Rafa Benítez (now unemployed)

[Shearergol]

I don't blame Rafa for settling for 4th 5th or 6th choices but I genuinely didnt feel that Rafa really has a plan to play or incorporate that player into our team.  His handling of Murphy and in a way Muto are highly questionable imo.  The likes of Gamez Ki who cost nothing okay fine I could accept them being number fillers. But Murphy and Muto who costs us 10m should at least be a player that should bring changes to our team right? No, Ritchie is still the automatic starter despite not up to EPL standard and Joselu is 5m striker is still his preferred choice. Perez is still the only no.10 since Rafa has no plan to play Muto there. Atsu who costs us 10m total is basically non-existent. Manquillo is still the only backup for both side backs. We do have lots of choices at centre back but then why do we need to bring in Fernandez when Clark is still there? First choice Lascelles Lejuene with Schar Clark as backup is more than enough. Of coz Fernandez looks a great signing which Rafa deserves credit but wait a minute is that means Clark or Schar is going to get close to zero minutes this coming season? Is this Rafa's plan?

 

Never mind the strange Merino deal and all the issues regarding the sale of Mitrovic.

 

I genuinely don't agree with a lot of his decisions regarding transfer. Rafa has done an excellent job in making wonders out of a bunch of shits and no way he should be sacked or responsible for the whole disaster created by the fat cunt.  But I am really not a fan of Rafa when it comes to transfers.

 

Muto started the last two games tbf. How is Joselu the first choice? Oh, and Rondon is injured. Atsu cost £6.2m.

 

Merino didn't get back in the team following his injury because he lost his form and Diame was playing so well, then he wanted to leave. What could Rafa do about that?

 

Actually, I could easily argue against every point you make there. Rafa bought players for the championship who are still here, because we can't sell them, either because we can't replace them, the wages are too high (nothing to do with Rafa) or nobody else wants them.

[Happinesstan]

Every year people complain, and question Rafa's early season team selections. And every year he is vindicated.

 

 

[NEEJ]

Watching Everton v Palace yesterday, it’s scary. Even the players who flattered to deceive and were basically crap are probably worth £20-40m.

 

To even be expected to compete in this league you need multiple £20m players in your team and ideally 1 or 2 worth £50m.

 

It's also how you end up in a position where £10m is spent on someone like Murphy and rather than it being viewed as a pittance for a young, British player, it's viewed as a waste of a lot of money and we're in a position where some of our fans are thinking like Ashley, completely divorced from the reality of modern day football spending.

 

If he ever played Murphy I would feel differently. This was someone he wanted. Who was our most expensive signing that summer.

 

This isn’t about agreeing with Mike Ashley. Don’t be so fucking stupid. This is about taking the rose tinted glasses off for a moment and actually seeing that Rafa has done a decent job but not amazing, certainly not in the transfer market with what he’s had to spend.

 

The state of the team this year is on him. The same bunch played far better last year.

The irony.

 

"...with what he's had to spend."

Which/how many of the players mentioned make up this £63m figure you've tallied up? The powers that be very rarely spend more than £10m on a player, which effectively buys you bugger all these days. Essentially, we're relying on Rafa and his recruitment team to unearth absolute gems each and every time we enter the transfer market. It's not a sustainable model (hence no other club conducts business like this, barring Cardiff) and we don't spend nearly enough money to guarantee successful signings.

 

"The same bunch played far better last year."

Howay man, the rest of the league has improved their squad, investing heavily whilst we (at best) stood still. With that in mind it's not realistic to expect the same outcome simply because the same core set of players remain.

 

[Paully]

[Happinesstan]

Fucking hell. £100k wouldn't get you Brian Kilcline in 1992.

[NEEJ]

Don't be so fucking stupid. With what he's had to spe... Oh.

[Wallsendmag]

For all those who've decided to turn on Rafa please console yourselves in the knowledge that he'll be gone in 7 months time and you can get behind Steve Bruce or Sam Allardyce in the way you never got behind Rafa.

[Si]

As much as Rafa has coached a few of the players on to better performances, one thing really stands out.

 

He’s spent over 60 million over three seasons on players that rarely play if at all. Total dross.

 

That’s a possible 6 x 10m players who could have come in and made a difference.

 

Or 3 x 20m.. even just three very decent players could have made a massive difference to this team.

 

I’m not even counting the free transfers who never played and but took up wage budget.

 

He’s bought poorly for the most part and I think this is probably the root of Ashley’s stance, or his excuse possibly for not backing him.

 

Sacking him will cost about 3 million (half a season) it’s not beyond the possibility that this could happen sooner than we think.

 

We wont pay the wages wanted by an expensive player though will we so he couldn't have signed one. Plus the club won't go for an expensive player will they? He's not operating in the bargain basement by choice.

[Zero]

I don't blame Rafa for settling for 4th 5th or 6th choices but I genuinely didnt feel that Rafa really has a plan to play or incorporate that player into our team.  His handling of Murphy and in a way Muto are highly questionable imo.  The likes of Gamez Ki who cost nothing okay fine I could accept them being number fillers. But Murphy and Muto who costs us 10m should at least be a player that should bring changes to our team right? No, Ritchie is still the automatic starter despite not up to EPL standard and Joselu is 5m striker is still his preferred choice. Perez is still the only no.10 since Rafa has no plan to play Muto there. Atsu who costs us 10m total is basically non-existent. Manquillo is still the only backup for both side backs. We do have lots of choices at centre back but then why do we need to bring in Fernandez when Clark is still there? First choice Lascelles Lejuene with Schar Clark as backup is more than enough. Of coz Fernandez looks a great signing which Rafa deserves credit but wait a minute is that means Clark or Schar is going to get close to zero minutes this coming season? Is this Rafa's plan?

 

Never mind the strange Merino deal and all the issues regarding the sale of Mitrovic.

 

I genuinely don't agree with a lot of his decisions regarding transfer. Rafa has done an excellent job in making wonders out of a bunch of s***s and no way he should be sacked or responsible for the whole disaster created by the fat c***.  But I am really not a fan of Rafa when it comes to transfers.

 

Muto started the last two games tbf. How is Joselu the first choice? Oh, and Rondon is injured. Atsu cost £6.2m.

 

Merino didn't get back in the team following his injury because he lost his form and Diame was playing so well, then he wanted to leave. What could Rafa do about that?

 

Actually, I could easily argue against every point you make there. Rafa bought players for the championship who are still here, because we can't sell them, either because we can't replace them, the wages are too high (nothing to do with Rafa) or nobody else wants them.

 

Muto is not a striker who can play upfront alone.  He is simply not that type of player, especially when we play so many long ball. 

 

Atsu cost us 10m in total including the loan fees.

 

Merinos problem is about the clause. Basically, he joined us on a condition that he could move on as long as any team would pay the amount we paid to Dortmund. Now tell me what's the point of this deal then? The player plays well - left within a year and we got nothing. The player plays shit - we got a deadwood in our squad. And yea if Merino enjoys life here what should you do? Give him faith and ask him to sign another contract to change the clause. And no, Rafa didn't give him faith after his injury and so that's it. Of course Merino would leave. And of course we would get nothing left behind. Now tell me what's the point of getting him at the first place, and why handle the situation like that given our only way out is to pursuade him to sign another contract? Yea I agree Diame deserves the starting spot but for teams development you should play Merino instead, especially after our safety was guaranteed.

 

For the last point, yea if what we get is that shit and can't move on then what's the point of bringing in other shits that can't replace them and make a change to our team? Yea you got it fucking spot on. The likes of Ki Schar or even Muto do looks like the new deadwoods in the making. Never mind Joselu Ritchie Hayden Manquillo etc.

[Ankles Bennett]

It seems to me that having repeatedly pointed out that the team needed a prolific goalscorer during the summer, is Rafa now deliberately picking teams that highlight that deficiency in the team or is this what they call paranoia?

[sbnufc]

 

christ

[George Bailey]

Chest pain...tightness...

 

 

Oh thank fuck for that....the teasing rascal

[Darth Crooks]

[Guest firetotheworks]

I've talked myself into Rafa being replaced by someone like that being the best thing for the club tbh. Shy of someone coming in and buying us now/Ashley accepting, Rafa getting fucked over and sacked is exactly the sort of insanity that the campaign to get rid of Ashley needs if our fans inside SJP are going to ever get off their arses and actually stand for something.

[ToonArmy1892]

State of some of our fans, Bishop is probably reading this and reporting back to Mike.

 

"They are turning on Rafa, champion"

 

 

[Mikky]

For all those who've decided to turn on Rafa please console yourselves in the knowledge that he'll be gone in 7 months time and you can get behind Steve Bruce or Sam Allardyce in the way you never got behind Rafa.

 

This 100%

 

As I said at the end of last season - give the bloke £70m out of the £123m from the TV money and let him use the money from players he sells (forget this nonsense of how much we get a season for them) - Rafa buys his plays, signs and new contract - everyone is happy - club is moving forward, but no, Mike knows better

[Dave]

Should have spent the £60m on a striker IMO.

 

:lol: FUCKING HELL :lol:

[Crumpy Gunt]

For all those who've decided to turn on Rafa please console yourselves in the knowledge that he'll be gone in 7 months time and you can get behind Steve Bruce or Sam Allardyce in the way you never got behind Rafa.

 

This 100%

 

As I said at the end of last season - give the bloke £70m out of the £123m from the TV money and let him use the money from players he sells (forget this nonsense of how much we get a season for them) - Rafa buys his plays, signs and new contract - everyone is happy - club is moving forward, but no, Mike knows better

Maybe Rafas contract is the problem?

[AyeDubbleYoo]

For all those who've decided to turn on Rafa please console yourselves in the knowledge that he'll be gone in 7 months time and you can get behind Steve Bruce or Sam Allardyce in the way you never got behind Rafa.

 

This 100%

 

As I said at the end of last season - give the bloke £70m out of the £123m from the TV money and let him use the money from players he sells (forget this nonsense of how much we get a season for them) - Rafa buys his plays, signs and new contract - everyone is happy - club is moving forward, but no, Mike knows better

Maybe Rafas contract is the problem?

 

Aye, because fat Mike wants him tied down so he can continue to keep us up on a shoestring while being shafted from above. Absolute shite man.

[Mikky]

For all those who've decided to turn on Rafa please console yourselves in the knowledge that he'll be gone in 7 months time and you can get behind Steve Bruce or Sam Allardyce in the way you never got behind Rafa.

 

This 100%

 

As I said at the end of last season - give the bloke £70m out of the £123m from the TV money and let him use the money from players he sells (forget this nonsense of how much we get a season for them) - Rafa buys his plays, signs and new contract - everyone is happy - club is moving forward, but no, Mike knows better

Maybe Rafas contract is the problem?

 

Aye, because fat Mike wants him tied down so he can continue to keep us up on a shoestring while being shafted from above. Absolute shite man.

 

The club HAD to move forward regardless if Rafa had signed the contract or not - I'd rather give the money to Rafa, trust his judgement with it: if he chose to leave at the end of the 18/19 then so be it, but at least on the playing side we'd be stronger

 

I just don't get Ashley, I really don't - the TV money 'was' such a game changer for clubs like us who have fallen behind the rest

[summerof69]

That first fucking sentence. I genuinely believed we were getting Souness.

[Odear]

He’s not at the races this season. 3 transfer windows with 40% success has caught up and the squad is now floundering.

 

Everything that he’s supposed to be as a coach, organised, hard to break down etc.. that’s all gone.

 

I’m not turning on Rafa. He’s still the best manager we could possibly have in our position, am just saying he needs to do better than he’s been doing this season.

 

I think he’s lost focus on the simple things that made the team better. Or maybe he’s just not that bothered seeming as he'll be off in around 6 months.

[Crumpy Gunt]

He’s not at the races this season. 3 transfer windows with 40% success has caught up and the squad is now floundering.

 

Everything that he’s supposed to be as a coach, organised, hard to break down etc.. that’s all gone.

 

I’m not turning on Rafa. He’s still the best manager we could possibly have in our position, am just saying he needs to do better than he’s been doing this season.

 

I think he’s lost focus on the simple things that made the team better. Or maybe he’s just not that bothered seeming as he'll be off in around 6 months.

Does it ever work if a manager gets into his final year?

[Altamullan]

Even if he was suddenly backed (highly doubtful), I suspect there’s been too much crap that’s happened over the last few windows. Will he ever turn it around?

 

The squad is about as good as the one that finished up last season, yet we’re playing like a team already relegated.

...

 

2-0 up at Old Trafford until 70th minute. Holding out for a 0-0 at Palace (restricting them to four shots on target, we had three). Also a 0-0 at Cardiff, where we had 10 men for half an hour—not referring to how supremely shit Kennedy played—had six  shots on target to their one and missed a last min pen ( am referring... never mind).

 

In between the above, we’ve lost 2-1 to Spurs (15 shots each), Chelsea (drawing until an 87th min own goal) and Arsenal (two shots on target each) at home and to Man City away. None of them unexpected losses, humiliating results, nor characterised by unmotivated ‘already given up’ performances.

 

Forgot to mention Leicester. Probably most disappointing performance for me and closest fit to the point highlighted. Saying that, giving away a stupid pen at that stage was always going to make a tricky game very difficult.

 

Personally, I think we’re just getting started. Just hope everyone’s head is on the game—those that matter, I mean.

 

To keep concerns in perspective, we can add to the above, having a similar amount of possession and shots in the loss to Brighton, that Man City achieved in their 5-0 rout of Burnley. Basically, not sure Rafa isn’t at the races. We just can’t score enough goals. Lack of luck in the transfer bargain basement is surely part of that.

[Darth Crooks]

I don’t understand what he’s supposed to do other than just do better. He doesn’t have the players to play we way people talk about and we don’t have any match winners. Make earlier subs? Motivate players towards what exactly? Fight for the badge and pride in the club? Refuse to sign anyone because he can’t get 1st choices. I don’t get why you’d put such focus on the minutiae when the macro is clearly what’s inhibiting everyone involved.