Benitez myth is rightly exploded; SMITHY The Anfield Iron tells it like it is Have your say at liverpoolbanter.co.uk.

MANY a pundit has lambasted Rafa Benitez for the 'massive amounts' of money he's spent over the last few years building a squad which isn't delivering.

So well done to the supporter who this week examined the facts, to coin a certain phrase, showing just how much Benitez has won and lost in the transfer merry go round since his arrival.

It makes fascinating reading and concludes that the Reds boss has, in net terms, spent an average of just pounds 16m per season.

There is one other inevitable conclusion. And it's this.

Whether you're a fan or not of the Reds manager, he is not the wild and bungling spendthrift that some poorly informed pundits would have us believe. In fact, the opposite is true.

No one wanted Xabi Alonso to leave - but when he chose to go after five seasons Liverpool made a pounds 20m profit on him.

Peter Crouch was sold for more than he was bought, while Rafa also made a profit on players like Momo Sissoko, Antonio Nunez, and Alvaro Arbeloa. He even got most of the money back for Robbie Keane.

Perish the thought, but if Liverpool ever decided to cash in on Fernando Torres - it won't happen of course as the Anfield MD Christian Purslow made clear - then Rafa's net spend over six seasons now would be virtually zero.

Of course he's entitled to be criticised for some of his decisions and no one is happy right now. But the club and the fans are dead right to stick by the manager.

His critics are entitled to their opinion. But they shouldn't be allowed to get away with perpetuating myths about how much he has blown.

Thank heavens someone has nailed it.