The Benitez Thread

[Billy. 2,742]

shit dont what are the chances he will try and sign a Liverpool flop in the window cos he used him when he was there i will fucking stab the twat if he does and while im at it cut Torres hair off and make him suffer

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Rafa clarifying what he said about Frank and Ash leaving:

"When I was asked the other day, maybe it was a misunderstanding or maybe my English was not good enough, but the situation I know is that they are finishing their contracts [in the summer]. Past that, I do not know," Benitez said.

"I know that Frank is happy here and he is a player that is part of the leadership, he is one of the important players, but I do not know about his future.

"So I cannot say yes or no, he will stay or he will leave, in January or even at the end of the season. At this moment, I do not know."

Read more at http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/181979.html#K6xuC3MzG9sqbQxB.99

[Kez 2,727]

shit dont what are the chances he will try and sign a Liverpool flop in the window cos he used him when he was there i will fucking stab the twat if he does and while im at it cut Torres hair off and make him suffer

Hopefully his powers in signing players are limited as he's only here for 6 months.

[Laylabelle 9,384]

Rafa clarifying what he said about Frank and Ash leaving:

Read more at http://www.espn.co.u...C3MzG9sqbQxB.99

It had that story in the Mail.The headline basically said he was allowing them to go.But when you read it he said nothing of the sort and that it was the boards choice and their contracts needing sorting out etc

[LDN Blue 7,903]

How about Luis Enrique taking over? A cheaper alternative to Pep, won't want a lot of power but with his Barcelona background could bring that attacking style Roman craves. He never really had the squad at Roma that he could have at Chelsea.

I just don't understand the obsession with modelling football the "Barcelona style". Like yeah, that's Spanish football, it's the identity of Spanish football (albeit slightly taken from the Dutch). But English football has its own identity of hard tackling football where you work hard and play for the passion of the fans.. I just don't see what's wrong with that. The English football style is what helped Liverpool & United dominate in their respective eras.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I just don't understand the obsession with modelling football the "Barcelona style". Like yeah, that's Spanish football, it's the identity of Spanish football (albeit slightly taken from the Dutch). But English football has its own identity of hard tackling football where you work hard and play for the passion of the fans.. I just don't see what's wrong with that. The English football style is what helped Liverpool & United dominate in their respective eras.

But Barcelona play the "best" football in the world

[LDN Blue 7,903]

But Barcelona play the "best" football in the world

Lmao it's just stupid isn't it, the obsessions for English clubs trying to play like this. That's why I give Ferguson & even Mancini a lot of dues. They're not trying to replicate Barca, they don't even care about Barca, they're making their tactics to win in their league.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I just don't understand the obsession with modelling football the "Barcelona style". Like yeah, that's Spanish football, it's the identity of Spanish football (albeit slightly taken from the Dutch). But English football has its own identity of hard tackling football where you work hard and play for the passion of the fans.. I just don't see what's wrong with that. The English football style is what helped Liverpool & United dominate in their respective eras.

I would just point out that Barcelona work harder in defence than almost any other team in world football. It isn't just pretty football, but working your bollocks off to win the ball back when you lose it.

The appeal of their style is that it's logical - you keep possession of the ball and let it do the work whilst knackering out the opposition and forcing them to make mistakes which creates space for your players. We actually have a few of the pieces you need in that style of football (the full-backs, the centre-backs, the skill players who can pass the ball) but we're missing a striker and a 'Busquets-type' midfielder.

When you look at our youth teams, the likes of McEachran, Ake, Chalobah, Feruz etc. would all seem to be able to play in that formation too.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I would just point out that Barcelona work harder in defence than almost any other team in world football. It isn't just pretty football, but working your bollocks off to win the ball back when you lose it.

The appeal of their style is that it's logical - you keep possession of the ball and let it do the work whilst knackering out the opposition and forcing them to make mistakes which creates space for your players. We actually have a few of the pieces you need in that style of football (the full-backs, the centre-backs, the skill players who can pass the ball) but we're missing a striker and a 'Busquets-type' midfielder.

When you look at our youth teams, the likes of McEachran, Ake, Chalobah, Feruz etc. would all seem to be able to play in that formation too.

Yes I agree with the defensive work they do and to be frank that's the only thing I would adopt from that 'style'. But why should this pass-pass-pass system be the only "attractive" style? Because that style had no answer to Di Matteo's tactics back when we knocked them out in the semi-final. Bayern didn't have an answer when we continued to shut them out and when we got our goal back.

There's simply nothing wrong with the way English football is designed. I'm not saying hoof it up to the strikers and make them do their things. But English football isn't about the simple pass to everyone just for the sake of it.. It's about the team moving from defence to attack in the most simple and quickest way possible. It's about variations of long-ball, counter attack and the occasional 'get your hands dirty'. Barca style football would make John Terry's defensive abilities frowned upon but in England John Terry's defending is exactly how you cope in England.

[Laylabelle 9,384]

Lmao it's just stupid isn't it, the obsessions for English clubs trying to play like this. That's why I give Ferguson & even Mancini a lot of dues. They're not trying to replicate Barca, they don't even care about Barca, they're making their tactics to win in their league.

And thats how we should be.Play football from which was get results.Dont wana be an Arsenal play 'decent' football but loose all the time because of it.Cant always play pretty pretty or whatever and even more so if you havent got the players to do so

[DH1988 1,307]

Wow wow wow!!

I was screaming at the Tv yesterday again, at Ramires, he is a big problem for us and I don't understand how many more of you haven't picked up on it.

Yes he scored THAT goal in the nou camp, I know, if you ask him to run all day yeah sure why not of course he will.. If you ask him to play a 5 yard pass that isn't hospital it falls to pieces! The amount of times yesterday he burst forward and I'm like 'pass' 'pass.' 'Pass to the left' 'pass' 'PASS!!'. Don't get me started on his tracking of players either! I feel like he gets too much credit because he runs all day long but take a closer look!!

Now you may say 'mikel?' And I agree he is far too slow in distribution. I'm not Michael carricks biggest fan at all I think he is quite pedestrian most of the time but just as an example his distribution is great, one touch, half a second and the ball has gone 25 yards, speed speed speed of passing.

Anyone watch the Madrid derby last night? I was envious Xabi is still putting tackles in and spraying 40 yard balls setting up brilliant counter attacks for Madrid. No I'm not saying sign him but I'm just saying take a look at what other teams do in terms of quick distribution etc

Until that improve we can expect more of the same

[Joe Cool 388]

Wow wow wow!!

I was screaming at the Tv yesterday again, at Ramires, he is a big problem for us and I don't understand how many more of you haven't picked up on it.

Yes he scored THAT goal in the nou camp, I know, if you ask him to run all day yeah sure why not of course he will.. If you ask him to play a 5 yard pass that isn't hospital it falls to pieces! The amount of times yesterday he burst forward and I'm like 'pass' 'pass.' 'Pass to the left' 'pass' 'PASS!!'. Don't get me started on his tracking of players either! I feel like he gets too much credit because he runs all day long but take a closer look!!

Now you may say 'mikel?' And I agree he is far too slow in distribution. I'm not Michael carricks biggest fan at all I think he is quite pedestrian most of the time but just as an example his distribution is great, one touch, half a second and the ball has gone 25 yards, speed speed speed of passing.

Anyone watch the Madrid derby last night? I was envious Xabi is still putting tackles in and spraying 40 yard balls setting up brilliant counter attacks for Madrid. No I'm not saying sign him but I'm just saying take a look at what other teams do in terms of quick distribution etc

Until that improve we can expect more of the same

It's quite clear that we're sorely missing Lampard at the moment.

[Changingman_2000 876]

Listening to "The Press Pass" On talkSPORT. Not surprisingly Chels and the Arse were the main topic of conversation. According to the hacks on board, the general opinion was that Roman won't be giving a flying fuck about the fans reaction to The Fat Controller. How they come to that opinion when the guy hasn't given one interview in his 9 1/2 years here is beyond me. Then again, most of the London based press are West Ham.

Anyway, for what its worth, unless we lose our next ten games by huge margins, Slim isnt going anywhere anytime soon

[mediator 2,026]

Wow wow wow!!

I was screaming at the Tv yesterday again, at Ramires, he is a big problem for us and I don't understand how many more of you haven't picked up on it.

Yes he scored THAT goal in the nou camp, I know, if you ask him to run all day yeah sure why not of course he will.. If you ask him to play a 5 yard pass that isn't hospital it falls to pieces! The amount of times yesterday he burst forward and I'm like 'pass' 'pass.' 'Pass to the left' 'pass' 'PASS!!'. Don't get me started on his tracking of players either! I feel like he gets too much credit because he runs all day long but take a closer look!!

Now you may say 'mikel?' And I agree he is far too slow in distribution. I'm not Michael carricks biggest fan at all I think he is quite pedestrian most of the time but just as an example his distribution is great, one touch, half a second and the ball has gone 25 yards, speed speed speed of passing.

Anyone watch the Madrid derby last night? I was envious Xabi is still putting tackles in and spraying 40 yard balls setting up brilliant counter attacks for Madrid. No I'm not saying sign him but I'm just saying take a look at what other teams do in terms of quick distribution etc

Until that improve we can expect more of the same

I can't agree more

[Laylabelle 9,384]

I was listening to some of that then JT banner randomly got brought up for what seemed like no reason

[Changingman_2000 876]

I was listening to some of that then JT banner randomly got brought up for what seemed like no reason

Aye, they brought up the JT banner because we hold him in such high regard, even though he has been found guilty of racism. Fucking pathetic really. Not guilty in a court of law yet the still bang on about it. Wonder what JT's attitude towards slim is?

[Changingman_2000 876]

It's quite clear that we're sorely missing Lampard at the moment.

And we'll miss him a whole lot more if they bin him next month.

[Laylabelle 9,384]

Aye, they brought up the JT banner because we hold him in such high regard, even though he has been found guilty of racism. Fucking pathetic really. Not guilty in a court of law yet the still bang on about it. Wonder what JT's attitude towards slim is?

Urgh did think be something to do with what.Its crazy he's served his ban and its done!Doesnt make him a crap leader on the pitch...just a bit of a idoit who said a completly crap thing over a year ago

God when he retires no doubt it'll be brought back up