Rafa’s days at Anfield are numbered
Roar Rookie
By Hutch11, 13 Mar 2010 Hutch11 is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- EPL, Liverpool, Rafa Benitez
Under-siege Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez’s time at the helm of Liverpool could soon be coming to an end after another week of disastrous results.
Benitez, who signed a five-year contract last year, is rapidly losing support of the fans. After crashing out of the Champions League earlier this year in the group stages, knocked out by Reading in the FA Cup and failing to put form on the board this week with loses to Wigan and Lille in the Premier League and Europa League respectively, things aren’t looking positive for Benitez’s future at the club.
Benitez’s dismal season continues to attract more people calling for the Spaniard to quit and move on from Anfield. One Liverpool faithful even requesting a campaign to remove the manager.
“Personally they should be campaigning for Rafa to step down”, he said.
“Well done for what you have done, thank you very much but it’s time now to pack your bags and move on”.
Speaking from a Liverpool tragic perspective, I have an enormous respect for the Spaniard. He has transformed the club, bringing a Spanish influence into Anfield, signing big foreign names like Fernando Torres, showing faith in local talent and restoring pride in the shirt. He was also in-charge of the Reds on that historic night in Istanbul, where the world witnessed the greatest match ever and the true definition of the saying, “You Will Never Walk Alone”.
But this season, which to be fair has been tainted with a list of injured players, has seen Liverpool not only drop in fit players, winning attitude, morale, but also dropping out of Champions League contention next year.
Labelled as one of the ‘Big Four’ in England, it is considered essential for Liverpool to qualify in Europe’s prestigious tournament. However, sitting in a nervous 6th position on the Premier League table with 10 games left of the season, Liverpool will now be relying on other teams results as well as their own from here on in if they are a chance to finish in the top four.
If Benitez is to save his reputation and position at Liverpool, he needs to start winning games. He needs to bring back the belief and composure he had in his earlier years that brought him the European Champions League and FA Cup. Regaining the respect of the players and fans again will be his toughest assignment yet, but it looks likely that this is going to be the beginning of end for Rafa’s reign at the Reds.
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vas said | March 13th 2010 @ 11:26am | Report comment
as an ardent red, this season has been a huge letdown from the heady feeling of last year with thrashings of Real Madrid and Manchester United. Whether this is Rafa’s fault though, I’m not sure.
There has to be some pressure on the players for some inept displays. And we are suffering some holes in our squad depth, particularly up front. Apart from Xabi Alonso, the biggest mistake I feel was to let go of Peter Crouch.
I think Rafa’s time is up, with full respect for everything he’s achieved for Liverpool. But I think someone like Hiddink or Mourinho will be forceful enough to get the players the club needs to knock Manchester United off their perch…
Eddie said | March 13th 2010 @ 3:56pm | Report comment
Crouch wasn’t let go. His contract was winding down and with Torres the undisputed no 1 striker Crouch wanted to play more games and wouldn’t sign a new contract, he was sold with a year left on his contract so Liverpool could at least get some money from his transfer and not have him leave on a free transfer a year later (with Liverpool getting nothing). Possibly if Liverpool had been in a stronger financial position they could offered Crouch large enough wages which could of tempted him to stay at the club.
Xabi Alonso wanted to go to Real Madrid, just like Ronaldo wanted to go to Real Madrid, just like Joleon Lescott wanted to go Man City. If Alex Fergueson and David Moyes could stop those players moving why should anything different be expected of Rafa.
Why would Hiddink or Mourinho come to a club that has serve debt and where they will be given a transfer budget of $0?
MJR said | March 13th 2010 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
As a fan of Rafa, and having a soft spot for Liverpool, I can only say that Rafa’s time is coming to an end. He has done what he has done and now is struggling to move forward with the team. Maybe accepting and stepping aside could be the most honourable thing for everyone as a whole……
vas said | March 13th 2010 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
this may depend on the situation at Real Madrid. They are looking to offload Pellegrini, so I suspect there may be something afoot for Real to buy out Rafa’s contract at Liverpool, thus save the Reds a lot of cash. If not, then the financial cost of letting go of Rafa will be enormous.
Apart from the boss, I would bring in only two players: Joe Cole on a free, and Gabriel Agbonlahor…