Did he do well at Napoli? They dropped from 2nd to 5th under his stewardship. Sarri who was much maligned at Chelsea followed him and performed better, amassing far more points consistently over 3 seasons - 2nd, 3rd, 2nd. I think his points totals were in the 80's and 90's. Whereas Rafa's were in the 60's and 70's. For perspective he followed Mazzari who finished 6th, 3rd, 5th, 2nd, and won a coppa italia. He also left Rafa with the gem that was Edison Cavani that allowed Benitez to sell and spend 105m on the squad with the aim of usurping Juventus. He failed but finished 3rd and won a coppa italia for them again. So they stuck with him. He then finished 5th which was seriously damaging after the previous seasons investment and the fans weren't sad to see him go. Missing out on the CL was massive, the fans were hugely disappointed. Chelsea? He was only there 6-7 months. He did a good job with the fantastic squad they had. Liverpool - He did but in his final season they dropped from 2nd the previous season to 7th. It was defo time to go. At most clubs, bar us, the fans are ready to see the back of him after 2-3 years. There has to be a reason for that. So people can claim he played attacking football, point to stats, but the fans are the ones watching the actual football and he hasn't proved a popular watch over the years. Everton fans are already grumbling. At Real Madrid he showed his attacking deficiencies as a manager and someone who could not deal with big players. Tried to find a way to play attacking football after the fans got on his back because he was boring everyone to death again, (handkerchiefs were out in pre season), and ended up losing all defensive stability. Consistently upset the players and generally did a **** job. Zidane went in, sorted it out in no time because of the talent they had, finished 2nd and won the CL. Following season delivered the title. Lets remember too, when did Rafa last do anything of note as a manager? Napoli Coppa Italia? That was yonks ago. When was the last time he played a style of football in keeping with the times? Never. He has his own style, and its defensive counter regardless of the players he has.
TL;DR Benitez is good manager, we all know that. In terms of him here, he managed to do something basically no other manager has done, ie sort out our defence. Yeah he's a defensive manager, but that's kinda what you need if you wanna stay up. Not a flash appointment, but someone who would undoubtedly be a decent appointment for us right now.
I'll keep it accurate about Rafa's efforts, someone has to as Rafman bombards us with bullshit about how great he is
I think Rafa could do the right job this season and again next season. Stabilisation and progression (in his image, mind) is his thing. What he cannot do is take a solid foundation to the next level. So is that not the right thing for a clooob in 19th staring down the barrel? 18 months of Benitez, get top 10 then sack and replace with a ready-to-go Ten Hag?
I don't agree. What we need to do is bite the bullet and become modern. The sooner we take the pain and set off on the path, the quicker we will get to where we want to be. Appoint Benitez and someone has to unpick all that to start again at some stage. He doesn't leave it where you can build from because he has such a unique style. The only role I could see Benitez being worthwhile is a job until May where you say keep us up. He'd be good at that. He isn't going to leave Everton for that though so I can't see the point. I can't see why we would restrict us to watching this boring ****e all over again. Its no longer necessary, Ashley has finally ****ed off.
With the funding, Rafa could easily take us to the higher level, he's definitely more than a midtable manager. He wouldn't just be a seat warmer.
Quite simply I see that as daft. Why not just give someone the funds to keep us up. If we go down so be it. We'd still be further down the line with modernising if we went down and returned the next season (which we would). Rather than giving 18 months for Rafa to send us down the wrong path, then start the process. I don't think we will go down this season. Even if we left Jones in charge and just furnished him with new players. People are acting like we are cut adrift.
Unpick the side? The defence is the one he brought in here! The only major difference between now and the side he managed is the lack of Rondon and Perez, and Wilson is hardly a bad replacement.
Unpick the side when he leaves not when he arrives. That's why I said he'd be good for a job till the end of the season. He signed most of these **** hawks so he'd know how to get it out of them. He is horrific to follow in terms of set up. He has previously made it clear he must have transfer control. The reason for that is his unique style of play, he buys players no one else would. He extracts huge amounts out of players who wouldn't be top talents. He doesn't tend to do that with the better players though. I'm hoping there is something more exciting in the offing, something attacking and modern. Something we know he can't deliver. Something for the long term, an ethos and way of playing instilled in the club. Basically I hope we do it with the class of a top team. Rafa wouldn't sit well in that, hence they never look in his direction. It'll take time and the sooner we start that journey the better.
I love it when people summarise without looking at the big picture. Rafa did such a poor job, that De Laurentis offered him a 2 year extension to his contract. It was Rafa who refused because he was homesick. De Laurentis then offered to buy Rafas family a home in the centre of Rome and put his kids in an English speaking school. Rafa refused. De Laurentis then offered him a rolling 1 year contract, because you know Rafa did such a poor job. Rafa was so bad that De Laurentis has since approached Rafa twice to come back as manager and once as DOF. Before going to Everton, De Laurentis wanted Rafa to be manager for 2 years with a view to going in to a Director role, overseeing recruitment for the future because he added so much value to the squad last time he was there and set them up for years. Rafa was so poor he won the SuperCoppa Italiana for the first time in over 2 decades, so poor he took them further in Europe for nearly 2 decades. No one has managed to achieve what he has done. He's called Don Rafa in Naples. The fans there love him. The great Sarri who both Chelsea and Napoli supporters can't stand.
To be clear, my No. 1 choice is Ten Hag, I reckon I was the first to say so on this thread. Then Favre, then Fonseca, then Jardim, and so on. I just don't agree that Rafa is a daft appointment.
I have reservations about Ten Hag. I don't know what it is but something doesn't sit right. Favre and Fonseca would be my choices above him and arguably I'd maybe prefer Potter too. Regardless, they're all way above Bruce
The Kleenex tissue I just ****ed into is way above Bruce. Ten Hag for me represents a risk as he hasn't been out of the safe haven of Holland. Fonseca and Favre are the big names, Favre more experienced, but Fonseca maybe more modern.
So homesick he went to China That wasn't for the money though, its was the project. Would that be the same Coppa Italia that Mazzari won in 2012? The rest is just your bullshit. I'll stick to the facts. I love how people obsessed can't see the wood for the trees.
Each to their own mate. I just don't like defensive football. That is what you are signing up to. No two ways about it. I want more for the club, and I just want to be a modern club again. As I say on a contract to the end of the season, no problem at all. The summer is better time to start the complete overhaul. But 18 months? Then start the process? That is what I see as daft and wasted time.