VIEW FROM THE STANDS: Trust in Rafa’s spending

Jan 12 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

IT’S difficult to talk about any prospective fixture at present without mentioning the manager, owners and stadium.

Traits you’d expect with lesser traditional clubs, and suddenly we are the topic of every conversation in television, radio and of course the internet forums, which managers up and down the land must fear – just ask Sam Allardyce.

All of the mediums strive to magnify any point dropped or mistake made and I’m trying to imagine the reaction in the past when we’ve committed the dreadful crime of drawing three games in a row.

My own view on Rafa is still hugely positive in that we have got an infinitely better team and squad than when he took over.

He has won trophies and given us some memorable games.

He is right when he talks about a lack of money. If you look at Man United, their big signings of Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Rooney are probably their three most effective players now.

But on the other side of the coin, Arsenal have moulded a fine team with players like Hleb, Rosicky and Toure. Players which were quite reasonable by today’s prices.

When Rafa has gone out and spent big on Torres and Babel this season, the impact is obvious. It is frustrating then that the owners don’t appear to see this and back the manager to the hilt.

Galling then that we missed out on Heinze at the start of the season and the deals to sign Alves and Simao were scrapped due to the unavailability of funds. Signings like this can make all the difference.

It is worth looking at Real Madrid several years ago, and even United, who frequently play Fletcher and O’Shea – no world-beaters.

But when you have personnel like Rooney, Tevez, Giggs, Scholes and Ronaldo, who are all capable of scoring you can afford to have less flair players to balance things out. Therefore, if we had some of the above, players like Arbeloa and Lucas would suddenly look more valuable when called upon.

Let’s hope that until we get to this situation, the current class will strive for improvement, starting with a visit to a not-so-lucky Riverside stadium. Lose that and the forums will be in meltdown again.