KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Rafa right to slam Fergie

Watching the boss at today's press conference pulling out his notes to launch his criticism of Sir Alex was absolutely fantastic. It's about time someone had the balls to speak out against the United manager.

The boss usually keeps his thoughts to himself but now he's top of the league he can have his say. Had he issued such a statement in the past when Liverpool were challenging for 4th then it could have been seen as a cry from a failing manager.

With a Champions League trophy in the cabinet, you cannot compare the outburst to the emotional Kevin Keegan when he was at Newcastle challenging United. Rafa is quality, he's a calm man. He knows what's he's doing and even though he's Spanish, he expressed himself well today.

I admit that at one stage I asked myself "Will people think he's lost it?" but then I thought "Nah. Feck it. This is Rafa, not Keegan."

I can't stop chuckling about those notes he produced today. The boss has been observing and noting for years, just like the rest of us. I can just imagine him sat at home muttering away at the TV as he casts an eye over Ferguson's press interviews. He just needed the right time to deliver his say and following Fergie's comments last week, there wasn't a better time to get it off his chest.

A week has past since Fergie suggested the fixtures were bent and nobody in the game had the balls to step forward and pull him up. That changed today.

I hate Manchester United and despise everything about them from the manager to the tea lady so seeing the boss give Fergie some today was great. But now it should stop there. Let the media stir it up, let them say the boss is under pressure and so on.

Rafa today pulled the pin out of a hand grenade and threw it into a room as he slammed the door shut and walked away. While the media stir this up over the weekend, Rafa will only be thinking about Stoke. He won't pick a single newspaper up tomorrow.

The Mancs are obsessed with us but we mustn't become obsessed with them. Let them sing their songs about us when playing other teams. We mustn't stoop to their levels.

We've had our say today, now let's remain focused and bring the title home.

Well said Raffa, f**k fergie :-)

i agree with you completely dunk - rafa has said it all ..... now its up to the FA to act and stop fergie while we get on with winning the league fair and square =o)

Although Rafa is right, I think the timing is wrong. This is the first time in 10yrs since we are still in the hunt for the league in January. Rafa shouldn't react at all to SAF. We lead the prem, we should concentrate only for Stoke, and the following opponents. We should show the spirit in the pitch, not in the press conference. No need to make another issue this time. Just concentrate on football. And free Steven Gerrard!!!

He may have been right to say what he said but he should have said it with a smile and a laugh.

That puts the pressure back on Fergie, now the issue in the media will be is Rafa cracking, the comparisons with Keegan.

I think Dunk is right, Rafa is calm but this seems to have got under his skin.

Of course the most important thing is what about Rafa's new contract?... maybe he is [oops] off about that but can't say anything publicly.

And of course with the Real game coming up I'm sure we'll get more of those rumours soon...

We all know what will happen, no doubt the FA will take action against Rafa for his ranting.

Im not sure how to interpret it:
1) Has Rafa alloed fergie to get under his skin and has Fergie now distracted RAFA, or

2) I havent seen a liverpool manager stand up and take the fight to Man U. Challenge the so called "Sir Alex". It could be that we are beggining to see a new liverpool. Kinda like the giant is waking up.

It really is something we shouldnt we should interpret as a sign of growth/ability to stand up to the so called Bully.

Lets RIP Stoke

It hasn't got under his skin. This is a calculated attack on Ferguson's motives, aired for everyone to see. It's the start of the usual mind games that appear when the pressure starts to tell. The only difference is this time it's Rafa that's fired a big shot across Ferguson's bow, and with old whiskey nose liking things done in his time and his fashion, this WILL take him aback.

This is what Rafa wanted to do, let the rednose nervous in playing the Chelsea game

I'm a United fan (not here to cause trouble but to debate sensibly, if allowed :)).

Everyone knows about Fergie's mind games by now and I do agree with some of what Benitez has said but like someone else mentioned in this thread, it's been handled in such a manner that can only be compared to Keegans rant all those years ago and only time will tell whether it will have a positive or negative impact on your challenge.

I'm not disputing what Benitez said but it's clear that he was more focused on United and Fergie at that press conference than doing a job at Stoke and you have to wonder what impact that will have on the players focus.

It's also interesting to note that Benitez seems to have had a bit of a memory loss :)

Rafa Benitez January 2009
"Two years ago we had a lot of early kick-offs away on Saturdays when United were playing on Sundays. And we didn't say anything"

Rafa Benitez September 2007
"We will analyse it and talk with the Premier League. We will see how to stop this situation, but if you play on Tuesday, for example, in an international break, it will be easier. In the Champions League, if you play on Wednesday, you must play on Sunday. In Spain it’s like this. The television companies decide on early kick-offs on Saturday, so someone needs to talk to them as well. If you want your teams at the top of the Champions League, then protect them."