Re: Liverpool Thread
Yeah lets not start all this again.
Rafa's problems seem to be man-management (getting the best out of players, keeping everyone happy etc), transfers and he hasn't always done so well with the media. Obviously there are exceptions to that (Torres) but in general this is where he has struggled. You guys have got more professional players on your books than anyone else in the country, yet hardly any of them are good enough to play in the team. That's gotta say something to you!!
What Jermain Pennant said in that interview about Benitez neutering players I actually agree with. He does sound a bit bitter about his time at Liverpool but then again, I can understand why. For a good example of this, look at Ryan Babel. He was meant to be one of the hottest prospects in Europe and has shown glimpses of that for you, and regularly plays well for Holland, but when he puts on a Liverpool shirt, more often than not he looks average at best.
Maybe Rafa has a problem with sort of traditional wingers with flair, I mean I can't think of one who has played at 'Pool in his time and done well?
Babel, no. Riera, no. Gonzalez, no. Pennant, no. Kewell, no. Leto, no. El Zhar, no. Zenden, no.
Then there's the various other younger lads who have either come and gone or are still not looking any closer to getting in the first team. The only one who's done well is Benayoun and he isn't really a winger. The fact that when Torres is out, Rafa would still rather leave Kuyt on the wing than put him in his natural forward position is strange to me.
Tactically he seems to like his players very disciplined (with the exception of Gerrard now, and possibly Johnson) and maybe this ideology he holds, combined with the not so great man management is what is causing the problem. I know some managers dont like being too friendly with their players and there is nothing wrong with that if it works, but I seriously think Rafa has some issues here. If what Torres put in his book about when he announced he was having a baby is true then that's really bad (and why would he lie?).
That said, it's obvious he's a very capable manager and like you say there aren't that many available who could do better, and it would mean starting over and a serious clear out.
