Rafa Benítez (now unemployed)

[Zero]

Sir Bobby Robson is better. Rafa isn't too faraway though. Just my opinion.

 

Look back the pressing tactics deployed by Sir Bobby, despite having an aging Shearer and the pairs of Obrien and Dabizas, were pure magical stuff. I know Rafa is excellent at forming a solid defense even if the players are shit but that's in expense of our attacking abilities and the quality of the match.  That's the thing he can never catch Sr Bobby imo.

 

We had been Klopps Liverpool about 20 years ago.

 

[geordiedean]

Good heavens if people are seriously saying Rafa is better than Sir Bobby...You're off your rocker

[Wallsendmag]

He has us so tight like, wonder how many times we have conceded more than 2 goals under him in a league game? I can't think of many at all, Man City, Liverpool, manure away, Chelsea once I think? Norwich home in the pub league. Barely a handful in around 100 league games

any other day we would have lost that 2 or 3 -0 very lucky to escape with a point

 

he's the best coach we've had in my lifetime like, there's not a doubt in my mind

 

keegan and robson did great things but in terms of pure coaching ability rafa is out on his own

 

Have to disagree there. He's an excellent coach but I feel Keegan and Sir Bobby have the edge on him. Tactically Rafa was superb last season, but in our Championship season, with the best squad on the league I thought he got it wrong quite a few times, especially at SJP.

 

Personally I love all three but my order of preference will always be Keegan>Robson>Benitez.

 

Yes Keegan and Robson had more to spend than Rafa but let's not forget the starting position Keegan inherited. Dragging us from certain relegation to Division 3 to 3rd place in the Premier League in 2 seasons takes some beating.

[r0cafella]

[Guest reefatoon]

Not really sure what was funny about that post. Robson ahead of Rafa for me too, and if I had a choice of all three of them I would pick Keegan before them both. KK made players stand 10 foot tall, he was an unbelievable man manager who made his team fear nobody and feel invincible. You just have to listen to the players talk about it at that time, and the football was just glorious to boot. He got stick for defensive duties, but when you actually look at it, our defense was actually very good. You argue he might have had better players, but he also made these players so much better, filling them with total belief.

 

Robson was also a superb man manager and tactician, who, like Rafa also won trophy’s. In a similar way to Keegan, he built the players up to feel invincible, you could see the confidence oozing from them and that showed in the exciting fast forward play with a lot of young raw talent. He also had a lot of average players he got the absolute best out of and it was another amazing time to be at games.

 

Rafa is like these two when it comes to understanding what this club could be and what it means to the fans, only these three guys have understood this, that’s why there is so much admiration for them.

 

Personally I have to agree with Wallsend mag though on the order, as that is what has brought me the most joy. At the end of the day, I watch football for enjoyment and for me those 90 minutes each Saturday are the only thing that stops me putting Rafa ahead of both Keegan and Bobby.

[r0cafella]

Apples to oranges comparisons are generally amusing.

 

Robson was fully backed by the board until his dismal whereas Rafa has two hands tied behind his back.

 

Not to speak ill of Sir Bobby but Rafa has won the championship and la Liga with unfancied sides something Sir Bobby can't match up to sadly.

[Sima]

Aye, as much as I love Rafa I cant have him ahead of Robson as a coach like.

 

His coaching level is above Keegan’s though but he doesn’t have Keegan’s enthusiasm and charisma which was his main strength.

[loki679]

Three different men, all great in their own way.

 

Mix Keegan with Benitez and you get Robson.

[Guest firetotheworks]

Look at their honours, it's a very easy decision.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

Rafa is the best all-round manager we’ve had IMO in terms of detail, tactics, fitness and coaching. Both KK and Sir Bobby would keep this team up like Rafa will, but make watching it more enjoyable, however. Certain players we have would fare much better I feel under someone like KK or Bobby, Kennedy for example. What Rafa gives us is a foundation built on organisation, detail, preparation and defensive solidity that almost guarantees survival and limits thrashings and losing streaks. It comes at a cost of enjoyment and wins though.

[mrmojorisin75]

Rafa is the best all-round manager we’ve had IMO in terms of detail, tactics, fitness and coaching. Both KK and Sir Bobby would keep this team up like Rafa will, but make watching it more enjoyable, however. Certain players we have would fare much better I feel under someone like KK or Bobby, Kennedy for example. What Rafa gives us is a foundation built on organisation, detail, preparation and defensive solidity that almost guarantees survival and limits thrashings and losing streaks. It comes at a cost of enjoyment and wins though.

The thing is though you could see 2 years ago what he was trying to do, football was shit in the champo but it was for the long term benefit of the side and payed off last year.

 

Problem we have is that Rafa isn't being allowed to upgrade basically, football and results would both improve under him if he was able to do it. As it is he's cutting his cloth according to the players at his disposal.

 

He'll never have a team playing like KK or Bobby did but given the chance we'll strike a much better balance between pragmatism and football. I didn't like the football his Liverpool team played at times but they were capable of some scintillating stuff.

[ToonArmy1892]

Benitez is the best, compare honours.

[Scoot]

[HaydnNUFC]

Magedia.

[LRD]

No surprise. The media hates us in general and treat us like a joke club. We do not have many legends in the media to turn the narrative to our advantage either.

 

Plus we are truly in a mess with MA.

[HaydnNUFC]

No surprise. The media hates us in general and treat us like a joke club. We do not have many legends in the media to turn the narrative to our advantage either.

 

Plus we are truly in a mess with MA.

No one's on our side in Sky. Everywhere else, BT, BBC, most of the papers, know the craic.

[Bimpy474]

No surprise. The media hates us in general and treat us like a joke club. We do not have many legends in the media to turn the narrative to our advantage either.

 

Plus we are truly in a mess with MA.

No one's on our side in Sky. Everywhere else, BT, BBC, most of the papers, know the craic.

 

Carragher has been informative and good about us the last few times he's been on.

[TRon]

Aye, as much as I love Rafa I cant have him ahead of Robson as a coach like.

 

His coaching level is above Keegan’s though but he doesn’t have Keegan’s enthusiasm and charisma which was his main strength.

 

What would Robson have done with this bunch of players? Much as I admire him and what he did here, I don't think he could have done it without some bloody good players. Robson played a better brand of football no doubt, but you still need quality to do that. If Rafa had some decent players to work with, I think we'd be seeing much better football right now.

[HaydnNUFC]

No surprise. The media hates us in general and treat us like a joke club. We do not have many legends in the media to turn the narrative to our advantage either.

 

Plus we are truly in a mess with MA.

No one's on our side in Sky. Everywhere else, BT, BBC, most of the papers, know the craic.

 

Carragher has been informative and good about us the last few times he's been on.

True, but he's not covering our games every time we're on. And the fact that they wheel out utter bell ends like Wise et al and give them a platform to spout their lies and other utter shite kind of negates it for me.

[Newintoon]

Just seen on ssn we are 5th in least shots against, mad considering the teams we have come up against so far.

We are always in the game,that’s the thing with Rafa the hammerings 3,4,5 nil are very few and far between. I’m sure he can keep us up

[Bimpy474]

No surprise. The media hates us in general and treat us like a joke club. We do not have many legends in the media to turn the narrative to our advantage either.

 

Plus we are truly in a mess with MA.

No one's on our side in Sky. Everywhere else, BT, BBC, most of the papers, know the craic.

 

Carragher has been informative and good about us the last few times he's been on.

True, but he's not covering our games every time we're on. And the fact that they wheel out utter bell ends like Wise et al and give them a platform to spout their lies and other utter shite kind of negates it for me.

 

Aye, the pundit on our games is nearly always a pro-Ashley moron who slags our fans off and as you said, lies through their teeth.

[geordiedean]

Aye, as much as I love Rafa I cant have him ahead of Robson as a coach like.

 

His coaching level is above Keegan’s though but he doesn’t have Keegan’s enthusiasm and charisma which was his main strength.

 

What would Robson have done with this bunch of players? Much as I admire him and what he did here, I don't think he could have done it without some bloody good players. Robson played a better brand of football no doubt, but you still need quality to do that. If Rafa had some decent players to work with, I think we'd be seeing much better football right now.

 

Absolute bullshit this post, Bobby turned Andy Obrien,Titus Bramble,Nikos Dabizas,Aaron Hughes, Andy Griffin, Shola and Lua Lua into champions league players, all them players punched well above their weight and all because of one mans ability

[YNGLEGIONNAIRE]

I think Rafa is the real deal if you want to establish a continuum here. The guy gets the potential here and has tried from the beginning to establish his proven formula for success . I disagree that it necessarily has to be boring to watch , I know it would thrill me to see us defend capably and with confidence , but be ruthless on the break . No chance of him doing it if he's not backed though . I have no doubt that he , more than SBR or KK , would deliver a trophy given the right backing .

[AyeDubbleYoo]

It wouldn't be boring to watch if we had better players, quite simple really.

[TRon]

Aye, as much as I love Rafa I cant have him ahead of Robson as a coach like.

 

His coaching level is above Keegan’s though but he doesn’t have Keegan’s enthusiasm and charisma which was his main strength.

 

What would Robson have done with this bunch of players? Much as I admire him and what he did here, I don't think he could have done it without some bloody good players. Robson played a better brand of football no doubt, but you still need quality to do that. If Rafa had some decent players to work with, I think we'd be seeing much better football right now.

 

Absolute bullshit this post, Bobby turned Andy Obrien,Titus Bramble,Nikos Dabizas,Aaron Hughes, Andy Griffin, Shola and Lua Lua into champions league players, all them players punched well above their weight and all because of one mans ability

 

Really? I thought it had more to do with Shearer, Bellamy, Robert, Solano, Dyer, Speed, Woodgate and Jenas. Bobby did like to buy adventurous young players with a turn of pace, I used to love that about his teams, but if Rafa was backed properly, maybe we could be signing those sort of players as well. Bobby was given licence to sign the best young English players, can you imagine Ashley sanctioning those sort of deals now? Young English talent costs a fortune.