The Benitez Thread

[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.

[bushman 2,043]

You can hate him all you want. However, he stays until the end of this season. At the time when Rafa was hired, there was no better.

[Muzchap 8,966]

As I said so many times here. Current Chelsea team lacks players. There is hardly anyone on the bench to help. Believe me Marin is not the one to rely on. Him being injured might be the biggest obstacle. Is he good enough ? I doubt it. To stretch play, I agree. But my question, whom to use ? Moses gone...& all.

Then, you continue Rafa has no qualifications. Perhaps, you should think this one over ? It´s an embarrassment to post it here.

I said I have no Football Qualifications and if I can spot Tactical problems, then the fucking Genius Fat Spanish Waiter should have no fucking problems - being a Pro????

[Muzchap 8,966]

I agree that some of Rafa's decisions and tactics are weird and seem incorrect, but in the end of the day you can have the best tactics but if players can't be bothered it's not going to happen, is it? Whether a manager is permanent or interim should NOT make a difference. They are all there for the same aim and manager is more important than the players, they should know better. I blame Roman for not seeing this kind of reception towards Rafa, it was obvious that not many can close an eye regarding the past and be open minded about this.

BUT it DOES make a difference.... If you have a 'temp' Boss - do you really give a fuck about what they say? - People expect him to be replaced, players are no different...

THAT is the biggest mistake we have made - RB has fuck all power and the players know this... For a club previously lambasted for 'Player Power' - this situation is beyond comprehension....

The Board + Roman are to blame - our luck has run out and our past has caught up with us... now we find out the 'metal' as they say - how do we move it on from here.

If it's Rafa - fine, make him Permanent and then see what happens... I just cant see that anymore though....

[Muzchap 8,966]

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?

I agree - but an 'Interim' Boss doesn't carry the same weight as a 'Real' Boss...

One question - would you rather Mourinho or Rafa motivating the players for the Swansea game to overturn a 2-0 deficit?

Therein lies my dilema - I just can't see Rafa giving that passion...

[SinineUltra 1,170]

BUT it DOES make a difference.... If you have a 'temp' Boss - do you really give a fuck about what they say? - People expect him to be replaced, players are no different...

THAT is the biggest mistake we have made - RB has fuck all power and the players know this... For a club previously lambasted for 'Player Power' - this situation is beyond comprehension....

The Board + Roman are to blame - our luck has run out and our past has caught up with us... now we find out the 'metal' as they say - how do we move it on from here.

If it's Rafa - fine, make him Permanent and then see what happens... I just cant see that anymore though....

This isn't a kindergarten, where people do what they want. They are all professionals, who -as like their manager-. have same aims. I don't recall any player going public or disrespecting Rafa publicly. Footballers aren't known for their brain capacity but even they can crack the nut here and realise they'd be throwing away a year of their anyway short careers.

[Tomo 21,751]

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.

Not rating Rafa is one thing, but Hoddle doing better? we might aswell put McLeish on our next shortlist while were at it.

[bluephoenix 1,131]

Sacking RDM and appointing RB didn't benefit the club one bit !

RDM might have atleast gotten us a single piece of silverware, now we are left with none ! #Stupid_decision_taken_by_the_club #sack_RB

[Tomo 21,751]

Sacking RDM and appointing RB didn't benefit the club one bit !

RDM might have atleast gotten us a single piece of silverware, now we are left with none ! #Stupid_decision_taken_by_the_club #sack_RB

How do we know? we could have nosedived like his WBA team did. Maybe that's what Roman was worried about.

Personally if Robbie stayed i reckon we would have got to the League Cup final but in the league we would be 4th or below. So basically it depends on what you wanted, top 4 or cup wins?

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

I think we would finish in the top 4 even without a manager.

[bushman 2,043]

I said I have no Football Qualifications and if I can spot Tactical problems, then the fucking Genius Fat Spanish Waiter should have no fucking problems - being a Pro????

What makes you think you really understand those tactical problems ?