Rafa not short of a job offer

[honourablegeorge]

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has been identified as the man to replace current Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard. The Spaniard is also the target of Real Madrid, Valencia and Atletico Madrid. (Various)

[Guest Prongsy]

AC Milan would no doubt be interested, too.

 

Strange so many people want such a dreadful manager, isn't it.

[honourablegeorge]

Here's the full detail.

 

Also says he'll want big backign in the summer, and mentions Bentley as a main target. That's twice this week that Bentley's name has been in the papers.

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle3628907.ece

[pawiddop]

This press release has come from Rafa (directly or indirectly), happens every year around March and April.

[Romario]

Here's the full detail.

 

Also says he'll want big backign in the summer, and mentions Bentley as a main target. That's twice this week that Bentley's name has been in the papers.

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle3628907.ece

Has he not learnt from Pennant. Bentley isn't good enough. He's about 5% better than Pennant and not as good as Yossi and we'll probably have to pay about 7m for him.

[McBain]

This press release has come from Rafa (directly or indirectly), happens every year around March and April.

 

Reads that way

 

And if things are happening at the moment behind the scenes the way we want them to be i doubt anyone is listening

[RP]

Has he not learnt from Pennant. Bentley isn't good enough. He's about 5% better than Pennant and not as good as Yossi and we'll probably have to pay about 7m for him.

 

Bentley is a lot better than Pennant and Benayoun (combined).

[psl]

Has he not learnt from Pennant. Bentley isn't good enough. He's about 5% better than Pennant and not as good as Yossi and we'll probably have to pay about 7m for him.

 

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

 

And we'd be lucky to get him for £7m.

[Romario]

Bentley is a lot better than Pennant and Benayoun (combined).

The only thing he has over Benayoun is that physically stronger and bigger but that's about it i think. He'd also cost twice what he's equal would cost from spain.

[Guest Prongsy]

I'd be as gutted if we tried to solve our right sided problem with bentley as I was when we tried to solve it with Pennant and Benayoun.

 

Of course he's better than Pennant and Benayoun, but if we're trying to catch and overtake United, we can't be buying players because their better than players who can't make our starting line up.

Edited March 27, 2008 by Prongsy

[Hassony]

The only thing he has over Benayoun is that physically stronger and bigger but that's about it i think. He'd also cost twice what he's equal would cost from spain.

 

 

He is more consistant, scores more, better crosser from both flanks, takes good free kicks and corners

 

How is Yossi better exactly?

 

as for pennant, try %500 better

[Romario]

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

 

And we'd be lucky to get him for £7m.

What has he just come of age or something? He's a good player. A very good player but we have very good players for that position already.

We have Jossi and Pennant who can do a good job for us on the right and who are great backups.Gerrard can play there and Kuyt can too. What we need for that position is someone who really adds something to that position and makes it their own and offer more than Pennant,Benni andKuyt in that position. For me he'd just fatten up the squad even more which is not what we should be doing.

[RP]

I guess a home-grown player isn't good enough. No doubt if his name was Carlos Bentley and no-one on here had seen him play more than twice, then he'd be the answer to all our prayers.

[Romario]

He is more consistant, scores more, better crosser from both flanks, takes good free kicks and corners

 

How is Yossi better exactly?

 

as for pennant, try %500 better

 

Scores more?

David Bentley played 162 scored 24

Yossi Benayoun played 208 scored 38

 

Also has Benni really been given a chance? He's looked and played very well for the most part considering he's been in and out playing for a team out of form. I think if we stick to playing a 4-2-3-1 then Benni should be given a decent go at RM.

[Guest Prongsy]

I guess a home-grown player isn't good enough. No doubt if his name was Carlos Bentley and no-one on here had seen him play more than twice, then he'd be the answer to all our prayers.

 

Nice attempt to dismiss peoples opinions, but you'll have to try much harder than that.

 

I think most people acknowledge that he's a decent player. I can't see any credibility in the defence that he's better than Pennant so he's good enough for us. Pennant and Banayoun don't get a starting place, so what we're doing is upgrading our squad, not buying a player that's going to push us to a title.

 

We've f***ed around with these positions for years and years.

 

Pennant = not good enough

Benayoun = not good enough

Bentley = better but still not good enough

 

Nothing to do with English, nothing to do with seeing him play more than twice and certianly nothing to do with his name.

Edited March 27, 2008 by Prongsy

[Romario]

I guess a home-grown player isn't good enough. No doubt if his name was Carlos Bentley and no-one on here had seen him play more than twice, then he'd be the answer to all our prayers.

If Carlos Bentley was equal to David Bentley on the pitch and their fees the same I'd take DB.

[Cunny]

I guess a home-grown player isn't good enough. No doubt if his name was Carlos Bentley and no-one on here had seen him play more than twice, then he'd be the answer to all our prayers.

 

 

bloody hell I thought I was cynical!*

 

*I am and I agree with RP.

[RP]

Nice attempt to dismiss peoples opinions, but you'll have to try much harder than that.

 

I think most people acknowledge that he's a decent player. I can't see any credibility in the defence that he's better than Pennant so he's good enough for us. Pennant and Banayoun don't get a starting place, so what we're doing is upgrading our squad, not buying a player that's going to push us to a title.

 

We've f***ed around with these positions for years and years.

 

Pennant = not good enough

Benayoun = not good enough

Bentley = better but still not good enough

 

Nothing to do with English, nothing to do with seeing him play more than twice and certianly nothing to do with his name.

 

 

 

Nice attempt to dismiss my opinion, but you'll have to try much harder than that.

 

 

Buying players better than we already have is exactly what we should be doing. David Bentley is better than we have therefore he is a candidate, IMO. I also happen to think that his dead-ball delivery would be very welcome.

[McBain]

Scores more?

David Bentley played 162 scored 24

Yossi Benayoun played 208 scored 38

 

Also has Benni really been given a chance? He's looked and played very well for the most part considering he's been in and out playing for a team out of form. I think if we stick to playing a 4-2-3-1 then Benni should be given a decent go at RM.

 

I think he's been left out recently as his natural game is to come inside and narrow the pitch. In a 442 Rafa perhaps doesn't mind that but in this formation the fact he plays Kuyt ahead of him there says a lot to me.

 

As for Bentley. I think he's a good player and better than Pennant. But of a level needed to push us the extra mile? Not sure.

[Guest Prongsy]

Nice attempt to dismiss my opinion, but you'll have to try much harder than that.

Buying players better than we already have is exactly what we should be doing. David Bentley is better than we have therefore he is a candidate, IMO. I also happen to think that his dead-ball delivery would be very welcome.

 

I'm not trying to dismiss your opinion on David Bentley, you like him and that's fine - what I do dismiss is your comments about his nationality, I couldn't give a f*** where he was from, I'd like 11 born and bred scousers out there every week, but that's not going to happen.

 

I'm not saying I don't want him because he's English, I'm saying I don't want him because he's not anywhere near the level that's going to take us to a league title.

 

We're competing against United, not against the players on our bench. Let's get in Bellamy, he's better than Voronin.

Edited March 27, 2008 by Prongsy

[Marvin]

Carlos Bently is rubbish - no youtube videos

[RP]

All we can do is improve our own quality - if we improved all of our players by 10%/20% (immeasurable, I know, but I am sure you get the point) then I suspect we'd be in much better shape.

 

IMO Bentley is a step-up from what we have - if he was available at a reasonable price, then he would be worth a look.

 

My point about his nationality was not aimed at you, or indeed any one specific individual. But I believe that there is a tendency on here for people to look for a 'fancy foreigner' when there may be solutions much closer to home - I am sure you have noticed it too. No doubt originally inspired by Footy Manager type games.

[johngibo YPC]

I am growing more and more keen on Bentley. He seems to offer similar crossing ability to Pennant, but with a far greater goal threat. Just in the league this season he has 6 goals and 8 assists

So that is one in five for goals and better than one in four for assists. Playing in a more attacking role for a better team he should improve this.

If we could get decent money for Pennant then he would definetly be an improvement IMO

[sean]

Bentley's a fine little player, definitely first team material.

[Knoxy]

Decent player and a step up from what we've got. But still the wrong type of player IMO. We need players who can run with the ball and stretch teams. Bentley's another Garcia/Benayoun who'll drift inside and leave us too narrow

 

That said, there's a dirth of out and out wingers who fit our needs