The Rafa Report

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Guillem hangs out with the Liverpool boss and, this time, he takes his tape recorder along, allowing us to bring you his interview with Rafa Benitez (and it's worth a listen, covering issues he did not touch upon in the paper). Matt Hughes, who, like me, got sick in Paris, is in for the Premier League review and a look back England's unimpressive defeat against the World Cup runners-up. Curiously, I find myself being the most pro-O'Neill guy in the room, despite me revealing a stat his acolytes probably don't want you to know.
Bill journeys abroad for his stat of the week and, as ever Guilem and I do some quick hitting...

Rafa explains how this part of the season is different from the rest, how he deals with things in training and how, by this stage, the players are feeling the strain.
We doff our collective hats to United, acknowledging what was possibly their best performance of the season against Aston Villa, who were, frankly, awful. Matt and Guillem gang up on Martin O'Neill, to the point that I feel almost bad unveiling my stat: he's been in charge for 77 games and he's actually done worse in those 77 games than O'Leary had done in his first 77. And yet, as we know, M-O-N is G-O-D, while O'Leary is... welll, the less said the better. I think they're a bit harsh on him, I was just pointing out that O'Neill the person and O'Neill the media figure is rather more impressive than O'Neill the manager. At least for now.
Matt and Guillem agree that Arsenal are on the slide and that they were somewhat fortunate in the 3-2 win over Bolton. Matt says Wenger probably should have rotated his squad more, but could not, because he doesn't have the players to do so. And maybe he should have strengthened his side in January. This, of course, incenses Guillem, who claims that it's easier for a rich man to pass through the eye of the needle than for a club to buy a decent player in the winter break.

Comments

[Football Credit Card]

Whoever Liverpool buy, they should start buolding their team around Gerard and Torres. Alonso is a very good player and suits Liverpool perfectly. why would they wana sell him? 2 or 3 big signings will help them compete for the title.... I think.

[Tom Eldridge]

Not sure if your still reading this Guillem, but is it Florent Malouda? Rafa was really keen on him last summer and I think Flo realised he made a mistake chasing the £!

[Jimi Gerrard]

Rafa's words:

"We have some signings for the next season done. They are senior players for the first team and young players for the first team and reserve team. Two of them are really close, young players, and one senior player is done. He talks good English, but is not English. I'm not giving any more clues! You need to look for Bosman players and sometimes you need to do it quickly and go for cheap players."

[Jay Jay]

Hi guillem.

Would the player in question signing for liverpool be stephen taylor?

[Ashwin Karthik]

Is David Beckham still a big name!! :P

[sandeep]

I will be shell shocked if it is David Beckam..hehe

[Len]

Is it Gary O'Neil?

[AB]

Guillem is it true that we might be getting Luka Modric?
He played well against England and i remember krancjar speaking highly of him in the gamepodcast?

[NADO09]

Guilem,
Does the player play in the premiership and is he a young player or a veteran

[Spratt]

kevin nolan
kevin davies
matthew taylor

any of those guillem?

[Donal]

I believe it might be Micah Richards???

[NADO09]

Hi guilem,

is the player Gareth Bale

[Franklin]

Guillem, it is implied that the player is english, but has he been capped by the england senior team?

[Ber]

Reuben, you obviously listen to Andy Gray without actually watching the games. It's quite easy to name 6-7 starters, the rest get rotated. Like the other teams.

And never started the same side twice in a row? Please!!! do your homework.

[reuben anderson]

Having listened to the podcast and read the game interview, I think Benitez's comments on his rotation policy are disingenious.

Isn't it still that case that's he's never played the same team two games running?

As any fantasy football player will know, it's completely impossible to pick a liverpool midfield. At the beginning of the season you couldn't pick the strikers, and recently the fullbacks seem to change every game too. What's Carragher doing on the right?

The problem is not rotation, it's the rotation for every single game. There's no continuity, no rhythm. Whereas Man Utd have a first team, give or take whether they're playing 4-5-1 with Tevez on the bench, or 4-4-2 with Anderson on the bench. And when they rotate, it's usually just one or two players, unless they're against much weaker opposition when it'll be half the team.

[Mark D]

Hi Guillem,

Great PODCAST.

Is it Joe Cole?
Cheers,
Mark

[NADO09]

Is the player:
- Baines
- Darren Bent
- Alan Smith

[NADO09]

Is the player 'world class' or another average player like pennant?

Guilem do you think this player is worthy to play at Liverpool

[NADO09]

Is it Gareth Barry

[Ber]

It's Cattermole, you read it here first. Don't understand it myself, i'd rather give Guthrie a chance than signing more unproven talent.

[toe]

Bumped into Guillem in a pub & he still wouldn't tell me who the player is but did state that NO-ONE has given the correct name yet!

[guillem balague]

nope, he has not been mentioned yet in this blog...

[pleas respond to this]

hi can some one please tell me why rafa starts kuyt he offers nothing to liverpools attack. i think he should start peter crouch instead because he always creates oppurtunities and offers so much more to liverpools atack i think he is far superior to kuyt. or even if rafa doesnt want to start crouch he should go for babel playin just behind torres, why start babel as a winger when he is not a natural winger and he has also public ally stated that his best position is striker. i am a liverpool fan and i dont like rafa because he starts kuyt. i think kuyt is one of the worst players in the premiership, what does he do apart from running?

[frank]

oh yeah and just another thing (Columbo style) the other mentioned stipulations, the shock value will be nolan is ANOTHER centre midfielder and he could have been mentioned in the edited section of the podcast when talking about the bolton v arsenal game with questioning where he was (suspended)
am i right?

[frank]

ok so english, primary position not right and not overly large name.... not sure about contractual issues with the people mentioned but i will stump for kevin nolan, don't know if he improves overall quality but provides more depth. plus with regard to walking into 1st XI a donkey could take kuyt's place, he may run around a lot but there ain't much intelligence to the running and the less talked about his technique the better!

[P]

I think this player you are talking about is ....... none other than wes brown as he's out of contract at the end of the season.eh Guillem? love the show by the way :)

[Jimi Gerrard]

Do you know anything about the two other signings? Is it true they are two youngsters from South America? And, btw, I saw someone mention Steven Taylor and everything seems to suggest it's him.

[boubacar lillongwe]

On O'Neill i think you guys were way overcritical, especially Guillem belitteling his fantastic achievements with Leicester. He also provided the platform for Strachen to win trophies with Celtic.

His transfers at Villa are certainly questionable, but at least he has kept his talented players without wasting much money. It'll be interesting to see who their right-back is next season and how that affects their play. O'Neill won't manage a big 3/4 club but he's still talanted.

David O'Leary is maligned because he's a moron who stockpiled expensive strikers and tended to flunk come squeaky bum time.

Eboue to Liverpool for £8 million? Their kind of player, very powerful, agressive and defensive. Quite frankly Liverpool need to sign someone with technique who can be involved in progressive attacking moves longer than 3 passes. I thought there was a saying in Spain to do with balls, cows and grass....
Thanks for the Rafa interview. Quality stuff.

[Dave The Hat]

Hi Guillem,

First of all thanks for the great blog and cryptic clues as to who Rafa's "Starting XI" signing is.

Now as you've rubbished the Ronaldinho rumours (to my dismay) and you've confirmed he is English and can play on the right I am left worrying.

Bentley is supposedly still in talks over a new contract, which he wouldn't be if he'd already agreed to join us.

The only player I can think of who would be a surprise, is English, can play on the right and isn't a huge name...is Wes Brown. As stated by someone earlier, I fear it is him. If it is than Rafa will go down a few estimations in my eyes.

[Josh]

Nedum Onouha as the Liverpool signing is my guess.

[Dave]

These are the players mentioned in the comments so far, so Guillem, has he been mentioned yet?

Wes Brown
Adam Johnson
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Giles Barnes
David Bentley
Daniel Alves
Aaron Lennon
Michael Johnson
Ashley Young
Steven Taylor
Joe Cole
Stuart Downing
Jermaine Jenas
Ronaldinho
Jimmy Bullard
Shaun Wright-Phillips
James Milner
Mauro Zarate
David Villa
Andrea Pirlo
Nigel Reo-Coker
Lassana Diarra
Phillip Lahm
Kaka
Rafinha
Theo Walcott

[AB]

Agbonlahooooooooor

Now wheres my prize?
(The prize should be Rafa's phone number)

[Jack R]

Hi Guillem, enjoyed the show, nice to hear Rafa in a more intellectual conversation than a Shreeves post-match interview.

It is obvious that you will not be able to say the player's name, or you would have done by now. Though, from the standard of the players who this could possibly be - its probably better you said nothing! Three players that play for Man City (Onouha, Richards, Johnson) and two for Villa (Young(!!!) and Agbonlahor) would be nice - but if its anyone other than that then it would be a real disappointment.
City and Villa may also be interested in Crouch - and this could have a bearing on this signing I feel. I think I'd go as far as shooting myself if it was Jenas.
Stephen Taylor CAN defend well but CAN also look shambolic at alot of times.

Its almost, inevitable that Benitez will also delve into the Spanish market in the Summer. Mati Fernandez, Alves (again), Diego Capel and Ezequiel Garay are just a few of the names I've heard mentioned but although these may be more 'exciting' players - when Liverpool tend to sign 'exciting' players (bar Torres) we are usually let down. Are there any players performing partircularly well in La Liga Guillem, other than the obvious players, that you would like to see Benitez sign?

Iniesta would've been fantastic - but that'll never happen.

[Alex]

Hi Guillem,

Does Rafa know anymore about the takeover saga regarding Dubai International Capital? Has he been kept informed of any developments?

Thanks in advance. Also, it's been great watching your analysis on Revista De La Liga, and I really enjoyed reading your book "Season On The Brink". Keep it up.

[Bob Paisley's Cat]

Rafa's new signing... Wes Brown? I hope not to be honest but he'd fit the can play on the right thing, not a big name and a surprise.

[Sprattzer]

Hi Guillem, has anyone got it yet?

I'll go for Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough.

[Presario]

Agbonlahor ????

[Lui]

I will cry if it's Giles Barnes.

I was hoping for Alves but I guess that hope is gone now. Haha.

I think it might be Bently or Lennon.

what about the 2youngsters that Rafa was talking about?Any clue at all...

[Craig m]

Hi Guillem,

is it possible to know what this players normal position is? defender, left winger, striker or CM (Michael johnson) please please tell me.... even if you dont want to let everyone else know... email me please..... i cant sleep....
cheers

[Ber]

Oh and Guilleme. If you speak to Rafa, ask him about Arshavin, he plays for Zenit St. Petersburg so he's seen him already. I've seen this guy 5 or 6 times this season and he would be perrrrfect for us. Could play in any of the 4 forward positions. Don't see him costing the earth either.

[Ber]

Guillem you big tease. :)

In your first post on here you say "remember, he can also play right", you could at least give us his primary position or at least is he an attacker defender of midfielder.

I'll give a few names of who i think that's English, realistic, i'm gonna assume he's an attacker, so someone who could play Dirk's position and that most importantly, would improve us. Oh and a player who's primary position isn't on the right.

Ashley Young springs immediately to mind. He's got great delivery, beats players and isn't shy of the goal.

And that's it, short list, no? :)

[Jamie S]

Guillem, First of all thank you for getting this out of Rafa, I haven't heard him so calm in a long while.

I've been going crazy trying to figure out who this could be, and like a detective, putting together the evidence.

One of the names that came up is Steven Taylor. As far as i'm aware, he hasn't signed a new contract with Newcastle, is English, isn't a huge name and can play on the right.

Please Guillem, do you have any idea as to when this transfer will be announced? It's for the sake of my health :)

[Sprattzer]

Has anyone said it Guillem?

I'll go for Adam Johnson from Middlesbrough.

[Paul]

I hope it's joe cole.
I fear it's stewart downing.

[lovejoy]

It is Jenas, start crying...

[Abhishek]

Please tell me it's Bentley!

[Joseph]

This blog has turned hilarious. I love seeing the scoucers let their imaginations get carried away with them. The guy who said Ronaldinho has made my week.

I'm going to bring them back down to earth with my wild guess; Jamie Bullard.

[Michael]

well english and can play right, not mentioned on the podcast-well it's lennon, bentley, wes brown, michael johnson, wright-phillips, giles barnes, james milner or jenas then! are any of those players really good enough to play for liverpool? no! well,i guess that means whoever it will be will be back-up to dirk 'works so hard/no ability whatsoever' kuyt next season- wow the future looks so bright under rafa haha. another quality piece huh guillem, or just another typical rafa mediocre squad player. please to god don't let it be wes brown!!!

[AB]

I've got a feeling it might be Giles Barnes

p.s. if i win do i get a prize?

[Aaron]

If its Stewart Downing I will cry my eyes out.

[Mark D]

Hi Guillem,
When Mauro Zarate went to Birmingham, his agent said that Liverpool failed with a late bid.
Do you think Rafa will rekindle his interest in the summer?
Also i've heard from a boro 'ex' that the signing is Stuart Downing.
Cheers Mark.

[James Flynn]

Michael Johnson mabey? not a big name can play on the right and most importantly NOT mentioned on the podcast. are we getting closer guillem? I hope to god its not lennon.

[guillem balague]

Daliesgrande, I am convinced David Villa, who seriously considered leaving Valencia last summer, has decided he has had enough. Now it is all down to Real Madrid, Chelsea or Manchester United to put the money on the table. I think he will end up at Real, but we will see

[AB]

Guillem is it Aaron Lennon?

[Abhishek]

Hey Guillem, he's English, and can play on the right.

Bentley? Young? Joe Cole? Wright Phillips? Lennon?

Give us some more hints...

[Daliesgrande]

Guillem, cheers from Spain.
Villa is discontent in Valencia and wants to go to another team. Do you think Benitez has any chance of buying Villa?

[guillem balague]

Dan, great point. Yes, Arsenal were looking for players abroad, they need quality in the movement and in the technique, but decided to keep the money to go for at least two big signings (not English) next season. That is the wish, we will see what happens...

Regarding the Liverpool signing (I believe it is all done), he is English and, as I said before, we mentioned him in the podcast but it was cut in the editing. Do not expect a huge name, only another quality piece in the jigsaw. Ronalidnho? Hahahahahahahaha

Great post, Joseph. I have discussed all that with Premier League managers and they would like to send some players abroad (and certain clubs are talking to La Liga clubs about that), but there is not much incentive for Spanish clubs to take those players -overpriced, unable to play in lower divisions because of foreigner limits and behind the rest of the group in terms of technique.

[Martyn Wilding]

Following the Guardian's boasts about the dizzying height of Barry Glendenning's Facebook popularity (313 appreciation society members), I thought I'd check out how the Times stacks up.

It's not good news, I'm afraid, as Guillem only has 289 fans. What's worse is that Guillem's TV-rival Roberto Marteniz has 879, so sadly he can no longer claim the honour of being the UK's most popular Catalan.

Over at the Guardian, AC Jimbo is flying high with 829. Marcotti could well be heading down to the championship, however, with a dismal 83 fans. Even the group 'Max Mosley is ruining F1' (175 members) is giving Gab a good spanking.

[David]

oh come on this is rafa we are talking about, even if the guy had hundreds of millions to spend he'd still buy tripe like kuyt, bellamy, gonzalez, zenden, morientes, crouch, paletta, itandje, pellegrino, josemi, kromkamp, aurelio, pennant, sissoko, nunez, leto, fowler and voronin- did i leave anyone out? basically if he's mediocre enough then he's good enough to rotate in rafa's eyes. so expect this "surprise" player to someone you have never heard of playing in mallorca's reserves or something, who'll be out of the door and replaced by another mediocre player in a year's time. still they have kuyt- works hard and is always willing lol.

[mac]

why is rafa not saying who it is guillem, deal not finalised? Liverpool soon playing against the team he plays for? how long do we have to wait .... can't take the suspense!

[Dan Hughes]

I was interested to hear Guillem say that Wenger made no signings in the transfer window because there were no players available who could improve his squad. What about Woodgate? injury problems aside I reckon he would have improved any side in the premiership other than Man U and Chelsea. He certainly would have improved the Arsenal team! You could also make an argument for Defoe, as proven by his record since he arrived at Pompey. What do these 2 players have in common... maybe what he meant was that there were non-English players available who could improve his squad!

[Jack R]

Would be very happy with Young.

"Can also play right" - this could still mean he could be a defender, midfielder or striker!

[Lui]

I'm a big fan of Rafa but the one thing that worries me is his youth policy. Over the last two/three seasons he's gone on a bit of a spending spree with the reserve and youth teams. My worry is - are we ever going to see any of these players? I know we should give the youth players time, but if rafa wants two new wing backs, I have to question why he doesn't give Insua a chance at left back? He's looked class everytime I've seen him. Maybe he's not ready yet but Amoo also, on the right, looks great as well. Apparently we signed the new messi at the start of the season and we nabbed a striker from Barca as well. Now with the news that Rafa has signed two new South American kids, I have to wonder if we are ever going to see them in the first team?

[Brendan]

Ronaldinho, Guillem?

I'm sceptical, but your comments, together with this claim on a Liverpool message board:

"My supervisor at work is married to one of the sports journalists for the times. She told me today that Parry is working overtime to secure a Ronaldinho deal as Benitez wants him to play where kuyt is right now."

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=c08c390c00c5486707336e2086ec475d&topic=216246.0

Amazing if true.

[Andy]

I'm pretty sure the Pirlo stories were an April Fool's joke.

Although I am very intrigued by Rafa leaving us guessing about his imminent signings.

[d]

A worse penalty that the Sun Jihai one? Well my first thought is the one that Malouda got when Chelsea played Liverpool at Anfield - I couldn't believe it and I'm a ManUtd supporter.

Re: taking penalties. There was a good final chapter in the book Brilliant Orange about this issue. Each pen taker should practice to death so they have full confidence in their technique (both to the left & right of the keeper) when they step up to take one.

It's not the mindset of "oh I scored one in our last training session," but it should be the mindset of "oh I've taken penalties in the last 500 training sessions and am fully confident in my own ability to put it to the right or left."

Or you could do an interview with Shearer & Le Tissier about this issue. ;)

[Anonymous]

Don't tell me his name starts with a R and ends with an A coz i still have reservation about that player.

[JPB]

I went through all the players mentioned in the podcast, and the ones which fit the criteria are Young, Reo-Coker and Lassana Diarra. The last two can both play holding midfield and have played right back (one more successfully than the other). I think both see their current clubs as stepping stones to a club like Liverpool for example!

PS What do people think about Bentley to Liverpool? He clearly wants a step up, and for me Liverpool and Spurs are the only possible destinations.

[AB]

Come on Guillem your killing us with the suspense. Who is the player? Can't you even hint it i.e. intials, club, league etch
Also do you know who the two youngsters are that have been supposedly signed from south america

[Michael]

Guillem, you say that the surprise player that Rafa has signed (or is close to signing) can also play on the right. So, from this we would assume that he is normally either a striker or a left-sided player, no? I know you don't want to let the cat out of the bag, so to speak, but can you give us more of a clue as to his identity- nationality, age, initials etc? I really hope that the name of this player, when revealed, won't be somewhat of an anti-climax for us Liverpool fans. Is this a player that can make a big impact at LFC, who can give to our right-side what Ronaldo gives to Man Utd's, or is this another Pennant, Gonzalez, Nunez etc? Suppose it is too much to ask that it's Kaka (fingers and all other crossable body-parts crossed!). You also say that Rafa is looking for new full-backs, I would be shocked if he didn't at least try to get Philipp Lahm (best left/right-back in the world, especially if he really is available for around the 8.5million mark that you suggested a couple of weeks back in your Podcast.

[Josh]

Is it Rafinha from Schalke who Liverpool have signed? Guillem, good interview with Robert Pires on Revista, do you think Pellegrini would be tempted to go for a job at a higher profile club than villarreal? Or is he happy with the freedom and lack of pressure he has at the moment? And would Real or Barce be interested this summer if Schuster and Rijkaard leave?

[Will]

Nice clue Guillem. How about a prize giveaway if we get it right?

I'd like copies of your books, but cash is tight at the moment...

[Matt]

Excellent work again guys! I think you have really got Liverpool fans going this time Guillem, myself included... One quick question: What ever happened to the Euro podcast? It was enjoyable to hear about those leagues that exist outside the "best league in the world". Anyhow, keep up the great work... Oh, and get well soon Gab!

[Jimi Gerrard]

Guillem, could you just clarify this for me? It looks as if the senior player is a kinda well-known name, especially for Rafa to come out with the first XI statement. But, as it is rare to get these type of players before the opening of the transfer window, I would just like to know whether it is a bosman signing or a player with some clause in his contract or maybe even some player from south america like it was the case with Leto, Lucas, Paletta?

[Joseph]

I recently saw an interview with Marcel Desailly about the quota issue. He takes the opinion that, like any business, you can't enforce rules to dictate the nationality of a businesses employee's - it goes against European law. The problem doesn't necessarily exist with the lack of talent, but with the attitude of clubs to develop these players. He uses the French clubs as an example. In the French league the difference between the youth, reserve, and first team isn't that great. So a player can easily develop through the cycle. However, in the Premiership the difference is massive - making it extremely hard for a young player to make the jump. The players that tend to make the jump very early are players with freakishly strong physique for their age (i.e. Micah Richards, Wayne Rooney). The other players need time to go through the stages. Consequently, a lot of young talent gets farmed off to lower league clubs to develop. This isn't ideal because the way clubs in the championship play is even more physical, and they don't provide them with the technical training to make the leap to European or International football. It is much easier to buy a finished product from other countries, were you know what you are getting.

So how do you resolve this? How do you force clubs who are motivated purely by money to invest in young players?

The answer is giving the clubs incentives to invest time and effort into their academies. The English league is the richest league in the world, but not many of the clubs spend the money wisely. If the FA made the youth leagues more and more lucrative, with large amounts of reward money available, then this would change clubs attitudes. It would make them invest more money in coaching and the general infrastructure of their academies. Gerrard Houllier recently said that young French players spend twice as long training as their English counterparts. If you add to that the amount of time and money that the French invest in their national academy in Paris, it’s easy to see where our shortcomings lye.

The alternative to loaning players to the Championship is to loan them abroad. Which is an idea that I’m a big fan of. Not only would it allow young players to experience difference cultures and ways of thinking, but it would also make them independent, and mentally stronger. Do you guys think that Spanish or Italian clubs would be interesting in buying a young English player on loan?

[Niall]

Guillem, while I appreciate that you cannot say who the player is, do you think he will sufficiently improve the side so a challenge for the league that lasts into the spring may happen next season?

april fools joke mr anonymous and guillem stated that the senior player rafa has agreed to sign was mentioned during the podcast. narrowing down the players mentioned likely ones are young, agbonlahor and zarate. Guillem spose you can't tell who it is at the moment but can you say when it will be made public?

[Will]

Gab, can you please speculate on Rafa's summer targets? I wouldn't want to put Guillem in the position where he has to "speculate."

[guillem balague]

I mentioned in the podcast that we had discussed the senior player already signed by Liverpool but the part were we did talk about him got cut off in the final ediing. it is not one you mention in your posts, but we will soon knw who he is.The name might cause surprise but remember whe you hear it that he can also play right

[Matt Riley]

I enjoyed the show again this week, I was a bit disappointed you didn't talk about England...

As a Rovers fan i was upset that Bentley did not start in the France game, with Beckham instead, coming off the bench (surely the only role if any that he can have for England).

Bentley played f well on his full debut, looking right at home however he needs time to establish himself in the team, so i felt it was a real shame...

Why do you think Capello picked Beckham? And do you think he will feature in the next squad, the fact the game is against the U.S.A makes me feel unfortunately that he will.

As for Bentley sadly it looks as though he will leave Blackburn sooner rather than later, does Rafa really want him Guillem?

I think for the right money it won't be a disaster, Hughes has shown his quality at recruitment, Bentley leaving could see us bring in 2 or 3 quality players to bulk the squad.

[Anonymous]

i just read somewhere that the new senior signing Rafa was talking about is Andrea Pirlo for 19 m pound. Also there are rumours that Xabi Alonso will leave for Barca for 12 m. Anybody else got some information on this, why don't you help me Guillem?