2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[JimmyK]

Agreed we should but it's not like we have to play City every week from now on.

If Benitez is right and it all gets better once everyone is back then what do we have to fear?

Predicting it won't get any better doesn't mean it won't.

Let's just get the team we started so well with at the start and see where we are. If it's still crap I will probably change my opinion on him.

Did you actually watch the games at the start of the season though? We won but we were still crap it didn't take a genius to work out we weren't going to keep it up I've seen every game this season and I'd say Brighton and United away and probably Arsenal at home were the only games i'd say we played quite well. Southampton and Burnley both outplayed us for the majority of the game but we had a 10 minute spell in both that won it for us and Norwich was a real slog.

 

[willo30]

You honestly think anyone else with our worst form for 30 years wouldn't get as much flak?

They'd get more because they wouldn't have this legion of white knights defending them because they feel it is their duty to protect the man because they're aggrieved people didn't want him for his kopite past.

I said they would by now but not in October when his started. It's probably not even a good argument by myself. I apologize.

 

[MACCA75]

I'd say 50/50 with the players to be honest.

Take the Brighton game for example. He will have drilled them all week to play a certain way. We were terrible in the 1st half. Second half I was expecting changes. None happened and we came out and played much better and should have scored more than 2. Now what I don't get is how can the players do it in one half but not the other? Did they not believe it would work? They proved it did in the 2nd half. This is why the players should also shoulder the blame.

I’ll tell you why. It’s because Benitez absolutely paralyses them with fear. They are so scared to move 6 feet out of shape that teams play between the lines at will.

Consistently in the second half of games - whilst chasing a game, the players show that if they are allowed to play football, take chances, run risks - they aren’t all that bad a team. The Wolves game was the perfect example of this but it happens every week.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

I'd say 50/50 with the players to be honest.

Take the Brighton game for example. He will have drilled them all week to play a certain way. We were terrible in the 1st half. Second half I was expecting changes. None happened and we came out and played much better and should have scored more than 2. Now what I don't get is how can the players do it in one half but not the other? Did they not believe it would work? They proved it did in the 2nd half. This is why the players should also shoulder the blame.

We were better in the second half against Brighton, the problem was Doucoure and Allan were getting overrun in midfield by the 4 Brighton had in the middle and they just kept strolling through us, everyone could see it apart from Benitez who waited till the 87 min to do something about it.

 

[ChesterBlue]

We were better in the second half against Brighton, the problem was Doucoure and Allan were getting overrun in midfield by the 4 Brighton had in midfield, everyone could see it apart from Benitez who waited till the 87 min to do something about it.

Tactically he’s been appalling virtually all season too. Every single set piece we concede feels like it has a high chance of a goal due to lack of organisation is just one example. Our team shape is all over the place and the players don’t look like they know what to do in the system which rests entirely on the manager

 

[BlueToff]

No quotes in the El Ghazi announcement from him

 

[ToffeeTim]

No quotes in the El Ghazi announcement from him

I did think that myself

Although he will have a chance to speak tomorrow

 

[windymiller]

72 is 27 backwards coincidence?..lol

Patterns everywhere!

 

[Thomasc]

No quotes in the El Ghazi announcement from him

So this is Moshiri’s interference again?

 

[blulouie]

I'm taking him at his word.

He said we will be better once everyone is back in the 2nd half of the season.

If it's not then he's failed (his own word).

Hahaha

If that fella said the sun was shining I'd stick me wellies & raincoat on.

Not to be trusted him.

 

[BrendanGOT]

Really. Apart from City we don't play anyone we should be wary of until the RS and Chelsea at the end of April.

Haha I wish I'd your confidence mate. Have you been watching us this season?

City Home - L
Spurs Away - L
Wolves Home - D
Watford Away - D/ W
West Ham Away - L
Man United Home - L
Palace Home - W/ D
Liverpool Away - L
Chelsea Home - L
Leicester Away - L /D
Brentford Home - W/D
Arsenal Away - L

TBC
Burnley Home D/ W
Leicester Home - D
Newcastle Home - W

That's 9 pts at our worst probably (current form). 16 pts at our best. So yeah the next 5 games are absolutely critical for us we need to win at least 3 of them to avoid being in a relegation scrap.

 

[S of S]

I’ll tell you why. It’s because Benitez absolutely paralyses them with fear. They are so scared to move 6 feet out of shape that teams play between the lines at will.

Consistently in the second half of games - whilst chasing a game, the players show that if they are allowed to play football, take chances, run risks - they aren’t all that bad a team. The Wolves game was the perfect example of this but it happens every week.

Absolutely spot on here!

 

[ForeverBlue92]

Why aren’t they, because they’re not foreign ?

I’m not advocating any of those three by the way.

Although if I was a betting man, I’d stick a tenner on Rooney to be our new manager.

Would be a disgrace if that bald granny shagger was allowed anywhere near the dugout.

 

[BlueToff]

So this is Moshiri’s interference again?

well that was the talk the other day yeah, that RB didn't want him

 

[riddick]

Whoever is in charge is REAAAALLLY reading the room wrongly..