[Archived] Rafa Benitez

[rovers_rob]

I was under the impression that Lazio (the club that SGE went to?) had to pay us hefty compensation to get SGE out of that contract. Is that not right?

I found this on the four four two website :

Sven-Goran Eriksson

Sven :

It’s true. I signed a contract with Blackburn Rovers chairman Jack Walker and then went back to Italy. I then received a call from Lazio who told me they wanted me to be their manager. It was a difficult situation so I saw Jack Walker a day later. Lazio offered to pay compensation but after much discussion, Jack tore up the contract, said, “We are friends, Sven. I understand.” That was the end of the matter. Jack Walker was a good man.

[Silencio]

I found this on the four four two website :

Sven-Goran Eriksson

Sven :

It’s true. I signed a contract with Blackburn Rovers chairman Jack Walker and then went back to Italy. I then received a call from Lazio who told me they wanted me to be their manager. It was a difficult situation so I saw Jack Walker a day later. Lazio offered to pay compensation but after much discussion, Jack tore up the contract, said, “We are friends, Sven. I understand.” That was the end of the matter. Jack Walker was a good man.

Sven's had a nice life, hasn't he?

[tony gale's mic]

Really? According to whom?

Mixed feelings about him. Poor in the transfer market, arrogant, controversial handling of players - all point to him being a poor choice for a club with limited resources. Also in my opinion he seems a bit unbalanced and slightly neurotic in the last couple of years.

However he does have pedigree and a winning mentality. Hum.

Compared to the clubs which he beat to La Liga and the Champions' League, Liverpool and Valencia did have limited resources.

I agree the transfer market was a weak point, but it was always strange because whilst he signed a lot of average players for Liverpool, he seemed to get the best out of the team. The individuals he signed for Liverpool were poor, but they were very good at winning football matches together. I think he signed a lot of mediocre players but got the best out of them which can be seen as a weak point or a strong point - or probably both.

You can list his bad points though but he's one of the most decorated managers in club football. We'd be mad to turn him down - plus it'd really put our club on the map and make Europe take notice of us.

IF we stay up...

[chaddyrovers]

Apparently Rafa has a pre-contact deal signed and Schuster doesn't.

Rafa would be a good choice for rovers manager next season. would be miles better than kean! If Rafa does come then is Kean being sacked or become Rafa number 2 and what is happening to the rest of the first team coaching staff? Rafa would already know Iain Brunskill from his liverpool days. I would prefer IB as number 2 to Rafa and bring in his own first team coach? would rafa be happy with kean in his coaching staff? Also is Rafa going to bring one or two of his own staff?

I would agree that his weakness is buying players but is a good manager and experience. we just need to stay up and then we can build next season and push into the top 10. we need to keep our best players at the club!

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

But if it was a choice with him or Kean - as it may seem, Rafa any day.

By God we can all shout that from the roof tops and rejoice if it happens!!

[PAFELL]

By God we can all shout that from the roof tops and rejoice if it happens!!

He may as well start packing his bags and buy his travel ticket to Blackburn.

[S15]

Oh Philip Philip Philip.

Why do you do it? We all know Benitez isn't going to be our next manager, yet you've come on here and told everyone he's signed a pre contract with us. So I assume come mid May (assuming that we get another point this season) Mr Kean will have been relieved of his duties, and Mr Benitez will be in the hotseat as per this pre contract? Have you seen the contract? Did the same bloke who showed you Ali Syed's bank balance send you a photocopy of this contract? I bloody hope I'm wrong, but why do I feel this is going to end up being the number one gem on your list of belters?

[chaddyrovers]

Rafa wants villa job

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/188820/Rafael-Benitez-up-to-grab-Gerard-Houllier-job/

[Stuart]

Oh Philip Philip Philip.

Why do you do it? We all know Benitez isn't going to be our next manager, yet you've come on here and told everyone he's signed a pre contract with us. So I assume come mid May (assuming that we get another point this season) Mr Kean will have been relieved of his duties, and Mr Benitez will be in the hotseat as per this pre contract? Have you seen the contract? Did the same bloke who showed you Ali Syed's bank balance send you a photocopy of this contract? I bloody hope I'm wrong, but why do I feel this is going to end up being the number one gem on your list of belters?

Rafa wants villa job

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/188820/Rafael-Benitez-up-to-grab-Gerard-Houllier-job/

The timing of those two posts is too much of a coincidence! I want S15's and Chaddy's IP addresses checking out! (or is it C15 and Shaddito?)

[heysham rover]

Benitez has had first hand experience of working with lunatic owners, why oh why would he choose tobpuy himself through that again!?

[Stuart]

[BPF]

Just for the record and for those that haven't seen my Twitter page.

After speaking to numerous people, I've had the Rafa story confirmed also.

For him to be interested though, the owners must have promised him serious cash. It will be interesting to see how that turns out...

[beanie]

Just for the record and for those that haven't seen my Twitter page.

After speaking to numerous people, I've had the Rafa story confirmed also.

For him to be interested though, the owners must have promised him serious cash. It will be interesting to see how that turns out...

Whats the twitter page?

[Kamy100]

Rafa's wife is the boss in the Bentiez household and after he got sacked she made him come back and live in the Liverpool area as she loves it there, so he has been looking for a job that is close to home. I heard the story from some reliable sources about 3 weeks ago so it could be true, as BPF says if he does come then Venky's will have to splash the cash. The Villa story has come out over the last couple of days, I suppose it is possible for him to commute from Livrepool to Birmingham so if the Villa interest is genuine then I fear that he would choose them over us.

[S15]

I suppose it is possible for him to commute from Livrepool to Birmingham so if the Villa interest is genuine then I fear that he would choose them over us.

But's he's sign a contract, so he can't choose them over us? No?

[Kamy100]

I don't think that he has signed a pre-contract, I was told that there had been "serious talks", but yes if he has signed a pre-contract then it would be difficult for him to get out of it.

[yoda]

But's he's sign a contract, so he can't choose them over us? No?

This is the EPL, contracts don't mean anything.

Except a payoff !

[HemelRover]

But's he's sign a contract, so he can't choose them over us? No?

If its a pre contract it might have all sorts of clauses and caveats etc. Who the hell knows what Venkys may agree to.

[bastionRover]

I can't seem to find any current news reporting anything to backup this thread. I know it's down to a lot of "not what you know but who you know" and I've even opened a twitter account to see if i can extract any news from there. Where are people getting there info from??

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Their heads?

[Stuart]

You need to read the first couple of pages Bastion. I think it was BKR who heard something in an interview. As far as I know he's still working on finding a link to the audio...

We've even got to the point where questioning the source has become repetitive!

[Steve Moss]

If Benitez goes to Villa, that could be a good thing for us. Especially if talks between Fulham and Hughes break down. Perhaps Sparky would come back if transfer funds were promised?

[BRFCfor83]

Now that would be a dream, although how many of the fans wished him to fail at citeh. If he did come back there would be some bridge building needed from the PR dept.

[ben_the_beast]

I don't know if it is being reported elsewhere but that article is a joke. No-where does Rafa say he wants the Villa job. His quotes could just as easily be attributed to Rovers or anyone.

Pretty much just says he likes the Prem.

[BPF]

I'd heard that the pre-contract stipulates that he will only take over providing that:

1. Blackburn Rovers are in the Premier League

2. There are funds available.

3. He has full control - No advisors.

4. He is free to listen to other offers until the end of the season.

I guess you could say that it is more of an agreement in principle than a pre-contract. His agent seems to think that he'll be spending his Saturday afternoons at Ewood Park though.