Good post craney. I think you're right that certain fans who are against Rafa coming back are desperately holding onto the negatives of his last reign and ignoring the positives in order to give the picture as to why he shouldn't come back, as if the more they say it, the lesser the chances of him returning are. It does not make a difference.
You really have to look at the positives and the negatives and weight them up. Quoting one side of the story over and over, quoting rumours as fact (where it suits), and denying he's not in the running for the job (without anything to back it up) is just wasting everyone's time, to be fair.
I know its hard for some people to just forget for one moment that he didn't manage us before and just weigh up the options. There are positives and negatives to all the candidates, except for maybe one, where there can only be positives. But we cannot wait around 12+ months for this man, we must act as a club now and get the best man for now and the foreseeable future.
I'd love for us to go and get Pep, but it just ain't gonna happen, I don't think he is a "money man" or "ego man" like Mourinho, the man is of principal and moral, and he will take a break with his family, like he said he would do. The man wants another challenge, but he doesn't want to leave his Catalan homeland. One day in the near future, he will manage Barca again, I just can't see him leaving his home for any amount of money. Catalan and Basque people are weird when it comes to this sort of thing.....just look at the Bilbao team after the Europa Cup Final.....
For this minority who are jumping on the "No going back to Rafa" bandwagon, you seriously need to take a breather and look at this situation with eyes wide open. Just for 5 minutes, put aside him managing us before and look at all of the candidates WE CAN GET.
Whether you like it or not, Rafa is at the very top of that list. I'd agree as well, that is quite embarrassing, but it does not change the fact, that this is a top manager, proven manager (even under hard circumstances), had a much needed break from the game, and is more relaxed now because of it. I honestly don't think you'd see the carbon copy Rafa management style. WHEREVER he goes. Whether it be us again, or another club.
Now, I'm not nostalgic, blind or being sentimental here, I'm looking at it clear!
There are serious question marks over some of those "candidates" heads before they've even been given the job. Out of all of them, Rafa would be more of an immediate common sense appointment because he is capable of getting what FSG want, if they support the manager with respect and funds. Don't challenge Rafa, Rafa wont challenge you, keep the peace, support your manager and everybody will win!
I also believe, if Rafa gets the sort of backing he has never really had, from day 1, it wouldn't just be an immediate short term option either. The man is of the city, he might not sound scouse, but the man was never quick to leave the city and he came back the moment Inter wouldn't back him....like they did Angel-Mourinho.
This is his home, his familys home. So while FSG are looking for a 5 year plan, this could quite easily be doubled IF they support Rafa.
Whoever the manager is, they need to get behind them this time and have a friendly working environment for all, meaning, the appointment of the DOF and other positions just feels "right" and comfortable for all involved.
While I'd be inclined to give Villas Boas the job and the backing, because of his age, it rests on "MIGHT" work. It "MIGHT" work over the 5 years, it "MIGHT" work for longer, and I think Rafa would offer a bit more certainty than the other managers on the list, because he has been there and done it all before....under terrible conditions. You must not forget that, we all wanted the previous owners out, because we knew what they were about.....Rafa was no different to us, was he?
When you look at it clearly, it paints a totally different picture. I'm not blind Rafa following, I'm not being sentimental, I'm just being truthful and plain about this situation.
It might not please some of you, but its true.
The candidates WE CAN GET, most of them do not fill me with confidence. I will get behind anyone who gets the job, but they do not fill me with confidence, however, Rafa does just a bit more than the rest.
