KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Liverpool FC now reaping rewards of Benitez's real

I agree that the true test of the academy is whether it actually delivers the next Gerrard or Fowler. And there would be no question that Rafa was responsible for such success were he still LFC manager at the time. But he won't be; and that's essentially where I differ with you guys.

Rafa's already made as much contribution to the Academy as he can, did so under difficult monetary conditions blah blah, but got sacked as LFC manager before his "vision" (if it can be called that) could reach fruition. So all he can really be thanked for is getting the ball rolling (where before it was just a place that everyone essentially ignored in the blind hope that some kid nobody had ever heard of walked up to the gate one day and turned out to be a superstar without any real training).

So, my point is that although the Academy should be seen as Benitez's lasting legacy, its ultimate success rests in the hands of the people he appointed, and while he may claim credit for appointing them, the development of these potentially world class players is actually out of Rafa's hands. The success of the Academy is not the success of one person, and there are a lot of steps to go yet as you've correctly pointed out. Rafa helped us take that critical first step when no one else cared, yet you won't consider thanking him for the obvious improvements that step brought us until the journey of 1000 miles is finished. That just seems a bit cynical to me.

(Analogy: Would Kenny Dalglish be LFC manager now had Benitez not appointed him in charge of the Academy and as club ambassador? Probably not, right? While we've not achieved anything material, we have hope and unity where before we had neither. The point here is not that Benitez should be credited with the upswing in our fortunes on the pitch, but that small things done properly have consequences we wouldn't dream of. However, once we've dreamed those powerful dreams we often forget the small things that started them.)

the sad thing is that we have had so much wrong in the last 20yrs. I expect unity and a clear philosophy as a minimum and whilst no longer shocked by these revelations, i dispair and what has been going on. I blame H&G for lack of investment but they would not have been in the club if Moores had shown some vision and guidance. It is comforting however that Dalglish's biggest success so far is to close ranks and push the club in one direction. A happy workforce is a productive workforce.

All we need now is that year on year sprinkling of quality into te squad. Those who lost the faith(ie Torres) should now have all gone and the difference in attitude is their to see. New hungry players be it from academy or bought in will at the very least add enthusiam. LFC have never been massive spenders as the type of player purchased was never quite a star. This will continue and I ask you all today to trawl the papers and net looking for LFC stories and they are few and far between. Oh the joy and return to old times.