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Rafa Rubbishes CL Play-Off Idea

By on February 17, 2010

Rafa Benitez has rubbished the idea of a Champion’s League play-off between the teams finishing between 4th and 7th place in the Premier League.

The Reds boss believes that this will only add yet more games to an already congested season and said teams would end up playing “until the end of the century”.

“I have to agree with David Moyes,” said Rafa.

“He said what would it mean for a team like Tottenham if they finish fourth and, after a fantastic season, have to play a team who finishes seventh, maybe 20 points behind, just to keep the competition alive?

“To play three, maybe four fixtures, when you don’t have time with international football – when will you play, how can you play these games and what does it mean for the team that finishes fourth?

“Maybe we can do the same with the teams at the bottom of the table. If you finish fourth maybe you could play with the team who finished third from the bottom. Then during the whole season we can play 50 games and we don’t have to rest so that will be fantastic.

“If we continue playing games we will end up playing three games a week – which is fantastic for the television companies. We are playing too much as it is. They were talking about the 39th game being played in Asia so if we now play the play-offs we will be playing until the end of the century.”


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  • john abegha

    What is funny about this ridiculous proposal, is that the club that eventually takes 4th spot will still have to go through the CL qualifying process to get to the group stage!!! In other words, they might not make it. This is plain mad!!

  • john abegha

    What is funny about this ridiculous proposal, is that the club that eventually takes 4th spot will still have to go through the CL qualifying process to get to the group stage!!! In other words, they might not make it. This is plain mad!!

  • Naz

    Teams have 38 games to take that 4th spot, case close….

  • Naz

    Teams have 38 games to take that 4th spot, case close….

  • YNWA

    Agreed

  • YNWA

    Agreed

  • LIVERPOOL!

    Agree.

  • LIVERPOOL!

    Agree.

  • BaagiiJr

    We can make it. Our team have a cup. Big cup

  • BaagiiJr

    We can make it. Our team have a cup. Big cup

  • marctick

    It is a fairly ridiculous idea. Rafa, however, should support it because it may be the only way we’ll make it to the CL.
    I actually prefer the idea of manager’s in charge of 4th – 7th position teams having a tiddly-winks competition; whoever wins takes over the team in 4th spot. Hopefully we’ll finish in 4th and lose the playoffs, thus giving us the opportunity to have a manager who actually knows how to organise a Premiership team!
    Whatever the solution, the sooner the hapless, hopeless Benitez toddles through the door marked EXIT, the better.

  • marctick

    It is a fairly ridiculous idea. Rafa, however, should support it because it may be the only way we’ll make it to the CL.
    I actually prefer the idea of manager’s in charge of 4th – 7th position teams having a tiddly-winks competition; whoever wins takes over the team in 4th spot. Hopefully we’ll finish in 4th and lose the playoffs, thus giving us the opportunity to have a manager who actually knows how to organise a Premiership team!
    Whatever the solution, the sooner the hapless, hopeless Benitez toddles through the door marked EXIT, the better.

  • Crimsonflame

    Maybe it’s the only way we can qualify for CL but it’s totaly unfair!

  • Crimsonflame

    Maybe it’s the only way we can qualify for CL but it’s totaly unfair!

  • john abegha

    Marctick, despite the managerial problems, I still feel the problem with our club are Hicks & Gillet who have put our club in debt and refused to give Rafa money to buy a striker to partner Torres or Kuyt. This could have helped him create a more attacking system. Who knows, results could have been different with a few bob. If we don’t make 4th then a few decisions will have to be taken.

  • john abegha

    Marctick, despite the managerial problems, I still feel the problem with our club are Hicks & Gillet who have put our club in debt and refused to give Rafa money to buy a striker to partner Torres or Kuyt. This could have helped him create a more attacking system. Who knows, results could have been different with a few bob. If we don’t make 4th then a few decisions will have to be taken.

  • marctick

    John, he had Bellamy, he had Crouch also, and both would be scoring goals if Rafa hadn’t sold them.
    Have you forgotten, John thet Rafa spent 20 million pounds on Aquilani and almost 20 million on Glen Johnson just a few months ago; don’t tell me he hasn’t had money – Rafa has always had money. He has bought poorly and even with half a team of great players in Reina, Carra, Agger, Macherano, Gerrard and Torres we still play poor quality football – our other players are tactically naive, there is no vision and movement is sluggish.
    Yes, the Americans have hampered us, but how much money do you think Rafa should be allowed to spend? The man is incapable of inspiring any team. We have expensive players all over the park, and let’s be honest, if he’d spent your millions on Kuyt, Aqua, Riera, Babel, Lucas would you be happy? That is a hell of a lot of cash and blooming dreadful value for it!
    The team has lost its way and until we get a manager who is prepared to play the best midfielder in the world, in MIDFIElD we will continue to stagnate.
    Rafa has stripped the heart out of Liverpool Football Club and he should be ashamed!

    • http://www.thisisanfield.com Matt

      marctick, obviously you are struggling to work out he had to sell Bellamy and Crouch in order to afford Torres. Shame.

  • marctick

    John, he had Bellamy, he had Crouch also, and both would be scoring goals if Rafa hadn’t sold them.
    Have you forgotten, John thet Rafa spent 20 million pounds on Aquilani and almost 20 million on Glen Johnson just a few months ago; don’t tell me he hasn’t had money – Rafa has always had money. He has bought poorly and even with half a team of great players in Reina, Carra, Agger, Macherano, Gerrard and Torres we still play poor quality football – our other players are tactically naive, there is no vision and movement is sluggish.
    Yes, the Americans have hampered us, but how much money do you think Rafa should be allowed to spend? The man is incapable of inspiring any team. We have expensive players all over the park, and let’s be honest, if he’d spent your millions on Kuyt, Aqua, Riera, Babel, Lucas would you be happy? That is a hell of a lot of cash and blooming dreadful value for it!
    The team has lost its way and until we get a manager who is prepared to play the best midfielder in the world, in MIDFIElD we will continue to stagnate.
    Rafa has stripped the heart out of Liverpool Football Club and he should be ashamed!

    • http://www.thisisanfield.com Matt

      marctick, obviously you are struggling to work out he had to sell Bellamy and Crouch in order to afford Torres. Shame.

  • marctick

    Matt, you are obviously struggling to understand the problems at the club if that’s your best come-back.
    How’s this for a solution: When Alonso voiced a desire to leave, why didn’t Benitez (as all right-thinking fans did) see this as an opportunity to move Gerrard back into his favoured and most influential position as the play-maker in midfield?! Benitez could then have spent some portion of the 40 million he spent on Johnson and Aquilani on a much needed striker and winger?
    He didn’t need to sell Finnan; he didn’t need to sell Arbeloa after that, so he didn’t need to spend almost 20 million on Johnson. Liverpool don’t need Aquilani and they would do well to sell Lucas.
    The problem areas are of Rafa’s own making and the more you and your apologists find specious reasons for supporting Benitez, the longer Liverpool will remain in a state of demise. You should be hang your head. You are trying to excuse the inexcusable.

  • marctick

    Matt, you are obviously struggling to understand the problems at the club if that’s your best come-back.
    How’s this for a solution: When Alonso voiced a desire to leave, why didn’t Benitez (as all right-thinking fans did) see this as an opportunity to move Gerrard back into his favoured and most influential position as the play-maker in midfield?! Benitez could then have spent some portion of the 40 million he spent on Johnson and Aquilani on a much needed striker and winger?
    He didn’t need to sell Finnan; he didn’t need to sell Arbeloa after that, so he didn’t need to spend almost 20 million on Johnson. Liverpool don’t need Aquilani and they would do well to sell Lucas.
    The problem areas are of Rafa’s own making and the more you and your apologists find specious reasons for supporting Benitez, the longer Liverpool will remain in a state of demise. You should be hang your head. You are trying to excuse the inexcusable.

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