I dont think rafa will be leaving LFC .., i think rafas agent coming out and saying this stuff only means rafa want to let us know he got a pretty good offer and he still wants to be here . It makes fans feel more affectionate to him . Bringin new blood guillem i hope so but i wouldnt bank on the owners and i am not a gr8 fans of rafas transfer policy . As u said earlier if rafa thinks its only early next season aqualini is going to make impact fair enough but he should get enough chances this season to get accustomed .I want rafa to stay and hope he makes better deals. YNWA
Chris | 2010-01-29 10:51:12
| London | United Kingdom
Guillem, despite your response in "On Benitez and Juventus" there are still rumours that he is set to take over, is there any truth in these or is it the media filling empty spaces in their programme schedule
jonny c | 2010-01-28 22:08:05
| Belfast | United Kingdom
hi Guillem!
A very worried liverpool fan here! i read article an in echo today where rafa is quoted to want a right back?!? we have carra, degen, darby and kelly to cover that position but only kuyt and n'gog as striiking options at the minute (i'm not including babel because his head is elsewhere). defenders keep clean sheets but we urgently need another striker to turn those draws in2 wins and claw back points on spurs and city.
Peter | 2010-01-28 21:54:41
| Liverpool | United Kingdom
Hi Guillem,
What do you make of this & is it true?
Meeting Between Juventus & Rafa Benitez's Lawyers - Juve Want Spaniard To Take Over Immediately
Peter | 2010-01-28 16:30:29
| Liverpool | United Kingdom
To anyone who missed guillem's article on fresh blood,This is it.....Fourteen years ago, Atlético Madrid did the Spanish league and cup double, and they`ve been trying to bridge the gap between reality and expectation ever since. A couple of glorious moments in the past hides the fact that Atletico are not a top four team in Spain – and in order to sustain the illusion, the club has accumulated huge debts while a never ending managerial merry-go-round has been expected to perform miracles.Only now, it has taken a new manager – Quique Sanchez Flores – to come out and tell it exactly how it is: that everyone needs to accept the harsh reality that Atletico Madrid cannot be expected to compete on equal terms with the elite.
Perhaps someone at Anfield should come out and state publicly that, given the resources available, it is unrealistic to demand a top four finish? Analysts close to the club insist that unless a new investor sticks at least £100 million in the bank, a top six finish should be the target and anything else is a bonus. How long can a glorious history sustain the illusion that Liverpool football club has a divine right to compete on equal terms with the European elite?
The Liverpool board has performed a U-turn and the manager is now allowed to spend money raised from the sale of players in January. Is that a good thing right now? Because unless Rafa Benitez is able to raise in excess of £15 million - and getting rid of Babel doesn’t make sense when a replacement would cost more money - experience suggests that Rafa should steer clear of cheap players. Avoiding a panic buy now means, potentially, there may be more money in the summer for Benitez - or his successor - to spend wisely.
Nevertheless, the best case scenario means that the Liverpool manager will still be spending peanuts compared to the budgets of United and Arsenal; a small percentage of the riches at Manchester City and Chelsea – and even less than the £40 million that Birmingham have in their war chest.
Perhaps it is time for someone high up at Liverpool to declare what their realistic ambitions are. The manager can only hint at them, by conceding he may be powerless to keep hold of Torres or Gerrard for example. Unfortunately, such a reality check can also backfire and could be perceived as defeatism in the dressing room. But when a strong first XI fails to perform, as they did against Reading, you also have to wonder if there are players who are no longer playing for their coach. And if that is the case, one has to ask why?
Many are blaming Benitez’ personality for the team’s demise and I have always had the impression that for his methods to succeed he must constantly recycle new blood through the squad, even replacing key players with new ones eager to respond to him. A key Liverpool midfielder was once told he was not in the line up an hour before the game and also that he needed to beef up in the gym; he reacted with disbelief and despair. Is a cumulative effect at such a lack of diplomacy behind the team’s gradual failure to respond?
If so, then the board must decide: either back the manager and allow him to take drastic action, no matter how big the name it impacts upon; or deny Rafa the transfer funds and save them for his successor in the summer. I wonder if we are already witnessing the latter...
First of all i still think Rafa is the right man for Liverpool.But at the minute we are playing the worst football in the last 5 years. We couldn't even create a chance against a wolves team who have only kept 3 clean sheets all season. lucas and Mascheraco should not be playing together because neither of them are creative. I dont know why with 20 minutes to go Rafa didn't take a small risk and replace lucas with Aqualani, it seemed as if Rafa was happy with a draw. Performances have to change.
Anish | 2010-01-28 13:50:46
Guillem,
Thanks for being on the only decent football highlights tv show in the country! Revista is fantastic.
Any ideas who Rafa intends to sell in the Summer?
Siny | 2010-01-28 13:18:04
| Merseyside
Guillem, with no champions league football next season, where will the money to get new players come from?.How about shaking up the coaching staff and selling all the hopeless players bought by Rafa?.He has had longer than Evans and Houllier and the team is miles off the pace in all competitions!.No excuses please.
Amar | 2010-01-28 11:32:08
Houillier houf days? it is exactly the same with rafa, arsenal go attacking and beat wolves 4-1, city do it 3-0 but we play for a draw with no playmaker in cm?
patience? more time? are you freaking kidding me? the man has had 6 bloody years! 6 years! in that time over 200m has been spent on new players
no more excuses, the manager needs to go as he and the fans who support him are killing this great club
allThingsRED | 2010-01-28 03:52:07
| Singapore
For every one Liverpool fan who wants Rafa to go..there are 10 others who wants him to stay. The 10 just can't be bothered to participate in this senseless debate. Name me a manager who can give Igor and Djimi a Champs League medal? He made me proud to be a Red after the Houllier 'hoof' days.
One bad season doesn't mean the end of a person. Patience..he will get it right.
RedRedMan | 2010-01-27 21:43:53
| Liverpool | United Kingdom
Jaylfc and Darty i have been fimley in the rafa must stay group of fans but no sane LFC Fan can be happy with our style of play this season. Rafa must shoulder some of the blame he has spent and wasted incredible amounts of money. Also he decides the tactics. As to his achievements at the club have a look take stock and respond here that you are happy. I still cant make my mind up but he does need Pako back
BelfastRed | 2010-01-27 19:20:40
| Belfast | United Kingdom
Hi guillem, im a big fan of Benitez and think he has been a massive success considering the conditions he works under. when u say 5-6 players leavinG does this include the likes of Dossena and Voronin who have already left or is it 5 or 6 more players. Also could you explain what you mean by 'Rafa`s management style requires an injection of fresh blood to maintain forward momentum' Thanks
Amar | 2010-01-27 18:57:53
I pray to god the owners sack this man and not give him anymore money to waste
God, his tactics are just awful, a blind man will tell you liverpool need a playmaker in cm as lucas and masch cant make those forward balls, instead he keeps playing them two who make sideway or back passes which then leads to us hoofing it up
I honestly think this man is purposely trying to finish this club, while at the same time manipulating the support of some liverpool fans for his own benefit
Mark | 2010-01-27 17:32:40
| Wirral | United Kingdom
By the way i'm not one of those that believes we have a right 2 be challenging for the title or even for europe. But i do expect a Liverpool manager 2 have more than 1 plan, 2 play the best players we have, 2 drop players who play badly, 2 not play players who are obviously injured and have been the whole season, 2 be able to make substitutions when they are needed with the appropriate players 2 change the direction of play and not make the same substitutions at the same time practically every game no matter the state of play, and finally 2 not play 8 defensive players looking for a draw against the bottom team in the league. I supported Rafa thru everything until Portsmouth, he's given us some great times but he's to go now, sorry.
mickSFfan | 2010-01-27 17:27:55
This sounds great until you realize that the 5 or 6 they sell will include Macherano, Gerrard, Beneyoun and Rieira and they'll be replaced with more full-backs who can't defend, crocked Italians, Brazilian donkeys and a another Dutchman with granite touch.
Giving more money to Benitez at this stage is like giving whiskey and car keys to a teenager.
Mark | 2010-01-27 17:20:36
| Birkenhead | United Kingdom
Guillem, what exactly do you mean by: "Rafa`s management style requires an injection of fresh blood to maintain forward momentum"?
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Basically he means that Rafa's man management is so bad that after working with him for a couple of years most players hate his guts and won't play for him.
The idea that a team needs fresh injection year on year is just ridiculous, as RedZepp says, a settled team would be more succesful than one that isn't, that is true in football, rugby, cricket , business. If Rafa believes this new blood is needed every year then he needs to look closer to home for who's fault that is.
dartey | 2010-01-27 17:11:52
| London
Hi Guillem,
Have to agree with Jaylfc on this one. Too many so called fans seem to forget rafa's achievements. Well if any so called liverpool fan could be bothered. Do your research and stop listening to lazy journalism. I would like to keep Rafa, he has achieved a lot with our club but he has also been severely undermined at the same time. ppl think.
Amar | 2010-01-27 16:59:09
I was so excited by this as I dreamt for rafa to leave but sadly it is still a dream
rafa is not the manager for liverpool, his cautious first approach is destroying the club. we wont get in the top 4, any sensible fan can see that. what shocks me is him refusing to use a playmaker like aa or gerrard in cm
hopefully he will get sacked at the end of the season
The 5 players that could leave!
Aurelio- out of contract
Degan- out of contract
Babel- Not mentally strong enough
Riera- inconsistant, Could raise 8-10 mill
Mashcerano- Wanted to leave last summer and will probaly go to barca this year, could raise up to 30 million for Rafa.
Benetiez has made offers to Jovanovic and chamakh, both of whom are free agents and are strikers! I believe Rafa will also attempt to sign a pacy winger, a left back and a replacment for mashcerhano!
macca | 2010-01-27 14:10:25
| great ashby | United Kingdom
Guillem,
any chances of names or even types/positions that rafa will be getting & getting rid of in the summer overhaul? is Kuyt one? Is he looking for creative players rather than just hard working/run all day ones, which a lot of the players we are linked with seem to be.
JayLFC | 2010-01-27 13:24:57
| Liverpool | United Kingdom
Cont....
I hope rafa doesnt start thinking he has lost the fans because of some fans who want instant results!
It make you laugh how some people really dont look at the full picture, just get their boring usual points (spent loads of money, loads of players, too defensive blah blah blah).
Against wolves last night there wasnt the fight like there was against stoke or spurs, we battled as a team - the difference with last night was gerrard played, going back to my point about him being removed as captain, he has unbelievable ability but he doesnt motivate players an i think sometimes he can be a hinderence when he isnt on form because players seem to be intimidated because he screams if every pass to him isnt perfect! Rafa will sort it !!
JayLFC | 2010-01-27 13:13:41
| Liverpool | United Kingdom
Guillem
Any chance of some new fans instead of management??
Im sure if you look back through your articles on the site most of the people who are on here who are criticising Rafa are the one who in may were singing his praises. There is no loyalty in football anymore, as soon as things go a bit wrong people start calling for knee jerk changes.
All the support has gone, if we sack rafa I think we could end up like a Leeds or Newcastle because no other manager would stick with the club through all the trouble like rafa has.
I think Gerrard should have the captaincy taken from him, he has been poor all season, he has been injured which hasnt helped but he doesnt seem to motivate players, it didnt do sami hyypia any harm did it!!
Paul | 2010-01-27 13:01:20
I agree with everything below. Please tell me Guillem, will we ever have a chance of signing David Villa? How much would it cost? Torres wants it, I heard that Villa said the other day he would like to play in England as he "has friends playing there", surely a come and get me plea? Not Benitez's style I know, I think he wouldn't play with any strikers if he could, just 8 Full backs with Gerrard and Torres centre mid!
Peter | 2010-01-27 12:41:37
| Liverpool | United Kingdom
Hi Guillem,
I agree with RedRedMan, What really happened with paco and is there any chance of a reconciliation with Pako, i think rafa should bring paco back after all they are adults and it reminds me of clough & peter taylor and if you look back shanks had a great backroom staff with him,because really we should be beating teams like wolves there's no creative in the final 3rd and it's poor to watch at times,and guillem when you say fresh blood to come and 5 or 6 to go,well am worried would any of the 5 or 6 to go be the spine of the team and what kind of players will be coming in cause we have no money
RedRedMan | 2010-01-27 11:54:25
| Liverpool | United Kingdom
Rafa to go or stay is a raging debate. I have firmly been in the stay camp but now i am so uncertain. Something needs a shake up something is not right, too much defensive soul less football even with some of the best attacking options in the PL. How about keep Rafa and Sammy Lee promote Kenny as an aid or advisor and BRING BACK PAKO !!! clear out all the others Pellagrino inlcuded Rafa needs experiance at his side not a learner. Do you think Guillem there is any chance of a reconciliation with Pako
Matt | 2010-01-27 02:52:48
| Dublin | Ireland
Guillem,
What if, due to the current topsy turvey form of the squad,we finish outside the top 4 or even the euro places all together?Surely Rafa's position has to be reviewed and the attraction of european football will not be there hence we will not be able to lure the bigger names.More Dossenas and Degens??
Ali | 2010-01-27 00:40:56
| United Kingdom
The fans want Benitez gone. Pathetic performances with no attacking desire at all. Why is Benitez so defensive against teams such as Wolves? If there is a shaking up of the squad then please let it be under a new manager. Guillem I think you are speaking about Gerrard with regards needing players who will adapt to the ideas...it is clear Gerrard has lost interest in the Benitez ideas and philosophy.
RedZepp | 2010-01-26 23:40:28
| Liverpool
Also Mr.Ballague , please clarify in further detail this theory that Benitez needs to recycle new blood through the squad for his methods to work . You state that players, even key ones, need to be replaced or they might stop responding to his methods. This makes no sense at all , why can he not keep them motivated and believing in his methods ? I could understand if Liverpool were hugely successful and he felt players needed to be moved on before they got comfortable and stale but other than that I am lost at this notion. I mean all it points to then is serious problems in his management style , players working for him but then losing belief in his methods ? how can a huge player turnover be good , surely a settled team makes more sense ?
RedZepp | 2010-01-26 23:27:33
| Liverpool
What is actually causing me to panic is that Benitez is NOT off to Juve. Seriously Mr.Balague , you need to acknowledge that there are lots and lots of liverpool fans out there that have had enough of Mr.Benitez and his tenure as manager . Yeah , yeah I know, the evil americans, he's had no money blah blah. Of course we all want a change of ownership and of course the working conditions Mr.Benitez is under are not ideal but that still does not explain the many , many bizarre decisions Benitez makes as manager. Seriously there are so many concerns about his management style it is getting ridiculous .
I like Rafa and i believe his heart is in the right place but his time is up and he has to move on
peter | 2010-01-26 23:27:04
| Liverpool | United Kingdom
I am afraid after another pathetic performance , I dont think Rafa will be bringing in anyone in the summer.
Much as I never thought I would say it let him go to Juve and get Hiddink in .
dont know which 6 players you think we wil ship out , Babel , Degan Insua not going to raise much money
Lee (Admin) | 2010-01-26 23:10:52
| GuillemBalague.com
@ Len Guillem was referring to comments in this article about Rafa's need to recycle the squad with new players who respond to his methods....here: http://www.guillembalague.com/blog_desp.php?titulo=Liverpool%20Must%20Face%20Up%20To%20Reality&id=394
Len | 2010-01-26 22:47:03
| UK
Guillem, what exactly do you mean by: "Rafa`s management style requires an injection of fresh blood to maintain forward momentum"?
