The Benitez Thread

[Rmpr 8,977]

The things I've put in bold, if he can recreate them stats to an extent here at Chelsea. Then he will have done a very very good job. Even half of the stats in bold, still a very good job.

He can not make us score 119 goals and be an extremely good defense. He has 6 months and less than 30 games.

[Spike 12,049]

I think more of you liked RDM more as a personality than as a manager. And that is why you're upset, he has a lot of sentimental value. He is a pretty cool guy but he does make some strange tactical decisions.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Im sorry but Ive taken about as much as I can from the Russian ,,,,his appointments are his whims ,,,they will have to earn my respect and support.

no blind support any longer

Heh that's what I initially thought - but every time I thought it was shit, something good happened, so I think I owe RA at least the chance to prove me wrong this time...

I mean after Mourinho I really considered abandoning football but I'm glad I didn't - so that's where I'm at

Although part of me wonders if we could have dominated the world under JM....

[zolayes 14,489]

Why would I share my opinions with Cunts?

Like I said MOST trophies in the past 9 years of any English Club!

That's called RESULTS!!!

RA is a business man, a very successful one too - you don't get like that trading on sentiment...

Which is what's happening here...

saw the Adriano goal last night .....that was GREAT business ,,,,I STILL believe football is a sport and SENTIMENT is important

is important that is why we support our clubs ,,,,not just to win trophies ,,,,,I do honestly DETEST many of the things the Russian and his board are

doing

[Shogun 721]

I'm going to struggle rooting for you with this horrible, disrespectful cunt in charge. Hopefully he's gone by February.

[BlueSunshine 672]

But whatever happens he deserves what we give every manager as a minimum a chance.

Whatever happens he deserves what we give every manager as a goodbye too. A kick in the ass after 6-12 months...

[Laylabelle 9,534]

I think more of you liked RDM more as a personality than as a manager. And that is why you're upset, he has a lot of sentimental value. He is a pretty cool guy but he does make some strange tactical decisions.

as did Rafa.I remember Gerrards wtf face at some of them.he made such random subs

If he had been a sucess at Inter would be more confident. But he lasted 6 months and been free for 2 years. Hopefully prove me wrong and be a sucess but just seems a weird choice. And bog off if it is to help get the best of torres!he is older little chance of being back and staying at it

[Kostas 1,468]

After an initial outburst I came as much in terms with the events as I realistically could. The fact that it's a temporary appointment points to us still waiting for whoever it is we've been wanting to sign since firing AVB and if realistically Torres doesn't make a tremendous comeback into form maybe the club will finally realise that it's time to get rid of him or at least diminish his importance.

All those hopeful thoughts aside, I still don't' see the point of getting rid of one hugely popular caretaker for another one who is a PR disaster waiting to happen. An internal burst-up could explain much but for now we're in the dark and trying to be content with the most bizarre decision since Mou.

[SeB 1,281]

My thoughts on Benitez's appointment:

I'm quite disappointed to see Benitez coming in considering - and I won't lie - the Chelsea-Liverpool rivalry is one thing among others that made me supporting this club.

But we have to move on, I was critical enough about Robbie's tenure despite the respect I had for him. Things had to change, it was a mess most of the time and not only because of the sporting policy (selling Meireles, loaning Essien).

The possession football ersatz is a fiasco for one and a half season and we have to find something else, especially now with a reduced squad and the direct impact of playing twice in a week. I think Rafa will come back to more a more coherent approach than the one we used until now, that'll be more defensive than the one Robbie used ; considering it was difficult to adopt a more risky approach than the one we had (no pressing, exposed defence)

The system isn't an issue, a system is the position on the paper and what makes the difference is the playing animation. I do think Benitez'll keep the 4-2-3-1 but asking more work down the flanks and feature more players behind the ball during the attacking sequences. I do think we haven't enough players in midfield to play 4-3-3 (until January, if we can sign renforcements).

I've several questions about how the situation could turn: tracking back, pressing etc... is a matter of instructions but for 90% that's mentality to give one's best when the ball is lost.

Defensively Mata, Hazard, Sturridge aren't good enough (they don't position themselves as defenders, not any particular ease to regain the ball) and didn't put the sufficient effort to regain the ball or help in the process.

As AVB was more concerned by goals and results, thus why he could not change drastically the goalscorer Sturridge's instructions in the channel and RdM had probably to cope with the freshness of his squad ; we weren't able to produce a sufficiently good pressing. And when we actually did it this season, we were forced to give away 15 or 20mn thinking about the next game to rest the XI players that'll start 3 days after

So that's why I wonder if Bertrand and Azpilicueta won't have bigger game time, not only for rotation purposes but also as genuine tactical choices.

The consequence of such a change will be that the play will be more direct, meaning that there will be less passes in the build up of attacks (not especially 6ft+ striker, kick & rush, second balls & stuff). The movements will be more of run/service, especially through space. Probably more crosses as well, thus Bertrand/Azpilicueta's purpose

I was bemused by how many did think that Falcao would run into that team and score loads of goals considering we didn't feature neither width, exclusive service, crosses, space to run into... But with the gameplan I do think Benitez'll apply, that's different and bringing Falcao in makes more sense.

About the farce of the remarks about the defenders, coping better with transitions will magically improve the defenders' abilities to regain the ball. Or it will just prove that the bad defending is Hazard not tracking back leaving Luiz forced to come out or retreat and see the opponent exploit the defending and play in due manner (retreats: you can carry the ball / the defender comes out: you release the ball as he closes you down)

[Ollie 4,400]

Reading through this is awesome. If we think we're pissed off.... read through this, it's great. Now we have to win the league at Anfield.

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=300132.0

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

I think more of you liked RDM more as a personality than as a manager.

Nail on the head.

[gr123 167]

He got sacked from Liverpool and he messed up Inter. I'm sure he has had spells where he hasn't won for 5 games, anyway it's been an emotional day, my facebook has had lots of action too, been hectic so i'm going to bed. But not before i search RAWK with the thought in my mind of Benitez and Torres' Chelsea going to win at Anfield. We tried to take their players, Benayoun, Torres, Meireles... they failed so next we took their manager, the manager of that mega annoying night in Istanbul.

Gonna enjoy reading through these rats forums.

Ahh here we go guys.

ENJOY!!!

http://www.redandwhi...?topic=300132.0

To be honest, RAWK is so bad that even 95% of Liverpool fans think its a piece of shit and full of deluded morons.. but still a good laugh to read.

I do find it funny reading comments from them like 'keep off our players' - yeah, cos their shitty little squad is full of world class players

[BlueSanti 290]

Hiring Rafa as Chelsea manager is like watching your daughter do porn movies.

It is even far worse.

But nevermind, I've heard Benitez allready knows who will he bring in January. This guys is called Lucas Leiva, he is absolute beast as Benitez said; if we are lucky enough we may get him cheap, probably just for 30M pounds.

[Muzchap 8,966]

saw the Adriano goal last night .....that was GREAT business ,,,,I STILL believe football is a sport and SENTIMENT is important

is important that is why we support our clubs ,,,,not just to win trophies ,,,,,I do honestly DETEST many of the things the Russian and his board are

doing

Yeah that was awful!!!

I think we need to appreciate the Russian psyche a bit more.

When I worked over there, they asked me why do you say 'Thank you' I explained and they said, in Russia there is a saying, don't thank me as I cannot spend it so what's the use!

That changed my whole philosophy on the Russian people (as far as generalisations can go)

So, it seems RA probably doesn't even consider 'sentiment'

Not arguing good/bad just trying to put his decision into perspective

[Superblue 6,372]

Right I've taken some time to reflect upon this before posting about it so here is my take -

Leif made a good point earlier about why the uproar over Benitez? He isn't my taste because:

1. He was Liverpool manager during what was the most fierce point of our rivalry with them. On top of that he made some very disrespectful remarks at the time.

2. He is replacing an icon at our club. Whether the sacking of Robbie was right, it is currently raw due to his standing with the fans.

3. Benitez never seemed to cover himself in glory - he always came across in interviews as boring and full of excuses.

However, looking into things deeper, Benitez isn't a bad choice at the moment. He has Premier League experience, dealing with high expectations and big players. He has always been defensively sound, a very good organiser which is certainly something we need at the moment. If we can get the back four and pivot defending properly and keeping a solid shape and structure, and our front four pressing high, then we can hopefully arrest the number of goals we have been leaking. Add to that what some have said about his team at Valencia and it would suggest if he has players who can play football then he isn't scared to go and attack teams.

He is also well known for tinkering with his team. Whilst this is not always a good thing, for us I think it will be. We do not have great depth in our squad, but a lot of games with the Premier League, Champs League/Europa League, World Club Cup, FA Cup and Carling Cup to contend. Keeping players happy and fresh will be important.

I'm not convinced about getting the best out of Torres. He got the best out of Torres at Liverpool playing counter attacking football that made the most of Torres' pace and acceleration against the last man. Torres no longer has that pace. If Benitez can restore some confidence in him which will get him goals then great, but I just hope we don't set up to build the entire team around Torres - he is quite simply not the future of this club.

Benitez is only interim until the end of the season. I think that is very clear that they have someone else in mind at the season end, being Mourinho or Guardiola. Until then I'm hoping we can still have a successful season - we still have five competitions to play for and a top three finish and a cup or two will be a good season. And for that I say good luck Rafa!

Also note that one of my biggest gripes in football is when you hear people comment about other clubs when they perhaps don't know what they are talking about. For example, opposition fans and media pundits slating a player like Mikel, which is just lazily jumping on the bandwagon. We have all made judgements on Benitez, but the vast majority of Liverpool fans still hold him in high regard and wish he was still at their club. This MUST say something that maybe there is more to him then we have simply seen in the past from the outside and that is a big reason why I am staying optimistic for a successful season ahead.