RAFA BENITEZ GAGGED
New £5m-a-year deal will stop Anfield boss talking
RAFA BENITEZ will be gagged when he finally signs his new £5million-a-year deal.
Liverpool owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks have at last agreed to begin talks on the manager's contract extension.
But they intend to add conditions to prevent further fall-outs between Benitez and the board.
Gillett, in particular, will demand a silence clause that bans the Spaniard from talking openly and honestly about the club's policies.
In the past, Benitez's frank assessment of Liverpool's position has angered the Americans and almost led to his dismissal a year ago.
But they have come to realise Benitez is the man who can lead Liverpool to glory and that he deserves a new deal.
Swift
The owners' decision to open talks symbolises a thawing of relations at Anfield.
Yet, with no timescale in place, it is possible that the Yanks will sell the club before Benitez gets a chance to pen terms, leaving him in limbo.
Hicks and Gillett are relaxed about allowing negotiations to continue for the rest of the season.
The Liverpool boss, however, is anxious for a swift resolution, saying he wants everything sorted "very, very quickly".
He is hoping for a four- year deal worth £20m.
But last season, Hicks said he was looking to give the manager just a one-year extension.
The players cannot wait for their boss to secure his future.
Striker Fernando Torres said: "He's the best coach I've ever had, without doubt. He gets every last drop of ability out of you."
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This article has 22 comments
no liverpool fan would be seen dead reading this drivel..bascome, you have sold your soul.. was it worth it?
By albert stubbins.. Posted November 15 2008 at 10:26 PM.
Come on Rafa another defeat to spurs in a period of 2 weeks? Why gamble on the deffenders and later blame them? That was a miscalculated move no.2 gk,non regular deffence line! I think he wants to concentrate on C.L and P.L more. Which is wrong, all competitions should be taken seriously.
By Rafacollo.. Posted November 13 2008 at 5:41 AM.
You'll Never Walk Alone ...
By nizam.. Posted November 12 2008 at 3:36 AM.
can't have a better manager than rafa. he is a legend!!! keep him till he retires.
By amritpal singh.. Posted November 10 2008 at 10:05 AM.
Fat Spanish waiter - que?
4 yrs and still no prem with him? let him leave if he doesn't like whats offered - let him take half the team back to Spain too if he wants...we are better off with ENGLISH players anyday.....
By wazzo.. Posted November 10 2008 at 2:57 AM.
rafa has had a short time at liverpool and look how far we have come ,do you people not remember to souness ,evans days when coming 4th and a cup final was a good season.we have strong squad with torres best striker,gerrard best midfeilder and jamie best defender .4 year deal ,give him more than that.
By robert.. Posted November 9 2008 at 9:50 PM.
you all need to grow up and clean your teeth.
By tam.. Posted November 9 2008 at 9:40 PM.
Rafael Benitez is no doubt a manager of future for Liverpool. Since Benitez took over Liverpool, the squad has developed strongly. Benitez may have sometimes switch the teams position wrongly, but he is a human person who do things wrong and hopefully he’ll learn his faults.
By Someone.. Posted November 9 2008 at 7:24 PM.
Of course he is worth another contract - but to be 'gagged' is just another example of idiot owners knowing nothing. They obviously still think a manager should just be a coach and not be able to buy or name the players he wants.
These owners are NOT to be trusted. If they want to gag Rafa, it shows they know he will smoke them out a second time if need be.
The other thing is - Rafa has the bargaining power. Do you really think he would sign a contract like that? If he leaves (and I fear he will) we will be set back 5/6 years.
By Mikey.. Posted November 9 2008 at 3:04 PM.
if i was a liverpool fan i would be more pee'd off at this than anything that's happened at liverpool over the last few years.
what sort of owners want to gag the manager from speaking about what's going on behind the scenes at the club?? it means they will be able to do what they like and the fans will have no right to know about it.
Given the doubt that already exists over the owners motives - liverpool fans should be very worried about this indeed (for the sake of their club's future)
By me187.. Posted November 9 2008 at 2:10 PM.
what is it with everyone jumping on Rafas back...we're top of the league, unbeaten in Europe playing some incredible football...i bet you lot are all armchair cockney reds, does my head in Robert and Red Russ should take a look at yourselves..
By Guy.. Posted November 9 2008 at 12:42 PM.
The Yanks should give Red Russ an extra £5 million and ask him not to talk to the media about football. He talks that much rubbish he makes Liverpool a laughing stock.
Rafael Benitez
By Rafa Benitez.. Posted November 9 2008 at 12:22 PM.
i am a liverpool supporter. benitez, is MASSIVELY OVERATED! he will soon start to mess things up with his ridiculous changes!the guy obviously has deep psychological and personality woes! half the team are spanish! and i can't believe he let the tallest football player in the league go! this idiot benitez is responsible for the quote of the century..... when referring to peter crouches dissapointment at having to sit on the bench throughout many games, he said the trouble with crouch is he wants to play every bloody week!i thought thats why you paid millions for him! its the players who win and play,stuff all this manager b******s!
By robert.. Posted November 9 2008 at 11:32 AM.
rafa is the best get the owners told
By jay.. Posted November 9 2008 at 10:49 AM.
I hope the give Rafa whatever he wants to keep him at Anfield for many years to come.
As a Chelsea fan, i dread them dismissing him and actually getting someone in who knows how to manage a team and diligently juggling available resources in going for more than one Trophy after Christmas.
Keep up the good work.
By LOL.. Posted November 9 2008 at 11:05 AM.
give him what he want he the best manger since king kenny
By fitzyboy.. Posted November 9 2008 at 10:28 AM.
£5m a year?,you must be joking.He has to win the prem to deserve such an amount.We mustn't get carried awawy with our current position because Benitez will soon be messing with the team.I agree with Kenny,give a one year contract with a view to reviewing at the end of the season.
By Mac.. Posted November 9 2008 at 9:59 AM.
hideNseek, how do Liverpool playing boring football. Did Valencia play boring football with Benitez's methods. We might not play gung ho like Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea but we do play nice football and this season has proved it.
We controlled the games against Chelsea and Man U with Valencia esque play.
By Alan Breen.. Posted November 9 2008 at 10:11 AM.
Red Rus, You are a fool, What nonsense you talk.
By Leigh Cocker.. Posted November 9 2008 at 9:26 AM.
No red Russ, that would be you who talks rubbish and is a laughing stock.
By hideNseek.. Posted November 9 2008 at 9:17 AM.
give him a one year contract and tell him he will get the rest when he gets liverpool playing the right way not the boaring way
By kenny.. Posted November 9 2008 at 9:16 AM.
The Yanks should give Benitez an etra £5 million and ask him not to talk to the media about football. He talks that much rubbish he makes Liverpool a laughing stock.
Red Russ
By Red Russ.. Posted November 9 2008 at 8:36 AM.