WHY RAFA DOESN'T HAVE TO READ IT AND WEEP

AS a club, we've got more issues than Amy Winehouse right now.

Not a week goes by it seems without an off-field matter popping up in the press - from potential new owners to Rick Parry's much-anticipated, and bizarrely protracted, departure.

Then there's contract negotiations - Daniel Agger's, Dirk Kuyt's and, of course, Rafa's - all being played out in the media.

Bubbling under the surface is the lack of progress with the new stadium, speculation about who will be the next chief executive and rumours of senior players rowing with the manager.

Meanwhile, more and more fans beat themselves up about the raw deal we get from the media. I agree, to an extent, but let's face it, we're a good story.

Yes, there's the myths - like the one that Rafa has blown a load more money than his rivals on crap players (excellently dispelled by fellow blogger Paul Tomkins here.)

But on the whole Liverpool, and the surrounding circus, have been a great way to fill newspapers, websites (and blogs) all season.

The frustrating thing for me is that it wouldn't take a massive effort by Rafa, and in the club in general, to generate some positve press.

For Rafa, answering questions is a good start. Blanking them or batting them away isn't good enough - in the case of his contract negotiations it was him who put this in the public domain in the first place.

If Rafa's plays ball with the media he might get something back - but the more he goes into his shell, clams up and looks narked, the more the press will speculate that something is not right.

Look at Harry Redknapp - he's still walking on water as far as the media are concerned despite being in the thick of a relegation battle.

And that's because he always give the press a story, has a bit of banter and fills their notebooks.

It's not groundbreaking stuff either - this week he said he was banning ale until the end of the season. Big wow - most players hardly drink anyway.

Another one is Arsene Wenger. He has "flopped" spectactularly this season.

From a team that was regularly challenging for the league, he sees his team battling it out for fourth.

And yet, until recently, hardly a bad word said.

Again, the Frenchman feeds stories to the media pack at his press conferences, deflecting their focus from him.

This week he had his say about Cristiano Ronaldo and suggested a new panel is set up to deal with dangerous tackles.

That kicks off a debate, gets other managers involved and fills the space that might have been reserved for 'Is it time to sack Wenger?'

Rafa should take note - because until he changes his approach, the paper trail of negativity will continue.

Not only that, while most us have the good sense to take most of what we see and hear with a pinch of salt, there are a lot of people out there who actually believe what they are told by "experts".

Perhaps, may I suggest, the same people who boo at footie matches at the drop of a hat?!