2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[Efcjake]

Just because I aint one of the loud minority dont hate on me Flash.

Crying on here 24/7 aint seeing the fella sacked so best to just wait and see.

But make one thing clear - no manager is succeeding at present whilst Brands/Kenwright/current squad are still around the place.

But that's exactly what you are here.

 

[Efcjake]

18 months into something you can start to have a fully formed idea of what a managers tenure is going to look like, so that is fair to start judging around then and no one should just stick with something if it looks like it's going down the toilet. The difference here is our fanbase want to jump on the managerial roulette wheel after less than 15 games, that is a joke tbh and just driven by previous grievances. Get Conte and put him in charge of our side and we'd get similar results, there isn't any miracle workers out there. We actually did well up to the point Doucoure went but that was the final straw.

Yes Benitez has made mistakes, same as every manager, but with the players out those are magnified because we are on the losing end of matches. Everyone has concerns about zonal but with Mina and DCL in the side who have height and can actually attack a football it would look better than it does now. Albeit not my choice of style.

What we can say is that we have conclusive confirmation that swapping managers does not work. We've had 6 and a caretaker in Moshiri's time alone, when you swap you have the players that were loyal to a particular manager start to look for a way out or not be what the incoming one wants and you have to go through the whole process again. We keep laying foundations in blancmange and wondering why it isn't working.

People need to use their heads to figure out just why we might be struggling at the moment and get behind the team. If we do that hopefully we can put some roots down that we can use as a launchpad.

No, they don't get that long anymore.

They get the first season and if it isn't good then they will get the sack. The only reason Koeman and Silva got sacked after 18 months is because it all went tits up in the second season for them. If they had struggled in the first season like they did in the second then I don't doubt they would have gotten the sack then.

 

[Efcjake]

This is what I mean - absolutely no self awareness in whats been posted.

A Champions League winning manager who has us sat 10th in the table (where we finished last season under another Champions League winning manager).

If people cut out the hatred and blinkered nonsense we could discuss things sensibly but it's obvious at this point that you guys are unable to do so because you're inherently biased against the guy so any poor form or loss and its none stop hysteria.

What don't you understand about the fact that bragging about having us in 10th when we haven't even played 6 of last year's top 7 is ridiculous?


When we drop into the bottom half after Spurs and begin our free fall into Christmas I hope you are still bragging about where we are sitting in the league.

 

[Stephenlloyd]

I don't know if you were at the Watford game mate but the reaction to the game was one of the worst I've seen towards a manager of ours after only a few games in charge and the ground was half empty before the final whistle, the hostility towards Benitez was clear from those fans who were left. Imagine what it will be like if our abysmal run continues in our next lot of games.

I talk to a lot of lads at the game and what I get from the majority of them is that they didn't want him at the club because of the RS connection but will tolerate him to see how he gets on and there is the problem for Benitez, the RS connection, he is being judged from the off.

I've said it plenty of times, I can't stand the man, not because of what he said etc but because he's always been a manager who's a tit with a massive chip on his shoulder. I can't even watch his pre and post match interviews but, I've also said that I want him to do well because if he does well then that means we as a club have done well and that's all what matters to me but I will always think he's a massive tit who I can't stand.

There was always going to be a section against form day 1 and another section after him. After a few bad results. Yes he also got dogs abuse because of his substitution. And how we collapsed

But so have loads of managers, do you think ancelotti would have got away with some of them home performances last season if 40k fans were there. Ok we didn’t shift 4 goals in 15mins under him. But dished out some shockers at home, not laying a glove on the worst team in the league, was every bit as bad.


Koeman, Silva, Martinez all got it from the home, as did Moyes on plenty of occasions. With his dithering on the side lines and negative subs.

I do feel under the circumstances, he will get a little bit more leeway from some fans, though obviously he will have his haters from day 1.

 

[Ring master]

Benitez Pre Spurs Press Conference​

Benitez
Sometimes when you are doing well it's easy for the manager. When you aren't doing so well, you have to improve things like the confidence & mentality... We have to go back to the first games when we were doing quite well

Benitez
We were doing so well & it was difficult to keep this momentum. We had injuries & some problems with players... You have to remember what you did well & stick with these ideas

Benitez On Spurs
We know we will play against a very good team. Conte's a manager with experience, they have good players. Maybe it's not the best moment, with a new manager they have extra motivation. but we have to compete against everyone at any time & we have to be ready



Benitez On Townsend
I think he's very professional & doing well for us. These games can sometimes be a motivation for players & hopefully it will be for him


Benitez On Townsend/Gray
The fans I remember at the beginning wanted wingers and pace up front, and we did that without spending too much. Hopefully they can continue the same level against Tottenham.

Benitez On Delph
At the beginning analysing the squad, we had too many players injured for too long. We are bringing players back and hopefully they will have a big part in our success. It's really important for the squad to have players with experience. This kind of players can help those around. After injuries, coming back with this desire and commitment is very good for the team

Benitez on Lucas Digne
Digne is fine. He has been training so hopefully he will be available

Benitez On importance of the game
Nobody wants to lose any game. The fans understand the context, it's something we need to analyse. You put everything together and you have great performances at the beginning of the season. Now, we have issues, but I have the belief 100%

Benitez On Conte
He used to be aggressive. If you coach Juventus, it's the strongest team in Italy, Chelsea are one of the strongest teams here. Usually you have to be aggressive. He wants to be competitive and win.

Benitez On requirements
A team that can compete, gives everything on the pitch. The reaction that we had in the second half against Wolves, something like that I would like to see. The team has certain characteristics and we have to try and improve, but Rome wasn't built in a day.

Benitez On Gray's use
Not really, I want to rest him at the end of the season. He has to play every game if he is available. If he is available and fit, he can make the difference and he has to be on the pitch as much as possible.

Benitez On Gordon
He's doing well, I'm really pleased for him [to be called up for the U21s]. I'm sure he will do well and will be an important player for Everton in the future.

Benitez On Coleman
Seamus is a really important player for us. It’s a crucial time for us, we have so many games coming. The fact we have too many players with long-term injuries in the past, we needed to control that. We need players like Coleman

 

[maccavennie]

After listening to that presser, I think we can confirm the side will be

GK Pickford
RB Coleman
CB Rondon (c)
CB Keane
LB Digne
CM Delph
CM Rondon
CM Allan
ST Gray
ST Rondon
ST Townsend

On the bench

Begovic
Lonergan
Tyrer
Rondon
Holgate
Godfrey
Kenny
Branthwaite

The fact he wasn't asked and didn't mention Rondon, means he'll be picked for 3 alternative positions.

He said good luck to Gordon which means farewell Gordon, don't come back cos I'm not putting you in the team.

 

[4737carlin]

Late as always the bad meff

Must of been a hold up in the Mersey tunnel

 

[ForeverBlue92]

What don't you understand about the fact that bragging about having us in 10th when we haven't even played 6 of last year's top 7 is ridiculous?


When we drop into the bottom half after Spurs and begin our free fall into Christmas I hope you are still bragging about where we are sitting in the league.

Because games are not won on paper - we saw that last season. We pick up points from teams you dont expect and we drop them against teams we think we should be beating.

To be sat already predicting our relegation 10 games in is hysterical.

The season before we finished 4th under Moyes we finished 17th. If we finish midtable this season and spend money in the summer on players who suit Benitez's system we could improve - if we dont he goes at the end of his 2nd season as someone who wasn't good enough.

But to be crying at this stage when has 2 players of his own in the starting 11 when everyones fit who cost buttons is just daft.

Our fans have become their own worst enemy. You need stability for success yet we wont give anyone chance for stability.

 

[Marius57]

He got Newcastle mid table with a positive net spend over 3 yrs. we blow 300mil to finish mid table

He scraped passed 40 points twice. Once all down to perez going on a freak scoring run which he had never done before or since and gained them 10 points by scoring 8 in their last 10 games.

Is that really what we are aspiring to? Grinding out 40 points and hoping we are mid table because the rest of the league is crap?

 

[MisterJ]

After listening to that presser, I think we can confirm the side will be

GK Pickford
RB Coleman
CB Rondon (c)
CB Keane
LB Digne
CM Delph
CM Rondon
CM Allan
ST Gray
ST Rondon
ST Townsend

On the bench

Begovic
Lonergan
Tyrer
Rondon
Holgate
Godfrey
Kenny
Branthwaite

The fact he wasn't asked and didn't mention Rondon, means he'll be picked for 3 alternative positions.

He said good luck to Gordon which means farewell Gordon, don't come back cos I'm not putting you in the team.

Think you missed a Rondon...

 

[Blues Harp]

Because games are not won on paper - we saw that last season. We pick up points from teams you dont expect and we drop them against teams we think we should be beating.

To be sat already predicting our relegation 10 games in is hysterical.

The season before we finished 4th under Moyes we finished 17th. If we finish midtable this season and spend money in the summer on players who suit Benitez's system we could improve - if we dont he goes at the end of his 2nd season as someone who wasn't good enough.

But to be crying at this stage when has 2 players of his own in the starting 11 when everyones fit who cost buttons is just daft.

Our fans have become their own worst enemy. You need stability for success yet we wont give anyone chance for stability.

Stability?????
After the choices for manager made after Moyes went? (and he should have been kicked oot after the 2009 final. Martinez up to now?
You're avin' a reet laugh innit?

 

[Stephenlloyd]

He scraped passed 40 points twice. Once all down to perez going on a freak scoring run which he had never done before or since and gained them 10 points by scoring 8 in their last 10 games.

Is that really what we are aspiring to? Grinding out 40 points and hoping we are mid table because the rest of the league is crap?

No of course not. But you asked what he’d done. I’m the last 5yrs.
Loads wouid have moyes back, because we finished 6/7 under him on a reg basis, with limited funds. Yet that was 10/15 years ago.


It’s a lot harder now, to just survive in the prem with no money. So who wouid you want as manager

 

[roy vernon]

Benitez Pre Spurs Press Conference​

Benitez
Sometimes when you are doing well it's easy for the manager. When you aren't doing so well, you have to improve things like the confidence & mentality... We have to go back to the first games when we were doing quite well

Benitez
We were doing so well & it was difficult to keep this momentum. We had injuries & some problems with players... You have to remember what you did well & stick with these ideas

Benitez On Spurs
We know we will play against a very good team. Conte's a manager with experience, they have good players. Maybe it's not the best moment, with a new manager they have extra motivation. but we have to compete against everyone at any time & we have to be ready



Benitez On Townsend
I think he's very professional & doing well for us. These games can sometimes be a motivation for players & hopefully it will be for him


Benitez On Townsend/Gray
The fans I remember at the beginning wanted wingers and pace up front, and we did that without spending too much. Hopefully they can continue the same level against Tottenham.

Benitez On Delph
At the beginning analysing the squad, we had too many players injured for too long. We are bringing players back and hopefully they will have a big part in our success. It's really important for the squad to have players with experience. This kind of players can help those around. After injuries, coming back with this desire and commitment is very good for the team

Benitez on Lucas Digne
Digne is fine. He has been training so hopefully he will be available

Benitez On importance of the game
Nobody wants to lose any game. The fans understand the context, it's something we need to analyse. You put everything together and you have great performances at the beginning of the season. Now, we have issues, but I have the belief 100%

Benitez On Conte
He used to be aggressive. If you coach Juventus, it's the strongest team in Italy, Chelsea are one of the strongest teams here. Usually you have to be aggressive. He wants to be competitive and win.

Benitez On requirements
A team that can compete, gives everything on the pitch. The reaction that we had in the second half against Wolves, something like that I would like to see. The team has certain characteristics and we have to try and improve, but Rome wasn't built in a day.

Benitez On Gray's use
Not really, I want to rest him at the end of the season. He has to play every game if he is available. If he is available and fit, he can make the difference and he has to be on the pitch as much as possible.

Benitez On Gordon
He's doing well, I'm really pleased for him [to be called up for the U21s]. I'm sure he will do well and will be an important player for Everton in the future.

Benitez On Coleman
Seamus is a really important player for us. It’s a crucial time for us, we have so many games coming. The fact we have too many players with long-term injuries in the past, we needed to control that. We need players like Coleman

Thanks for that mate, I can’t bring myself to watch his pressers.

 

[Bluewolf]

You enjoyed the football we were playing or you enjoyed some of the results?

We were awful against saints and Burnley other than like 15 minute spells in each game.

The way we played.

Tbh I dont think anyone really plays well against Burnley as they are essentially anti-football but I dont think we were terrible against them they bullied us in the first half and we out played them in the second.

The saints game? We didn't play awfully at all. We had a slow start fair enough and Keane made his token mistake a game but in the end we were deserved winners anyone who watched the game can tell you that and the stats back it up as well.

Its the same at villa I didn't think we were bad just we did that thing everton do where we conceded one goal then completely fall to bits and conceded again straight away but we've been doing that ever since moyes left so I'm not suprised by it anymore tbh.

 

[Theoneandonly]

He scraped passed 40 points twice. Once all down to perez going on a freak scoring run which he had never done before or since and gained them 10 points by scoring 8 in their last 10 games.

Is that really what we are aspiring to? Grinding out 40 points and hoping we are mid table because the rest of the league is crap?

It doesn't matter who scores the goals and when, does it.

You're also talking about his last season at Newcastle where they had an horrendous start and were 19th after the first 10 games and then were mid table until the end of the season. It wasn't scraped at the last minute. They were clear of relegation by 11 points, as they were the season before in which they finished 10th.

Pretty sure they beat us and a drew with us that season, they also beat Man City too.