Media Myths: Rafael Benitez and His Liverpool Transfer History Part Two

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

So it appears the knives are out once again for the pervasively criticised Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez.

As if it wasn't annoying enough that national media sources seem intent on creating an ill-informed ideology about the Spanish manager; more and more of his own supporters look to be jumping on the bandwagon aswell.

Despite picking up exactly the same amount of points Manchester United did at this stage last year, it would seem "supporters" just cant be arsed to wait for all 38 games to be played anymore, before deciding that the title is over.

I never realised football was such a predictable sport and was so black and white.

Rafa's transfer history with Liverpool is the current stick of choice to beat the manager with, and once again the usual misleading headlines and unbalanced articles are saturating every football based website.

Not to mention forums heaving with the alarming views of some Liverpool supporters who are worryingly reveling in the negativity and outright lies that are being written about the manager.

Simply because they want Benitez out of the club.

Now this is not an article to claim Benitez is the best manager in the history of football when it comes to transfers. It is certainly not definitive. It is just a collection of details that will be added to over time, that many seem to forget or leave out of their articles or debates.

All i'm trying to do is present a slightly more balanced version of his transfer history with Liverpool; compared to the laughable one-sided rubbish spouted by experts and lauded by insanse supporters, too lazy to do a bit of research for themselves. 

Statistics can easily disprove many of the myths that surround the Liverpool manager.

Here are a few of them. Feel free to twist them to suit your own reality.

£20million+ (1) 

Still Here: (1)

1st team: Torres

£15-20million: (4)

Still Here: (3)

1st team: Mascherano, Aquilani, Johnson

Sold On: (1)

1st team: Keane

£10-15million: (2)

Still Here: (1)

1st team: Babel

Sold On: (1)

1st team: Alonso

£5-10million: (12)

Still Here: (7)

1st team: Agger, Skrtel, Reira, Kuyt, Lucas, Reina, Dossena,

Sold on: (5)

1st team: Garcia, Morientes, Crouch, Bellamy, Pennant

£2-5million: (4)

Still Here: (2)

1st team: Benayoun, Cavalieri

Sold On: (2)

1st team: Sissoko, Arbeloa

£0-2million (21)

Still Here: (10)

1st Team: Kygriakos, Itandje

Reserve: Insua, Ngog, El Zhar, Kelly, Martin, Palsson, Cooper, Saric,

Sold On: (11)

1st team: Josemi, Nunez, Carson, Gonzalez, Kromkamp, Paletta

Reserve: Barragan, Hobbs, Idrizaj, Ajdarevic, Leto

Free Transfer: (24)

Still Here: (16) 

1st Team: Voronin, Aurelio, Degan,

Reserve: Plessis, Sanchez-Ayala, Hansen, Gulacsi, Amoo, Dalla Valle, Flora, Mendy, Weijl, Buchtmann, Poloskei (loan), Bruna, Mihaylov

Sold On: (8) 

1st Team: Pellegrino, Fowler, Zenden

Reserve: Roque, Anderson (swap), Padelli (loan), Antwi, Crowther,

Unknown/Undisclosed: (9)

Still Here: (8)

Reserve: Bouzanis, San Jose Dominguez, Duran, Pacheco, Mavinga, Kackanaklic, Brouwer, Simon,

Sold On: (1)

Reserve: Huth 

Players signed by Rafa: 77

1st Team Players: 37

Reserve Players: 40

Players still at the club: 48

1st Team Players: 19

Reserve Players: 29

At this point it's interesting to note that many claim Benitez has sold 66 players since his time at Anfield and "most of them have been at a loss", and "this proves he is useless in the transfer market".

Rafa may have sold 66 players, but of that figure, only 29 have been players Benitez has signed himself, and sold at a profit of around £25million. But that "reality" doesn't make for a very sensational headline, now does it?

Players sold on by Rafa: 66

Players signed by another manager and sold by Rafa: 37

Players bought and sold by Rafa: 29

Profit: £37.6 million

1st Team Players: (9)

Alonso +20.0, Carson +5.4, Crouch +4.0, Sissoko +2.6, Gonzalez +1.5, Bellamy +1.5, Leto +1.2, Arbeloa +0.9, Nunez +0.5

Reserve Players: (2)

Barragan +0.4, Anderson +0.25

Loss: £12.5 million

1st Team Players: (3)

Pennant -7.0, Morientes -3.0, Garcia -2.5,

Reserve Players: (0)

Even: (13) - £0.000

1st Team Players: (7)

Fowler, Zenden, Pellegrino, Paletta, Josemi (swapped for) Kromkamp, Keane(with contract triggers taking effect)

Reserve Players: (6)

Idrizaj, Ajdarevic, Roque, Padelli (loan), Antwi, Crowther

Unknown: (2)

Reserve Players:

Hobbs, Huth

Stan Collymore: A complete waste of our time, but who is really to blame? Click Here to find out.

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