I remember Rafa for many things: Two Champions League finals. Probably the best Champions League final and the best FA Cup final of the "modern era". Torres, Alonso, Reina, Mascherano and Garcia. Fantastic European nights both home and away. Never fully getting his head around English league football. Sticking with Crouch while his confidence was wrecked then dropping him when he was full of it. Thinking one back-up striker was enough then thinking Ngog was good enough to be that player. Aquaman, Nunez, Josemi, selling Igor. Not pursuading Sami to stay on longer. Keeping hold of Stevie G (just). Away form that swung violently from fantastic one season to appauling the next. Odd beards. Total lack of emotion on the touchline (I just don't get it). His falling out with Paco (and the s**t run we had afterwards). Pissing off Alonso to try and get Barry...then Parry losing out on Barry to go get Keane His ability to fit his best players into a great system and his total inability to fill the other positions with players anywhere near good enough. Good times early on but chaotic last two years (partly his responsibility and partly the cowboys). please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Just found this by chance,focus goes a wee bit wonky at times. What a bloody match this was,nerve wracking or what [video=youtube_share;uhdC1r4SBsI]http://youtu.be/uhdC1r4SBsI[/video]
I remember that game screaming for someone to just take Walcott out forgot it was Toure who gave the pen away though...nice one
I loved the interviews where a reporter would ask a question and Rafa would dodge it by changing the subject e.g "any news on robbie keane?" Rafa's response: "I thought Pacheco had a really good game"
Same here,and that's the sort of cynical foul I detest regardless of loyalties.Incredible surge from Walcott,when Ade put that in I thought we were out. Jeez,the agony and the ecstacy
Everything he said there was 100% spot on. The Chelsea fans he talks about are the same types as the United "Moyes out banner" "fans", ie plastic glory hunters. Rafa only found out he would be an "interim" manager after signing, classy club Chelsea, classy indeed
Bizzare team selection for the 2005 and 2007 CL finals . Playing an unfit Harry Kewell in 2005 who had us 3-0 down at half time until injuries forced on The Kaiser and changed the game around. Like Rodgers, only stumbled on his best team rather than through design.
I remember him for making us a genuine force in Europe. I know people had some issues with him, but I wish he'd never gone.
I do agree about being a force in Europe. We took top four for granted until the rise of Citeh. But his transfer dealings were as bad as Rodgers! And his man management was as bad.
There's a f**ing alchemist at the club, there must be, they are constantly trying to turn s**t into gold season after season
My main memory of Rafa is just feeling that we could do anyone in Europe. The man was a European tactical genius. I loved the man. He made bizarre decisions on the team frequently but IRWT!
Rafa had his faults and wasn't the best manager we have ever had, but he was head and shoulders above anyone we've had in the last 20 years.
