It wasn't just caving into the players though. He was a) divisive b) really bad c) devious with his PR machine and d) clueless
He was an awful, awful pick, because he's not a good manager
This isn't a defence of Lampard. He's made mistakes, but recently he's found a style which should have resulted in more points and only didn't because of mistakes and basic errors.
We've been calling for a manager to ruffle a few feathers for years after numerous pushovers and uninterested appointments.
Fans cant slate the club over jobs for the boys, keeping on the same unqualified fitness/conditioning department and recruitment team but then moan when we got a manager in who was throwing them all under the bus and booting key personnel out the door.
We get the club we deserve.
Im not saying Benitez was perfect or that he had done a good job but I do believe its no coincidence that after a good start to the season the wheels came off as soon as he called into question the likes of Brands / Donachie.
The clubs a holiday camp and if you dont tow the party line you're out.