Rafa Benitez sacked?

If rumours are to be believed, then tonight's news about a board meeting to decide Rafa Benitez's future are causing all manner of fury, joy and mixed emotions on Twitter.

My inital thoughts were to be horrified. First of all, it is 'not the Liverpool Way' so sara_not_sarah says. ErinNYC75 says that "Anybody who is happy to see Rafa go is delusional". Meanwhile plenty of people back the idea and happily joke that Sven will be next for his yearly pay deal.

It made me think. First of all about Rafa, secondly about his potential replacements.

Rafa had a terrible first season losing 14 league games, losing to Burnley in the third round of the FA Cup, but succeeding admirably in the European Cup.

Rafa had an ok second season, the high point being the FA Cup win, low points being 25 points behind the title winners, League Cup early exit to Crystal Palace and a pitiful defeat to Benfica in the Euro Cup.

Following that things improved including the close run 2009 league campaign, but faltered terribly in 2010. My point here is that one Euro Cup and one FA Cup doesn't make a hero. However he has definately improved the squad to the point where I wouldn't change 8 players out of 11 for anybody else. He loves Liverpool, he has improved the Academy coaches, and started to blood youngsters and/or make money out of them. It's been a very mixed 6 years with a pretty damn good win ratio.

What of his potential replacement then? Ironic perhaps that Rafa may have indeed hired his (temporary) replacement in Kenny Dalglish. I see the King as the only viable (cheap) option to take over, inspire the troops and regain some faith from the Kop. I simply won't entertain the ideas of Martin O'Neill, Sven or even Sammy Lee; and I very much doubt Roy Hodgson, Fabio Capello or Harry Redknapp would even remotely consider it themselves.

But the only things I care about is the club itself - which will be sorted with the Yanks exit - and the players - which is the innteresting bit.

Torres refused to blatantly commit to Liverpool. Gerrard has refused to blatantly admit that he will stay, instead changing his previous quotes of playing til he was 33, to now wanting to play til 35...interestingly JUST after Mourinho claims to love mid-30s players who are English...

The question for me is not what the fans want - we don't turn up to training every day, nor take the corners, hit the shots or have the be motivated each day. Torres, Gerrard, Kuyt, Carragher, Mascherano etc all do those jobs and need to believe in their boss. Some would say they love Benitez and want him to stay. Some would say that they have lsot faith in the boss and want him to leave. The signals I have seen over the last 6 months is the latter. Carra was furious after Istanbul that he didn't get a wage raise, and won't be too happy that a contract is not on the table given his service. Gerrard loves attacking football and was delirious with confusion over the Torres substitution vs Bham City. Torres credits Benitez a great deal with his progression, but hasn't yet won a trophy in his career.

Somewhere in there I think you have your answer. The players don't want Rafa, and maybe the board have therefore acted. All I know is that 7th is unacceptable for Liverpool WHOEVER is in charge.

One for all, and all 4-1

First of all, congratulations to the team and staff for getting us to another European semi-final. Whilst I was tentative before the Benfica game and had doubts throughout, and yes the score flattered us a little, I was very pleased to see players running around smiling.

Javier Mascherano was immense for me, and clearly captain material. Kuyt did excellently and seems back on top form, and whilst Torres will no doubt get the plaudits, congratulations should also go to Lucas whose positive running set himself up a goal and who was constantly involved.

Steve Gerrard looked like his form is levelling out as 'good but not great' but frankly that was the best news of the night for me. When players like Masch, Kuyt, Torres et al step up to the plate, I'm really happy that Gerrard can finally be more of a passenger - we've waited a long time for that.

Interestingly both George Gillett and Tom Hicks were at the game last night (Hicks looking rather ill if I may say) and I'm almost sorry it ended 4-1 in case it gave them a false impression that everything is rosy. Reports today state that both parties are conducting meetings in London regarding new finance and the possibility of an 'independant' chairman, possibly Martin Broughton of British Airways.

To me this move indicates one of two things - either they genuinely want someone to chair board meetings (though why Christian Purslow can't do that I don't know), or another party has made it a requirement of them buying into Liverpool. given the brief history of their stewardship, any new party would not want Hicks or Gillett dictating things completely. So new finance may be forthcoming after all, especially given that our great keeper Pepe Reina today penned a new 6 year deal.

What I also found interesting was Benitez leaving Torres on despite a knee injury - very different to Sunday's game. It made me think whether Benitez - canny as he is - doesn't mind missing out on the Champions League next year, as it may reduce the asking price for part-club ownership and therefore ultimately work to get rid of the American owners. It's been such a ridiculous season that I really wouldn't put it past him - winning the Europa League would keep the fans on his side for one more year.

However I did cast that theory aside on the basis that Hicks can certainly afford to pay RBS off having sold his Texas Rangers last year in a deal rumoured to be worth $310 million. But whilst he seems to avidly see the potential of both Raarfa and the Liverpool Empire - does he really want to stick around now?