2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[BlueToff]

With the unique situation we have with the manager, you play your strongest team tonight, because the onus is to be in that competition if at all possible by the new year. It hides a lot of sins.

Now he has nowhere to hide.

The team that plays Norwich will have 4-5 changes, and that's a lot.

yeah but those 4-5 changes will the better players we do have available who were kept 'fresh' tonight coming in won't they?

Not that I think they'll make us world class, like

 

[Kev The Rat]

Lost against us though.

Perhaps you want to give us the inside track on our January transfer dealings ?

 

[andy4efc]

Honestly mate apart from Keane, I don't think we can have that many complaints. Allan was injured on Saturday was probably even a risk to be involved. Do we run Doucoure into the ground and risk him getting injured instead of one of the midfielders?

I'll say it again but that's not much different to the team that plays Norwich and United. That's how bad we are.

Five games in though Toff. I can understand an Allan whos ageing and gets niggles being saved, but Doucoure is as athletic as anyone and we've only just staretd the season. If this was perhaps an FA cup tie after Xmas I would agree.

I dont know what the was worse, leaving Doucoure out or having Gomes and Davies in the same midfield.

I just dont think most players need a rest after 5 games you know. Putting aside footballing ability.

 

[catcherintherye]

We cant expect to win anything, we're crap

What we can expect is to have a go. Tonight is shocking.

We should expect to attempt to win the domestic cups.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

I don't think he understands the damage he's just done to himself with that team selection. He's just lost an awful lot of good will.

There was an undeniable arrogance about that teamsheet tonight, where he's thought it's "just the League Cup" - and 99% of the time I'd be on board with that attitude... but this is Rafael Benitez at Everton, and the knives will be out for him now a lot easier if we go through a sustained rough patch.

Lets not pretend the knives were neverv out mate the same suspects are moaning when we are winning never mind losing! lol

Let them moan on social media Goodison will still be behind the fella and top 10/12 and he's save as houses with this board whilst BMD is being built.

Sooner people accept it and get behind the manager and players the better it'll be for their sake as it must be misery supporting us at present for them.

 

[andy4efc]

We should expect to attempt to win the domestic cups.

I take 'have a go' meaning the same as 'attempt'.

So yes but it's been the same for as long as I can remember. Moyes, Martinez (possibly to a lesser degree as we did make two semi finals under him in one year)

 

[ToffeeTim]

Getting knocked out the cup by a lower oppo team?

It sure feels like MY club.

I wish I could feel like others. These are the results that make me physically sick. Losing in the league is routine. These results stay with me.

 

[Zezti]

Lost against us though.

Hello mate. When's Coutinho and Nunez signing? Could do with them in the squad right now.

 

[Runub]

I see bedsheets

 

[Papa Shango]

Lost against us though.

He did. Nobody remembers that at the end of the season. Not that he is finishing 4th.

 

[catcherintherye]

I take 'have a go' meaning the same as 'attempt'.

So yes.

Yep very fair. Wasnt trying to pick you up mate. Just saying that I agree.

 

[BlueToff]

Five games in though Toff. I can understand an Allan whos ageing and gets niggles being saved, but Doucoure is as athletic as anyone and we've only just staretd the season. If this was perhaps an FA cup tie after Xmas I would agree.

I dont know what the was worse, leaving Doucoure out or having Gomes and Davies in the same midfield.

I just dont think most players need a rest after 5 games you know. Putting aside footballing ability.

I know mate, but the risk I suppose is if Doucoure pings his hamstring then that's that.

All it does is expose our squad and recruitment.

that team tonight should still be good enough to beat qpr. My issue is with everything that people have said Benitez is good at actually not being there.

He's got us running around a lot. Yayyyyy. We're mostly very crap at footy though.

 

[The binman chronicles]

A gamble? My guess 6 or 7 of that team will start on Saturday.

We are in an injury crisis so of course lots will start, however we have saved Allan and Doucs for the weekend. Had we had those in the middle from the start it might have been different. If we don't end up beating Norwich then we would have prioritised that game for nothing.

 

[Papa Shango]

I see bedsheets

Well it was always going to happen wasn't it?

 

[Tubey]

yeah but those 4-5 changes will the better players we do have available who were kept 'fresh' tonight coming in won't they?

Not that I think they'll make us world class, like

Yeah and I think this was a more important game to win than Norwich, as mad as that sounds.

I think Benitez could have got away with a 2-0 win tonight and a 2-2 draw against Norwich, more than the other way around.

I think that's a hefty blow for him. Another embarrassment for a fan base sick of embarrassment, and one which he 100% owns the responsibility for. Tonight was avoidable; he decided not to avoid it. And a club that hasn't won anything since 1995 once again gives up the ghost in the League Cup in September under one of the most divisive managers we've ever had.