2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[MikeH72]

We got 59 points last season with pretty much the same squad (and I was fairly critical of Ancelotti btw) - we should have won a lot more games too

Well we won a lot of games that we didn’t deserve to as well. We finished in a fair position in the table.

 

[Tubey]

He went into the season knowing DCL was injured and a few others. He is at fault for not addressing that.

Yes, he definitely could have spent that massive amount of money he was given more wisely. Absolutely.

We had no pace in the entire side and he added two wide players with a bit of pace that we were screaming out for. Indeed without buying Gray and Townsend we'd probably be in Newcastle territory right now.

 

[StuBarlow]

Benitez should have been at the very bottom of the list because he is not the manager to take this club forward

Be careful, there's a good few here that see him as the messiah and wear Ráfa PJs to bed.

 

[BlueToff]

Leicester won the title with the 16th or so least possession.

Possession means absolutely nothing mate.

It does and it doesn’t

Leicester had a rapid, brilliant counter attack and Kante and a player in Drinkwater to play the playmaker role from deep

Even with our front four fit, Townsend isn’t quite Mahrez, DCL isn’t peak Vardy and we severely lack the passing player from deep

So you need to be able to keep the ball at times to control the tempo for 5, 10 min spells. We cannot do it at all. A lot of that is players making bad decisions but Jesus Christ this should also be worked on in training; simple stuff

 

[Marius57]

Delph only just returned and is still half-fit, as is Gbamin, we have one actual fit midfielder in Allan. Richarlison missed 6 games.

It's been consistent, crippling, key injuries since September.

4 mate. Villa, Norwich, United, west ham. 1 we won, 1 we drew. He has played in all the other games.

 

[BlueToff]

DCL has been out since August. Richarlison was out all that time until recently too.

As for set pieces, it's a valid criticism and one he's took action to fix visibly in recent games.

Richarlison was only out for two weeks before the United game when I first saw those stats and they’ve not changed since them

Yes let’s hope that set-piece thing continues at least we’ve looked remotely like we have an actual plan now

 

[Simon Buttle]

Delph only just returned and is still half-fit, as is Gbamin, we have one actual fit midfielder in Allan. Richarlison missed 6 games.

It's been consistent, crippling, key injuries since September.

Richarlison has played 8 games this season with 1 being off the bench.

 

[BlueToff]

Well we won a lot of games that we didn’t deserve to as well. We finished in a fair position in the table.

Yeah that’s fair enough - you surely know full well how much I criticised CA last season

 

[StuBarlow]

Yes, he definitely could have spent that massive amount of money he was given more wisely. Absolutely.

If only there was a way to lend players from other clubs.....

We had no pace in the entire side and he added two wide players with a bit of pace that we were screaming out for. Indeed without buying Gray and Townsend we'd probably be in Newcastle territory right now.

Sorry to point this out for you pal, we ain't far off. Don't worry super Ráfa will have us down in the bottom three by Jan.

 

[Tubey]

4 mate. Villa, Norwich, United, west ham. 1 we won, 1 we drew. He has played in all the other games.

He missed an hour of Watford, started on the bench, and the cup game against QPR.

 

[davek]

I'd hope he does, David. I'm not being paid £7m a year or whatever he's on. I'm not a professional football manager. But you know, that applies to literally everybody on here, doesn't it.

He may know more about football than me, but I could tell you playing Andros Townsend as a second striker isn't the way forward. I could tell you that playing a two-man midfield in the Premier League, without someone of Doucoure's energy, when the team can't keep the ball for more than about 5 passes, isn't a good idea.

Do you think if he could help it he'd be putting square pegs in round holes?

He's playing the terrible hand dealt him and Everton by Brands, Koeman, Silva and Ancelotti. Because when 4/5/6 of the best players are unavailable it's like plaiting sawdust tring to get a shape and a performance from the remainder.

 

[Marius57]

He missed an hour of Watford, started on the bench, and the cup game against QPR.

Oh so we now include games they were available for and played in as games they were missing in our attempts to excuse the manager.

 

[Tubey]

If only there was a way to lend players from other clubs.....

Sorry to point this out for you pal, we ain't far off. Don't worry super Ráfa will have us down in the bottom three by Jan.

We're as far off Newcastle as we are 4th.

He wasn't in charge of transfer policy. We had no room to move due to FFP. Even late loan request like for Van De Beek were reliant on Moise Kean sodding off.

 

[Steve EFC]

Be careful, there's a good few here that see him as the messiah and wear Ráfa PJs to bed.

I go to bed in a fat suit and a waiters outfit to be precise.

 

[Tubey]

Oh so we now include games they were available for and played in as games they were missing in our attempts to excuse the manager.

No, we include games where he didn't start as he wasn't fit.

Gbamin and Tosun are technically fit for the same reason but if you include them as actually fit you have a screw loose.