Has Rafa Gone?

[TheAceFace]

Hope this is not true however:

Rumour Mill: Benitez has gone?

By Adam Bryant

Sunday 25th November 2007

We have heard (from dubious sources) that Rafael Benitez has walked out of Anfield.

The Liverpool boss has been in conflict with club owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks regarding funds for signings during the January transfer window.

It was believed that the matter would be resolved when the parties met to discuss the future plans in December.

But, if the rumours are to be believed, it looks like Benitez has lost patience with the chairmen and decided to walk.

We stress that at the moment there is no confirmation of these events, but expect developments on Monday.

http://www.lfconline.com/news/loadne...TMNW&id=364504

What a farce........the new owners have not got a f@#kin clue about football and what the clubs mean to us fans.

Can anyone in the UK confirm if he has left?????

YNWA

[kopite]

he hasnt gone anywhere yet!

however other lads on other forums have got information from their own credible sources that its a done deal. one of the forums has peter hooton from the farm (very well connected), brian reade from the mirror, and allegedly carra as members. lots of breaking news happens on the forums so its not looking good.

im also worried that chris bascombe of the *cringe* NOTW broke that story yesterday. even though he is a turncoat of the highest order he is still very well connected within the club, so it cant be written off as bulls**t even though it was written in that rag.

lots of the articles online from publications such as the times, guardian etc.. have been changed in the last 6-7 hours, starting from a "rafas going" theme, to a "rafas going maybe" outlook.

dark days ahead off the pitch

[EastSaxCol]

All looks pretty ominous to be honest.

"Hicks and Gillett have made it clear they expect more from last summer's recruits but it is their suspicion over Benítez's ability to wrest the title from Manchester United that ignited the Spaniard's ire. The manager now believes he has nothing to lose by confronting the tycoons in public and is prepared to make life as difficult for them as possible during what remains of his time at the club."

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2217105,00.html

[mrtoad]

I think "He's a dead man walking".

There is no way that the owners will put up with his rants over the past few days, they will not like being undermined.

Gone by the end of the working day in the UK, by my reckoning.

[kopite]

I think "He's a dead man walking".

There is no way that the owners will put up with his rants over the past few days, they will not like being undermined.

Gone by the end of the working day in the UK, by my reckoning.

whcih is fair enough, but his comments on saturday were not against the owners as such, but more the way they have had a hands off approach on running the club and leaving the clown that is rick parry in charge.

there has been no-one from the other side of atlantic at the club since the arsenal game. thats nearly four weeks. he has spoken out as the club just isnt being run.

there is also reports that 50% of the club (hicks share) is to be bought by a friend of george gillett, paid in cash and will pay for the new stadium in cash.

there is a lot more going on then just rafa having a "pop" in the press.

he hasnt gone yet, so for me, fingers crossed

[kopite]

On the radio now Bascombe has just said both hicks and gilett want Rafa out.

Gilett & Hicks are not speaking.

This has been going on for 4 months the reason he broke the story was for the fans to realise that this is bigger than what we think. he didnt want to do it.

Rafa will get the sack now. soon. as in today, tomorrow.

thats bascombe, so a credible source.

[EastSaxCol]

I think "He's a dead man walking".

There is no way that the owners will put up with his rants over the past few days, they will not like being undermined.

Gone by the end of the working day in the UK, by my reckoning.

Some of us were predicting that he'd go months ago

Me. I knew it was karma when he fielded a weakened side against Fulham during the relegation hoo-ha last season.

[TheAceFace]

On the radio now Bascombe has just said both hicks and gilett want Rafa out.

Gilett & Hicks are not speaking.

This has been going on for 4 months the reason he broke the story was for the fans to realise that this is bigger than what we think. he didnt want to do it.

Rafa will get the sack now. soon. as in today, tomorrow.

thats bascombe, so a credible source.

Gutted if thats the case Kopite....

There has to be more to this fallout surely? I also heard Hicks and Gillet are not speaking, Hicks should F@#koff as far as I am concerned. Also heard that DIC (Dubai) may come in with a bid.

What makes it more believeable is (as you said) all this is coming from very credible sources.

Just as we seem to be making progress n all, if it all is true then, do you reckon Jose would come....we could do far worse.

Jose and Paco??

Should be an interesting few days ahead.

Ace

[kopite]

On the radio now Bascombe has just said both hicks and gilett want Rafa out.

Gilett & Hicks are not speaking.

This has been going on for 4 months the reason he broke the story was for the fans to realise that this is bigger than what we think. he didnt want to do it.

Rafa will get the sack now. soon. as in today, tomorrow.

thats bascombe, so a credible source.

Gutted if thats the case Kopite....

There has to be more to this fallout surely? I also heard Hicks and Gillet are not speaking, Hicks should F@#koff as far as I am concerned. Also heard that DIC (Dubai) may come in with a bid.

What makes it more believeable is (as you said) all this is coming from very credible sources.

Just as we seem to be making progress n all, if it all is true then, do you reckon Jose would come....we could do far worse.

Jose and Paco??

Should be an interesting few days ahead.

Ace

no mourinho want be going to anfield. not many fans would want it, id say 80%. he cant anyway as his contract with chelsea stated that he couldnt manage another club until may 2008.

the most disturbing thing is that parry is obviously working behind the scenes to get rafa out, and id say bascombe is either getting his information direct from parry.

doesnt make a lot of sense for bascombe to make this up as the backlash he received from the people of liverpool when he joined the NOTW was bad enough.

the backlash has started allready. mass protests being planed for wednesday night.

nothings really happened like this in our history, emotions are running very high. bizarre situation for us to be in. no-one wants rafa to go fans wise. we have owners 6000 miles away that havent spoke to each for months, and a CEO in parry who is beyond a joke.

[mrtoad]

I think "He's a dead man walking".

There is no way that the owners will put up with his rants over the past few days, they will not like being undermined.

Gone by the end of the working day in the UK, by my reckoning.

whcih is fair enough, but his comments on saturday were not against the owners as such, but more the way they have had a hands off approach on running the club and leaving the clown that is rick parry in charge.

there has been no-one from the other side of atlantic at the club since the arsenal game. thats nearly four weeks. he has spoken out as the club just isnt being run.

there is also reports that 50% of the club (hicks share) is to be bought by a friend of george gillett, paid in cash and will pay for the new stadium in cash.

there is a lot more going on then just rafa having a "pop" in the press.

he hasnt gone yet, so for me, fingers crossed

Kopite, it's almost like a rerun of the Chelsea saga, which started with problems at the beginning of ths Jan window when Abramovich refused funds for players. In the end, a lot of these guys that are getting into football administration and ownership have huge ego's and they really don't like being told what to do, even if they don't know <deleted> all.

The problem as I see it, is that this is all gewtting leaked out, and you can bet your bottom dollar, that this is the Septics doing, they are trickiling this out and cranking up the pressure of Benitez. Parry is a complete tool and has been for years, I'd put him in the Kenyon categogry.

Oh well, lets see what pans out.

[kopite]

I think "He's a dead man walking".

There is no way that the owners will put up with his rants over the past few days, they will not like being undermined.

Gone by the end of the working day in the UK, by my reckoning.

whcih is fair enough, but his comments on saturday were not against the owners as such, but more the way they have had a hands off approach on running the club and leaving the clown that is rick parry in charge.

there has been no-one from the other side of atlantic at the club since the arsenal game. thats nearly four weeks. he has spoken out as the club just isnt being run.

there is also reports that 50% of the club (hicks share) is to be bought by a friend of george gillett, paid in cash and will pay for the new stadium in cash.

there is a lot more going on then just rafa having a "pop" in the press.

he hasnt gone yet, so for me, fingers crossed

Kopite, it's almost like a rerun of the Chelsea saga, which started with problems at the beginning of ths Jan window when Abramovich refused funds for players. In the end, a lot of these guys that are getting into football administration and ownership have huge ego's and they really don't like being told what to do, even if they don't know <deleted> all.

The problem as I see it, is that this is all gewtting leaked out, and you can bet your bottom dollar, that this is the Septics doing, they are trickiling this out and cranking up the pressure of Benitez. Parry is a complete tool and has been for years, I'd put him in the Kenyon categogry.

Oh well, lets see what pans out.

Hmmm, not sure this is the same as the chelsea saga.

rafa isnt asking for funds, even though the owners only had to spend around 6 million from the own funds in the summer. the rest of the money was from selling players plus champions league money etc...

so they havent really spent that much yet. there was lots of promises when they wanted to buy us.

rafa is after two players on a bosman, and the completion of macherano. which is 17 million, but will be paid over 5 years, and maybe a full back (which we need). they have told him he cant buy or SELL players, and that responsibility is now down to parry. and yes just like kenyon, he is a tool, but a bigger one.

its very, very alarming whats going on. as i said in the other thread, we have never been in this situation before. the club was always owned by local people. people who love liverpool.

dark days ahead

Edited November 26, 2007 by kopite

[mrtoad]

I think "He's a dead man walking".

There is no way that the owners will put up with his rants over the past few days, they will not like being undermined.

Gone by the end of the working day in the UK, by my reckoning.

whcih is fair enough, but his comments on saturday were not against the owners as such, but more the way they have had a hands off approach on running the club and leaving the clown that is rick parry in charge.

there has been no-one from the other side of atlantic at the club since the arsenal game. thats nearly four weeks. he has spoken out as the club just isnt being run.

there is also reports that 50% of the club (hicks share) is to be bought by a friend of george gillett, paid in cash and will pay for the new stadium in cash.

there is a lot more going on then just rafa having a "pop" in the press.

he hasnt gone yet, so for me, fingers crossed

Kopite, it's almost like a rerun of the Chelsea saga, which started with problems at the beginning of ths Jan window when Abramovich refused funds for players. In the end, a lot of these guys that are getting into football administration and ownership have huge ego's and they really don't like being told what to do, even if they don't know <deleted> all.

The problem as I see it, is that this is all gewtting leaked out, and you can bet your bottom dollar, that this is the Septics doing, they are trickiling this out and cranking up the pressure of Benitez. Parry is a complete tool and has been for years, I'd put him in the Kenyon categogry.

Oh well, lets see what pans out.

Hmmm, not sure this is the same as the chelsea saga.

rafa isnt asking for funds, even though the owners only had to spend around 6 million from the own funds in the summer. the rest of the money was from selling players plus champions league money etc...

so they havent really spent that much yet. there was lots of promises when they wanted to buy us.

rafa is after two players on a bosman, and the completion of macherano. which is 17 million, but will be paid over 5 years, and maybe a full back (which we need). they have told him he cant buy or SELL players, and that responsibility is now down to parry. and yes just like kenyon, he is a tool, but a bigger one.

its very, very alarming whats going on. as i said in the other thread, we have never been in this situation before. the club was always owned by local people. people who love liverpool.

dark days ahead

I agree with what you say about the ownership, the advent of the big foreign investors into the game has bought in many plus points, but there is also a lot of negatives about it, and the lack of understanding by Boards of the the people who actually make the club (i.e. the fans). Of course being a United fan I should be gloating, but I can totally understand your concerns about where this is going and the influence of a tool like Parry on the club.

Sad days when these corporate idiots think they know better than the football people.

[Sunderland]

I think "He's a dead man walking".

There is no way that the owners will put up with his rants over the past few days, they will not like being undermined.

Gone by the end of the working day in the UK, by my reckoning.

whcih is fair enough, but his comments on saturday were not against the owners as such, but more the way they have had a hands off approach on running the club and leaving the clown that is rick parry in charge.

there has been no-one from the other side of atlantic at the club since the arsenal game. thats nearly four weeks. he has spoken out as the club just isnt being run.

there is also reports that 50% of the club (hicks share) is to be bought by a friend of george gillett, paid in cash and will pay for the new stadium in cash.

there is a lot more going on then just rafa having a "pop" in the press.

he hasnt gone yet, so for me, fingers crossed

Kopite, it's almost like a rerun of the Chelsea saga, which started with problems at the beginning of ths Jan window when Abramovich refused funds for players. In the end, a lot of these guys that are getting into football administration and ownership have huge ego's and they really don't like being told what to do, even if they don't know <deleted> all.

The problem as I see it, is that this is all gewtting leaked out, and you can bet your bottom dollar, that this is the Septics doing, they are trickiling this out and cranking up the pressure of Benitez. Parry is a complete tool and has been for years, I'd put him in the Kenyon categogry.

Oh well, lets see what pans out.

Hmmm, not sure this is the same as the chelsea saga.

rafa isnt asking for funds, even though the owners only had to spend around 6 million from the own funds in the summer. the rest of the money was from selling players plus champions league money etc...

so they havent really spent that much yet. there was lots of promises when they wanted to buy us.

rafa is after two players on a bosman, and the completion of macherano. which is 17 million, but will be paid over 5 years, and maybe a full back (which we need). they have told him he cant buy or SELL players, and that responsibility is now down to parry. and yes just like kenyon, he is a tool, but a bigger one.

its very, very alarming whats going on. as i said in the other thread, we have never been in this situation before. the club was always owned by local people. people who love liverpool.

dark days ahead

I agree with what you say about the ownership, the advent of the big foreign investors into the game has bought in many plus points, but there is also a lot of negatives about it, and the lack of understanding by Boards of the the people who actually make the club (i.e. the fans). Of course being a United fan I should be gloating, but I can totally understand your concerns about where this is going and the influence of a tool like Parry on the club.

Sad days when these corporate idiots think they know better than the football people.

Mourinho, Jol, Hutchings, Lee, McLaren, Benitez, Allardyce ... there's a big queue for taxis at the moment

[mrbojangles]

Mourinho, Jol, Hutchings, Lee, McLaren, Benitez, Allardyce ... there's a big queue for taxis at the moment

And now Davies. Now they can get a mini-bus

[mrtoad]

I think "He's a dead man walking".

There is no way that the owners will put up with his rants over the past few days, they will not like being undermined.

Gone by the end of the working day in the UK, by my reckoning.

whcih is fair enough, but his comments on saturday were not against the owners as such, but more the way they have had a hands off approach on running the club and leaving the clown that is rick parry in charge.

there has been no-one from the other side of atlantic at the club since the arsenal game. thats nearly four weeks. he has spoken out as the club just isnt being run.

there is also reports that 50% of the club (hicks share) is to be bought by a friend of george gillett, paid in cash and will pay for the new stadium in cash.

there is a lot more going on then just rafa having a "pop" in the press.

he hasnt gone yet, so for me, fingers crossed

Kopite, it's almost like a rerun of the Chelsea saga, which started with problems at the beginning of ths Jan window when Abramovich refused funds for players. In the end, a lot of these guys that are getting into football administration and ownership have huge ego's and they really don't like being told what to do, even if they don't know <deleted> all.

The problem as I see it, is that this is all gewtting leaked out, and you can bet your bottom dollar, that this is the Septics doing, they are trickiling this out and cranking up the pressure of Benitez. Parry is a complete tool and has been for years, I'd put him in the Kenyon categogry.

Oh well, lets see what pans out.

Hmmm, not sure this is the same as the chelsea saga.

rafa isnt asking for funds, even though the owners only had to spend around 6 million from the own funds in the summer. the rest of the money was from selling players plus champions league money etc...

so they havent really spent that much yet. there was lots of promises when they wanted to buy us.

rafa is after two players on a bosman, and the completion of macherano. which is 17 million, but will be paid over 5 years, and maybe a full back (which we need). they have told him he cant buy or SELL players, and that responsibility is now down to parry. and yes just like kenyon, he is a tool, but a bigger one.

its very, very alarming whats going on. as i said in the other thread, we have never been in this situation before. the club was always owned by local people. people who love liverpool.

dark days ahead

I agree with what you say about the ownership, the advent of the big foreign investors into the game has bought in many plus points, but there is also a lot of negatives about it, and the lack of understanding by Boards of the the people who actually make the club (i.e. the fans). Of course being a United fan I should be gloating, but I can totally understand your concerns about where this is going and the influence of a tool like Parry on the club.

Sad days when these corporate idiots think they know better than the football people.

Mourinho, Jol, Hutchings, Lee, McLaren, Benitez, Allardyce ... there's a big queue for taxis at the moment

You forgot to mention Southgate and Sanchez. Well, there are plenty of Taxi's available in Bangkok . Taxi.....

[kopite]

from the echo and the post

Tony Barrett - Echo

RAFA BENITEZ is ready to hold out an olive branch to Liverpool's owners - but his gesture of reconciliation may have come too late to save his job.

Though sources close to Tom Hicks and George Gillett insist no decision has been made to sack Benitez, the Americans have refused to deny speculation it is only a matter of time before the manager is forced out.

Despite the pressure , Benitez is still planning for the future and remains hopeful of landing the league title he knows Liverpool.

A source close to Benitez said: “Rafa loves it at Liverpool. He loves the people of the city, he loves the fans and he loves the club. All he wants is what’s best for the fans - he gets frustrated when he feels he’s not able to do that.

“But he is happy with Tom and George owning the club and he has enjoyed working with them since he came and he has no problem working with Rick (Parry) – all he wants is to be able to continue the job that he’s started so he can continue improving the squad in a bid to deliver the title he knows Tom, George and Rick want just as badly as he does.

“The manager has got a few transfers that he wants to get done, one in January and two Bosmans in the summer but it looks like he is going to miss out on the first one now.

“That frustrated him because the first one was a centre half, a position he feels we really need back-up in. The frustration stems from the fact that communication has been so difficult with everyone being so far apart and in different time zones. But the fans should be reassured Rafa has no plans of walking away. He loves it here and his family are settled on Merseyside.

“He always describes his children as ‘Scousers’ and that makes him really proud. And the fact that the fans have backed him so much only makes him want success even more for them. Even when he guided Valencia to their first Spanish league title in 31 years their fans did not sing his name but the Liverpool fans sing it every single game.

“Rafa only wants to work for Liverpool. It wasn’t that long ago that Rafa was thanking Tom, George and Rick for the work that they had done to bring Fernando Torres to Liverpool. He is still grateful for that and hopes that there has been no lasting damage done.”

“He is hoping this situation can be resolved.In a statementHicks and Gillett said: “Despite speculation in Sunday’s newspapers, there is nothing new to say. We had a good win yesterday and we have got some very important games coming up. “Both of us, together with chief executive Rick Parry, plan to meet with Rafa when we come over mid-December to make decisions on the team’s requirements at that time.”

How race for Kahka Kaladze drove Rafa Benitez to the brink

Nov 26 2007

WHEN Kahka Kaladze helped AC Milan topple Liverpool in last May’s Champions League final, little did he know that six months later he could end up playing an unwitting role in Rafa Benitez’s potential downfall.

The Georgian defender might have frustrated Benitez in Athens but to nothing like the same extent as the failure to sign him has infuriated the Liverpool boss in the last week.

Benitez wanted to snap Kaladze up to provide defensive cover for Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia but when Tom Hicks and George Gillett refused to even discuss potential transfers before December 16, the chance to sign him was lost and the Reds boss reacted angrily.

Having been ordered to concentrate on “coaching and training”, Benitez saw this as evidence that Liverpool’s American owners were not prepared to back him in the transfer market and, brimming with indignation, used a Melwood press conference to let the world know that all was not well at Anfield.

Despite being unceremoniously slapped down and told to “quit talking” by Dallas-based Tom Hicks following his outburst, Benitez refused to give any ground in the aftermath of Saturday’s resounding 3-0 win at Newcastle.

He claimed the Americans had not yet had time to develop an understanding of the intricacies of the transfer window – and that the club needed to conduct business as promptly as possible.

The battle lines had been drawn and there was precious little sign of either side backing down from the fight.

But today, the mood music coming from Benitez’s direction changed.

Gone today is the outspoken criticism of the club hierarchy and the seemingly kamikaze confrontational approach which had the bookmakers frantically cutting their odds on him being the next Premier League manager to be ousted.

Instead, the language has a more conciliatory tone as an olive branch is held out to Hicks and George Gillett and, by way of reciprocation, sources close to the Americans have dismissed talk that they have already decided to sack the manager at such a crucial stage of the season.

Whether this means Benitez will remain in position for too much longer is another matter entirely.

His recent outbursts have upset the Americans greatly and they came at a time when they were privately questioning his ability to lead Liverpool to the title.

Watching from afar, they have been disappointed by the way their most recent sporting acquisition has struggled in this season’s Champions League and the lead Arsenal have built up over them in the Premier League.

Even an unbeaten run in the league has failed to overly impress them, so Benitez was on the thinnest of ice when he decided to take them on over transfer strategy.

Today, that ice remains just as thin but at least Benitez has given himself a chance of not falling through it by making a tactical withdrawal from battle and intimating that he is now prepared to put his misgivings over the club’s transfer strategy to one side until that all-important meeting on December 16.

Although his future remains open to question, what seems apparent is Benitez’s commitment to the club and his desire for it to be successful.

As those closest to the manager have intimated, it is this hunger and desire to be the best that makes the Spaniard so frustrated when things do not go as he would expect them to.

With Daniel Agger currently injured and Sami Hyypia entering the twilight of his career, the proposed acquisition of 29-year-old Kaladze for a fee of around £4m was seen as crucial to his ongoing squad building.

But with transfer talk banned at Anfield until mid-December that deal died a lingering death last week and Benitez was left with nothing to console him but a swift return to the drawing board.

For a manager whose entire transfer philosophy is built on getting deals done quickly to save money, stopping latecomers from snaring his targets in the process, this was too much to bear, hence his coded attack on the club’s owners that he would now concentrate only on coaching as they had ordered him to.

But Benitez it seems recognises that, like politics, football is all about the art of the possible and the fact that the Americans are not going to change policy to suit him means, in the short term at least, he must either accept their authority and way of doing things – or face the sack.

He could carry on fighting what is a losing battle with a pair of all powerful, American multi-millionaires – or keep his head down until they finally reveal their hand in a couple of weeks time.

The fact that he now seems to have taken the latter course suggests his desire to remain at a club he loves is stronger than any selfish hunger for battle.

Significantly, Benitez will also be aware that he has the backing of the club’s fans, as evidenced by the continued chanting of his name at Newcastle on Saturday and the outpouring of support on internet forums in the wake of a report that his time as Liverpool manager is about to come to an abrupt and undignified end.

But the inescapable fact is it could all be too little too late and the man who has taken Liverpool to two European Cup finals in three years – winning one in the most spectacular fashion possible and narrowly losing the other – with FA Cup glory sandwiched in between, could soon be looking for another job.

The statement released by Tom Hicks yesterday afternoon stopped a long way short of saying Benitez has the backing of the club’s owners and there has been no official public denial from either co-owner that the Spaniard is heading for the Anfield exit door.

Unbeaten in the Premier League, with their Champions League fate still in their own hands and a squad of players which is the envy of most clubs in Europe, it says everything about how badly the relationship between Benitez and the American owners has broken down that they could even consider giving him the sack.

Whether the fans will accept this situation is another matter entirely.

Their devotion to Benitez and his love for them means they share a strong bond and it is entirely possible there will be a show of support for the Spaniard at the crunch game with Porto at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Most supporters simply cannot understand how the manager who delivered Liverpool’s fifth European Cup just two seasons ago and took them to the brink of another one last May can now be fighting for his managerial life, especially when there have been no real indications of malaise since then.

At St James’ Park on Saturday, the fans chanted the manager’s name time and time again.

So, as understandably affronted as they are, if Tom Hicks and George Gillett are about to load the gun that will ultimately fire Rafa Benitez, it looks like they may have to take on the Anfield crowd first.

As so many have found to their cost on a European night, that is easier said than done.

[mrtoad]

Rafael Benitez end-game draws near

Oliver Kay - The Times

Rafael BenÍtez will not survive the power struggle at Liverpool and is in danger of being dismissed as manager sooner rather than later, having alienated the club’s American owners during a week of intense political turmoil. In a joint statement last night, George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks denied rumours that BenÍtez had already left the club, but they made little attempt to disguise the acrimony that appears to have left his position untenable in the long term.

BenÍtez has no intention of resigning, but there is a realisation inside Anfield that his regime has reached the point of no return after a series of clashes with Gillett and Hicks, who completed a £415 million takeover in February, over the club’s transfer policy.

In the best-case scenario, he may yet see out the remainder of the season before being sacked or leaving by mutual consent, but the word from within the club is that the American tycoons have lost all trust in him after recent challenges to their authority and that, despite his popularity with supporters, his dismissal is only a matter of time. Even in the unlikelihood that he apologises, it may only postpone the inevitable.

It is an astonishing turn of events that seemed unimaginable barely a week ago, when BenÍtez rejected an informal approach from Bayern Munich. At that point, he talked of his desire to emulate Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, by staying in charge for 21 years, but his reign at Liverpool has since been unravelled by fallouts with Gillett and Hicks. Even close associates believe that he has made mistakes by picking fights with the pair and, in particular, by mocking their suggestion that he “focus on training and coaching” rather than try to dictate transfer policy.

It is a situation that mirrors the departure of José Mourinho, BenÍtez’s arch rival, from Chelsea in September, with the Portuguese having been accused of sealing his fate at Stamford Bridge by challenging the authority of Roman Abramovich, the owner.

Most recently, BenÍtez has taken umbrage at the insistence that all transfer negotiations be left to Rick Parry, the chief executive, and that no such talks should even take place until after their visit to Merseyside in mid-December. BenÍtez – eager to sign Ezequiel Marcelo Garay, the Racing Santander defender, and to tie up a permanent £17 million deal for Javier Mascherano – expressed disgust at the proposal and has compounded matters by suggesting that the owners do not understand how the transfer market works in European football.

After rumours swept Liverpool yesterday that BenÍtez had already left the club, Gillett and Hicks issued a statement claiming that there was “nothing new to say”, but they made no attempt to deny the tensions that exist or to give the manager any kind of public support. They said that transfer policy will be determined in mid-December, but there is a growing concern that BenÍtez may be gone before then. If not, that meeting has the makings of a showdown.

[kopite]

the echo and posts latest articles show that things are starting to calm down again.

[scousemouse]

the echo and posts latest articles show that things are starting to calm down again.

I bloody hope so , I've only just got in so I'll need a bit of time to post a real reply , I'm even letting my dinner get cold .

[kopite]

the echo and posts latest articles show that things are starting to calm down again.

I bloody hope so , I've only just got in so I'll need a bit of time to post a real reply , I'm even letting my dinner get cold .

been a mad couple of days. hopefully G&H will accept the olive branch

[TheAceFace]

the echo and posts latest articles show that things are starting to calm down again.

I bloody hope so , I've only just got in so I'll need a bit of time to post a real reply , I'm even letting my dinner get cold .

Its interesting reading on RAWK (redandwhitekop).

The post and Echo are claiming things have simmered a little, which I hope is true.

[kopite]

the echo and posts latest articles show that things are starting to calm down again.

I bloody hope so , I've only just got in so I'll need a bit of time to post a real reply , I'm even letting my dinner get cold .

Its interesting reading on RAWK (redandwhitekop).

The post and Echo are claiming things have simmered a little, which I hope is true.

you post on Rawk mate?

[scousemouse]

the echo and posts latest articles show that things are starting to calm down again.

I bloody hope so , I've only just got in so I'll need a bit of time to post a real reply , I'm even letting my dinner get cold .

been a mad couple of days. hopefully G&H will accept the olive branch

I've just finished that " olive branch " piece Kopite and though things have simmered it's still not a happy situation we really don't need .

I can't help thinking Rick Parry is really Kaiser Soze .

[TheAceFace]

the echo and posts latest articles show that things are starting to calm down again.

I bloody hope so , I've only just got in so I'll need a bit of time to post a real reply , I'm even letting my dinner get cold .

Its interesting reading on RAWK (redandwhitekop).

The post and Echo are claiming things have simmered a little, which I hope is true.

you post on Rawk mate?

Im always on there mate, rarely post though. Did you read that letter what Paul Tomkins has sent to hicks and Gillet...its mint.

[kopite]

the echo and posts latest articles show that things are starting to calm down again.

I bloody hope so , I've only just got in so I'll need a bit of time to post a real reply , I'm even letting my dinner get cold .

been a mad couple of days. hopefully G&H will accept the olive branch

I've just finished that " olive branch " piece Kopite and though things have simmered it's still not a happy situation we really don't need .

I can't help thinking Rick Parry is really Kaiser Soze .

rick parry is a c**t.

and allthough its nice to hear a happier version of events, it should never have got to this stage. parry is there now only to act as a middle man between rafa and the americans. nothing else.

the man is a complete joke and i cant help but think that he is feeding bascombe his articles. he needs to go, not rafa!!!

[kopite]

the echo and posts latest articles show that things are starting to calm down again.

I bloody hope so , I've only just got in so I'll need a bit of time to post a real reply , I'm even letting my dinner get cold .

Its interesting reading on RAWK (redandwhitekop).

The post and Echo are claiming things have simmered a little, which I hope is true.

you post on Rawk mate?

Im always on there mate, rarely post though. Did you read that letter what Paul Tomkins has sent to hicks and Gillet...its mint.

im not usually a tomkins fan, but that was class. nice to see him take swipe when things go wrong. i think this will end up all ok.

unless the americans are too stubborn or stupid to realise their mistakes. but then again they are americans

[scousemouse]

the echo and posts latest articles show that things are starting to calm down again.

I bloody hope so , I've only just got in so I'll need a bit of time to post a real reply , I'm even letting my dinner get cold .

been a mad couple of days. hopefully G&H will accept the olive branch

I've just finished that " olive branch " piece Kopite and though things have simmered it's still not a happy situation we really don't need .

I can't help thinking Rick Parry is really Kaiser Soze .

rick parry is a c**t.

and allthough its nice to hear a happier version of events, it should never have got to this stage. parry is there now only to act as a middle man between rafa and the americans. nothing else.

the man is a complete joke and i cant help but think that he is feeding bascombe his articles. he needs to go, not rafa!!!

I'm in total agreement Kopite , but usually things don't work out the weay the fans want them to .

I hear there is going to be a protest ( in favour of )/support showing for Rafa at the game against Porto this week , that that game , though important anyway , has now become a lot more significant .

[mrbojangles]

I like Rafa.

Thought you'd like to know that

[kopite]

the echo and posts latest articles show that things are starting to calm down again.

I bloody hope so , I've only just got in so I'll need a bit of time to post a real reply , I'm even letting my dinner get cold .

been a mad couple of days. hopefully G&H will accept the olive branch

I've just finished that " olive branch " piece Kopite and though things have simmered it's still not a happy situation we really don't need .

I can't help thinking Rick Parry is really Kaiser Soze .

rick parry is a c**t.

and allthough its nice to hear a happier version of events, it should never have got to this stage. parry is there now only to act as a middle man between rafa and the americans. nothing else.

the man is a complete joke and i cant help but think that he is feeding bascombe his articles. he needs to go, not rafa!!!

I'm in total agreement Kopite , but usually things don't work out the weay the fans want them to .

I hear there is going to be a protest ( in favour of )/support showing for Rafa at the game against Porto this week , that that game , though important anyway , has now become a lot more significant .

yeah apparently. all the forums have it up. shouldnt even have to come to that. only the second time its happened at our club. the first was regarding parry and athens tickets.

this will not just blow over. regardless if he stays or goes. will be a <deleted> few weeks/months ahead me thinks

[TheAceFace]

I like Rafa.

Thought you'd like to know that

Sven and Tord or ok too