Rafa Benítez (now unemployed)

[Conjo]

This method of football could be very, very effective next season like.

 

This is my thinking as well.

 

We might not steamroll lesser teams in this division with the football we are playing, but it feels like Rafa is preparing the team for tougher tasks next season where this style could prove to be mega valuable to us.

 

I feel this is paying off now.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Liverpool could win the title man. Conte come in and won it in his first season with Chelsea. Its not like the others are massively outspending Liverpool, although City and Chelsea could.

 

Klopp will never win them the title though because his sides cannot defend well enough over the course of a season and for all their attacking intent, they were outscored by Spurs by 8 goals who finished 10 points ahead of them.

 

They conceded 42, however, to Spurs' 26. Man Utd conceded 29 and Chelsea 33 who finished a massive 7 points ahead of Spurs and an even bigger 17 points ahead of Liverpool.

 

Obviously they have better players respectively, but Klopp's philosophy just doesn't lend to a title winning team over the course of 38 games given the competition.

 

Arsenal are the same under Wenger who when he was winning titles it was pretty much a two horse race at the top. Klopp's Liverpool will always excite and challenge for the cups and CL spots, but is that enough for a club who wants to add to their huge title collection?

 

I could see them fluking a CL win, but the odds are stacked massively at the moment given Barca, PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern and the likes of Man Utd, Chelsea and Man City in their way.

 

I love Klopp though, he's my kind of manager. Very similar to Keegan. I dislike Liverpool though so hope it all goes wrong for them, although that may lead to them getting Rafa back one day, but its inevitable he won't be on Tyneside much longer anyway. Not unless Ashley does a massive u-turn when it comes to spending power and wages or sells up completely.

[TRon]

Klopp doesn't need to win the title for our purposes, which are to make sure Rafa doesn't leave us for them. He just has to do what he's doing for a couple more seasons, get them challenging, and in the CL places with the odd cup win or two. By the time Liverpool fans start demanding more, Rafa's time will probably be done here anyway if he hasn't left already by then.

[Kanj]

Depressing post Tron

[Figures 1-0 Football]

We can officially postpone the panic and bedwetting until the obvious unsettling reports that will come out in January.

 

Rafa planning for the 'next two transfer windows' according to the Chronicle.

[Darth Crooks]

We can officially postpone the panic and bedwetting until the obvious unsettling reports that will come out in January.

 

Rafa planning for the 'next two transfer windows' according to the Chronicle.

 

 

[TRon]

Depressing post Tron

 

I look on it as the glass half full mate.

[Sir Toon]

How can Rafa realistically plan for the next two windows when all his planning in the last two were for nothing?

 

Its still all about rebuilding trust and promises. nothing more nothing less.

[Paully]

How can Rafa realistically plan for the next two windows when all his planning in the last two were for nothing?

 

Its still all about rebuilding trust and promises. nothing more nothing less.

 

You know how meticulous he is - he will be fully planning for the summer window even if he thinks there is only 1% chance of him being here next season!

[Odear]

I hope Klopp stays for a long time.. the dippers would be a lure for Rafa to return for sure if that job was available again.

 

 

[Dave]

It was earlier.

[Guest firetotheworks]

This is where the difference is -

 

'But, at the same time, we have confidence that we can get three points'

 

No 'try to get something' or anything of the sort. Just straight down the line going for the win. We might not get it, but we know he's playing for it and there's no dampening or curbing of our targets.

[Rebellious]

Found a bit of it: https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/rafa-expects-totally-different-brighton-battle

 

https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/latest-videos/benitezs-pre-brighton-a-media-briefing-17-18

[Kanj]

stop trying to sell our manager to Liverpool, hTT

[Dave]

[Ikon]

 

Possible for non UK people to listen?

[HaydnNUFC]

Gerrard said Rafa would be the first manager to be sacked or leave.

 

 

 

 

[Si]

 

Possible for non UK people to listen?

Yeah just tune to ultra high frequencies till you hear "erm......."

[afar]

We are not flying, we have beaten 3 poor to average teams, trying to build us up so they can take great joy in knocking us down.

[HaydnNUFC]

Stoke aren't poor to average, like.

[Astroblack]

I think they're the definition of poor to average.

[Mole_Toonfan]

I think they're the definition of poor to average.

 

If Stoke are considered above average then the standard of average has gotten really low.

 

 

[Guest]

Was all going well on the 5-Live interview...then they started comparing him to Allardyce & Pulis with his style of play and coaching.

[Alberto2005]

Kevin Nolan now comparing himself to Benitez.

[HaydnNUFC]

I think they're the definition of poor to average.

 

If Stoke are considered above average then the standard of average has gotten really low.

I think they're above average, along with Everton, Leicester and Southampton. Average is the Watfords, West Broms, West Hams of the world. No idea what we are yet.