigh. It's like Rafa is Moses in some way. Got to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, but wasn't able to lead us all the way to the promise land.

Good analogy.

One of Rafa's greatest credit to the club is also rehabilitation of a former star from a spectator/commentator to active football management and paving the way for him to return to LFC and hopefully to establish a football dynasty in the years to come.

Without Rafa, Kenny would not even be in the running for caretaker manager because he would just be a former great with a CV that was blank for so many years. 

[Golden_Child]

An odd article - Kenny has delivered on a home grown revolution.A British assistant, Kelly,Wisdom, Wilson,Sterling, Flanagan, Jonjo, Carroll, Spearing etc with the "best of the rest" in Suraez. And the results have been immediate. he also looks as though he is getting the best out of GJ and I expect JC to come good too next season.

The future is bright.

You dont half talk some shite. Did Rafa batter your missus or something?

He must have personally offended you for you to not accept that he did anything good for the club.

I bet you were struggling to contain your resentment on 25th May 2005.

[Fanxxxxtastic]

Nothing new here really but these are issues that will never be known by non Liverpool fans. Rafa should have been around to take much of the credit for the crop that will break through into our first team. Kenny is already and will continue to get the credit for it by the unknowing press. Thankfully Kenny is the sort of person who will deflect an element of the praise to it's rightful place.

Now hang on, Kenny will get praise for utilising some of these players, but he's been very quick to praise Rafa for the system he'd set in place after he'd gone.

[Golden_Child]

Now hang on, Kenny will get praise for utilising some of these players, but he's been very quick to praise Rafa for the system he'd set in place after he'd gone.

Erm, I think you may have read his post wrong. He was saying exactly what you have said 

[Fanxxxxtastic]

Erm, I think you may have read his post wrong. He was saying exactly what you have said 

Oops, yer right.  I completely read it wrong.  I blame the alcohol

[Superthing]

Yes but he's the Fernando Torres of the business world you know.

What, an over-rated sulky prima-donna who would happily shit on his grannies face for some extra cash?
Oh yeah, fair point......

[Golden_Child]

Oops, yer right.  I completely read it wrong.  I blame the alcohol

It's Saturday night, who isn't blaming alcohol 

[Fanxxxxtastic]

An odd article - Kenny has delivered on a home grown revolution.A British assistant, Kelly,Wisdom, Wilson,Sterling, Flanagan, Jonjo, Carroll, Spearing etc with the "best of the rest" in Suraez. And the results have been immediate. he also looks as though he is getting the best out of GJ and I expect JC to come good too next season.

The future is bright.

You say the best of the rest regarding Suarez, but Kenny has highlighted that Rafa said he needed to be checked out.  When it comes to Carroll, Rafa wanted him when he was 19, and I'm sure at the time we could have got him for £5 million.

Your revisionism knows no bounds.

[hitman89762000]

An odd article - Kenny has delivered on a home grown revolution.A British assistant, Kelly,Wisdom, Wilson,Sterling, Flanagan, Jonjo, Carroll, Spearing etc with the "best of the rest" in Suraez. And the results have been immediate. he also looks as though he is getting the best out of GJ and I expect JC to come good too next season.

The future is bright.

You know from the moment i first started reading this place and posting here too your posts have always baffled me cos you keep pushing this anti rafa bandwagon even in a thread thats about what he's done for the club in terms of the new academy coachers etc you come in and try to wrest those compliments and praise from him and what i dont get is why??

[SuperSub77]

We know what Rafa did was right, Rafa knows what he did was right. Rafa still genuinely loves this club and I'm sure that, despite him not being in charge,  he will be proud that his work on the academy is bearing fruit. I'm also sure that he feels Kenny is better qualified than anyone to nuture the academy talent.

The important thing is that the real supporters will always recognise the foundations that Rafa laid and it's our opinion that he values the most.

[Fanxxxxtastic]

You know from the moment i first started reading this place and posting here too your posts have always baffled me cos you keep pushing this anti rafa bandwagon even in a thread thats about what he's done for the club in terms of the new academy coachers etc you come in and try to wrest those compliments and praise from him and what i dont get is why??

Because he's part of the Skywashed regiment. 

[alex.]

His vote in the boardroom was vital in ridding us of Hicks and Gillett.

As if he had a choice, the one advantage that Hicks and Gillett had was that there's a big ocean and thousands of miles between them and Liverpool.

He only had one choice really so he deserved absolutely no credit at all and anyone who gives him any bit of it are deluded.

He was in it for himself all along, worse than Parry in my opinion, he was just incompetent while Purslow is a poisonous c*nt.

[Fanxxxxtastic]

It's not just the fact that Rafa reformed the academy and youth ranks. Think about how much money the promotion of youth players will save/make the club.

Instead of buying the Degens of the world, Liverpool can simply call up a right back who knows the Liverpool way from back to front as a stopgap and hopefully be seen as a right back for the future.

Even if most of these lads don't make the first team, the reputation of the Liverpool academy will mean some of them will be sold for profit to either lower-tier Premier League teams or Championship teams.

Sigh. It's like Rafa is Moses in some way. Got to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, but wasn't able to lead us all the way to the promise land.

Great post!

[7777]

Because he's part of the Skywashed regiment. 

I had a (good) blue telling me after they won the under 18 league that our problems were down to Rafa bringing in too many foreign kids at the academy. It's funny how things are viewed from the outside looking in.

Firstly I don't see any problems, what we're seeing now at the Academy is down to Rafa, his legacy, from under 8's to the reserves, Sterling, Wisdom, Shelvey, Wilson, Suso, Pacheco, N'Goo, Segura, Borrell, McParland, Kenny - all Rafa appointments and all bearing fruit. Even some of those who are elsewhere are doing well, San Jose, Mavinga etc

The only thing I do doubt is whether Rafa would have threw Jack Robinson on at left back against Arsenal when we were already playing Flanagan or whether he would have even played Flanagan in the first place

[el diablos]

Your revisionism knows no bounds.

Correct, that's Xerxes1 modus operandi.

One of the amusing things about this particular post is that Xerxes was adamant that Kenny should not be appointed manager in Jan. He stated categorically that he was against his return to the dug out and said "On a permanent basis he can only fail.There is no chance of him emulating past glories". He was also pretty sure that FSG agreed with him. The many who advocated Kenny's return were accused of being hysterical, pavlovian knee jerks or living in the past.

Now Xerxes1 seems to be lauding Kenny and using him to dismiss the achievements of Benitez in laying the foundations of the youth set up. He also repetitively insists that Kenny is deliberately returning to a British core in the team. He may be right in the long term, but after only 1 transfer window and only 2 players in there is not enough evidence to determine Kenny's future acquisition/player development strategy. If the club buys a number of foreign players in the summer it will be interesting to see how Xerxes revises his approach once more.

[Vork+The Knights of Good]

I don't know if we can blame signing Konchesky on Purslow. Almost all of the blame should fall on Hodgson; bringing in someone from his old club who's clearly not top 4 material or anywhere near it.

And who do we blame for signing Hodgson? "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."