RAFA signs new 5 year contract

He also benched Crouch and he is brilliant!

Benitez irritates me at times. I'd love to see Mourinho take over. The way he turned Chelsea around was truely impressive.
 
Serqet said:
He also benched Crouch and he is brilliant!

Benitez irritates me at times. I'd love to see Mourinho take over. The way he turned Chelsea around was truely impressive.
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Then why is he at Portsmouth and not some other 'big' club????
 
Serqet said:
Who knows but IMO he is great.
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Actually, I was being a bit unfair/harsh there. I was just trying to make a point. I liked Crouch and letting go of Crouch in my view was a mistake by Rafa, one of few he has made. I truly believe that if Crouch was at Liverpool this season, it would have made a big difference to this season due to his height and good feet.

In hindsight, you can't blame Rafa fully for this because it was Crouch who felt that he didn't want to waste playing a bit part role for Liverpool, he wanted regular football. It's Rafa's mistake in not playing Crouch more regularly but then he prefers a 'one man up front' system and Torres was on fire most of the time last season.
 
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_5071909,00.html

Rafa reveals Reds plan
Benitez sets targets after signing new deal

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has set his sights on improving every aspect of the Anfield club after signing a new long-term contract.

The Spaniard finally put an end to speculation over his future on Thursday evening when he put pen-to-paper on a new five-year deal.

With his own future resolved, Benitez is eager to agree new contracts for key players such as Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt and tie his backroom staff to fresh terms.

He told the Liverpool Echo: "It was a very easy decision for me to take because I only ever wanted to stay at this football club.

"My priority now is to do the deals for my staff and for the players who will be important for this club in the future.

"We want to improve in all departments - the squad, the mentality - everything that we possibly can.

"We want to be successful and to bring trophies to this club for the fans."

Worried

With Benitez rejecting the initial drafts of his new contract from the club's hierarchy, speculation increased that he could be set to turn his back on Merseyside giants.

But while the former Valencia boss admits the negotiations were tense at times, he never envisaged leaving Anfield.

He said: "Because of the uncertainty it was a difficult time. The conversations went on for a long time and because of that I was a bit worried.

"But I never thought of leaving and in the end it has all been sorted out thanks to the hard work of everyone involved.

"From the very beginning everyone knew that I wanted to stay here.

"But it took a bit longer for everything to be concluded because there were certain issues that we needed to be clarified."

Perfect week

Signing the new long-term deal has set the seal on a memorable spell for Liverpool, with Benitez's commitment coming hot on the heels of their UEFA Champions League thrashing of Real Madrid and last Saturday's stunning 4-1 win at Manchester United.

But the Spaniard, who moved to Merseyside in June 2004, is already looking to the future and is eager to add more silverware to the Anfield trophy cabinet.

He said: "For me and for my family it has been a fantastic week. My idea is always to win trophies, not just games.

"But to beat Real Madrid and Manchester United and then sign the contract makes this a perfect week. But now we must look ahead, not back."
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Serqet said:
He also benched Crouch and he is brilliant!

Benitez irritates me at times. I'd love to see Mourinho take over. The way he turned Chelsea around was truely impressive.
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yes it was impressive with the R200m squad he assembled;) ,im not saying mourinho is crap its just he was given a open cheque book to buy whoever he wants,i would like to see mourinho build up a sqaud rather than inherit a club with worlds class players ,happended at porto ,chelsea ,and now Inter

thats why i have more respect for Slur Alex and Arsene ,they built their clubs to where they are today ,just like Benitez is doing at Liverpool

Have a look at the 2003-2004 squad the season before Benitez took over

Baros Milan Forward ,Carragher Jamie Defence,Diao Salif Midfield,Diouf El Hadji Forward,Dudek Jerzy Goal,Finnan Steve Defence,Gerrard Steven Midfield,Hamann Dietmar Midfield,Heskey Emile Forward,Hyypia Sami Defence,Jones Paul Goal,Kewell Harry Midfield,Kirkland Chris Goal,Le Tallec Anthony Forward,Murphy Danny Midfield,Otsemobor Jon Defence,Owen Michael Forward ,Riise John Arne Defence,Sinama Pongolle Florent Forward
Traore Djimi Defence ,john Welsh midfield
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Now look at the 2008-2009 squad

1. Diego Cavalieri
2. Andrea Dossena
4. Sami Hyypia
5. Daniel Agger
8. Steven Gerrard
9. Fernando Torres
10. Andriy Voronin
11. Albert Riera
12. Fabio Aurelio
14. Xabi Alonso
15. Yossi Benayoun
16. Jermaine Pennant
17. Alvaro Arbeloa
18. Dirk Kuyt
19. Ryan Babel
20. Javier Mascherano
21. Lucas Leiva
22. Emiliano Insua
23. Jamie Carragher
24. David Ngog
25. Pepe Reina
26. Jay Spearing
27. Philipp Degen
28. Damien Plessis
29. Krisztian Nemeth
30. Charles Itandje
31. Nabil El Zhar
32. Stephen Darby
34. Martin Kelly
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if you dont see the Improvement in the squad then I give up ;)

we now currently boast the best striker in the world ,best midfielder/superhero in the world capt fantastic),argubly the best holding midfielder in the world (get in there Monster masch) 1 of the best keepers in the world (fyi pepe has been breaking all goalkeeping records at liverpool newest one fastest to 100 cleansheets surpassing the great Clemence :cool::D

when Benitez took us over we werent even ranked by uefa :( Now we are ranked No 1 in europe :cool: higher that all the giants of european football

not to mentioned all the fantastic talent he has brought to the club which we will see in a couple of years time ;)

Im over the moon that Rafa is staying :D
 
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Good point guru. He did have the money to buy anyone he wanted. It definitely helped.

What impressed me the most was that he took a team that was so disjointed and made them play as one unit full of confidence.
 
Stickfigure said:
Which is why they'll only stand a chance of winning it in 2015 :p
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Nice one :p

Manure supporter?

Rafa along with owners/board needs to change the entire structure from top to bottom. The whole club needs to become 200% more professional than it currently is.

New signings need to be bedded in, so that the improvement made in the league this year can make the club make the next big step ... WIN THE EPL
 
Bitter/sweet IMO. Looking forward to some more fantastic European nights and perhaps another CL trophy but also more draws to teams like Stoke and off the pace in the Prem by March. Maybe if Rafa now gets his way in the transfer market and the financial backing arrives from new owners I guess we could have a chance at winning the Prem.
 
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