Rafa and Ferguson feud
Posted by Mark | Filed under Football, Liverpool FC, News, TV
Been reading the comments made by Rafa Benitez about Alex Ferguson and i have to say it’s great for a manager to finally come out and attack Fergusons lack of respect the way Ferguson attacks everyone else. Of course everything Benitez said is true and really the proof really will be in the eating now as the FA look set to ‘investigate’ Rafa’s comments and the ‘context’ in which they were made.
IF Rafa is charged in any way it will once and for all and for all to see PROVE that what he is saying is true considering Fergie has escaped recently with no fine or sanctions against him from his last verbal attack on a ref.
What i find a little ironic is the fan debates on the forums..especially from the ManU fans saying that Rafa is ‘starting to feel the pressure’ and that Fergie’s mind games are working etc etc.
Maybe it’s Fergie who’s feeling the pressure and not Rafa considering he started it with his little ‘Liverpool will crumble’ type comment while his team struggles to keep pace with the top of the table, maybe it’s Rafa who is truly the clever one by A. taking the pressure of the team and putting the media focus on himself and B. putting more pressure on Fergie and ManU by turning the spotlight squarely on their conduct with the refs and the FA maybe wanting to prove a point about not showing favoritism….either way the ball is now in ManU and the FA’s court to see what response they make, will the ManU camp bite and will the FA get out of Fergie’s pocket?
January 12th, 2009 at 11:55 Internet Explorer 7.0 Windows Vista
Internet Explorer 7.0 Windows Vista
lol no way, 3-0 win yesterday against a well beaten chelsea says it all. its just fergies way of putting pressure on other managers, all bloody mind games. he did the same to keegan and he cracked! we see at the end of the season when the title back in the manu trophy room.Â
January 12th, 2009 at 13:24 Mozilla Firefox 3.0.5 Windows XP
Mozilla Firefox 3.0.5 Windows XP
It was a good result against a very poor performing Chelsea side but what ManU..and frankly all the top teams are struggling with is breaking down teams that sit back and soak up all the pressure then try to steal a goal from a break or set piece, It’s ok beating the attacking teams that get forward and leave space behind the defence but i don’t believe it’s the wins against the top teams thats going to be the tittle decider this year. There will ultimately be many many factors that will decide who will win the league but i certainly don’t see ManU as the stand out obvious choice. I also think that as long as Liverpool continue to struggle to win games against teams like Stoke then we will struggle to maintain our momentum and some of Rafa’s tactical decisions still leave me wondering why!!.
January 12th, 2009 at 16:00 Internet Explorer 7.0 Windows Vista
Internet Explorer 7.0 Windows Vista
thats what fergie is questioning i would assume, rafa’s ability. he hasn’t done it so far, and you have the strongest liverpool team for a longtime. it will be a tough race this year, but i can’t see anyone else with the pedigree other than manu
January 19th, 2009 at 12:54 Internet Explorer 7.0 Windows XP
Internet Explorer 7.0 Windows XP
I personally think its less a case of Man Utd’s pedigree and more a case of Liverpool throwing away chances. All of the papers are full of stories blowing smoke up Fergies ass for his stalking down of Chelsea and Liverpool. What utter rubbish. Utd have been average at best, save for the game against Chelsea they have struggled to beat anyone this season. How many last minute winners have they just about racked up? Liverpool should be over the hill and out of sight by now, with only one loss this season (Which we gifted Spurs through and own goal) we should be so far ahead no amount of last minute 1-0 Utd results should have mattered. But seven draws against teams that have put ten men behind the ball and clung on for the point (Man City and Villa aside) is frankly giving away points. We should have taken those teams to the cleaners, and its that failure to do so thats allowed Utd to catch up. If Utd go on to win it again this season, it will have nothing to do with Rafa’s perfectly justified (And timed I might add) outburst. That was just brilliant headline theatre designed to get the refs watching Fergie like a hawk for the big crunch match against Chelsea, and to take the pressure off his players heading into the second half of the season, especially Gerrard who’s upcoming trial for assualt has almost been forgotten in the wake of Rafa’s comments allowing the player to carry on with the job in hand.
Many people have told me Rafa and Liverpool have choked. But I dont buy it. Fergie is a footballing rarity these days, he runs the club at Utd and has a say in everything the club does. He is the face and voice of everything Old Trafford related, with 20+ years at the helm, his track record means not even Utd’s rich owners dare question his authority, leaving him to run the club as he see’s fit, and buying the players he wants. The same cannot be said for the rest of the premiership, as mega rich owners make deals behind their managers backs that undermine their authority and cause signings the manager didnt want, sometimes just for the high profile name. Keegan left Newcastle because of it, Jose fell out with Chelsea over it. Mark Hughes is nowt but a puppet at Eastlands who gets the players he is given, although for some reason known only to himself he has managed to swing a deal for Craig Bellamy. You can sign virtually any striker in the world and you sign him? Jesus… But the point being is the manager is no longer in a position where he can build the team he wants in 90% of the clubs in the premiership, and its no different at Liverpool. Rafa’s refusal to sign a new deal at Anfield unless he gets 100% say in who comes and goes to the club is evidence of one mans passion for his football club. Last summer he wanted Gareth Barry from Villa, but was told the funds were not available to meet Villa’s 15m demands. Yet somehow the board managed to agree a 20m figure for Robbie Keane, who although a good addition to the squad, was not a player topping Rafa’s wishlist. As a result Keane has spent more time on the bench this season as Rafa struggles to accomodate him into his squad, as his real transfer target goes from strength to strength at Villa. And because of this, people question why Rafa spent 20m on Keane and then wont play him. There lies your answer.
The premiership has become to much about money these days. Its no longer a game anymore, its a business first an foremost. Rafa is hitting out at it and saying what most managers would love to be able to say, but fear for their necks too much. The difference with Rafa is that he can make those comments safe in the knowledge that Real Madrid are desperate to land him at any cost. And thats a pretty big stick to have at your disposal during contract negotiations!
January 22nd, 2009 at 09:51 Internet Explorer 7.0 Windows Vista
Internet Explorer 7.0 Windows Vista
can’t be bothered to read all that bullshit to be honest, what i can say is liverpool have bottled it once again, all the media crap that goes on means nothing, and 1-0 grinding wins are what man u have the pedigree to do, and liverpool obviously don’t. try again next season.
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:03 Internet Explorer 7.0 Windows XP
Internet Explorer 7.0 Windows XP
We will see how far your so called pedigree gets you when Fergie retires at the end of next season. Cause by that time Ronaldo will have left for Real, Tevez will have gone too, having gotten sick of warming the bench. Giggs, Scholes and Neville will all retire as soon as Fergie does. Van der Sar is off at the end of this season, and persistant long term injuries to Carrick, Hargreaves and Ferdinand could mean they are well past their best if not forced to pack it in altogether. When Fergie goes so to will his scouting network and back office boys, and the Glazers will bring in their own people and royally screw it up. The theatre of dreams will become the theatre of nightmares, as half your supporters suddenly try telling us they’ve been City not Utd all along (With the exception of those who decide maybe Stamford bridge is actually closer to home after all) and all jump ship. Before you know it the party is over and your mid table fodder. Good luck in the Championship! Losers.
Not that you will care much, cause by then you will be a *Insert whichever team is winning* supporter.
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:22 Mozilla Firefox 3.0.5 Windows XP
Mozilla Firefox 3.0.5 Windows XP
Lmao!!!! handbags at dawn…i love it
February 5th, 2009 at 23:12 Mozilla Firefox 0.10.1 Windows XP
Mozilla Firefox 0.10.1 Windows XP
It’s ok to have a comment.
February 28th, 2009 at 09:30 Internet Explorer 7.0 Windows XP
Internet Explorer 7.0 Windows XP
Well it looks like the butting of heads in the Anfield boardroom is finally over. Rick Parry has tabled his resignation at the end of this season. That should see Rafa free to make the signings he wants without months of bickering. Im guessing this will mean his contract dispute will be over now.
February 28th, 2009 at 10:33 Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6 Windows XP
Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6 Windows XP
Yes, looks like a bit of stability is coming to the club…all we need now is new owners that have the finances to forward the club instead of ‘broke’ yanks. Still, a part of me can’t help thinking what sort of football club Liverpool would of become under Mourinho if Rafa had left and if speculation was true about Mourinho being sounded out for the job…you just know he would of loved to take a team like Liverpool up against Chelsea and beat them as well as taking on arch rival Fergie with Manure’s arch rival club Liverpool.