Rafael Benitez

[wacko]

Surely, Franco would be more appropriate.

 

 

[Skeletor]

Wacko surely you have to look at your fellow fans and wonder whether an asylum has had a break out?

[gazzaA2]

The Liverpool fan I was watching the game with () absolutely hates Rafa. I found it strange, based on what various Red visitors to this place have said, but didn't dispute it on account of our experiences with Pardew.

 

I said "you're in a minority there, surely?" He said no, citing how he ruined the club by binning every single one of the staff - even down to the admin, in favour of Spanish people. "We won the CL but got nowhere near the title, and he had us playing terrible football that's taken years for us to shake off."

 

Seems strange. Is there really a percentage of Liverpool fans who seriously dislike the guy? The irony is, this lad seemed to hate Rafa for all the reasons I'm most excited for - I.e. a complete stripping down and rebuilding of the club.

 

There are some who had absolute hate for him and as far as I could see it stemmed from people who knew players or workers at Anfield.

 

Rafa was sick of things leaking to the press and such, plus he wanted The Academy to produce players who could step up, play the way he wanted them to and forget about winning youth cups.  That cup wasn't important to him, the coaching of the players was.  Heighway had control of the youth set up for 20 years and it's arguable whether enough players came through.  Gerrard and Owen were top players who would have come through anywhere really, but there wasn't enough of the Carras from Heighway.

 

Once he got control he had a Rafas 'night of the long knives' where he got rid of 16 Academy and back room staff.  This is where the hate stems from.

 

Rafa doesn't care for ego or reputations and is very dedicated to his job to the point where he'll make enemies. The media hated him as well. He shows no favouritism and that rubs up the ego of the likes of Ronaldo or Steven Gerrard who need their egos massaged regularly. In effect it's his weakness as a modern manager but he's very old school and expects respect and professionalism but without having the personality of a Mourinho or a Klopp.

 

Most Liverpool fans love him and still do, but there was a massive smear campaign against him towards the end of his time there (from marginalised staff at the club or some players) that drip fed into some fans.

[Dom2]

Very well put gazza.......that's exactly as it was as far as I could tell.

[Yorkie]

This lad was vociferous in how Liverpool have failed to bring youngsters through compared to the era prior to Benitez's arrival. He really hates him, like. Called him a cunt in the same way I would Pardew. He asked me if I thought he did a good job at Anfield, at which point I told him I was actually a Newcastle fan. We were 2-0 down at that point and I was visibly angsty! Weird lad.

[Darth Crooks]

We'll look after him - our custodians however...

[Guest MDD]

 

I'm a Reds fan, and I registered here when Rafa signed with you guys. Well deserved point yesterday, and I can assure you the majority of Liverpool fans see you as the second club now (a small prickish minority are ungrateful armchair supporters who somehow don't like him, but that's their problem)! Seeing the opposition fans singing his name was very melancholy for us yesterday - delighted to see him loved but also sad that he's not ours anymore! I fear he may have arrived too late to fix the mess created by McClaren and his dogsbodies in the boardroom, but I hope he stays, and I have a feeling - what with the attachment and fondness he's shown towards the fans, and vice versa - that he may stay whatever happens. Certainly the last couple of weeks provides ample evidence to suggest to Rafa that this squad is good enough whatever happens from here on, and that whatever division they are playing in, there is plenty to build upon. I can't quite believe how much better they look as a team now, considering the last few jokers of managers at Newcastle Utd.

 

One major issue some players have is that he is cold, but this should not be a criticism as that accusation applies only with the egomaniacs in football. As much a hero as Stevie G was, this was something that many of us entirely agreed with Rafa on. It only takes a read of Gerrard's latest autobiography to show how wound up in his own ego he is when he slates Rafa on some occasions. To read Red and White Kop, most supporters were appalled at this. I could go on and on with a list of rebuttals to contradict Gerrard's view on Rafa and, inevitably, his cold relationship with the Spaniard proved to be destructive to the club. Let's just say this - Gerrard (and Carragher) was quite happy to see the back of Rafa. The fact that he had turned Liverpool into formidable challengers again, turned Gerrard into a world class player (his form before and after Rafa didn't compare) and had won a European Cup and FA Cup was neither here nor there - and so such narrow mindedness from Gerrard prove fateful as Gerrard was adamant on his support for Roy f***ing Hodgson to become the boss. And that bit of egomania and disrespect for Rafa partly led us to the doledrums.

 

That said, more often than not, players who need help and a bit of belief go on to greatly appreciate Rafa. Lucas, Mascherano, Torres, Alonso, Kuyt, etc all had the humility to praise him to the heavens as they saw their careers go from strength to strength under his tutelage.

 

I just think Rafa fits your club like hand in glove. It's only good for English football if Newcastle and their fanatic fanbase are big players again and it would be refreshing after the sterile prawn sandwich glory hunting plastics that congregate around a whole host of soulless clubs (such as that franchise Man Utd).

 

We still love him, we still wish him all the best and I love that you guys love him too. Take care of him! And please, it would just be poetic justice if Rafa relegates Allardyce and Sunderland!

[Guest MDD]

The Liverpool fan I was watching the game with () absolutely hates Rafa. I found it strange, based on what various Red visitors to this place have said, but didn't dispute it on account of our experiences with Pardew.

 

I said "you're in a minority there, surely?" He said no, citing how he ruined the club by binning every single one of the staff - even down to the admin, in favour of Spanish people. "We won the CL but got nowhere near the title, and he had us playing terrible football that's taken years for us to shake off."

 

Seems strange. Is there really a percentage of Liverpool fans who seriously dislike the guy? The irony is, this lad seemed to hate Rafa for all the reasons I'm most excited for - I.e. a complete stripping down and rebuilding of the club.

 

There are some who had absolute hate for him and as far as I could see it stemmed from people who knew players or workers at Anfield.

 

Rafa was sick of things leaking to the press and such, plus he wanted The Academy to produce players who could step up, play the way he wanted them to and forget about winning youth cups.  That cup wasn't important to him, the coaching of the players was.  Heighway had control of the youth set up for 20 years and it's arguable whether enough players came through.  Gerrard and Owen were top players who would have come through anywhere really, but there wasn't enough of the Carras from Heighway.

 

Once he got control he had a Rafas 'night of the long knives' where he got rid of 16 Academy and back room staff.  This is where the hate stems from.

 

Rafa doesn't care for ego or reputations and is very dedicated to his job to the point where he'll make enemies. The media hated him as well. He shows no favouritism and that rubs up the ego of the likes of Ronaldo or Steven Gerrard who need their egos massaged regularly. In effect it's his weakness as a modern manager but he's very old school and expects respect and professionalism but without having the personality of a Mourinho or a Klopp.

 

Most Liverpool fans love him and still do, but there was a massive smear campaign against him towards the end of his time there (from marginalised staff at the club or some players) that drip fed into some fans.

 

All I can say is 'thanks a fucking bunch' to those who carried a smear campaign against Rafa at Liverpool.

[Kanj]

MDD welcome lad. Great post.

[Mick]

I'm a Reds fan, and I registered here when Rafa signed with you guys. Well deserved point yesterday, and I can assure you the majority of Liverpool fans see you as the second club now (a small prickish minority are ungrateful armchair supporters who somehow don't like him, but that's their problem)! Seeing the opposition fans singing his name was very melancholy for us yesterday - delighted to see him loved but also sad that he's not ours anymore! I fear he may have arrived too late to fix the mess created by McClaren and his dogsbodies in the boardroom, but I hope he stays, and I have a feeling - what with the attachment and fondness he's shown towards the fans, and vice versa - that he may stay whatever happens. Certainly the last couple of weeks provides ample evidence to suggest to Rafa that this squad is good enough whatever happens from here on, and that whatever division they are playing in, there is plenty to build upon. I can't quite believe how much better they look as a team now, considering the last few jokers of managers at Newcastle Utd.

 

Also, I just think Rafa fits your club like hand in glove. It's only good for English football if Newcastle and their fanatic fanbase are big players again and it would be refreshing after the sterile prawn sandwich glory hunting plastics that congregate around a whole host of soulless clubs (such as that franchise Man Utd).

 

We still love him, we still wish him all the best and I love that you guys love him too. Take care of him! And please, it would just be poetic justice if Rafa relegates Allardyce and Sunderland!

Rafa will be treated like a God here, we have a reputation of getting on our managers back. The reputation is true to a certain extent but only if they are shit. Rafa will get very little stick, if any. He's a top manager and his in-game management has been as good as anything we've seen here in decades.  He's already doing things here which we then wonder what he's doing but they always work. We actually see him making the changes that are needed, that's basic stuff but is like rocket science to some of the shit we've employed.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

We have never really gave a manager stick, Pardew was a target of a concerted campaign by SP of course, but the majority of fans gave him nothing but good will. Same for all our managers. It's a myth that fans give managers stick. If anything they get an easy ride here, at most other clubs the shit that has been served up here would not be tolerated. Rafa is greeted with welcome arms because he is a professional, knows what he is doing and sees something in our beloved club all fans do which is a better future. If only the fucking owner did... Personally I love the bloke, he is a proper manager, in the mould of KK and Sir Bobby if not in style certainly in how he goes about his business and I'm amazed he joined us and has us in a position where we can actually stay up even though I think we are down! He's a top top fella!

[nemtizz]

Always nice to have another perspective. Great post, MDD.

[Robster]

Always nice to have another perspective. Great post, MDD.

[joeyt]

Probs Ron Gaggs but I love this

 

https://www.facebook.com/www.SportsJOE.co.uk/videos/1589014274723727/

[Guest chopey]

It looks like we are down.......... so its up to Ashley to convince Rafa to stay and if he can, we could have the league wrapped up by Christmas and then have a real go at the FA cup, after a year when we go straight back up we will be looking at top 8 and not just to avoid relegation

[Disco]

[Ketsbaia]

I must say, we're getting some wonderful posts from Liverpool fans in here. I've learnt so much from their knowledge, so thanks

 

Also.... please stay, Rafa!

[Klaus]

I must say, we're getting some wonderful posts from Liverpool fans in here. I've learnt so much from their knowledge, so thanks

 

Also.... please stay, Rafa!

I hope they don't see the Liverpool thread in here 

[rgk_lfc]

Which one are you referrng to, Klaus 

[wacko]

Right this way, sir. Don't mind Parky. He's the village idiot. Not to be confused with Village Idiot.

[Darth Crooks]

Yeah, village idiot is some other complete wacko.

[Leazes_End_Mag]

It looks like we are down.......... so its up to Ashley to convince Rafa to stay and if he can, we could have the league wrapped up by Christmas and then have a real go at the FA cup, after a year when we go straight back up we will be looking at top 8 and not just to avoid relegation

[emoji23] [emoji23]

[TRon]

 

I'm a Reds fan, and I registered here when Rafa signed with you guys. Well deserved point yesterday, and I can assure you the majority of Liverpool fans see you as the second club now (a small prickish minority are ungrateful armchair supporters who somehow don't like him, but that's their problem)! Seeing the opposition fans singing his name was very melancholy for us yesterday - delighted to see him loved but also sad that he's not ours anymore! I fear he may have arrived too late to fix the mess created by McClaren and his dogsbodies in the boardroom, but I hope he stays, and I have a feeling - what with the attachment and fondness he's shown towards the fans, and vice versa - that he may stay whatever happens. Certainly the last couple of weeks provides ample evidence to suggest to Rafa that this squad is good enough whatever happens from here on, and that whatever division they are playing in, there is plenty to build upon. I can't quite believe how much better they look as a team now, considering the last few jokers of managers at Newcastle Utd.

 

One major issue some players have is that he is cold, but this should not be a criticism as that accusation applies only with the egomaniacs in football. As much a hero as Stevie G was, this was something that many of us entirely agreed with Rafa on. It only takes a read of Gerrard's latest autobiography to show how wound up in his own ego he is when he slates Rafa on some occasions. To read Red and White Kop, most supporters were appalled at this. I could go on and on with a list of rebuttals to contradict Gerrard's view on Rafa and, inevitably, his cold relationship with the Spaniard proved to be destructive to the club. Let's just say this - Gerrard (and Carragher) was quite happy to see the back of Rafa. The fact that he had turned Liverpool into formidable challengers again, turned Gerrard into a world class player (his form before and after Rafa didn't compare) and had won a European Cup and FA Cup was neither here nor there - and so such narrow mindedness from Gerrard prove fateful as Gerrard was adamant on his support for Roy f***ing Hodgson to become the boss. And that bit of egomania and disrespect for Rafa partly led us to the doledrums.

 

That said, more often than not, players who need help and a bit of belief go on to greatly appreciate Rafa. Lucas, Mascherano, Torres, Alonso, Kuyt, etc all had the humility to praise him to the heavens as they saw their careers go from strength to strength under his tutelage.

 

I just think Rafa fits your club like hand in glove. It's only good for English football if Newcastle and their fanatic fanbase are big players again and it would be refreshing after the sterile prawn sandwich glory hunting plastics that congregate around a whole host of soulless clubs (such as that franchise Man Utd).

 

We still love him, we still wish him all the best and I love that you guys love him too. Take care of him! And please, it would just be poetic justice if Rafa relegates Allardyce and Sunderland!

 

Great post, almost makes me feel bad for having a dig at Liverpool over the years. I see you mentioned Carragher as one of those big time charlies who didn't take to Rafa and it shows. I was wondering why he had such a cold attitude to his appointment at Newcastle when he was asked what he would bring as a manager to Newcastle's fight against the drop.

[Holloway]

Sounds like Rafa is a right cunt if you are a soppy cunt of a footballer, hallelujah  to the fucking queen.

[wacko]

Great post, almost makes me feel bad for having a dig at Liverpool over the years. I see you mentioned Carragher as one of those big time charlies who didn't take to Rafa and it shows. I was wondering why he had such a cold attitude to his appointment at Newcastle when he was asked what he would bring as a manager to Newcastle's fight against the drop.

 

That's not what he said. Carra isn't an egomaniac like Gerrard. The criticisms he aimed at Rafa were based on things Rafa did that Carra didn't think were in the best interests of the club, like publicly picking a fight with the owners.