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Benitez is a talented tactician. I think a lot of people unfairly disparage the job he did at Liverpool by referencing the job he did at Inter. Seems to me that Liverpool would probably quite like to have the same type of success they enjoyed under Rafa. Obviously, Chelsea won't be satisfied with anything less than what Mourinho can do, but I do think Rafa is inheriting a squad that's a bit better fit for him than Inter was.
Sorry for coming off too disparaging. He is a good coach and I'm curious to see what he does to shake things up. I do think the shortlist is pretty short at Stamford Bridge. Rafa was probably #2 on it. Their options to bring in somebody mid-year are limited to start with and they're probably not about to bring in somebody without a big reputation. Some of that is dictated by the roster.
They have to be the worst finishing team in UCL history
This is from the club's press release - "interim first-team manager until the end of the season"
So it is. I thought he was making a joke about their replacement rate. Oops.This is from the club's press release - "interim first-team manager until the end of the season"
I believe he is somewhat of an expert at benching Fernando Torres.
How many ex-Chelsea managers are still getting a paycheck from the club?So it is. I thought he was making a joke about their replacement rate. Oops.This is from the club's press release - "interim first-team manager until the end of the season"
You never need to apologize to me Eeph. I also think Robbie got a raw deal. Money solves a lot of problems, but it's unreasonable, IMO, to expect anyone to deliver uniformly consistent results just because you've spent a lot on talent. Barca is great because it has great players. But it also has a philosphy and style they've spent years building. You can't just throw talented players out there, tell them to play attractive football, and expect to not have dips in form. It's unrealistic.
You're only not naming Hart because you don't want Woz to get a big head.
It's hard to top Buffon when he's in full fashion mode with the high collar, color-coordinated ascot, designer hair clips and Blue KT tape accents.
I'm a simple man of simple tastes.
Good point - although they were all in very weak groups.Zagreb was the worst team in all of CL group stage, and Dinamo Kiev is a mediocre Ukranian side. Porto is a breeding ground for wonderful talent (And coaches) and perennially turns out top talent.Milan and Malaga were in the same group and Zenit are in very poor form right now. Anderlecht was a bit of a disappointment in my eyes, as I expected them to make a bit of noise, but they were mediocre at best. Milan has lost a lot of key players (Silva, Zibra, Pirlo) but they've restocked their stores very well. They snagged Pazzini from Inter and Montolivo from Fiorentina has been a fantastic signing. Plus, they have good young talent....and Pato will be back to form eventually. I would shed no tears for Milan.Arsenal we could probably start an entirely new thread about. They are constantly churning players, and in my eyes, I don't know wtf they are doing sometimes. Losing the heart and soul of their team over the past two seasons...bringing in Arteta (a player I like, but quite frankly is a #####), Cazorla (fantastic player), and then they still have Arshavin (need to ditch him), Walcott (best served sold, imho) and bring in Podolski (mistake in my opinion and I'm a huge fan), and Giroud (jury still out, could be very good). They have tons of talent, but seem to like tinkering constantly. I know there are a ton of Gunner fans around - many knowledgeable ones in this thread, but I mean, I'd hate to support this club. Wenger has probably got to go at this point.Oh, I was going to comment earlier, but got busy at work, but I think Rafa is a good coach
But, my God, how do you let RDM go so soon? I think that was a mistake to be perfectly honest. RDM may not be the best tactician yet, but he seems to get the best out of his players (something that AVB seems to be lacking in England) and I honestly think he was a very good fit at Chelsea - and they are my third most hated club. Chelsea is soooooo young, and wtf, they lost to a solid Juve side, without Lampard, without Terry, and without the player that basically willed them to the championship last year (Drogba), I mean, that is just ridiculous. And let's face it, getting knocked out of CL got him fired. That's just not an owner I'd want to work for, sorry. okay, I'm rambling a bit here - Happy Thanksgiving to my soccer friends, and acquaintances.
The situation at Arsenal is in a sense the flip side of the Chelsea problem in that Wenger is so entrenched that he seems untouchable and survives long periods of disappointment. At Chelsea, there is now an established pattern where a manager will come in, win a few cups, then be fired during a brief slump and walk away with a Ferrari and a villa in Tuscany.Good point - although they were all in very weak groups.Zagreb was the worst team in all of CL group stage, and Dinamo Kiev is a mediocre Ukranian side. Porto is a breeding ground for wonderful talent (And coaches) and perennially turns out top talent.Milan and Malaga were in the same group and Zenit are in very poor form right now. Anderlecht was a bit of a disappointment in my eyes, as I expected them to make a bit of noise, but they were mediocre at best. Milan has lost a lot of key players (Silva, Zibra, Pirlo) but they've restocked their stores very well. They snagged Pazzini from Inter and Montolivo from Fiorentina has been a fantastic signing. Plus, they have good young talent....and Pato will be back to form eventually. I would shed no tears for Milan.Arsenal we could probably start an entirely new thread about. They are constantly churning players, and in my eyes, I don't know wtf they are doing sometimes. Losing the heart and soul of their team over the past two seasons...bringing in Arteta (a player I like, but quite frankly is a #####), Cazorla (fantastic player), and then they still have Arshavin (need to ditch him), Walcott (best served sold, imho) and bring in Podolski (mistake in my opinion and I'm a huge fan), and Giroud (jury still out, could be very good). They have tons of talent, but seem to like tinkering constantly. I know there are a ton of Gunner fans around - many knowledgeable ones in this thread, but I mean, I'd hate to support this club. Wenger has probably got to go at this point.Oh, I was going to comment earlier, but got busy at work, but I think Rafa is a good coach
I'm available, Roman.The situation at Arsenal is in a sense the flip side of the Chelsea problem in that Wenger is so entrenched that he seems untouchable and survives long periods of disappointment. At Chelsea, there is now an established pattern where a manager will come in, win a few cups, then be fired during a brief slump and walk away with a Ferrari and a villa in Tuscany.Good point - although they were all in very weak groups.Zagreb was the worst team in all of CL group stage, and Dinamo Kiev is a mediocre Ukranian side. Porto is a breeding ground for wonderful talent (And coaches) and perennially turns out top talent.Milan and Malaga were in the same group and Zenit are in very poor form right now. Anderlecht was a bit of a disappointment in my eyes, as I expected them to make a bit of noise, but they were mediocre at best. Milan has lost a lot of key players (Silva, Zibra, Pirlo) but they've restocked their stores very well. They snagged Pazzini from Inter and Montolivo from Fiorentina has been a fantastic signing. Plus, they have good young talent....and Pato will be back to form eventually. I would shed no tears for Milan.Arsenal we could probably start an entirely new thread about. They are constantly churning players, and in my eyes, I don't know wtf they are doing sometimes. Losing the heart and soul of their team over the past two seasons...bringing in Arteta (a player I like, but quite frankly is a #####), Cazorla (fantastic player), and then they still have Arshavin (need to ditch him), Walcott (best served sold, imho) and bring in Podolski (mistake in my opinion and I'm a huge fan), and Giroud (jury still out, could be very good). They have tons of talent, but seem to like tinkering constantly. I know there are a ton of Gunner fans around - many knowledgeable ones in this thread, but I mean, I'd hate to support this club. Wenger has probably got to go at this point.Oh, I was going to comment earlier, but got busy at work, but I think Rafa is a good coach
Your best bet is to lateral to Skadden, represent Sibneft on a few deals, and work your way in to Bruce Buck's inner circle.I'm available, Roman.The situation at Arsenal is in a sense the flip side of the Chelsea problem in that Wenger is so entrenched that he seems untouchable and survives long periods of disappointment. At Chelsea, there is now an established pattern where a manager will come in, win a few cups, then be fired during a brief slump and walk away with a Ferrari and a villa in Tuscany.Good point - although they were all in very weak groups.Zagreb was the worst team in all of CL group stage, and Dinamo Kiev is a mediocre Ukranian side. Porto is a breeding ground for wonderful talent (And coaches) and perennially turns out top talent.Milan and Malaga were in the same group and Zenit are in very poor form right now. Anderlecht was a bit of a disappointment in my eyes, as I expected them to make a bit of noise, but they were mediocre at best. Milan has lost a lot of key players (Silva, Zibra, Pirlo) but they've restocked their stores very well. They snagged Pazzini from Inter and Montolivo from Fiorentina has been a fantastic signing. Plus, they have good young talent....and Pato will be back to form eventually. I would shed no tears for Milan.Arsenal we could probably start an entirely new thread about. They are constantly churning players, and in my eyes, I don't know wtf they are doing sometimes. Losing the heart and soul of their team over the past two seasons...bringing in Arteta (a player I like, but quite frankly is a #####), Cazorla (fantastic player), and then they still have Arshavin (need to ditch him), Walcott (best served sold, imho) and bring in Podolski (mistake in my opinion and I'm a huge fan), and Giroud (jury still out, could be very good). They have tons of talent, but seem to like tinkering constantly. I know there are a ton of Gunner fans around - many knowledgeable ones in this thread, but I mean, I'd hate to support this club. Wenger has probably got to go at this point.Oh, I was going to comment earlier, but got busy at work, but I think Rafa is a good coach
Slightly more plausible for me than growing some fashionable stubble and fitting into a European slim cut suit.Your best bet is to lateral to Skadden, represent Sibneft on a few deals, and work your way in to Bruce Buck's inner circle.I'm available, Roman.The situation at Arsenal is in a sense the flip side of the Chelsea problem in that Wenger is so entrenched that he seems untouchable and survives long periods of disappointment. At Chelsea, there is now an established pattern where a manager will come in, win a few cups, then be fired during a brief slump and walk away with a Ferrari and a villa in Tuscany.Good point - although they were all in very weak groups.Zagreb was the worst team in all of CL group stage, and Dinamo Kiev is a mediocre Ukranian side. Porto is a breeding ground for wonderful talent (And coaches) and perennially turns out top talent.Milan and Malaga were in the same group and Zenit are in very poor form right now. Anderlecht was a bit of a disappointment in my eyes, as I expected them to make a bit of noise, but they were mediocre at best. Milan has lost a lot of key players (Silva, Zibra, Pirlo) but they've restocked their stores very well. They snagged Pazzini from Inter and Montolivo from Fiorentina has been a fantastic signing. Plus, they have good young talent....and Pato will be back to form eventually. I would shed no tears for Milan.Arsenal we could probably start an entirely new thread about. They are constantly churning players, and in my eyes, I don't know wtf they are doing sometimes. Losing the heart and soul of their team over the past two seasons...bringing in Arteta (a player I like, but quite frankly is a #####), Cazorla (fantastic player), and then they still have Arshavin (need to ditch him), Walcott (best served sold, imho) and bring in Podolski (mistake in my opinion and I'm a huge fan), and Giroud (jury still out, could be very good). They have tons of talent, but seem to like tinkering constantly. I know there are a ton of Gunner fans around - many knowledgeable ones in this thread, but I mean, I'd hate to support this club. Wenger has probably got to go at this point.Oh, I was going to comment earlier, but got busy at work, but I think Rafa is a good coach
I could pull it off. Anyway, my wife says that she wants me to style my hair like Mancini once it goes a little more gray. She thinks he's sexy with his giant scarf.
And those 4 teams are 1, 3, 5, 8 in la liga currently. It's more than a 2 team league even if only 2 teams hog all of he attention.Same thing for the three Bundesliga clubs.
I love how he will take control after the likely bloodbath at Old Trafford this weekend
Just got back from this game. Some pretty goals early on. Fun times.
I figure a Sevilla win tomorrow is too much to ask for.
