Rafa's track record for retaining the support of both playing staff and boardrooms is absolutely abhorrent. In almost all of his major jobs following Valenica he has had extremely poor relations with either players or board members. He had the famous falling out with Xabi Alonso after telling him he was no longer wanted at Liverpool, he almost forced Gerrard out to Chelsea, he turned the entire Inter Milan dressing room and board room against him in 6 months, he was reviled by the Real fans and players while results remained decent. I mean, absolutely none of the speculation about the bullshit Rafa spread in the media is surprising in the slightest it is ENTIRELY in character. He came to Newcastle because big clubs were not interested, he remained at Newcastle because big clubs were no longer interested, he tried to rebuild his career at Newcastle by belittling the players, trashing an unpopular boardroom and sucking the fans dicks. I am more than happy he is gone, I absolutely detested his football, I absolutely detested his attitude and I absolutely do not think he was progressing this football club, he just cleaned up McClaren's mess. I'd trust Chrissy Hughton to do just as well as Rafael Benitez did at Newcastle United.
