Former Reds captain says Rafa “manipulates fans” in crunch week

By This Is Anfield On · 143 Comments · In LFC News

Former Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp says Rafa Benitez has Liverpool exactly where he wants them and this week could be a decisive one in the career of the Spanish manager.

Liverpool have won just once in their last ten games and now face a battle to keep their Champions League hopes alive with Debrecen away on Tuesday followed by Everton in the Premier League at Goodison Pak next weekend.

“They have won one in 10 now and fans will be thinking. They are firmly behind him, though, he manipulates the fans, he gets them how he wants them,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.

“But there comes a time, if they go out of Europe this week and then lose at Everton, that the fans are swayed and will say that we have to look at him now.

“That team is not really going anywhere. The problem you will get is that will Fernando Torres want to play in the Europa League? I don’t think so.

“If they don’t get into the top four at the end of this season, it will be a major problem.

“You have huge problems going on behind the scenes with the owners, but it is too easy to blame that. On the pitch the players are not playing well enough, that’s a fact.”

Absolute bullshit, Jamie.

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  • Serbian red

    @Socialknight is wright not J.R. ynwa

  • rome77

    #19 Odin_telamonPosted on November 24, 2009 @ 3:02 pm Rome77 I have been a fan for over 30 years and this is the worst manager we have had.
    Kind of contradicts your Houlier analagy as you reckon he was better 46 minutes earlier.And do tell me what as Souness and Rednapp won since Rafa came to LFC .As for journalistic work youll find its his work for SLY SPORTS that reaches the ears of most Liverpool fans not some Manchester based Newspaper or the Daily Manc as its commonly referred to .

  • rome77

    #19 Odin_telamonPosted on November 24, 2009 @ 3:02 pm Rome77 I have been a fan for over 30 years and this is the worst manager we have had.
    Kind of contradicts your Houlier analagy as you reckon he was better 46 minutes earlier.And do tell me what as Souness and Rednapp won since Rafa came to LFC .As for journalistic work youll find its his work for SLY SPORTS that reaches the ears of most Liverpool fans not some Manchester based Newspaper or the Daily Manc as its commonly referred to .

  • Odin_telamon

    Wow nicely read I stated if you were referring to his journalistic work,and another misapprehension here I think houllier was sh*t,but I think is just as bad,but hey you’re happy to win one in ten be 13 points behind the leaders and losing ground on the others as well,then carry on thinking that he is doing a wonderful job fu*k me I’ve seen dish water less dull than you

  • Odin_telamon

    Wow nicely read I stated if you were referring to his journalistic work,and another misapprehension here I think houllier was sh*t,but I think is just as bad,but hey you’re happy to win one in ten be 13 points behind the leaders and losing ground on the others as well,then carry on thinking that he is doing a wonderful job fu*k me I’ve seen dish water less dull than you

  • Red Kenny

    Rome77 at what point would you agree that you should change the manager? And what should fans of LFC expect from this manager ? Your critizing fans for their view of Benitez but not stating anything yourself. Are you happy for us to continually falter and become a second “tier” team? Im not having a go here as u know we have discussed this before but i want to know from you when enough is enough? Your jumping on people here with the rafa is a genius theory but not offering anything to support your theory ….the past is the past and its a long time since we won anything and if u mention last season I think most people think rafa cost us the title last season with his negative tactics it should have been over before we let the mancs in…and his desire not to lose cost us badly and as for this season ….well there is no argument there.

  • Red Kenny

    Rome77 at what point would you agree that you should change the manager? And what should fans of LFC expect from this manager ? Your critizing fans for their view of Benitez but not stating anything yourself. Are you happy for us to continually falter and become a second “tier” team? Im not having a go here as u know we have discussed this before but i want to know from you when enough is enough? Your jumping on people here with the rafa is a genius theory but not offering anything to support your theory ….the past is the past and its a long time since we won anything and if u mention last season I think most people think rafa cost us the title last season with his negative tactics it should have been over before we let the mancs in…and his desire not to lose cost us badly and as for this season ….well there is no argument there.

  • shak

    I agree with jamie. look at the subsitution Rafa is making. Look at the starting 11. Lucas instead of alonso. Thats a huge loss. He should have sign another replacement with instant impact like Lee cattermore which won’t cost too high. Now there is nothing left for Aqualani.

  • shak

    I agree with jamie. look at the subsitution Rafa is making. Look at the starting 11. Lucas instead of alonso. Thats a huge loss. He should have sign another replacement with instant impact like Lee cattermore which won’t cost too high. Now there is nothing left for Aqualani.

  • eddy

    I do believe Jamie makes a good point and it is time to say good bye to Rafa infact i thought that a long time ago! Firstly the only major trophy we have won under him was the champions leauge in 2005 and although i like every other liverpool fan had one of the best nights of my life we have to get it into prospective. We were lucky to win that match yes what a brilliant comeback in the second half but we still only won it on penalties it could very easily have been different. But since then what exactley has this manager done? Didily squat I still cant get over how he made liverpool the laughing stock of football at the way he handled the Robbie Kean affair how we could have done with him this season and i mean he got rid of the likes of Peter crouch who is scoring goals for fun at the moment at spurs and thats without mentioning the way he handled the Alonso transfer last season these are just 3 players who should never have been allowed to leave. And who has he brought in lol yes thats right ngog, lucas and veronin i dont paticuarly rate babel either or kuyt for that matter yes he works hard but dosnt score enough goals. Come on liverpool fans enough is enough this manager is not good enough stop burying your heads in the sand if this was Chelsea or Man United they would have shown him the door a long time ago. I would love to see Kenny Dauglish back untill the end of the season and then would like to see somebody like a hiddink or morinio even martin oniel somone with passion somebody who cares sombody whos first priority is the premiership and then europe somebody who makes sure we beat the likes of stoke i mean how can you beat Man United one week but then lose agianst the likes of sunderland and only just scrapes a draw against birmingham come on you liverpool fans this is a joke how can you be happy with the europa leauge man u fans must be loving this!!!! get rid of rafa before its to late!!!!!!

  • eddy

    I do believe Jamie makes a good point and it is time to say good bye to Rafa infact i thought that a long time ago! Firstly the only major trophy we have won under him was the champions leauge in 2005 and although i like every other liverpool fan had one of the best nights of my life we have to get it into prospective. We were lucky to win that match yes what a brilliant comeback in the second half but we still only won it on penalties it could very easily have been different. But since then what exactley has this manager done? Didily squat I still cant get over how he made liverpool the laughing stock of football at the way he handled the Robbie Kean affair how we could have done with him this season and i mean he got rid of the likes of Peter crouch who is scoring goals for fun at the moment at spurs and thats without mentioning the way he handled the Alonso transfer last season these are just 3 players who should never have been allowed to leave. And who has he brought in lol yes thats right ngog, lucas and veronin i dont paticuarly rate babel either or kuyt for that matter yes he works hard but dosnt score enough goals. Come on liverpool fans enough is enough this manager is not good enough stop burying your heads in the sand if this was Chelsea or Man United they would have shown him the door a long time ago. I would love to see Kenny Dauglish back untill the end of the season and then would like to see somebody like a hiddink or morinio even martin oniel somone with passion somebody who cares sombody whos first priority is the premiership and then europe somebody who makes sure we beat the likes of stoke i mean how can you beat Man United one week but then lose agianst the likes of sunderland and only just scrapes a draw against birmingham come on you liverpool fans this is a joke how can you be happy with the europa leauge man u fans must be loving this!!!! get rid of rafa before its to late!!!!!!

  • Red Kenny

    Rome 77 …Im still waiting? Just read Matt Ladsons article on here today and would have to agree with 99% of it I dont like when lfc fans are turning on each other over this as i expect us to stick together during this time but its a simple question when enough is enough? What are your views on Voronin, Insua, Skrtel, Kuyt, benitez s subtitutions, our tactics against lower teams? We all agree about the owners so dont go there would just like to know why you think we should stick with the current manager? We are all entitled to our opinion on lfc as supporters… so if some fans feel a change is needed then they are entitled to that view point as u are to yours ..but odin has articulated quite well along with others how a lot of fans are feeling with well explained points so i want to hear your side of it rather than going on a crusade against anyone who speaks against benitez..I remember these same points being made about houllier and that was definately for the better (initially) so how come your convinced we are wrong now? Sometimes a change is needed when things have gone stale and i personally think now is as good as any for that change.

  • Red Kenny

    Rome 77 …Im still waiting? Just read Matt Ladsons article on here today and would have to agree with 99% of it I dont like when lfc fans are turning on each other over this as i expect us to stick together during this time but its a simple question when enough is enough? What are your views on Voronin, Insua, Skrtel, Kuyt, benitez s subtitutions, our tactics against lower teams? We all agree about the owners so dont go there would just like to know why you think we should stick with the current manager? We are all entitled to our opinion on lfc as supporters… so if some fans feel a change is needed then they are entitled to that view point as u are to yours ..but odin has articulated quite well along with others how a lot of fans are feeling with well explained points so i want to hear your side of it rather than going on a crusade against anyone who speaks against benitez..I remember these same points being made about houllier and that was definately for the better (initially) so how come your convinced we are wrong now? Sometimes a change is needed when things have gone stale and i personally think now is as good as any for that change.

  • Odin_telamon

    Any answer?

  • Odin_telamon

    Any answer?

  • Red Kenny

    NO! the crusade has moved on elsewhere I presume!

  • Red Kenny

    NO! the crusade has moved on elsewhere I presume!

  • Odin_telamon

    Yeah afghanistan with any luck

  • Odin_telamon

    Yeah afghanistan with any luck

  • Red Kenny

    LOL! just read the more recent argument very funny! I think him and afaris are probably studying nuclear physics together! Think im wasting my time waiting for a response on this one…

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