Make your guess, who thinks Rafa will be out of Pool by the end
of December? Or will he survive this episode... 
STAY - (after
saying sorry)
OUT - (get the sack)
REMAIN - (a
problem)
Maybe he won't even last after this wednesday's CL match against
Porto... 
Say Sorry Rafa or you're
out
RAFA BENITEZS Liverpool reign looks doomed even in the unlikely
event of him backing down. The Kop boss faces the bullet after an
amazing outburst against the clubs American owners. Tom Hicks and
George Gillett ignored the chance to back Benitez in a joint
statement yesterday and his job is hanging by a
thread.
The US tycoons have clearly lost faith in their manager. Now it
would seem only a major U-turn by Benitez, effectively a public
apology, could have any chance of saving him. But even that is
remote, after another day when Hicks and Gillett refused to throw
their support behind him.
Their statement read: Despite speculation, there is nothing new to
say. We had a good win yesterday and have got some very important
games coming up starting with Porto on Wednesday, followed by
Bolton and Reading, before Marseille and Manchester United in a few
weeks. Both of us and chief executive Rick Parry plan to meet with
Rafa when we come over mid-December to make decisions on the teams
requirements at that time.
Benitez outraged Hicks in particular with his public dissent
against their policies over the past four days. The Spaniard was
furious at what he saw as a deliberate refusal to give him definite
answers about any business in the transfer window. Hicks told the
Kop boss he should concentrate on preparing his players and would
not discuss the situation until he and Gillett flew to England next
month. Benitezs response was to use the phrase as always I am
focused on training and coaching my team, a staggering 15 times at
a Press conference on Thursday, despite club big-wigs trying to
talk him out of it.
But after Saturdays 3-0 win at Newcastle Benitez was still unhappy
at the situation. He said: I am trying to do the best as a manager
for my club to bring money back to spend on better players. I need
to sign three players now. "To do that you need to talk with agents
and players now or we will lose some targets and itll be more
expensive in the summer They need to know how difficult it is to
sign players. They dont understand what it means, the transfer
system in Europe its not a draft system.
Suggestions the decision to sack him has already been taken are
premature but the day is fast approaching and chances of stepping
back from the brink very slender. Jose Mourinho has not yet,
however, been lined up to replace him even though past verbal
swipes at the club have not stopped him having supporters within
Anfield.
But Mourinho cannot take another Premier League job this season and
his own reputation for speaking his mind has not gone unnoticed by
the Americans. Yet he was a strong contender for the Liverpool job
before Benitez was appointed in 2004 and is a big admirer of the
clubs achievements.
The Americans are so enraged at Benitez trying to call their bluff
they are now close to running out of patience. They had already
started to doubt whether the Spaniard was the right man to lead
them to a first Premier League crown. And they became less
convinced he could be trusted to bring in the players needed to
deliver that. Benitezs relationship with Parry has become rocky at
best. Even sections of fans have become unconvinced, feeling his
rotation policy has led to slip-ups.
