The Benitez Thread

[robdog 2,084]

you made a smart ass remark about an ex manager of ours who contributed greatly to the success we have had ,,,LEARN a little of our history before you poke fun of our ex players you obviously know little about

Let me help out here. Wisey was a Captain that everyone loved. Even Mr. Bates loved him. I would like Wisey to take over DoF from Emenalo.

[Hutcho 8,443]

I am pretty sure 80-90 percent of us would have rather had Rdm stay on than rafa. What would have happened... Who knows. But would we be happier... Yes we would be. We would have been a squad that was definitely United. A team that respected and cared about the manager which I am not sure we have at the moment and us lot would all be concentrating on the team than the managerial situation. It is a shame and i personally don't think we would be any worse off at all with Rdm here. Especially after we signed Demba ba as Rdm would know he is the no 1 and work round that accordingly. I definitely miss RDM...

But at least we won't win the prize for most crazy sacking this season... As Southampton win that hands down.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Wisey is an absolute icon. Love the bloke.

Shame none of those legends gets a place in the club they love more than all of our current board members combined. Part of becoming a massive club is honouring your legends by giving them a job at club after retirement. There are many examples, Bayern being the most representative.

Then there is another aspect and advantage. When a new player comes in and sees what Zola or Wisey have done for the club and how much appreciated they are of course it affects his thinking. Huge difference compared to seeing Ron Gourlay or Michael Emenalo who are football anonymous.

[Tomo 21,751]

Wisey is an absolute icon. Love the bloke.

Shame none of those legends gets a place in the club they love more than all of our current board members combined. Part of becoming a massive club is honouring your legends by giving them a job at club after retirement. There are many examples, Bayern being the most representative.

Then there is another aspect and advantage. When a new player comes in and sees what Zola or Wisey have done for the club and how much appreciated they are of course it affects his thinking. Huge difference compared to seeing Ron Gourlay or Michael Emenalo who are football anonymous.

Le Saux is here as an ambassador or atleast he was in the pre season tour in 2011. Is it ok to say that about Le Saux or is that a cheap insult?

[Rmpr 8,977]

I don't think Rafa is even respected by the players, Di Matteo was massively respected and he was a such a good character. But Di Matteo got so much wrong, and his huge problem was not being logical enough.

We won the Champions League down to so much faith and belief, we had such a weak team who couldn't produce any creativity or have any flair to show off, the only spark was Mata and he wasn't doing so good come the end of the season. But we gambled and gambled and it kept paying off, due to the massive belief (AVB getting kicked out and Robbie taking over i think). We definitely had a lot of luck down the road, had Messi and Robben scored there penalties, could've been a different story easily.

Then Roberto went out into the next season and it was a different game, it wasn't about holding out till the end of the season anymore, it wasn't about this is our last chance we have to take it. This time it was a new road and starting a new team, and Di Matteo wasn't logical about it. We just bought number 10's and one right back, when we clearly needed a lot more defensive cover, he put too much faith into the team because of how well we defended. But not just that, he wasn't logical agianst United or Juventus, he tried to outplay Juventus when they are a better team, he played through the middle against United despite United scoring most of there goals from wide counter attacks. And that resulted us from conceding 2 goals in 10 minutes due to two crossing counter attacks.

Now I'll get to FSW, Benitez hasn't proved anything at Chelsea besides being a tosser to us in his liverpool days. When AVB got kicked out it benefited us with Robbie the legend coming in, now that Robbie got kicked out and Rafa came in... It was only obvious it was going to go downhill, Rafa has made some shocking decisions so far which have cost us, we are far too inconsistent. Under Di Matteo we weren't inconsistent, we just had a rough patch (which went on for a bit too long), Benitez can't get the best out of his players, and he never will, how can we even trust the man?. Call me paranoid but i sometimes think he does some of the stuff on purpose, why aren't we signing anymore players? it's just getting stupid now. Torres is clearly playing awful and nothing is getting done about it, I have never seen so much protection for such a shit player in all my life.

But to come to my conclusion, we need the right man, the only man i can think of is Mourinho. However i think getting rid of Benitez and someone iconic coming in who has proved himself before or is known to the players would really have an impact coming into the side. Just like when AVB went and Di Matteo came in, we need someone as you said who can use his 'tools' and actually get some results, and it isn't just about managers, look how vital Wilkins proved to be. We need a clever man and a person or people who can help the players, maybe then we can actually see some blue daylight.

Expect some rage at you, I made that exact same point a week ago and got atracked by the so called "Benitez Protectors"!

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Le Saux is here as an ambassador or atleast he was in the pre season tour in 2011. Is it ok to say that about Le Saux or is that a cheap insult?

Forgot about him, but that would be an exception rather than the rule. Anyway, his role isnt quite clear but I'm sure hes not on the board. My point wasnt that.

[zolayes 14,489]

That's the thing, get out of the history mindset, we are all very thankful to Zolas and Wises and Drogbas and Lampards and whoever but the club must function now and in the present,future. It's time to move on

and do you consider we are moving on with Benitez??? or just moving down ... and are you aware of Hoddles abilities?

[Tomo 21,751]

and do you consider we are moving on with Benitez??? or just moving down ... and are you aware of Hoddles abilities?

He did a good job with us in the early 90's and contributed to starting our revoulution this day. But we would right now be appointing a manager who has been out of the game for nearly a decade, you only need to ask Liverpool fans how successful that formula is.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

What about Ray Wilkins ?

Impossible, but we thought the same with the interim.

[zolayes 14,489]

He did a good job with us in the early 90's and contributed to starting our revoulution this day. But we would right now be appointing a manager who has been out of the game for nearly a decade, you only need to ask Liverpool fans how successful that formula is.

he is only 3 years older than Benitez ...has never failed as a coach ....was driven out of the English job thro a PR mistake .... you are entitled to your belief that Benitez is better BUT remember your original post

on the subject ... My last word on the subject,,,

[Tomo 21,751]

he is only 3 years older than Benitez ...has never failed as a coach ....was driven out of the English job thro a PR mistake .... you are entitled to your belief that Benitez is better BUT remember your original post

on the subject ... My last word on the subject,,,

What was my original word on the subject, that time is moved on and it's not 1994?

I respect Hoddle for what he did and i don't particularly like Benitez, but my love for this club overrides any personal thoughts on individuals. I don't like Ferguson but if he ever put his name in the hat for the Chelsea job when we had our vacancy i would be thrilled.

[zolayes 14,489]

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

THIS ... if this isnt an insult I don't know what would be ...

now go kiss Rafas ARSE

[Tomo 21,751]

THIS ... if this isnt an insult I don't know what would be ...

now go kiss Rafas ARSE

and here was me hoping for a decent debate, my bad.

[Alabama 1,992]

rafa sucks....i cant wait till d end of the season......

[Rupert 130]

I hope the ignorant, anti-Rafa yobos on here read this. It's very true. But more important I hope the decent Chelsea fans read it shout teh boo boys down:© Copyright Guillem Balague 2012

Webdesign David Alvira

Guillem Balague Exclusive: Author Talks Pep Guardiola, Barcelona, Rafa Benitez By Nick Ackerman on January 24, 2013

Friday 25-01-2013

Guillem Balague is one of the world's most recognisable football experts. The trusted Sky Sports pundit spends his time talking all things Spanish on Revista de La Liga, writing for The Times and staying ahead of the curve onTwitter.

B/R: Before we part, what are you thoughts on Rafa Benitez's treatment at Chelsea?

It's fascinating that Luis Felipe Scolari, Fabio Capello and Rafa Benitez are laughed at in England. Top managers who can do a lot of good for their teams. I don't know why that is, but it is a 'fact' as Rafa would say.

I've been thinking of big clubs in history that have actually had such a big go at their managers. Not based on results and not based on performances. Certainly not based on the work this person puts into the team, the hours he puts into it, what his CV is, what his history is. I can only think of Van Gaal in his second time at Barcelona—not at Bayern Munich, not at Milan, not at Juve, not at Real Madrid, not really, not really.

So, I'm fascinated to know where all of this comes from. I know, I heard all of the stories where he comes from. It's interesting that Chelsea fans I know of are telling me the ones with the campaign are a minority.

But I think it's all based on one thing. Fans have lost power; they don't have any power anymore, anywhere. They don't have power towards their clubs, they don't have power towards the players, on the decisions, nothing.

When the club is a bit weak, it is their chance to have a say, an influence. They smell the weakness and they grab a victim (Rafa in this case) and don't let go. It is their way to feel influential, powerful again. They have created almost like a celebrity fan set—we will be the ones that will get rid of a manager and impose the one we want.

But, I say, you are affecting the team and its performance. Well, that minority doesn't seem to care—first it is us, what we think, what we say, me, me, me... very typical of this society.

It happened at Aston Villa, it happened at Newcastle and it happened at Chelsea. Fans thought, 'No, definitely not Rafa, anyone but Rafa.' That was their decision, 'whoever, but not Rafa.' So, when they got Rafa in, it was putting to them, 'Sorry, but you don't have any power.' That's very annoying for that small group.

I think that's what it is but I would love to have a forum where I can chat to them, discuss, argue, shout at each other even, with respect always present. But a minority in that minority seem to prefer to insult in a kind of bullying way. I hate bullying, I love arguing. It is a shame some behave like that because football is to be loved, discussed, enjoyed.

A huge thank you to Balague for taking time out of his busy schedule to speak with me, and to the staff at Waterstones, Leeds.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1498270-guillem-balague-exclusive-author-talks-pep-guardiola-barcelona-rafa-benitez