2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Much of the Moyes interregnum was spent watching boring football

I mean, that's demonstrably incorrect

We often played good football under Moyes once he finally got bedded in and started working in his own players to replace the ones he inherited

The likes of Baines, Pienaar, Arteta and others used to be very entertaining to watch when in full flow

It took him a few seasons but he got us there eventually, which also disproves your theory that a manager can't in time switch up the style their team plays after a period of time

I'm looking at some of these players we're linked with in this upcoming window and they don't strike me as boring players. They strike me as players who can and will play a more attacking game if Benitez is able to ride out his first couple of seasons

If he can turn it around and start getting results, regardless of how "exciting" the football is, then we need to lay off him a bit

I'm going the match, not a night at the theatre

 

[davek]

Let’s not pretend we didn’t get absolutely battered lol

Battered 1-1.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

I think we're in a good place at last. Got through the really tough run of fixtures, key players now coming back and the window about to open. things are looking up. I think a lot of Evertonians who were undecided on Benitez sat up after the result at Chelsea. We had a terrific result against Arsenal, but one game is never enough. But to send a bunch of kids to the home of the European champions and come away with a terrific point, an ordinary manager just doesn't do that. That's why the players are all puiing for him. I think 2022 is going to be a much better one than 2021 for Evertonians. We've come a long way since that slop served up by Ancelotti for the last six months of his 'reign'. Remember when we couldn't get the ball off relegated Sheffield United and countless others at Goodison Park. Not only that, they were playing through us like we weren't there.
In some ways Moshir must be pinching himself, he's probably better off about £80m than was looking likely to be the case. Six months ago he was looking at having to pay off Carlo (£30m), James (£10m) and no expectation of transfer wizardry such as Gray(£40m). But then Rafael Benitez walked into his life, and the rest is history.

What a load of bollocks. lol

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Let’s not pretend we didn’t get absolutely battered lol

What stood out to me was the effort levels and dedication

That's first and foremost what a squad of Everton players need to deliver

If he could drag that out of these players every week the results would turn. That's his next challenge

He may not be up to it, but it's what he needs to do, and fast

 

[BirkenheadBlue]

Was Ferguson not on the verge of being sacked before it all started working out?

Yes. Which has been quoted by every supporter of a failing manager ever since.

 

[BirkenheadBlue]

Because the club is run like a second hand shop off Wavertree Road in the mid 70's

You're not wrong. Case in point, look who we appointed as manager

 

[dublinbluenose]

Plenty of sides have won trophies playing a more defensive style

Chelsea in particular were masters at it

I'm fine with soaking up pressure and catching teams on the counter provided it works

Benitez's style isn't fun to watch but if we were winning games with it then I couldn't fault it

We aren't do, so he's rightly getting criticised for it

Chelsea didnt win anything while enjoying 30 odd % possession. Defensive solidity is not the same as gifting up possession and hoping to hit on the counter attack.

We've regressed defensively under Benitez. We're conceding far to many set piece goals. Our midfield is far to open to play counter attacking football. He is playing his go to tactics without the fundamental ingredients. He is far to wedded to his philosophy and looks incapable of changing it here.

There are a lot of people with agendas against certain players / staff that are happy with him for running them out of the club. Seems to me like rearranging deck chairs tbh.

He'll hit a brick wall soon if we dont start winning games.

 

[Nymzee]

Battered 1-1.

Yes Dave, you can still be battered and get a draw if you weren’t aware.

 

[Eggsyblueskin]

It's like being in Joe McCarthy's 1950s America in this thread. The Bedsheet FBI accusing anyone who supports the Everton manager of being a Kopite.

Almost 4/10 want to retain an ex-Liverpool manager when we're 14th in the table having lost a load of games.

I'd say you better make hay while the sun shines, because when we start ascending the table...which we will...your race is run.

It’s a difference of opinion between fellow supporters who all want success for their club not the Third World War you contrarian buffoon.

 

[Cameron Manning]

You’ve seriously not head that word before? Wow! That may well be the word of your life, never mind the week. You can use it tomorrow if you like.

Thanks for that, erm how do you pronounce it!!

 

[roy vernon]

It's like being in Joe McCarthy's 1950s America in this thread. The Bedsheet FBI accusing anyone who supports the Everton manager of being a Kopite.

Almost 4/10 want to retain an ex-Liverpool manager when we're 14th in the table having lost a load of games.

I'd say you better make hay while the sun shines, because when we start ascending the table...which we will...your race is run.

So,the people who want Benitez out on the forum have gone from 'a noisy minority' as the Benitez till I die brigade put it, to nearly two thirds of posters in a poll wanting him gone.

OK Dave, I'm sure you can find a spin for those figures that makes it seem like you are right.

 

[Nymzee]

So,the people who want Benitez out on the forum have gone from 'a noisy minority' as the Benitez till I die brigade put it, to nearly two thirds of posters in a poll wanting him gone.

OK Dave, I'm sure you can find a spin for those figures that makes it seem like you are right.

I suspect the % is higher on out if we could see who voted in.

 

[davek]

Yes Dave, you can still be battered and get a draw if you weren’t aware.

Lol.

I saw our GK play well and our defenders keep them at arms length most of the game.

And we were causing them trouble on the break.

"Battered" my arse.

 

[MACCA75]

Hiring a coach in 2021 that doesn’t want to dominate the ball was unforgivable.

15 years ago you could do it, as 70 percent possession stats just simply weren’t a thing. No team could keep the ball that well. Now lots of teams can - even the likes of Palace.

Right from kick off, we are giving ourselves a slim chance of winning a game. It’s no surprise that the more Benitez has implemented his style, the worse results have become.

 

[davek]

It’s a difference of opinion between fellow supporters who all want success for their club not the Third World War you contrarian buffoon.

The Kopite accusations are straight out of the McCarthyite playbook.