Rafa Benítez (now unemployed)

[Mole_Toonfan]

Think all 3 would deserve it tbh.

 

Don't have an issue with that tbh, all 3 have done outstanding jobs for different reasons.

[Robster]

Give him £80m and money from player sales and we are laughing

Yep.

Fucking Ashley though, although I hate reading/spreading pessimism in times like this when the team is playing so well, Robster is right when he says Ashley isn't suddenly going to change.

I hate being so pessimistic too, but I can remember the feeling of crushing disappointment on the night i logged on to see that the takeover had fallen though. I was completely flattened by it.

I cant be faced with that level of disappointment again so am telling myself to enjoy these moments but to ultimately to expect the worst from Ashley.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

I’ve been quite critical of Rafa at times this season and on reflection he’s making myself and other critics look like the fools we are or were for questioning him.

 

Since the turn of the year we have been outstanding at times and in general pretty good and while the new players have obviously played a major role, especially the ‘keeper and Kennedy, what I’ve noticed since the new year is that the team are better at playing the way Rafa wants them to and is coaching them to. As a team and as individuals. Diame and Shelvey for example.

 

Coaching takes time to work, especially when a lot of the coaching is also man to man or in segments (defence/midfield/attack etc.) which is how Rafa also likes to work, see recent comments from Shelvey at the weekend for example.

 

I’m also sure the personal trainer Diame is using is down to Rafa’s input too.

 

The players are now comfortable and trust themselves, despite our lack of possession at times, the players are starting to express themselves now.

 

Against Arsenal we saw this Rafa team at its best for me. Confident, composed, trusting themselves, organised, a threat and at times a joy to watch. We didn’t panic after going a goal down, we limited Arsenal to snap chances or rushed attacks and the number of times they went back towards their own centre backs or ‘keeper was amazing to see, based on our pressing, closing down of space and simply by being organised.

 

Rafa is easily the best coach in the league along with Guardiola and by that I mean in terms of coaching the players and team.

 

To potentialy finish in the top ten with essentially a Championship team will be a great achievement.

 

I really enjoyed watching us off the ball against Arsenal. I loved how every player knew what to do and when, defending and attacking. We haven’t seen that for a long long time, not even under KK and Sir Bobby whose teams played with more abondon and flair shall we say making them more open and prone to mistakes and individual errors.

 

We’ve stopped hoofing the ball aimlessley, players have stopped playing into themselves or in a withdrawn mode. Shelvey looks a totally different player as does Diame and Perez is playing with magic in his boots seemingly.

 

Dummett looks a transformed player. I get the impression our players actually like a tackle and quite like defending, enjoying it even, from the front man to the ‘keeper.

 

That’s what a world-class manager and more so coach does and Rafa is a world-class manager.

 

Now back him Ashley or move aside to someone or others who will because he deserves it, we deserve it and if so there is no telling what can be achieved.

 

Happy birthday Rafa, sorry for ever doubting you. 

[cp40]

Im not prepared to accept self created disappointment again for some time, I will enjoy this from Rafa, or be gone. end of.

[SteV]

Decent summary of Rafa and the current situation I think:

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/04/16/rafa-benitez-ideal-manager-newcastle-also-perfect-club/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

[joeyt]

Was listening to TalkSport on the way home tonight and they were debating whether if Rafa was offered the Arsenal job, should he join them or stay with us. All the pundits (first time I've really listened to TalkSport so no idea who they were) and the majority of the fans agreed that Rafa would be mad to leave us to go to Arsenal. They were extremely complimentary about the current atmosphere at SJP and how much we love Rafa

 

 

[SEMTEX]

They're thick as fuck then. He should absolutely go there if he was offered the job. Fan adoration aside, Mike Ashley owns this club. The problem at Arsenal is Arsene Wenger. Who knows if it'd work out or not, but he'd have a significantly better chance of winning (lots of) stuff with them than us.

 

Alright if we were talking Everton or one of the other teams that loiter around 8th place, but Arsenal are a whole different kettle of fish iyam.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

The thing with Arsenal is that after Wenger, it wouldn’t surprise me if they wanted a quick fix or someone who they believed might start delivering sooner rather than later. It could take Rafa a few years to get them genuinely challenging for he title. Reading other fans’ forums it seems a good number think Rafa has done a great job here and is a top manager. Mind on one particular forum, a certain Grayson is regarded much higher. Not surprisingly mind given the successes he’s had over the years...

[joeyt]

They're thick as fuck then. He should absolutely go there if he was offered the job. Fan adoration aside, Mike Ashley owns this club. The problem at Arsenal is Arsene Wenger. Who knows if it'd work out or not, but he'd have a significantly better chance of winning (lots of) stuff with them than us.

 

Alright if we were talking Everton or one of the other teams that loiter around 8th place, but Arsenal are a whole different kettle of fish iyam.

 

The main argument was that Rafa wouldn't be loved as much at Arsenal as he is here. Also that Rafa would have more control over transfers here than at Arsenal because they assume that if Wenger moves on he'd be moved to a sort of director of football type role

[SEMTEX]

They're thick as fuck then. He should absolutely go there if he was offered the job. Fan adoration aside, Mike Ashley owns this club. The problem at Arsenal is Arsene Wenger. Who knows if it'd work out or not, but he'd have a significantly better chance of winning (lots of) stuff with them than us.

 

Alright if we were talking Everton or one of the other teams that loiter around 8th place, but Arsenal are a whole different kettle of fish iyam.

 

The main argument was that Rafa wouldn't be loved as much at Arsenal as he is here. Also that Rafa would have more control over transfers here than at Arsenal because they assume that if Wenger moves on he'd be moved to a sort of director of football type role

 

I mean, Rafa would be plenty loved there if he did well. I don't think that would be a significant element if Rafa was in the mindset that he still wanted to compete and be the best. That absolutely will not happen here under our ownership. It could under theirs.

 

But aye, if there was some looming Arsene DoF shit going on, I could be inclined to agree. But I'm not so sure that's a certainty...

[SEMTEX]

just noticed the poll at the top of the page

 

 

[mrmojorisin75]

just noticed the poll at the top of the page

 

 

 

x 2...77 people with no faith/lunatics out there mind

[wormy]

The thing with Arsenal is that after Wenger, it wouldn’t surprise me if they wanted a quick fix or someone who they believed might start delivering sooner rather than later. It could take Rafa a few years to get them genuinely challenging for he title. Reading other fans’ forums it seems a good number think Rafa has done a great job here and is a top manager. Mind on one particular forum, a certain Grayson is regarded much higher. Not surprisingly mind given the successes he’s had over the years...

 

I've been thinking this myself. If Rafa ended up there I could see him gone within a season. We're the perfect club for him in that he could build us from the ground up. We were nothing but a husk when he arrived; no structure, nothing to tear down as multiple management regimes had already done that for him. He could mould this club in his vision with near-100% support from the fans.

 

Arsenal fans would be complaining that they want pretty football within weeks and I bet there'd be a right challenge if he tried to start changing things behind the scenes that had been in place for over two decades.

[DJ_NUFC]

They're thick as fuck then. He should absolutely go there if he was offered the job. Fan adoration aside, Mike Ashley owns this club. The problem at Arsenal is Arsene Wenger. Who knows if it'd work out or not, but he'd have a significantly better chance of winning (lots of) stuff with them than us.

 

Alright if we were talking Everton or one of the other teams that loiter around 8th place, but Arsenal are a whole different kettle of fish iyam.

 

... would be honoured.

[mrmojorisin75]

The thing with Arsenal is that after Wenger, it wouldn’t surprise me if they wanted a quick fix or someone who they believed might start delivering sooner rather than later. It could take Rafa a few years to get them genuinely challenging for he title. Reading other fans’ forums it seems a good number think Rafa has done a great job here and is a top manager. Mind on one particular forum, a certain Grayson is regarded much higher. Not surprisingly mind given the successes he’s had over the years...

 

I've been thinking this myself. If Rafa ended up there I could see him gone within a season. We're the perfect club for him in that he could build us from the ground up. We were nothing but a husk when he arrived; no structure, nothing to tear down as multiple management regimes had already done that for him. He could mould this club in his vision with near-100% support from the fans.

 

Arsenal fans would be complaining that they want pretty football within weeks and I bet there'd be a right challenge if he tried to start changing things behind the scenes that had been in place for over two decades.

 

every word out of his mouth indicates he's happy to stay as long as he's allowed to progress things how he wants, he won't even be demanding the earth...reasonable money for transfers, invest in the academy and build slowly

 

he'll stay, as long as he's not blatantly fucked over again

[cp40]

what mojo said-  Ashley would have to be a maniac not to. 

 

I will wait to see.

[rgk_lfc]

Rafa's best work is at Valencia, Liverpool, and Newcastle. There is a certain type of city and environment where he flourishes. Arsenal is more akin to Inter, Chelsea, and Madrid. He would be mad to go there.

[wormy]

The thing with Arsenal is that after Wenger, it wouldn’t surprise me if they wanted a quick fix or someone who they believed might start delivering sooner rather than later. It could take Rafa a few years to get them genuinely challenging for he title. Reading other fans’ forums it seems a good number think Rafa has done a great job here and is a top manager. Mind on one particular forum, a certain Grayson is regarded much higher. Not surprisingly mind given the successes he’s had over the years...

 

I've been thinking this myself. If Rafa ended up there I could see him gone within a season. We're the perfect club for him in that he could build us from the ground up. We were nothing but a husk when he arrived; no structure, nothing to tear down as multiple management regimes had already done that for him. He could mould this club in his vision with near-100% support from the fans.

 

Arsenal fans would be complaining that they want pretty football within weeks and I bet there'd be a right challenge if he tried to start changing things behind the scenes that had been in place for over two decades.

 

every word out of his mouth indicates he's happy to stay as long as he's allowed to progress things how he wants, he won't even be demanding the earth...reasonable money for transfers, invest in the academy and build slowly

 

he'll stay, as long as he's not blatantly fucked over again

 

Inclined to agree. My thoughts definitely aren't with the expectation that it happens. More in a hypothetical sense, particularly as one of my best friends is an Arsenal fan so I've had more than one conversation over the topic already.

[SEMTEX]

Rafa's best work is at Valencia, Liverpool, and Newcastle. There is a certain type of city and environment where he flourishes. Arsenal is more akin to Inter, Chelsea, and Madrid. He would be mad to go there.

 

He was mad to come here.

 

It would be a different challenge, sure, but he currently works for Mike Ashley, who repeatedly tries to fuck him over. It would be a perfectly sensible move for him. He may or may not want that kind of job, who knows, but it would certainly be reasonable for him to consider it.

[Sima]

Ashamed to admit I took the second option at the time.  What a fucking arsehole.

[NUFC_Chris]

Think he's quite invested in this football club, can't see him leaving any time soon. Don't think it's worth fretting over. There should be a significant transfer budget regardless of whether there's a takeover.

[Tiresias]

I am torn because on the one hand he must want proper money behind him and be competing for the league. But I also think Real Madrid took a lot out of him. Here he has a project that is his and players who will jump through walls for him (despite, must be said, him lamenting in public quite a lot their quality).

[rgk_lfc]

Rafa's best work is at Valencia, Liverpool, and Newcastle. There is a certain type of city and environment where he flourishes. Arsenal is more akin to Inter, Chelsea, and Madrid. He would be mad to go there.

 

He was mad to come here.

 

It would be a different challenge, sure, but he currently works for Mike Ashley, who repeatedly tries to fuck him over. It would be a perfectly sensible move for him. He may or may not want that kind of job, who knows, but it would certainly be reasonable for him to consider it.

 

He was a god at Valencia. He had a great team and he quit that to take over at LFC. At LFC, he was constantly courted by Juve, Madrid, Bayern and he turned down their advances even though he was getting screwed over by our previous owners. One can argue he was mad to take the LFC job and remain there. He along with Mourinho where the hottest young coaches in Europe and he could have taken cushier jobs. But he didn't.

Rafa's decision making has always been a bit unorthodox.

 

He will not last long at Arsenal. The fans will complain about the more industrial style of play. The current Arsenal players and midfielders are the antithesis of an ideal Rafa player. Auba is a pure poacher which Rafa does not like. Ozil and Rafa - cannot see them get along. As for the central defenders - Rafa would fire all of them. He will have to revamp the entire team which will be met with resistance. Then there is the Wenger influence on transfers and other operations. Can you imagine Rafa standing on the sidelines and signalling the current Arsenal team to be compact and the entire team agreeing to his instructions.

 

 

[SEMTEX]

I understand your points, but we're making a hell of a lot of assumptions there. Unless you're actually Rafa (), I don't think you can speak for how he feels. We don't know what the current Mike Ashley relationship is, we don't know what his current thoughts are on the notion of one more try at a championship-calibre team.

 

And while we're at it, I've always disagreed with the whole 'Arsenal fans will complain if a manager isn't playing sexy Arseneball' argument. It's just conjecture. Along with the stuff about him maybe-possibly not getting on with some of their players.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

One thing in our favour, and this shows you how much of a mad bastard he is he thrives on the politics and don’t be surprised if this rumour about Real Sociedad hasn’t come from Rafa’s camp as an example of that. He probably thinks he can make Ashley change and bend to his ways, that’s how he operates and thinks. I believe a kitty off 80m + money from player sales next season will see him more than happy.