2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[Nymzee]

This thread just needs setting on fire. Full of more wrong uns than Rikers.

 

[Tubey]

You don’t know this, yet again you’re posting utter tripe

You’re not an ITK, you’re not an Everton fan, you’ve probably never been to goodison; you just regurgitate newspaper articles acting like you have some form of inside knowledge

Sort of well known like.

Leverkusen's Bailey to be scouted by Arsenal, Spurs, Everton and Man U

Leon Bailey has scored five goals and delivered six assists so far this season having moved into the playmaker slot following Kai Havertz's departure for Chelsea in the summer.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I think it's fair to say we were definitely scouting Bailey. What we can't say for sure is we weren't scouting Gray, but I personally find it very unlikely we were. He may have came to our attention incidentally but I don't think he was a primary focus.

 

[kenada_blue]

Looking forward to the Spitter defending Benitez on MNF though.

Definitely going to be on the players back rather than Rafael's failings.

He should however compare Carlo's set up to Benitez and see how wrong he is.

 

[nsno-chris]

Sort of well known like.

Leverkusen's Bailey to be scouted by Arsenal, Spurs, Everton and Man U

Leon Bailey has scored five goals and delivered six assists so far this season having moved into the playmaker slot following Kai Havertz's departure for Chelsea in the summer.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I think it's fair to say we were definitely scouting Bailey. What we can't say for sure is we weren't scouting Gray, but I personally find it very unlikely we were. He may have came to our attention incidentally but I don't think he was a primary focus.

Missing the point.

This lad, who isn’t even blue, acts like he has some inside info and his word is truth. He has no idea, an attention seeking bell who has weird obsession with that fat whale in charge.

And yes we had scouts at Leverkusen; we also didn’t have the £30m to buy Bailey. So maybe Gray was actually on the list as an alternative.

Mad but we don’t watch one player when we scout

 

[billyblue80]

The table and our position just doesn’t fit the narrative that we’ll get relegated. Despite this run of results we’re still 14th and five points clear. DCL back and even if we’re playing crap and nicking results we will not finish near the bottom three.

Five points will look like nothing if we don't start picking up results and fast. And look at our fixtures. I hope you are right I am just seeing no signs. Benitez was the wrong appointment

 

[Toffeelover]

Article in the Times talking about our form and we will be facing relegation before too long if points are not picked up.

 

[Noisy noise annoys]

I don't fancy us in any game right now primarily because Benitez's tactics don't get the best out of the players.

Same with Carlo, nightmare

 

[bluejohn66]

Does anyone know if paying Rafael off will further encroach on FFP rules ? Cos if it does, then we may not be in a position, under these rules to fire him ??!!

 

[sageyefc]

Once jaffaman is sacked we must never forget the ‘fans’ that were happy to see him drag us down, shame on them

 

[nsno-chris]

Once jaffaman is sacked we must never forget the ‘fans’ that were happy to see him drag us down, shame on them

 

[CheshireBlue]

I'd rather we didn't sack managers I can live with Benitez despite his past if he gets us results and stability. Yes injuries are huge up until a few weeks ago I was thinking this in my mind. But watching Brentford and the derby I just don't see a dramatic turn around based on a few players I'm afraid. See the Athletic article the players hate this system and we are being picked apart at will for a manager who is known to be negative he is stubbornly sticking to a system that is neither solid or makes us more attacking, it's a shambles I don't see a result until he changes. Team's do not play with two in midfield anymore in this league and if they do the third man is a genuine midfielder who drops back in, also team's don't rely on just their wide players to attack they allow the full backs forward, Benitez has instructed both to sit in. Until the set up changes I see no results, I see no wins. I hope I'm wrong but I see defeat after defeat, Benitez will not survive this regardless of whether sacking a manager is good or not we cannot go on getting pummelled and his delusional explanations. We will go down.

When I read this line, I immediately thought of 'zonal marking' at corners and on Wednesday night if they had shown a bit more composure in front of goal (yeah I know) then it could and probably should have been 0-4 within 20 minutes. Bang, game over and that's the thing with the Premier League now, set pieces are so important and not defending them well will more than likely cost you the game. Now zonal marking at corners isn't anything new and is used by many successful teams like City (5-player zones) and Liverpool (6-player zones) but others have struggled with it such as Chelsea and adopted a hybrid system of zones and markers, I think West Ham are the same.

So zonal marking as a system can work and be very successful if implemented correctly, but I can't help but think that it is very dependent upon the ability of the players at the managers disposal. That's why I think Chelsea have moved to the hybrid system, although not completely knowing the timeline, it could have been just change in manager with Tuchel firm in his beliefs. I'd imagine Moyes being quite single minded about it too. In fact having a firm set of beliefs and priciples should be considered as strengths for a manager, it provides the players with clarity.

I think Benitez is in that category and there is nothing wrong with his belief that zonal marking could be a success - it might be eventually. My problem is that it looks like it takes time to implement successfully and you simply can't experiment with it in vital league games, there is far too much riding on it and there is absolutely no wriggle room now. It feels like it is something for the closed season to sort out. So what does Benitez do now, should he move away from his principles and just say to the players 'do what you've always done' - that doesn't sound like an acceptable solution for either party. This is why now I'm looking for the 'pragmatic' Benitez in that he accepts zonal marking is not for us, for the time being. Then looking towards Dunc for his input on what has worked in the past for these players and together getting a clear message across. If this sort of thing isn't part of Dunc's role then what's he doing there? On this one key issue he (the manager) has to find an urgent solution otherwise we will keep conceding soft goals and I think he will certainly be out of a job.

 

[catcherintherye]

Brands scouted Leverkusen. That's all the info you have. You don't know he was scouting Gray.

Yes he was scouting at Leverkusen and watching Gray, who he later signed.

 

[catcherintherye]

3 duds?

Gray - Excellent
Townsend - brought in to be backup - good
Lonergan - brought in to be 3rd choice - n/a
Rondon

Begovic was Brands signing.

The 3 duds brought in by Benitez are Lonergan, Rondon and Begovic. All very poor signings. Townsend is ok. Gray was Brands.

He has a poor hit rate of 1 from 4. The same as most other clubs where he buys loads of rubbish players.

 

[StuBarlow]

I can see one of two possibilities.

1. FSW is sacked BEFORE the Arsenal game (whether today, tomorrow or Monday) to try and prevent the protest.
2. FSW is sacked directly after Arsenal batter us.

The board will absolutely throw him under the bus to save themselves.

 

[catcherintherye]

Well according to Catcher we were scouting Gray, its one or the other.

I'm not sure you are at all familiar with how scouting works mate.