Rafa Benitez’ time as Liverpool manager coming to an end?
Posted by Cathal Breathnach on April 5, 2010 | 11 Comments
After today’s draw against Birmingham, Liverpool now find themselves 4 points behind Manchester City in the race for 4th spot and many, including myself, think Champions League qualification is now out of the Merseyside club’s reach.
Before the season started, Liverpool were tipped to well in both the Premier League and cup competitions, however with just a handful of games to go, their only chances of silverware are in the Europa League and personally, I can see them being knocked out of that competition by Benfica on Thursday.
They didn’t get far in either the FA Cup or Carling Cup and after their early exit in the Champions League, there was speculation that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez would be on his way out of Anfield. Why they didn’t get rid of him back in December, I really don’t know.
Obviously the money is an issue, given the fact Liverpool would have to pay Benitez several million pounds should they decide to sack him. If and when Liverpool fail to finish 4th, I firmly believe Benitez should and will be sent packing.
Liverpool need a top manager to bring them forward because at the moment, under Benitez, they are going backwards. The owners unwillingness to cough up funds hasn’t helped Benitez, however with the players Liverpool have, they should easily be finishing in the top 4.
His decision to take Fernando Torres off without half an hour to go at St. Andrews today baffled me. Benitez said Torres was exhausted, however I am of the belief that if you desperately need a goal to win a game you keep your best players on, as long as they aren’t injured. Torres wasn’t injured yet Benitez decided to bring on Ngog.
So basically, I believe Liverpool will finish 5th or 6th and Benitez will be gone.
I’m keen to hear what you have to say on this. Comments below please.
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11 Responses to “Rafa Benitez’ time as Liverpool manager coming to an end?”
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April 5th, 2010 @ 12:24 AM
I agree with you. But he has really changed liverpool from bottom to top since he has arrived. We weren’t one of the best teams in the world when he arrived and he’s made us be this good. Obviously it aint showing now, but the academy manager he had brought in today is really good aswell.I’ve backed rafa all along but when he does stuff like taking torres off it really makes me think again.
April 5th, 2010 @ 12:48 AM
I think the biggest issue to be addressed is the ownership of the club.
If you dont have good leadership from the very top in any organisation, you will never reach the top in any business. Benitez however should have done better this season, even with all the off field distractions.
April 5th, 2010 @ 1:46 AM
i dont know what the hell is rafa thinking he does not have the courage to go on and win game as the full backs remain far behind the half line palyers such as lucas does not deserve to be in the team but stubbon benitez sticks with him the reason liverpool are struggling beacause os players such as lucas, ngog , insua , and the list goes on rafa is stupid in is team selectin and keeps on making the same mistake again and again i think its time we get rid of rafa because he is never going to sign flairy player which liverpool desperately need .rafa keeps on spending stupid money on player like robbie keane ,riera , lucas and so on and he was about to do the same mistake by sining kenwyon jones of sunderlan for 10 million that god the deal didnt went through and if rafa stays liverpool are never going to see gerrard and aquilani in the same midfield which i am dying to see
April 5th, 2010 @ 3:49 AM
Useless manager! Idiot!
April 5th, 2010 @ 5:20 AM
Its a simple fact that rafa + lucas + insua = disaster for liverpool. Lucas is a great liability to liverpool and insua is no where a good left back
April 5th, 2010 @ 7:57 AM
Rafa is lucky because he is the manager of Liverpool. If he was Real Madrid or Juventus manager, he will be sacked long ago. People saying that we don’t have the money to sack Rafa but we can pay ridiculous amount of money to Aquilani and Keane.
April 5th, 2010 @ 9:48 AM
I agree with you that it has been a dissappointing season , however, here is rafa s record in his six seasons at liverpool:
2005: Champions league winners
2006:FA cup wnners
2007 :Champions league runners up
and in each of the his last 5 seasons he managed to iprove our standings and league possitioning in the EPL.
the only bad season he had was this one, that is due to Gerrard and torres beung injured in a lot of games and the fact that he plays lUCAS who is supposed to be doing what alonso did ( take the team forward) but he doesnt, so quilani should be there unfortunatly Injured.
I beleiv that the gaffer needs one more season to prove him self give the man a chance.
YNWA
Jamal AlSaie
Bahrain
April 5th, 2010 @ 12:14 PM
rafa has got to go fair enough our owners are shit but rafa’s tac tics are far to negative playing players out of position he has made the club a laughing stock we will never win the league under his management he needs to walk alone on this one.
April 5th, 2010 @ 1:17 PM
you have made opinion that fools make. by the time man city get 3 draws and 1 win you will say something different. the team played better with the introduction of Ngog so what is your problem. name 5 top managers in Europe elite leagues i am sure rafa will be there. yes rafa messes up like all managers plus the local champion you all celebrate Alex feggi but he got this one right. back off!
April 5th, 2010 @ 7:41 PM
look Rafa Benietz is a good manager i backed him i have never changed for 18 years i have been behind Liverpool. i have never seen Rafa so desperate i know the owner does not give him money to buy players it makes me angry you owners get out of Liverpool you disgrace us fans in the top league such as premier league. why the hell you putting our coach in this situation, i wish the owner give Rafa money to buy David Villa, lassana diarra, Ruben Baraja, Fernando Gago, and better defense such as Fabio grosso, Sebastien Squillaci and many others .
April 6th, 2010 @ 2:48 AM
High time for rafa to bring in the young guns and bench the under performers. No point in giving the under performers more and more chance to salvage the season. My prediction is that we will finish at 6th place. Being a liverpool supporter for the past 40 years I am totally frustrated with the way the team is performing and the way rafa is managing it. He is very stubborn and vindicative against players who voice out displeasure in his team selection