Liverpool FC

[The Baron]

Former Liverpool boss Benitez has also taken the time to thank those supporters who were in attendance on Wednesday who unveiled banners praising the job he did at Anfield.

He said: "It is obvious that the fans know what was going on. They know that I was fighting for them from the beginning until the last day. I am still fighting for them, so thank you to them."

[The Baron]

From the Echo:

THE co-founder of Liverpool's Lily Centre today admitted she was 'overwhelmed' after receiving a 'significant' donation from Rafa Benitez. The former Liverpool FC boss, who on Thursday gave £96,000 to the Hillsborough Family Support Group, yesterday helped another charity he holds close to his heart. Though co-founder Peggy O'Brien would not disclose the amount on the cheque Benitez wrote, she revealed it would go a long way to helping the day-to-day running of The Lily Centre - a breast cancer support group - for a considerable time. Mrs O'Brien said: 'It was an absolutely fantastic gesture and we are all over the moon - it was completely overwhelming. 'We have known Rafa and [his wife] Montse for a long time but we did not expect this at all. You just do not expect people to give you money like that. 'Rafa and Montse have been good to us in the past and they did things that people would not know about, such as when he gave us Fernando Torres' first Liverpool shirt for a raffle, which raised £4,900. 'But this just came completely out of the blue. We know they are moving on because Rafa has changed jobs, but we will keep in contact with them.' Mrs O'Brien and Winnie Keating set up the Lily Centre, which is based in Silvester Street, Kirkdale, 11 years ago.

[kinboshi]

Great posts Baron.  The unfortunate thing is that people only hear 'facts' from the media - and often there's an agenda behind that. 

For a trivial example, it's funny how Liverpool's now fairly fragile defence isn't chastised every week on Sky and in the press for it's weakness from set pieces due to the move away from Benitez's zonal marking (at times I'm not actually sure if we bother doing any marking from set pieces under Woy).  It's the players who are at fault now, whereas before when a goal was conceded it was always the system and Rafa's fault.  When Reina was first or second in the Golden Gloves table for the Premier League for 4 seasons (need to check to confirm that) in a row, none of this success was put down to the zonal marking system. 

As for Woy - I'm hoping the results (and the performances) improve and we're back firmly in the top half of the table soon.  I don't put the malaise being displayed by the players solely down to Hodgson.  They're the same players who played against Arsenal and Blackburn, when they were far from dire.  Of course, so of the blame must rest with him.  He certainly needs to start earning his crust, and I think it's going to be a tough uphill battle.

[kinboshi]

By the way, a lot of the pro-LFC stuff in the media also has an agenda behind it.  I'm not saying it's everyone against Liverpool - just that it's difficult for someone not closely involved to actually pick through what's said and work out how much is the truth and how much is exaggeration or fabrication.

[mondatoo]

The Alonso situation was a huge mistake to make.Trying to push him out to get Barry in was insane.He did a decent job for you but once you lose the fans everyone knows it's gg and it seemed like that was the case.It's funny because if you speak to anyone around Newcastle,and this is before he passed away you would've struggled to find anybody who wouldn't say they wished Robson had've stayed longer than he did.But I remember the weeks leading to him getting sacked and literally every person I spoke to and I include myself as well,nobody thought he should stay in the job.We messed up big time there and it was a disgrace the way he was treat,by the fans as well as the board.I'm sure getting rid of Benitez won't be as bad for you as Robson leaving us was.

[The Baron]

By the way, a lot of the pro-LFC stuff in the media also has an agenda behind it.  I'm not saying it's everyone against Liverpool - just that it's difficult for someone not closely involved to actually pick through what's said and work out how much is the truth and how much is exaggeration or fabrication.

The one good thing about Hodgson - the press have started to like us! He has his pals at Fleet Street I'm sure, but he is generally just a nice bloke.

[kinboshi]

The Alonso situation was a huge mistake to make.Trying to push him out to get Barry in was insane.He did a decent job for you but once you lose the fans everyone knows it's gg and it seemed like that was the case.It's funny because if you speak to anyone around Newcastle,and this is before he passed away you would've struggled to find anybody who wouldn't say they wished Robson had've stayed longer than he did.But I remember the weeks leading to him getting sacked and literally every person I spoke to and I include myself as well,nobody thought he should stay in the job.We messed up big time there and it was a disgrace the way he was treat,by the fans as well as the board.I'm sure getting rid of Benitez won't be as bad for you as Robson leaving us was.

Rafa didn't lose the fans.  Yes, some of those who call up 606 and the like might have complained and there were lots of other fans who were questioning him - but he was supported by the vocal majority at Anfield until the end. 

[kinboshi]

By the way, a lot of the pro-LFC stuff in the media also has an agenda behind it.  I'm not saying it's everyone against Liverpool - just that it's difficult for someone not closely involved to actually pick through what's said and work out how much is the truth and how much is exaggeration or fabrication.

The one good thing about Hodgson - the press have started to like us! He has his pals at Fleet Street I'm sure, but he is generally just a nice bloke.

Is it because we're not a threat at the moment, and Hodgson also appears as a friendly, harmless uncle?  Also, Rafa was one of those funny foreigner types - we don't trust them.

[The Baron]

The Alonso situation was a huge mistake to make.Trying to push him out to get Barry in was insane.He did a decent job for you but once you lose the fans everyone knows it's gg and it seemed like that was the case.It's funny because if you speak to anyone around Newcastle,and this is before he passed away you would've struggled to find anybody who wouldn't say they wished Robson had've stayed longer than he did.But I remember the weeks leading to him getting sacked and literally every person I spoke to and I include myself as well,nobody thought he should stay in the job.We messed up big time there and it was a disgrace the way he was treat,by the fans as well as the board.I'm sure getting rid of Benitez won't be as bad for you as Robson leaving us was.

Agree. The thing with Barry-Alonso was Barry was outstanding for 2 years and Alonso was playing maybe above average. But I didn't like it. There's a thread on here somewhere, started by me, asking people if they got it. You'll be amazed how many thought Barry was as good as Alonso on it. It's quite scary.

Agree with all of that. I think with Benitez, had he stayed it would be as we knew not many others were out there who were as good as him and available and willing to come to work under Tom and Jerry. Not because he necessarily deserved to after that painful season. I'm certain Mascherano and Aquilani would be here now and we'd not be in the relegation zone though.

Man, how the hell did you guys let go of Robson?

[The Baron]

The Alonso situation was a huge mistake to make.Trying to push him out to get Barry in was insane.He did a decent job for you but once you lose the fans everyone knows it's gg and it seemed like that was the case.It's funny because if you speak to anyone around Newcastle,and this is before he passed away you would've struggled to find anybody who wouldn't say they wished Robson had've stayed longer than he did.But I remember the weeks leading to him getting sacked and literally every person I spoke to and I include myself as well,nobody thought he should stay in the job.We messed up big time there and it was a disgrace the way he was treat,by the fans as well as the board.I'm sure getting rid of Benitez won't be as bad for you as Robson leaving us was.

Rafa didn't lose the fans.  Yes, some of those who call up 606 and the like might have complained and there were lots of other fans who were questioning him - but he was supported by the vocal majority at Anfield until the end. 

Very much this.

[mondatoo]

It didn't seem like any of you on here wanted him to stay and I seem to remember a lot of booing at the end of games.It helped Rafa that the fans hated Hicks & Gillette so much they didn't have time for Rafa.Not that that didn't seem justified.I never listen to 606 btw and am well aware that probably less than 1% of people on the radio are representitive of the proper fans.

The only thing I can say in our defence about Robson was he was over 70 and he kept getting the players names wrong,that's all I've got.

[MANTIS01]

We all agree Benitez is a master tactician and that when he sets out to win a game he uses optimum strategy. So when we're talking about the poltical game, the power struggle, why are the fans convinced his tactics are so wholesome? If I was battling the owners in multi-million pound agendas I would think getting the fans firmly on my side was quite important. So personally I don't buy the Shankley comments, the calls to "fight", and the 96k all that readily. I think the guy's smart enough to manipulate any situation as he pleases.

What happened with Ayestaran? If the guy puts Liverpool first he works things out with this guy imo. And why does a guy who loves Liverpool people so bad ship in Spanish youngsters rather than develop this successful local talent? Why put a public for sale sign on key players? Why publically criticise players? I dunno I just don't like how the guy rolls. Maybe it was that goatee which made me sceptical. But clearly some of you guys have far more knowledge on the subject than I do and I can't argue the guy wasn't successful.

Incidentally, if my mate won 130 million and gave me 100k I'd be like WTF mate??

[kinboshi]

It didn't seem like any of you on here wanted him to stay and I seem to remember a lot of booing at the end of games.It helped Rafa that the fans hated Hicks & Gillette so much they didn't have time for Rafa.Not that that didn't seem justified.I never listen to 606 btw and am well aware that probably less than 1% of people on the radio are representitive of the proper fans.

The only thing I can say in our defence about Robson was he was over 70 and he kept getting the players names wrong,that's all I've got.

At the games I was at and even the ones I listened/watched remotely, I ALWAYS heard songs in support of Rafa. 

Would be interesting to read back through this thread though and see what the split of opinion was (might actually do that when I have a spare hour).  I think a lot of fans were frustrated by Rafa at times with some of his tactical decisions and his stubbornness, I certainly was, but he had my support till the end.  I was also one who was happy with Hodgson coming in as well, but we'll see in time if I got that one wrong or not.

[mondatoo]

It didn't seem like any of you on here wanted him to stay and I seem to remember a lot of booing at the end of games.It helped Rafa that the fans hated Hicks & Gillette so much they didn't have time for Rafa.Not that that didn't seem justified.I never listen to 606 btw and am well aware that probably less than 1% of people on the radio are representitive of the proper fans.

The only thing I can say in our defence about Robson was he was over 70 and he kept getting the players names wrong,that's all I've got.

At the games I was at and even the ones I listened/watched remotely, I ALWAYS heard songs in support of Rafa. 

Would be interesting to read back through this thread though and see what the split of opinion was (might actually do that when I have a spare hour).  I think a lot of fans were frustrated by Rafa at times with some of his tactical decisions and his stubbornness, I certainly was, but he had my support till the end.  I was also one who was happy with Hodgson coming in as well, but we'll see in time if I got that one wrong or not.

Obviously you no better than I do that's just how it seemed to me.

[jizzemm]

Bring Raffa Back should never have been forced to leave...

Tighty do me a favour, go pick woy up from Bolton on your way back down to DTD on Sunday, drop him off somewhere on thr M1, or just take him back down sarf with you.. plz