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Richard Keys claims Rafael Benitez tried to leave Newcastle United for Everton twice

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Theoneandonly said:
Carragher was on the verge of being sold when Rafael got there, he was tried as a right back, midfielder and many other positions. Rafael moved him in the middle and he became one of the best centre backs in the league. Gerrard was utilised as a deep holding midfielder and a right midfielder until Rafael got there and turned him in to the best attacking midfielder in the league.

His signings at Liverpool include Reina, Agger, Skrtel, Sissoko, Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia, Zenden, Crouch, Bellamy, Kuyt, Aurelio, Mascherano, Torres, Benayoun, Lucas, Meireles. He also transformed their academy and brought in Sterling, Suso, Wisdom, Flanagan, Ayala, Coady, Spearing. Was partly responsible for bringing in Suarez and Coutinho too.

His time at Inter was a failure, but he asked for investment in order to overhaul the ageing squad, which was denied and look at them now. What have they achieved since?

He was a success at Chelsea, no matter how you look at it. Took them from 7th to 3rd. Won the Europa League. Turned David Luiz and Mata in to 50m players. Was actually going to take over in the Summer before, but the champions league win brought Di Matteo some more time. Rafael left on good terms with Roman and the players.

His time at Napoli was a huge success. Won the League Cup, haven't won it since. Won their charity shield for the first time in 14 years, haven't won it since. Got to the semi finals of the Europa league. Haven't got as far in Europe since. Finished 3rd and 5th in the league, which is about average for them. The Owner wanted him to stay and offered him a 3 year deal, but Rafael was homesick.

Signed Mertens, Callejon, Albiol, Higuain, De Guzman, Gabbiadini, Jorginho, Zapata, Reina, Koulibali, Ghoulam at Napoli. A team which set them up for years.

His time at Madrid was average. He wasn't allowed to sign any players apart from Casemeiro due to the amount spent the previous few years. He wanted to get rid of players, but wasn't allowed. Got told which players he had to play and had interference in all his operations. Unbeaten in the Champions League, 3rd in the league with a game in hand when he left.

His time at Newcastle can't be considered less than a success, he's worshiped up there.
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Sounds like he's a bit of a victim, it's never his fault, to me.
 
catcherintherye said:
I think there's a bit of creative license on some of the points here mate, I mean Coutinho and Suarez were signed many years after he left.

That being said he seems to have a decent eye for a player, but he often needs a fair whack of money to spend. If you haven't got that money he will struggle a bit, and at the top clubs in the league I don't think he's an attacking enough manager to win enough games. However if you are where we are, a middling to upper middling club with money to spend he is a a pretty strong choice.

The point you make about Carragher and Gerrard is a good one. He made both the players they are. We have number of players in a similar boat here, lads who you can see have talent but are not being utilised correctly and a more astute tactician could quite quickly get more out of. Gerrard had just turned 24 when Benitez came and he really kicked on. Carragher was 26. He moved them up a level.

The thing with Benitez is he doesn't have an awful lot of time for younger players, so he won't have much interest in developing lots of lads under 21. Likewise he requires a continual flow of cash to keep signing players as they get a bit older. However some of them will be sold on for decent money (at Liverpool he moved on Alonso, Bellamy, Crouch for decent money as well as Torres and Mascherano after he left).

I don't think they were a million miles ahead of where we are now when Benitez arrived, and quite quickly he had them competing for the league and European trophies.
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It is amazing how on an Everton forum so many know so much of the history of our neighbours. Me I know really sweet FA because my interest is Everton and what is good for them.
 


It's a non starter now he's moved to China and that's probably for the best. A new appointment would have to unite the fans and club and whatever his qualifications for the footballing side, Benitez isn't the right man to do that.
 
BlueAmigo said:
Bentiez calls us a small club after frustrating his team. Fan reaction - pure vitriol.

Kenwright, chairman and owner talks this club down as plucky little small club for years on end. Fan reaction - pure apathy.
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Give me one direct quote from Bill Kenwright were he said this. He may have told the truth by saying money was tight but that is all.
 

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