I’m honestly not that bothered about Rafael Benitez
Wait! Yes, you, I see you there, sharpening your pitchfork, hold on for a second. If you’re going to rain down fresh hell upon me, at least do me the courtesy of reading this piece of writing in its entirety first.
Right, are we calm? Okay them, let’s move onward.
Ever since Everton finally put Roberto Martinez out of his misery last week, there has been much discussion as to who Everton’s next manager should be.
Names such as Koeman, De Boer and even Mourinho have been mentioned, with some being slightly more feasible than others.
It’s well known amongst my friendship group and work colleagues that I’m an Evertonian and, when the discussion of possible next managers comes up, one name is almost always mentioned.
Rafael Benitez
I’m not sure if they are being serious or if they are trying to mischievously wind me up but, on every occasion, the most I’ve done is shrug.
I really don’t have much of an issue with Mr Benitez. Yeah, the “small club” line was fatuous and galling but, and be honest here, does anyone actually think he was being sincere when he said it?
Let’s look at the situation that brought about the comment in the first place.
Liverpool had just had new owners come in and were going through a sticky period in the league. We’d just gone to Anfield and completely nullified their attack in impressive fashion, with Alan Stubbs in particular having an excellent game.
Benitez was on the back foot and did what every manager is his position would have done, he deflected the issue and changed the subject. By making such a daft comment, Benitez ensured that people weren’t talking about how Liverpool’s attack had been stifled or how Benitez himself was going to be under the microscope from the new ownership, but instead people were talking about how he’d had the temerity to call Everton a “small club”.
It also curried favour with the Kopite hoards over the park, who bought it hook, line and sinker.
As an Evertonian, it was a particularly galling thing to hear, but let’s not pretend that other managers haven’t done similar. All managers deflect when the heat is on, it’s what they do.
Do I want Rafael Benitez to be Everton manager? There are certainly others I would rather have, but it wouldn’t worry me if we got him. I think he’s a decent manager. He’s certainly not in the Mourinho/Ancelotti/Guardiola bracket of club manager, but he’s not that far down from it either.
Benitez comes in and I think the worst we could realistically expect would be a top half finish and a cup run. I certainly don’t think he’d relegate us. If Newcastle had got him in a month of two earlier, he probably would have kept them up. They looked a much better side with him at the helm.
I’ve made no secret that my choice for manager would be Joachim Loew, which is hardly an unrealistic goal when you consider the investment from Moshiri, the great young talent we have in the squad and also the fact that Loew has said in the past that he was going to look at things after Euro 2016.
Barring the dream of Jogi coming to Everton, I’d certainly be interested to see Mourinho come in, if only because it would raise Everton’s profile. I would have reservations, especially as Mourinho doesn’t have an especially good reputation for bringing young players through, and if last Sunday was anything to go by, I think it’s imperative that we make the most of lads like Davies and Dowell while we have the chance.
Would a couple of cups be worth possibly squandering the best collection of young players we’ve had in years? I guess we wouldn’t know until he left, which worries me somewhat.
Koeman? I’m not entirely sure he’s an automatic better bet than Benitez to be honest. I wouldn’t be worried if either of them getting the job, although I wouldn’t be that enthused either.
So ultimately, I’m very “meh” on Benitez. If he wants to interview for the job, I’ve nothing against him doing so, but I’m hardly banging the drum for him either.
There’s no doubt that he’d be a controversial and unpopular appointment at first, but that’s not to say he couldn’t win us over in time with some good performances and an apology for past sins committed.
That’s all I have to say on the matter really
*Retreats to bunker*
Wait! Yes, you, I see you there, sharpening your pitchfork, hold on for a second. If you’re going to rain down fresh hell upon me, at least do me the courtesy of reading this piece of writing in its entirety first.
Right, are we calm? Okay them, let’s move onward.
Ever since Everton finally put Roberto Martinez out of his misery last week, there has been much discussion as to who Everton’s next manager should be.
Names such as Koeman, De Boer and even Mourinho have been mentioned, with some being slightly more feasible than others.
It’s well known amongst my friendship group and work colleagues that I’m an Evertonian and, when the discussion of possible next managers comes up, one name is almost always mentioned.
Rafael Benitez
I’m not sure if they are being serious or if they are trying to mischievously wind me up but, on every occasion, the most I’ve done is shrug.
I really don’t have much of an issue with Mr Benitez. Yeah, the “small club” line was fatuous and galling but, and be honest here, does anyone actually think he was being sincere when he said it?
Let’s look at the situation that brought about the comment in the first place.
Liverpool had just had new owners come in and were going through a sticky period in the league. We’d just gone to Anfield and completely nullified their attack in impressive fashion, with Alan Stubbs in particular having an excellent game.
Benitez was on the back foot and did what every manager is his position would have done, he deflected the issue and changed the subject. By making such a daft comment, Benitez ensured that people weren’t talking about how Liverpool’s attack had been stifled or how Benitez himself was going to be under the microscope from the new ownership, but instead people were talking about how he’d had the temerity to call Everton a “small club”.
It also curried favour with the Kopite hoards over the park, who bought it hook, line and sinker.
As an Evertonian, it was a particularly galling thing to hear, but let’s not pretend that other managers haven’t done similar. All managers deflect when the heat is on, it’s what they do.
Do I want Rafael Benitez to be Everton manager? There are certainly others I would rather have, but it wouldn’t worry me if we got him. I think he’s a decent manager. He’s certainly not in the Mourinho/Ancelotti/Guardiola bracket of club manager, but he’s not that far down from it either.
Benitez comes in and I think the worst we could realistically expect would be a top half finish and a cup run. I certainly don’t think he’d relegate us. If Newcastle had got him in a month of two earlier, he probably would have kept them up. They looked a much better side with him at the helm.
I’ve made no secret that my choice for manager would be Joachim Loew, which is hardly an unrealistic goal when you consider the investment from Moshiri, the great young talent we have in the squad and also the fact that Loew has said in the past that he was going to look at things after Euro 2016.
Barring the dream of Jogi coming to Everton, I’d certainly be interested to see Mourinho come in, if only because it would raise Everton’s profile. I would have reservations, especially as Mourinho doesn’t have an especially good reputation for bringing young players through, and if last Sunday was anything to go by, I think it’s imperative that we make the most of lads like Davies and Dowell while we have the chance.
Would a couple of cups be worth possibly squandering the best collection of young players we’ve had in years? I guess we wouldn’t know until he left, which worries me somewhat.
Koeman? I’m not entirely sure he’s an automatic better bet than Benitez to be honest. I wouldn’t be worried if either of them getting the job, although I wouldn’t be that enthused either.
So ultimately, I’m very “meh” on Benitez. If he wants to interview for the job, I’ve nothing against him doing so, but I’m hardly banging the drum for him either.
There’s no doubt that he’d be a controversial and unpopular appointment at first, but that’s not to say he couldn’t win us over in time with some good performances and an apology for past sins committed.
That’s all I have to say on the matter really
*Retreats to bunker*
