Keep Rafa At Pool

No laughs first or second time.

Reckon you might land that first European cup this season?

Wonder if the Russian would do one after winning that and leave you in the shiit

Ancellotti has stupidly set the CL as CFC's priority. we're one of the strongest sides, but it's still a long way to go before I start to think about us winning the CL.

No, I don't think he would go after winning the CL. What would be the point of that from RA's perspective?

His playtoy will have won the lot.

I reckon you we meet Barca somewhere either the semi or the final.

I suspect 20 years of a club under achieving brought a certain pressure on Ferguson too - has much been made of Rafa's 'perfect' post match assessment of the ref's performance?

As far as I know anti and pro Rafa fans saw it as odd.

I agree. I, like most supporters, have never demanded a title. Sure, the club has a massive history full of silverware, but I knew demanding trophies, especially the big two, was unrealistic. However, Rafa did set the standard pretty high for himself, some said we overachieved and we did, to a degree, but in 5 years he turned us to one of Europe's finest, there was pretty much progress every season, the squad was getting stronger. This season we have failed immensely, the decline seems so fast and so big, it's hard to take for most. I feel at times he has lost the dressing room, the stuff they're doing, it isn't just mistakes and it isn't just confidence, it's been like this since day one this season and things are getting worse. There isn't a man I want to see succeed more at Liverpool than Rafa, his dedication and effort need to be rewarded, but this season it feels like we've taken strides backwards. I felt it early on and our form in Europe was most unacceptable, I think other than Fergie and Wenger, most managers would have been sacked by now, I'm really unsure if Rafa's the man to turn things around at this point. He's a man of little emotion and, at the moment, the team are showing little emotion on the pitch, I feel they need somebody they want to play for. Of course, I'm just guessing about this, things may be fine in the dressing room and it's simply footballing reasons, but I feel that's unlikely.

Another problem is Rafa's continued faith in some players, it's like Houllier with Heskey all over again. Dirk Kuyt and Lucas are, for me, two of our worst players, yet they are integral parts of our squad in Rafa's opinion. He has a £17m midfielder sat on the bench, he wrapped him in cotton wool for a month after his debut, he's given him very little playing time, it feels like Rafa's oblivious to Alberto's talents at times, it seems he's oblivious to a lot of player's talents at times (Pacheco, Nemeth, Ayala). He made his debut at the end of October yet it still feels like Rafa won't be starting him until the new year, it's depressing.

A lot of people are blaming the loss of Alonso for our problems but it is much more than that for me. United lost the best player in the world and another fantastic player to go with, they lost £100m+ worth of players in the summer and replaced them with a striker on a free and a decent winger for £17m. Hardly inspirational signings but they're still competing, they're still up there and I honestly can't understand why we aren't, especially after the fantastic platform built last year.

Not seen it, just read the transcript, 'sounds' odd.

Neither have I would rather not to be honest.

I don't think he would suddenly walk if Chelsea win the CL. I think it's a sad fantasy of supporters of other clubs. I find the whole notion of, "He'll just get bored of football and leave the club in trouble" ridiculous.

But even if he did go, I'd still be thankful for what he;s done for us. I'd accept whatever outcome we were left in. I doubt he'd leave us in trouble, but you never know.

IMO it's far more likely Torres and/or Gerrard will walk from Liverpool because they want title challenges and CL football.

He's got till the end of the season to turn it round I reckon if we don't get 4th he should/will walk, the next few games need to be confidence building we play Wolves twice in like 6 weeks (Masha out so AA must start??) right now that team looks shot no leaders no nothing (stand up Mr S Gerrard) no one wants to know its clear, even before the Pomey I said to my mate theres is no way we will win today, the only way is to pull themselves up but who knows it might get worst before it gets better.

Don't kid yourself into thinking everything in the OT garden is rosey because its anything but.

honestly can't understand why we aren't, especially after the fantastic platform built last year


Funny you say that because on the subject of Rafa losing players I was thinking maybe not winning the title last season was where it started? we drew games Stoke/Wigan/City/Stoke/Fulham an really should of put the mancs to the sword andwon it, maybe after coming so close the players don't have that faith in him anymore.

More likely to be a £70Mill bid from City for Torres next season (Which is a big rumour) which the yanks would love plus it would be two birds with one stone as Rafa has already said should Torres be sold he will walk.

Everything at United ain't rosey, I know that, but they consistently compete for trophies every single year, we muster up a proper title challenge for the first time this decade and we end up taking strides backwards.

To be honest, there seems to be no confidence from anywhere, our supporters have no confidence in the team (including myself), the players have no confidence and the manager is losing grip on the side.

I dunno when it started, pre-season wasn't the best and there were kind of signs then, I mean, only the Spaniards went to major international tournaments (I think), but even then, there was very little momentum picked up then. I remember us getting spanked by Espanyol and I was getting the feeling then, I hoped after the Alonso situation cleared up, we'd get back on track but we've been in freefall the past couple of months.

I saw his interview with the Beeb.

He repeated his "perfect" mantra with the BBC, Sky and carried it on with the printed press as well.

I think he's really, really lucky the Mancs' had their mad weekend because they've defelected the attention away from him. If this had been a normal weekend he'd have been ripped apart over this.

In his defence I do wonder whether he's hampered a little because of his problems with the English language. I don't know how reliable this is, but I've read that Benitez is much better speaking in Italian than Mourinho is.

I think there is an element of that about it, you could have / should have won it - there is no guarentee having gone close, that you will kick on the following year.

Do you think he would walk? Can you afford to sack him?

United are spluttering, but prior to last weekend were 9 goals better off than this time last year, Chelsea should really have put some distance between themselves and the pack, IF United can get through the intouch and a few bodies start to become available - you never know.