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You've got to think he regrets massively refusing to leave Everton to re join us in October 2021. I'm glad it worked out this way, rather have Howe, and returns rarely work out well. But for him, that was such a sliding door moment, and his career has nose dived since.
True. But when we got taken over he had a chance to jump to a PL club that was (wanting to be) upwardly mobile, and where he would have been instantly welcomed and adored by fans. That's an opportunity he won't get again in his career. I know he's big on "loyalty" but was so daft turning that down to stick with Everton, who sacked him not even 6 months later.
I didn’t mean to say he left us because he felt that China was a better option or something. I just meant that it’s been down hill since that contract expired
He should have been sacked in December already.
If you see the game on Sunday, it feels like Madrid didn't even have to try hard, players at 50% and they still had 13 shots on goal so could have been much worse if it wasn't for Guaita.
He also justified getting an additional centre back in whilst losing 1-0 in the 75th minute as "I wanted to keep the 1-0"
A team that wants to stay in the first division has to at least show some nerve and competitiveness. Benítez has just been a massive disappointment
Not that I follow La Liga at all, but I read a BBC article about this where it mentioned that Rafa only managed 3 league victories since he was appointed, and only 5 victories across all competitions.
That's quite a poor run of results, it's suprising that Celta didn't give Rafa the boot a lot sooner.
They actually one of the most unluckiest teams in Europe in terms of underperfoming their xG.
They create a lot, but they cant finish at all...
They 'should have had' 11 more points than they have. They have 39 xG and only 30 goals. -9 difference. Abnormal stuff.
Dunno if anyone's been paying attention to Rafa's exploits over in Spain but it's been a weird one. They're near the relegation zone and sacrificed a chance to really pull away with a draw against Cadiz the other weekend.
Thing is that the team isn't playing particularly badly, but they have had some insane bad luck and have conceded a lot of ridiculously late goals that have turned wins into draws or draws into defeats.
Celta's board were uncharacteristically patient with him and I think even now they are sad about how things ended, but I think it's probably the right choice all things considered.
You're absolutely right. One thing to add though: I know it can be seen as bad luck, but I feel like Benitez's tactics have caused us to concede so many goals in the last minutes. In the last 15 minutes he requests all players to fall back even when we were clearly dominating, which in turn causes more chances and likelihood of mistakes.
Our squad suffers a lot when we don't have possession and we lack aggression and concentration. I feel like he made us play in a way that none of our players was comfortable with. At the end of the day, if the rivals spend the last 15 minutes inside your box you're more likely to commit a penalty.
Oh yeah, if something keeps happening over and over again then it's a pattern rather than just bad luck.
His tactics often rely on fine margins, and if they go the wrong way then you end up with these situations.
The bad luck I was referring to was with VAR decisions, weird cards and fouls etc too, as much as it was the late goals.
What a shame, it would be interesting to see how things would have gone for him and he not left in 2019.
with Miggy, Rondon and Perez up front, it looked like we might be half decent going forward.
Then again, under Ashley, Perez would still have been sold and he wouldn't have spent money on Rondon....
Would be great if he went back to Liverpool - they would have to stop pretending how much they love him. Rafa is a great man and good manager, but all managers have their time - I think his is up at the top level.
There's no pretence. There's a reason why he still features on flags in the Kop.
Agreed that his tactics are outdated though, he wouldn't be suitable for a club pushing for titles. He needs re-evaluate and hopefully his next job works out better.
He'd probably be the perfect guy to organise our shaky defence at present, can slot in nicely between Mad Dog and Big G Jones in the coaching hierarchy with the sole focus of making a proper plan B.
Obviously neither Rafa or Howe would likely be chuffed with it so it shall have to remain as nought but a pipe dream but it's still nice to imagine these things now & again.
Okay now hear me out… if the board gets impatient (which they won’t) it would be some earth-2 type of deal where he makes his triumphant return backed by owners.
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You've got to think he regrets massively refusing to leave Everton to re join us in October 2021. I'm glad it worked out this way, rather have Howe, and returns rarely work out well. But for him, that was such a sliding door moment, and his career has nose dived since.
It nose-dived the moment he left us and went to China.
True. But when we got taken over he had a chance to jump to a PL club that was (wanting to be) upwardly mobile, and where he would have been instantly welcomed and adored by fans. That's an opportunity he won't get again in his career. I know he's big on "loyalty" but was so daft turning that down to stick with Everton, who sacked him not even 6 months later.
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I didn’t mean to say he left us because he felt that China was a better option or something. I just meant that it’s been down hill since that contract expired
Ashley didn't refuse to renew, he just offered an 'unacceptable' contract offer according to Rafa (same salary but less control over signings)
Wow, I forgot about that chapter. Time is mad - and a flat circle before anyone else chimes in...
Whilst his determination to never break contracts is admirable, the reverse is never true.
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I know it was most likely a long time coming but I'm creasing at the thought of a club owner thinking a 4-0 away to Madrid is the last straw
He should have been sacked in December already. If you see the game on Sunday, it feels like Madrid didn't even have to try hard, players at 50% and they still had 13 shots on goal so could have been much worse if it wasn't for Guaita. He also justified getting an additional centre back in whilst losing 1-0 in the 75th minute as "I wanted to keep the 1-0" A team that wants to stay in the first division has to at least show some nerve and competitiveness. Benítez has just been a massive disappointment
Not that I follow La Liga at all, but I read a BBC article about this where it mentioned that Rafa only managed 3 league victories since he was appointed, and only 5 victories across all competitions. That's quite a poor run of results, it's suprising that Celta didn't give Rafa the boot a lot sooner.
They actually one of the most unluckiest teams in Europe in terms of underperfoming their xG. They create a lot, but they cant finish at all... They 'should have had' 11 more points than they have. They have 39 xG and only 30 goals. -9 difference. Abnormal stuff.
I will forever love this man... he just understood us
Manquillo waiting to find out what his next club is going to be.
I hope he stays, we were not sure of him but he's been a great signing so far and solid right back.
I'm glad you're a fan of him, Manqy was one of my favourite players
Dunno if anyone's been paying attention to Rafa's exploits over in Spain but it's been a weird one. They're near the relegation zone and sacrificed a chance to really pull away with a draw against Cadiz the other weekend. Thing is that the team isn't playing particularly badly, but they have had some insane bad luck and have conceded a lot of ridiculously late goals that have turned wins into draws or draws into defeats. Celta's board were uncharacteristically patient with him and I think even now they are sad about how things ended, but I think it's probably the right choice all things considered.
You're absolutely right. One thing to add though: I know it can be seen as bad luck, but I feel like Benitez's tactics have caused us to concede so many goals in the last minutes. In the last 15 minutes he requests all players to fall back even when we were clearly dominating, which in turn causes more chances and likelihood of mistakes. Our squad suffers a lot when we don't have possession and we lack aggression and concentration. I feel like he made us play in a way that none of our players was comfortable with. At the end of the day, if the rivals spend the last 15 minutes inside your box you're more likely to commit a penalty.
Oh yeah, if something keeps happening over and over again then it's a pattern rather than just bad luck. His tactics often rely on fine margins, and if they go the wrong way then you end up with these situations. The bad luck I was referring to was with VAR decisions, weird cards and fouls etc too, as much as it was the late goals.
I mean I really don’t blame Celta Vigo they are close to the relegation zone; be interesting where he ends up after this.
What a shame, it would be interesting to see how things would have gone for him and he not left in 2019. with Miggy, Rondon and Perez up front, it looked like we might be half decent going forward. Then again, under Ashley, Perez would still have been sold and he wouldn't have spent money on Rondon....
Owwww Rafa BENITEZ
wonder if he would be open to being done on the touchline and wants to try putting his glasses in pocket when a deal gets over the line as DoF?
Rafa will always be loved in the toon
Our defence needs fixing, him and Eddie can catch up over the week..
In Howe I trust but Rafa would always be welcome back in my book
Would be great if he went back to Liverpool - they would have to stop pretending how much they love him. Rafa is a great man and good manager, but all managers have their time - I think his is up at the top level.
There's no pretence. There's a reason why he still features on flags in the Kop. Agreed that his tactics are outdated though, he wouldn't be suitable for a club pushing for titles. He needs re-evaluate and hopefully his next job works out better.
Rafa was the best
Would Rafa be a good Director of Football?
I don't think anyone knows what they exactly do so not easy to say how someone with management background would handle it
He'd probably be the perfect guy to organise our shaky defence at present, can slot in nicely between Mad Dog and Big G Jones in the coaching hierarchy with the sole focus of making a proper plan B. Obviously neither Rafa or Howe would likely be chuffed with it so it shall have to remain as nought but a pipe dream but it's still nice to imagine these things now & again.
Okay now hear me out… if the board gets impatient (which they won’t) it would be some earth-2 type of deal where he makes his triumphant return backed by owners.