2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[John from Bootle]

or getting incensed because Rondon gets game time over Simms,

What's puzzling me most about the "about time he played the kids" brigade this morning is that the only three young players last night who looked like they actually staked a claim for a first team place were Gordon, Branthwaite, and Kenny.

Gordon - Been getting plenty of game time. Is also improving. So people can't really proclaim 'about time.'

Branthwaite - Hardly anybody -if anybody at all- has been clamouring for his inclusion. Again, 'about time'?

Kenny - Roundly regarded as not good enough. Solid last night, fair play to him. He's not the the answer though, is he? I'd be surprised if there's a regular poster on here who did not write his Everton career off a long time ago. 'About time'??? lol Don't make me laugh...

 

[ForeverBlue92]

We’ve barely finished in the bottom half in any season in the last 7

We finished 12th under King Carlo and the season isnt even half way through yet.

Stop wetting your kecks.

 

[davek]

You think Rafael isn't going to make a complete mess out of that fixture list? ?

Sure, on paper that should be four straight wins.

It won't be because he'll set us up to fail and then blame the players.

Oh and he'll persist with Godfrey at LB and we'll leak more goals down that side after being too stubborn to play Digne

I didn;t say there will be 4 straight wins. I said we'd move up the table.

This is going to be uneven development. We need to get to 2 steps forward and 1 step back first. But I'll take that after 6 years of instability and ups and mostly downs.

 

[ted]

i look forward to the rest of the season with 11 men behind the ball and scoring goals from free kicks

 

[Mosh Pit]

I didn;t say there will be 4 straight wins. I said we'd move up the table.

This is going to be uneven development. We need to get to 2 steps forward and 1 step back first. But I'll take that after 6 years of instability and ups and mostly downs.

Thats hilarious.

 

[davek]

I'm not going to say we're on our way back up the table. What I will say is, now Moshiri hasn't sacked Benitez, providing he doesn't get rid of anyone he shouldn't (Pickford, Doucoure,DCL, Richarlison, Godfrey) give him a chance to so a bit of horse trading in January and get through the next 5 or 6 games. If we're still in trouble and lose to Burnley and Newcastle then get rid. If not, let's get through the season and see if there are signs of progress. If there's a style of play developing that looks like it might work with a few additions, great. If not, get rid. It's the same criteria I applied to Allardyce. He showed no signs of being able to do anything other than defend deep and hope to nick a goal so he had to go. I suspect the same may be true of Benitez, but let's wait and see.

I think we saw what we'll do clear enough under Benitez second half. Get organised behind the ball and use pace out wide to break on opponents (and also a long ball to mix it up when DCL is back)...more especially away and against decent teams.

I think we'll see a VERY different back four by the end of the season than we see now. Possibly only Keane of the regular starters still there.

 

[Cool_Blue]

I’m happy (and astonished) that we took something from the game, but I have to ask, why hasn’t he played these lads before? I assume they were available as they were on the bench mostly.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

The Benitez acolytes need to decide where they stand on this whole thing and be consistent about it.

It's the same after every single positive results. He's hailed as a tactical genius and hero that is singlehandedly keeping the club afloat in the face of an impossible situation. He's literally the only manager on the whole planet that's available to us that could achieve such results.

Meanwhile every time we lose and/or play badly the same people will ferociously argue that none of it is his fault. He can't be held accountable for any of it. He's just a helpless bystander and that's doing his best to build a rocket ship using wood and superglue. There's absolutely no point in sacking him because the next manager would also be just as powerless.

Well make up your minds people, which is it?!

He's not above criticism ffs. If you're gonna heap praise on him when things go right then be fair about it and also give him his share of the blame when it goes wrong.

 

[degsy]

What's puzzling me most about the "about time he played the kids" brigade this morning is that the only three young players last night who looked like they actually staked a claim for a first team place were Gordon, Branthwaite, and Kenny.

Gordon - Been getting plenty of game time. Is also improving. So people can't really proclaim 'about time.'

Branthwaite - Hardly anybody -if anybody at all- has been clamouring for his inclusion. Again, 'about time'?

Kenny - Roundly regarded as not good enough. Solid last night, fair play to him. He's not the the answer though, is he? I'd be surprised if there's a regular poster on here who did not write his Everton career off a long time ago. 'About time'??? lol Don't make me laugh...

It's about the vibe, the principle;
The Principle of not sticking with the serial failures and no shows - admitting there is an option and, odd times using it.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

The Benitez acolytes need to decide where they stand on this whole thing and be consistent about it.

It's the same after every single positive results. He's hailed as a tactical genius and hero that is singlehandedly keeping the club afloat in the face of an impossible situation. He's literally the only manager on the whole planet that's available to us that could achieve such results.

Meanwhile every time we lose and/or play badly the same people will ferociously argue that none of it is his fault. He can't be held accountable for any of it. He's just a helpless bystander and that's doing his best to build a rocket ship using wood and superglue. There's absolutely no point in sacking him because the next manager would also be just as powerless.

Well make up your minds people, which is it?!

He's not above criticism ffs. If you're heap praise on him when things go right then be fair about it and give him his share of the blame when it goes wrong. And vice versa.

No.

They don't.

Things don't have to be so binary.

Fans don't have to pick a side, an opinion and then be so entrenched with it.

Sometimes he does well, sometimes he doesn't. That's fair enough - there will be those - the majority - who snarl at him no matter what, and those who do the opposite.

 

[blueblue]

just imagine for a minute being in the situation where the players are all behind the manager... chasing lost causes, running through brick walls and showing a never say die attitude or throwing the towel in when going behind.. bit like the displays against Arsenal and last night.. imagine all the staff behind the scenes pulling in the same direction all believing in the new transformation that is obviously going on behind the scenes to rid the club of past incompetence..

How would you feel with all that going on and the only thing which is hindering it or stopping the club moving forward is a certain element of the fanbase who can’t forgive a manager for managing its rivals and constantly keep putting obstacles in the way and making it harder for the manager to do his job and creating a worse environment for those younger players who performed so well last night to thrive and grow in...

Just think it’s a shame fans can’t look at the big picture and lay off the manager until the summer give him a transfer window or two then see where the team is.. this constant conflict is only making it harder for the team and staff to do there jobs.. pretty sure a better more positive atmosphere has more chance of getting a team results than the other way.

I don't think there is nearly as much resistance to RB as you Imagine.

Certainly he has come under severe pressure but any manager would after our run of results.

Can you imagine the pressure Graham Potter would have been under if appointed.

Strangely, I think the Arsenal and Chelsea results together with the crippling injury situation has somehow managed to strengthen his position rather than weaken it.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

No.

They don't.

Just my opinion of course, but they do if they want to keep sitting on that high horse they've got for themselves and avoid being called out as hypocrites.?‍

 

[Toff33Blues99]

Different type of players , Dobbin is fast , mobile , skilful , but slight , scores goals but not prolific, Simms is big , robust , quite speedy for his size and really has been a prolific goalscorer at lower levels League1 , U23s, u18. Neither are ready to be regular PL starters , both need work and it’ll be up to Benitez and his team to make sure they progress.

Simms has a 16 in 28 for the U23s and 10 in 23 for Blackpool. How much better do you want his record to be

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Just my opinion of course, but they do if they want to keep sitting on that high horse they've got for themselves and avoid being called out as hypocrites.?‍

Ok mate.

The Benitez acolytes need to decide where they stand on this whole thing and be consistent about it.

It's the same after every single positive results. He's hailed as a tactical genius and hero that is singlehandedly keeping the club afloat in the face of an impossible situation. He's literally the only manager on the whole planet that's available to us that could achieve such results.

Meanwhile every time we lose and/or play badly the same people will ferociously argue that none of it is his fault. He can't be held accountable for any of it. He's just a helpless bystander and that's doing his best to build a rocket ship using wood and superglue. There's absolutely no point in sacking him because the next manager would also be just as powerless.

Well make up your minds people, which is it?!

He's not above criticism ffs. If you're gonna heap praise on him when things go right then be fair about it and also give him his share of the blame when it goes wrong. And vice versa.

See that last line - vice versa?

That's you.

Maybe if you're going to slate him when things go bad, then be fair about it and also give him his share of the credit when it goes right.

This is you last night telling everyone Benitez can't take any credit for the result last night;

Not sure Benitez can take any credit for that result. He's stubbornly refused to use the young players even when the only other options boiled down to Iwobi and Rondon. Tonight he didn't even have Rondon available so he had no choice. I'm not going to pretend that he's some sort of tactical genius for benefitting from playing players that he was forced into selecting.

Personally, I think it's a healthy trait to try and offer balance - to have an open mind.

It's boring and tedious to "decide where you stand and be consistent"

It's football.

 

[Evertonthat]

Great result getting a point, and some positives to take from it, however mostly not by design.

We played some youngsters, and they performed well, but would they be anywhere near the starting line up or even get on as subs if we didn't have the injury list we have? We haven't seen them before now this season, so I'd say no. Rondon will no doubt be back starting next week.

A point away at Chelsea, fantastic. Was that entirely down to a solid defensive performance? Partly maybe, but nobody can deny that we basically got battered for the vast majority of the game. Expected given the circumstances, but we rode our luck. Aside from a string of quality saves from Pickford and it could have been a drubbing. 20% possession and 23 shots faced might be expected in the circumstances, but on another day we get hammered. Lets see if this defensive solidarity sees us through the next few games, or if we see any more 3-1, 2-5 type results.