Benitez 3950

Good points. I buttume no instructions were issued because nothing in the set up changed. The main source of the problem continued to get as much space and time as he wanted. It required a subtle change, no mbuttive upheaval, just get closer to one particular player. I was a bit surprised the on-field captain did not take this job on himself? I doubt that nothing was done simply because Raffas orders were ignored, sounds like a thin excuse, but if it was so, that is also down to him. For how long would a player get away with ignoring orders from AF or Wenger or Mourinho, Hughes, Shankly , Cluff etc ?

I agree. Even managers are entitled to make the occasional error without the ceiling falling in. But I thought that one was more negligence than error. Making the wrong move is one thing, Making none was always going to be costly wasn't it? I don't think you should ever judge managers simply on match results, particularly when they are restructuring a side. Getting beaten by Fulham and C Palace is not importatnt. in fact it was on the cards and it's happened to better sides than Pool in the past. But not judging on results works both ways. Seems most of the pro Raffa support is because of one very lucky result last year.

I think he falls short on most other areas for judging his performance. Transfers he has made ( wasn't Crouch a most obvious panic buy? )....worse, those he has failed to make. Set up of the side. No apparent understanding of what his best side or formation is. Lack of team motivation. It's all been said before.

Couldn't agree more and have said in other posts that it would be crazy and unfair to dump him right now. Critics like me could be wrong. and he deserves time to get it together, but that has nothing to do with opinions about his merits. So far the signs are bloody awful and the poor progress is not helped by his stream of comments which seem to confirm that he has little idea of what is needed to make up a decent Prem side. Isn't it a fact that other Prem managers are doing better with less, due to better management maybe?

Yes it is a work-in - progress team and should be judged as such, but that does not mean suspending all judgement. Where is the progress? Raffa buys players which might have been ideal for Valencia but don't have the metal for Prem Pool. Seems he prefers to buy abroad but, unlike the managers of the top 3 clubs, finds it hard to get players who will adapt.

The thought did cross my mind when watching some of those Palace players carving their way through the Pool midfield with so much energy, that the manager might have been better served looking for a few players closer to home?

He will enjoy better results, probably starting this weekend, but that will also prove nothing ijn the long term. He has a lot to learn and I doubt that Liverpool FC can afford to let him serve his apprentiship here. The end of this season is not too soon to judge.

Regards,

LC