Financial cracks? Would the fact that liverpool under benitez lost the third highest amount of money in the PL (behind chelsea and city) on players, have anything to do with their financial troubles?
Yes all managers sign some duds, but the difference was with benitez that by the end of it you were surprised if a signing didnt flop! He signed two playes who went on to be successful, torres and reina, but they were well known before they came to liverpool.
His selections were always questionable. He seemed to be more interested in proving people wrong with these out-there weird selections which had average results at best. Think about how many times steven gerrard pulled them out of the fire late on in games, do you think that it was part of rafa's plan? Course it was, there is nothing more dependable than a last minute forty yard screamer! Get real
672699 I didn't like Benitez but it would be hard to argue, pound for pound, that he hasn't been the best manager in England in the last 6 years.
Look at what he was working with compared to Chelsea and Man United? And he won one, lost one and was in another semi.
Unbelievable with a club with Liverpool's resources. The only man to compete with him in the last few years is Mourinho as he won with Porto and Inter, but even Inter are better off than Liverpool.
Benitez's achievements are massive.
He hasn't been the best manager in England in the last 6 years. You know and everybody else who the best manager in England in the last 6 years has been.
I am completely real...we both have differing opinions on him and thats life. Suppose Master whoever Jamie Redknapp backs for the job you'll fully back... ;)
I have no doubt that Rafa will still be a successful manager. I think the Inter job is a perfect fit for him and I would be genuinely surprised if he doesn't land some silver ware in his first 3 seasons in charge. But I don't think he would ever win a PL title with Liverpool. There was no doubt that Liverpool did need a new squad when he took over. He had to sell if he wanted to buy alright, but look at what he bought. His tactical style was very rigid. He seemed to have the kind of attitude that he'd play a certain style just to spite someone. Liverpool could lose 4 games in a row but eventually win 1 so he could turn around and say, told you I was right. The internal problems at the club was always an easy excuse to hide behind. Those problems should have no effect on a teams attitude on the field As I've said from the start, the football that Liverpool played under him was never good enough in my book. It was all very negative and for me just another version of Houllier. But I think that style will work well in Italy for him.
672699 I didn't like Benitez but it would be hard to argue, pound for pound, that he hasn't been the best manager in England in the last 6 years.
Look at what he was working with compared to Chelsea and Man United?
I repeat this post for slow learners.
Read it all, read it carefully, set all prejudice aside, and notethat I am merely agreeing with about 99% of sports writers and alleged other experts, so it is not even my own idea.
Even better, read last Sunday's tribune on the subject.