2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

I didn't watch the game myself but if we didn't concede with him on the pitch I have no idea what point the other poster is trying to make.

If we'd have brought him on then lost 3-0 I'd understand but we didn't.

You never missed much mate, overall we were better than of late pressing wise and from set pieces, but it was 2 crap teams on show playing out a 0-0 that was looking on the cards after 30 mins.

 

[Toff33Blues99]

I dont get these types of comments - Norwich just beat Brentford, Crystal Palace beat Man City away from home. West Ham have beaten Everton, Utd, Liverpool & Man City yet lost at home to Brentford.

No game is a banker 3 points in this league regardless of how "poor" or "well" a team plays.

DCL & Doucoure in that team and we win yesterday - Richarlison isn't a CF he's a wide player.

We've played most of the season without a capable CF which unlike Man City who actually have a CF in Jesus but play him out wide we dont have the quality of players to still win games without one consistently.

Am officially bored of these type of comments, speaking like Dom is Messi. Absolutely no guarantee at all that we win yesterday if he is in the team. Firstly we created zero chances for anyone. Everyone was calling for Richarlison to play up top now things are not going well then the excuses come out

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Am officially bored of these type of comments, speaking like Dom is Messi. Absolutely no guarantee at all that we win yesterday if he is in the team. Firstly we created zero chances for anyone. Everyone was calling for Richarlison to play up top now things are not going well then the excuses come out

No one is saying we "deffo" would of won additonal games - but we certainly would have had a better chance with our top goal scorer available who thrives off crosses into the box.

Add to that DCL up top means Gray in his natural position and Richarlison playing in a more free position given more room to exploit rather than being the focal point.

 

[Chrismac]

Much like @Chrismac wanted me to answer for your Spurs comparison, you are now wanting me to justify @Chrismac 's assertion that Pochettino's record should be judged on trophies. Spurs are hardly regular trophy winners either but Chrissy believed that was the justification for jibbing off Pochettino so I just wanted to make sure he was consistent in his judgements. But really, you'd have to ask C-Mac as it was his argument in the first place. You two have a lot in common, you really should get together for a beer and some Benitez shaped potato products.

And now ill play catch up with the late night shenanigans!
You're making assumptions on my post regards Poch and his record should be judged on winning trophies.
He regularly took Spurs to CL which if we're honest was what his paymaster would have preferred rather than domestic cup wins.
He had 5 seasons?? at the club during which time he had brought in over 20 players which imo makes it his team.
Levy ditched him when they were struggling and presumably thought he could take them no further.
Its a million miles away from where we are with Benitez short term.
Im not a fan of RB, never was, however have no massive hate for him either that clouds judgement like your own Windy.
How anyone can think he messed up yesterday is beyond me though.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I know that question isn’t to me , although not advocating it I said last week I could see the sense in it . No point in past posting stuff and pretending in hindsight things are different , I thought we missed an extra body in there and in the games he’s played there he’s been ‘ok’.

Yesterday it’s not a sub I’d have made , personally I think we desperately needed presence in The box .

I'm sorry, did we lose the game yesterday or concede a goal with him in midfield?

He got sent off 10 minutes after coming on as a midfielder!

If getting a straight red after 10 minutes of being a midfielder isn't justification for not playing him as a midfielder then not sure what else is?

 

[ToffeeTim]

I didn't watch the game myself but if we didn't concede with him on the pitch I have no idea what point the other poster is trying to make.

If we'd have brought him on then lost 3-0 I'd understand but we didn't.

I only saw the highlights, but he got sent off for a rash challenge and the only chance Spurs seemed to have came from him losing the ball in a bad area.

It looked like a bit of a nightmare 10 minutes. I just don't think he's very good. If there is any interest for north of £10m then we should be looking to move him on.

 

[Harryflashman]

He got sent off 10 minutes after coming on as a midfielder!

If getting a straight red after 10 minutes of being a midfielder isn't justification for not playing him as a midfielder then not sure what else is?

So I should pretend I didn’t think those advocating him as a potential sub at the time in another fixture a week ago might have had a point ? Is that what you’re suggesting ? I honestly don’t understand what you mean by quoting me

 

[Chrismac]

He got sent off 10 minutes after coming on as a midfielder!

If getting a straight red after 10 minutes of being a midfielder isn't justification for not playing him as a midfielder then not sure what else is?

Tbh we we're better with him off the pitch. He gave the ball away twice dilly dallying on it, the 2nd time Spurs couldve scored, after only making one chance in the whole 80mins before he came on the pitch.

 

[Ghost Rider]

So I should pretend I didn’t think those advocating him as a potential sub at the time in another fixture a week ago might have had a point ? Is that what you’re suggesting ? I honestly don’t understand what you mean by quoting me

You quoted me as well!

Tbh we we're better with him off the pitch. He gave the ball away twice dilly dallying on it, the 2nd time Spurs couldve scored, after only making one chance in the whole 80mins before he came on the pitch.

Yeah , this was the discussion last week I had with nimzee about how putting him there wasn't a good idea just so it could make a 3 man midfield.

Either he was just terrible there or got a 10 minute red card. Either way it suggests, don't play him there!

 

[Harryflashman]

You quoted me as well!


Yeah , this was the discussion last week I had with nimzee about how putting him there wasn't a good idea just so it could make a 3 man midfield.

Either he was just terrible there or got a 10 minute red card. Either way it suggests, don't play him there!

Yeah I was just making the point , In relation to the previous game that I could see where those advocating him as sub where coming from . It certainly wasn’t a change I’d have made yesterday and his performance wasn’t really something I’d imagine anyone Is looking to defend .

In the odd game in that role he’s done ok , not stellar by any means but ok so I can see it as an option was where I was coming from given the circumstances. As I’ve said I felt against spurs we had a need to change it upfront if anything .

 

[welshtoffee]

I really hope we improve in the next few matches, my lad has just got us 2 tickets for the Arsenal match and i am thinking a set of earplugs may be in order to drown out the constant BOO'S

 

[Nymzee]

He got sent off 10 minutes after coming on as a midfielder!

If getting a straight red after 10 minutes of being a midfielder isn't justification for not playing him as a midfielder then not sure what else is?

Again, did we concede or lose because of him playing in midfield? Roy Keane got sent off once maybe United should have never played him in midfield.

 

[MACCA75]

Again, did we concede or lose because of him playing in midfield? Roy Keane got sent off once maybe United should have never played him in midfield.

It was one of the worst cameos I’ve ever seen on a football pitch, it’s really not worth defending.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Yeah I was just making the point , In relation to the previous game that I could see where those advocating him as sub where coming from . It certainly wasn’t a change I’d have made yesterday and his performance wasn’t really something I’d imagine anyone Is looking to defend .

In the odd game in that role he’s done ok , not stellar by any means but ok so I can see it as an option was where I was coming from given the circumstances. As I’ve said I felt against spurs we had a need to change it upfront if anything .

The discussion last week was how he shouldn't be a midfielder or considered as one.

It's by no means a certaintly, just a theoretical suggestion. Say it was 2 weeks ago , team is collapsing and he gets a straight red. Just because we didn't lose the game following it doesn't make it any less an issue. I mean he hasn't even been good in defence either! Just putting anyone there isn't the answer as holgate showed yesterday. We were just lucky it was so late on not to influence the result.

Paul scholes was a midfielder by trade, as he got older, he sat deeper. You never wanted him to be a defensive midfielder though because he was more likely to two foot the player than win it cleanly.

So should holgate be a midfielder? 10 minutes yesterday says absolutely not.

 

[Chrismac]

Again, did we concede or lose because of him playing in midfield? Roy Keane got sent off once maybe United should have never played him in midfield.

He was completely cack for the 10mins he was on the pitch. As bad as he possibly could've been!
In fairness there have been plenty of shouts on here before about him playing there, all off the back of one decent display against manure under Dunc.
Yesterday maybe killed off the hope that that was anything more than a flash in the pan.