Rafa to Juve

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Great timing - a week before an European SF. Bells

 

Juventus have asked Rafael Benítez for a decision on his career plans within the next 10 days as they attempt to finalise their shortlist to succeed Alberto Zaccheroni at the Stadio Olimpico.

 

The Liverpool manager remains the Italian club's preferred choice to lead them from this summer, as has been the case since they sacked Ciro Ferrara and installed Zaccheroni as a stop-gap appointment in January, when Benítez was reluctant to walk away from his lucrative Anfield contract mid-season. Juventus still believe they can entice the Spaniard to Turin, however, but want assurances of his interest as they plan for a new era that will include increased transfer spending this summer and, in the 2011-12 season, a new 41,000-capacity stadium.

 

Reports in Italy have claimed Benítez's agent, Manuel Garcia Quilon, met the Juventus president, Jean-Claude Blanc, in Milan this week to discuss the compensation owing to his client should he quit Anfield. While this is incorrect, Juventus do want an answer from Benítez on whether he wishes to feature on their managerial shortlist for this summer. Other candidates are believed to include the current Brazil coach, Dunga, and the Cagliari coach, Massimiliano Allegri.

 

Benítez is also under consideration by Real Madrid, as the club he served as player, youth-team coach, reserve-team coach and assistant manager discuss the options to replace the current coach, Manuel Pellegrini, should he fail to win La Liga this season. In a poll conducted by the Spanish newspaper Marca yesterday, Benítez finished above José Mourinho, Fabio Capello, Carlo Ancelotti and Luiz Felipe Scolari on the list of readers' ideal choice to succeed Pellegrini. The Liverpool manager polled 40% of a 100,000-strong vote.

 

Despite firm interest from Real and Juventus, a poor season with Liverpool and his public frustrations with the financial constraints at Anfield, Benítez would prefer to remain on Merseyside providing serious investment materialises in the coming months. Liverpool's managing director, Christian Purslow, has been conducting a global search for new investors since last year but theco-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, in the absence of an offer that meets their asking price, have sought an extension to their refinancing deal with the Royal Bank of Scotland.

 

An announcement on the Americans' plans for Liverpool, to include confirmation of their intention to sell and the appointment of the British Airways chairman, Martin Broughton, as the club's new independent chairman, is expected today, the eve of the 21st anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

 

Fernando Torres, meanwhile, could be fit to face his former club Atlético Madrid in the Europa League semi-final next week, according to the specialist treating the striker's latest knee injury in Spain.

 

Torres is currently in Barcelona for treatment on the knee that required surgery and forced him to miss five weeks of the season earlier this year. Initial scans on a problem that caused Torres to miss Sunday's damaging draw against Fulham proved inconclusive and he is scheduled to undergo further tests tomorrow.

 

The delay in diagnosing the extent of the striker's injury has raised concerns over a prolonged absence and a possible threat to his participation at the World Cup. Dr Ramon Cugat, the specialist who has treated Torres throughout his career, however, believes Liverpool's leading goalscorer should be available for next week's reunion with Atlético.

 

"The problem is not serious but he needs to rest to avoid more risk because it's the same knee on which he had surgery in January," said Cugat. "But in normal circumstances, he could be ready to play next week, depending on how it settles down. The decision is now up to Liverpool's medical staff and the manager."

 

Liverpool play West Ham at Anfield on Monday and face Atlético in the first leg of their semi-final in Madrid three days later.

[Superjay]

I'm sure rafa will be really endeared to they're all out tactics of getting him by making him apply to their shortlist.

 

Besides they're feckin penniless.

[Kahnee]

And they offer the same job security as Real

[Nerik]

Juventus are not Real Madrid when it comes to their managers. They are much more patient. I can see Rafa doing well over there.

[matty]

Juventus are not Real Madrid when it comes to their managers. They are much more patient. I can see Rafa doing well over there.

 

Marcello Lippi 2001–2004

Fabio Capello 2004–2006

Didier Deschamps 2006–2007

Giancarlo Corradini 2007

Claudio Ranieri 2007–2009

Ciro Ferrara 2009–2010

Alberto Zaccheroni 2010-

[matlfc]

An announcement on the Americans' plans for Liverpool, to include confirmation of their intention to sell and the appointment of the British Airways chairman, Martin Broughton, as the club's new independent chairman, is expected today, the eve of the 21st anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

 

 

 

Any news on this yet?

[fyds]

An announcement on the Americans' plans for Liverpool, to include confirmation of their intention to sell and the appointment of the British Airways chairman, Martin Broughton, as the club's new independent chairman, is expected today, the eve of the 21st anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

 

 

 

Any news on this yet?

Like others, given the sensitivity of the date i expect this to be forestalled until Friday so as not to detract from the anniversary - Purslow surely is onto that.

[Superjay]

What is interesting is that there are direct quotes from rafa's agent with regard to this. The interesting thing is the papers etc. over here are quite happy printing this 10 days crap even though the (babelfish translated) article appeared yesterday all over the italian papers.

 

Liverpool, ag. Benitez: “It has a contract to respect” Refutation once again the voices of a presumed encounter between the representatives of Rafa Benitez and the president of the Juventus, Jean-Claude Blanc. The agent of the technician of the Reds, Manuel Garci'a Quillon, has categorically refuted to have met the number a bianconero, as it had been instead suggested this morning from the Italian daily paper TuttoSport, second which the two would have been met to Madrid in order to draft plans begin them for the future. This but the refutation of Manuel Garci'a Quilon: “Benitez has a contract of four years with the Liverpool, remains there. One does not move. If it is true that I have met the leaders of the Juventus? Not. I repeat: Benitez has four contract years with the Liverpool”, law on tmw.

[Nerik]

Marcello Lippi 2001–2004

Fabio Capello 2004–2006

Didier Deschamps 2006–2007

Giancarlo Corradini 2007

Claudio Ranieri 2007–2009

Ciro Ferrara 2009–2010

Alberto Zaccheroni 2010-

 

Well there is an easy explanation to most of that. Lippi left to manage the national team after a 2nd successful stint at Juventus. Capello was there for the long run but then Calciopoli happened and Juve got relegated to Serie B. He left, as did most of the top players. Deschamps was always there as a stop gap until they regained Serie A status and he in fact was pushed out once they got promoted. Corradini was just there until Ranieri was appointed.

 

After that I'd agree. Ranieri did not do much and was let go after 2 seasons and they gambled on Ferrara who proved to be inept.

 

Lippi had some 4-5 years before leaving end 1998 and Ancelotti had some 3 years in the job before Lippi returned.

[Epic Swindle]

Can't say I'd be that disapointed. It's going to happen eventually and it's about securing the right replacement. The Italian media do tend to go over the top though.

[Noel Street]

Can't say I'd be that disapointed. It's going to happen eventually and it's about securing the right replacement. The Italian media do tend to go over the top though.

 

 

no really?

 

tell us more

[Kite]

If Juventus miss out on a Champ League place I wonder if Rafa would then decide not to go? I'm not sure whether I want him to stay until the whole ownership saga gets sorted and we have the funding to get a top class manager in or whether I just want him gone by summer so that we can hope a new manager galvanises the squad for the season ahead. The whole club is just mired in uncertainty at the moment

[Owen1978]

If Juventus miss out on a Champ League place I wonder if Rafa would then decide not to go? I'm not sure whether I want him to stay until the whole ownership saga gets sorted and we have the funding to get a top class manager in or whether I just want him gone by summer so that we can hope a new manager galvanises the squad for the season ahead. The whole club is just mired in uncertainty at the moment

 

Hope he goes, would be good for us and rafa

[Gomez]

Hope he goes, would be good for us and rafa

 

At this point in time, it would be an unmitigated disaster for us.

[Frosty Jack]

Hope he goes, would be good for us and rafa

 

yep, get curbs in and put the last 5 years down to a bad dream

[Bogman]

At this point in time, it would be an unmitigated disaster for us.

 

 

Agreed.

 

I just wish half our fan base would put as much effort into getting rid of our owners as they do knifing up Rafa.

[Andy @ Allerton]

Agreed.

 

I just wish half our fan base would put as much effort into getting rid of our owners as they do knifing up Rafa.

 

That would be nice

[Sion]

Agreed.

 

I just wish half our fan base would put as much effort into getting rid of our owners as they do knifing up Rafa.

 

more than half our fan base haven't even got a clue how bad the owners are. They think everything is Rafa's fault.

[downunder]

more than half our fan base haven't even got a clue how bad the owners are. They think everything is Rafa's fault.

 

I think our failures this season are a lot down to Rafa, as I have said many times, not on here (I don't think), the owners cant be blamed for poor team selection and substitutions.

 

If we were stable off the pitch maybe Rafa would have done a better job, and I am not just talking about having more money to spend, it could be distractions off the pitch have made him make the mistakes he has, none of us know.

 

As for half our fans not knowing how bad a mess we are in, I found it interesting (and surprising) that most the fans at the game were more for supporting Rafa than being anti the owners.

 

A few of you (you know who you are) on here also know that the people at the club seem happier now than they have been for many years, and I am not talking the playing side.

[kop205]

 

If we were stable off the pitch maybe Rafa would have done a better job, and I am not just talking about having more money to spend, it could be distractions off the pitch have made him make the mistakes he has, none of us know.

 

 

I've said that for ages.

 

Utterly bizarre how any half-arsed performance by the players gets pinned on the 'fact' that Rafa can't motivate him/they don't believe in him, whereas the same people who take that position have consistently refused to allow the same defence to be applied to him.

 

It is a massive double standard - if 'not trusting your boss' is an excuse for underperformance, then it applies much more to Rafa than it does to the players, since we know his thoughts on the owners whereas all of the 'lost dressing room' s**** about Rafa is largely speculative.

 

If it isn't an excuse, then the players become wvery bit as cuplable for the season as the manager.

[Kite]

I've said that for ages.

 

Utterly bizarre how any half-arsed performance by the players gets pinned on the 'fact' that Rafa can't motivate him/they don't believe in him, whereas the same people who take that position have consistently refused to allow the same defence to be applied to him.

 

It is a massive double standard - if 'not trusting your boss' is an excuse for underperformance, then it applies much more to Rafa than it does to the players, since we know his thoughts on the owners whereas all of the 'lost dressing room' s**** about Rafa is largely speculative.

 

If it isn't an excuse, then the players become wvery bit as cuplable for the season as the manager.

 

Rafa picks the players that play. Ultimately, he has to take responsibility for the performances on the pitch, no-one else.

[richwilks]

Rafa picks the players that play. Ultimately, he has to take responsibility for the performances on the pitch, no-one else.

 

And some of his decisions lately have been very questionable. I support Rafa but his stubbornness with substitutions and certain players is beyond a joke at times.

[kop205]

Rafa picks the players that play. Ultimately, he has to take responsibility for the performances on the pitch, no-one else.

 

But it hasn't always been a problem of who he has picked.

 

Take Sunday for instance - he dropped Kuyt and Lucas, as many have called for him to do, and we failed to win for the first time in about 8 at home.

 

There have been times when it has been more a case of a lack of quality from which to choose, or poor performances - such as from Gerrard, for most of the season - from players whose selection nobody is questioning.

 

Yeah, he carries the can - and rightly so - when he pickes the wrong side, and of couse he has been guilty of that. I just think a statement like 'Ultimately, he has to take responsibility for the performances on the pitch, no-one else' is way out in the circumstances of what has actually happened.

 

What about when those sub-par performances are caused in no small part by factors such as good players (and the right ones to have selected) perfoming badly? Why should Benitez be the one who is given sole responsibility for the ensuing draw/defeat? If the argument is that he is to blame for that as well, because they are disullisioned with him and that is why they are underpefroming then the same excuse - disillusionment with the bosses - can equally be used to defend Benitez.

 

It is clood-cukcoo land to suggest that anyone is 'solely responsible' for the problems on the pitch because it will inevitably mean people being held responsible for things over which they have no control.

 

Instead, lets look at what people can control and apportion blame in the light of that.

 

Yeah, Benitez has picked the wrong side and bought the wrong players at times - he can carry the can for that aspect.

 

The good players who have been s**** for parts of the season can carry the can for that aspect.

 

The owners have repeatedly failed to back Rafa in the way that other clubs have done with their managers and so we have a thinner and weaker sqaud than we might have done with a bit more support - they can carry the can for that.

 

Ultimately, as amanger, he will be held accountable - but that is vcery different from saying he is responsible.

 

Lots of the problems, including by far the biggest ones, won't necessarily go with him.

[Kite]

Ultimately, as amanger, he will be held accountable - but that is vcery different from saying he is responsible.

 

Lots of the problems, including by far the biggest ones, won't necessarily go with him.

The words "Responsible" and "Accountable" are synonyms, they are not "very different".

 

But, anyhow, the fact that there are other problems is not the issue here specifically - it is a given, unavoidable conclusion to anyone following the club with half an eye and a smidgeon of a brain and of course they won't go if Rafa goes. But that doesn't mean we can't discuss Rafa going or Rafa's fairly disastrous management of the team this season.

[kop205]

The words "Responsible" and "Accountable" are synonyms,

 

 

Oh dear.

 

They really, really aren't.

 

Is Rafa responsible for all of the factors that have caused the poor performance this year? No. Is he the one who will held be held to account for the team's poor performance, despite that lack of sole responsibility? Yes.

 

And the fact that there are 'other issues' matters rather a lot if you are trying to make out that 'he has to take responsibility for the performances on the pitch, no-one else'.

 

If your comment was true, then simply him going would be the end of woes. Maybe that isn't what you think, and nor am I saying that no discussion of Rafa's position shoud take place, but this whole 'sole resposnibility' stuff needs calling for the misleading vbulls*** that it is.

Edited April 15, 2010 by kop205