Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

2021/22 Rafael Benitez

Well?

  • IN

  • OUT

Results are only viewable after voting.
Status
Not open for further replies.
Saint Domingo said:
Order of preference for striking options (when fit, as evidenced in games this season)

DCL
If he is injured then Richarlison has gone up top
If both are injured but Gordon Townsend Iwobi are fit then Gray has played number 9
That means there needs to be three injuries to attacking players before Rondon starts at number 9 which makes him…..4th choice. Third at a push.

No way he’s second choice.
Click to expand...

LOL.

You’re tying yourself up in knots there, just to justify the mere presence of Rondon on the pitch.
 
Efcjake said:
He was talking this week about someone pulling him up in the local over his defending of Unsworth and the fact we haven't produced an academy player.

He smugly pointed to Anthony Gordon proving his point despite the fact that it's only been the past 3 matches Gordon has looked anywhere near Premier League quality and the last academy player before him was Tom Davies 5 years ago.

He was honestly pointing to Onyango, Simms and Dobbin getting minutes at Chelsea when the manager was forced to play them as reasons why unsworth is doing a great job. He's so far up Bill's arse.
Click to expand...
Yes I did hear that, he’s embarrassing, but him and his mrs sit next to the chairman so he knows what he’s got.

The best thing Adam Jones can do is get out of the echo as soon as possible. Before he becomes brainwashed
 
Saint Domingo said:
Towards the end yes. He had declined massively from the player he was in his first season, and didn’t perform to the levels we all knew he was capable of.

In hindsight I should have been praising him every single day he was here if I’d known what was to follow would be the absolute car crash of Siggurdson/Klaasen/Bernard/Gomes/Iwobi
Click to expand...
Yeah mate, it's the old be careful what you wish for, I'm normally against criticizing player's as it's managers who tell them how to play, I will criticize benitez though, he dictates the tactics but his results are not good enough.
 
Saint Domingo said:
Order of preference for striking options (when fit, as evidenced in games this season)

DCL
If he is injured then Richarlison has gone up top
If both are injured but Gordon Townsend Iwobi are fit then Gray has played number 9
That means there needs to be three injuries to attacking players before Rondon starts at number 9 which makes him…..4th choice. Third at a push.

No way he’s second choice.
Click to expand...
This isn't true.

Benitez has come out and said he doesn't want to play Richarlison as a striker. If he had done then Rondon wouldnt have started any of the games DCL missed that richarlison was fit for.

Gray has also not started as a 9 when Rondon was fit and available.

I don't know why you believe this.
 
Daveysgingerlovechild said:
Indeed, but you need pretty intelligent, tactically adept, disciplined and ball playing centre backs for that. Knowing when to push out and drop back, make up a man in midfield etc.

Not having said players is not his fault. Not recognising we don't have those kind of players IS his fault.
Click to expand...
Yes true, I’ve said numerous times, we have done of thickest players in the league. Holgate diving in by his own corner flag v palace with 2 mins to go and giving them a free kick. Coleman trying to boot the ball at a palace player, again right at the end and it goes to Gallagher at its 3-1.

And in injury time the other day, Keane shooting with his left foot 40yards out.

Mina & Branthwaite wouid have made a difference imo. Also maybe Mykolenko & Patterson also would have made a big difference to.
 

Saint Domingo said:
Order of preference for striking options (when fit, as evidenced in games this season)

DCL
If he is injured then Richarlison has gone up top
If both are injured but Gordon Townsend Iwobi are fit then Gray has played number 9
That means there needs to be three injuries to attacking players before Rondon starts at number 9 which makes him…..4th choice. Third at a push.

No way he’s second choice.
Click to expand...

….please can you drop him down to 5th and put my 93 year old mother-in-law 4th. Cheers.
 
Saint Domingo said:
Order of preference for striking options (when fit, as evidenced in games this season)

DCL
If he is injured then Richarlison has gone up top
If both are injured but Gordon Townsend Iwobi are fit then Gray has played number 9
That means there needs to be three injuries to attacking players before Rondon starts at number 9 which makes him…..4th choice. Third at a push.

No way he’s second choice.
Click to expand...

Why on earth would we sign a player to be 4th choice striker? He was clearly signed with the intention that he’d play games of football.
 

I find it a little strange we haven’t heard anything from Mr Benitez yet on the two signings. Not even a few lines to welcome them and how he had been tracking them for ages…
 
willo30 said:
No.

If the players throw the 1st half it's because of the players.
If the players rescue the 2nd half it's because of the players.

They've been given their training and tactics all week before the game.

Is it guilt at being so bad that makes them better?
Is it pride that makes them better?

There's not a lot Benitez can do if he doesn't change anything apart from reminding them of the pre game plan.
Click to expand...
Ok. I get what you are saying in the first two lines.

It brings more questions to the fore though:
1. Is the manager not able to instill his style/ethos on the team till half the season's over?
a. Because the players are not responding to him - Manager has not got the confidence of the dressing room
b. Because the players are pony and are utter tripe - Doesn't seem to be the case as they play well when chasing the game
c. Because the manager is clueless and dated - Players are just left confused about what they are supposed to be doing
2. Is the manager's job only to remind them of pre-game plans? Not having a footballing background I am clueless about this, but I am sure it is more than that.
3. What exactly is being told to the players pre-game that we are largely, chasing games?
4. If one player out of the team is not playing well, we can understand he is not pulling his weight, but when the entire team appears clueless(even after 20 odd games with the new manager), where does the problem lie?
5. Einstein said once: Performing same experiment multiple times and expect different result is a sign of insanity. Is our coaching staff suffering from insanity? If the system that is being looked at is not working, shouldn't the coaching team be flexible enough to make adjustments to their own plans to ensure the team does not sink rather than being obstinate that only their way works?
6. Is having proven player sat on the bench better than a player playing out of position better? (I have heard theories about him being on a showcase to protect the selling price, but that's just reaching for.... I smelt spite)

Just summarizing few questions that I have.... Admittedly, I don't have any managerial experience, so what do I know? ?
 

Status
Not open for further replies.

Welcome to GrandOldTeam

Get involved. Registration is simple and free.

Register
Back
Top