Source: Daily_Mail
There is nothing genius about Rafa's tantrums, they are just crazy
They say the only way to measure the distance between madness and genius is with success.Using that yardstick, Rafa Benitez is due a visit from the men in white coats any day now. At the point where Liverpool were in their best Premier League position for almost two decades, with the Kop finally threatening to establish a grip on their title rivals, the Anfield manager suddenly came over all One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.Benitez began arguing on all fronts, throwing his toys out of the pram about his contract, feuding with his own chief executive, snubbing his £20million striker and accusing the world of co-ordinating a conspiracy to favour Manchester United.[LNB] [LNB]Under pressure: Benitez hit a new low this week after the Wigan match[LNB]Far from invigorating the team like so many of Sir Alex Ferguson's rants, or deflecting the pressure from the players as Jose Mourinho used to do, the Liverpool manager only succeeded in spreading anxiety and doubt through his camp.Whether it is a fair reflection of his state of mind or not, the players, their rivals and the wider public ow regard Benitez as brittle, often illogical and so consumed by petty feuds that he has allowed his focus to drift away from the real fight at hand.[LNB] More from Des Kelly... Des Kelly: Why Harry's mind games missus the big picture[LNB]23/01/09 Des Kelly: Here's the God, the mad...and the ugly[LNB]16/01/09 Des Kelly: Pietersen caught out as vanity proves costly[LNB]09/01/09 Des Kelly: Why magic must overcome greed[LNB]02/01/09 Des Kelly: Give over and take your punishment[LNB]22/12/08 Des Kelly: Joker O'Neill might just have the last laugh this season[LNB]15/12/08 Des Kelly: Are there any real fans left in the Premier League?[LNB]08/12/08 DES KELLY: Wenger shows his crazy critics why he's the tops[LNB]01/12/08 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE[LNB] Since the day Benitez waved pieces of A4 paper in front of the cameras and complained about a pro-Ferguson plot by the FA, United have gone on a juggernaut sequence of six straight wins. That run is timely, but coincidental. What is certainly not unconnected is that Liverpool have collected no Barclays Premier League victories during the same period.[LNB]Defender Jamie Carragher let slip how he was concerned that all the unrest could filter through to the dressing room in an interview last weekend: 'It's just a few months, a great chance to win the League,' he said.'We don't want to look back with regrets. We all have our own issues, contract negotiations or whatever, but you just have to make sure it doesn't distract from the job at hand'.Unfortunately, nobody informed the manager. Benitez couldn't have been more of a distraction if he had set fire to his beard. He dragged a boardroom power struggle with Rick Parry out into the public arena.Even his tactical decisions now appear to be based more on spite than need, with Robbie Keane cast as the highest-paid leper in the land for supposedly being an acquisition of Parry and not the manager's darling.[LNB] Tactical struggle: Robbie Keane has not settled at Liverpool and has been substituted in 18 of his 23 starts for the Reds[LNB]'Crazy,' said Benitez after another botched midweek draw. 'It's a crazy game when you can't control things. Why was it crazy? Because it was crazy!'Not exactly a philosophical insight, but the inescapable thought was that the things which were really crazy and uncontrolled were inside the manager's head. Benitez cannot help himself.Rather than leave his best players to perform, he fiddles and frets and becomes more consumed by the fear of losing than emboldened by the prospect of winning. This approach works in the cup competitions, but that caution eventually tells in the League.He is either toying with the self-destruct button or over-analysing everything. It's paralysis through analysis.St Andrews University released a study this week that confirmed golfers perform increasingly poorly when they 'over think' their game. Researchers found that the ability of skilled players was reduced if they consciously reflected on their strokes and described the process in detail, rather than carrying on without too much introspection.[LNB] Tinkerman: Benitez's fiddling with the team appears to be unsettling the players[LNB]But Benitez is always looking for a reason to worry, a reason to play safe, which might explain how Liverpool have amassed seven draws in 10 League games. He'd have been better risking a defeat or two and picking up the rewards from a couple of victories, rather than crawling to draw after draw.Peculiarly, a side that has lost just one Premier League game all season is beginning to look shaky in pursuit of an automatic Champions League qualifying spot.[LNB] Not mind games: Benitez has manufactured this mess[LNB] Another tumble against Chelsea tomorrow could prove fatal. Of course, there could be some method to his madness. Should Benitez prove unable to resolve his internal struggles at Anfield, it will give him the perfect excuse to flounce off to Real Madrid at some point. Next month's Champions League quarter-final between the clubs will be a convenient dress rehearsal.You will note I haven't used that cliché 'mind games' here. Any squabbling that has damaged Benitez has not been with Ferguson, but himself. He has manufactured this mess.The Liverpool boss is not the victim of some psychological war. He is a good manager who has tried to be too clever with his team and his own situation and left everyone with the impression that he has lost his mind instead.The red half of Merseyside will hope this is only a temporary affliction and that he regains control of himself this weekend, instead of trying to control everything else.[LNB] So. What. Would. You. Like. To. Ask. Andrew?I admit I laughed out loud at the revelation that Andrew Cole is to become a co-presenter on BBC 5 Live's 606 phone-in.Apparently, the ex-Manchester United and Blackburn striker will join DJ Forky, or whatever the affable cutlery-themed presenter calls himself, to deal with the array of phone-in gripes from football supporters.[LNB] Radio presenter: Andy Cole stayed quiet while playing for England[LNB] It gives me an excuse to revisit my exchange with Andy (as he preferred to be known back then) Cole after his first appearance for England against Uruguay.Naturally assuming he would be more than happy to discuss his international introduction, I approached Cole for a friendly chat in the Banqueting Hall of the old Wembley Stadium. These interviews usually follow an understandably familiar pattern featuring well-worn phrases such as 'great honour', 'the proudest night of my life' etc. Instead, Cole grandly announced: 'Andy Cole ain't speaking tonight.' This announcement was somewhat contradictory since it was Andy Cole telling me that Andy Cole wasn't going to be speaking.But when I asked why he wouldn't want to discuss his England appearance, even in the third person, Cole repeated with added emphasis: 'I said. Andy. Cole. Ain't. Speaking. To. Night.' During four years together as Old Trafford team-mates, Cole didn't exchange a word with his fellow striker Teddy Sheringham. For a moment, I knew how he felt.But it's this kind of conversational skill that obviously marked him out as an ideal candidate for what promises to be a fascinating show tomorrow night.DJ Fishknife: 'Hello, let's take our first call'. Caller: 'Yeah, hi. I'd just like to ask Andy...'Cole: 'It's Andrew. And Andrew Cole ain't speaking tonight.'Caller: But...'Cole: 'I said. Andrew. Cole. Ain't. Speaking. To. Night.'DJ Spatula: 'OK, let's move on and see who's next on the line. It's Teddy from Essex...oh dear.'[LNB] Setback for JoeyJoey Barton has broken his foot and is out for the season. Usually, I wouldn't kick a man when he's down ... but since Barton did outside McDonald's, can I just offer my condolences to the player for this unfortunate, and somehow ironic, injury setback.[LNB] Memo to Craig: Google yourselfFollowing tried and mistrusted methods, Craig Bellamy has been busy telling everyone that he is a deeply misunderstood character. 'If you tried Googling me, you know I won't get away from my reputation,' he said. There is an obvious reason for this, of course. Bellamy has a history of landing himself in trouble.But after being presented with a new opportunity at Manchester City, Bellamy claimed: 'I have never been out of the top six in my whole career and I want that to carry on'.[LNB] Up there again: Bellamy is looking for another 'top six' finish[LNB]This sounds impressive. Unfortunately, he does not appear to be the most reliable of witnesses. Bellamy's boast will certainly come as a shock to the West Ham fans who recall his fleeting appearances in the side that finished 10th last season.It might also surprise the hordes who saw Bellamy at 14th-placed Newcastle United in 2005.During his days at Coventry City, Bellamy did indeed finish in the top six — but only if you turn the table upside down. The Midlands club were relegated after finishing second from bottom.And I must have missed the season Bellamy led Norwich City into Europe. Probably because he was playing in Division One, where they finished in 13th, 15th, ninth and 12th. Memo to Bellamy: Try Googling yourself.[LNB] Time for one more pay dayDarren Gough has been put on the auction list for the Indian Premier League, even though he retired from the first-class game last year.[LNB] [LNB]Unless the twinkle-toed all-rounder is heading out as one of the dancers, or Dale Winton's wall is making an appearance, I'd say it says a great deal about the cricket on offer at this overblown, over-hyped and overpaid knockabout.[LNB] PS: Do not disturbNo calls Monday morning please. I've been lucky enough to get to a few Super Bowls, but to my dismay I'll be watching this year's spectacular in sunny Tampa from my sofa. Even at a distance, the late-night treat remains one of the guilty pleasures of the year and with the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Arizona Cardinals, plus Bruce Springsteen thrown in at half time, what's not to love? Pass the beer and pretzels and turn off that alarm.[LNB] [LNB]
