KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Does Rafa know something we don't?

Yesterday I watched, listened and read a few recent interviews with Rafa, and his attitude seems totally different to the Rafa I used to see and even the tired and lost Rafa of just a month or so ago.

- Interview for Absolute Radio with Ian Wright (to watch): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgrEGE674G4

- Interview with BBC (to watch): http://www.rafabenitez.com/web/index.php?act=mostrarContenidos&co=1468&idioma=in

- Interview with talkSPORT at SOCCEREX (to listen): http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/f...nd-roles-168192

- Interview with Sports Illustrated (to read): http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20120322/rafa-benitez/index.html

- Interview for the Echo (to read): http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool...00252-30649315/

- Interview with FOX SPORTS: http://www.rafabenitez.com/web/index.php?act=mostrarContenidos&co=1168&idioma=in


When he is ever asked about "other offers" he plays them down and brushes them aside, whenever he gets asked about Liverpool it's "I have to respect Liverpool and Kenny, now is the time to support"

He want's to come back, you can see it, but he just can't say it, out of respect.

He seems calmer and more relaxed now, rather than on-edge and begging for Chelsea to get him. I think he understands now, that a club like that do not deserve him, ESPECIALLY when fans so angrily protest against the thought of having Rafa as their manager! It's pathetic, but it's also stupid that Rafa thinks, that Chelsea is a place for him, as a strong manager with a voice, doesn't get very far at Chelsea! Rafa is vocal about clubs and people interfering with "his team", so for him to even consider Chelsea, is hypocritical to say the least. I think he understands how it would go now though, fortunately.

But anyway, when I was watching, listening and reading these interviews, I just get the feeling now at least, he knows something we don't.

After the break he has had away from management, I see a different Rafa and personally, I think it has done him the world of good, and we will see that the next time he manages. He's had some much-needed time to sit back and evaluate about what he has done wrong, and what he could do better, all of this whilst still being obviously obsessed with the game (just by going on the mans website will tell you just how obsessed with the game Rafa is) but having this freedom and ability to just relax and think about things for next time, will make him a better manager, and he knows it, that's why he's content, he's already prepared.

Rafa has a very strong bond with the city and the football club and it is clear to me he and his family have made it home, and he doesn't want to leave home. He has a love affinity with the club, comparable to the supporters, and I think these are the main reasons why we hold him in such high regard as a man, he's one of us and a top bloke of the pitch, but like he says, he's not there to be the players friends on it!

Of recent, I've noticed a change though, almost like he wants to tell us something, but he can't, at this moment at least.

He constantly talks about "a project" "to challenge for trophies" "to match my ambition" "to work with an academy"....I think he knows this is Liverpool, and he knows this is everything the new owners are looking for.

I just get this feeling, Rafa IS going to be our next manager, and Kenny will play a pivotal role of getting Rafa back, like when Rafa brought Kenny back to the club. It's being kept quiet until the end of the season, so it doesn't disrupt the team and Kenny can finish on a high note.

Am I just mad? Or is anybody else getting this vibe from Rafa at the moment?

Does he know something we don't?

I hope you're right!

Let's bring big ears home the 6th time!

KP i agree with you on this one, hes playing a diplomatic role with his response to kenny. im sure he knows fans want him back here. as for no top clubs want him, outside of chelsea what other top clubs are seeking managers, i may not know of any and you might. Inter shouldnt be considered as he just left over a year ago.

That's a biased opinion KP. Are you trying to imply that he's trying to back-stab kenny by going for interviews while acting like a hypocrite?

well it would be an amazing u-turn from fenway who wanted benitez removed early on in the discussions for the take over .

To be fair and add balance, Rafa's maintained the same stance since he lost his job at Inter.

"Kenny is the manager and until that changes, if they come for me I will of course, consider it."

He's not saying anything differently now, except over the last couple of weeks he seems a lot happier. Almost like he knows something, either Kenny has been in contact or the owners have or even both, just to check if he is available at the end of the season.

Personally I think Kenny will step aside in the summer, I don't think his hand will be forced by the owners though. It will be on his own accord, so he can leave with dignity and reputation in tact. The ideal situation would be to win the FA Cup, Kenny to then step aside on a high note and then play a pivotal role (...and I think he definitely will) in the appointment of the next manager. At the moment, my gut feeling tells me that it's Rafa and if it is, Kenny will remain at the club in either his old ambassador role or something to do at the academy, win-win for all involved.

It will be done quietly and properly in the summer.

I can't really see Kenny recommending and stepping down for Mourinho, can you?

Rafa and Kenny have respect for one another, Rafa brought Kenny back to the club with some importance. I think if Kenny does step aside, it's getting to the point for me, where its inevitable Benitez will come back.

Kenny will return the favor, and I don't think the owners will dismiss someone as genius as Benitez who's been there and done it for us, loves the club and the city.

For me at first I had my doubt, but after deeply thinking about it, I honestly think this break Rafa has had from management has done him no harm whatsoever. He's seen it all from a different angle and has a different view on football and management entirely. Maybe he has learned to correct a few things now? Not be so stubborn and robotic towards management, but more relaxed and most of all learned to appreciate and ENJOY IT!

To be honest, after all is said and done, I think you'd be a fool to discount Rafa as our next manager. I really would. Put aside all of the conditioning you may have from the last time he managed us.

It'll be a crying shame if he goes elsewhere in this league!

....and this is all coming from someone who had serious doubts about Rafa returning only just a few days ago!....I realize it all now.

Ask yourself this question, if Kenny stepped aside tomorrow and we had to bring someone in urgently.

Who is it?

Deep down you know It's Rafa, and he'd be obliged to do it. He's already home, ready made, capable, free and waiting.

Spurs Chelsea and Liverpool will be all looking for a new manager for next year, he is just saying he is interested in a job with a contender. other managers like Anceloti (before the PSG job) and Cepello did the same.

what other options are their to manage a contending club in a big league?

RM, Barca, Juventus and Milan are all set with their managers, only Inter is available but they are like Chelsea, issues with owner and players.

If we're comparing it to "we've already gone back to an old manager, and it hasn't worked"...we can only speak for Dalglish here.

In all honesty we have not got a clue, or even a right to say the same for Rafa, because he hasn't come back, has he? So I don't think we can burn him with the same statement, without actually seeing Rafa manage us for a second time.

It could be totally different AND better second time around, we just don't know.

But what we do know is, Kenny hasn't changed, Kenny is still the same now as he was the first time he managed us. However, I feel this short break that Benitez has had from management, has done him the world of good! Because he's no longer seeing it the same, if you compare his interviews now, to when he was Liverpool manager, it's a different attitude and view on football, whilst still maintaining the same obsession with football that he has.

Perhaps he's looked at how successful managers always revolutionize and switch things up when it's needed to keep successful. You could make a strong case now, that Rafa is learning more now, than he did while he was in a job! He doesn't have that distraction, so he can focus more on what to be, the next time he's managing.

Was Kenny doing all of these things before he came back for a second pop? I'd say no, and because of that you could make a very strong argument to say that Rafa has more chance of taking us forward, by getting a second bite of the cherry, than Kenny has.

Don't get me wrong, it did go stale towards the end under Rafa. It became all a bit "samey", boring, monotonous, robotic. MAYBE just MAYBE, Rafa has realized that on this break from management? Maybe things will be different.....

Having heard his side to the saga about Alonso, perhaps he would be better managing that sort of situation now, than he was. Having heard his side about the previous owners, perhaps he feels he deserves a second shot, with support and backing from these new ones!?!

All I'm saying is you could make a stronger argument to say that Benitez would be more successful second time around than what Kenny is at the moment.

This is all coming from me, who only a few days go said Rafa isn't the answer! Once you put the conditioning aside, look at it all in a clear view and LISTEN to what Rafa has to say now, at this particular time. It's a different picture painted entirely! For me anyway!

Don't judge a second Rafa return, on Dalglish's second coming.

Of course people will say "No more failed managers for a second time"....but ask yourself, REALLY ask yourself, did Rafa really "FAIL" taking into consideration EVERYTHING the first time he was here?

He done a damned good job if you ask me!

I think when people say Rafa failed, they meant he didn't win us the league. Which is true, we can't deny that. However, when you look at everything else he did, it's pretty amazing giving the support (or lack there of) from the owners. Who got us our highest points ever in the league? Who won the Champions League? Who won the FA Cup? The Community Shield? The UEFA Super Cup? Who completely revamped our Academy by bringing in Barcelona coaches? And if Torres wouldn't have been injured most of Rafa's last season(he made 22 appearances and missed the final 2 1/2 months) we probably would have won the Europa league and finished in the top 4....again. Maybe it wouldn't be the right decision, but as of now I would take Rafa back.

edit - double post