Re: Liverpool Thread
Great piece here:
The Setanta article:
Somehow, and by logic maybe only two loaded American businessmen understand, Rafa Benitez finds his position as Liverpool manager extremely precarious as we head into December.
Despite the fact Rafa's Reds have made their best Premier League start for years, co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are threatening to play the role of Ebineezer Scrooge as the festive period approaches.
When Kopites wrote their Christmas lists a month ago, the majority would have asked for three points at Derby on Boxing Day and maybe the capture of Lionel Messi in their Christmas stockings. Now they merely hope Benitez will still be manager.
Here are three reasons why:
Master tactician:
When Gerard Houllier named his final team-sheet at the end of the 2003/04 season, it listed the following back four: Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, John Arne Riise.
I know what you might be thinking. Those players are all still major factors in Liverpool’s squad of today, so Benitez inherited his good defence.
Wrong.
Remember that bandwagon that the less-educated sports pundit likes to jump aboard? You know, the one about zonal marking? I believe it was Rafa who introduced that at Anfield.
Indeed it is Rafa’s Liverpool who have broken club records for clean sheets kept in a season.
When was the last time they conceded from a set piece using this ‘dodgy’ zonal marking system? Seven months ago – when already 2-0 down at Arsenal. Let that bandwagon role on.
Signings:
Supposedly the reason causing the current bad blood in the Anfield boardroom, Benitez wants his bosses to move now to secure cheap bargains. They are not responding, telling him he has had enough money.
One might argue that, after splashing out £40 million in the summer, Liverpool’s co-owners have a point. But then how many times has Benitez actually wasted the shiny gold of the Anfield coffers on big-money signings?
Fernando Morientes? (£6.3m) Who would have predicted such a class player would not adapt to life in England? As a counter, who would have predicted £7 million Peter Crouch would be a bigger success?
Craig Bellamy? (£6m) Whether he was Liverpool class is debatable but the Wales international played a big part in helping Liverpool to a Champions League final – plus they recouped their £6 million outlay.
Now look at the successes of Benitez's big money captures: Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina, Luis Garcia.
Dirk Kuyt , Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel are also fashioning growing reputations.
Should the co-owners bow to Benitez’s demands? What reason have they got not to trust his judgement?
Unrivalled success:
Fast forward on from Houllier’s last game to 5th April 2005, Juventus at home, Champions League quarter final first leg.
Still with a squad barely showing the mark of Benitez, the Spaniard managed to mastermind a 2-1 victory over one of European football’s giants.
Why is this so significant? How many other managers could have coached a team including, Djimi Traore, Igor Biscan, Antonio Nunez, Anthony Le Tallec and Milan Baros to such a triumph?
It was one of several glorious European nights that season for Liverpool, as Benitez guided The Reds to their first European Cup in 21 years.
Two years and an FA Cup triumph later, Liverpool would return to another Champions League final, this time only to be undone by the cruellest of deflections.
But can he do it in The Premier League? 13 games unbeaten this season would suggest yes.
Liverpool also tend to finish the season stronger than their closest rivals under Benitez, thanks to another myth surrounding the much-maligned rotation system.
Last season The Reds amassed 37 points after the turn of the year, more than any other side. (Chelsea 36, Manchester United 36, Arsenal 32).
Bearing in mind Liverpool’s current game in hand over United, an identical run-in this season would see Benitez’s men finish second – a point behind The Gunners. An improved run-in sees the title return to Anfield.
Can he do it in The Premier League? I think so.
Do Kopites across the country agree? Let 45,000 of them give you a spine-tingling answer when they protest Benitez’s potential departure during Wednesday’s clash with Porto.
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http://www.petitiononline.com/amg83ds/petition.html