Topic: The King is gone, long live the next one and good luck...

[Gerrvindh]

Nobody knows nowt 'bout nuthin'. The main concern at the minute has to be RAWK running out of disc space.

  Can picture Ben cleaning out the server racks.

[mikey_LFC]

Dominic Morley tweets: "if Di Matteo doesn't get the Chelsea job, maybe he goes to West Brom, Liverpool or Villa? proven himself at Chelsea."

I feel sick.

[Sharado]

Do we actually know if Rafa is being overlooked??

I've not seen his name mentioned realistically anywhere, by any newspaper. If they were really thinking about it, I'm pretty sure we'd of heard something by now. Rather than that we're hearing positive spin about the likes of Martinez and Rogers and nothing at all other than disinterest about the greatest unemployed football mind there is.

I don't even mind if we don't end up with him, but to not even consider him, to prioritize speaking to Martinez before him, is absolutely fucking stupid. There is not a single reason not to make him a very big part of this process.

[Didi_ram]

Would Rafa be content just being a head coach and not a manager? That is the most important question

I think it would make sense to atleast interview the man..I'd be livid if he werent given a chance to present his ideas.

[west_london_red]

So much fail in this post.

Care to expend?

[El_Pelusa_10]

Its a case of looking at the players he had at Barca and the money made avilable to him, neither of which we have, and when your team has Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Fabregas, Mashcerano, Villa, Alves etc its a lot easier to be successfull then who he has to work with at clubs like ours.

Ya but when he took over he had Valdes, Puyol,Messi,Iniesta and Xavi....... not the rest you quoted. they were added later with Pep in charge

He built the team around them, added the right players, and brought through a few gems (busquets,Pedro)

I hate this shit that he inherited a team an he takes nothin.... Rafa took over from Mourinho with the same players the won the CL and that went haywire.

[Gravy]

Would Rafa be content just being a head coach and not a manager? That is the most important question

Rafa should just say what they want to hear, get the job and worry about it later. Best way to approach interviews if you want the job

[TimHocks]

Would Rafa be content just being a head coach and not a manager? That is the most important question

I think he would, with the right team around him.  It would allow him to concentrate on coaching. 

He wanted more control last time because there was so much wrong throughout the club.  I doubt that'll be the case now.

[hugoboss]

A couple of free bargains,a couple of Coates like signings,and a couple of 15m signings is enough IMO to improve us,and there will be some money from sales.Cant see the owners giving the manager more than they gave last summer.We didnt use it particularly well,but that isnt their fault.

I think Rafa would do great work with this squad given 30M, having Aquilani back as well. The problem for me is that he doesn't seem to fit the structure. Luís André de Pina Cabral e Villas-Boas, De Boer wouldn't be too bad.

[The 5th Benitle]

Absolutely brilliantly put mate. Nailed it right there, deserves it's own topic rather than being lost in here.

[Adam_LFC]

Rafa should just say what they want to hear, get the job and worry about it later. Best way to approach interviews if you want the job

But realistically that would damage the club later when it is embroiled in a power struggle.

[incredibleL4ever]

Juventus hired a Serie B manager and spent less money and went from 7th to the title and went undefeated to top it off.  Go figure.

A "top manager" is great but it's not mandatory if you are able to identify someone who has the talent to be great

It can go wrong for anyone or right for them.....there a bit of luck and a bit of skill in it.  Look at Rafa with Inter for example.  Its just that with an experienced manager/coach the chances of it going right are higher.

[geoffstrong 1937-2013 RIP]

That's what snakes do. Or you heard wrongly.

No he said only people like Capello or Benitez will be the right choice for FSG, i was annoyed they even interviewed him but  suppose at 7-30 AM he was all they could get!

[killer_heels]

1 more point.

Sacking Kenny was a fucking joke.

[walshys_mullet]

Well we spent the good part of 100 million last year. You have to remember Liverpool have never spent like they did last summer.

Do you want to rolleyes this Andy Allerton or do you want me?

[Kovai Red]

If Rodolfo and Segura had been asked for an opinion, they definitely would've said about Rafa. I remember Henry admiring the works of these two, so he will definitely consider their opinions too.

[Aigburth73]

I think he would, with the right team around him.  It would allow him to concentrate on coaching. 

He wanted more control last time because there was so much wrong throughout the club.  I doubt that'll be the case now.

That's a very salient point. I think it's almost taken for granted that Rafa wants control over everything, but last time he asked for control it was because any time he identified a target, Parry was too busy flossing his scrotum to get it sorted.

[HighSix]

Looks like Montella is getting a 2 year deal with Roma so less competition for the likes of Capello & Luís André de Pina Cabral e Villas-Boas who have been linked to the job as well as ours.

[TALBERT]

12 candidates Big Sam has a chance

[Gravy]

But realistically that would damage the club later when it is embroiled in a power struggle.

Not if he's winning stuff it won't

[Didi_ram]

I think Rafa would do great work with this squad given 30M, having Aquilani back as well. The problem for me is that he doesn't seem to fit the structure. Luís André de Pina Cabral e Villas-Boas, De Boer wouldn't be too bad.

I think it is a no brainer that Rafa would do boss with it. 229 pages is because Rafa seems unlikely..
Yep,would want the exuberance of Luís André de Pina Cabral e Villas-Boas or FDB instead.

[Gravy]

If Rodolfo and Segura had been asked for an opinion, they definitely would've said about Rafa. I remember Henry admiring the works of these two, so he will definitely consider their opinions too.

Great point

[Drinks Sangria]

Care to expend?

Indeed. Whilst Barcelona have had more to spend than us, Guardiola didn't inherit all of those players. Mascherano, Villa and Fabregas were all his signings. It's an idea, a suggestion that just because we don't have 'his sort' of players, that he can't adapt. Give the man some credit. All you have to look at is what he won with a Barca side that had done nothing for two seasons prior to his arrival. He elevated Messi's performances to that of the best in the world and got Barca playing some fantasy stuff while they were at it. He won over 10 trophies in his time their. He's clearly an astute and intelligent guy, as well as charismatic and would be a huge draw for any player in world football. There's always a reason not to try for one manager. With Pep it's difficult to find that reason. Granted, he may want a year or two's break after the mental exertion of the Catalan giants, but he's the eligible bachelor of world football management. To not even try to sound him out is madness.

[hugoboss]

“Winning the FA Cup wouldn’t have made any difference – it was never about an individual result. It was always about taking a review of the season in full.
 
“The Carling Cup and The FA Cup don’t generate the revenue and the success that is needed to keep investing. If you want to be successful, you have got to keep investing. People don’t want to hear that football is a business. They want to see us put lots of money into the football team and win lots of trophies and games.
 
“But you have got to have both. You have got to have continued progress in the league. If you don’t do well in the league and you don’t get into the Champions League, you are writing cheques from your own pocket, aren’t you? That is not a sustainable way going forward.

Wasn't that obvious all along? They have said they want the club to generate its own revenue. IMO focusing on getting back into the CL doesn't stop us from winning cups. If we get back into the CL we have a much better opportunity of having ab better squad and winning these cups year in year out

[incredibleL4ever]

1 more point.

Sacking Kenny was a fucking joke.

Just wondering.....
It it wasn't Kenny and the results were the same would you think the same.

[L666KOP]

Fucking Martinez and Rodgers, who next, allardyce ?
To be the best you surround yourself with the best personnel, it would appear we're not following that remit.

[west_london_red]

Ya but when he took over he had Valdes, Puyol,Messi,Iniesta and Xavi....... not the rest you quoted. they were added later with Pep in charge

He built the team around them, added the right players, and brought through a few gems (busquets,Pedro)

I hate this shit that he inherited a team an he takes nothin.... Rafa took over from Mourinho with the same players the won the CL and that went haywire.

Im not saying what Pep achieved at Barca wasny impresive, im a huge Barca fan been lucky to see them a couple of times too, am just saying that being successful at Barca with the resources he had is very different to the situation he would find himself at if he came here. The players he bought like Villa, Sanchez, Fabregas - its very debatable if we would have the finances to buy those players for him. Im not knocking him, just pointing out that the circumstances here and in Barcelona are very different.

[Didi_ram]

If Rodolfo and Segura had been asked for an opinion, they definitely would've said about Rafa. I remember Henry admiring the works of these two, so he will definitely consider their opinions too.

Adding to that,there are whispers that Pep is being considered for a promotion to a sort of advanced role that Ayre was mentioning.If so then deffo he could have a minor say.

[rafathegaffa83]

I've no problem with them seeing 12 candidates.
I'd rather they do that, than hiring the first person who came into their minds.
also, it might be useful to hear what each of them propose to do, in terms of taking the club forward.
some of them might have some good ideas, even if other factors rule them out of the job.

Completely agree. Most companies when interviewing candidates for a job talk a wide range of candidates from experienced to those with credentials but limited experience. They might not hire the latter, but they could seek them out at a later date if they impress

[Gravy]

Wasn't that obvious all along? They have said they want the club to generate its own revenue. IMO focusing on getting back into the CL doesn't stop us from winning cups. If we get back into the CL we have a much better opportunity of having ab better squad and winning these cups year in year out

That's the $24000 question. But that's being objective and we can't have that now can we

[Andy @ Allerton]

Well we spent the good part of 100 million last year. You have to remember Liverpool have never spent like they did last summer.

This is rubbish. We lost players for money. We bought players to replace the players we lost. Then we bought a few more to replace some of those lost in the squad.

If you actually think that we spent £100M more than we made then you have issues.

[L666KOP]

I think it is a no brainer that Rafa would do boss with it. 229 pages is because Rafa seems unlikely..
Yep,would want the exuberance of Luís André de Pina Cabral e Villas-Boas or FDB instead.

If rafa is being overlooked its not because he's lacking in football manager ability.

[Drinks Sangria]

Im not saying what Pep achieved at Barca wasny impresive, im a huge Barca fan been lucky to see them a couple of times too, am just saying that being successful at Barca with the resources he had is very different to the situation he would find himself at if he came here. The players he bought like Villa, Sanchez, Fabregas - its very debatable if we would have the finances to buy those players for him. Im not knocking him, just pointing out that the circumstances here and in Barcelona are very different.

Yes, but in saying that you're adopting the stance that Pep isn't flexible or intelligent enough to adapt, or it at least comes across that way. The differing circumstances are what would mark him out as a truly great manager.

[hugoboss]

I think he would, with the right team around him.  It would allow him to concentrate on coaching. 

He wanted more control last time because there was so much wrong throughout the club.  I doubt that'll be the case now.

I don't believe he would to be honest, didn't he leave Valencia for similar reasons? Last thing we want is more in house fighting

[stevienash]

12 candidates Big Sam has a chance

Bit like the apprentice may be Suger is advising them

[TALBERT]

If rafa is being overlooked its not because he's lacking in football manager ability.

It's because Rafa wouldn't be an overwhelmed yes man

[TLW 84]

Just wondering.....
It it wasn't Kenny and the results were the same would you think the same.

For me, yes. If it had been Hodgson's season and he had showed that he was in touch with the fans, I'd want him to carry on.

[Bincey]

Maybe they get in each of the 12 and say, "Out of the other 11, who would you pick to manage Liverpool?" They then pick the name that crops up the most.

[Johnnyboy1973]

I don't believe he would to be honest, didn't he leave Valencia for similar reasons? Last thing we want is more in house fighting

There will be guaranteed in house fighting if the person responsible for buying players buys his manager what he doesn't want, irrespective of whether it is Rafa or not.

[west_london_red]

Indeed. Whilst Barcelona have had more to spend than us, Guardiola didn't inherit all of those players. Mascherano, Villa and Fabregas were all his signings. It's an idea, a suggestion that just because we don't have 'his sort' of players, that he can't adapt. Give the man some credit. All you have to look at is what he won with a Barca side that had done nothing for two seasons prior to his arrival. He elevated Messi's performances to that of the best in the world and got Barca playing some fantasy stuff while they were at it. He won over 10 trophies in his time their. He's clearly an astute and intelligent guy, as well as charismatic and would be a huge draw for any player in world football. There's always a reason not to try for one manager. With Pep it's difficult to find that reason. Granted, he may want a year or two's break after the mental exertion of the Catalan giants, but he's the eligible bachelor of world football management. To not even try to sound him out is madness.

answered some of those points in my last post above, not questioning his ability or his success, just pointing out that we are in very different circumstances to Barca when Pep took over, while be bought a lot of the players I listed, he had the money to buy them, we dont. As for won nothing in 2 years, they won the league not that long before he took over, we havent won it in over 20. If he came here he would be starting much further back then he did at Barca, and while its a risk taking people who have only managed clubs like Wigan and Swansea and expecting them to step up and be successful with us, its pretty risky hiring a manager who has only had success at Barca and asking him to step down to a team that just finished 8th.