2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[Kaiser Soysauce]

If you are trying to provoke me by insinuating that I am some sort of a Kopite, please just say it you coward.

I used an @ sign to highlight the fact that I blatantly thought you supported the RS. The comment was completely devoid of insinuation.

 

[MikeH72]

I used an @ sign to highlight the fact that I blatantly thought you supported the RS. The comment was completely devoid of insinuation.

Spurty despite being a many times banned multi, definitely isn’t a red. @Toff33Blues99 however, I have some doubts about.

 

[Dixieslaces]

Lol...."meff". Not heard that since senior school. Left there in 94 !!

early 80's for me!!!

I'm probably too old to use it now !

 

[nsno-chris]

I have been a fan of him since his Valencia day and was ecstatic when Liverpool appointed him. Really heart broken when he was terminated. He would have won the league then if he was properly backed at the time.

I was really disappointed when FSG didn't hire him in 2011-12 when he was available and decided to appoint Dalglish instead. Bad mistakes from their part and it took them quite a while later to get it right with Klopp.

He always know how to make the team play better than the sum of its parts. I do personally rated him as high as Klopp in that regards. I don't think he ever have a chance to really create a team in his vision.

At Liverpool, he was stuck with slow CB (Carragher & Hyypia. Agger was too injury prone to form the partnership with Skrtel, losing Vidic to Man Utd was a big blow looking back) and lack of top class wide attacking player to play to his vision (Daniel Alves, Figo, Simao). His Valencia team, although lacking top class striker, is probably the closest.

He will do a really really job for Everton I am sure of that. It is exactly the environment that he should thrived. I don't think he would want the Newcastle job as he would prefer to build the team from the ground up and that's need stability.

In my opinion, the top 3 (Man City, Liverpool, & Chelsea) are too far ahead of anyone else at the moment but the 4th place is still up for grab. With some luck on your key players and with proper support in January transfer window, I can see your team challenging Man Utd for the 4th place.

You are in good hand so I don't think I need to wish you luck as long as he is still your manager.

He spent £250m and signed 61 players; but yeah, he wasn’t backed

 

[ProZ]

Raf clearly has an eye for a player. Some of his signings for previous clubs have been exceptional, obviously there is always going to be some dossers but that can’t be helped. Over the last 5 years we have probably had a 20% hit ratio with the Moshiri money.

 

[Papa Shango]

Raf clearly has an eye for a player. Some of his signings for previous clubs have been exceptional, obviously there is always going to be some dossers but that can’t be helped. Over the last 5 years we have probably had a 20% hit ratio with the Moshiri money.

His signings for Liverpool were good when they were obvious ones (like signing wonderkids and world class talent already) or abject.

All that matters really is that 2 of his three signings for us have been boss for us so far.

 

[Lord Buckethead]

His signings for Liverpool were good when they were obvious ones (like signing wonderkids and world class talent already) or abject.

All that matters really is that 2 of his three signings for us have been boss for us so far.

2 of 5, are you forgetting his 2 goalies?

 

[ProZ]

His signings for Liverpool were good when they were obvious ones (like signing wonderkids and world class talent already) or abject.

All that matters really is that 2 of his three signings for us have been boss for us so far.

It’s his ones for Napoli also that are the most impressive, a club that probably would be looking for the same grade of players as us for a similar budget. And obviously we know before he was let go from Liverpool he was after Barry who seemed to work well for us past his peak. Obviously as you say though it’s his signings for us that matter and to think of the money we have spent and he’s brought those two wingers in for pretty much nothing and they are first 11.

 

[Papa Shango]

2 of 5, are you forgetting his 2 goalies?

I'm not forgetting them, I am just not counting them as they don't mean much to me.

 

[Papa Shango]

It’s his ones for Napoli also that are the most impressive, a club that probably would be looking for the same grade of players as us for a similar budget. And obviously we know before he was let go from Liverpool he was after Barry who seemed to work well for us past his peak. Obviously as you say though it’s his signings for us that matter and to think of the money we have spent and he’s brought those two wingers in for pretty much nothing and they are first 11.

The Barry thing was terrible management really. He alienated Alonso (a better player to be honest) to the point where he ended up leaving the club that season and didn't manage to bring in Barry any way. Get Barry in first before binning off your existing player.

I have no idea who signed who at Napoli really. I don't pay that much attention to Italy.

 

[Shibbywiggles]

His signings for Liverpool were good when they were obvious ones (like signing wonderkids and world class talent already) or abject.

All that matters really is that 2 of his three signings for us have been boss for us so far.

Exactly! We spent far too long talking about the great things Ancelotti did before Everton but ultimately that was irrelevant.

All that matters about Benitez record is that with a combined 1.7m he’s signed two players that massively improved our first team, two back up keepers and a back up striker who will probably be better than whatever else we had available when fit.

Ancelotti too had a great summer, signing Godfrey, Allan, James and Doucoure for around £70m for what it’s worth, our squad troubles lie firmly at the feet of everyone involved since Moyes.

 

[FrenchDarrenBent]

He spent £250m and signed 61 players; but yeah, he wasn’t backed

He sold more than he bought (if you consider Mascherano & Raheem Sterling).
Simple question: If you sold your house for 200k & you bought a new one for 225k, how much did you really 'lose'?

Sometimes you have to rummage in the bargain bin, like this summer.

If you're going to criticize him, criticize him for failed 'marquee signings'. Alberto Aquilo comes to my mind. The only one in my opinion...

 

[nsno-chris]

He sold more than he bought (if you consider Mascherano & Raheem Sterling).
Simple question: If you sold your house for 200k & you bought a new one for 225k, how much did you really 'lose'?

Sometimes you have to rummage in the bargain bin, like this summer.

If you're going to criticize him, criticize him for failed 'marquee signings'. Alberto Aquilo comes to my mind. The only one in my opinion...

He spent £250m, failed to deliver the league, and was sacked. And buying a house is not a business so that’s most pointless defence I’ve ever witnessed.

And out of the £250m I’d say he wasted the best part of £110m on Morientes, Crouch, Pennant, Leto, Babel, Dosenna, Cavalieri, Keane, Riera, Johnson, Kyragiakos and Aquiliani

So, as to my original post: yes he was backed.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

He sold more than he bought (if you consider Mascherano & Raheem Sterling).
Simple question: If you sold your house for 200k & you bought a new one for 225k, how much did you really 'lose'?

Sometimes you have to rummage in the bargain bin, like this summer.

If you're going to criticize him, criticize him for failed 'marquee signings'. Alberto Aquilo comes to my mind. The only one in my opinion...

All things considered we
really do need to be regularly competing at the right
end of the table.

You won’t find many complaints from the fans if so,
only growing support,
unless there is underhand interloping dividing the fan base.

Seeing us a few points off the top of the
table is pleasing.
i think the manager's approach of
lots of pressure,
lots of commitment will pay off.

Having the right mentality is key too,
even with this new tactic of counterattacking we
really need the team to show that ‘never say die’ approach
even when all seems lost.

 

[Groucho]

I have been a fan of him since his Valencia day and was ecstatic when Liverpool appointed him. Really heart broken when he was terminated. He would have won the league then if he was properly backed at the time.

I was really disappointed when FSG didn't hire him in 2011-12 when he was available and decided to appoint Dalglish instead. Bad mistakes from their part and it took them quite a while later to get it right with Klopp.

He always know how to make the team play better than the sum of its parts. I do personally rated him as high as Klopp in that regards. I don't think he ever have a chance to really create a team in his vision.

At Liverpool, he was stuck with slow CB (Carragher & Hyypia. Agger was too injury prone to form the partnership with Skrtel, losing Vidic to Man Utd was a big blow looking back) and lack of top class wide attacking player to play to his vision (Daniel Alves, Figo, Simao). His Valencia team, although lacking top class striker, is probably the closest.

He will do a really really job for Everton I am sure of that. It is exactly the environment that he should thrived. I don't think he would want the Newcastle job as he would prefer to build the team from the ground up and that's need stability.

In my opinion, the top 3 (Man City, Liverpool, & Chelsea) are too far ahead of anyone else at the moment but the 4th place is still up for grab. With some luck on your key players and with proper support in January transfer window, I can see your team challenging Man Utd for the 4th place.

You are in good hand so I don't think I need to wish you luck as long as he is still your manager.

Some good points there.