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Rafa Benitez and failed Liverpool signing Robbie Keane - Source: Reuters -
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As rumours continue to circle that Rafa Benitez could exit Anfield by the end of the week, more reports on Friday suggest that he is set to snub Juventus and remain at Liverpool - but outlined below are 10 reasons why Rafa Benitez MUST leave Liverpool, and why he should do it now!
10. Poor man management
There is a line in Steven Gerrard's autobiography that tells of when Liverpool won the FA Cup in 2006.
The win, where Liverpool came from two goals down to level and then beat West Ham on penalties, has since become known as the one of the greatest FA Cup finals in history. In the book, the talismanic skipper wrote that even though he had almost single handily lifted his side out of what could have been a humiliating defeat - there was no scenes of rapturous joy from Benitez.
"After the FA Cup final, Liverpool threw a party for the players and families, and Rafa was there," Gerrard wrote. "I wandered across to him, buzzing with our victory. As I walked towards him, my mind was full of one hope. Go on, just say it, Rafa. Just say, 'Well done, Stevie.' For once. Would he? No chance!"
This, of course, is just one of many examples of where Benitez has fallen down in the man management stakes, and how he can make players who come to Liverpool because they want to feel the pride of having that LiverBird upon their chest, hang their heads and not want to play at all.
Another, is how the boss alienated Spanish midfield ace Xabi Alonso by refusing to let him miss a Champions League clash to attended the birth of his first child, the second was when he tried to sell him to Jueventus all while openly courting Gareth Barry as his replacement.
The result - as is now well known - is that Alonso buggered off to Real Madrid at the first opportunity, leaving a gapping hole in Liverpool's midfield that is still yet to be filled.
9. Rubbish transfer dealings
For all the whining about the lack of money being pumped into Liverpool from their clueless owners (and yes, the whiners are right) there is just a much whining going on about Rafa Benitez's transfer dealings.
Yes, with the estimated 220 million pounds he has had to spend during his six-year tenure at the club, Benitez may have brought in the likes of world class striker Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso and shot-stopper Pepe Reina.
But for every Torres, there has been a Nunez, a Dossena, for every Mascherano there has been a Palletta, a Voronin, and for every Reina there has been a Lucas and a Leto.
These of course are the names of players that no one can, or even cares, to remember. But what about the acquisition and subsequent treatment of Robbie Keane, who was brought for 19 million and then sold back to Spurs for three million less than six months later, not to mention buying a 17.1 million pound injured midfielder for a position that needs to be filled at the beginning of the season, and then giving said player just three starts, so that his confidence is so low, there is no wonder the fans never got to sing their "Aqua, Aquilani" song.
Rumours now suggest that after just one season at Anfield, Aquilani will be heading back to Serie A for considerably less than what Benitez paid for him - no doubt.
8. Rotation, rotation, rotation
In the 09/10 season Benitez may have somewhat curbed his urge to rotate.
But Benitez's previous rotation policy, where he made numerous changes to his side, regardless of the previous result or players' performance, was the bane of every fan's existence. Liverpool fans, as is well known, want to win the Premier League, but in 2007, when his rotation was at its height, Benitez would always have one eye on Europe.
This meant that it wasn't often the same starting XI would line-up - and when they did, it was like XI strangers taking to the pitch.
In the 08/09 season, where Liverpool came ever so close to taking out English footballs most coveted prize, it was Benitez' inane rotation that saw matches with 'lesser' teams like Hull, West Ham and Fulham ending in draws leading to Liverpool, who lost just two games all season, missing out on the title to Manchester United.
7. Youth development
There is always a danger when you get a foreign manager in an English club that the youth system will suffer.
Foreign managers, after all, come in with their slick dress sense and funny accents, and with the cash being splashed they don't often have to think about home-grown youth talent development.
Unfortunately, this is now being seen at Liverpool, and is sure to be another of Benitez's lasting legacies.
Once prized for their youth development under Liverpool legend Stevie Heighway, as things stand it is very hard to see where the next Gerrard or Carragher will come from, because if a 17 million pound Italian can't get a game, what hope does a fresh-faced teen coming up the Melwood ranks have?
In the past Benitez was quoted as saying: "Academies do not produce too many in England, home-grown players tend to play in the lower divisions because they may not be good enough for the very top."
But there is also the argument that for every Plessis brought to Anfield, there is a Jay Spearing, or Martin Kelly waiting the in wings, and for every 10 million spent on a Lucas there is a 2 million pound Ryan Shawcross prime for picking in the Championship.
In 2009 Liverpool brought back 'King' Kenny Dalglish to take up a senior role in youth development at the club's academy, but it could be too little, too late to fix the damage that has already been done.
6. Politics
Some say that a bit of banter is good for the soul, but never before has Liverpool FC aired their dirty laundry for all the world to see quite like they have while under the guidance of Rafa Benitez.
From his well documented five minute "rant" at Alex Ferguson in January 2009 where he talked about "facts", one of which being that United were "nervous" because Liverpool were at the top of the table.
But instead of making Liverpool look like true unshakable title contenders, what the infamous spiel actually did was hand advantage back to the King of Mind Games - Rafa looked like he was losing the plot and Liverpool lost their grip on the title race by drawing with Stoke.
The other was his criticism of Rick Parry, who he blamed for his terrible transfer decisions, and numerous other woes and then subsequently forced out of Anfield, not to mention his bust-up with Stevie Heighway over the club's youth policy. His open, albeit well-founded, jibes at the club's American owners has also come under intense scrutiny.
In some respects Benitez has been right not to bow to the whims and wants of the clueless Gillett and Hicks, but it is the way in which the club's affairs have been aired that has made for quite uncomfortable viewing over the last few years, and this, as any fan will tell you is not the Liverpool way.
5. Stubbornness
Look up stubbornness in the dictionary and you'd be surprised not to see a picture of Rafa Benitez.
Never has a manager been quite as bizarrely cantankerous as the Spaniard.
Indeed, what other manager would wait until after the 60th minute to make a substitution when they might have needed one in the 51st? What other manager would insist on playing players out of position when they are clearly uncomfortable in doing so?
What other manager would take their best players and/or goalscorers off the pitch (after the 60th minute) and bring on 3rd division quality in a game they desperately need to win?
What other manager would be so cautious with a player that they would leave him sitting on the bench for half a season when you need him on the pitch NOW? What other manager would insist on continuing with zonal marking, despite his side being totally exposed in defence and leaking in goals, or beach balls, as the case may be?
The answer? None and especially no manager that would have any realistic chance of winning the Premier League.
4. Zonal marking
Rafa Benitez, as has become clear over the last six years, is a man obsessed.
He is obsessed with statistics, viciously scribbling line after line in his trusty notebook; he is also obsessed with zonal marking. Why else would he employ such a misguided tactic to the detriment of his side?
And for a man who is obsessed with "facts" it is quite interesting that the "fact" is zonal marking has seen his side let in far too many goals, far too often, especially this season where they have lost 11 league games so far.
There is a reason few managers used zonal marking, is because it is a dangerous game to play.
But of course Benitez is far too stubborn to change his ways. Because, as with many things in Rafa Benitez's world, it's his way, or the highway.
3. Goatee
When Rafa Benitez arrived at Liverpool in the 04/05 season, he came clean shaven and jolly faced, bringing with him an air of optimism to a club that was in desperate need of rejuvenation.
Who can forget those images of Benitez, smiling on the touch line after Liverpool lifted the Champions League trophy for the fifth time?
For a year Benitez carried on sans-facial hair, and Liverpool went on to win the FA Cup in 2006 in emphatic fashion, so imagine our surprise when Benitez's new face was unveiled alongside Fernando Torres in the summer of 2007.
It is a well know-fact (well, superstition, really) that no manager with facial hair has ever won the Premier League, and since Benitez decided to have a Craig David-inspired middle-aged crisis, Liverpool has won nothing.
2. Losing the dressing room
In the past few weeks it has become clear that while losing more than half his once fiercely loyal fan base, Rafa Benitez has perhaps lost something much more important, and that is the dressing room.
This, along with his poor man management, is akin to managerial suicide, because if you lose the dressing room, what have you got?
During the last season Liverpool have played uncomfortable, unimaginative and negative football with players who look tired, heartless, and lacking in pride while playing for this once feared and respected club.
And while people may point to the fact that Gerrard and Torres have been out of form for much of the season, both of them look like the wish they wish they were anywhere but Anfield.
1. If you love something, set it free
For months now, Rafa Benitez has claimed that he is clinging onto his job at Liverpool because of the fans.
Obviously this is a load of rubbish as the majority of fans would rather see Sammy Lee at the helm than go through another season of hell under the Spaniard.
For far too long now Benitez has lived off the "Miracle of Istanbul", that magical night in May where he restored European glory to the club, a fact that has kept him in a job for longer than he should ever have been.
Liverpool fans will never, ever forget what he did for the club in the early days of his reign, but, we also know that rather than staying at Anfield for the love of the club, this is now about his refusal to let go and, or course, money.
But if Rafa Benitez really loved Liverpool like he claims he does, he would do the right thing and walk away. Because as the old saying goes, if you really love something - set it free.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentsmestaron said on 2010-05-22 @ 14:10 NZDT: Report abusive post
I have been a supporter of this Club since the age 10 and now at 85 am disgusted by the antics of this Spanish Manager. I have never asked for a dismissal untill now Benitez MUST GO if the team is to survive. Miss Wiiliams has been telling us tha Kenwyn Jones is to join the Club for so long. I ask WHEN.