The Benitez Thread

[Superblue 6,372]

Just found out he has been given the Interim boss title. which is fantastic. what a manager to get to call an interim, this makes me happy. i was skeptic, but im happy with that. still dont see the point in sacking RDM, but oh well.

Anyone else think the sacking of RDM may have been somethign to do with the whole racist incident and report with Clattenberg??? could be.

I didn't really pay attention to rafa when he managed liverpool on account i dont like liverpool, could someone fill me in on typical tactics he uses? does he have a set formation that he uses or is he open to changing it depending on the opposition? if someone could give me a typical Rafa formation (and line up if you want) and some tactic pointers i would be greatful!!!

I believe throughout his career he has played 4-2-3-1 like we are currently using. However he has generally used more orthodox wingers than we have been using (Mata and Hazard). He has always preferred a deep playmaker (like Alonso) which may suggest playing Oscar deeper.

Really don't know, just have to see. I would be surprised though to see big changes against City though as he won't have enough time to implement things.

[Severinb 309]

Surprised nothing further has come from the club yet - is a press conference scheduled?

@BBCSport: Chelsea to hold news conference at 17:30 on Thurs to unveil new interim first-team boss Rafael Benitez http://t.co/RSEGC1NA #bbcsportsday

[Styles 9,790]

Funny how everybody here is complaining about the managerial circus. In 8 years we've had 7 managers and won 1 champions league, 3 premier leagues, 4 FA cups and2 Carling cups . Arsenal have persisted with the same dickhead and won nothing.

I'd love to see how many plastic fans would have stuck around if we were in that boat.

Be happy that we have an owner that gives a shit, because before he came, we weren't as good as Fulham.

You clearly weren't a Chelsea supporter before 2003. Your opinion is worthless when you make comments like that.

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

Rafa goes for Bolo: New Chelsea boss Benitez brings in Zenden as assistant, says agent

http://www.mirror.co...sistant-1450123

Rafa arrives in UK, and immediately starts signing Liverpool shirts for Liverpool fans. This should piss off the Chelsea fans a little bit more!

[Severinb 309]

@chelseafc: Chelsea TV will be broadcasting the Rafa Benitez press conference live from Stamford Bridge at 5.30pm. #CFC

[YouNameIt 1,511]

You clearly weren't a Chelsea supporter before 2003. Your opinion is worthless when you make comments like that.

He's kinda right though.

Before 03 we usually finished around the 6th place in the league. First time we finished above 3rd was in 03/04

[Ankit 3,176]

He's kinda right though.

Before 03 we usually finished around the 6th place in the league. First time we finished above 3rd was in 03/04

We were playing champion's league football in 1999 . We eliminated Invicibles Arsenal in the quarters finals of CL an were in the last 8 before 2003. How did that happen if we were usually finishing 6th in the league??

[zolayes 14,489]

We were playing champion's league football in 1999 . We eliminated Invicibles Arsenal in the quarters finals of CL an were in the last 8 before 2003. How did that happen if we were usually finishing 6th in the league??

WRONG our first CL campaign was under Ranieri ,,,Roman bought us because we had gained 4th place by beating ,????? Scumpool

[BlueLion. 21,491]

FUCK OFF.

This.

But also this:

People seem to be getting rather angry about this whole thing without actually giving any reasons. Is it because of his Liverpool ties? If that's the case, don't you dare support Torres, ever talk nicely of Joe Cole, ever contemplate the idea of us signing Suarez etc.

Double standards are naughty.

If it's because of his CV, you're deluded. A Champions League winner coming in on an interim deal? How on earth can you slate Roman for that.

Here's a thought - Someone, right now, name one person more suited to taking the job until the end of the season who's available and willing to coach our players. Go.

All we can do now is back him. Good luck Rafa.

[Ankit 3,176]

WRONG our first CL campaign was under Ranieri ,,,Roman bought us because we had gained 4th place by beating ,????? Scumpool

Are you sure about that? I know Roman bought us after Gronkjaer scored against Liverpool. But we have played CL in 1999-200 too. Chelsea beat Barça 3-1 in Stamford Bridge but, in a game that finished with a nail-biting 3-1 after 90 minutes,we were finally beaten 5-1 in extra time by the Catalans in Barcelona.

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

I'm fairly sure Benitez was signing the Chelsea/Liverpool shirts in the UAE, which was where he was before he flew to London last night. It's not like he's outside Cobham signing Liverpool shirts or anything. I could be wrong on that one though (the UAE bit, not the Cobham bit).

[Sheva. 5,373]

If he's sacked before Summer, that means something drastically wrong has happened. I don't want that to happen to Chelsea because I quite like the club.

Well said, unlike some people i actually want Chelsea to be in the CL next season so once again best luck to the man.

What he said or did during his time at Liverpool is the past, move on.

[Amblève. 4,995]

The board knows fans aren't happy with Benitez being appointed... you can't even comment on the new video on YT, whereas this function wasn't disabled when RDM was named our coach.

[Hannah 200]

The board knows fans aren't happy with Benitez being appointed... you can't even comment on the new video on YT, whereas this function wasn't disabled when RDM was named our coach.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

When I see people calling him 'Rafa' and even when I myself call him that, it just seems...odd and out of place. Its weird, like I'm doing something I shouldn't. It might change, actually I'm sure it will, however right now he seems like he will never fit in here. This is how I feel even though I am far less phased by it then a lot of you, so I can only imagine how angry some of you are.

A lot of it is just so surreal and confusing. It (RDM's firing and Benitez's hiring) happened so quickly, like a mob hit or assassination or something. Its just a haze. It happened within hours before you could even process the information. When I first found out about the sacking it felt like a video game.

However there are things more important than this. A manager is not the be all and end all. The players are still the same as is the badge on that royal blue shirt they wear. We have to trust 'Rafa' (I had that feeling again...) and go along for the ride. I'm confident he can do fairy well here and keep us in the top 3 (Yes top 3, not 4).

If Rafa gets our defense in order, we are back in business because going forward we're so immense (minus the Striker which we're likely to rectify in January). The title may be too far a gap for this season (Next season, without even knowing the circumstances we will surely be the favorites). However you never know, I don't think the gap between Citeh, ManUre and us is big enough even to acknowledge. The only thing holding us back is squad depth and a Striker. Hopefully Benitez signs some gems like Isco and the club continues to pursue Falcao, perhaps Willian etc.

Anyway, keep us performing Rafa.

[Amblève. 4,995]

Haha just read somewhere that Chelsea deleted all comments

They can delete as much as they want we will always raise our voice! It's our club as well and if they don't accept our opinion they can fuck off.

[Rmpr 8,977]

WHY DO PEOPLE THINK WE NEED TO SUPPORT BENITEZ IN ORDER TO SUPPORT CHELSEA?

WE CAN CHEER FOR CHELSEA AND STILL WANT BENITEZ TO FUCK OFF. THEY DONT NEED TO BE RELATED...

[We Hate Scouse 10,286]

If he wins the CWC, FA Cup and League treble will we be singing "Rafa Benitez, we want you to stay" come the end of the season?