Happinesstan

I've already made that clear but 'll do so again. I was commenting on those using Rafa's "poorer" performances at NUFC to question his methods in relation to his failure at Everton. The fact that his methods were successful here can not be used to explain why they failed elsewhere. I deliberately exclude Everton from my post, so as to separate the two.

Well in the context of the meaning to my post it certainly seemed like it. But mate, it was all in good faith. My "patronising" response was more of a dig at those who are responsible for the writing of football history. They're pretty much the same people that wrote Rafa off every year, so I did acknowledge that you are unlikely to read about that aspect of Rafa's history. But anybody who lived through those years will tell you the truth.

Imagine if we'd gone in search of a second, they broke and equalised. Imagine Rafa came out and blamed fan expectation.

It's a well written post, but it is an attempt to define him based on the last 5 years in a career lasting over 30. His teams and performances are questioned every year, without fail, despite the fact that every year he is vindicated. We won the Championship in the dying moments of the season. Pushing for an extra goal against Burton Albion, might have ended that. It might not of course, but imagine if it did.

It's an interesting comparison, if only because Lampard has the full support of the fans and the media, he has no reputation or methods, but hey.

Say what you want about the World Wars. Fuck it, I don't recall much about the Falklands, but I experienced Rafa's career in England.

In response to your response which offered his time at everton as a counter argument. My comment was, I suppose, in relation to those using some of his "poorer" performances at NUFC to demonstrate why he failed at Everton. But it was more to tempt people away from rewriting history.

That was my dream for Paqueta. A midfield trio working hard for, and with, each other. I think Maddison could do it, but the Brazilian trio looked perfect to me. Right now Maddison is the obvious choice [if he's interested] but there could easily be a new target come January.

There is a very good reason why Rafa was the ideal manager for Staveley.

Because it completely ignores the reputation he built up in the 12 years before he joined us.

I never disagreed. I made no comment about his time at Everton.

Celebrate his new contract with his first PL start?

Yeah. I know. What does it have to do with my comment?

I know. Courage is stupidity when you fail.

He's far from beond criticism. He let players go, that should have stayed, and spent the money on Jacob Murphy. But complaining about getting promoted because sometimes we weren't playing the kind of football we wanted is just ridiculous. We secured the championship in the dying minutes of the season. If we scored four more goals in every one of our other victories that doesn't change.

The whole situation was a disaster, I don't disagree. But it was a predictable disaster. The reason he succeeded in implementing his methods, both here and at Liverpool, was because the fans, in the majority, got behind him and his teams. My point had nothing to do with Everton. I was talking about why sometimes our performances weren't exactly entertaining. He's said many a time that winning 3-0,4-0,5-0, doesn't gain you any extra points. What does gain you extra, but immeasurable points, is conserving energy in order to maintain consistent levels for the entirety of the season. The response seemed to suggest that because he fucked up at Everton, those questioning the poor performances are right to say he might have been shite after all.

And I don't think any of them were missing 3.5 of their best players.

There is also no way he stays here, beyond the relegation if our fans had treated him like the scum* at Everton. *Not all Everton fans are scum.

You're a history student about to do your masters. I expect better than this cherry picked nonsense. He wasn't at Everton for the full season so his ability to get the best "OVER THE SEASON" was never possible. He built his English reputation with his 6 years at Liverpoool where his early season team selections, performances and results, were constantly ridiculed by the pundits, but he always finished stronger than most, leaving the pundits looking like the mugs we know they are. In your defence you likely didn't experience it for yourself being so damned young, and the embarrassment of bullshit that the pundits spouted, every August, September and October is not something you will encounter while researching his history.

People complaining about individual performances is punditry level. He was a master at getting the best out of his squad over a season. He frustrated a lot of pundits by not doing what they all expected and they'd be questioning his decisions, year after year, in the first half of the season. Only for him to prove every one of them for the idiot they were, by the end of the season. Rinse and repeat.

Agreed. I know it's early to make an assessment, but he looks like a top player. Surround him with similar talent and we'll be challenging, no doubt. But that's long term, in the short term we can look forward to him developing a better understanding with his new teammates.

Same here. But it does go to show that stats can paint the picture you want, because I don't think he's been as bad, comparatively, to those other players. I honestly think he struggles to read the game, hence why his time under [run around and get into the box] Bruce was so prolific. I think he'd be great coming on as a sub, and doing just that. But I don't think that will help to develop him. Maybe persisting with him is the right thing to do in the long term. I guess we'll have to wait to see. I do think Bournemouth was his best performance so far, so there is hope.

Have Bournemouth got a new manager yet?

I haven't watched the video but Rafa doesn't strike me as the kind to seek sympathy for his mistakes.