The Benitez Thread

[Rmpr 8,977]

the transfer policy is completely out of the manager's hands. even under mourinho, i always felt that shevchencko was more of a Roman-signing than Jose's. Except Scolari, who made a few of his Own signings - Deco, Bosingwa, all the other managers were puppet-stringed in the transfer market. Remember AVB - "de Bruyne was more of a club signing"

Benitez will be no different. As he said, he will focus on Coaching the team. Emenalo, Gourlay and co. will be looking after transfers. i believe that's where we've got it all wrong. the manager should look at his team and think what's needed and what's not. not the executives.the manager will be the one with inside knowledge of the team and he should be given total control of transfers. well not under Rafa but from the summer onwards

I also think it is completely wrong, but I dont think it is solely made by the executives. I think the transfers come from both sides. I mean, the managers get what he wants in some positions but in others they just "recieves" the players Roman want (Sheva, Torres, etc)...

[mybodyisready 155]

I also think it is completely wrong, but I dont think it is solely made by the executives. I think the transfers come from both sides. I mean, the managers get what he wants in some positions but in others he just "recieves" the players Roman want (Sheva, Torres, etc)...

Ancelotti wanted Torres months before he was signed.

[Rmpr 8,977]

The problem is that the club stands firm on club legends but then goes and spends like crazy on transfers and pays insane salaries to sub-par players. David Luiz had 3 years left on his contract and Chelsea still gave him an insane 120K/week on a new contract. Why? Because there were rumours that Barca wanted him for 30M? Great! We can't afford to keep Lampard or Cole, but not only have we kept Torres who makes more than anyone, we keep trying to build teams around him. It's a lack of respect towards our legends. Anyway, how much more expensive is it going to be to go out and have to buy a new LB? You can't complain about nickles and dimes when you are flushing hundred dollar bills down the toilet.

Roman must do 2 things immediately.

1. He must find a manager he finally trusts and dreams of. This cant be prolonged anymore, it can not pass the summer. I dont care if it is Benitez, Pep, his wife, whatever. Only then we will have a coach with enough power to do his job and prevent the board `s intervention. This will give us what a lot of people want: stability, identiny, playing style, respect with the legends, connection with the fans, budget contention, etc.

2. Create a decent and capable hierarchy at the club. The way it is cant be sustainable anymore. It is not clear who has power and who doesnt and who directly reports to whom. Everyone thinks they own a part of Chelsea.

I think the first action will lead to the second, it cant continue like this. I still trust him though...

[Strike 7,217]

- We lose to West Brom 2-1.

- Juventus take us for a dump in Turin

- di Matteo is fired

- Fat Spanish Waiter takes charge

- Clattenburg wins racism case - Chelsea the villains again

- Lampard and Cole all but confirmed to be leaving

Can't agree more. Worst week in our History

But, things can't get worse on Sunday can it? Chelsea to beat ManC. It's football. Shit happens

[Chelsea? 892]

Yes, if the monkey has a proven track record...

this guy hasnt been good for a longer period than Torres.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Benitez will be no different. As he said, he will focus on Coaching the team. Emenalo, Gourlay and co. will be looking after transfers. i believe that's where we've got it all wrong. the manager should look at his team and think what's needed and what's not. not the executives.the manager will be the one with inside knowledge of the team and he should be given total control of transfers. well not under Rafa but from the summer onwards

Mourinho also had some of his own transfers (the Portuguese players and some others). Meireles was certainly an AVB signing as well...but I agree with you entirely, it's horrible value to keep buying players the way we do. It's how we end up with a mish-mash of players who fit into different systems. If you look at our general starting outfield 10, we have a LB who would start in any system. We have one CB who is solid but slow (Terry) suited for a conservative game, and another who is skilled but a football idiot suited for a team where he doesn't have to defend. We have a right back who is fine but lacks the speed on the wings for a really attacking system. We have a defensive midfielder who is very good but moves the ball a little slowly for a really attacking system. We have a central midfielder who is best used for a counter-attack system. We have two #10s who like to get ball and distribute from the centre as well as take long shots and one #10 who likes to drive to the net and we have a striker who wants to be played in in goal with through balls.

Now, some of these players can play together and can be coached into a very good side, but there are just so many diverse sorts of players who would thrive under different systems, it makes it near impossible to have a cohesive unit. What system would fit both Terry and Luiz? What system would fit Ramires and Mata? Hazard and Torres? Real football isn't like football manager where you can just put players together and expect them to work well. Some players will fit into many different systems and most players won't.

[Madmax 9,219]

Jose Mourinho welcomes Rafa Benitez back to life in his shadow

(Getty)

Rafa, what are you doing?

I mean this as serious question, Rafa. What are you doing? You are like a boy who goes to school, gets sick from eating glue that is clearly labeled "toxic -- do not eat," takes two years to recover, writes blog, then comes back to school and immediately eats another kind of glue that also has warning label on it. This behavior is not funny. Except, yes, OK, it is very funny. Hahahahahaha. That is me laughing at you.

Why do you keep jumping into my wake and trying not to drown, Rafa? At Inter, you had a team that belonged to me and lifted the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup because I made it possible. Then you urinated into the wind by attempting to give the owner an ultimatum and got sacked after six months. Who does this? Are you actually eating glue like the Rafa boy in my analogy? Maybe you should check your house for gas leak or some kind of poison spiders.

Now, after two years of watching me win more trophies and spending your time farting out blog posts, you decide that the perfect job for you is to once again join the European champions and a team and supporters that belong to me. A team you once hated. Except this time you are less ambitious and only take embarrassing six-month contract. Hahahahahaha. Again, this is me laughing at you.

Should I be worried about this trend, Rafa? Do you not know that there are many other clubs in the world besides the ones I have made mine? Are you going to take Porto job next? Will you come back to Real Madrid once I leave and sniff my chair? Do you have pictures of me all over the walls of your blog cavern? Are you going to make a body suit out of my skin? You shouldn't even try to do that, Rafa. Because it will not fit and the fur doughnut around your mouth will only get stuck in the zipper.

But I wish you good luck in your latest futile endeavor, Rafa. You will need it. And rest assured, I will be laughing at you the whole way. Enjoy my shade. Hahahahahaha.

Mockingly yours,

Jose

P.S. If you ask Petr Cech or Frank Lampard to throw away their pictures of me like you did at Inter, they will beat you with John Terry.

PMSL, brilliant stuff once again from Brooks Peck.

[Jase 43,479]

Think he said tactically, because he went on to explain how they work on pressing and the team shape.

Me and Seb disagrees.

Even Seb also said that he think it's statically too..

Sébastien ‏@SeBlueLion@jayblues8 @CarefreeSam That's statically I think, how to position yourselves on the pitch to create triangles

[nachikethas 1,149]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/does-it-actually-work-to-keep-chopping-and-changing-the-manager-8347639.html

good read

[bluesman2610 1,341]

The problem is that the club stands firm on club legends but then goes and spends like crazy on transfers and pays insane salaries to sub-par players. David Luiz had 3 years left on his contract and Chelsea still gave him an insane 120K/week on a new contract. Why? Because there were rumours that Barca wanted him for 30M? Great! We can't afford to keep Lampard or Cole, but not only have we kept Torres who makes more than anyone, we keep trying to build teams around him. It's a lack of respect towards our legends. Anyway, how much more expensive is it going to be to go out and have to buy a new LB? You can't complain about nickles and dimes when you are flushing hundred dollar bills down the toilet.

Hazard makes the most on chelsea 185k.. but to your point players like lamps and cole should get the 2 year extension due to the fact that they are still quality players

[Jase 43,479]

Hazard makes the most on chelsea 185k.. but to your point players like lamps and cole should get the 2 year extension due to the fact that they are still quality players

Since when Hazard is earning 185k p/w here? His wage is only around 110k.

[Strike 7,217]

Hazard makes the most on chelsea 185k.. but to your point players like lamps and cole should get the 2 year extension due to the fact that they are still quality players

Since when Hazard is earning 185k p/w here? His wage is only around 110k.

where do you get reliable info on wages?

[Blue Armour 4,278]

The problem is that the club stands firm on club legends but then goes and spends like crazy on transfers and pays insane salaries to sub-par players. David Luiz had 3 years left on his contract and Chelsea still gave him an insane 120K/week on a new contract. Why? Because there were rumours that Barca wanted him for 30M? Great! We can't afford to keep Lampard or Cole, but not only have we kept Torres who makes more than anyone, we keep trying to build teams around him. It's a lack of respect towards our legends. Anyway, how much more expensive is it going to be to go out and have to buy a new LB? You can't complain about nickles and dimes when you are flushing hundred dollar bills down the toilet.

Seems to be very much the case after Ancelloti's second season flop. And they seem to be paying more attention to the results rather than the games themselves..which is the root of the problem I feel...

[Reddish-Blue 2,345]

where do you get reliable info on wages?

I dont know about reliable info...but according to the Telegraph: Hazard is going to get wages of £4.6 million a year net of tax, so around £9  million a year for his new employer. That averages out to be £170,000 a week.

[Jase 43,479]

I dont know about reliable info...but according to the Telegraph: Hazard is going to get wages of £4.6 million a year net of tax, so around £9  million a year for his new employer. That averages out to be £170,000 a week.

I wouldn't trust the English media in this at all. Though I can't remember it but the French and Belgian media reported that Hazard is earning way lower than 170k p/w. Given that he played in France previously and is from Belgium, I know which media to trust better.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

where do you get reliable info on wages?

The source for the 185kpw is football manager who supposedly have access to the FA's information about player contracts.

[Jase 43,479]

Prepare to see zonal marking when we're defending. Benitez has been talking up a lot about it.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Prepare to see zonal marking when we're defending. Benitez has been talking up a lot about it.

That is what I'm dreading the most about Rafa. I've never been convinced by zonal marking and it rarely works.