2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[roy vernon]

I'd say March may be the tipping point if it's gotten much worse.

Depends on the next 3 results, go out of the cup on Saturday, lose to Leicester mid week and then lose away at Norwich and I think it would be goodnight Vienna for Benitez, if he manages to win one of those games he will probably get another few weeks.

 

[MACCA75]

I said yesterday he's struggling, incorrectly played Keane and Holgate together and I wouldn't be fussed if he was sacked.

If that isn't criticism then I don't know what is...

You’ve defended him to the hilt and ridiculed anyone who wants a change of manager.

You know he needs to go but have dug a trench so deep that you can’t admit it.

 

[willo30]

Not under the previous manager. Absolutely not

Maybe so but that was Carlo and we aren't seeing his calibre here again at least for the foreseeable.

The players probably respected him which is understandable but they have down tools for everyone else.
It's no surprise that they are at it again but they've done it to the wrong man who will get shut if needs be.

 

[Ruairi77]

We've been getting done at set pieces for years now.
At some point the finger needs pointing at the players.

I'm done with blaming the players.
Sam had them tighter than a ducks backside.
Martinez couldn't organize a defense to save his life.
Silva persisted with zonal marking despite crap results.
Ancelotti got a lot out of the same players at times, getting great results from the likes of Godfrey.
If a bunch of players who've shown they can do it, now aren't, that's down to coaching and man management.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Story was it was done, just payment structure was a problem because of FFP. Now, something has changed financially at either or both clubs, Rangers need money quickly or we are selling player(s)

I wonder if it’s down to Gerard no longer being at Rangers mate because he was really against him leaving when we tried to buy the lad the first time around.

 

[Efcjake]

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

And then lost every other match, the fat spanish fraud....

 

[ForeverBlue92]

You’ve defended him to the hilt and ridiculed anyone who wants a change of manager.

You know he needs to go but have dug a trench so deep that you can’t admit it.

As should any sensible fan when certain posters wanted him sacked not even 10 games into his 1st season.

 

[Egil Olsen]

No manager who cannot defend a basic corner is fit to manage at this level

In Norway, we have a rule that the center-back who is on the ball side sets the offside line. I would assume this is also the case in England when playing zone defense. Anyway, Solbakken (the Norwegian national team manager) had a chat with Guerdiola after a match, and asked how Guerdiola solved it. Guerdiola said the following: Alves looks at Pique, Pique looks at Puyol, and Puyol looks at Abidal, and they solve it somehow.

Now zone defense is something that has been used for a long time in Norway, imported from England, but outside of Scandinavia and the UK, this is a relatively new phenomenon. Rangnick was e.g. ridiculed around the 2000s for promoting zone defense in Germany. Many coaches, at least from countries that are used to using zone defense, have had problems when implementing this in other countries where there is no culture for this. Many have struggled defensively, and been fired.

Among others Solbakken in Cologne and Wolves. He failed to teach the players zone defense, and he said that Norwegian 12-year-olds were better tactically trained than professional football players in these clubs. Later he has had success with Copenhagen, but there they were far more adaptable.

Zone defense is now starting to become quite widespread, and now the biggest controversy is zone defense on dead balls. Guerdiola and many other top coaches use it.

Anyway, when I see Keane play football, and I see that he constantly uses the ball and opponent as the only reference, I know it's a long uphill. The same can be said about the rest of the Benny Hill gang behind there. However, they will learn it, but for some, such as at school, it takes a little longer.

 

[MACCA75]

Now look at this. It’s the exact same thing. Could be avoided by having a man on the back post..

 

[roy vernon]

Problem here is not Rafael it’s the mess he has inherited. Whatever he does is wrong in some peoples eyes and he has been doing it with his hands tied behind his back. As it stands Moshri is giving him support and I thought as fans that’s what we should do . Apparently not !!

Did you watch on Saturday, did you see how he set up? Did you notice that he played a veteran right back who is struggling for form and uses his left leg only for standing on at left back, while having the French international left back on the bench?

'The problem here is not Benitez' my arse. There are many problems at the club, the one which is most urgent and is the most easily addressed is Benitez.

 

[nsno-chris]

Now look at this. It’s the exact same thing. Could be avoided by having a man on the back post..
View attachment 150566

Defensive organiser and tactical genius right there

 

[Efcjake]

But in reality no damage has been done yet. Some think it will get worse and we'll be relegated others think it will get better with the addition of new players. Reality is probably somewhere in the middle.

What if this was the plan the board bought into? As in getting worse whilst he restructures the playing side from top to bottom. We don't know what any plan could be. We only see what's on the pitch which to be honest isn't very good but if there is a plan then I will reserve judgement for now.

Then they're as stupid as many of us think they are for believing this was going to work.

I can't believe you and others are reserving judgment when we're in our worst form in 30 years. Get your heads out of the sand and wake up ffs.

 

[willo30]

In Norway, we have a rule that the center-back who is on the ball side sets the offside line. I would assume this is also the case in England when playing zone defense. Anyway, Solbakken (the Norwegian national team manager) had a chat with Guerdiola after a match, and asked how Guerdiola solved it. Guerdiola said the following: Alves looks at Pique, Pique looks at Puyol, and Puyol looks at Abidal, and they solve it somehow.

Now zone defense is something that has been used for a long time in Norway, imported from England, but outside of Scandinavia and the UK, this is a relatively new phenomenon. Rangnick was e.g. ridiculed around the 2000s for promoting zone defense in Germany. Many coaches, at least from countries that are used to using zone defense, have had problems when implementing this in other countries where there is no culture for this. Many have struggled defensively, and been fired.

Among others Solbakken in Cologne and Wolves. He failed to teach the players zone defense, and he said that Norwegian 12-year-olds were better tactically trained than professional football players in these clubs. Later he has had success with Copenhagen, but there they were far more adaptable.

Zone defense is now starting to become quite widespread, and now the biggest controversy is zone defense on dead balls. Guerdiola and many other top coaches use it.

Anyway, when I see Keane play football, and I see that he constantly uses the ball and opponent as the only reference, I know it's a long uphill. The same can be said about the rest of the Benny Hill gang behind there. However, they will learn it, but for some, such as at school, it takes a little longer.

The issue for us is changing managers every year with different philosophies.
Some play some don't but a professional footballer should be able to adapt.

 

[willo30]

Then they're as stupid as many of us think they are for believing this was going to work.

I can't believe you and others are reserving judgment when we're in our worst form in 30 years. Get your heads out of the sand and wake up ffs.

No

 

[windymiller]

On some parameters we are obviously weaker. If we look at the number of points, then definitely yes. However, we are not much weaker when we look behind the results. Ancelotti's style was never sustainable, and was more of a symptom that he had given up and just wanted to save his own reputation.

I think Benitez, on the other hand, has a clear vision for how he wants the team to play, and works continuously with it in the training field. He has also seen clear weaknesses within the organization, and has done something about it. Something that Ancelotti did not care about.

Unlike Ancelotti, which was only looking for short-term success, and thus made a lot of ad-hoc solutions, which are not favorable for long-term success, Benitez is pretty principle firm, has a clear vision, and is not willing to make compromises, which may stand in the way of short-term success, but which lay the foundation for future success.

But we're just above relegation

Look behind the results. After all, football isn't a results business.

Egil would rather we win the running stats. He used to be all about xG and xGC but we're rubbish at both of them now. And possession. And passing stats. And chances created. Not to mention actual goals, clean sheets and points. But behind all of that Benitez is doing great.