Tom and George. Rafa is the man. His record with LFC and prior to that at Valencia tells you all you need to know. Nobody, not even two American billionaire are bigger than LFC. The bottom line is Rafa has upgraded the squad beyond belief (I'll take a stab in the dark and presume the names Erik Meijer, Sean Dundee, Jean Michel Ferri, Salif Diao and Bruno Cheyrou mean nothing to you) and the football is really becoming exciting to watch. Not only this but our youth system is just ready to bear fruit. If you don't like the fact the club's figurehead has his own ideas, is passionate about the club and city and is not a kow-towing yes man (I believe you already have one of those by the name of Rick Parry), may I respectfully suggest you sell to someone who does give a rats arse and bugger off back to the States. The good of Liverpool Football Club comes above anything else. PERIOD!!!

jay, LONDON (U.K), london

all these posts telling the yanks to keep there hands of there own property are really funny face it lads its there toy they can do as they please. sack rafa , sell gerrard, bring back Houllier
what ever they want and a protest from supporters will not matter a jot to them hell they could pick the team themselfs

seamus, dublin, ireland

they say they want to do whats best for the club, they say theyl sign who ever rafa recommends, now they criticise him for wanting to sign one of the best midfielders in the world. if they want whats best for the club theyl keep rafa in and show the supporters some respect

sean, liverpool,

Watch the Yanks ruin one of the best known clubs in the world. LFC should have been bought by people who have real money. Sort it out Yanks

Christine Spencer, Wimborne , uk

I don't know how much of this is the owners' fault. I know everyone wants to dump on them as being "dumb American" owners, but that may not be the case. They aren't telling Rafa he can't go after any players, they are just telling him to wait until they can talk about it. Sounds more like Rafa's trying to talk himself out of Anfield.

Thomas Moore, Cleveland, Ohio,

Im from Liverpool itself so I feel Im in the best position to comment.
Your all crazy!
Rafa is the best manager Liverpool have had in years and he has built the team we need to bring the title home. 'Streaky Champions League'?? 2 finals in 3 years, one of which is the greatest comeback of all time, Get a grip of yourself!
Whilst he should be left to make decisions about the transfer market he should show a little more respect to the owners, even if it is just to keep them happy.
If Rafa leaves it will be a dark day on Merseyside, no manager will replace his tactical superiority.

billy, liverpool, merseyside

People also seem to be forgetting that since the departure of Jose , the papers have had little to talk/exaggerate about . Expect more over played stories of this type ... papers to fill/sell etc .
Rafa has done nothing wrong here , and the American owners don't seem like the sort to shoot themselves in both feet .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

Rafa obviously doesn't realise that the Americans are in charge and they don't trust anyone who isn't on message. Just ask George Dubya Bush.

Ian Oddie, Twickenham,

Surely Rafa is the footballing expert here - the one who knows what the squad needs to suceed and challenge for the title and if the owners have these aspirations then they should listen too him instead of taking offense. In the time Rafa has been at Liverpool we have had great success and i think loosing him would be a huge loss to the club, player and the fans who love to chant his name.

Andrew Edward, Liverpool fan,

If Liverpool fail to qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League, then Rafa gets fired regardless. A caretaker manager will be appointed through May, with Jose Mourinho hired as the new manager once his no-compete clause ends June 1.

John, Studio City, CA, USA

Rafa is employed by Americans who do not understand soccer and what it takes to create a great club. They have the American attitude of now. Sir Alex and Wenger would not survive this culture. It needs instant results and the boss is boss, not the coach. The pair of US investors see the club as a businesss and apply business rules to what was a sport and is now a big business. If Rafa fails to supply championship football in the new year his record will count for nought. This is why the FA should create new rules for these situation. Alas we all now how good the FA are and this body will not create the coreect environment.

Stuart Cornberg, Gedera, Israel

The manager opens his (large) mouth - no wonder the owners want shut - sorry but Rafa has a track record of doing this - at Extremadura, Valencia and now Liverpool. So he's fallen out with Parry - no surprise there then, he's an even bigger moron than we all thought.

Tommy the Red Viking, Oslo, Norway

To Mr Hicks and Mr Gillet. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face. You are businessmen first and sports fans second so think carefully about your investment if you are considering replacing one of the best managers in the game.

He wants the same as you; a successful Liverpool team. Without that your new stadium will be empty.

Have the grace to put out the olive branch. Any marriage goes through difficulties but don't push through with the divorce. It will bring tears and financial losses to everyone, but most of all to the supporters who will never forgive you if you display similar tantrums as Rafa has done. You should be above all that.

David Brown, Kyrenia, Cyprus

Like many liverpool fans I am extremely frustrated with his rotation policy. Bring in Jose Mourinho I say!!!

Hamish, London, UK

It always puts a smile on my face when non-Liverpool fans lodge their say. Its easy to talk, harder to produce - just take a look at your own club records. The fact that Liverpool WERE the most traditional club in the country prior to the two American clowns taking over - this 'regime' has been severely dented. Its not a case of money, as Rafa keeps telling them, its not a case of staying 'traditional' and not spending or in contrast going mad with the chequebook - its the METHOD in which everything is executed. The quicker those pair of clowns realise that they know nothing about the game of football, and in turn offer their ears and support to Rafa (enabling him to do things HIS way long term) rather than 'stamping their authority' (alien to the Liverpool way of conduct).. the better it will be for the people who would die for the cause - and Rafael is one of them. A choice between a great new stadium alongside two muppets.. or Rafa? I almost made myself laugh... Rafa YNWA

Sadat , Cheshire,

Rafa is the best manager this club has had since King Kenny. Losing him would be a disaster which would put us back 2-3 years. In his 3 full seasons we've won the champions league, been in the final twice, won the FA cup, got Liverpool's highest ever points total in the Premier League, and been Carling cup finalists. If we win our game in hand this season, we'll move into second place ahead of Man utd. We cannot let these Americans ruin our club. All this talk about spending a fortune in the summer is way exaggerated - our outlay was about £25m compared to Man Utd about £48 - ie nearly twice ours. We're unbeaten in the league and aren't even playing that well yet! Lets protest against the Americans on Wednesday.

rob deane, glasgow,

American management style is that you do as the boss tells you and don't question his authority. Totally different to the UK/European model.

Roll on. You northerners seem to have forgotten that its Arsenal sitting astride the top of the table. Wenger has gone quietly building a team of talented youngsters who are coming of age this season. Thierry who?

Oh and by the way Wenger recommends the players the CEO/CFO actually negotiates the contract and the amount paid by Arsenal. They are quite circumspect after the suspect dealings of George Graham. Maybe Rafa should take notice and try to work out a compromise.

Ian, Bristol, UK

Some of the things Hicks said when he took over Liverpool marked him as a seriously bent character to me, typical american get rich quick type whatever the cost.

On the other hand, Benitez has always come across as a sincere character.

The two don't mix. Benitez has probably recognised this and will be on his way.

People of Liverpool , Hicks is not your type. I think he'll screw your club up.

Man City fan, Conwy,

The Liverpool board really hit a home run by selling to these 2 clowns. Can they please sell back the club? If we have to chose between a shiney new stadium or Rafa, we will take Rafa. There are plenty of rich muppets around but very few great managers. Go back to your hockey and your baseball.

Jim, Brussels, Belgium

I am not a liverpool fan, as an outsider I must admit that since Benitez won the Champions league all those years ago he seems to have acquired an immunity to criticism from Liverpool fans. I admire their loyalty to their manager but his league and transfer market record is the worst of the big four and indeed worse than his predecessor Houllier. Egos clash and he may well be pushing his luck with the American owners but what will ultimately decide his fate will be Liverpool's position in the league at the end of the season. He can be the nicest guy in the world and get on great with everyone, but if Liverpool go out of the champions league and finish a distant third or fourth again, Benitez will be facing the sack. He has just made his life a little more difficult but in the end like all managers (except apparently Jose Mourinho), he will be judged on results.

Demetri, London, U.K.

It all sounds like Benitez is in for a 'close shave' if he gets too close to Gillett - perhaps the goatee beard he has been sporting for so long will be no more if he continues his fight with Gillett!

Antony, LONDON,

hahahaa. briliiant. sack him. Liverpool will finish below Everton this season. 17m for Mascherano. hahaha. Benitez. hahahah

Stephen, London, UK

keep benitez in, he'll do more damage to liverpools league & champions league prospects by staying!

as per one of the previous comments, back off & leave the man do his job!

Damien, cork, Ireland

As a Man Utd fan, I can't wait to see the back of Benitez. He's given Liverpool two Champions League finals and really looks like he's got a side capable of challenging for the title this year. I don't think a year's gone by when the side hasn't improved under him.

All in all, good riddance!

chris, Worthing, England

If hicks and gillett sack benitez they can forget filling the new stadium,it wont happen,as soon as he leaves half of the team will follow suit,he signed most of them,and who in their right mind would sack one of the best mangers in the world?
If the rumours are true it will be a sad day on merseyside.Benitez had to contend with a below par team that he inherited from Houllier,and it has only been this season that he has started with a team that he has signed.Even then some of his signings have had to be compromises because of the lack of transfer funds in the David Moores era.I f hicks and gillette dont realise how close the club is to winning major honours ,and that it is largely through Rafa's intuition,they wont last long ,remember the large gaps in the seating at anfield when souness was manager?

Duncan, Preston, Lancashire

For goodness sake, get some sanity back into proceedings at LFC and sort things out. This should be where Rick Parry does his best to iron things out, as Benitez leaving now would be a disaster.

Andrew, Cork, Ireland

When will employees learn, don't wind up the boss. That's quickest way to the exit

Marc, London,

Rafa get your ego in check or ruin your reputation. The best reply to subborn and uneducated football medlers is results, not wasted time and energy on a needless public spat with the owners.

R Ferguson, Edinburgh,

i live in the usa,but was born in europe.i follow liverpool closely.
to me ,if benitez is successfull,which he is,the 2 american co owners should stay out of his way.but them 2 being american,see it as medling in their affairs.
here in the usaits the general manager who finds talent,then sits down with the general partners to see if they are willing to spent money for new aqcuisitions.after that the manager is informed of the result.
in my opinion,rafa should have the ability to make his moves for the better of the team.
here club owners should wake up and follow the rest of the world the way things are done.after all we are talking about global football,not american knowhow,which is very limited here.
although the montreal canadians ice hockey club and the dallas stars hockey club and texas rangers baseball club are very successfull,there is always room for improments.
they should stick whith what has worked with a real football club like the liverpool club.

henry walther, plainsboro, new jersey,usa

That would take hiom straight to coaching the England squad.

Roberto Ruggiu, Roma, Italy

Of course LFC need a new manager. No title in 20 years and a streaky "Champions" League isn't good enough

Jose , Algarve,

I thought Rafa Benitez could shoulder the blame for last year's loss to Milan in the Champions League final. I thought his team and tactics and substitions were very poor. I think he has a character flaw, which saw him leave Valencia and now possibly Liverpool. It is sad...

Daniel, Liverpool, UK

Hicks and Gillet won't be doing themselevs any favours if they force Rafa out. He's a great manager and a big attraction for foriegn players looking to come to England.
When the Americans took over they said that they'd back Rafa and leave the team building to him, 8 months later................!
This could knock the clubs progress back a few years, just when they look like getting somewhere!

Stuart Brown, Reading, UK

Has it occurred to Roger Tilbury of Worthing that the two players named in this article are in fact Argentinian not Spanish?

It is still unusual in this country for Directors of Football to negotiate transfers - as shown by the issues at Tottenham over Comolli and Jol.

Rafa already had issues in Spain regarding transfers with Valencia one of the major reasons why he ended up leaving - it clearly worked for them given their success since his departure!

His rotation policy is annoying when results aren't achieved but his complaints in this case are more than reasonable - transfers in football are a cut-throat business and it is essential to start negotiations early or be held to ransom at auction.

Anyone who thinks that he should be sacked on the grounds that he wants to sit down and discuss transfer targets with the owners is sadly deluded or merely playing devil's advocate.

Lindsay, Manchester,

Benitez has built a fantastic squad and attracted some great players to anfield, many of whom would not have come if he had not been in charge. The americans are incredibly thick if they think they can deny him the right to be in charge of buying and selling players and still be sucessful in his plans. If he is sacked it will be disastrous for the club as we would likely lose Reina, Alonso, Mascherano, Torres etc. His managerial record speaks for itself. Let's hope the Yanks see some sense and empower him to do his job effectively

Phil Blagden, Waterford, Ireland

we'll see the depth of feeling for Rafa from the fans on Wednesday night. I just hope the owners pay attention (and are watching from the states!).

the man is loved and respected by almost all the fans (do people calling phone-ins count?), the one black mark against him so far being this debacle and his speaking out in public - its just not the Liverpool way.

on the other hand, maybe he feels he has no choice.. the man isn't exactly known for being hot-headed and not considering what he says.

Mascherano and Benitez at Anfield last year. Gillett and Hicks.. who cares ?

G&H:
you bought us 1 player this year (admittedly a very very good player) but everything else was paid for out of player sales and you've saddled the club with debt

RB:
1 Champions League, 1 Champions League final, 1 FA Cup, Fowler back for his swansong and the best team we've had in years/decades!

Jon, London, UK

Sacking Rafa would certainly be bad esp at this time yet he has a lot to blame about the way he's handled the situation-very immaturely IMO-why would a grown man and respected manager go on mocking repeating the same phrase like a sullen 7 yr old?
There are better ways of putting your point across-though for the sake of the stability of LFC, they should try and work this out. It's quite susprising that after spending as much as he's done already he still feels he's been underfunded-remember Jose and his not-enough-£200 million bugdet???

They need to learn a thing or two from Arsene Wenger.

Don A, Manchester, UK

Liverpool undefeated in the league 3 points off 2nd place with a game in hand, the perennial rocky October period completed and the team starting to gel and looking like they could mount a serious challenge. A crucial champions league game on Wednesday, Mau Utd in a couple of weeks, sack the manager. They may be Americans but they aren't stupid. Rafa can be like a spoiled child when things don't go his way but his record is amongst the best in Europe, this silly rotation criticism is starting to look foolish as Liverpool look to be the real deal this year, he's going nowhere.

dan, London,

Americans - Football (NOT!!!!! soccer) I can't really see the connection between the two words. Every sports out fit needs financial management and backing - not bloody bean counters!

Alastair, Bracknell, Berkshire

Strikes me that Rafa has wasted a lot of money in the transfer market and paid way over the odds for a lot of his signings. I don't blame the Americans for being wanting to be cautious about the upcoming transfer window. They must be thinking "We let him spend £20-odd million on Torres in the Summer and he sits him on the bench when he's fit, despite the fact he's our best striker by miles. What is this guy doing with our money???" His rotation poilcy is a joke and is undermining Liverpool's efforts. They will never win the Premiership while Rafa is in charge and operating this ludicrous policy.

Gordon, Scotland,

Has it occurred to Benitez that there are players who ar e not Spanish? He is only ever linked with signing Spaniards.

In American sports the manager/head coach has little say in the players he gets. Negotiations are carried out by the General Manager or his equivalent. Some owners have a lot of input in this area others let their staff get on with it.

It works there and it may be the way soccer is going in the future.

Roger Tilbury, Worthing,

Rafa is so over-rated. He complains about not having the spending power, yet continues to waste money every summer and January.

His rotation policy is great for winning cup games, but not league games away.

Chelsea and Tottenham have shown him the future - sitting on a beach counting your redundacy money.

Jason, Sydney, Australia

Engineering himself a move to Real Madrid, you've lost him already.

Steve, Liverpool,

Chelsea have started to play better and more interestingly since Mourinho left, so Liverpool fans shouldn't despair.

Perhaps you could bribe Mr Moyes to make the move across Stanley Park?

Frank Upton, Solihull,

McLaren for Anfield!!!!!

Bish, York,

Sack Benitez for stating what is glaringly obvious!

The 2 Americans do not have the vaguest idea how the transfer market here works or the importance of the timing.

Do what directors are supposed to do. Stump up the money and leave the manager to do his job, or sack him and try doing it yourselves!

Jon OConnor, Canaries, Spain

What would be the point ib sacking Rafa now!!! I dont agree with some of his decisions either, but we have got an important game on Wednesday night lets concentrate on that first....

Noel, Cork City, Ireland

We'll have him at Argyle - better than the nightmare of McLaren that is looming on the horizon!

Dominic Stockford, Teddington,

Sacking Benitez (or driving him out ) would be suicidal for LFC.
He is in the process of delivering what every supporter wants - Liverpool being major force domesticaly and in Europe but in order to do so he needs the authority to choose his personel and methods.
I am bewildered by the criticism he receives by people totally unqualified to judge, who basically repeat the ( also unqualified ) pundits on tv and in the papers.
It sounds like second graders complaining not being able to understand a professor trying to solve a complex mathematical problem - of course you wouldn't understand someone who knows MUCH more than you do.

Nik, London, UK

If Gillett and Hicks do sack Rafa Benitez I think the fans will turn on them pretty rapidly. Most of the best players were signed by and went to Liverpool because of Rafa Benitez - Reina, Alonso, Torres, Agger, Arbeloa, Mascherano, Babel, Leiva - I wouldn't be surprised if a number of them went and what kind of team will they be left will then? G&H need to realise Rafa is more important to the club than them

Charlotte, Jersey,

Have these men lost their minds.................Raffa's the next best thing that has happened to Liverpool F.C after the Kenny Dalglish/ Ian Rush era!

Back off and leave the man do his job!

Kevin Tonna, Qrendi, Malta

Liverpool will win nothing with Benitez and his rotation policy . The ego's (and therefore the form of these athlete's ) relies on being in the team , on the pitch , on the stage. It is pointless crushing their confidence every other week . Unfortunately a new manager will take at least another five year's to guide Liverpool back with the elite of English football, by which time Man U may well have overtaken Liverpool's tally of Div 1 / Premiership titles.

Nick Dixon, Sutton Coldfield, England

£17 millon deal for Javier Mascherano? Thats a bad deal if you ask me..

Stian, Oslo, Norway

"At a football club, there's a holy trinity - the players, the manager and the supporters. Directors don't come into it. They are only there to sign the cheques"

Bill Shankly

not any more it seems!

Gillett and Hicks, if you sack Rafa you will never gain the respect of the fans.

mark, Reading, UK