Rafa The Gaffer interested in Villa job?

[Eigentor]

So we'd rather have someone who is so unproven that he hasn't managed to piss someone off yet, than someone who has shown himself capable of creating trophy-winning teams.

[pauliewalnuts]

I couldn't give a stuff about that to be honest, he was doing his best for a club who were our near rivals at the time.  I'd be happy if our club behaved a bit more like that in future to be honest, rather than trying to be the Premier League's "Fairtrade" club.

Not wishing to start an arguement, but I'd be hugely disappointed in our Club if we weren't the Premier League's "Fairtrade" club.
There's nothing wrong with doing things properly.

There is if you're the only ones doing it that way.

[supertom]

El David Brentio.
No ta.

[Risso]

I couldn't give a stuff about that to be honest, he was doing his best for a club who were our near rivals at the time.  I'd be happy if our club behaved a bit more like that in future to be honest, rather than trying to be the Premier League's "Fairtrade" club.

Not wishing to start an arguement, but I'd be hugely disappointed in our Club if we weren't the Premier League's "Fairtrade" club.
There's nothing wrong with doing things properly.

It depends what you mean by doing things properly.  There's little to be gained by always playing Mr Nice Guy if nobody else does likewise.  And as we're owned by somebody whose wealth comes from credit cards, then I'd take any notion of taking the moral high ground with a huge pinch of salt.

[Neil Hawkes]

I couldn't give a stuff about that to be honest, he was doing his best for a club who were our near rivals at the time.  I'd be happy if our club behaved a bit more like that in future to be honest, rather than trying to be the Premier League's "Fairtrade" club.

Not wishing to start an arguement, but I'd be hugely disappointed in our Club if we weren't the Premier League's "Fairtrade" club.
There's nothing wrong with doing things properly.

There is if you're the only ones doing it that way.

I doubt we're the only ones and even if we where, I'd feel proud that we set the standards.
If the only way to compete is to cheat, bend the rules and generally act like a complete and utter w**ker - then sorry, I would soon lose all respect for things Villa based.

[joecrow]

my area manager is a Liverpool fan and he wont have a bad word said about him. just another reason to not to respect him

[Concrete John]

6) I happen to like Villa's more 'honourable' approach to transfers - Benitez would not fit in with this.

Does anyone really believe, or care about, this, though?

I bet we weren't entirely honourable with the pursuit of Bent, for example.

Traditional transfer approach:-
1.  Make a bid to the club. 
2.  Get permission to speak to the player if accepted. 
3.  Make higher bid if rejected or look elsewhere.
4.  Sign player.

Modern transfer approach:-
1.  Speak to agent.
2.  Make bid to club.
3.  Leak to press.
4.  Agree terms with player through agent.
5.  Haggle over price with selling club.
6.  Sign player.

Benitez (and others) approach:-
1.  Get international team mate to tap player up.
2.  Leak to press.
3.  Get everything agreed with agent.
4.  Mention player in press conference.
5.  Have ridiculous bid rejected.
6.  Speak to press again.
7.  Get player to speak to press.
8.  Have slightly less ridiculous bid rejected.
9.  Wait two months and then sign Glen Johnson instead.

I'd imagine Bent to us was the 2nd version, minus the leaking to the press, and I'm OK with that.  I am not OK with the last version, which is the FSW's motus operandi.

[Risso]

The General wasn't happy with us appointing a manager who was already employed, lest he turn out to be less than honourable and do the dirty on us, yet signing a player like Bent who was leaving a top 6 club for a relgation threatened one, and has had 6 clubs in as many years isn't a problem.  We don't have to behave like Gary Cock at Man City or the Scum Brothers at West Ham, but we shouldn't let "doing the right thing" get in the way of being a successful club.

[Merv]

I wouldn't be completely against elements of the last version. If people believe agents don't sound managers out and vice versa about players, and players don't talk to each other about clubs (only today I read a report that said Rob Green has been asking former Norwich teammate Andy Marshall about life at Villa) then that's naivety in the extreme.

I don't like the way Harry Redknapp freely talks about rival players in the media though. I'd hate to see that.

As for managers, we absolutely absolutely have to be prepared to approach the right man, currently employed or otherwise - not just whoever may be handily available.

[not3bad]

6) I happen to like Villa's more 'honourable' approach to transfers - Benitez would not fit in with this.

Does anyone really believe, or care about, this, though?

Well I wouldn't have mentioned it if I wasn't bothered to some extent, and you have already seen other people agreeing so I'd have to 'yes' to your question.  However I'm not saying this is my main objection to Benitez, it is one of half a dozen.

[TonyD]

No thanks.

[Olneythelonely]

I'd have him in a heartbeat.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Don't like him as a person.
but pre-Liverpool melt down, his record is impressive.

However, if he was to insist on total control, like our last manager, then a resounding NO.

[Salsa Party Animal]

If he want total control - piss off

[holtepaul]

Sorry - have we suddenly become FC Barston Villona ?

Dont get me wrong, I bloody hate Rafa Benitez - he has been on the M62 - anyone who goes near the M62 I hate.

But the fact is, he has won leagues, he has won cups, he has won the Champions League, he has won the FA Cup, he got Liverpool to within 1 week of the title

And people think he ain't good enough for us.

Are you lot being serious ?

We are still in with a chance of being relegated. We would be lucky to get O'Leary to come back here, if benitez (or any other equivelant) wants to come - snap their bloody hands off !!