2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[jamieni]

This season we haven’t had our top scorer

True and I think Benitez needs to work out how to find a cutting edge without him. He set the team up to provide service to DCL but I don’t think that’s necessarily going to work for Richarlison who is our only realistic striking option at the moment. Think he needs a number 10 slotting through balls for him and we don’t really have anyone that can do that at the minute.

Rondon, I guess, was brought in as the backup to DCL but has been abominable so far.

 

[Egil Olsen]

A lot of negativity here against Benitez, and especially against our offensive game. I'm not saying it has no potential for improvement, because it certainly has. However, if we agree that a good offensive play should lead to chances, and preferably big chances, and preferably goals, then we have a good starting point.

What is interesting is that under Benitez we have a median expected goal of 1.7 per game, while after the same number of games we had under Ancelotti a median expected goal of 1.36 per game. We have two points less than at the same time last year. This is by no means a crisis, and keep in mind that Benitez has not been at the club for long.

I also think mostly the entertainment value is better. Against Spurs there were not many goal chances, but there were duels and tackles, we wanted to play fast forward in the field when we won the ball, and we competed.

Personally, I see a lot of positive signs, but of course I do not know what the future brings, but right now it's a bit hyperbolic to start talking about crisis.

 

[jamieni]

A lot of negativity here against Benitez, and especially against our offensive game. I'm not saying it has no potential for improvement, because it certainly has. However, if we agree that a good offensive play should lead to chances, and preferably big chances, and preferably goals, then we have a good starting point.

What is interesting is that under Benitez we have a median expected goal of 1.7 per game, while after the same number of games we had under Ancelotti a median expected goal of 1.36 per game. We have two points less than at the same time last year. This is by no means a crisis, and keep in mind that Benitez has not been at the club for long.

I also think mostly the entertainment value is better. Against Spurs there were not many goal chances, but there were duels and tackles, we wanted to play fast forward in the field when we won the ball, and we competed.

Personally, I see a lot of positive signs, but of course I do not know what the future brings, but right now it's a bit hyperbolic to start talking about crisis.

It is definitely early to talk about a crisis but if we lose another couple of games in a row then I think we’re approaching that point.

 

[4737carlin]

It is definitely early to talk about a crisis but if we lose another couple of games in a row then I think we’re approaching that point.

The crisis is the Injury list though, that alone is costing us points along with the lack.of squad depth

 

[Neiler]

We have Arsenal, Mordor, City and Chelsea in the next 6, if we get 3-4 points out of those games ill be happy. Brentford and Palace we have to try and win, though neither are a pushover. Hopefully we will have 20 odd by Christmas.

The season really starts for us then from 19 of Dec - 19 of March, that period is critical, be happy if we have 40 points by then when our fixtures stiffen again, we can relax.

Yes, i have very low expectations this season.

 

[degsy]

I'd much rather get rid of the players than the manager at this stage of time. The players have failed nearly every audition apart from a few. A few more Gordons, Townsends, and Grays and I think we can have a team we are proud of again. Whether or not Mr. Benitez is at the helm of the club during that period is up to him. I understand what he wants to do with the club at least, I am unsure of if that old-school style will work in the modern premier league however. I guess Moyes is doing well enough with it! lol

Case 1
When they're playing to 'form'
Average players have the odd good game.
and
Good players have the odd average game.

Case2
When they're playing 'Off Form'
Average players play poorly, with the odd average game - that looks good only by comparison to the poor ones...
even Iwobi had one and Delph has had 2 half ones.

Good players play averagely, with the odd good game.

Being generous - we have 70%average players....who are playing poorly

Off Form and/or just plain poor players themselves can up performance a little by applying a bit of effort...which we saw Vs Spurs.

Now for The manager;
There is no magic formula...see Kendall II & III.
Apart from a bit of 'fine tuning'...which, if it fails (like zonal marking) then becomes 'needless tinkering'

A successful manager needs At Least two things...in no particular order;
1) Better Players.
2) Luck...luck with injuries, that the players actually give a toss and then throw in the vagiaries of Reffs and VAR. etc.

I've said it before - on the Pie Chart of Blame, Benitez...ex rs, FSW etc, that he is, all that...only has a small slice of the Blame Pie.

 

[Kev50]

It is definitely early to talk about a crisis but if we lose another couple of games in a row then I think we’re approaching that point.

We are two points off a top six spot.
That's very far from a crisis.RB has dealt with all the difficulties very well on the whole. Nobody doubts that when we get douc and DCL back we will be absolutely fine. It's just some people trying to talk up a crisis cos they don't like Benitez and are too small minded to give him a chance to do well for us.

 

[Neiler]

We are two points off a top six spot.
That's very far from a crisis.RB has dealt with all the difficulties very well on the whole. Nobody doubts that when we get douc and DCL back we will be absolutely fine. It's just some people trying to talk up a crisis cos they don't like Benitez and are too small minded to give him a chance to do well for us.

On a run of 2 points gained from the last 15 on offer the last 5 games, with CIty, Arsenal, Mordor and Chelsea in the next 6. We've had relatively kind fixtures over the first 11 game weeks comparatively to other teams, we should be better then 15 points. If we maintain the same form over the season we will have 49 points, though are fixtures stiffen now till the 19th of Dec.

 

[Kev50]

On a run of 2 points gained from the last 15 on offer in the last 5 games, with CIty, Arsenal, Mordor and Chelsea in the next 6. We've had relatively kind fixtures over the first 11 game weeks compartively to other teams, we should be better then 15 points.

Really? We are two points less than last year when everyone was well pleased. If we don't get whacked five nil next week that will be another improvement on last year. Since when Carlo left us in chaos and Benitez' wasnt given a transfer budget. So we're doing just fine given all that.

 

[Egil Olsen]

On a run of 2 points gained from the last 15 on offer the last 5 games, with CIty, Arsenal, Mordor and Chelsea in the next 6. We've had relatively kind fixtures over the first 11 game weeks comparatively to other teams, we should be better then 15 points. If we maintain the same form over the season we will have 49 points, though are fixtures stiffen now till the 19th of Dec.

The point is, we do not know how those matches will end. We also do not know how the other matches (which other teams play) will end. I also remember that there were periods last year where we had a downward curve, and when we looked at the upcoming matches we did not have much hope, but we usually still managed to get something out of these matches. Football is weird that way. So let's just wait and see.

 

[Dixieslaces]

The crisis is the Injury list though, that alone is costing us points along with the lack.of squad depth

I think the Injury Crisis is overstated, what is apparent is lack of Squad Depth Quality

 

[jamieni]

We are two points off a top six spot.
That's very far from a crisis.RB has dealt with all the difficulties very well on the whole. Nobody doubts that when we get douc and DCL back we will be absolutely fine. It's just some people trying to talk up a crisis cos they don't like Benitez and are too small minded to give him a chance to do well for us.

I don’t doubt we’ll be fine once we have everyone back but lose a few more on the spin and the pressure is cranking up regardless of our injury list. As I’ve said before I personally think Benitez should be given an opportunity unless we’re at real risk of relegation. We’re not at that point now for sure and hopefully we’ll do reasonably well over what is a tough run of fixtures to come up to Christmas.

 

[jamieni]

I think the Injury Crisis is overstated, what is apparent is lack of Squad Depth Quality

We have had 3/4 key players out. Richarlison now back but still missing Mina, Doucoure and DCL. It’s pretty unlucky to have 3 of our best players out for a number of weeks but certainly agree the squad depth is awful. Plenty of bodies at CB and in CM but most aren’t at the level required. Bare bones at full back and the less said about our striking options after DCL the better.

 

[Marius57]

On a run of 2 points gained from the last 15 on offer the last 5 games, with CIty, Arsenal, Mordor and Chelsea in the next 6. We've had relatively kind fixtures over the first 11 game weeks comparatively to other teams, we should be better then 15 points. If we maintain the same form over the season we will have 49 points, though are fixtures stiffen now till the 19th of Dec.

2nd easiest fixture list in the first 10 games (wolves was worked out to be slightly easier)

 

[The binman chronicles]

It is definitely early to talk about a crisis but if we lose another couple of games in a row then I think we’re approaching that point.

That in a nutshell is the absurd balancing act that we navigate. We're always a couple of games from a disaster, which we need to move away from if anyone is ever going to last a couple of seasons here to fix the foundations so we can actually build a house on top.