The Benitez Thread

[Jase 43,479]

I know it's easy to pick a target - Torres / Rafa...

Sure no one person is to blame, BUT the Manager should be the primary motivator, the glue that holds the team together...

I just don't see that from Rafa, I didn't also see it from RDM to be fair... We need a big personality (not to be confused with a fat bloke) - somebody who can gel this team together and get them playing as a team...

I really don't see Rafa doing that!

This IMHO has been our worst season ever, so many chances to win something and ALL but gone... Sure we've had worse seasons, but there was never the expectation. We've gone from a team of winners, to a collection of Losers...

The only plus point is that I hope Roman gets this through his thick Russian skull - that the manager merry-go-round has finally exploded in his face and he is 'Proper' fucked now!!! So he needs to learn patience...

I would prefer a young, hungry manager - I still say Adkins - back to back promotions, excellent playing style and a decent bloke. He would instil a great work ethic and wouldn't play players for their Egos - just on performance... Look at his squad - probably assembled for less than Hazard cost.... Same with Swansea... Skill means fuck all without graft, desire and commitment!!!

AND THAT COMES FROM THE MANAGER DOWN!

If that is the case, then why were there complains about the players not performing and taking responsibility under say Ancelotti previously? I agree with you saying the manager is the person that holds the team together but the effort and commitment must come from both parties - manager and players. The manager can train the players all day long, drill them into executing this tactic, that tactic etc in training but ultimately, it's the players who go out there and perform what the manager does. They can only do as much as because it's completely out of their hands once players step onto the field. Not denying Benitez isn't without his faults either but I find it amusing that everyone is just blaming him when something goes wrong and no one else(perhaps only the board) yet in the past, people did almost the opposite. Some blame managers. Some blame players. The players should be shouldering some of the responsibility/blame as well. There's no excuse going from beating Everton away to losing at home against QPR. Thrashed Southampton, then lost to Swansea thanks to 2 blunders by Ivanovic. Ran riot at Stoke and then let a 2-goal lead slip at home to Southampton. There's just no consistency in our results right now and we have had chances to win some of those games but the players didn't take them. Is it Benitez's fault then? No. Same thing happened under RDM as well and that is why we had some poor results under him as well. Did anyone blame RDM then?

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Only a few people claimed the team wasnt good enough when the season started, and even fewer said the same after our win at White Hart Lane. Even though ultimately I disagree and think this team could do way much better with a proper manager, I have to reckon Tomo was one of them.

Others only say it to defend the interim and blame the board.

[bushman 2,043]

Of course, one has to blame the board. What are they doing there ? Have they not foresee Moses, Mikel going to Africa ?

Are they not seeing how depleted is the squad at the moment ?

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Of course, one has to blame the board. What are they doing there ? Have they not foresee Moses, Mikel going to Africa ?

Are they not seeing how depleted is the squad at the moment ?

Finally we agree on something. The board must be blamed, but Roman aswell. They have well and truly fucked up this season and possibly even future.

[Tomo 21,751]

Finally we agree on something. The board must be blamed, but Roman aswell. They have well and truly fucked up this season and possibly even future.

Bit extreme. The future is as good as it's ever been.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Yeah maybe I've overreacted, but something must be done 'in order to keep the club running in the right direction'. I think we all know what that is.

[Tomo 21,751]

Yeah maybe I've overreacted, but something must be done 'in order to keep the club running in the right direction'. I think we all know what that is.

Give Torres more service

[Kojo 4,676]

It's not Rafa's fault that our bench is how it is. He isn't in control of the transfers, there's only one man in charge and we all know who it is. People moaning that we've got 4 defenders on the bench while we got to win the game by 2 goals, who on earth was he supposed to put there? Some youth team strikers? Give me a break.

Face the facts, Rafa hasn't had a fair chance at the job, he never will be because of all the fans who are blindfolded and can only think one thought: "Sack Rafa, sack another manager, get Mourinho" - it has worked wonders so many times past years, right? We need to have more balance in the squad. At the moment we're strong when it comes to attacking midfielders, on paper anyway. We lack cover for every position you can think of, and when I say cover I mean suitable one. McEachran or Turnbull or Bertrand or Marin are nowhere near the level you'd expect even a subsitute to be in a club like Chelsea. We depend on handful of players, namely Juan Mata, who seems to be burning out. He is just out of energy and needs to rest. We sorely miss Moses aswell.

Sometimes when I happen to read RedCafe or RAWK forums I honestly admire how people there can remain civilized or atleast show support to their team or players regardless of the situation. A lot we can learn from them, take it as you may.

It's not Rafa, it's the players. Millionaires who are used to slacking without punishment - it's always the manager. Just for the record, Lampard was awful last night, on the basis of that he shouldn't get a new contract and realistically thinking we need a change. Abramovich sees that and I support that. Rather let a great player go than keep him rotting on the bench, he ain't getting any younger and Chelsea need to clear out player power and turn a new page in their book.

Despite you looking at it than more than one way, unlike most people, you're still being far too soft on Rafa. Benitez has to be blamed for Swansea, he got it all wrong, where was Marin? we needed width and where is he?. He's a good player and he never plays, instead our attackers where all heavily marked and we couldn't play a short passing game. We need midfielders and we aren't signing one, we've only signed Demba Ba and that's it, it really isn't good enough.

You can't just blame it all on the players, it doesn't work like that, and since when has it?. Different manager players play different, it's evident that the manager has control, if Benitez can't motivate them or anything then it's him who is the fault not the players. You might not like that but it's the way it works now, I don't like it here, but if there's any blame then blame the board.

Di Matteo had a bad month, looking at it again he didn't deserve the sack, but it was clear Roman didn't want him in the first place, now the board have gotten themselves into huge trouble as they can't sack Rafa as there are no replacements.

[bushman 2,043]

Finally we agree on something. The board must be blamed, but Roman aswell. They have well and truly fucked up this season and possibly even future.

Stick around, there is more to come we will agree on.

Would you believe, somewhere I even read it was not Roman´s decision to hire Rafa ?

As for the rest of this season, we need to hold the fort for some 25 games, end up in top 4 places & fuck it.

I do not even care about FA Cup or European league. Just rest the players & win games in PL. In the summer, may Roman be still generous enough to buy more players. For the winner of CL, currently the club is not in very good shape, I feel.

Just one thing, I would like to add here.

If I were in Roman´s shoes, I would fire half of those dimwits on the board.

Definitely hire Jose & give him a free hand in transfers & two years to win major trophies.

He is the best at it. Even better that Pep, I feel. At least, he will implement much nicer & desired style of football.

[MetsajCFC 1,255]

Despite you looking at it than more than one way, unlike most people, you're still being far too soft on Rafa. Benitez has to be blamed for Swansea, he got it all wrong, where was Marin? we needed width and where is he?. He's a good player and he never plays, instead our attackers where all heavily marked and we couldn't play a short passing game. We need midfielders and we aren't signing one, we've only signed Demba Ba and that's it, it really isn't good enough.

You can't just blame it all on the players, it doesn't work like that, and since when has it?. Different manager players play different, it's evident that the manager has control, if Benitez can't motivate them or anything then it's him who is the fault not the players. You might not like that but it's the way it works now, I don't like it here, but if there's any blame then blame the board.

Di Matteo had a bad month, looking at it again he didn't deserve the sack, but it was clear Roman didn't want him in the first place, now the board have gotten themselves into huge trouble as they can't sack Rafa as there are no replacements.

I get what you mean and I thank you for the constructive reply. I'm not trying to defend Rafa, I think it was a mis-fit appointment and it can't go longer than till end of the season but all I'm trying to say is that it's not all Benitez, there's more to it and I'm glad there are more people around that even remotely share that view.

Regards to Di Matteo. Of course, he was fantastic, he had such an influence but Abramovich always looked at him as a stop-gap, he would have been gone one way to another. I can't understand the sacking of Ancelotti, I think he was brilliant. But that's that, football on that level isn't supposed to make sense aslong as it makes money, it's a multi-billion pound business and that's an understatement.

[Changingman_2000 876]

Picture the scene, half time at Anfield, Chelsea 4-0 and cruising. The team comes out for the 2nd half, just as its about to start, Roman walks down from the directors box, hands Cunty Bollocks his cards and tells him to do one, El Cunto sulks off down the tunnel, and past a figure emerging from the tunnel, to be met with a warm, old friends sort of handshake, but who?

Let me know when its time to wake up, blinding dream by the way

[bushman 2,043]

Picture the scene, half time at Anfield, Chelsea 4-0 and cruising. The team comes out for the 2nd half, just as its about to start, Roman walks down from the directors box, hands Cunty Bollocks his cards and tells him to do one, El Cunto sulks off down the tunnel, and past a figure emerging from the tunnel, to be met with a warm, old friends sort of handshake, but who?

Let me know when its time to wake up, blinding dream by the way

Then you woke up all sweaty, eh ?

[Changingman_2000 876]

Fuck off!, I'm still sleeping, 7-0 now, kop empty, someone has assassinated cunty bollocks in the Car Park on the way to his motor, but who was the dark figure walking up the tunnel as el cunto walked down , and out?

[bushman 2,043]

Fuck off!, I'm still sleeping, 7-0 now, kop empty, someone has assassinated cunty bollocks in the Car Park on the way to his motor, but who was the dark figure walking up the tunnel as el cunto walked down , and out?

Stop drinking that Scotch. You might even come to some canniness ?

[robdog 2,084]

I still believe Hoddle, Gullit or whoever can do better than telly tubby. Again, you are satisfied w/ telly tubby, then enjoy the Ship of Fools sinking. Me I will hate on Rafa all day Everday. He is a bum & I am not afraid to say it. Stay thirsty my friends.