I Agree, Rafa Should Go

Last week Tarquin asked if it was time for Benitez to go. I agree, in fact I think the time is past due and that Liverpool are heading for tough times unless they make a change before the January transfer window opens.

I also agree with Tarquin that Harry Redknapp and Martin O’Neil would be replacements that could do more with the team than Rafa has, and could build a genuine title challenging squad in a relatively short spell of a couple of seasons. But in my mind the man who has to replace Rafa is Jose Mourinho, because not only his Chelsea Team tactics would suit Liverpool very well, he is a winner, and Liverpool needs a winner at the helm.

I did float an alternative earlier in the year about another alternative; I still do not think this is an unreasonable suggestion, especially since the man in question is currently in the employment of Liverpool FC. That would be Kenny Dalglish, who also happens to be the last Liverpool manager to have won the league with them. But this was back in February, when Benitez was under fire, and had not signed his new five year deal. If Benitez is to go, Liverpool will have to open the cheque book just to pay him off; they might as well clear enough funds to pay off Inter for Mourinho as well who I think has the pedigree to guarantee at least one Premier League title.

Either way, I really do feel if Liverpool persist with Rafa, they will have to sack him later in the year and will regret not acting sooner.

Speaking to a couple of Liverpool fans Saturday night in the pub, they seemed despondent even though United had just been done at home to Villa. They want Rafa out of the door, with Lucas following quickly behind. The sale of Alonso and the absence of a strike partner and back up to Torres despite exit of three decent strikers in Crouch, Bellamy and Keane who were all purchased by Rafa also feature highly on their list of grievances; the failure to look at Michael Owen was not mentioned which I latterly assumed to be a self-imposed mental block placed on the Man Utd Striker. Finally, their hopes now rest on success or failure of unfit acquisition Alberto Aquilani. If the Italian fails to shine this will be the final straw for Benitez in the eyes of the fans.

The fact is, Tottenham, Man City and Villa all can stake a stronger claim for fourth place than Liverpool and Everton could also be a factor in the race later in the season. Liverpool have already lost six from sixteen in the league and drawn a further three. On present form they would finish in the fifty to fifty-five point bracket, which may not be good enough for Europa League qualification, let alone Champions League qualification. And if that happens, Gerrard and Torres would almost certainly have to be sold so keep the clubs finances in order and lower the wage bill, leaving Reina and Carragher as stars in an ordinary team. Liverpool fans and Board Members will need to act soon, because the January Transfer Window will be needed by whoever the replacement is because there are more than a few average players that might need to make way.

Jose - The Special One

There has, for at least ten years now (probably longer) been something of a gravitational pull towards the Premier League of the very best and most special talents. There has been the odd exception that has bypassed England and found glory in Spain and/or Italy, possibly because of climate or culture; but we have been telling ourselves for sometime that overall we have the best league in the world. I feel the same, I think the Premier League is the best, and probably most supported league in the world.

As time goes on, it feels more and more likely that the very top players will at some point play in our league. Where as Zidane did not, Ronaldo has and Kaka quite possibly will at some point. Some players have been billed as world beaters, but faced with a Premier League Season been revealed as anything but.

Part of the progression has been that we have attracted superstars with the prospects of cash and trophys. When these superstars were eventually bettered, or perhaps passed their peak the Premiership' elite clubs have managed to largely replace and often supersede their outgoing talents. But the progression has always been forwards. When players like Thierry Henry and Ruud van Nistelroy left these shores, it could be spun that the leagues top billing had gone, but instead we have the seen Ronaldo turn into a goal scoring machine, we have Rooney who plays with his heart on his sleeve, we have the predatorial Fernando Torres, and the lethal Didier Drogba, to name but a few.

Superstar's may have left but the talent pool has continued to get better and better.

There is though, one small exception to this. When Jose Mourinho left Chelsea, and English Football, he took a little piece of English Football with him. The league lost one of the best and brightest managers in the World. He is, in fact one of only four managers to have won the Premier League. The Premier Leagues loss has been Serie A's gain. I want to see young English managers get a chance in the league, but I want them pitted against the best the world has to offer, and Jose is one of the best.

I hope that Jose does well with Inter Milan in Italy (though I hope Manchester United get past Inter Milan in the Champions League) but I hope also that come the end of the Season he is able to find employment back in the Premier League.

Here, because I know you have missed him too, is a little reminder.

Jose - I Want Premier League Return

The Sunday Express is reporting, here, that The Special One has told friends he wants to quit Italian football at the end of this season and move back to the Premier League.

The report even suggests that Jose has said he is "not a fan of Italian football."

Inter Milan look likely to secure a fourth consecutive Serie A Championship, but the Italian media have not warmed to Jose in the same way UK media outlets did.

It is thought that Newcastle and Man City might express an interest later in the Season if it is a real possibility to land Jose. Chelsea will also need a new manager in the summer. Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho have repaired their relationship since he left in September 2007, so it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Jose might be back in the dugout at Stamford Bridge by August.

Scolari Sacked

Chelsea's official website has a comment on the Scolari dismissal.

"Luiz Felipe Scolari has been dismissed as manager of Chelsea Football Club
today (Monday) with immediate effect.

"The Chelsea board would like to place on record our gratitude for his time as manager.

"Felipe has brought many positives to the club since he joined and we all feel a sense of sadness that our relationship has ended so soon.

"Unfortunately the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season.

"In order to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for we felt the only option was to make the change now.

"The search for a new manager has already started and we hope to
have someone in place as soon as possible.

"While that continues assistant coach Ray Wilkins will take charge of the team on a temporary basis."

Sky Sports say that Chelsea have already compiled a two man short list of Hiddink, and the man Scolari replaced Avram Grant. They even raise the possibility that Grant could be asked to return again to his previous role upstairs as a Director Of Football, and have Hiddink take on the first team. Grant was previously Director Of Football at Chelsea when Jose Mourinho was manager. There was some animosity, at least on Mourinho's part towards Grant as he resented his influence on team affairs, and Grant is thought to have been offered a return to this post in the summer when he was asked to step down as manager.

Scolari has also released a statement where he revealed that he regrets that he did not have more time to get things right with Chelsea, and rather revealingly worked in the fact that he intends to stay living in London, which sounds like a "come and get me" call to Europe's big clubs.

There is also a popular demand from some Chelsea fans that I spoke to today that a Zola/Clarke dream team could be tempted across London from West Ham. However, it is unlikely that Abramovich will go for Zola as his experience is limited to his time at West Ham and a spell with the Italian under 21's.

Chelsea Beat Spurs To Quaresma

Chelsea have signed Ricardo Quaresma on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Quaresma had been linked strongly with Spurs, with Jermaine Jenas and David Bentley thought to be on Jose's shopping list.

Quaresma has not played much this season under Mourinho and has been omitted from Inter's Champions League Squad for the rest of the campaign. Quaresma will fill in for Joe Cole who is out with a long term injury.

Barnes To Fulham On Loan

Fulham have secured the services of promising youngster Giles Barnes on loan until the end the season. Fulham will look to make the deal permanent in the summer.

Giles Barnes has showed tremendous promise for Derby, and will be happy to have the opportunity to show off his talents in the Premier League. Barnes recently got two goals at Old Trafford, after coming off the bench in the League Cup Semi Final, Second Leg.

Derby fans posted the below tribute on to you tube. If Fulham fans don't know much about Barnes, this should whet their appetites.

Fulham have also been today linked with a move for Inter Milans Olivier Dacourt. Dacourt has only played 15 minutes under Jose Mourinho and is expected to be allowed to move on loan.

Palacios Has Medical At Spurs

Tottenham are poised to sign Wilson Palacios for £14m from Wigan, the player has undergone a medical today.

The addition to Palacios into the Spurs Midfield begs the question who is going to make way. According to SkySports.Com, Tottenham already have 15 registered midfielders, not including Gareth Bale and Ledley King who have are also capable of playing there. Admittedly a number of these are in the young and untried bracket, but Harry Redknapp has a lot of people vying for a spot in midfield now.

I speculated when Tottenham signed Defoe that it could mean Jermaine Jenas would be the odd man out. Since then, Inter have been linked, though Jose has dismissed this as an untruth based on the fact that he picked JJ in his DT Dream Team.

Rafa's Tactics

Rafa Benitez almost since he walked through the door at Liverpool has had his on-field tactics frequently questioned. Some ex-Liverpool players have very openly and strongly criticised Benitez for his faith in his rotation policy.

Today however, I have to question his off field tactics. Benitez, seem to be a quiet manager, he is not in the news every week like Sir Alex Ferguson is, and like Jose Mourinho was during his time at Chelsea.

But I am not sure what Rafa's recent digs at Sir Alex Ferguson were supposed to have achieved? I would have thought that being top of the league, a preemptive verbal attack across the bows of the third placed team would be a little distracting to the squad, when the focus surely should have been to focus on your own teams efforts. Did Rafa not see what happened to Kevin Keegan and Newcastle all those years ago?

Has the attack worked? Well lets look at the weekends results....

Stoke 0 - 0 Liverpool
Man Utd 3 - 0 Chelsea

It is my assertion that Rafa has unnecessarily added to the pressure of a team that are unaccustomed to being top of the Premier League in the second half of the season, and that have not convincingly challenged for the league title in nearly two decades. Am I wrong?