..what will happened if we ended up lower than fourth?

what will happened if we ended up lower than fourth position in the EPL this season.? As Rafa has somewhat guarantee the spot, which means automatic qualification for the Champions League next season, the repercussion of lesser results is unthinkable!!

Will Rafa go??? Thats' the main question playing in the minds of most Liverpool fans. For his detractors, who has been actively campaigning for his sacking, it will be a welcoming situation. But for his legion of fans..they are hoping for him to continue, especially for him to see through all the plans and foundation that he has laid down for the club's future.

Knowing Rafa's stubbornness and pride, failure to guide his Reds to the “guaranteed” fourth place finish that he has so boldly promised fans will lead to his departure from the club...but that same trait may see him stay and fight on to complete his 'mission.'

Will the club sack him?? He has time and again received support from the management, players and also ex-players. Managing director Christian Purslow, have come out in public in support of their man stating that he club has faith in Rafa and believe that, in Benitez, they have the man to lead Liverpool Football Club to great things in the future. The workings of the club has been built around him and have a long-term plan in mind. Ex players like King Kenny, Ian Rush, Didi Hamman and Sammy Hyppia has all came out in support of Benitez. So does current stars who believes that Rafa is the right man for Liverpool.

Sacking Rafa will also cost the Club enormous sum in compensation fees, and having less income due to non-qualification into the Champions league will limit the possibility of Rafa being sacked.

Will we see player exodus?? Lately, the media has been happily spinning news that players like Torres, Gerrard & Mascherano would leave for greener pasture if we failed to qualify for the Champions League. They further expect Reina and Riera would also leave in the event Rafa is sacked or quit the club. All players mentioned has rubbished the claim and said that they are very committed to the Liverpool cause.
The club and Rafa has also claimed that these players are not for sale. Furthermore, the club, in its effort to attract new investors would not want to sell it's most attractive and valuable assets i.e star players such as Torres, Gerrard & Mascherano.


Can we attract new investors?? With depleted income due to non qualification into the Champions league, many believes it would be a little difficult to attract new investors into the club. What more with the club laden with more than 240million pound in debts.
However, Liverpool is a big club, with very big fan based spread throughout the world. The financial prospect of the club is still very good and there are many prospective investors out there, provided the current owners are not too demanding.

*********

To night Liverpool will play Manchester City @ Eastland...in a must win match for Liverpool in its pursuit for fourth place. City will be without Tevez & Petrov. We will still be without Torres & Johnson, though Benayoun may make it to the bench.


I predict a win for Liverpool.

rafa benitez/.....ryan babel??

maybe that's the answer for rafa.


Good read :
;http://bleacherreport.com/articles/345684-rafael-benitez-is-building-liverpool-football-club-not-destroying-it

YNWA

QOTD

“I do not know what will happen in four or five months. In football, things change” 

– Manuel Garcia Quilon, Rafa Benitez's agent on rumours that Rafa is leaving for Juventus in the summer

blood is red for a reason.

For last night game against Spurs, Liverpool fans were in full force in the show of support to the manager & the team beleaguered by poor form and injuries to key players. The famous 12th man recreated the atmosphere usually reserved for European nights and the team responded with a solid team performance. 

Commitment, passion, drive, belief, persistence, concentration & tactical discipline were in abundance within the team. Spurs players were lost..not knowing what hit them. Every time a Spurs player got the ball, he will immediately be surrounded by two or three Liverpool players.

Liverpool were playing without key players such as Gerrard, Torres, Johnson & Benayoun but the team put forward were gritty and fought all the way for this meaningful win. Fringe players such as Philipp Degen and Kyrgiakos are beginning to show what a bargain they are. In fact, Kyrgiakos has churned up another 'man of the match' performance for a second game in a row. He has kept Crouch and Defoe quiet for the whole game and on the other end had come closed to scoring. Degen, playing in an unfamiliar right-side midfield role had a good chance of scoring when put through by kuyt. He has only Gomez to beat but he immediately reminded us of  his familiar defender role and make a wrong decision. Other than that, he had shown pace and skill and provided a solid performance.

Aquilani, playing in his familiar role as support striker, showed glimpse of why Rafa paid 20 million for his services. His passes were deft and quick and provided the assist for kuyt's first goal. With more game time and better fitness he will definitely more than capable of filling the gap left by alonso.

Dirk Kuyt, the hero of the day played his heart out. He was every where on the pitch, fighting for every ball. His first goal was well taken, and he was presented with two more sure-goal chances which he failed to convert. He kept his nerve in taking his penalty goal the second time, after the first kick was ruled out for infringement. 

Special mentioned to the stand-in captain, the courageous Jamie Carragher. He has set-up our intent and the shape of the game with a few well timed crunching tackles very early in the game. From there on, the players and us the fans knew what to expect....

The game against Spurs has brought out the best from all quarters of the Red Family..the manager, coaches & staff, the players and of course us "the 12th man". It proves that we are still up there with the best. So lets put our faith and continue with our undying support for the team......during good & bad times..blood is red for a reason!!! 

YNWA

30 reasons why I love Rafa

1) Istanbul 2005 CL Winners.
2) European Super Cup Winners 2005.
3) Staying with the team during the 2005 Club World Cup championship after his dad passed away.
4) FA Cup 2006 Winners.
5) Charity Shield Winners 2006
6) Athens 2007 CL Finalists.
7) Bringing Fernando Torres to Liverpool.
8) Bringing Javier Mascherano to Liverpool.
9) Bringing Yossi Benayoun to Liverpool.
10) Bringing Glen Johnson to Liverpool.
11) Bringing Pepe Reina to Liverpool.
12) Bringing Daniel Agger to Liverpool.
13) Bringing Martin Skrtel to Liverpool.
14) Bringing Dirk Kuyt to Liverpool.
15) Bringing Luis Garcia & Xabi Alonso to Liverpool.
16) Bringing future stars such as Eccleston, Pacheco, Ngoo, Amoo , Gulácsi, Nemeth & Della Valle to Liverpool
17) Bringing King Kenny & Sammy Lee back to Liverpool.
18) Staying at Liverpool even when Hicks & Gillett went behind his back to talk to Klinsmann
19) Liverpool qualify for the Champions League 4 years in a row (Record)
20) Champions League Semi-Finalists 2008-2009 season.
21) League Cup Finalists 2005
22) Best defensive record in the 2006-2007 season
23) Finishing Runners up in the PL in the 2008-2009 season with only 2 losses
24) Loves the club and is a true Red, he could have taken the money and gone to Real Madrid but stayed at LFC for less money.
25) Jamie Carragher developed into a world class defender under Rafa.
26) Stevie G. developed into a world class player under Rafa.
27) Manchester United 1 – Liverpool 4
28) Liverpool 4 – Real Madrid 0
29) Stood up to Fergie
30) Just the way he says “KWALITY”


by: antoine zammit@the empire of the kop


YNWA

bad news for those 'rafa-haters'

the news is..rafa benitez is definitely staying put at Lfc...at least until the end of his contract!

rafa was really put under pressure to leave Lfc lately,  by the all manipulating British Media, the so-called expert pundits and of course many 'knee-jerked' Lfc fans. These people has put the strings of bad showing by the team  on the pitch in the EPL and the failure to qualify to the knock out stages of the Champions League squarely on the shoulders of the manager. They questioned his every moves - his tactics, his team selections, his transfer records right down to his goatee and color of his socks. 

Besides being reminded on so many occasions, these groups refused to acknowledge all the problems faced by the manager;

• The fact that the long injury lists at the early part of the season has affected team performance (Agger, Aurelio, Johnson, Aquilani, Skrtel, Benayoun, Riera, Babel, Torres, Gerrard - that's like the whole team injured). Important players such as Gerrard, Torres, Masherano and Carragher suffer injuries and fighting for fitness & form for the best part of the season.
• The fact that the manager was refused adequate transfer funds to beef up a squad which in many peoples mind will be a contender for the Champion spot of the EPL this season. Of course many will question his decisions on the purchase of 'injured' Alberto Aquilani but like what the manager has explained, Aquilani is the best player available at a knock-down price. He would have cost double if he is fit.

Other teams are also performing better due to the financial support from their board/owners during last summer transfer widow. Manchester City, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspurs, Birmingham City all benefited from understanding owners. Though Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal has not spend much they have strong enough squad and has not suffer much injury problems.

Of course after a string of bad results, coupled with the many problems on and of the pitch, morale were low resulting in embarrassing show against the likes of Porthmouth. 

However, things look like brightening-up for Lfc. Players are back from injury and fit again (apart from Glenn Johnson). 

Despite all the pressures, Rafa looks set for the long haul at Lfc. His commitment towards the club is beyond doubt.

People might question this after he once issued a statement that he would quit if Fernando Torres is sold. At that time, Manchester City has tabled a bid of STG100million to Lfc - STG70million for Torres and another STG30million for Mascherano. Rafa rejected both offer.

"For those who didn't know, Rafa Benitez turned down the opportunity to take over at Real Madrid in the summer for the FOURTH time since he has been at Anfield. Benitez rejected a package worth €6million per year over a four-year deal and a transfer budget that a manager’s dreams are made of. The reason he rejected Real Madrid? Rafa believes that he is in the middle of a major project at Anfield, one that so far hasn’t reaped the rewards he expected, but is clearly a work in progress and he has faith in its ultimate success.

The aim is not to bring one league title to Anfield, but a succession of them and an era of Liverpool challenging for all major titles for years to come… "(By Gulliem Balague, Spanish Football Reporter cum Rafa's personal friend)

But for those Rafa haters, there is still hope..though it will be expensive for the club to sack Rafa (believed to be STG25million in compensation). Sell Torres for STG100million and Rafa will quit by himself... a handsome STG125million to the owners to settle their debt!!!

YNWA

..rafa bashing!!...klinsman joins the fray..

rafael benitez

Jurgen Klinsmann , who was once lined up by Liverpool’s owners as Rafa's possible replacement has joined the "rafa bashing club"; saying that rafa is ruining the club and is too dependant on Gerrard and Torres.

The other famous "club member" is of course Graeme Souness, widely regarded by the Lfc’s followers as the worst manager in their history said that the club is in a meltdown and Rafa being a major contributing factor.

Both make these comments immediately after the CL game with Fiorentina where Liverpool lost 1-2.

The "club" boast of other well known members such as Jamie Redknapp, Andy Gray, Richard Keyes and Ronnie Whelan.


Being a manager of a club of Lfc's stature, its understandable that Rafa will be subjected to criticism when things were not right. But what is leveled at Rafa is always one sided and unfair. He received criticism for almost everything he did. These critics will always find fault with him...even when the results is favourable!


So what is the real agenda????


..anyway, rafa commented on klinsman; refer to the link below.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/benitez-rattled-by-klinsmanns-criticism-1838661.html

YNWA

lucas - mangsa keadaan??

hari ne terasa nak berN3 pasal si lucas leiva;

di lahirkan di Dourados Brazil pada 9 januari 1987;

menyertai liverpool daripada kelab Gremio, brazil pada bulan julai, 2007;

pemain termuda memenangi Bola de Ouro, 

anugerah untuk pemain terbaik Campeonato Brasileiro (liga Brazil),

 anugerah sama pernah di menangi  Zico, Romario, Kaka and Carlos Tevez.;

ketua pasukan brazil U20s dan memenangi South American Youth Championship  2007,

menjaringkan 4 gol di pertandingan tersebut;

debut untuk pasukan senior brazil pada Oktober 2006;

dari profil ringkas diatas jelas lucas adalah seorang pemain berpotensi sebelum menyertai liverpool!!!

tetapi kini ramai yang mencemuh lucas;

ramai yang menganggap lucas tidak layak menjadi pemain liverpool;

lucas tidak kreatif;

lucas terlalu kerap melakukan 'foul';

lucas penyebab  persembahan liverpool yang hambar!

dan bermacam macam lagi kata kata negatif...

mereka hairan dan tertanya-tanya

kenapa lucas mendapat terlalu banyak peluang bermain???

kenapa rafa terlalu percaya & yakin pada lucas???

yang lebih memeritkan..

cemuhan datang dari peminat LFC sendiri!

adakah adil cemuhan cemuhan yang di terima lucas??

betulkah lucas benar benar tidak layak bermain untuk skuad utama liverpool??

betulkah lucas penyebab banyak persembahan hambar liverpool akhir-akhir ini?

atau lucas hanya mangsa keaadaan (scapegoat)...?;

lucas tiba di liverpool dengan rekod yang cemerlang di brazil;

lucas adalah 'the golden boy of brazilian football'

di brazil dia bermain di posisi mid field kanan dengan cemerlang.

tiba di liverpool di usia muda ia itu 19 tahun

terpaksa menyesuaikan diri dengan keaadaan cuaca, bahasa, budaya yang baru,

rakan sepasukan baru dan kehebatan EPL,

dan posisi baru sebagai "holding midfielder"

satu permulaan yang amat sukar buat lucas!

namun lucas tabah menempuh segala dugaan
menghadapi cemuh peminat LFC

tekun belajar mengharungi dunia EPL yang mencabar

kalau di brazil beliau lebih menumpukan ke bahagian serangan,

kini lucas matang di bimbing rafa di bahagian pertahanan

siapa yang lupa akan persembahan lucas

menentang united musim lalu;

tanpa alonso, lucas berjaya  meneraju

LFC menang 4 - 1;

kini lucas telah matang

persembahan lucas makin meyakinkan

peminat yang dulu mencemuh

sudah ramai yang di tawan kembali oleh lucas

bagi aku, lucas amat berpotensi

akan menyinar di suatu hari

menjadi bintang LFC!!!

YNWA

in rafa we trust!!

untuk entry hari ni, aku nak cakap pasal mamat handsome kat atas;

nama mamat ni rafael benitez;

dia dah kahwin, jadi minah minah semua boleh lupakan hajat murni tu;

dia ni orang sepanyol, di lahirkan di madrid lebih kurang setengah abad dulu;

dan mamat ni ialah pengurus Liverpool FC.

tapi aku kesian kat mamat ni!!!

pengurus2(berasal dari UK) pasukan lain bikin cartel cemuh dia;

 media media di UK yang tak berapa suka kat dia membuat laporan berat sebelah;

si 'pundit' (pengulas sukan) bersekongkol kutuk dia;

apa dia buat semua tak betul;

dia orang kata dia suka merombak pasukan dan tidak "stick to the winning combination";

"zonal marking" menyebabkan gol liverpool banyak kali bolos dari "set pieces";

beliau silap menjual alonso;

beliau bodoh membeli aquilani;
dah tak ada modal, jambang (goatie) dia pun dia orang kutuk!!

time lfc dok demam ni, lagi ramai la orang yang kutuk mamat ni,

termasuklah "the so called" lfc's die hard supporter yang tak sabar sabar dan cepat menggeletar lutut nya.

yang bengang nya bekas2 pemain LFC saperti jamie redknapp, stan collymore, graeme souness dan ronnie whelan pun join sekaki kutuk dia;

tapi aku ada jawapan untuk mereka;

dia 'tinker' dan rombak pasukan demi menjaga kecergasan semua pemain'

terbukti apabila liverpool bertambah garang di akhiran musim;

"zonal marking" telah terbukti keberkesanannya,

kalau tidak macam mana reina boleh menang golden glove award 3 tahun berturut-turut;

alonso di jual bukan kehendak beliau, dah orang nak pergi buat apa nak tahan!!

dan aquilani "is a bargain" kerana kalau dia tak injured harganya 10juta pound lebih mahal,

dan dia akan jadi salah seorang bintang yang menyerlah untuk LFC.

apa apa pun aku dan ramai rakan rakan respect gila mamat ni!!!

dia berjaya memulihkan liverpool fc!

walaupun dia menerima pusaka yang kurang berkualiti dari houllier;

menang Champions League 2005, dan masuk final 2006;

super cup 2005, FA Cup 2006 dan Charity Shield 2006;

berjaya membawa dan membentuk permain tonggak bertaraf dunia

reina, carragher, masherano, gerrard dan torres;

dan mamat ni degil betul!!!

walau macam mana orang kutuk pun,

 dia tetap setia dengan LFC;

walau pun si haram jadah hicks dan gillet tak bagi duit nak beli pemain,

dia tetap setia;

walau pun kelab real "haloba" madrid offer kerja dua tiga kali;

offer balik kampung halaman lagi tu!

dia tetap setia;

sampai bapa dia meninggal dunia pun dia tak balik sebab ada perlawanan melibatkan liverpool di waktu sama;

itulah commitment yang di tunjukkan dek mamat ni.

sekarang ada panggilan pangilan sumbang agar mamat ni di pecat!!!
kata mereka mamat ni dah tak tau nak tadbir pasukan,
menyebabkan banyak kekalahan dan terkeluar dari champions league;
walhal mamat ni menghadapi masaalah kecederaan ramai pemain;
katanya mamat ni ada "poor man management",
menyebabkan pemain berpuak puak dan alonso mohon di jual;
walhal ramai pemain telah keluar memberikan kenyataan,
gerrard, reina, masherano & torres,
dalglish, rush, hamman, riise dan aldridge,
semua kata mamat ni terbaik!!!
mamat ni sahaja yang mampu membawa banyak kejayaan pada lfc;
mamat ni yang paling bijak dari segi taktikal;
mamat ni akan membawa kestabilan.

mamat ni yang terbaik punya!!

jadi,..untuk peminat peminat Liverpool FC semua :

masih terlalu awal untuk anda nak risau!!

musim masih baru!!

walaupun champions league dah out; masih ada europa league;

carling cup dah out; masih ada FA Cup;

...dan pintu untuk menjuarai EPL masih belum di kunci!!!

in rafa we trust!!!

YNWA