Rafael Benitez

[swimmer1]

Did anybody see Rafael Benitez speech think he is a bit of a tosser but thought he just spoke a lot of sense.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21611064

[northbank123]

Didn't see it but raises some quite interesting questions - namely if Chelsea are idiots for calling him interim manager, surely he's a bigger idiot for accepting the title? Tbh giving a manager a 9-month contract is stupid based on a gamble that they would get Guardiola (presumably) at the end of it - giving it to a man who is generally fairly unpopular and made numerous digs at Chelsea throughout his time at Liverpool is even worse.

I saw his 'defence' to allegations of a bust-up the other day. If he would have come out and completely denied it I would have probably put it down to cheap journalism. But he came out and said that it was merely an exchanging of views where understandably the players led by John Terry expressed frustration and concerns - basically admitted it. Is it just me or does he seem quite happy to stand by and abjectly fail at Chelsea?

[Brady's left peg]

Didn't see it but raises some quite interesting questions - namely if Chelsea are idiots for calling him interim manager, surely he's a bigger idiot for accepting the title? Tbh giving a manager a 9-month contract is stupid based on a gamble that they would get Guardiola (presumably) at the end of it - giving it to a man who is generally fairly unpopular and made numerous digs at Chelsea throughout his time at Liverpool is even worse.

I saw his 'defence' to allegations of a bust-up the other day. If he would have come out and completely denied it I would have probably put it down to cheap journalism. But he came out and said that it was merely an exchanging of views where understandably the players led by John Terry expressed frustration and concerns - basically admitted it. Is it just me or does he seem quite happy to stand by and abjectly fail at Chelsea?

If he wants to stand by and abjectly fail he can carry on........ I will never tire of seeing those chav endlessly shoot themselves in the foot!

[arseofacrow]

Didn't see it but raises some quite interesting questions - namely if Chelsea are idiots for calling him interim manager, surely he's a bigger idiot for accepting the title? Tbh giving a manager a 9-month contract is stupid based on a gamble that they would get Guardiola (presumably) at the end of it - giving it to a man who is generally fairly unpopular and made numerous digs at Chelsea throughout his time at Liverpool is even worse.

I saw his 'defence' to allegations of a bust-up the other day. If he would have come out and completely denied it I would have probably put it down to cheap journalism. But he came out and said that it was merely an exchanging of views where understandably the players led by John Terry expressed frustration and concerns - basically admitted it. Is it just me or does he seem quite happy to stand by and abjectly fail at Chelsea?

I guess he didn't accept the job as "interim", just as a short term contract. And I don't believe he is happy to stand by and fail, as there is little evidence to support this. And a "bust-up"? I think these things go on at every club, but the players at Chelsea feel some sense of power due to the idea that Benitez will be gone in the summer. He's in a difficult position, at a difficult club, with fans with whom he's had a testy relationship in the past. It's of course a little bit of a no lose situation for Benitez, due to the extenuating cricumstances,and regardless of his own performance.

[Herd]

We may need another Chelsea implosion to get CL football next year so I'm happy to fan any flame !

[MK Gould]

ditto

[northbank123]

Didn't see it but raises some quite interesting questions - namely if Chelsea are idiots for calling him interim manager, surely he's a bigger idiot for accepting the title? Tbh giving a manager a 9-month contract is stupid based on a gamble that they would get Guardiola (presumably) at the end of it - giving it to a man who is generally fairly unpopular and made numerous digs at Chelsea throughout his time at Liverpool is even worse.

I saw his 'defence' to allegations of a bust-up the other day. If he would have come out and completely denied it I would have probably put it down to cheap journalism. But he came out and said that it was merely an exchanging of views where understandably the players led by John Terry expressed frustration and concerns - basically admitted it. Is it just me or does he seem quite happy to stand by and abjectly fail at Chelsea?

I guess he didn't accept the job as "interim", just as a short term contract. And I don't believe he is happy to stand by and fail, as there is little evidence to support this. And a "bust-up"? I think these things go on at every club, but the players at Chelsea feel some sense of power due to the idea that Benitez will be gone in the summer. He's in a difficult position, at a difficult club, with fans with whom he's had a testy relationship in the past. It's of course a little bit of a no lose situation for Benitez, due to the extenuating cricumstances,and regardless of his own performance.

They announced it as "interim" so I don't see how he could have accepted it as anything else? I mean of course there was always some possibility of success meriting a full-time post, but even he's not claiming that he was duped into accepting the job at all.

The stand by and fail thing was obviously a bit tongue in cheek, but he doesn't actually seem too perturbed by their struggling and some of the interviews he's given (culminating in last night) are highly unprofessional and smack of someone who doesn't care about the club's plight that much.

[flash gunner]

Poor Rafa Poor chelsea

[DB10GOONER]

I suppose it's a cautionary tale of what can happen when you basically let the team be run by a player who is a dirty selfish cheating chav scumbag and whose mother is a shoplifter and father a drug dealer. Allegedly.

[flash gunner]

I suppose it's a cautionary tale of what can happen when you basically let the team be run by a player who is a dirty selfish cheating chav scumbag and whose mother is a shoplifter and father a drug dealer. Allegedly.

So youre saying is we should be careful what we wish for?

[DB10GOONER]

I suppose it's a cautionary tale of what can happen when you basically let the team be run by a player who is a dirty selfish cheating chav scumbag and whose mother is a shoplifter and father a drug dealer. Allegedly.

So youre saying is we should be careful what we wish for?

Don't take the piss! HAVE YOU WORKED 30 YEARS IN FOOTBALL??!!!

[GranadaJoe]

A variety of Chav supporters have been wheeled out for their opinions. Most have blamed Benitez, a couple of had a dig at the players, but none would be cajoled into criticising Abramovic. The Editor of a Chav fanzine even said,"It's his club, he can do what he wants." Legally and practically accurate, but cringworthy nonetheless.

I may be a little divorced from reality, but I like to think that AFC is still partly my club. I guess the chavs understand that they'd be battling with QPR but for the Russian's money, but it's still a bit humiliating.

[arseofacrow]

NB123 - I see it that Benitez has a problem with the club printing this "interim" everywhere and subsequently
everyone else doing it. It's part of his overall frustrstion and for him. And I
can't agree about his attitude - just the club's "plight" and the overall situation
is a difficult one.

which is fine by me

[VoiceOfReason]

He's such a moody, snarky wanker.

And what really pisses me off is that Chelsea fans are hounding him out after a month and not a bad word is said about them, yet we dare criticise the almighty AW after eight fucking years without a trophy and we got called 'impatient' and 'fickle'.

[goonersid]

It would be interesting to see how Abramovich would react, if they were to have another 3 or 4 seasons of this shite, and the silverware was to dry up.
Owning a successful football club is merely a way of fanning his ego, I don't think it would take too much for him to walk away, now that would be fun.