The Benitez Thread

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Are you forgetting a certain trip to Japan? That was his biggest test as a manager yet and he failed.

I don't really get the criticism of Rafa on a personal level, that is quite irrelevant imo.

No he didn't fail, the players did. They looked like they didn't give a fuck at all bar Luiz.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Diego Simeone

I wouldn't take him over Benitez. Not to discredit what's he has done for Atleti though, because it's been very good.

[Rmpr 8,977]

No he didn't fail, the players did. They looked like they didn't give a fuck at all bar Luiz.

So when we lose it is all the player`s fault and when we win it is Rafa`s tactical ability?

Get real, Benitez mistake at CWC (a final that actually was worth something, even if small) was way worse than raping Villa...

We lost the game bacause Corinthians returned better for the seconf half and he didnt do anything, he watched it and only did something when we conceded.

[Sheva. 5,373]

So when we lose it is all the player`s fault and when we win it is Rafa`s tactical ability?

Get real, Benitez mistake at CWC (a final that actually was worth something, even if small) was way worse than raping Villa...

We lost the game bacause Corinthians returned better for the seconf half and he didnt do anything, he watched it and only did something when we conceded.

There's also the fact that Corinthians were fresher and more prepared than us, but who cares about silly things like that?

I don't see any reason to put so much blame on one person - he played our best team and they just didn't do much.

And it's actually the other way around, when we win its the players and when we don't it's all Rafa, and his defensive football.

[Tomo 21,751]

After doing a bit of research and talking to a (very knowledgeable) Liverpool fan about the pro's and con's of Rafa i am actually starting to seriously think he could actually be the man we need for the next 2-4 years.

The one plus point that was made about his time at Liverpool was the way he restructured the academy (which was ran to the ground by Houllier) the players Rodgers is promoting now were brought in by Rafa initially.

What is a worry however is his shady man management, just after signing for us under Carlo Ancelotti, Yossi Benayoun claimed Benitez was treating him terribly saying stuff like "the fans want you to start this week Yossi, i don't know why", i don't know how well that will go down here if he did that to any of our lot.

Back on the plus side we as much as any fans should know about how astute he is tactically on one off games and i watched back a couple of games of Rafa's Valencia side and they were truly formidable, if he gets us playing any where close to that i won't be complaining that is for sure.

[Jype 6,398]

I wouldn't take him over Benitez. Not to discredit what's he has done for Atleti though, because it's been very good.

That's why I said possibly, first we'll have to see how he does for the rest of the season at Atlético but so far I've been very impressed with Simeone both in Europe and the La Liga. For his first year in charge a win percentage of 69% with a team like Atlético Madrid is not something you see every day, that's higher than Guardiola's first season at Barcelona and close to Mourinho at Chelsea. I've watched a lot of their games, mainly because of Falcao, and I have liked what I've seen from them.

[Sheva. 5,373]

That's why I said possibly, first we'll have to see how he does for the rest of the season at Atlético but so far I've been very impressed with Simeone both in Europe and the La Liga. For his first year in charge a win percentage of 69% with a team like Atlético Madrid is not something you see every day, that's higher than Guardiola's first season at Barcelona and close to Mourinho at Chelsea. I've watched a lot of their games, mainly because of Falcao, and I have liked what I've seen from them.

It's not about how he does this season though for me, i just look at all the clubs he's managed and meh. Plus the fact that he's a former Atleti player, a lot easier to get the players and fans on his side from the first day. Just like it was for RDM.

His Atletico team are very solid though and they create enough chances.

[Rmpr 8,977]

There's also the fact that Corinthians were fresher and more prepared than us, but who cares about silly things like that?

I don't see any reason to put so much blame on one person - he played our best team and they just didn't do much.

And it's actually the other way around, when we win its the players and when we don't it's all Rafa, and his defensive football.

I was quoting RyanDavidson who in the first post said he did great today and etc, but in his second post he said CWC was the player`s fault.

This is nonsense, everyone deserves credid in both games (negative or positve).

Rafa had a great game and prepared our team really well today, even with the lack of some important players. He had the sense to rest Mata and Lampard (when it was already over) and he also lighted them up, they were agressive during all 90min.

However, his lack of knowledge about Corinthians and the total lack of action costed us the control of what had to be an routine win. He changed the pivot and it fucked us up. We got embarassed worlwide for the 3rd time this season.

For me, Rafa`s mistake at CWC is a lot worse than his good judment versus Villa.

[klopfzeichen 78]

Rafa Benitez Blue and White army! :blue scalf:

Too soon?

[Sheva. 5,373]

However, his lack of knowledge about Corinthians and the total lack of action costed us the control of what had to be an routine win. He changed the pivot and it fucked us up. We got embarassed worlwide for the 3rd time this season.

For me, Rafa`s mistake at CWC is a lot worse than his good judment versus Villa.

Changing the pivot did not fuck us up, how many chances did Corinthians have?

It was a tight game like you would expect in a final, but we failed to take our chances and they took their 1 good chance.

I don't blame Benitez for anything actually, and neither do i blame the players - it's not as if they did not want to win, things just did not go our way, tough luck, move on.

[Jype 6,398]

It's not about how he does this season though for me, i just look at all the clubs he's managed and meh. Plus the fact that he's a former Atleti player, a lot easier to get the players and fans on his side from the first day. Just like it was for RDM.

His Atletico team are very solid though and they create enough chances.

Remember he's only 42 years old and started his managerial career at 36, considering that he has been anything but meh. I admit he probably wouldn't be an ideal manager for us at this very moment and I don't even know if he speaks English but I aways liked him as a player when I was a kid and now as a manager too. Maybe not now but one day I would love to see him in charge of Chelsea if his impressive career continues like this.

That's enough off topic by the way, back to Benitez.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Changing the pivot did not fuck us up, how many chances did Corinthians have?

It was a tight game like you would expect in a final, but we failed to take our chances and they took their 1 good chance.

I don't blame Benitez for anything actually, and neither do i blame the players - it's not as if they did not want to win, things just did not go our way, tough luck, move on.

It is not about chances, everyone (who knows Corinthians) knew they would only create 1-2 chances. It was about controlling the midfield, and we totally lost it in the second half.

It is weird, was it only good luck today?

[Sheva. 5,373]

Remember he's only 42 years old and started his managerial career at 36, considering that he has been anything but meh. I admit he probably wouldn't be an ideal manager for us at this very moment and I don't even know if he speaks English but I aways liked him as a player when I was a kid and now as a manager too. Maybe not now but one day I would love to see him in charge of Chelsea if his impressive career continues like this.

That's enough off topic by the way, back to Benitez.

Fair enough then if he continues like this, he will surely become a wanted man.

[Sheva. 5,373]

It is not about chances, everyone (who knows Corinthians) knew they would only create 1-2 chances. It was about controlling the midfield, and we totally lost in in the second half.

It is weird, was it only good luck today?

You need luck every game, but more so in a big game, a final. Gary Cahill had a superb effort stopped on line, Torres wide open smashes the ball right at the keeper = bad luck.

Corinthians shot deflects off Cahill and right to a wide open Guerrero - luck.

[Rmpr 8,977]

You need luck every game, but more so in a big game, a final. Gary Cahill had a superb effort stopped on line, Torres wide open smashes the ball right at the keeper = bad luck.

Corinthians shot deflects off Cahill and right to a wide open Guerrero - luck.

LOL

Cahill effort was luck (I will give you that), but Torres miss was his fault and Guerrero goal was ridiculous (3 defenders at the goal line).

Everyone in the whole world sees Benitez had a forgetable game, but for some it was just bad luck.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

So when we lose it is all the player`s fault and when we win it is Rafa`s tactical ability?

Get real, Benitez mistake at CWC (a final that actually was worth something, even if small) was way worse than raping Villa...

We lost the game bacause Corinthians returned better for the seconf half and he didnt do anything, he watched it and only did something when we conceded.

Why does everyone criticize our managers when it should be our players? Same happened with Carlo, same happened with Scolari, same happened with Villas-Boas, same happened with Di Matteo and now the same with Rafa. Some people always think the coach is the one who should get the blame. Ultimately Cahill missed a sitter, so did Torres and Ramires should of went and headed the ball away before Gurrero got it but where is their criticism?

Also the fact barely anyone looked like they wanted to win the trophy except Luiz and Oscar when he came on. Rafa said he was here to win trophies, he wanted to win it, that was his main objective when he became Chelsea boss, to win as many trophies as possible.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Rafa Benitez Blue and White army! :blue scalf:

Too soon?

Still early for that, but there's certainly an army in the making, even on here.

[Sheva. 5,373]

LOL

Cahill effort was luck (I will give you that), but Torres miss was his fault and Guerrero goal was ridiculous (3 defenders at the goal line).

Everyone in the whole world sees Benitez had a forgetable game, but for some it was just bad luck.

The Torres miss ( i only saw it once because i don't like to relive bad moments) he went for power instead of placement immediately he saw the ball, but it just happened to go right to the keeper who was having one of those games - where he didn't look like he would be beaten.

The Guerrero goal, yeah 3 players on the line, but the most important thing is the ball deflecting to his path very, very fortunately.

Whatever though you can stick with your opinion of it being all Rafa's fault, but i personally do not buy it.

Why does everyone criticize our managers when it should be our players? Same with Carlo, same with Scolari, same with Villas-Boas, same with Di Matteo and now the same with Rafa. Some people always think the coach is the one who should get the blame. Ultimately Cahill missed a sitter, so did Torres and Ramires should of went and headed the ball away before Gurrero got it but where is their criticism?

Most common thing in football. It's always the manager's fault.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

The Torres miss ( i only saw it once because i don't like to relive bad moments) he went for power instead of placement immediately he saw the ball, but it just happened to go right to the keeper who was having one of those games - where he didn't look like he would be beaten.

The Guerrero goal, yeah 3 players on the line, but the most important thing is the ball deflecting to his path very, very fortunately.

Whatever though you can stick with your opinion of it being all Rafa's fault, but i personally do not buy it.

Most common thing in football. It's always the manager's fault.

Its shocking when you consider Villas-Boas was sacked because half the team didn't want to play under him (mostly the senior players, I don't care about if he tried alienating them or whatever, your senior pros are there to set an example, they should of just got on with it) and went off complaining eventually led to him getting sacked because of a split camp, lackluster performances and shit results because of low morale and team spirit. Call me a AVB fanboy or whatever but he was harshly treated by the older guys, they weren't happy because they were rotated etc even though he didn't really communicate with them as well as he could have but still hes the manager and hes there to pick a team, its not up to them to pick a team. Lampard came out and said their relationship wasn't ideal but still he was seen as the "good guy" in this incident and Villas-Boas the "bad guy" just because he was the coach.... nobody seems to ever blame the players at Chelsea FC...

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Its shocking when you consider Villas-Boas was sacked because half the team didn't want to play under him (mostly the senior players, I don't care about if he tried alienating them or whatever, your senior pros are there to set an example, they should of just got on with it) and went off complaining eventually led to him getting sacked because of a split camp, lackluster performances and shit results because of low morale and team spirit. Call me a AVB fanboy or whatever but he was harshly treated by the older guys, they weren't happy because they were rotated etc even though he didn't really communicate with them as well as he could have but still hes the manager and hes there to pick a team, its not up to them to pick a team. Lampard came out and said their relationship wasn't ideal but still he was seen as the "good guy" in this incident and Villas-Boas the "bad guy" just because he was the coach.... nobody seems to ever blame the players at Chelsea FC...

Mate you probably skipped the time when many on this forum called Lampard, Drogba and others a disgrace because of their behaviour at the time.