Should Rafa Benitez be sacked?

Two decades without the league title is an enormous weight bearing down on whoever has to manage the team. It has become a millstone the size of the moon, and that was the case even before Benítez arrived.

It has got to the stage where even Champions League Finals are seen as “nothing”, in this almighty desire for the title at all costs, and nothing else. Believe me, I keep seeing fans dismiss Champions League Finals like it was the Carling Cup being discussed. When did we get so obnoxious, spoilt and greedy?

And now there’s a new sense of impatience surrounding the club that emanated from within, with news that Benítez’s job was under threat in November, when the side were still in a good league position but struggling in the Champions League; a threat that only recently surfaced to the public, since when things have got dramatically worse on the pitch. Coincidence?

It’s no wonder the team appear to be in meltdown right now. A self-fulfilling prophecy was put in place. And even if all parties have genuinely cleared the air between them, following desperate summit meetings, which may well have been the case (to some degree at least), the air itself remains noxious in the eyes of those viewing from the outside.

When has impatience ever been a virtue in football? Was it a virtue when Ferguson took United to 11th, 2nd, 11th and 13th in his first four seasons? Or 7th in his 5th? If memory serves, United’s board stayed strong, stayed patient.

Or what about when Arsenal won nothing between 1998 and 2002? I recall disgruntled Gooners on 606 circa 2000/2001, saying Wenger had taken them as far as he could. Did David Dein and co. get impatient? Did they speak to some recently retired international with no club management experience, and make it public?

Or what about when Everton finished 11th (complete with double European humiliation) in 2005/06, a year after the heady high of 4th? Or 17th in 2003/04, inches from relegation, a year after an impressive 7th? Did they panic?

It shames me to say it, but, Tescos aside, Everton should be proud of the way they’ve run their club in recent years. And they’re reaping the rewards.

That doesn’t mean it won’t get harder for the Toffees as expectations rise, and should they have to work out how to play distracting, high-profile Champions League games midweek and have enough left for weekend league fixtures (and the Uefa Cup is not the same, believe me). But they’re going about building in the right way. The sensible way. They’ve giving Moyes the best chance of succeeding, relatively speaking. (But of course, no-one expects a league title in a million years, even though their last one was only three years prior to the Reds’.)

Liverpool have the 3rd-most expensive squad in the league, but way behind the two most expensive ones. And Benítez has been in the job the 3rd-longest of the ‘big four’, but Ferguson and Wenger have an incredible 34 years in charge between them. As a result, no-one dares to tell them what to do. And as both Ferguson and Wenger recently said, that’s the way it has and should be.

I See RedNWhite wrote:Sacking the manager without having thought of a replacement is plain madness.

For all of Benitez's faults, I say he should be allowed to stay till the summer. If he fails to finish in top 4 inspite of all the money that was made available to him in the summer, he deserves a kick in his arse, CL results notwithstanding.

However I think, a face-saving way for all the parties would be for Benitez to be appointed the coach of Spanish national side after Euro 08. Liverpool can then make a fresh start, given many more coaches will then be available.

I See RedNWhite wrote:Sacking the manager without having thought of a replacement is plain madness.

For all of Benitez's faults, I say he should be allowed to stay till the summer. If he fails to finish in top 4 inspite of all the money that was made available to him in the summer, he deserves a kick in his arse, CL results notwithstanding.

However I think, a face-saving way for all the parties would be for Benitez to be appointed the coach of Spanish national side after Euro 08. Liverpool can then make a fresh start, given many more coaches will then be available.

COTR wrote:

I See RedNWhite wrote:Sacking the manager without having thought of a replacement is plain madness.

For all of Benitez's faults, I say he should be allowed to stay till the summer. If he fails to finish in top 4 inspite of all the money that was made available to him in the summer, he deserves a kick in his arse, CL results notwithstanding.

However I think, a face-saving way for all the parties would be for Benitez to be appointed the coach of Spanish national side after Euro 08. Liverpool can then make a fresh start, given many more coaches will then be available.

If Benitez goes the only replacement I see for the job is mourinho

I think he would take the job in a heart beat if offered and whilst I have showed fierce opposition to him coming here, I could actually see it working out.


The ridiculous pressure benitez is in at the minute is partly his own fault (publicizing his grievances against the owners) and partly the owners fault (publicizing their grievances with benitez). If only both parties had kept their disputes behind closed doors the media would not have created half the storm they have done at the minute and benitez would not have this clud of bullshit hanging over each and every game / result.

I would be totally devastated if benitez was to leave, but this nonsense needs to be sorted out sooner rather than later. Hopefully time will be the best cure, however if not, I would not be surprised to see mourinho setting in the anfield dugout next season. Can't wait to see what the Kop would make of that

Ade Alves wrote:

Do you really think so coater?

I really think he is just waiting for Barca, Milan or possibly Inter to come calling.

Mourinho is someone who loves a challange, and while managing us to win the league is a challange, he has done it all in the EPL.

Ade Alves wrote:

I See RedNWhite wrote:Sacking the manager without having thought of a replacement is plain madness.

For all of Benitez's faults, I say he should be allowed to stay till the summer. If he fails to finish in top 4 inspite of all the money that was made available to him in the summer, he deserves a kick in his arse, CL results notwithstanding.

However I think, a face-saving way for all the parties would be for Benitez to be appointed the coach of Spanish national side after Euro 08. Liverpool can then make a fresh start, given many more coaches will then be available.

Who'd be the best man for the job in your view, say if Rafa leaves?

I See RedNWhite wrote:

Ade Alves wrote:

I See RedNWhite wrote:Sacking the manager without having thought of a replacement is plain madness.

For all of Benitez's faults, I say he should be allowed to stay till the summer. If he fails to finish in top 4 inspite of all the money that was made available to him in the summer, he deserves a kick in his arse, CL results notwithstanding.

However I think, a face-saving way for all the parties would be for Benitez to be appointed the coach of Spanish national side after Euro 08. Liverpool can then make a fresh start, given many more coaches will then be available.

Who'd be the best man for the job in your view, say if Rafa leaves?

Honestly apart from Lippi and Mourinho, there arent that many top flight coaches that come to mind.

I am not sure if Lippi really will work out. I am not saying he is not a good coach, he is a great one in fact. But for a guy who has literally won everything that can be won as a manager (Including the world cup) I doubt if he will really be that fired up.

As regards Mourinho, there are speculations that as part of the mega severance package he is not supposed to manage in England. Though I have a feeling that a guy like him might want to manage at Liverpool and show that Chelsea trophies were not purely because of Roman's cash.

Scolari comes to mind as another manager who will become available, but he has no record worth talking at Club Level.

In short I really don't know of any manager available right now, who is guaranteed to do a better job than Rafa.

I See RedNWhite wrote:

Ade Alves wrote:

I See RedNWhite wrote:Sacking the manager without having thought of a replacement is plain madness.

For all of Benitez's faults, I say he should be allowed to stay till the summer. If he fails to finish in top 4 inspite of all the money that was made available to him in the summer, he deserves a kick in his arse, CL results notwithstanding.

However I think, a face-saving way for all the parties would be for Benitez to be appointed the coach of Spanish national side after Euro 08. Liverpool can then make a fresh start, given many more coaches will then be available.

Who'd be the best man for the job in your view, say if Rafa leaves?

Honestly apart from Lippi and Mourinho, there arent that many top flight coaches that come to mind.

I am not sure if Lippi really will work out. I am not saying he is not a good coach, he is a great one in fact. But for a guy who has literally won everything that can be won as a manager (Including the world cup) I doubt if he will really be that fired up.

As regards Mourinho, there are speculations that as part of the mega severance package he is not supposed to manage in England. Though I have a feeling that a guy like him might want to manage at Liverpool and show that Chelsea trophies were not purely because of Roman's cash.

Scolari comes to mind as another manager who will become available, but he has no record worth talking at Club Level.

In short I really don't know of any manager available right now, who is guaranteed to do a better job than Rafa.