My take on this - I've come to see that Rafa does not think like anyone else (his rantings and outbursts for example.) He's probably spent too much money on Johnson, and has very little money at his disposal for additional significant transfers. It is well documented how constrained Liverpool are financially, which won't help him.
He sounded a bit sour over not being able to land Gareth Barry, but I didn't know he was even in for him when Mark Hughes pounced. Rafa was trumped !
I am puzzled at press reports of Ribery being linked with Liverpool though. If they have no money, how will they pay for him ? Mmmmm...smokescreen perhaps ?