The Benitez Thread

[Kojo 4,676]

Credit to the man, look he's done the job, he's got top 4 and won the Europa League.

At first I didn't like him, for obvious reasons, then I hated him even more for all the silly points he was dropping, then I hated him even more for playing the victim... But right now I just can't hate him anymore, good on him to be honest.

I may get criticism for this, but I do have some respect for him from now on, I hated the bloke at Liverpool. But he has acted rather well for the past few months since the Middlesbrough moment, and he seems to of been getting the team on track. He's came in he's done the job and we can't simply just tell him to fuck off for that.

So even if we lose against Everton and come 4th, I would just like to say credit to you Benitez, and good luck to you in the future.

[Jype 6,398]

When he took over, my minimum expectations were to finish top3 and win at least one of the remaining cup competitions (League Cup, FA Cup or UEL).

Now we have sealed top4 with a chance to get the third place if we win on Sunday and brought home the cup I wanted the most so what's not to be happy about. Failure to win the much awaited Club World Cup or even the League Cup is a bit of a disappointnent though, as both of them were definitely there for the taking but I guess winning them all would have been too much to ask.

Champions League qualification could have come in a slightly more convincing manner if not for silly points dropped against the bottom teams but doing it the hard way seems to come natural for us and looking back I'm not too disappointed with the way this season has gone.

Thanks Rafa, but now it's time to make way for The Special One. Good luck to Napoli or wherever.

[Luke 60]

I think I share the thoughts of the last few posts, we were never going to accept Rafa but he's done okay in the little time he's had, we have dropped 3rd in the league which is an improvement on last years 5th, we were pretty much already consigned to the Europa League when he took over and we've won it. The 2 semi final defeats were hard to take but in an otherwise disappointing and emotional season for us fans, to finish in a Champions League spot and to win 1 cup is a nice finish to the campaign, thank you Rafa, but it's time for the SPECIAL ONE to come home now.

[Rmpr 8,977]

If he had won at least CWC or League Cup, I would say it was very positive. I mean, UCL football and 2 trophies are pretty darn good!

However, all the easy losses and the dismisses he gave about Liverpool and everything will always have me cringing to say he has done a great job!

I do agree it hasnt been as bad as people make, specially if we beat Everton...

[Rambo 1,729]

No one will be singing his name at the end of the day, but Rafa has done a decent job for us amidst all the scrutiny he was under. I commend him for his professionalism and the way he condoned himself to the media and the fans as a CFC manager.

Best of luck Rafa, unless you fuck back off to Liverpool.

[DDA 9,946]

Rafa. . . You fat fuck. Fair play son. You redeemed some respect back for the job you have done here. Thanks a lot.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Rafa finally showed that he deserves respect as a manager. Never liked here and we, the fans, did not make it easy for him in the first place and he surely has to acknowledge his mistakes in our other cup losses, but he has completed the top4 task which was necessary and he got one the most important trophy left after Premiership and CL got begging.

Like it or not, but Rafa is indeed a champion.

[SinineUltra 1,170]

I'm very happy with the Europa League trophy and possibly 3rd place. Well done. Though has to be said, Rafa had as much got to do us winning this final as did RdM winning last year's final - we rode our luck, but then again that's what champions so often do! Thanks and best of luck in your next job. KTBFFH

[Special Juan 28,149]

Rafa thanks for what you have done, I had a go at you and don't like you but thank you for bringing another trophy to my football club.

Good luck and thank you.

[Fulham Broadway 17,335]

Still a cunt

Fuck off Rafa

[laeth 527]

The Fat Spanish Waiter has delivered! He is a bit annoying at times with his retarded subs; but the guy deserves some credit for how he has rotated the squad over a massively hectic schedule and delivered a semi-final in the FA Cup, Europa League title and top four.

Top manager and an all round nice guy. Good luck in the future Rafa! You're alright in my book.

[Madmax 9,219]

Love you Tubby

No, not really. But thanks for this!

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Still "hate" him for what he said about the club, BUT you can't say he hasn't tried (and, ultimately, done) his best for the club. He'll leave with my thanks, my respect, and nothing but goodwill for the future.

[MetsajCFC 1,255]

He's done well considering the situation of players, support and packed schedule. Good job Rafa and good luck where ever your future takes you, shame Chelsea-Benitez was a mis-fit from day one. He is a great coach though.

[bushman 2,043]

No matter what anyone says, Rafa has done the job well, as I though he would. The boo crowd can kiss his fat butt now. He is leaving with the trophy.

[Fernando 6,585]

Did an ok job. Could have been easier if the fans where not so ridicules giving him stick all the time.

The guy is a professional, and in a game such as this you can talk so much crap and I would not care about it.

I will always care about your ability to win. To help the team reach it's goal.

If you do it while being the biggest douche bag in the world, awesome!

So good luck and fair well, The Interim one!

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

Its funny, but that outburst after the Middlesbrough probably was the key turning point to get us to where we are now.

[Reddish-Blue 2,512]

I refuse to say he's done a decent job simply because of the loss to Swansea in the cup. If we'd won that cup, the Europa League and got top 4 then I'd give him credit. I feel he's done nothing special and I don't buy that idea that our bright start in the league under Di Matteo wasn't going to last. I genuinely believe it was.

Who cares if you think our bright start in the league would have continued under RDM.

Kinda glad Roman or the board pulled the trigger on RDM, change was necessary.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Who cares if you think our bright start in the league would have continued under RDM.

Kinda glad Roman or the board pulled the trigger on RDM, change was necessary!

The same can apply to you, who cares if you thought it wanst going to last and that we needed change...

RDM didnt deserve the sack, no manager deserves to be sacked because they didnt beat Juventus and Shakthar. Our League form was still impressive and we had CWC and COC at our hands. Missing out on UCL is not a reason to savk a manager after 6 months!

Benitez will get all the glory, but people forget that we lost shameful games. Corinthians, Swansea, QPR, Southhampton, Reading draw, etc...

People will say he did a great job, but it was not more than decent (not entirely bad either). TFSW never apologised for what he said nor tried to give an explanation. Also, he had 4 trophies to win and 'only' won one. Besides we dont even know if we will finish top3!

[SinineUltra 1,170]

The same can apply to you, who cares if you thought it wanst going to last and that we needed change...

RDM didnt deserve the sack, no manager deserves to be sacked because they didnt beat Juventus and Shakthar. Our League form was still impressive and we had CWC and COC at our hands. Missing out on UCL is not a reason to savk a manager after 6 months!

Benitez will get all the glory, but people forget that we lost shameful games. Corinthians, Swansea, QPR, Southhampton, Reading draw, etc...

People will say he did a great job, but it was not more than decent (not entirely bad either). TFSW never apologised for what he said nor tried to give an explanation. Also, he had 4 trophies to win and 'only' won one. Besides we dont even know if we will finish top3!

Same can and will be said about RdM. He lost us UCL football, nearly CL spot if we hand't been riding our luck, Super cup and Community Shield. All in all it was a justified decision and all is planning out nicely as it is. Had we stuck with RdM, I don't know where we would have been, because we were in a decline and he was running out of tricks, our defense was leaking although we were for once playing a pleasing football to the eye. Besides, if we had RdM, do you think the club would be possibly after Mourinho or rather if RdM wouldn't have been sacrificed for him? Dejavu.

I know that appetite grows while eating, but let's cherish the 'small' success while we are at it. It isn't every day we recover from such an abysmal season with holding both of the European trophies and securing Champions League football for next season (+3 league positions compared to last season) in a very sturdy competition.