[PaulLFC]

Dion Fanning (who is apparently close to Rafa Benitez) on Rafa's chances of getting interviewed for the Liverpool job (written yesterday):

On Friday, they were considering talking to Rafael Benitez, having previously ruled him out. He still hadn't been approached by yesterday and there was some reluctance from club sources to suggest he was on the shortlist. If Benitez was appointed they would fear losing control again, but they can't shirk from strong personalities. There is no point employing somebody agreeable, somebody who can fit into a management structure if they can't accommodate the creative brilliance of a man who knows what he wants. Liverpool need to be prepared to be troubled by their manager. After all, there is no more intense and driven manager than Guardiola. In some ways, it would be a self-destructive thankless job for Benitez. He would suffer from the high expectations from the fans who adore him and the bitter enmity from those who don't. Liverpool is not a club which observes moderation. Benitez might be better off at another club where he can remind the world of his excellence as a coach. But he loves Liverpool and, given the nature of his departure two years ago and all that has happened since, he understandably craves a return. He would be no more of a gamble than most of the names mentioned and the gamble comes with the baggage rather than his coaching ability. On that criteria, he is the outstanding candidate, once Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have been dismissed as fanciful. FSG have heard from many sources that he is a difficult man and having had to dismiss two managers in their first 18 months, they would understandably hesitate if they are influenced by those views. Nobody would claim he is easy but there is a long list of players who want to work with him again and when even Benitez's nemesis, Christian Purslow, says he is a strong candidate, FSG are risking further alienation from supporters by refusing to talk to him. If he is suggested by the men advising FSG, Benitez will be approached. There is, however, a reluctance to interview him if he isn't going to get the job. Politically, it is hard to understand how they could refuse to meet him. FSG would need to be convinced he could work within the model they propose and Benitez might be happy with a one-year rolling contract which would leave both sides with an exit strategy.

I know I'm biased, as I loved Rafa and thought he was a great manager for us, so obviously would love him to come back. I can understand FSG not appointing him if they think there are better candidates, but if it's true that they haven't even met with him for an interview, that amazes me.

He's interested in the job at a time when more and more managers seem to be distancing themselves from the position if reports are true, and he seems to be one of, if not the best candidate for the job when you look at purely his qualities that he can bring to the position.

Add that to the fact he knows the entire youth system at Liverpool due to him revamping it when he was here last time, and FSG reportedly wanting a strategy that focusses on the academy (plus the academy and reserves being run by Borrell and Segura, who Rafa knows), then that would seem to work even more in his favour.

I don't understand FSG's reluctance to be honest.

[Salazar]

After all, there is no more intense and driven manager than Guardiola.

Cue WoodenLung gifs of that bald mentalist.

[Kozak]

.

[Korez]

Next Hazard team

[Slizz]

Next Hazard team

On par with current Nike club kits.

[Messi]

Next Hazard team

I'd buy it

[WoodenLung]

Cue WoodenLung gifs of that bald mentalist.

Pep even admitted it!

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola denies he lost his cool after his shoving match with FC Copenhagen rival Stale Solbakken at the end of last night's 1-1 draw. Guardiola defended his players and aimed a parting shot at the Danes. "I disagree (I did not lose control)," said Guardiola. On the game, he continued: "If we had not played well, we would have been over run. In the two plus years that I have been Barca coach I have not found a team as intense and physical as this. "Still, we played our football and had chances to win. "It is a very good team with a great coach ..."

The most intense it gets these days is the fans demanding our sport director and managers head. :(

[Messi]

Watching Batman Begins, so good.

[Salazar]

Watching Batman Begins, so good.

Watching Veronica Mars.

<3<3<3<3<3<3

[Wilbury]

Holy shit everyone go see The Raid it's fucking incredible

[Messi]

Holy shit everyone go see The Raid it's fucking incredible

Went to see The Dictator last night. It was incredibly average. Rafi was awesome though.

[BrentonRodgers]

Holy shit everyone go see The Raid it's fucking incredible

This this this. So fucking good.

[Dan27]

Manchester United have signed Hazard on an undisclosed fee.

Edit - supposedly. Just saw a tweet about this that looks like it may have been deleted...

[Slizz]

Went to see The Dictator last night. It was incredibly average. Rafi was awesome though.

Yea? I heard it was decent. Friend of mine said you pretty much laugh in every scene.

[PantyPhantom]

Manchester United have signed Hazard on an undisclosed fee.

Yes what

[LabouredSubterfuge]

Manchester United have signed Hazard on an undisclosed fee.

Don't do this unless you can disclose a source.

[WoodenLung]

Watching Veronica Mars. <3<3<3<3<3<3

Oh yes... Veronica Mars...

Went to see The Dictator last night. It was incredibly average. Rafi was awesome though.

Kind of what I expected. Seems to be much more acting than setting people up making them say dumb shit and just be really awkward like Borat and Bruno.

[Wilbury]

Manchester United have signed Hazard on an undisclosed fee. Edit - supposedly. Just saw a tweet about this that looks like it may have been deleted...

Haha don't fall prey to Twitter. I think I'd rather have Shinji anyway.

Seriously though, everyone go see the Raid. Most fun movie ever.

[steverulez]

Don't do this unless you can disclose a source.

I assume the source is the fake man Utd website that said it and then espn tweeted it as a confirmed deal (before deleting their tweet)

[Salazar]

Manchester United have signed Hazard on an undisclosed fee.

twitter

[Kozak]

If only... :(

[Messi]

Yea? I heard it was decent. Friend of mine said you pretty much laugh in every scene.

I kind of agreed with most of the 5 or 6/10 reviews. It's odd sometimes SBCs accent slips into the Ali G accent. Most of the cinema was only mildly chuckling.

[Dan27]

Fuck. I dont normally fall for stuff like this. Came from someone I follow who is normally trustworthy. I've done that friend's dog's mate's uncle bollocks havent I?

Consider me Twat Of The Day.

[WoodenLung]

Fuck. I dont normally fall for stuff like this. Came from someone I follow who is normally trustworthy. I've done that friend's dog's mate's uncle bollocks havent I? Consider me Twat Of The Day.

He probably saw this

http://www.rnanutd.com/en/News-And-F...-deal.aspx.htm rnanutd. :lol

[elseanio]

Liverpool have opened talks with Guardiola according to some tweet I wont mention

not really :(

Hope you stick around, Dan. You support United I take it?

[Dan27]

I do support United. Newcastle that is :)

Just got a keen interest in all the transfer drama that goes on as soon as the season's over. A bit too keen in this case! :)

[BrentonRodgers]

Consider me Twat Of The Day.

Bloody hell it's only 2pm mate, give it a chance!

[Salazar]

Bloody hell it's only 2pm mate, give it a chance!

It takes more than that to unseat Wilbury and Viva The Bringer of Gloom, anyway.

[WoodenLung]

Bloody hell it's only 2pm mate, give it a chance!

Yeah, I might get drunk later on so don't start handing out twat of the day awards yet. It's fine Dan, you can offload for Kyoufu while he is playing Diablo!

[Messi]

What are the chances of Nolan nailing 3 awesome Batman films in a row?

Edit: Katie Holmes is awful

[Clegg]

United signed Young for £18m.

If we turn down the chance to sign Kagawa at that price then I will be very annoyed.

[WoodenLung]

What are the chances of Nolan nailing 3 awesome Batman films in a row?

Not big as it's only a trilogy and batman begins sucked.

[dc89]

What are the chances of Nolan nailing 3 awesome Batman films in a row?

He has a good chance.

---

Next season in the Next Gen series City are in a group with PSG, Fenerbache and JUVENTUS!

[BrentonRodgers]

What are the chances of Nolan nailing 3 awesome Batman films in a row?

It has Tom Hardy in, therefore the film will be perfect.

/mancrush

[Wilbury]

It takes more than that to unseat Wilbury and Viva The Bringer of Gloom, anyway.

K-pop gif = automatic twat of the day

[Salazar]

What are the chances of Nolan nailing 3 awesome Batman films in a row?

[elseanio]

Any Liverpool fans wanna update me on the Segura rumours? Apparently he's been moved to one of the open posts. General Manager/DOF or whatever. Would be happy with that, although he's doing really fantastic work with our youth development.

[Kozak]

Not big as it's only a trilogy and batman begins sucked.

Booo

Batman Begins is the best of the two movies available.

[HixxSAFC]

Not big as it's only a trilogy and batman begins sucked.

Batman Begins was better than TDK

Katie Holmes nipples.

[dc89]

Not big as it's only a trilogy and batman begins sucked.

.

[Messi]

Not big as it's only a trilogy and batman begins sucked.

[Wilbury]

Batman Begins is awesome. TDK is awesome. TDKR will be awesome.

Prometheus will be better.

The Raid is better than everything that exists.

Ashley Young is shit.

[BrentonRodgers]

Any Liverpool fans wanna update me on the Segura rumours? Apparently he's been moved to one of the open posts. General Manager/DOF or whatever. Would be happy with that, although he's doing really fantastic work with our youth development.

From what I hear Segura and Borrell are both getting promoted to 'a senior technical position', whatever that means.

Good news though.

[PaulLFC]

Any Liverpool fans wanna update me on the Segura rumours? Apparently he's been moved to one of the open posts. General Manager/DOF or whatever. Would be happy with that, although he's doing really fantastic work with our youth development.

I heard a rumour about that too, but I can't find confirmation anywhere. I wonder whether there was any truth to the Txiki rumours from a couple of days ago?

[elseanio]

From what I hear Segura and Borrell are both getting promoted to 'a senior technical position', whatever that means. Good news though.

Both? Not sure about that. Now they need to get someone in who can carry on their youth work, or are they gonna continue with the Academy?

[Salazar]

The Raid is better than everything that exists.

Ok. I'll give it a look.

elseanio avatar HHHNNGGGG.

[Wilbury]

If only... :(

Reddish kit is the best fucking kit ever

[BrentonRodgers]

Both? Not sure about that. Now they need to get someone in who can carry on their youth work, or are they gonna continue with the Academy?

I presume they'd both still have a great deal to do with the youth teams, but with a more executive focus. It would give them far more influence to promote appropriate youngsters through the ranks though I'd imagine.

[Salazar]

I presume they'd both still be responsible for the youth teams, but with a more executive focus. It would give them far more influence to promote appropriate youngsters through the ranks though I'd imagine.

Keeping the focus on ugly, I hope.

[sohois]

Any Liverpool fans wanna update me on the Segura rumours? Apparently he's been moved to one of the open posts. General Manager/DOF or whatever. Would be happy with that, although he's doing really fantastic work with our youth development.

I think it's is pretty much accepted as fact that Segura has taken on one of the DoF roles. However he won't be the only one; the DoF remit is to be split into 2 it seems, with Segura taking on some of the responsibilities and another guy coming in to take the other half (widely assumed to be Txiki Bergristian(sp?)).

I wouldn't be too concerned about youth development being affected, Segura seemed to be handling more administration kind of stuff, setting up the system rather than actively coaching much, save for a brief period with the reserves. Like with Brukner it is probably a case that he has implemented most of his reforms and doesn't need to be involved day-to-day anymore, though it would be better if he were.