The Benitez Thread

[henlin007 12]

But it's not even about Rafa. The booing goes beyond hiring FSW. The fact is, any manager who would've been brought in would've got the same reception. The boos and the Di Matteo chants on the 16th minute are a message to the board, it's a message that we're not happy about how the club are treating their employees and how they're subsequently treating the fans. Benitez has broad enough shoulders to bare the brunt of it, the players won't be bothered because the fans know it's not getting aimed at them. It's not about loyalty, if it was about that the fans wouldn't pay to see FSW.

This makes more sens,e even though I don't think Roman will listen. Also, to play devil's advocate, we really don't know the terms he offered Di Matteo. Di Matteo may very well have had much higher standards as part of his agreement due to his lack of top level managerial pedigree (stupid policy if the case, but definitely fair in the sense that it wasn't a wanton temper tantrum and from an employee employer relationship-perspective.)

Also, Di Matteo is not Roman's only employee. How well did Roman treat Drogba, Lampard, Terry, and, unfortunately, Torres. They're also his employees. Just a different angle to consider. Every boss has his favorite and less favorites. How well did Roman treat Shev? I would argue in some cases he is almost blindingly loyal to his employees--to the detriment of the club occasionally, but usually to its benefit. When AVB failed to control our aging and deteriorating assets, the old guard, Roman could have just as easily replaced them as him.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Haters always gonna hate

Hope we win some trophies this week and smash Leeds...

Then when we Play Villa - because I'm back in blighty and have tickets

So a minimum of a 4 game unbeaten run, otherwise Rafa out - lol :)

[The only place to be 11,313]

The fact is, any manager who would've been brought in would've got the same reception.

Don't agree with that at all. If Guardiola came in, people would have still supported Robbie but none of the vitriol that has been aimed at Rafa (because it has) or the board would be there or at least not close to the same amount.

It's because it's Benitez and we all felt the same at the start but people are getting over it at their own speed. This cheers on 16 minutes will continue and that's fine - praising Robbie is different from criticising Benitez.

But I will point out one thing about the way this club treated Robbie Di Matteo. They gave him a job at a top European club when his last run as a manager ended in him getting sacked by West Brom and he couldn't even get the job at Birmingham City. They then entrusted the club to him, and he paid us back many times over. But let's not pretend that this club is disrespectful of our history.

Roman is a fan first and foremost. Remember who the first player he tried to sign was and then tell me he doesn't treat the fans well.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

But I will point out one thing about the way this club treated Robbie Di Matteo. They gave him a job at a top European club when his last run as a manager ended in him getting sacked by West Brom and he couldn't even get the job at Birmingham City. They then entrusted the club to him, and he paid us back many times over. But let's not pretend that this club is disrespectful of our history.

Roman is a fan first and foremost. Remember who the first player he tried to sign was and then tell me he doesn't treat the fans well.

This isn't a dig at Roman Abramovich though. It's a representation of the fans just showing dissatisfaction at what's happened to a Chelsea legend. There's no doubt that Roman is a Chelsea fan, spending over £1bn and continuing to invest into the squad shows it. It's the board that advises him that's the problem, after all he is a football fan and his board should be man enough to be able to separate his decisions from the point of view as a fan to a footballing man.

The boos aren't about having a go at Roman, some aren't even that Rafa is in charge. It's a message that due to some major decisions over the last 9 years have severely impacted Chelsea's reputation. We're the laughing stock of most top clubs because of how they're running the club. Yes we can boast an impressive trophy cabinet to counter that, but there's simply more to football than shiny trophies..

[Strike 7,477]

i believe we should readjust our season objectives. secure Top 3 finish and try winning the Europa League/FA Cup/CWC

Rebuilding is best left to the summer where we install a better manager - Pep or Jose preferably

[samzilla 517]

Benitez has broad enough shoulders to bare the brunt of it, the players won't be bothered because the fans know it's not getting aimed at them.

If I'm a player on the pitch and I could have a choice between the fans cheering for the team or booing the manager (even if it's not aimed at the team), I'd much rather be hearing cheers for the team.

[The only place to be 11,313]

This isn't a dig at Roman Abramovich though. It's a representation of the fans just showing dissatisfaction at what's happened to a Chelsea legend. There's no doubt that Roman is a Chelsea fan, spending over £1bn and continuing to invest into the squad shows it. It's the board that advises him that's the problem, after all he is a football fan and his board should be man enough to be able to separate his decisions from the point of view as a fan to a footballing man.

The boos aren't about having a go at Roman, some aren't even that Rafa is in charge. It's a message that due to some major decisions over the last 9 years have severely impacted Chelsea's reputation. We're the laughing stock of most top clubs because of how they're running the club. Yes we can boast an impressive trophy cabinet to counter that, but there's simply more to football than shiny trophies..

Again, I disagree. The majority of the boos that I've heard have been directed at Rafa and are related to him specifically.

When you say it's the board that advises him that's the problem, who specifically are you pointing the finger at? See I've heard this in the past and maybe we should start naming names - rather than blaming everyone on the board let's get specific. Who do you blame and why?

[Tomo 21,751]

The boos aren't about having a go at Roman, some aren't even that Rafa is in charge. It's a message that due to some major decisions over the last 9 years have severely impacted Chelsea's reputation. We're the laughing stock of most top clubs because of how they're running the club. Yes we can boast an impressive trophy cabinet to counter that, but there's simply more to football than shiny trophies..

Then those people are idiots for falling into a media trap. Many clubs have changed manager's as many times as us since 2003, some more, Real Madrid and Inter Milan for example. The sooner Ferguson retires and Wenger fucks off the better then the media and this country in general can move with the times and get in touch with the rest of Europe.

They make out Roman is a bad guy for changing manager's and having a say in transfer's, not it's not bad or undermiming the manager it's modern football and it's the way most European clubs operate infact Spurs operate in the exact same way, Harry publicly admitted the arrival of Van Der Vaart has absolutely nothing to do with him.

[Tomo 21,751]

But I will point out one thing about the way this club treated Robbie Di Matteo. They gave him a job at a top European club when his last run as a manager ended in him getting sacked by West Brom and he couldn't even get the job at Birmingham City. They then entrusted the club to him, and he paid us back many times over. But let's not pretend that this club is disrespectful of our history.

Roman is a fan first and foremost. Remember who the first player he tried to sign was and then tell me he doesn't treat the fans well.

Agreed some of the knee jerk reaction's for cringeworthy, why did Robbie get the job in the first place after AVB sacking? i bet the fact he was a club legend already in the first place had something to do with Roman's thought process and it was probably his legend status that got him a stay of execution after Munich.

We see it all the time the kneejerk reactions after manager sacking's. Carlo Ancelotti sacked fans were slagging off Roman/the club only to backtrack a month later and treat them like the second coming off christ when they bring the (at the time) brightest young managerial property in Europe.

Then AVB himself get's sacked, fans have a go at the board again, blame Lampard some even resorting to calling him scum for the perceived part he had to play, only for the same fans to backtrack 2 months later when Lampard himself plays a huge part in winning us our first ever CL.

Now RDM gets sacked it's similar bolax again, with the backtracking that will start if we win the CWC and if Rafa pulls any form of success, the same fans who wanted Roman out will be back kissing his arse, only to disown him again next time a manger leaves, some just never ever learn.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Then those people are idiots for falling into a media trap.

The media is the sneaky little cunt in the playground who goes up to the big kid and says 'that guy over there said you smell', and then watches in glee as he goes and gives him a dead arm.

The first few questions in his press conference were about comments he apparently made, and then the focus at the first match was on a few pretty shitty looking banners and print-outs that were anti-Rafa. Yes he got booed, but a lot of fans needed to get it out of their system.

The few fans still chanting against him at Sunderland when we were 3-0 up really have to have a look in the mirror.

[Fulham Broadway 17,306]

The role of managers is way, way overrated.

Still, counting the days, counting the days......I want us to do well, but I'm ignoring him and counting down to when the esteemed waiter leaves

[The only place to be 11,313]

The role of managers is way, way overrated.

Could not disagree more. Having the right manager at the right time is invaluable.

[underdrog 18]

The role of managers is way, way overrated. Still, counting the days, counting the days......I want us to do well, but I'm ignoring him and counting down to when the esteemed waiter leaves

give it a rest.

[Rambo 1,729]

I get the Di Matteo chants and I'm all for that but people want Rafa out mainly because of his history with Liverpool. People are quick to forget that this a business after all.

[Fulham Broadway 17,306]

give it a rest.

No.