2021/22 Rafael Benitez

[Eggs]

I think you need to revisit that interview where he said that.

Building on a theme set up by his interviewer about certain teams going to Anfield that season and getting everyone behind the ball, he clearly states that Everton were acting like a small club (on the day) by setting up for a point in a local derby as those other teams had done, not that Everton were a small club.

His 'crime' IMO was not correcting others when they took the small club comment out of context. He clearly felt no great need to at the time as it curried favour with the kult. Only latterly when he had the chance of the Everton job has he explained the comments he made.

….that’s all down to interpretation, he has said he meant to call us a small team but I’m of a view he knew exactly what he was saying. He set teams up defensively himself, particularly in European games. He was pandering to his supporters, I actually find his attempts to detract from what he said demeaning.

I’m on record as saying he’s a decent manager who might do well for us but as far as I’m concerned he shouldn’t have been appointed. I accept he’s Everton manager but I have a feeling of unease at him being here.

 

[Toffe3m4n]

Even Gary Neville doesn’t like this appointment.

...but admitted that he's probably the manager we need at this stage.

 

[davek]

….that’s all down to interpretation, he has said he meant to call us a small team but I’m of a view he knew exactly what he was saying. He set teams up defensively himself, particularly in European games. He was pandering to his supporters, I actually find his attempts to detract from what he said demeaning.

I’m on record as saying he’s a decent manager who might do well for us but as far as I’m concerned he shouldn’t have been appointed. I accept he’s Everton manager but I have a feeling of unease at him being here.

He knew what he was saying in the sense that he knew lumping Everton in with small clubs would rile Everton - he wasn't, however, stating Everton were a small club themselves. That much is clear from that interview.

 

[jamieni]

...but admitted that he's probably the manager we need at this stage.

He’s probably a better fit for the squad than Ancelotti. Although I guess the proof comes after a season at the helm.

 

[EFC_FRANCIS]

Even Gary Neville doesn’t like this appointment.

Given Nevilles recent track record with managers at Salford, this is probably a good thing.

 

[Eggs]

He knew what he was saying in the sense that he knew lumping Everton in with small clubs would rile Everton - he wasn't, however, stating Everton were a small club themselves. That much is clear from that interview.

….he said what he said, he displayed disrespect for our club and our standing in the game.

He was fully entitled to have a go at opposition tactics but he chose to publicly belittle the club. It was so ironic given the tactics he often deployed in away games.

I find it uncomfortable some of our fans endearingly call his name but i accept that’s what they choose just as I accept others are happy he’s managing our club.

 

[davek]

….he said what he said, he displayed disrespect for our club and our standing in the game.

He was fully entitled to have a go at opposition tactics but he chose to publicly belittle the club. It was so ironic given the tactics he often deployed in away games.

I find it uncomfortable some of our fans endearingly call his name but i accept that’s what they choose just as I accept others are happy he’s managing our club.

He lashed out post-match after the heat of a derby encounter....just as many other Everton and Liverpool managers have done down the years.

I remember Joe Royle calling them crying babies after we beat them in a derby in the 90s. That was much more petulant (and funny and we - understandably - laughed at it because it wound them up).

Swings and roundabouts.

 

[Eggs]

He lashed out post-match after the heat of a derby encounter....just as many other Everton and Liverpool managers have done down the years.

I remember Joe Royle calling them crying babies after we beat them in a derby in the 90s. That was much more petulant (and funny and we - understandably - laughed at it because it wound them up).

Swings and roundabouts.

….but the Reds didn’t then appoint Royle. Brian Labone said one Evertonian is worth 20 Reds but I don’t recall a manager belittling their club or their achievements in the game. Emlyn Hughes (RiP) is still vilified for calling us tragic.

There’s name calling, there’s gamesmanship but Benitez took it a bit further. I can live with that but I find it hard to believe we would then employ him as our manager.

 

[roydo]

I find it uncomfortable some of our fans endearingly call his name

Thats cos the boss (on here) altered the settings so anyone calling him R A F A is altered to Rafael

 

[roy vernon]

….but the Reds didn’t then appoint Royle. Brian Labone said one Evertonian is worth 20 Reds but I don’t recall a manager belittling their club or their achievements in the game. Emlyn Hughes (RiP) is still vilified for calling us tragic.

There’s name calling, there’s gamesmanship but Benitez took it a bit further. I can live with that but I find it hard to believe we would then employ him as our manager.

The difference is Dave, Big Joe did not go on to apply for, or be appointed to the Liverpool managers job. He had too much class to apply and they would have had too much sense to appoint him had he done so,

 

[roy vernon]

The difference is Dave, Big Joe did not go on to apply for, or be appointed to the Liverpool managers job. He had too much class to apply and they would have had too much sense to appoint him had he done so,

Sorry Eggs, don’t know what happened there, my reply was meant for Dave.

 

[Eggs]

Sorry Eggs, don’t know what happened there, my reply was meant for Dave.

…it’s ok, I have made the same point but as we know conversations with Dave are a bit like Groundhog Day.

 

[Eggs]

Thats cos the boss (on here) altered the settings so anyone calling him R A F A is altered to Rafael

….i’m uncomfortable with both. Perhaps I’m old school, perhaps I’m wrong but I tend to call managers and players by their surname. Crazy how Reds fans talk about their players as if they know them, very Koppite.

 

[davek]

….but the Reds didn’t then appoint Royle. Brian Labone said one Evertonian is worth 20 Reds but I don’t recall a manager belittling their club or their achievements in the game. Emlyn Hughes (RiP) is still vilified for calling us tragic.

There’s name calling, there’s gamesmanship but Benitez took it a bit further. I can live with that but I find it hard to believe we would then employ him as our manager.

To use your words: that's down to interpretation.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

….that’s all down to interpretation, he has said he meant to call us a small team but I’m of a view he knew exactly what he was saying. He set teams up defensively himself, particularly in European games. He was pandering to his supporters, I actually find his attempts to detract from what he said demeaning.

I’m on record as saying he’s a decent manager who might do well for us but as far as I’m concerned he shouldn’t have been appointed. I accept he’s Everton manager but I have a feeling of unease at him being here.

What I find funny Eggs is that at the time he said those things the fume had our fans bursting blood vessels and wanting him strung up, now all of a sudden he's our manager we all interpreted what he said wrong.