Should Rafa go?

Surely the defeat by Reading must be Rafa's last game, its clear that he has no idea how to get his team to perform...

Nah, give him more time. It'll be nice to see the Reds at Elland Road next season.

Oh don't start!

"please close the door on your way out Mr. Benitez"

Why take off Torres and Gerard when you're hanging on the glory of a deflected goal to a team that played much better than you?

Sure they were "injured" but its cotton-balling and I think shows the players inner motivations. Its fantastic for Reading. Game over.

Leave him be, he's doing a great job :-)

no. we need more managers around who will try to make the Premiership a level playing field, not a Big 4 vs the rest :-)

I agree for Arsenal, MU, MC, AstonV, Tottenham and Chelsea he's working vertiable wonders!

It is time for him to go, we've had enough. 12 defeats already this season, bad signings, too many mistakes, team not playing well...it is not all down to bad luck an injuries ...

How fast is it, If I remember he was very good before, and all in a sudden it's all his responsabilities???

I'm sure in the world of Management there's a term describing the poisonous mix of bad luck, circumstance and trouble at the top; the Club's finances and heart have been in the news for all the wrong reasons over the last few seasons and this will undoubtedly affect morale. Wenger, to his credit, sympathised. But what goes on in the corridors / changing rooms of power is anyone's guess. Maybe he no longer believes.

I smell a blue!

hmm more "No"s than "Yes" in the poll? Must be a bunch of Evertonians and Manures.

I am still fuming from last night. Dodgy ref decision re the penalty and lacklustre performance from the team as usual. "In Rafa we trust" - my backside. Gaaaahh

I've never been a big fan of Rafa, but have kept my mouth shut, as one should give the manager time, and others know better than me. But it is clear that he can't inspire the players at all and that the players have lost all motivation. Even his tactical decision can be questioned.

All the team's troubles with finances and management don't help, but in the end it is the manager who must answer to poor on-field performances with a capable team.

Sack him at the end of the season.

It's time now for Rafa to do the decent thing and resign!

According to Skybet, King Kenny (Dalglish) and Gus Hiddink are favourites to replace Rafa. Tickles me to see that Houllier is still in the running.

SKY BET – FAVOURITES TO REPLACE RAFA BENITEZ

Kenny Dalglish – 5/2
Guus Hiddink – 5/2
Jose Mourinho – 5/1
Gerard Houllier – 5/1
Jurgen Klinsmann – 5/1
Oswaldo de Oliveira – 12/1
Martin O’Neill – 8/1
Roy Hodgson – 16/1
Frank Rijkaard – 16/1
Maurice Pelligrini – 16/1
Phil Scolari – 16/1
Steve McClaren – 25/1

Whilst I think he should go. You can't blame him for taking off injured players!

Sorry for the obvious question, but what was dodgy about the penalty decision? Benayoun tripped Long inside the area. That's a penalty.

Trip? More of a light tap. Long milked it for all its worth!

PS: I am not the most objective person to ask. Sorry.

What could have been.....



jump to 7:12

Benayoun should have turned (questionable) villian into equalising hero had he chipped the ball over Readings keeper like Pienaar did for Everton against Arsenal last Sat. That said if you look at the above replay again Beny looks offside and that peanlty decision was pretty rough, simulation surely.



jump to 1:06

He did go down easily, but Benayoun's challenge was silly and gave him the chance. Certain Liverpool players (no names mentioned here) have done very similar in the not-so-distant past...they even had a player booked for diving last night.

Liverpool will be OK, they'll put a run together soon enough.