Last year, a couple of months into the season, I told you that Benitez had lost the dressing room. A couple of months back I told you that Benitez wanted out and that his agent had made it clear what would be needed for his client to walk away. What I didn't tell you yesterday was that Benitez was about to be sacked. That's because I didn't know that anything was going to go down last night.
It was obvious to me that something had to give and soon would, I've been telling you that for a while, but when the news started to break yesterday, I was quite surprised.
I've been turned off by it all if I'm honest, I think those of you that know me, have seen that.
I received an email earlier in the day saying something was brewing but I've been getting those emails every day for months. Usually the best information comes from sources (friends) on MSN, Skype etc. They were quiet, until last night. There I was minding my own business and all of a sudden I started hearing audio alerts all over the place. I ignored the first one, it's probably just a random email I thought, but then more and more alerts started going off and my Skype was flashing. Something had gone down.
A friend of mine who works for one of the national newspapers then called me and gave me a run down of what he claimed had happened. He insisted that Rafa had been sacked and a very close friend of mine told me this morning that he's definitely gone despite the claims on Sky Sports News today that they understand he will leave within 48 hours.
I'm told that managing director Christian Purslow was responsible for pushing Benitez out on the instructions of Tom Hicks. If you believe my source, Hicks and Purslow have been conspiring together to get rid of Benitez for weeks.
If you're a Benitez fan, you can't just blame Hicks and Purslow for pulling the trigger. Rafa didn't help himself. He was too stubborn. His heart was in the right place but that Spanish blood makes him who he is. He lost the dressing room ages ago and my sources for that were senior first team players. I know them, I know their families, I know their friends. The information could never be doubted and my opinion is that once you've lost them, there is no turning back no matter how good you are.
What we mustn't do is forget what Rafa achieved for us. Not only that but he worked for us under the biggest set of wankers ever associated to the club. All of them, Purslow, Broughton, Hicks, Gillett... they have to be kicked out.
Please do not fall for the spin that is going to come out of Anfield over the coming weeks. They're all tossers. You cannot compare any of them to Rafa who cared about us, the fans. He's the only one who stood up to them and he paid the price.
Those of you celebrating are a disgrace. By all means welcome change if you wanted that but show some respect towards a good man.
Personally I hope they give the job to Dalglish and not just because of that bet I put on last year when I was told Rafa had lost the dressing room and that the King had made it known via a 3rd party that he wanted the job! I know he wants the job. He is ideal. I'm not even going to justify his case.
The owners won't be gone this summer, possibly not even this year so we're all going to have to grow up and accept it for what it is. We have limited resources and we have to work to them. If key players want out, even after a change in manager, then **** 'em. Let 'em go.
I would advise you ignore any claims made by the club or Rafa's agent over the next few days. Any denials I see I will laugh off. They're all full of [oops]. All I want to see is Rafa succeed somewhere else, at a club where he will be appreciated. And while he's doing that, we can regroup under a new manager, lift morale in the squad and force the owners, Purslow and Broughton out.
It'll be sad to see Rafa go but already I'm feeling a little more positive than when I published my last editorial earlier this week.
Dalglish is the man to lead the revolution.
YNWA
What do you think? Please let me know on the forums :)
Duncan Oldham
KopTalk Editor
