Oh dear, has Rafa lost it???
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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez's controversial media conference yesterday has been printed in full.
http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=66374
The Sun has broken down Benitez's tetchy performance as it emerges today he's fed-up with the lack of communication from Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over transfer funds for the January market.
Benitez, who last week turned down overtures from Bayern Munich, arrived 35 minutes late for his usual media briefing. This is how he dealt with the probing:
How much will you have to spend in January?
"As always I am focused on training and coaching my team."
Are there assurances you'll have what you want?
"As always I am focused on training and coaching my team."
So what is the long-term plan?
"My plan is training and coaching the team."
Is there anything upsetting you?
"As always I am focused on training and coaching my team."
Do you have anything to say?
"As always I am focused on training and coaching my team."
Even off the record?
"No."
It's clear something is up.
"You have my answer."
You're very different from normal.
"You have my answer."
You said after the Bayern story you were happy to stay here a long time. Is that still the case?
"As always I am focused on training and coaching my team."
You're not normally late. You were obviously preoccupied by something.
"Because as always I was focusing on the training session."
Is there anything you'd like to say?
"As always I am focused on training and coaching my team."
You always say you're focused on that but usually give off-the-record answers to enquiries. How come it's suddenly changed?
"No off-the-record stuff. Nothing. I'm just focused on training and coaching as always."
You suggested you were open to the possibility of the England job. Is that something we should treat seriously?
"It's your decision. You never know what will happen in the future."
Were you serious when you answered it?
"I was serious."
One day you're looking to stay here a long time, the next who knows about the England job. That's a contradiction.
"The future is the future. Now, as always, I am focused on training and coaching my team, so I cannot say anything else. Just to keep preparing for the next game."
So what you're saying suggests perhaps the future here is in question?
"I am focused on training and coaching my team."
So who knows?
"As always I am focused on training and coaching my team."
Are you being allowed to do that as you wish?
"I am focused on training and coaching my team."
Does everyone at the club share that opinion?
"As always I am focused on training and coaching my team."
He gone bonkers??
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even the football preview fellas on ESPN make it as if he's cracked up
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if i were him, i will try every mean to step down as liverpool manager.
which will u prefer?
a manager who fail to let liverpool advance to second round of UCL n not getting top 3 spot in BPL?
or
a manager who led liverpool undefeated until now?
i have a feeling maybe benitez is tempted to resign now so dat he can left wif his head high rather than the 1st choice. -
Heard he was told to shut up ....
As far as the interview is concern .... maybe the American bosses told him : " Please focus on your training ! "
The rest let Rick parry and Co do it . -
sometimes , the mdia and press does exaggarate a bit more ....
obviously Benitez is not stepping down . -
Aiyo .... to let or sack Benitez , does more harm than good .
Harm in a way ... Real Madrid sure to grap him and make Real more powerful .
Also .... with his calibre , Benitez can immediately ge a job .
So , i think Liverpool's management should stop looking for trouble and get on with their job .
And made Liverpool better . -
Benitez is on the wanted list by a few clubs...
I dont think I want to play against his team. Let's just give him some more time. I am also very curious about how much was given to him to spend. When Chelsea got their sudden wealth, "Money is no issue" thus top players came and the team went top.
How much is Liverpool manager given??? "Money is no issue too?" from Benitez's reaction, I certainly don't think so. Seems like he is given a tight budget. -
The American management are result-oriented.
They have consented on the 50 million pound transfer fund in the summer as Ah Ben have promised that Liverpool will challenge the EPL title with the buy.
After the buy, Liverpool is still undefeated but hovering no where near the top three and having a reasonable risk of CL knockout.
So, if I are the management, I think it is reasonable for them to ask Ah Ben to show them the results before they show him the money.
They are also stuck with the coming debt of building the new stadium.
Therefore, they are also not really easy with their money.
As for Ah Ben, he is behaving like a kid not getting to buy his new toy and trying to be funny with his bosses.
Imagine if you are the management, what would you do with such a manager ?
If Liverpool is knocked out of CL within the next few weeks, the management may demote ah ben as assistant coach and appoint Jose as manager. -
Read today's ST , Benitez want the American to sanction the Mascherano deal , and that Garay fella ....
But the Hick and Gillett told him : " December then say ! " -
look like rafa is tempt to do england job. do u think FA will consider him?
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but i personally don't like , like my man threaten me .......
Now Benitez is saying : " Supply me the ammunition or I'll quit "
Threaten no good la ... -
i guess he must be pissed dat the Americans not giving him cash to buy players.Originally posted by Poolman:but i personally don't like , like my man threaten me .......
Now Benitez is saying : " Supply me the ammunition or I'll quit "
Threaten no good la ...
me think the americans r stingly, with a big club like liverpool, spending money on quality players should not be any problem. -
Liverpool shall have chosen the Arabs...
Look at how much oil is worth now...
Imagine how much the Arabs can throw at Liverpool. Rafa will drown in money I tell ya! -
spending by Benitez:
04-05
Total spending £15.85m
Costliest buy Xabi Alonso, £10.8m
05-06
Total spending £28.9m
Costliest buy Peter Crouch, £7m
06-07
Total spending £29.7m
Costliest buy Dirk Kuyt, £10.9m
this season:
IN
Fernando Torres £20.2million
Andriy Voronin Free
Yossi Benayoun £5million
Ryan Babel £11.5million
Lucas £6.5million
Scott Carson Loan return
Charles Itandje Undisclosed
Sebastian Leto £2.5million
Total £44.5million + undisclosed
OUT:
Luis Garcia £4million
Mark González £3.5million
Craig Bellamy £7.5million
Florent Sinama-Pongolle £2.7million
Total £17.7million
Total Spending for 07-08 (to now) = £26.8million + undisclosed
uhh.. the Americans spent a crapload already.. -
It is fair that the owners are demanding for a result - which is the second stage of champion league.
No point getting new players if Liverpool is OUT of champion league.
It is the american to learn that EPL is not really a profitable business.
It is a costly business.
To be fair, ah ben have not really produced an impressive strings of results.
With his childish outburst, he should be walking alone out of anfield soon.
I dun think the american can tahan his behaviour any more. -
uhhh.. Arsene Wenger is making a huge profit for ArsenalOriginally posted by Medicated Oil:It is fair that the owners are demanding for a result - which is the second stage of champion league.
No point getting new players if Liverpool is OUT of champion league.
It is the american to learn that EPL is not really a profitable business.
It is a costly business.
To be fair, ah ben have not really produced an impressive strings of results.
With his childish outburst, he should be walking alone out of anfield soon.
I dun think the american can tahan his behaviour any more. -
dunno how true is this article:
Extracted from News of the World
RAFA BENITEZ will be sacked following his latest tirade against Liverpool owner Tom Hicks.
And former Kop hate-figure Jose Mourinho is the shock front runner to replace him.
Liverpool's American owners were already preparing to ditch the Spanish boss (left) after tiring of the constant behind-the-scenes bickering but this week's developments have sealed his fate.
It's now a matter of when not if the Spanish boss leaves Anfield and that's expected to be sooner rather than later.
Despite his epic Anfield bust-ups while at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho tops a wanted list already being assembled by the owners.
An approach will be made once Benitez's departure is confirmed.
The Portuguese boss may have his enemies on Merseyside, but he's recognised as one of the best and most sought after coaches in Europe.
Benitez showed no sign of ducking a fight with his hierarchy following yesterday's 3-0 win over Newcastle, despite knowing his job was on the line.
"It's clear Mr Hicks wants the best for the club. So do I," he said.
"We have been here for a long time and we know what the passion of football means and what the transfer market in Europe means.
"It's not a draft system. We have free players available now. I'm not talking about players that cost money.
"We need to talk to the agents now, if not we will lose targets. In the summer, the players will be more expensive. I have not been talking about spending but doing the opposite. We have brought money back. We brought in £26m this year and you can see the value of the squad.
"We had a meeting on the day of the Arsenal game which was really positive. After this, something changed."
They told me to be focused on coaching and training because Rick Parry will be looking after signing players."
Swing
Benitez won't walk away, adding: "I have passion for this club. The fans who were with me in Istanbul know what it means to me."
With no resignation on the horizon, Hicks (left) and Gillett are now ready to swing their axe regardless of Liverpool's league placing or Champions League progress. -
Ironic,isn't it? Rafa thought he is one of the reason he gets mourinho sacked. Now Rafa going to get sack and his replacement is Jose... So fast gets his revenge?Originally posted by 798:dunno how true is this article:
Extracted from News of the World
RAFA BENITEZ will be sacked following his latest tirade against Liverpool owner Tom Hicks.
And former Kop hate-figure Jose Mourinho is the shock front runner to replace him.
Liverpool's American owners were already preparing to ditch the Spanish boss (left) after tiring of the constant behind-the-scenes bickering but this week's developments have sealed his fate.
It's now a matter of when not if the Spanish boss leaves Anfield and that's expected to be sooner rather than later.
Despite his epic Anfield bust-ups while at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho tops a wanted list already being assembled by the owners.
An approach will be made once Benitez's departure is confirmed.
The Portuguese boss may have his enemies on Merseyside, but he's recognised as one of the best and most sought after coaches in Europe.
Benitez showed no sign of ducking a fight with his hierarchy following yesterday's 3-0 win over Newcastle, despite knowing his job was on the line.
"It's clear Mr Hicks wants the best for the club. So do I," he said.
"We have been here for a long time and we know what the passion of football means and what the transfer market in Europe means.
"It's not a draft system. We have free players available now. I'm not talking about players that cost money.
"We need to talk to the agents now, if not we will lose targets. In the summer, the players will be more expensive. I have not been talking about spending but doing the opposite. We have brought money back. We brought in £26m this year and you can see the value of the squad.
"We had a meeting on the day of the Arsenal game which was really positive. After this, something changed."
They told me to be focused on coaching and training because Rick Parry will be looking after signing players."
Swing
Benitez won't walk away, adding: "I have passion for this club. The fans who were with me in Istanbul know what it means to me."
With no resignation on the horizon, Hicks (left) and Gillett are now ready to swing their axe regardless of Liverpool's league placing or Champions League progress. -
nobody wins against the bosses.
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yeah, he might be bite back his words if he said dat.Originally posted by CannyOng:Ironic,isn't it? Rafa thought he is one of the reason he gets mourinho sacked. Now Rafa going to get sack and his replacement is Jose... So fast gets his revenge?
but i feel the article lack of credit n substance. New of the World look like parrazi paper. -
ah ben will go nowhere ... if those gossip papers can be trusted, i'll be the next manager
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News of the World periodically has news headlines like "Elvis married a Martian" so i won't put anything into that story...
also Mourinho will have had been made to sign a clause about not going to another BPL team...
i think it's rubbish -
No more youth team? Arsenal develops their youth team and save them money.
Where Gerrard came from. -
If the Gilletts and Hicks sack Benitez , their life in Merseyside in danger !
Last night fans' message across to Hicks and Gillett very clear .
Stick with Benitez no matter how , he'll deliver the results . -
OMG.. rafa has a great sense of humour.