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Rafa Benítez (now unemployed)


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If there's going to be basically unlimited funds I'd want someone more attacking than Rafa tbh

 

a rafa team with quality defenders so he can play a 4, plus a torres level striker and world class number 10 would be a sight to behold i reckon

 

some of the football we played in a short time with almiron/rondon/perez was absolutely lush

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I do honestly think he will be Staveley's primary target. He was a huge factor in her negotiations in 2017 and all 3 of her bids were dependent on him staying (I think).

 

All depends on whether he'd leave Dalian early really, but I do think the new regime will want him.

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Would have Rafa back in a heartbeat, would be interesting to see how he buys and sets up a British team when he's actually got decent funds and isn't operating under the conditions of just trying to survive.

How sweet would that taste for him? He must have felt thwarted/a sense of defeat at not being allowed to finish his 'project'.  Or at least have had a sore head from banging it against obstinate Ashley (... which, thinking about it literally, would also be be pretty sweet!).

 

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It makes sense for him to return. They would've discussed plans with Staveley back in 2018. My only concern is that he has employed like 50 people in Dalian and might feel some loyalty to them and the owners who have backed him there.

 

I think it's more likely that Bruce will remain in charge for an initial period, while the upper management structure is settled.. As much as it pains me to say it, Bruce has sort of earned it - the team have generally played with spirit and fight this season.

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It makes sense for him to return. They would've discussed plans with Staveley back in 2018. My only concern is that he has employed like 50 people in Dalian and might feel some loyalty to them and the owners who have backed him there.

 

I think it's more likely that Bruce will remain in charge for an initial period, while the upper management structure is settled.. As much as it pains me to say it, Bruce has sort of earned it - the team have generally played with spirit and fight this season.

 

Do a swap and send Bruce the other way with a one way ticket

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I think Rafa is the type you want to build a club from the ground up, I did get a little annoyed when he wouldn't let the team off the leash at times.. but laying new foundations and setting up infrastructure, I couldn't think of a better bloke.

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I think Rafa is the type you want to build a club from the ground up, I did get a little annoyed when he wouldn't let the team off the leash at times.. but laying new foundations and setting up infrastructure, I couldn't think of a better bloke.

I agree we need someone like him to rebuild the club.  Our infrastructure is shocking now, no investment in 10 years.  It's probably just as a big a challenge to build this up as it is to rebuild the team.

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Guest neesy111

I think Rafa is the type you want to build a club from the ground up, I did get a little annoyed when he wouldn't let the team off the leash at times.. but laying new foundations and setting up infrastructure, I couldn't think of a better bloke.

I agree we need someone like him to rebuild the club.  Our infrastructure is shocking now, no investment in 10 years.  It's probably just as a big a challenge to build this up as it is to rebuild the team.

 

Yeap, that's a 3-5 year project minimum.

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Rafa is the man to build the club up, don't care it if the football isn't as exciting as some other names being touted but we need a man in place who knows this place and knows exactly what needs to be done to get it to that level.

 

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Rafa is the man to build the club up, don't care it if the football isn't as exciting as some other names being touted but we need a man in place who knows this place and knows exactly what needs to be done to get it to that level.

 

Absolutely and the football played towards the end of last season wasn't too shabby either.

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I love Rafa but his transfer record is very patchy. At Liverpool he signed about 70 players in 5 seasons and most of them weren't Torres or Alonso.

 

Given unlimited spending power, I reckon he'd sign a fair few knackers as well.

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I love Rafa but his transfer record is very patchy. At Liverpool he signed about 70 players in 5 seasons and most of them weren't Torres or Alonso.

 

Given unlimited spending power, I reckon he'd sign a fair few knackers as well.

 

Didn't he also win them 4 trophies?

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I love Rafa but his transfer record is very patchy. At Liverpool he signed about 70 players in 5 seasons and most of them weren't Torres or Alonso.

 

Given unlimited spending power, I reckon he'd sign a fair few knackers as well.

 

Didn't he also win them 4 trophies?

 

He did and I'd welcome him back with arms open. I just think he might spend the occasional 130 million on Robbie Keane and Andrea Dossena. Might make it more fun actually.

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I love Rafa but his transfer record is very patchy. At Liverpool he signed about 70 players in 5 seasons and most of them weren't Torres or Alonso.

 

Given unlimited spending power, I reckon he'd sign a fair few knackers as well.

 

Just look at the teams he built with Valencia and Napoli (Mertens, Koulibaly, Callejon, Higuain et al)

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I love Rafa but his transfer record is very patchy. At Liverpool he signed about 70 players in 5 seasons and most of them weren't Torres or Alonso.

Given unlimited spending power, I reckon he'd sign a fair few knackers as well.

 

This is going to be a slow process. The immediate thing, for me, is not necessarily getting a world class squad in place, but to get the club as a whole back on track. Rafa's definitely the man for that. It's going to be a big job.

I'm happy for the manager to spend years slowly but surely building up the squad, if it means everything from the bottom up is being developed.

 

RIP Paddling Pools.

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