The future of Houllier and McAllister?

[Dave]

I'd take moyes ahead of Benitez as he seems more loyal- rafa is a bit volatile and may see us as a stopgap until a bigger fish came for him

As opposed to which managers who wouldn't want to move to a bigger club if the opportunity arose?

[Legion]

There are bigger clubs?

[Sexual Ealing]

Benitez  v moyes   ...       still not sure for me

1 European Cup, 1 UEFA cup, 2 La Liga Championships, 1 FA Cup, 1 World Club Championship

Vs

1 Champions League preliminary qualification tie (lost)

It would be great if he brought those trophies to us and they were automatically added to our honours list.

Unfortunately, the process of recruiting a top flight manager isn't that straightforward.  Past record obviously counts for a lot but of equal importance is when  you recruit them. Are they on the way up, or on the way down?

Benitez is younger than Houllier, so he has that in his favour. But is he likely to match or get close to previous achievements? If he continues some of the erratic behaviour he exhibited at Liverpool in the latter years, I'd say it's unlikely.

In contrast, someone like a Moyes or Hughes might be capable of having the best years of their career with us, rather than trading on former glories or reminiscing about their ex.

They might. But Benitez has done it at two clubs in two countries (supposedly the two most difficult/competitive countries) and with clubs who were up there, but not viewed as being in the very top tier of either league. HIs last days at Liverpool coincided with the last days of two of the very worst owners in Premier League history, so there were extenuating circumstances.

We're not, in my opinion, really in a position toturn down proven winners in favour what has so far been the upper levels of mediocrity.

[KevinGage]

If we were involved in a major European competition next year I might be a wee bit more receptive to the idea.

Previously that seemed to be his forte, setting teams up to grind it out over two legs.

He often came in for stick when it came to the domestic league, even prior to the final disastrous year where he frittered away Liverpool's natural advantage re top 4 with a combination of bad tactics and bad buys.

As it is, even with a squad as strong as Inter Milan he made a balls of it in Europe this year too.

I think he's a busted flush personally. And -worse than that- I'm pretty certain if he got the gig he'd be very quick in making excuses for poor performances/ underachievement.  No more of that.

[Ad@m]

It doesn't look like Moyes will happen - the money's going on Mark Hughes if the bookies are anything to go by.

[Legion]

Highly unlikely.

[Sexual Ealing]

If we were involved in a major European competition next year I might be a wee bit more receptive to the idea.

Previously that seemed to be his forte, setting teams up to grind it out over two legs.

He often came in for stick when it came to the domestic league, even prior to the final disastrous year where he frittered away Liverpool's natural advantage re top 4 with a combination of bad tactics and bad buys.

As it is, even with a squad as strong as Inter Milan he made a balls of it in Europe this year too.

I think he's a busted flush personally. And -worse than that- I'm pretty certain if he got the gig he'd be very quick in making excuses for poor performances/ underachievement.  No more of that.

With regard to his domestic performances - he's won 2 more league titles than any other candidate will have. Unless Ancelotti really is a candidate, in which case I withdraw all my support rom Benitez!

[ozzjim]

You never know what the issue was at Inter, but following Mourinho must have been difficult, and you don't know what barriers were there with the squad. However, given the option of all those being touted, I would gamble on Rafa.

[Eigentor]

As it is, even with a squad as strong as Inter Milan he made a balls of it in Europe this year too.

Qualified from the group stages = made a balls of it ?

[KevinGage]

With their depth of squad?  I'd say losing to Tottenham and getting annihilated by a very average Schalke side might qualify as such, yeah.

[Lowendbehold]

You never know what the issue was at Inter, but following Mourinho must have been difficult, and you don't know what barriers were there with the squad. However, given the option of all those being touted, I would gamble on Rafa.

It wasn't that long ago that we were chanting, "You're only a fat Spanish waiter".

He left both Valencia and Liverpool broke.  Made bad decisions at Liverpool and bought some pretty poor players.  We can do better.

[Eigentor]

With their depth of squad?  I'd say losing to Tottenham and getting annihilated by a very average Schalke side might qualify as such, yeah.

In the group stages, qualification is what matters. That they lost to Tottenham isn't that important. When Inter was "annihilated" by Schalke, Leonardo was their manager. Benitez was sacked after winning the World Club Championship.

[Shrek]

Bentitez watched Bale blitz Inter, he then played the same tactics in the next leg and the same happened, he was a disaster at Inter.

[ozzjim]

You never know what the issue was at Inter, but following Mourinho must have been difficult, and you don't know what barriers were there with the squad. However, given the option of all those being touted, I would gamble on Rafa.

It wasn't that long ago that we were chanting, "You're only a fat Spanish waiter".

He left both Valencia and Liverpool broke.  Made bad decisions at Liverpool and bought some pretty poor players.  We can do better.

The owners left Liverpool broke, very harsh to level that at Benitez. Valencia I haven't a clue of the workings, but he had a brilliant squad together there at one stage.

[Eigentor]

Well, I understand that he's not everybody's cup of tea. Yet, I fail to understand that underperfoming in the league, qualifying from the CL group stages and winning two (allthough minor) trophies equates to a disaster.