Rafa Benitez focus (1)

Rafa Benitez already feeling the heat of 2009-2010 season after suffering their second defeat in the Premier League in three matches only….

Pointing at ???

Yesterday Liverpool lost 1-3 at home to Aston Villa, statistically speaking this is the second lose in three games total of 2009-2010 season and their first home defeat since December 2007 (about 32 games). So Benitez anger should be understandable, the Spanish tactician pointed the blame on his senior players for Aston Villa lost as they done series of mistakes led to the result.

Chelsea has 9 out of 9, Arsenal 6 out of 6 points, Tottenham, Manchester City, and Manchester United all already outran Liverpool, plus what the observers claiming that Liverpool squad lack the proper depth to compete for this season Premier League title.

Press Review: Benitez’s all transfers with Liverpool

Benitez transfers performance

As Liverpool close to complete Glen Johnson from Portsmouth which will be Rafa Benitez first signing after his contract renewal which he granted more control on transfers so he can avoid last season Barry’s failed transfer.

So there is an interesting article on Times Online named “The Benitez years: his transfers in full” wrote by James Ducker, this article summarize all Benitez transfer actions in and out with the figures so to read the original article please click here.

Interesting facts from the article:

• Total signed in players is 70
• Total sold out players is 72
• Net profit of these transfers is – £81.799 millions

English Premier League manager list for 2009-10 (Part 2)

below the latest list of English Premier League Managers for 2009-10 season Part two for the other ten Premier League teams:

Rafael Benitez: (Liverpool/ Spain / 49 years old)

Rafa still searching for his first Premier League title, this season (2008-09) is best Liverpool league position (second after Manchester United) under Rafa Benitez management. Last March Benitez signed a new contract with Liverpool keeps him until 2014.

The upcoming task for Benitez is to crack Manchester United dominance of the Premier League, with a medium budget he should plan smartly for his recruitment’s.

What is Benitez possible Transfers?

perfect partner for Torres

 

From my point of view below I’ll talk about Rafa and Liverpool possible transfers not neccessarly with names maybe pointing to the weak positions in the team that should be strengthen.

 

Defenders:

• Sami Hyypiä (out to Leverkusen)
• Andrea Dossena (didn’t have good season)
• Philipp Degen (injury prone and hardly played this season)

Liverpool needs at least central defender to cover Hyypia departure, also leftback if Dossena left the Reds. While Arbeloa versatility can cover both central defender position and right back but Benitez really should think about his side full backs

English Premier League Managers list (updated)

This is the latest list of EPL Managers:

Arsenal
Arsène Wenger (France), going to stay his contract until 2011

Aston Villa
Martin O’Neill (North Ireland), going to stay

Blackburn Rovers
Sam Allardyce (England), going to stay after saving the Rovers from relegation

Bolton Wanderers
Gary Megson (England), going to stay

Chelsea
Guus Hiddink (Holland), still have the cup final then he will leave his caretaker post back to Russia

Everton
David Moyes (Scotland), going to stay

Fulham
Roy Hodgson (England), going to stay

Hull City
Phil Brown (England), not sure yet but avoiding relegation was a plus

Liverpool
Rafa Benítez (Spain), going to stay

Man City
Mark Hughes (wales), according to Cook he will stay

Man United
Alex Ferguson (Scotland), for sure the best manager is ever-green

Middlesbrough
Gareth Southgate (England), not clear yet but he want to remain and put them back to the top flight Premier League

Newcastle United
Alan Shearer (England), demand an overhaul after relegation the situation is not clear as the owner Ashely may sell the team

Portsmouth
Paul Hart (England), ??

Stoke City
Tony Pulis (Wales), this season performance is plus for him

Sunderland
Ricky Sbragia (Scotland), resigned after saving them from relegation

Tottenham Hotspurs
Harry Redknapp (England), going to stay

West Brom Albion
Tony Mowbray (England), ??

West Ham United
Gianfranco Zola (Italy), going to stay he and steve clark is a winning team

Wigan Athletic
Steve Bruce (England), going to stay

Press Review: Rafa Benitez best & worst transfers so far

 

We may well break our transfer record, but we certainly won’t break Manchester United’s. But it does not matter about the prices, it is about finding the right players

Rafa Benitez words, hints that Liverpool will spend heavily to break Man United dominance.

So on Telegraph website they post this article about the Spaniard best 5 transfers and worst 5 transfers:

Top 5 best transfers:

1. Fernando Torres, £20m, Atletico Madrid, 2007
2. Xabi Alonso, £10.5m, Real Sociedad, 2004
3. Jose Reina, £6m, Villarreal, 2005
4. Javier Mascherano, £18m, West Ham, 2007
5. Luis Garcia, £6m, Barcelona, 2004

Top 5 worst transfers:

1. Robbie Keane, £20m, Tottenham, 2008
2. Jermaine Pennant, £6.7m, Birmingham, 2006
3. Fernando Morientes, £6.3m, Real Madrid, 2005
4. Andrea Dossena, £7m, Udinese, 2008
5. Ryan Babel, £11.5m, Ajax, 2007

 

This Summer Gareth Barry, David Silva, Raul Albiol, and Downing all targets for Rafa to strength his squad.  So we should wait and see

The Rafa-lution will continue

Happy new contract for U

 

I will start with Rafael Benitez own words about his contract renewal:

 

My heart is with Liverpool Football Club, so I’m delighted to sign this new deal

 

Rafael Benitez finally signed his contract extension keeping him until 2014, so we can say that Rafa won the Power Struggle at Liverpool, as we know Rick Parry will leave by the end of this season, so Benitez will have more control on transfers and youth academy.

 

Now Rafa Benitez have the time to plan a long term view for Liverpool, last weekend he won his 100^th league game (the win 4-1 against Man United) surpassing the legendary Reds Manager Bill Shankly.

 

Benitez mission for sure is to make an impact locally in the English Premier League and be a true title challenger, in his 5 seasons (the 5^th season not done yet), only this season Liverpool are really a title challenger. While his European record with Liverpool is absolutely magnificent.

 

Rafa Benitez Champions League Record:

 

Games	Win	Lose	Draw	Goals For	Goals Against
82	49	14	19	138	57

 

• Champions League trophy (Liverpool 2004-05)
• Two finals (Liverpool 2004-05, 2006-07)
• One semi finals (Liverpool 2007-08),
• One last 16 round (Liverpool 2005-06)

 

 

Rafa Benitez English Premier League Record:

 

Season	Game  Played	Win	Lost	Draw	Pts	Goal Difference	Position
2008/2009	29	17	2	10	61	28	3
2007/2008	38	21	4	13	76	39	4
2006/2007	38	20	10	8	68	30	3
2005/2006	38	25	6	7	82	32	3
2004/2005	38	17	14	7	58	11	5

 

Conclusion:

 

Liverpool owners done the right thing, stability is the key for success alongside money and the human resources you have in hand.

Also I’m so impressed with the way Rafael Benitez handle the whole situation (power struggle at the club, English media questioning his decision to sell Robby Keane, his rant with Ferguson, and how he won tactically the game against Man United and Real Madrid.

 

Benitez should have more respect from the English media of what he achieve and worked, he build a solid team that will produce titles and wonderful displays like what we saw against Real Madrid and Man United.

 

Finally in my opinion tactically speaking Benitez is the best manager in the world competing with Jose Mourinho and Fabio Capello.

 

Best  

What are Liverpool’s best 3 transfer deals in Benitez era?

El Nino

 

 

 

Benitez is Liverpool’s manager since 2004 summer, since that Liverpool had won 4 trophies with the Spanish tactician and have an elite label of one of most successful teams in the Champions League in the last 5 years.

 

So through these seasons, what is Rafa best signing for Liverpool? A tricky question that holds a lot of entertainment.

 

Here a list of Rafa Benitez best signings in my opinion:

 

Xabi Alonso (Spain) 

From Real Sociedad for £10.5million in August 2004)

Luis Garcia (Spain)

From Barcelona in August 2004 for £6 million then left 2007 to Atletico Madrid)

Pepe Reina (Spain)

From Villarreal in July 2005

Daniel Agger (Denmark)

From Brondby January 2006 for £5.8 million

Fernando Torres (Spain)

From Atletico Madrid in July 4, 2007 for £26.5million

Dirk Kuyt (Holland)

From Feyenoord for £9million August 2006

Martin Skrtel (Slovakia)

From Zenit for £6.5 million in January 2008

Javier Mascherano (Argentina)

From West Ham in February 2008 for £18.6million for permanent deal)

Ryan Babel (Holland)

From Ajax for £11.5million in July 2007

Fabio Aurelio (Brazil)

From Valencia free transfer in summer 2006

Alvaro Arbeloa (Spain)

From Deportivo de La Coruña in 31 January 2007 for £2.5 million

 

So my friends what are your opinions, who are the best three signing by Benitez?

 

 

Waiting for your feedback

 

Best

 

Ferguson vs. Benitez (previous games record)

 

 

This is the track record between the two great managers, as you will see below Ferguson have the upper hand with 7 wins out of 10. Benitez never won a league game against Ferguson until this season (2-1) last September 2008 so Ferguson has a big psychological advantage against Benitez but Rafa genius and great tactical abilities give him a big chance to enjoy his first win at the Old Trafford Stadium.

 

Season 2004-05

 

Manchester United 2 – 1 Liverpool in the English Premier League

 

Liverpool 0 – 1 Manchester United in the English Premier League

 

Season 2005-06:

 

Liverpool 0 – 0 Manchester United in the English Premier League

 

Manchester United 1 – 0 Liverpool in the English Premier League

 

Liverpool 1 – 0 Manchester United in the English FA Cup (quarter finals)

 

Season 2006-07

 

Manchester United 2 – 0 Liverpool in the English Premier League

 

Liverpool 0 – 1 Manchester United in the English Premier League

 

Season 2007-08

 

Liverpool 0 – 1 Manchester United in the English Premier League

 

Manchester United 3 – 0 Liverpool in the English Premier League

 

Season 2008-09

 

Liverpool 2 – 1 Manchester United in the English Premier League

 

 

	Total Games	Win	Lose	Draw
Benitez	10	2	7	1
Ferguson	10	7	2	1

 

 Best

 

 

Football Society ovation for Rafa Benitez

 

Yesterday for sure after humiliate Real Madrid (4-0) with a master piece performance by the Reds; Rafael Benitez for sure is the Best Manager in The Champions league in the last 5 years.

 

Also Rafa is the Best Manager in the world in terms of tactics, Liverpool performance yesterday maybe the best in Benitez era so far, yes Istanbul wonder day is great but this game against Real Madrid was the Perfect Plan, the Perfect football display from minute 1 until the end of the match.

 

Many predict that Benitez will play conservative game, cautiously, and rely on counter attacks, David Pleat said:

 

It is a simple system. He wants his team to defend and implement a solid, organized shape quickly, almost inviting the opposition to attack. It demands an unambitious, rugged back four; two deep-lying midfielders charged largely with destructive, defensive duties; and speed and precision on the counter-attack.

 

Well every body was surprised how Liverpool was too offensive and never gave Real Madrid time to think or to understand what happen, see this table:

 

Liverpool		Real Madrid
4	Goals scored	0
12	Shots on target	3
3	Shots wide	12
1	Shots blocked	0
3	Yellow card	3
0	Red card	0
26	Fouls committed	15
10	Corners	4
5	Offsides	2
24′ 59”	Ball. Poss. (time)	31′ 8”
44%	Ball. Poss. (%)	56%

 

The ball was more with Real Madrid yes but they didn’t know what to do with it, they gave too many balls cheaply and always looked disorganized and under constant pressure from Liverpool players who pressed any Real Madrid player whenever they possessed the ball.

 

The Reds manager deserve more recognition, the result could be 8-0 if there was another goal keeper instead of Iker Casillas.

 

Rafa Benitez Champions League Record is marvelous:

 

Games	Win	Lose	Draw	Goals For	Goals Againts
82	49	14	19	138	57

 

He coached 6 seasons (including this season) in the Champions League one season with Valencia and the other 5 with Liverpool:

One semi finals (Liverpool 2007-08),

Two finals (Liverpool 2004-05, 2006-07)

Champions League trophy (Liverpool 2004-05)

One Quarter finals (Valencia 2002-03)

One last 16 round (Liverpool 2005-06)

 

See Rafa Benitez profile

 

Best J