2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[Sheedy's right knee.]

He should have used them earlier. He waited until he had no other choice.

If he goes back to Rondon next week then he's learned nothing

I agree with that statement, its not making wholesale changes but some of these players should have been getting more proper game time certainly since the Tottenham game.

 

[Saint Domingo]

We were all over the gaff and only for poor finishing from Chelsea the game could have been over after 30 mins.

By the same token though, we conceded from a penalty against Brentford which was their only actual attack of the whole game. We also conceded from a bizarre header against West Ham which was their only meaningful attack as well. We can’t pile on the team any time they get some bad luck and lose a game but then decry any win or draw as good fortune.

 

[MACCA75]

Onyango looked a bit lost when he came on.

 

[Marius57]

Gordon - 15 appearances
Dobbin - 3
Branthwaite - 2
Onyango - 2
Simms - 1

Lad, other than Gordon, until yesterday they have had like 1 or 2 mins. Its not helpful to their development to put them on for 2 mins when we have no possession.

And he only played them yesterday put of necessity. He could have given them more minutes in previous games, such as when he brought tosun on rather than simms or Dobbin etc.

 

[windymiller]

It’s a great time for the team to have a break now, chance to get a few injured or sick players back, clear the heads and look forward to some winnable fixtures hopefully.
I think that point at Chelsea could prove to be a massive point as it will give the team the belief it can grab valuable points when backs against the wall and also give confidence to those young players who performed so well.

I can see some of those young players being replaced by some of the more established players for the simple fact they do need to be protected, firstly because of the intensity of the premier league and you don’t want burnout and secondly Everton fans have clearly shown they are not patient and any mistakes are pounced on so would rip young players apart if things are not going well on the pitch as the treatment of the manager this season shows.
I really would like to see what Benitez does in the transfer window, the key to it will be how much funds he gets and if he needs to sell before he buys, if he could unearth a right back with the quality of like when he signed that Arboloa across the park that would be most welcome, he could also offload a few players fans have been crying out for them to move on too.. what we definately know is Benitez will know what’s players are required, what players need to be sold and who is not good enough before any of us on here do so let’s just let him get on with it..

What's your take on Jota's controversial equaliser last night?

 

[Marius57]

Onyango looked a bit lost when he came on.

I think his was the hardest time to come on to be fair. A Chelsea with all the ball at that time, with no outlet because that had been Gordon all game, and only coming on for 5 minutes whereas the others got decent time to settle into the game.

 

[MACCA75]

I think his was the hardest time to come on to be fair. A Chelsea with all the ball at that time, with no outlet because that had been Gordon all game, and only coming on for 5 minutes whereas the others got decent time to settle into the game.

Yeah was difficult for him, especially as Gordon had been excellent

 

[Marius57]

Yeah was difficult for him, especially as Gordon had been excellent

I know Gordon was goosed, but even then, when he got the ball, he was managing to get past someone or just keep hold of it. I would have taken iwobi off who was just giving it away as soon as he got the ball.

Think he will struggle to get minutes because I think the mins available will be given to Gbamin.

 

[kenada_blue]

Gordon - 15 appearances
Dobbin - 3
Branthwaite - 2
Onyango - 2
Simms - 1

Brentford away. 1.0 down. 60% possession.

1 sub. Gray. 70mins.

Loss 1.0

Chelsea away though? Have 90mins.

Blooding youth is our Flamenco Magician

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

By the same token though, we conceded from a penalty against Brentford which was their only actual attack of the whole game. We also conceded from a bizarre header against West Ham which was their only meaningful attack as well. We can’t pile on the team any time they get some bad luck and lose a game but then decry any win or draw as good fortune.

The Brentford game there was nothing in it, they were cack and so were we. It's not as if we were bossing the game against West Ham and we were unlucky to lose, West Ham were the better team and deserved their win against us.

 

[MACCA75]

I know Gordon was goosed, but even then, when he got the ball, he was managing to get past someone or just keep hold of it. I would have taken iwobi off who was just giving it away as soon as he got the ball.

Think he will struggle to get minutes because I think the mins available will be given to Gbamin.

Yeah, Gordon was taken off just as we had another dangerous free kick too. Leaving Iwobi on was pointless.

 

[4737carlin]

Good result on the back of 20% possession, not my cup of tea that brand of football. I haven't even bothered going out of my way to watch last few games, not good enough. Good result but papers over cracks imo.

Not your cup of tea, so would you rather we had %50 and lost? If you seen the game last night you would of notcied they scored the moment we opened up and i think it was Doc that lost the ball and they exploited the space.

%20 and a draw is one point, %80 and a draw is one point, which is the better result?

 

[4737carlin]

The Brentford game there was nothing in it, they were cack and so were we. It's not as if we were bossing the game against West Ham and we were unlucky to lose, West Ham were the better team and deserved their win against us.

There has been too many of these games, nothing in it games but we have been on the wrong side of the result, its very annoying

 

[Terrarian]

Not your cup of tea, so would you rather we had %50 and lost? If you seen the game last night you would of notcied they scored the moment we opened up and i think it was Doc that lost the ball and they exploited the space.

%20 and a draw is one point, %80 and a draw is one point, which is the better result?

Don't tell me how to support or enjoy my football. If you look back through my posting I have always said, I can't stand defensive football no matter who we are playing, we are a supposedly big premier league club not a league 2 side. We should always have a go and it is unacceptable no matter who the manager is, to get our tummy tickled.
It shows how lop sided the division is though but it happens way too often for my liking.

 

[Saint Domingo]

The Brentford game there was nothing in it, they were cack and so were we. It's not as if we were bossing the game against West Ham and we were unlucky to lose, West Ham were the better team and deserved their win against us.

I just don’t agree with the idea that every time we lose it’s an absolute deserved loss and bad luck plays no part, whereas every point we get ‘the fans won that’ ‘we should have been a few down’ ‘we got lucky’. I think there’s been times this season we could have easily avoided some of the losses we had with a bit of better luck. I also think there’s been some positive results we’ve got which we’ve been lucky to get.

You have to take it in the round though, it can’t just be that we’ve deserved to lose every game and we’ve been really lucky. When you look at the injuries, some of the unbelievable fishies against us this season even going back to game 1, some of the refereeing calls against us etc. I don’t think anyone could describe this team as lucky. In fact most of the time whatever bad thing could go wrong does go wrong for us.