Main rivals...a mass debate.

[Shanks]

I do find it a bit weird that people think Bentiz is that bad....

If thats bad, then god knows how bad the rest of the league is!!!

 

[Kendall]

They suffered some poor draws in the early part of the season when Torres and Gerrard were both struggling with injuries and Keane was shocking, but if a bad manager can win 11 of their last 12 games, qualify for the CL year on year then what the fuck makes a good manager?

 

[WhiteStripe]

lol. They finished second last year with 1 striker.

They would have finished top at a canter with a better manager. They threw away the league last year.

I do find it a bit weird that people think Bentiz is that bad....

If thats bad, then god knows how bad the rest of the league is!!!

I said League manager...granted he has success in the cups, but come on...he really does shoot himself in the foot in the league with his ludicrous(sp) rotation policy. Liverpool were easily the best team to watch last year in the League, yet managed to finish second due to inconsitency.

 

[Green Valley]

Benitez is another world class manager. Just look at his record.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Ok, maybe I am being a bit harsh, but IMO, Liverpool should have won the league by now under Benitez. For me, putting his cup success to one side, he has been too keen to switch players throughout the season, sometimes changing the team and leaving out players who are flying high.

If he can find a consistent team early in the season, and stick with this on the whole, for the saeson, then I believe they can win the league. but I have thought this the last 2 seasons, and he hasn't done it!

 

[Kendall]

Benitez has never had the cash of Chelsea and United at his disposure but he's done well to overtake Chelsea imo. He pushed arguably the best United team ever all the way and with Ronaldo now gone, they are fairly well positioned to continue, IF they can hold onto their key players. Still need another striker for me, but Benitez created a quality team with a winning mentality last year.

 

[Legend10]

Rafa has done a good job at Pool and that includes the league.

He has moved Pool ahead of Arse and onto a par with the Chavs. Nobody can think Pools squad last year was on a par with Utd's so finishing 2nd to them was no disgrace and with a points total that would've won the league in previous seasons.

Blimey if Rafa is undrachieving, Wenger better watch his back!

 

[WhiteStripe]

Benitez has never had the cash of Chelsea and United at his disposure but he's done well to overtake Chelsea imo. He pushed arguably the best United team ever all the way and with Ronaldo now gone, they are fairly well positioned to continue, IF they can hold onto their key players. Still need another striker for me, but Benitez created a quality team with a winning mentality last year.

Benitez's run in last season was no coincidence, he finally bit the bullet and played a consistent team, including his best players in their best positions. i hope he has learn't, but i doubt it.

United last season were not as good as the season before and IMO, if Liverpool had been more consistent, and picked up the wins at home that they usually alwsy do, they would have won the league!

 

[Shanks]

How you believe Benetiz should of won against Man Utd over the last few seasons is beyond me...

 

[WhiteStripe]

How you believe Benetiz should of won against Man Utd over the last few seasons is beyond me...

Last season mate...not the last few seasons...last season.

I said 2 things...

1. How liverpool haven't won the league in Benitez's time is beyond me.
2. Last season, the league was Liverpools for the taking. they could have quite concievably been 9 points clear by Christmas with games they should have easily won.

 

[Legend10]

Utd got 90 points last season and 87 the yr before, therefor it was harder to overcome them last season.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Utd got 90 points last season and 87 the yr before, therefor it was harder to overcome them last season.

Ok...fair enough, that surprises me, as I thought United were a joy to watch 07/08. However, I just got the feeling that Liverpool had a real chance last season pushing on from Christmas, but they didn't.

 

[Shanks]

I always thought that last season it was Man Utd who would lose the title, certainly not in Liverpools hands.

I know they had a run of draws, but still Utd were better, with the stronger squad.

If that makes him one of the worst league managers, in your opinion, then fair enough.
Just not an opinion I share thats all mate, he has proven to be quality and consistant. Not always the best, granted, by very very far from being as rubbish as you say - in my opinion of course.

 

[Green Valley]

Also look at what he achieved at Valencia

 

[WhiteStripe]

I always thought that last season it was Man Utd who would lose the title, certainly not in Liverpools hands.

I know they had a run of draws, but still Utd were better, with the stronger squad.

If that makes him one of the worst league managers, in your opinion, then fair enough.
Just not an opinion I share thats all mate, he has proven to be quality and consistant. Not always the best, granted, by very very far from being as rubbish as you say - in my opinion of course.

I don't agree about the "not in liverpools hands" bit. I personally thought that they threw away games stupidly, with poor choice of personell in games.

I just think that they should have done better under benitez tbh. As I said...perhaps worst manager was a little overboard...in fact I'm sure you would say massively overboard, but hey, I suppose he just frustrates me, and therefore emotion gets in the way of a rational judgement possibly. But IMO Benitez should have done an awful lot better in the league. Moneywise, he's not had it as harsh as people make out.

Look at the last 5 years...

Liverpool – 09/10 - £17,500,000
Liverpool – 08/09 - £39,000,000
Liverpool – 07/08 - £69,750,000
Liverpool – 06/07 - £28,040,000
Liverpool – 05/06 - £35,140,000
Liverpool Total - £189.43 Million

Man Utd - 09/10 - £19,000,000
Man Utd – 08/09 - £40,750,000
Man Utd – 07/08 - £63,100,000
Man Utd – 06/07 - £18,600,000
Man Utd – 05/06 - £20,000,000
Man Utd Total - £161.45 Million

I'm massively surprised by this tbh.

EDIT: 2 bloody interesting sites I found btw....

http://www.transferleague.co.uk/
http://www.majorleaguecharts.com/

Hell of a lot of interesting info in there.

 

[WhiteStripe]

OMFG...in the same time, we have totalled a whopping £245.5 million of transfer spending!!!

 

[WhiteStripe]

Right, I'm off home now...I'll pick this up tomorrow!! :adios:

 

[spacelord]

I don't agree about the "not in liverpools hands" bit. I personally thought that they threw away games stupidly, with poor choice of personell in games.

I just think that they should have done better under benitez tbh. As I said...perhaps worst manager was a little overboard...in fact I'm sure you would say massively overboard, but hey, I suppose he just frustrates me, and therefore emotion gets in the way of a rational judgement possibly. But IMO Benitez should have done an awful lot better in the league. Moneywise, he's not had it as harsh as people make out.

Look at the last 5 years...

Liverpool – 09/10 - £17,500,000
Liverpool – 08/09 - £39,000,000
Liverpool – 07/08 - £69,750,000
Liverpool – 06/07 - £28,040,000
Liverpool – 05/06 - £35,140,000
Liverpool Total - £189.43 Million

Man Utd - 09/10 - £19,000,000
Man Utd – 08/09 - £40,750,000
Man Utd – 07/08 - £63,100,000
Man Utd – 06/07 - £18,600,000
Man Utd – 05/06 - £20,000,000
Man Utd Total - £161.45 Million

I'm massively surprised by this tbh.

EDIT: 2 bloody interesting sites I found btw....

http://www.transferleague.co.uk/
http://www.majorleaguecharts.com/

Hell of a lot of interesting info in there.

Have to question http://www.transferleague.co.uk/ as if click on club, to left, for instance spurs and actually add up sums for last season:
Vedran Corluka £8,500,000
Heurelho Gomes £10,000,000
Robbie Keane £15,000,000
Cesar Sanchez Undisclosed
Jermain Defoe £15,000,000
Wilson Palacios £12,000,000
Carlo Cudicini Free
Pascal Chimbonda Signed
Roman Pavlyuchenko £14,000,000
Total £99,500,000

Now that adds up to £74.4m to me, so think theres some errors in it, plus undisclosed for other teams are discounted.

 

[Samson]

Have to question http://www.transferleague.co.uk/ as if click on club, to left, for instance spurs and actually add up sums for last season:
Vedran Corluka £8,500,000
Heurelho Gomes £10,000,000
Robbie Keane £15,000,000
Cesar Sanchez Undisclosed
Jermain Defoe £15,000,000
Wilson Palacios £12,000,000
Carlo Cudicini Free
Pascal Chimbonda Signed
Roman Pavlyuchenko £14,000,000
Total £99,500,000

Now that adds up to £74.4m to me, so think theres some errors in it, plus undisclosed for other teams are discounted.

No Bentley. And we didn't pay 15 million for Defoe in any meaningful sense, I'm sure.

Wage bills are a far more telling stat than transfer fees, which is not saying that Spurs haven't underacheived, historically and in the past few seasons.

 

[brett.spurs]

Naughton ahead of Corluka?!? Are you on glue?