Rafa Benítez (now unemployed)

[duo]

Just now, Menace said:

 

I think Rafa's rep has taken a serious hit after this job. I wouldn't want him back but I don't think Howe is the answer either.

He basically didn't have a striker for most the season - every club would suffer if that happened. 

[Heron]

18 minutes ago, HaydnNUFC said:

 

Really don't think that'd work. Undermines Howe and Benitez is never a director.

 

 

 

I don't understand how Benitez isn't a director of football to be honest? He understands and has plans for a football club that go well beyond managing a squad of players. He'd also be able to provide defensive guidance to Howe and the team, and has accolades and ability to manage those within our squad and beyond, no matter how big they think they are.

 

You could argue any DoF undermines Howe at this stage too... 

 

 

Edited January 16, 2022 by Heron

[Hanshithispantz]

5 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

If Howe doesn't keep us up and Rafa's available I'd bring him in. But probably only in that scenario. 

 

Sadly Howe isn't ticking the most important boxes at the moment, but I'd at least like to see him given the opportunity to with a team full of new recruits. However, if we go down it's an objective failure and almost definitely an avoidable one given the amount of games he's had and the (assumed) funds afforded to him. 

 

If we go down, Rafa is basically a sure thing regarding immediate promotion so I'd definitely see us considering that if he were available. 

 

Bringing him in whilst there's already a manager here is an absolutely hideous suggestion, mind. 

How, we need someone in an advisory role of some sort. I think that was made clear when we paid £25m for Chris Wood. At the minute I think it's basically Eddie Howe, Jason Tindall, and some no mark scout? 

[toontownman]

Just bring him in to help sort out the defence lol

 

Denmark coach is odds on favourite. Why would he give up the world cup opportunity?

 

Lampard and Rooney odds on behind! 

 

Reckon they are mad enough to do a Rooney/Big Dunc. Combo. Lampard would also jump on it. Might do enough this year with manager bounce to keep them up but would be rancid long term.

[duo]

12 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

Yes, he would have known how to get results with these mugs in the interim.

 

And then he would have already known exactly who he wanted to bring in to upgrade the team from January onwards and he would have had free reign financially and decision making wise to do so. It would have been perfect.

 

But he just wouldn't leave well alone with the Everton thing. It was like that reaction from their fans was a sign from God telling him to chill out and be patient, but he just didn't take heed man.

To be fair to him - at the time he joined Everton the takeover looked unlikely.  Not many thought it'd happen anytime soon - if at all.  It came out the blue.

[AJ9]

I’m curious what people see in Howe so far that makes us thing he can take this on?

 

I understand the reluctance to go back to Rafa btw. I’m just not seeing Howe make any improvements either!

[NEEJ]

Just now, Heron said:

I don't understand how Benitez isn't a director to be honest. He understands and has plans for a football club that go well beyond managing a squad of players. He'd also be able to provide defensive guidance to Howe and the team, and has accolades and ability to manage those within our squad and beyond, no matter how big they think they are.

 

You could argue any DoF undermines Howe at this stage too... 

For me it would go completely against what Rafa is about. He's spoken about how much he loves the day to day on the training pitch. I can't see him being remotely interested in a role upstairs. Aside from the lack of training ground interaction, he'd have to secure players to fit someone else's style and he's simply not that type of person. It's his way or nothing.

 

It'd be a terrible move in my opinion.

[Heron]

6 minutes ago, alijmitchell said:

I’m curious what people see in Howe so far that makes us thing he can take this on?

 

I understand the reluctance to go back to Rafa btw. I’m just not seeing Howe make any improvements either!

We have improved as a team or it certainly seemed that way until Cambridge. I think anyone questionning Howe's position is massively underestimating the sheer level of gross negligence we were operating at previously, in all honesty. 

 

 

Edited January 16, 2022 by Heron

[Menace]

6 minutes ago, duo said:

He basically didn't have a striker for most the season - every club would suffer if that happened. 

 

Apart from it's been a lot more than just that though hasn't it.

[HaydnNUFC]

6 minutes ago, Heron said:

I don't understand how Benitez isn't a director of football to be honest? He understands and has plans for a football club that go well beyond managing a squad of players. He'd also be able to provide defensive guidance to Howe and the team, and has accolades and ability to manage those within our squad and beyond, no matter how big they think they are.

 

You could argue any DoF undermines Howe at this stage too... 

 

 

 

 

You could, but given how large Benitez' shadow looms especially on here he would increase the pressure more than any 'DoF'.

[duo]

12 minutes ago, The Butcher said:

If we want to stay up we bring Rafa hyem. 

One thing is for sure he's proven he can get more out of this squad.  I think we'd see the manager bounce that we didn't see with Howe as the squad really respect Rafa.

[Heron]

2 minutes ago, NEEJ said:

For me it would go completely against what Rafa is about. He's spoken about how much he loves the day to day on the training pitch. I can't see him being remotely interested in a role upstairs. Aside from the lack of training ground interaction, he'd have to secure players to fit someone else's style and he's simply not that type of person. It's his way or nothing.

 

It'd be a terrible move in my opinion.

 

Times change, he might be ready for that now? Would it be a terrible move? Like there's nothing to suggest he couldn't do it. At worst we'd have a solid high press that doesn't leak goals, it'd be better than a high press that cannot keep a clean sheet... 

[Danh1]

2 minutes ago, duo said:

One thing is for sure he's proven he can get more out of this squad.  I think we'd see the manager bounce that we didn't see with Howe as the squad really respect Rafa.

Do they? The same bunch of idiots who were supposedly celebrating Bruce coming in so they could enjoy loads of days off?

[Guest neesy111]

Absolutely no to any role for Rafa.  We need to move on from him.

[DMLeazesender]

3 hours ago, Barnes23 said:

 

Not sure how anyone could look at the circumstances of Howe's appointment and believe it was part of some long-term masterplan, and not just a new ownership (with negligible experience of the game) selecting what they believed to be the best managerial candidate they were able to attract in incredibly hurried and difficult circumstances. Also not sure how anyone could watch our games since Howe's arrival and feel he is automatically deserving of a place in our long-term plan irrespective of results in the coming weeks. 

 

Also, who gives a fuck what the media say? Stop caring about them, they don't care about you. 

 

So are you assuming our owners don't have a plan? They have consistently referred to the long term vision or project. At the time of the takeover managers weren't exactly lining up to join us. It was Howe or Emery and Emery kept gobbing off to the press while Howe kept a dignified silence. It seems like your suggesting we ditch Howe after a few weeks, a manager with proven PL experience of keeping shit teams in the league. I also think the football has improved since Howes arrival, we just haven't gotten the results. A lot of people seem to give a fuck what the media says, they provide the international and world wide perspective of Newcastle United and half the posts on here are commenting on the media.

 

It's just my opinion, but despite the results I still feel we are on the right track and going forward the future has never looked so good for NUFC.

[Skeletor]

Come back home.

[NEEJ]

Just now, Heron said:

 

Times change, he might be ready for that now? Would it be a terrible move? Like there's nothing to suggest he couldn't do it. At worst we'd have a solid high press that doesn't leak goals, it'd be better than a high press that cannot keep a clean sheet... 

It just feels horrendously knee-jerk. Sacked by Everton then immediately all like "Alfred, prepare the batmobile. The Toons need me and they need me now!"

 

He probably needs a bit of time away from the game for the good of his health more than anything. It can't have been a fun couple of years for him.

[Danh1]

I love Rafa. But I think coming here is a poisoned chalice for him. There’s a lot of people in our fan base who have been corrupted by the media propaganda about Bruce doing a better job than him and the pressure on him to get a tune out of this bucket of losers would be ridiculous. 

[Yorkie]

12 minutes ago, Hanshithispantz said:

How, we need someone in an advisory role of some sort. I think that was made clear when we paid £25m for Chris Wood. At the minute I think it's basically Eddie Howe, Jason Tindall, and some no mark scout? 

 

Aye of course, but we need a DoF, not a former and much loved manager in an unfamiliar role to undermine the existing manager...

[Ronaldo]

12 minutes ago, Heron said:

I don't understand how Benitez isn't a director of football to be honest? He understands and has plans for a football club that go well beyond managing a squad of players. He'd also be able to provide defensive guidance to Howe and the team, and has accolades and ability to manage those within our squad and beyond, no matter how big they think they are.

 

You could argue any DoF undermines Howe at this stage too... 

 

 

 

He’s no DoF. His huge strength is organising a team of players to play better than the sum of their parts but improving them individually and exercising control of them to the point football is condensed to a game of mistakes where his players make the least. That’s how he wins matches. 

[Deuce]

1 hour ago, mighty__mag said:

Nutters on twitter, bring him in as DOF.

 

Aye, undermine Howe by bringing back your ex gaffer to tell him what to do.

 

Like bringing McLaren back over Rafa, 

 

 

Rafa would be wasted as a DoF, it not genuinely poor in the role.

[xLiaaamx]

It's not the squad Rafa had anymore. There's no Pèrez, no Lejuene for starters. There's not even Ki, who was massive for us in just keeping hold of the ball, and then no Rondon. 4 players right down the spine, 1 we refused to fork out for and 3 we just decided to sell. He didn't want Joelinton, he would hate ASM, he doesn't like Murphy. He might like Wilson, I guess. 

[Heron]

3 minutes ago, NEEJ said:

It just feels horrendously knee-jerk. Sacked by Everton then immediately all like "Alfred, prepare the batmobile. The Toons need me and they need me now!"

 

He probably needs a bit of time away from the game for the good of his health more than anything. It can't have been a fun couple of years for him.

Agree with this. I thought this before Howe was even announced tbh though. I think it'd be a good combination. 

[Amir_9]

Don't know if been posted yet but this is from their forums. Pretty alarming if true:

 

Just looking back objectively now at his time here, based on facts of what’s happened:

- came in, insisted he’d done a full squad audit and knew what Everton fans wanted, talked a lot about running and effort
- definitely improved the fitness of the side
- brought in Gray which is an excellent signing for that price. Townsend on a free is very meh and he’s a Benitez player - he’ll be useful for whoever else comes in because he’s always committed. Begovic is what he is, Lonergan for training needs
- did well first few games in terms of results, team looked fitter but wasn’t really organised bar the Brighton game. There seemed no real plan to how we played but the intensity was there at least
- poor deadline day, demanded we got Rondon and we got Rondon
- injuries hit, results start to tail off, matching the poor level of performance
- James Rodriguez left the club even though Everton couldn’t replace him
- Bit of a bounce around that United game, the last good display. I credit Benitez that day, looked like he had got something to build on even with limited options (DCL and Rich out), but Utd were awful
- Went very, very rubbish very quickly. He tried to replace Doucoure with Tom Davies. His insistence on only ever playing 2 in midfield became apparent. By the wolves game, it was clear he was stuck in a time football forgot
- worst derby home defeat in 40 years, fans protest, but try to be too clever and insist that it’s not the manager’s fault. This results in DoF going and the manager gets more power
- half-decent performance v Arsenal, but relied on moment of magic and could easily have lost. Overshadows it by ditching Digne
- hapless v Palace, he changes it up after 20 mins and thinks Gomes can play second striker in his absurd 4411
- resilient display v Chelsea but very lucky to not have been 3-0 down by 20 mins in. Decides same formation must be used in every games
- completely loses his head over Digne, alienates one of the best players then inexplicably puts him on the bench v Brighton, even though he was never gonna bring him on. Seemingly gets annoyed by fans clapping Digne when he warms up, when Everton are 2-0 down at home after 15 mins
- Sells said player having already spent more than what we got for him on two very inexperienced players, one of whom is thrown straight into a struggling side
- leaves by suffering a defeat which leads Everton to become the only side to lose to all the newly promoted teams
- gets fat compo packaged club’s now a complete mess. No DoF, owner’s a lunatic, Bill’s crying and the fans hate each other and the players

[Danh1]

They’re an arrogant bunch on that Everton forum like. They also had a threat on their made on 28th November to discuss their next manager. But, NUFC fans were so so harsh to Bruce and all that.