Yesterday we published an article titled ‘Could Rafa Benitez make a shock return to Liverpool?’ – and the response was overwhelming.
We expected opinions to be split on the matter- and indeed not everybody agrees, but judging by the 100 plus comments on the article- a vocal section of Liverpool fans would love to see Benitez back at Anfield if Kenny Dalglish decided to walk away.
Here is a selection of the responses:
Phil: “Absolutely. Rafa has unfinished business at Anfield. Rafa and his wife remain great supporters of all that is Liverpool, and I, for one, would love to see what he could achieve with some money to spend. You only need to see what players he found when he had no budget. Many of the young players now coming through were down to Rafa as was the Academy itself. One day King Kenny will feel that he has completed his task and Rafa will return.”
Jamesy Evans: “Most certainly – Rafa bought Alonso, Garcia, Reina, Johnson, Torres, Morienties and other top class players to LFC. Kenny with all due respect and I love him has brought Downing, Henderson and Carroll – no comparison. Rafa took us to the Champions league final in his first full season -Kenny the carling cup final. I know which trophy I’d rather have. Rafa to return in the summer – would be a dream come true!”
Fowler_red: “Definitely!! No one would have been able to work with the previous American owners, so I don’t blame Rafa for leaving. He did a great job with less money and was always judged on the bad signings he made. All the big money buys were world class, Torres, Mascherano and Alonso, and we made a hefty profit on all of these. That can’t be said of Carroll, Downing and Henderson. Cost more and we would most definitely make a big loss if sold on. Benitez left after they finished 7th, his worse year (best players sold and problems with owners). Dont get me wrong, I’m a big King Kenny fan and Liverpool were in a pretty bad state when he arrived. But I’m also a big Rafa fan and would welcome him back if the King ever decided to call it a day.”
Maljay2: “The basis for judging Benitez has to be the fact that he kept Liverpool so near the top for the Hicks-Gillett period, when the team was starved of funds and was a selling club. The plummet under Hodgson revealed the depth of the problems the club faced – not as a result of Benitez’s management, but of years of non-investment. He was also faced with insidious briefing against him from within the senior management of the club.
“Yes, there are question marks about his man-management. However, many fans believe that, if he’d had the sort of money available that Dalglish has had, then the outcome would be different. as a lifelong Liverpool fan; and one who always admired Dalglish, I simply can’t believe that Benitez would have bought Downing for £20m (a complete joke) or Adam (if you buy a player for £8 from a relegation side, you get a very average player, and Adam is that…very average). I seriously doubt if he would have bought Carroll or Henderson. I’m sure he would have attempted to obtain Mata, Aguero or Silva.
“Would I welcome him back? Like a shot. Dalglish’s limitations are beginning to show, but then again, Newcastle and Celtic fans were saying the same before he came to Liverpool.”
Read ‘Could Rafa Benitez make a shock return to Liverpool?’ and have your say
image: © neate photos
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