So having heard the interview and spoken to a few stupidly anti-Chelsea mates, I do feel a little sorry for Benitez (I know, too easily pushed over, don't say it). So what I've decided to do is a table of pros and cons for Benitez, and maybe reach a conclusion. Anything to add, leave a comment and I'll add it in. So let's try to be level headed and unbiased!
In defence of Benitez
- The home crowd never got behind him. The atmosphere was always poisonous and would not have helped results.
- We are still in the top four and challenging for Europa and the FA Cup.
- He inherited a team that was already in terrible form with obvious gaps in the squad.
- He has a striker who is, frankly, unacceptably bad and there is supposedly pressure from above to play him.
- Our joint highest win ever (8-0 vs Aston Villa).
- Luiz in midfield (though it is debatable as to where that is a good thing or a bad thing - another debate for another time).
- The term "interim manager" used everywhere was unnecessary.
Rafa out!
- "Plastic fans, plastic flags."
- Knew he was taking over somewhere he was not wanted.
- His bizarre range of excuses, such as not having a pre-season to work with the players.
------ Anyone ever heard of Roberto di Matteo or Guus Hiddink?
- His baffling substitutions and his inability to hold on to a two goal lead.
- Rafatation
------- See: QPR
- Tactical weaknesses, such as the lack of pressing from the defence leading to an overpowered two man midfield.
- Rafatation when Rafatation is not required
-------- See: Hazard, Ballboy Gate
- His apparent feud with John Terry
- On his watch, we have gone out of:
--------- Premier League
--------- League Cup
--------- CWC
--------- Champions League (not his fault, admittedly)
- THE WORST PREMIER LEAGUE WIN RATE OF THE ROMAN ERA
- The goatee.
Any more? For or against?
For and against Benitez
posted on 28/2/13
Inter Milan happened, he won two trophies and due to the World Club Cup, which he won, they had games in hand over AC. He saw the club would fall and asked for funds to buy players having sold players, with others getting old. He made an ultimatum, they sacked him, he was proved correct and has been since.
posted on 28/2/13
Rodger's Revo
Which website did you just copy that from?
posted on 28/2/13
comment by Ronny Von Banterous - Jose come home! (U5996)
posted 1 minute ago
Rodger's Revo
Which website did you just copy that from?
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Website? None. I get my opinions by looking at what happens and forming it. I don't follow websites and newspapers like a sheep like th epeople who keep claiming Rafa failed at Inter. First manager in the history of the world to fail by winning two trophies.
posted on 28/2/13
Rodger's Revo
but your claiming that RDM failed.... so Rafa's not the "First manager in the history of the world" at failing by winning 2 trophies
posted on 28/2/13
comment by Ronny Von Banterous - Jose come home! (U5996)
posted 26 seconds ago
Rodger's Revo
but your claiming that RDM failed.... so Rafa's not the "First manager in the history of the world" at failing by winning 2 trophies
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Show me where, anywhere, apart from your own mind, where I have said RDM failed.
posted on 28/2/13
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 28/2/13
Everybody I know judges Rafa on his trophies. Everybody else hates him because he brought trophies to Liverpool, like you for example. And then others when he says Chelsea's fans are plastic, which again has been proven.
posted on 28/2/13
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 28/2/13
Yeah judges on football, that's what people should do but they don't. A multi-trophy winning manager judged on football, would have got the backing ta Chelsea.
posted on 28/2/13
As a United fan with no reason to like Rafa and perhaps more reason to dislike him than most (outside of Chelsea fans) I can quite easily say Rafa is a good manager.
It cannot be denied he did a good job at both Valencia and Liverpool, it also can't be denied that there were problems not of his making at both Inter and Chelsea that stopped him being more successful.
Inter look at them since Rafa left, if anything they are doing even worse...