The Benitez Thread

[TrippingStep 336]

I think Rafa hates more Mourinho than Chelsea.

[Jase 43,479]

OK boys, Rafa is getting awards everywhere but most of you do not like him though.

We don't care about such small personal awards. We only care about him guiding the team to winning trophies. He has already messed up one. There are still at least 3 more up for grabs. Lets see what will happen then.

[Madmax 9,219]

OK boys, Rafa is getting awards everywhere but most of you do not like him though.

Why don't you post in verse anymore?

[Rmpr 8,977]

Why don't you post in verse anymore?

Can't you see the mad face bro?

[bushman 2,043]

We don't care about such small personal awards. We only care about him guiding the team to winning trophies. He has already messed up one. There are still at least 3 more up for grabs. Lets see what will happen then.

Well, since I do not care much about his awards, then both of us are on the same boat.

May I ask, which one did he mess up ?

[bushman 2,043]

Why don't you post in verse anymore?

Soon, even my verses are coming. Thanks for reminding me though.

[Jase 43,479]

May I ask, which one did he mess up ?

Club World Cup...

[bushman 2,043]

Club World Cup...

& how did he do it ?

[didierforever 7,349]

& how did he do it ?

not playing mikel, not substituting moses off (as he was having a pretty bad game). the first substitution came after we went 1-0 down when it was very evident during the 2nd half that things were going badly. brought on azpi for iva at the 80th minute after being 1-0 down for god knows why? changed our pivot from the match before (playing luiz in the pivot). played lamps for 90 mins just after he had come from his injury and moreover it was known that mikel, rambo were suspended for the leeds match and our players would be jet lagged and still dint play mikel... so on and so forth.

[bushman 2,043]

not playing mikel, not substituting moses off (as he was having a pretty bad game). the first substitution came after we went 1-0 down when it was very evident during the 2nd half that things were going badly. brought on azpi for iva at the 80th minute after being 1-0 down for god knows why? changed our pivot from the match before (playing luiz in the pivot). played lamps for 90 mins just after he had come from his injury and moreover it was known that mikel, rambo were suspended for the leeds match and our players would be jet lagged and still dint play mikel... so on and so forth.

The way I saw it. Plenty of chances were offered but none scored. Had those chances were converted, we would not question his choice of players, then.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I personally think Benitez used the CWC to tune the players up and get them used to playing a different style of football. It's too early to tell if that will pay off in the long run but we saw massive improvements in the Villa and Norwich games.

If we do continue to improve then those games in Japan played their role. It would've been nice to win but I haven't shed a single tear about losing to Corinthians and I haven't heard much mention of it either. If I'm honest, the Leeds game meant more to me.

[bushman 2,043]

As we all know the game in Japan is not well regarded among players. Perhaps, the boys were not up to it ?

To blame Rafa because the players did not score, seems a bit odd to me.

[didierforever 7,349]

The way I saw it. Plenty of chances were offered but none scored. Had those chances were converted, we would not question his choice of players, then.

had the chances against juve being taken by mata and hazard,or by sturridge against wba or if oscar and mata had converted their one on one in the liverpool match, we would not have had this thread as rdm would still be our coach. so lets not go into "what if we had taken our chances" because when u keep torres as your main striker u take the gamble without saying that u r going to have awkward moments with him.

anyways the main point is benitez made some basic blunders that day and he no doubt realized it because after that luiz has played all 3 games in the pivot etc etc.

[The only place to be 11,313]

anyways the main point is benitez made some basic blunders that day and he no doubt realized it because after that luiz has played all 3 games in the pivot etc etc.

We created more chances than them and probably should've scored but they clearly prepared for it better as they were out there longer.

Ultimately they were a valuable couple of games to work on the team and get them playing a new way. Since then we've improved but it's too early to judge, but let's not go overboard on what is essentially a Mickey Mouse cup.

[didierforever 7,349]

As we all know the game in Japan is not well regarded among players. Perhaps, the boys were not up to it ?

To blame Rafa because the players did not score, seems a bit odd to me.

if the players were not upto it then i am sorry to say IT IS RAFA'S FAULT. we were playing in a final. a manager/coach is supposed to keep his players hungry for suxh matches, infact particularly for such matches. the "players were not upto it" excuse simply backfires.

[didierforever 7,349]

We created more chances than them and probably should've scored but they clearly prepared for it better as they were out there longer.

Ultimately they were a valuable couple of games to work on the team and get them playing a new way. Since then we've improved but it's too early to judge, but let's not go overboard on what is essentially a Mickey Mouse cup.

hahahah ,mickey mouse cup? really? and who makes a team play in a "new way" in a final of any tournament, be it mickey mouse or minney mouse or donald duck... these excuses are rubbish. rafa made blunders on that day - FACT. he is doing a good job for now - FACT.

but to defend rafa's tactics on that particular day is well just being prejudiced.

as for chances created please read my previos post's first part. we had created more chances in most of rdm's last games but chances dont win u matches, goals do.

[The only place to be 11,313]

hahahah ,mickey mouse cup? really? and who makes a team play in a "new way" in a final of any tournament, be it mickey mouse or minney mouse or donald duck... these excuses are rubbish. rafa made blunders on that day - FACT. he is doing a good job for now - FACT.

but to defend rafa's tactics on that particular day is well just being prejudiced.

as for chances created please read my previos post's first part. we had created more chances in most of rdm's last games but chances dont win u matches, goals do.

Rafa has instituted a different way of playing since he arrived - the CWC matches were important in allowing us time to do that. We weren't clinical enough but honestly it's not something that has played on my mind that much. The improvement since has been far more important.

[didierforever 7,349]

Rafa has instituted a different way of playing since he arrived - the CWC matches were important in allowing us time to do that. We weren't clinical enough but honestly it's not something that has played on my mind that much. The improvement since has been far more important.

the clinical is just being over exagerated in my opinion. except for the torres chance in the last minute which he should have scored, i think their goalkeeper was brilliant. the moses curler, the torres header and some other were world class saves. and we as chelsea fans cant underestimate the importance of the goalkeeper (barca and bayern). plus the chances were in the 1st half, the 2nd half was a poor performance.

improvement is their for every1 to see but his tactics will come under a great test this weekend, against a good manager and against a good team. so how much we have improved, i would like to answer that question only after the everton match.