2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[LinekersLegs]

 

[S of S]

Tactically inept when we beat Brioghton down there, Arsenal at Goodison and held the European Champions at Stamford Bridge.

3 games out of 18, not including the league cup!

You really are embarrassing to be honest!

 

[Runub]

I'm not one for ifs buts and maybes but Brighton away is the only game he has got it right. We got hammered by chelsea by parking the bus and we nicked one, arsenal are no great shakes either, we should expect to beat them at home under their current guise.

? The Brighton away game for me is only only occasion the team actually looked functional

 

[witchdoc187]

He is right in fairness.

1. Moshiri is backing him to the hilt

2. Certain fans like Kev The Rat cant wait to moan after every dropped point (and moan even when we win).

Thats not me defending Benitez either.

I don't like him I don't want to defend him but we can't just keep sacking managers. Surely any manager deserves a couple of transfer Windows with the squad they've inherited. Definitely not a popular opinion.

 

[LostLegend]

After a day to stew on it, there's so much awful decision making to unpack from this match.

I've heard some Benitez defenders saying that the players are the issue. And while it's true there a few of them in the squad that have downed tools for multiple managers, they are not '1 win in 12' levels of bad.

First there was the formation. Why 3 at the back against Brighton?
While I love seeing a scouser in the first team, JJK is 25 in a couple of months and I think we've all seen enough of him to know that he isn't a Premier League quality defender. Why put him in the team ? move an already struggling Coleman to the left when Ben Godfrey has already shown he is more than capable at left back and Lucas Digne was on the bench? Even if he wanted to push through with 3 at the back, why not Branthwaite, given his performance at Chelsea?

2 in midfield?
On the few occasions we've actually looked half decent this season, it's been when we've played 3 in the center or midfield, with 2 of either Allan/Gomes/Davies and Doucoure. This allows Doucoure to get forward more where he's been massively more effective and dangerous.

Bringing on Rondon.
Part of me feels a bit sorry for the lad getting boo'd if I'm honest.
But it still baffles me why Benitez insists on playing him. Is he trying to justify blowing the wages on him?
I saw more from Dobbin in that 20 mins against Chelsea than I've seen from Rondon's entire half season with us.
DCL looked very rusty and I don't really want to hold his performance against him given this was his first game back in how many months? dropped straight into this mess.

THAT second goal.
Firstly, why are putting 10 men in the box to defend a corner in the 20th minute? If we clear that corner, there's no one upfield to fight for it, it just goes back to them and we invite more pressure on ourselves.
Secondly, HOW do we have 10 men defending a corner and STILL have no one covering the back post? They had 2 men there ffs.
The worst of it is, they had a similar corner about 5 mins later. 10 men in the box, they played the corner to the near man who flicked it on to the back post where we had no one covering again. Luckily nothing came of that.

The whole team looked disorganised throughout, there seems to be zero communication between the defensive players on the pitch and seem to hesitate and leave loose balls for one another to get, build up play far too lethargic (we were passing it around the back on 92 mins ffs), Benitez seems to dither over making changes and usually leaves it 'til we are all ready in the deep end before he does, square pegs in round holes at the back because his ego wants to fight with our first choice left back.

This is on the manager - GET HIM OUT.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

I don't like him I don't want to defend him but we can't just keep sacking managers. Surely any manager deserves a couple of transfer Windows with the squad they've inherited. Definitely not a popular opinion.

Im on the fence still mate - he's underperforming at the moment but I dont think we'll attract anyone any better mid season with our current financial situation.

I said months back whilst BMD is being built expect 2 seasons of scraping around mid table until the decks are cleared financially & the new ground is built giving us a welcome financial boost with the USM naming rights deal in addition etc.

Replacing Benitez tomorrow with Lampard or Hughes who we'll be sacking 18 months down the line themselves makes little sense to me.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Im on the fence still mate - he's underperforming at the moment but I dont think we'll attract anyone any better mid season with our current financial situation.

I said months back whilst BMD is being built expect 2 seasons of scraping around mid table until the decks are cleared financially & the new ground is built giving us a welcome financial boost with the USM naming rights deal in addition etc.

Replacing Benitez tomorrow with Lampard or Hughes who we'll be sacking 18 months down the line themselves makes little sense to me.

Hughes??????

 

[tsubaki]

hopefully Balague's antics will be taught to student journalists in the future - assuming the human race has a future of course, as what he is doing is exactly what legions of political hacks do with the people they are meant to cover

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Hughes??????

Moshiri only appoints PL experienced managers and we wont be in a position to buy out a current working managers contract imo nor attract them when we have little money and no DOF at the club.

Its easy to say sack sack sack but the reality is the options available mid season who Moshiri will chase will be out of work bums like them pair, Pulis, Alladyce, Nuno etc.

 

[Curtis]

What's crazy to me is that even with his adherence to an ultra defensive philosophy, teams tear through us like the kool aid man. I had numerous gripes with Ancelotti's approach but at least we were defensively solid and would constantly repel attacks. It's only because we had no offensive outlet and would just get bombarded and pinned back we conceded in my opinion. This season teams just run rampant , thinking of the wolves game as a prime example. The first half the only people who had contact with the ball were the wolves players and pickford. The defense was completely bypassed, just inexcusable to me.

 

[StuBarlow]

I see Gullible Ballbag is out supporting his lardarse mate.

 

[willo30]

Another week where the owner and board have failed to act. This is negligence from all involved.

They have acted. They are getting in new players. Or where you expecting them to do something else?

 

[StuBarlow]

hopefully Balague's antics will be taught to student journalists in the future - assuming the human race has a future of course, as what he is doing is exactly what legions of political hacks do with the people they are meant to cover

He’s a joke. Not respected by anyone due to his wildly inappropriate friendships with people in the game and the dross he spouts on their instruction.

A journalist should report and do so without bias and being professional whilst doing so.

 

[bitter-no-better]

I dont think he has helped himself with some line ups or tactics. Players being played so soon after injuries and some out of position.

The next few results should decide his fate.

We missed a trick not bringing Moyes back a couples of seasons ago. At least we would be organised and hardworking which is all we ask for.

 

[tsubaki]

He’s a joke. Not respected by anyone due to his wildly inappropriate friendships with people in the game and the dross he spouts on their instruction.

A journalist should report and do so without bias and being professional whilst doing so.

TBF that recycling ilk infest football "journalism" now, as Transfer Deadline Day proves every time it comes around (as well as how easily Chico mugs them).