Rafa Benítez (now unemployed)

[Robster]

[Dave]

From the other thread:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/15/isaac-hayden-newcastle-arsenal-flamini-premier-league

To Hayden, Wenger was difficult to read; his style slightly off the cuff. The contrast to Rafael Benítez is vivid. When Newcastle were made aware Hayden was available, Benítez watched 12 videos of him overnight before deciding to sign him, and the Spaniard made quite an impression on Hayden during their first meeting.

 

“It was at the Rosewood hotel in London and there was a big bowl of chocolates on the table,” Hayden says. “All of a sudden, he got two big handfuls of them and he lined them up in formation. He started asking me questions. ‘Right, if the ball came in from here and the centre-halves are here, where would you be?’ Sometimes, he said: ‘Brilliant.’ Other times, he said: ‘No. That’s a very English answer.’ It was like a coaching session at the first meeting. After it, I told my agent: ‘I don’t care what it takes. I just want to make this transfer happen.’”

 

Benítez takes meticulous to the next level. According to Hayden, the manager has written a thesis on the holding midfield role – a comparative analysis of the position across five countries, including England and Spain. Hayden thinks Benítez studied it at university in Madrid.

 

“He’s literally obsessed with it,” Hayden says. “He played that position himself. He wants to talk non-stop. I could play really well and he’ll never say: ‘Well played.’ He will always tell me I was out of position by two yards in a particular situation. It’s just how he is. You have to be bang on it in every way.”

 

When Hayden moved to Newcastle, he lived in the same apartment block as Benítez. “I’ve moved out now,” Hayden says. “I’d get my dinner from a restaurant around the corner, which did lovely chicken and pasta dishes, and I’d collect it after training. He’d come home at the same time and he used to catch me as I got out of my car. One time, I was sitting in the car, waiting and waiting for him to go up in the lift but he was waiting for me. My food was getting cold. He’d just want to talk about football for half an hour.”

 

 

What a guy.

[Wilson]

"One time, I was sitting in the car, waiting and waiting for him to go up in the lift but he was waiting for me. My food was getting cold. He’d just want to talk about football for half an hour."

 

[Dinho lad]

[Dinho lad]

Fucking new page wanker at least three times today!! 

[Bimpy474]

"One time, I was sitting in the car, waiting and waiting for him to go up in the lift but he was waiting for me. My food was getting cold. He’d just want to talk about football for half an hour."

 

 

Brilliant 

[sbnufc]

https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/latest-videos/benitez-pre-arsenal-a-media-briefing-17-18

[TRon]

  How could you want anyone else as manager?

 

 

[Dave]

Try this for depressing:

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/newcastle-rafa-benitez-fighting-a-losing-battle-arsenal-a8113141.html

Rafa Benitez looks to be fighting a losing battle at Newcastle - time is running out

The Ashley decade has taken a heavy toll. There is a lack of patience and a growing belief among the club's argumentative fanbase that Benitez is making too many mistakes

 

Martin Hardy @mhardysport 21 mins ago

 

 

Of the first 65 league games Rafa Benitez was manager of Newcastle United, 16 were lost. Of the last eight, seven have ended in defeat. It is difficult to search for context in the Wild West that is Tyneside football, but those statistics will tell you why the club is once more on the brink of civil war.

 

Benitez, the Champions League-winning manager who took the unlikely step of leading a club on the brink of turmoil out of the Championship, is fighting fires in a way that will bring back painful memories for most of his predecessors.

 

Kenny Dalglish, Sam Allardyce, Ruud Gullit and Graeme Souness all left saying the position as manager of Newcastle was nigh on impossible. Kevin Keegan said he feared he would end up dead if he saw out his ten-year contract at the club and Sir Bobby Robson was caught on camera criticising the support after the majority snubbed a final-home game lap of honour in a season that would finish fifth.

 

And that was before Mike Ashley rolled into town ten years ago.

 

Two relegations in that period have left huge scars.

 

It is once more a romantic football club without any romance. There is a lack of patience and a growing belief among the club's argumentative fanbase that Benitez is making too many mistakes

 

The movement against him is growing. Newcastle supporters were arguing with each other inside St James’ Park during the latest defeat, against Everton, on Wednesday.

 

It is widely known that Benitez is unhappy with the club’s board, and the transfer activity of the summer. He admitted he held a meeting with Lee Charnley the managing director, on Thursday, about what can be spent in January and the truth is nobody has a clue.

 

Benitez is treading precariously with the confidence and backing of his players, who keep making mistakes. He was at his most angry in the dark hours that followed the loss to Sam Allardyce on Wednesday because of a goalkeeping mistake, a position he had identified as a problem as soon as the transfer window was opened.

 

The local newspaper, the Evening Chronicle, did a poll of its five Newcastle writers to see who should play in goal against Arsenal on Saturday. Four went for Rob Elliot, who was dropped after conceding seven goals in two games, one went for the England Under-21 international Freddy Woodman, who has not played a minute of first team football for the club, and none went for Darlow, who has leaked nine in four.

 

Benitez wanted a goalkeeper, a left-back, a number ten and a striker at the start of a summer that has the potential to be another historically significant mistake, so inside his anger and hurt of the current situation is a major element of ‘I told you so.’

 

There has been a long-standing call for two centre forwards to be played, even in the midst of a start to the season that had the club fourth and fifth early on and then ninth after beating Crystal Palace. Benitez has appeared to relent on that one, and it has been to a cost.

 

He has risked further anger by overlooking Aleksandar Mitrovic, who he thinks is not quick enough to play on the counter attack and Jonjo Shelvey (who received his second red card of the season on Wednesday and now has a two-game suspension).

 

Benitez’s lengthy argument is that, armed with a myriad of statistics on every single player, there is no magic wand which the supporters are desperately searching for.

 

Into the mounting concern of relegation then, one quickly approaching mild hysteria, is a trip to the Emirates, where Newcastle have won one of the eleven games they have played there.

 

Then it is West Ham, and then it is Manchester City at home. If Newcastle lose to Pep Guardiola’s side at St James’, it will be the first time they have lost five successive home league games since 1953. That number is many home defeats as when they were relegated in 2016.

 

It means Benitez is fighting for the one thing that has always seemed a given - his relationship with Newcastle’s fans.

 

“The reality is when we decided to stay everyone appreciated that,” said Benitez. “When we were in the Championship, everyone appreciated that. We won the title, everyone appreciated that.

 

“Then the fans know where we are and what we have. In terms of that, I have to do my job in the best way possible and that is it. You have to be the first one to have the confidence and believe we can do it and I do believe that this team will improve.

 

“When you have bad results you have to lead the team and the confidence. I know what we have to do.”

 

There is a need for Benitez to come out fighting and on that, when asked about how he expressed his anger in defeat, he said: “I don’t have to go home. I can do it in the dressing room. I did it at Liverpool when I was in the dressing room and I smashed one of the boxes there.

 

“We lost against Middlesbrough and we were fighting for the title. I had to make a decision about a player who could not play, and we made mistakes, and smash!”

 

There is no suggestion the club has a replacement lined up - Steve McClaren, John Carver and Alan Pardew preceded him - but it is a volatile situation with an owner eager to sell. Heading into a relegation fight has not helped negotiation. The losing run will not be allowed to go on indefinitely.

[sbnufc]

The movement against him is growing.

 

Is it?

[Guest firetotheworks]

The criticism of some of our fans at the moment is completely justified and anyone who's too precious to accept any criticism of any fans can get fucked tbh. It takes a special kind of moron to go on the way some people have about Rafa and the players recently. It's thankfully in the minority, but it's still shameful and it's good to hear that others have taken collective responsibility (like telling that mouth breather to STFU when he was telling Rafa to sit down) , but it's a growingly problem and one that I've only really appreciated since we've had Rafa.

[Interpolic]

From the other thread:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/15/isaac-hayden-newcastle-arsenal-flamini-premier-league

To Hayden, Wenger was difficult to read; his style slightly off the cuff. The contrast to Rafael Benítez is vivid. When Newcastle were made aware Hayden was available, Benítez watched 12 videos of him overnight before deciding to sign him, and the Spaniard made quite an impression on Hayden during their first meeting.

 

“It was at the Rosewood hotel in London and there was a big bowl of chocolates on the table,” Hayden says. “All of a sudden, he got two big handfuls of them and he lined them up in formation. He started asking me questions. ‘Right, if the ball came in from here and the centre-halves are here, where would you be?’ Sometimes, he said: ‘Brilliant.’ Other times, he said: ‘No. That’s a very English answer.’ It was like a coaching session at the first meeting. After it, I told my agent: ‘I don’t care what it takes. I just want to make this transfer happen.’”

 

Benítez takes meticulous to the next level. According to Hayden, the manager has written a thesis on the holding midfield role – a comparative analysis of the position across five countries, including England and Spain. Hayden thinks Benítez studied it at university in Madrid.

 

“He’s literally obsessed with it,” Hayden says. “He played that position himself. He wants to talk non-stop. I could play really well and he’ll never say: ‘Well played.’ He will always tell me I was out of position by two yards in a particular situation. It’s just how he is. You have to be bang on it in every way.”

 

When Hayden moved to Newcastle, he lived in the same apartment block as Benítez. “I’ve moved out now,” Hayden says. “I’d get my dinner from a restaurant around the corner, which did lovely chicken and pasta dishes, and I’d collect it after training. He’d come home at the same time and he used to catch me as I got out of my car. One time, I was sitting in the car, waiting and waiting for him to go up in the lift but he was waiting for me. My food was getting cold. He’d just want to talk about football for half an hour.”

 

 

What a guy.

[emoji38] What a fantastic interview that is.

[HaydnNUFC]

That Hardy article is utter garbage.

[sempuki]

From the other thread:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/dec/15/isaac-hayden-newcastle-arsenal-flamini-premier-league

To Hayden, Wenger was difficult to read; his style slightly off the cuff. The contrast to Rafael Benítez is vivid. When Newcastle were made aware Hayden was available, Benítez watched 12 videos of him overnight before deciding to sign him, and the Spaniard made quite an impression on Hayden during their first meeting.

 

“It was at the Rosewood hotel in London and there was a big bowl of chocolates on the table,” Hayden says. “All of a sudden, he got two big handfuls of them and he lined them up in formation. He started asking me questions. ‘Right, if the ball came in from here and the centre-halves are here, where would you be?’ Sometimes, he said: ‘Brilliant.’ Other times, he said: ‘No. That’s a very English answer.’ It was like a coaching session at the first meeting. After it, I told my agent: ‘I don’t care what it takes. I just want to make this transfer happen.’”

 

Benítez takes meticulous to the next level. According to Hayden, the manager has written a thesis on the holding midfield role – a comparative analysis of the position across five countries, including England and Spain. Hayden thinks Benítez studied it at university in Madrid.

 

“He’s literally obsessed with it,” Hayden says. “He played that position himself. He wants to talk non-stop. I could play really well and he’ll never say: ‘Well played.’ He will always tell me I was out of position by two yards in a particular situation. It’s just how he is. You have to be bang on it in every way.”

 

When Hayden moved to Newcastle, he lived in the same apartment block as Benítez. “I’ve moved out now,” Hayden says. “I’d get my dinner from a restaurant around the corner, which did lovely chicken and pasta dishes, and I’d collect it after training. He’d come home at the same time and he used to catch me as I got out of my car. One time, I was sitting in the car, waiting and waiting for him to go up in the lift but he was waiting for me. My food was getting cold. He’d just want to talk about football for half an hour.”

 

 

What a guy.

[emoji38] What a fantastic interview that is.

Brilliant.

[Robster]

Rafa isnt going anywhere.

He's intrinsically linked to Amanda Staveley and PCP. I'm sure their opinion of him hasn't changed. He just needs to stay calm, like he is telling everyone else to, and he, and we, will come through this once the club is sold.

 

[Danh1]

Utter bollocks that by Hardy.

 

If Rafa walked tomorrow I would always be thankful for what he's done and gutted that things never worked out. If the takeover goes ahead then it'd be the start of something specia I think. Sadly it is a big if though I reckon.

[Guest]

Find that article hard to believe when Rafa's name was being chanted around the ground on Wednesday even when we were 1-0 down and even at HT the Gallowgate had that Rafa flag with the translation 'we are with you' (?) next to it.

 

If there's any discontent in the fanbase, it's a very minor number.

[Crumpy Gunt]

Keep losing games and eventually you'll be peddled.

[duo]

Rafa knew the areas we needed to strengthen - Ashley ignored and that is why we are in this mess - not Rafa.  There is no magic wand he can wave, the fact we are not already in the bottom 3 is down to Rafa.  Individual mistakes are costing us atm and no manager can account for those.

[Crumpy Gunt]

Rafa knew the areas we needed to strengthen - Ashley ignored and that is why we are in this mess - not Rafa.  There is no magic wand he can wave, the fact we are not already in the bottom 3 is down to Rafa.  Individual mistakes are costing us atm and no manager can account for those.

 

The biggest individual mistake is that Joselu and Diame constantly get picked.

[duo]

Rafa knew the areas we needed to strengthen - Ashley ignored and that is why we are in this mess - not Rafa.  There is no magic wand he can wave, the fact we are not already in the bottom 3 is down to Rafa.  Individual mistakes are costing us atm and no manager can account for those.

 

The biggest individual mistake is that Joselu and Diame constantly get picked.

In Joselu's defence whilst he cannot hit a barn door, he works hard and tracks back.  Unfortunately what we gain in defence we loose in attack as he is just so poor in front of goal.  But Rafa wasn't able to buy who he wanted - so we can't blame him for that.  He needed players simple as that. 

 

Diame I agree he's hopeless but he tends to play the '10' role and I think we're splitting hairs with him or Perez, they're both not suited to the role.  But who else would you play there?

[Guest ElCid]

Rafa knew the areas we needed to strengthen - Ashley ignored and that is why we are in this mess - not Rafa.  There is no magic wand he can wave, the fact we are not already in the bottom 3 is down to Rafa.  Individual mistakes are costing us atm and no manager can account for those.

 

The biggest individual mistake is that Joselu and Diame constantly get picked.

In Joselu's defence whilst he cannot hit a barn door, he works hard and tracks back.  Unfortunately what we gain in defence we loose in attack as he is just so poor in front of goal.  But Rafa wasn't able to buy who he wanted - so we can't blame him for that.  He needed players simple as that. 

 

Diame I agree he's hopeless but he tends to play the '10' role and I think we're splitting hairs with him or Perez, they're both not suited to the role.  But who else would you play there?

 

Same argument peddled out what is the point in buying players if they are shit. Rafa should have done what Keegan did with John Hall when he put the block on players and walked out - Hall soon changed his mind. Rafa has been totally fucked over everyone knows that but I still cannot understand why he settled on players who were so far down his list. You cannot polish a turd and you may as well not buy players than buy players who are plainly not good enough. The biggest gripe I have is these players keep on getting played and that is the reason we are sinking like a ship. Ashley is the biggest cunt going we all know that and I do wish Rafa had stood up and said fuck you instead of accepting 5th, 7th, 7th choice players. If this takeover didn’t happen the one person who can get that abominal fat cunt out of this club and get the fans into action is the manager but he may have to walk to do it. I’ve heard people call me a WUM and such but I’m telling it as it is. No owner, manager or player is bigger than the club and that’s what should be first in all supporters mind. Hopefully the takeover will see the club come out of the dark as currently this is the darkest period it’s been at since the McKeag days and it’s only not worse because we were not even a mid table second division club then.

[xLiaaamx]

Hardy's article is gutter press and so is his reasoning. Saying he hears people complaining after games. Of course people complain in frustration when they've just lost a game man. That's human nature ffs.

[Wilson]

Changed my mind about Hardy after reading a bit of that.

 

Hit him with htt's post.

[Jesse Pinkman]

Pardew got less stick. PARDEW. Just f***ing hell

 

I presume you weren’t at the Stoke game...