The Benitez Thread

[Joe Cool 388]

I think everybody is being much to harsh on Benitez (including myself at times). The guy has been in charge for about three weeks. He had about two/three days to sort out the team before our match against Man City, and then about a week for West Ham. That's not much time for anybody to start have their team playing brilliant, let alone Benitez. So why doesn't everybody just calm the fuck down about Rafa (including the idiots who were booing when we were up by three against Sunderland) and reserve their judgement for later?

[zolayes 14,489]

I think everybody is being much to harsh on Benitez (including myself at times). The guy has been in charge for about three weeks. He had about two/three days to sort out the team before our match against Man City, and then about a week for West Ham. That's not much time for anybody to start have their team playing brilliant, let alone Benitez. So why doesn't everybody just calm the fuck down about Rafa (including the idiots who were booing when we were up by three against Sunderland) and reserve their judgement for later?

did you travel up to Sunderland ???

[Joe Cool 388]

did you travel up to Sunderland ???

Nope, just from what I hear though. I could be mistaken, of course.

[zolayes 14,489]

our travelling fans earn their right to express their feelings more than any of us

[Joe Cool 388]

our travelling fans earn their right to express their feelings more than any of us

Doesn't make their actions any less daft.

[zolayes 14,489]

Doesn't make their actions any less daft.

go tell them that then

[Joe Cool 388]

go tell them that then

What the hell is your point? I'm just saying that it's been two fucking seconds since he's been appointed manager, so the best you can do at this point is get behind him.

[Tomo 21,733]

I remember when Gerard Houllier made his first return to Anfield with Aston Villa and paid homage to the Kop while touching the "this is Anfield" sign on the way out from the tunnel.

I think it's safe to say if Rafa does that on April 20th, then even most of his backers from Stamford Bridge will turn against him.

[diskoviolente 425]

I remember when Gerard Houllier made his first return to Anfield with Aston Villa and paid homage to the Kop while touching the "this is Anfield" sign on the way out from the tunnel.

I think it's safe to say if Rafa does that on April 20th, then even most of his backers from Stamford Bridge will turn against him.

what a clusterfuck of a situation for rafa

[henlin007 12]

Don't really mind the boos to be honest. If you paid for a ticket, you have a right to show if you're unhappy.

I don't think anyone's argued that it's a matter of what rights they have. It's a matter of how productive doing so is, as well as what class it has. Benitez was a scumbag to us at Liverpool, but he serves in a different context now. He works for what we all want, a winning club. Furthermore, even if that doesn't persuade you to stop the booing, its tangible effects should. It's unproductive for the club, makes us a laughing stock, and is negative to the team as a whole. The players are professional and good players, but that doesn't mean the hate of the manager should make home matches feel like away ones. Isn't the crowd a key aspect of the difference? No matter how well they play now, they would definitely perform better with more united vocal support. This applies double to away matches. They get abused and insulted by opposition fans; they don't need their manager suffering the same from those who are loyal enough to follow the team.

[zolayes 14,489]

What the hell is your point? I'm just saying that it's been two fucking seconds since he's been appointed manager, so the best you can do at this point is get behind him.

don't lose your cool joe

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I don't think anyone's argued that it's a matter of what rights they have. It's a matter of how productive doing so is, as well as what class it has. Benitez was a scumbag to us at Liverpool, but he serves in a different context now. He works for what we all want, a winning club. Furthermore, even if that doesn't persuade you to stop the booing, its tangible effects should. It's unproductive for the club, makes us a laughing stock, and is negative to the team as a whole. The players are professional and good players, but that doesn't mean the hate of the manager should make home matches feel like away ones. Isn't the crowd a key aspect of the difference? No matter how well they play now, they would definitely perform better with more united vocal support. This applies double to away matches. They get abused and insulted by opposition fans; they don't need their manager suffering the same from those who are loyal enough to follow the team.

But it's not even about Rafa. The booing goes beyond hiring FSW. The fact is, any manager who would've been brought in would've got the same reception. The boos and the Di Matteo chants on the 16th minute are a message to the board, it's a message that we're not happy about how the club are treating their employees and how they're subsequently treating the fans. Benitez has broad enough shoulders to bare the brunt of it, the players won't be bothered because the fans know it's not getting aimed at them. It's not about loyalty, if it was about that the fans wouldn't pay to see FSW.

[henlin007 12]

But it's not even about Rafa. The booing goes beyond hiring FSW. The fact is, any manager who would've been brought in would've got the same reception. The boos and the Di Matteo chants on the 16th minute are a message to the board, it's a message that we're not happy about how the club are treating their employees and how they're subsequently treating the fans. Benitez has broad enough shoulders to bare the brunt of it, the players won't be bothered because the fans know it's not getting aimed at them. It's not about loyalty, if it was about that the fans wouldn't pay to see FSW.

This makes more sens,e even though I don't think Roman will listen. Also, to play devil's advocate, we really don't know the terms he offered Di Matteo. Di Matteo may very well have had much higher standards as part of his agreement due to his lack of top level managerial pedigree (stupid policy if the case, but definitely fair in the sense that it wasn't a wanton temper tantrum and from an employee employer relationship-perspective.)

Also, Di Matteo is not Roman's only employee. How well did Roman treat Drogba, Lampard, Terry, and, unfortunately, Torres. They're also his employees. Just a different angle to consider. Every boss has his favorite and less favorites. How well did Roman treat Shev? I would argue in some cases he is almost blindingly loyal to his employees--to the detriment of the club occasionally, but usually to its benefit. When AVB failed to control our aging and deteriorating assets, the old guard, Roman could have just as easily replaced them as him.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Haters always gonna hate

Hope we win some trophies this week and smash Leeds...

Then when we Play Villa - because I'm back in blighty and have tickets

So a minimum of a 4 game unbeaten run, otherwise Rafa out - lol :)

[The only place to be 11,313]

The fact is, any manager who would've been brought in would've got the same reception.

Don't agree with that at all. If Guardiola came in, people would have still supported Robbie but none of the vitriol that has been aimed at Rafa (because it has) or the board would be there or at least not close to the same amount.

It's because it's Benitez and we all felt the same at the start but people are getting over it at their own speed. This cheers on 16 minutes will continue and that's fine - praising Robbie is different from criticising Benitez.

But I will point out one thing about the way this club treated Robbie Di Matteo. They gave him a job at a top European club when his last run as a manager ended in him getting sacked by West Brom and he couldn't even get the job at Birmingham City. They then entrusted the club to him, and he paid us back many times over. But let's not pretend that this club is disrespectful of our history.

Roman is a fan first and foremost. Remember who the first player he tried to sign was and then tell me he doesn't treat the fans well.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

But I will point out one thing about the way this club treated Robbie Di Matteo. They gave him a job at a top European club when his last run as a manager ended in him getting sacked by West Brom and he couldn't even get the job at Birmingham City. They then entrusted the club to him, and he paid us back many times over. But let's not pretend that this club is disrespectful of our history.

Roman is a fan first and foremost. Remember who the first player he tried to sign was and then tell me he doesn't treat the fans well.

This isn't a dig at Roman Abramovich though. It's a representation of the fans just showing dissatisfaction at what's happened to a Chelsea legend. There's no doubt that Roman is a Chelsea fan, spending over £1bn and continuing to invest into the squad shows it. It's the board that advises him that's the problem, after all he is a football fan and his board should be man enough to be able to separate his decisions from the point of view as a fan to a footballing man.

The boos aren't about having a go at Roman, some aren't even that Rafa is in charge. It's a message that due to some major decisions over the last 9 years have severely impacted Chelsea's reputation. We're the laughing stock of most top clubs because of how they're running the club. Yes we can boast an impressive trophy cabinet to counter that, but there's simply more to football than shiny trophies..

[Strike 7,217]

i believe we should readjust our season objectives. secure Top 3 finish and try winning the Europa League/FA Cup/CWC

Rebuilding is best left to the summer where we install a better manager - Pep or Jose preferably

[samzilla 517]

Benitez has broad enough shoulders to bare the brunt of it, the players won't be bothered because the fans know it's not getting aimed at them.

If I'm a player on the pitch and I could have a choice between the fans cheering for the team or booing the manager (even if it's not aimed at the team), I'd much rather be hearing cheers for the team.