Should Roy defend Torres?

[GraciousGooner]

He didn't hate him for very long presumably?

[Shaggy]

The best was he hated him because he feared him.

As Rafa said, he was nice to him until we started being a threat.

He was all pally with Rafa when Rafa first came, boasting about sitting next to him on a flight to some UEFA convention and saying what a good bloke he was.

It all started when Ferguson wrote one of his cringeworthy, patronising letters, congratulating Rafa on our European Cup win and Rafa didn't reply. Then it started getting messy.

[Shaggy]

He didn't hate him for very long presumably?

You're really not very good at trying to be a smart-arse.

Benitez won the European Cup in his very first season (and regardless of 'the letter' that put Ferguson's nose right out of joint), and ran the Mancs close for the title in his penultimate season (2008/09), doing the double over them and destroying them in their own backyard. So he hated him pretty much from the start to the finish.

And he still hates him. Still talks about him all the time. No doubt Benitez got under Ferguson's skin more than anyone else has. He was the only one who had the guts to stand up to him and call him out on all sorts of things. Ferguson really, really didn't like that.

[Fredo]

You're really not very good at trying to be a smart-arse.

Benitez won the European Cup in his very first season (and regardless of 'the letter' that put Ferguson's nose right out of joint), and ran the Mancs close for the title in his penultimate season (2008/09), doing the double over them and destroying them in their own backyard. So he hated him pretty much from the start to the finish.

And he still hates him. Still talks about him all the time. No doubt Benitez got under Ferguson's skin more than anyone else has. He was the only one who had the guts to stand up to him and call him out on all sorts of things. Ferguson really, really didn't like that.

"Mr. Ferguson"

[Fredo]

Legendary.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOaZYhTd2BU"]YouTube - Rafa's amazing Fergie rant[/ame]

[Shaggy]

Superb. Except it wasn't a rant at all. It was the opposite of a rant. My wife was in labour that day...I'll remember it till the day I die. I came home from hospital, sat on the sofa, saw that, and actually stood up, cheering and fist pumping. Absolutely loved it.

I have a few papers from the next day, the day my boy was born, and the headlines (front and back) are all about Rafa destroying Ferguson.

[dww]

After Torres being labeled a cheat by SAF, should Roy defend Torres in his next press conference?

I mean he should say that Torres wasn't play acting (infact he wasn't), be sarcastic saying that Nani should be given an oscar for his actions last sunday...

Mourinho, Wenger, Rafa, even Alex ferguson defend their players all the time.

What do you think?

I tend to think that it is largely all pantomime but at the minute Roy needs to show the fans and players that he is on our/their side and going to make a fight of things this season. The mood around the team is so down a bit of theatrics might give us a lift.

[Frenchie]

Superb. Except it wasn't a rant at all. It was the opposite of a rant. My wife was in labour that day...I'll remember it till the day I die. I came home from hospital, sat on the sofa, saw that, and actually stood up, cheering and fist pumping. Absolutely loved it.

I have a few papers from the next day, the day my boy was born, and the headlines (front and back) are all about Rafa destroying Ferguson.

Epic

[Fredo]

Superb. Except it wasn't a rant at all. It was the opposite of a rant. My wife was in labour that day...I'll remember it till the day I die. I came home from hospital, sat on the sofa, saw that, and actually stood up, cheering and fist pumping. Absolutely loved it.

I have a few papers from the next day, the day my boy was born, and the headlines (front and back) are all about Rafa destroying Ferguson.

People wanted to make this like he 'lost it', particularly because we drew against Stoke the following day, but it wasn't. It was a calculated 'fact by fact' missive which blew massive holes into Ferguson's reputation which he's still fuming at.

Anyone can say anything they like about Rafa but he was one of us. He even rattled the cage of this little clique comprised of Allardyce, Redknapp and other bum boys.

[DannyMan2006]

People wanted to make this like he 'lost it', particularly because we drew against Stoke the following day, but it wasn't. It was a calculated 'fact by fact' missive which blew massive holes into Ferguson's reputation which he's still fuming at.

Anyone can say anything they like about Rafa but he was one of us. He even rattled the cage of this little clique comprised of Allardyce, Redknapp and other bum boys.

The "Rant" made him look a complete and utter fool. It gave Man Utd as a club the belief and impetus that Rafa was indeed "cracking up" and Fergie used it as a motivating tactic for his squad.

The "Rant" served no purpose what so ever other than aiding the opposition and as such was mis judged and mis calculated.

Don't get me worng, everything Rafa said was spot on. But to think the people who were listening would care was just insane. If Rafa had already won the title and had a bit more credability in the English game that "Rant" would have been fine.

[Shaggy]

Everything he said was spot on except it made him look a fool

[DannyMan2006]

Everything he said was spot on except it made him look a fool

I know how daft it sounds

I think it was naiive at best tbh. If I went into a high security prison and said "you're all ******s and you all deserve to be here" I may be right, but I would be bloody stupid to say so. You could in fact say that would be a very foolish thing for me to do.

[Fredo]

The "Rant" made him look a complete and utter fool. It gave Man Utd as a club the belief and impetus that Rafa was indeed "cracking up" and Fergie used it as a motivating tactic for his squad.

The "Rant" served no purpose what so ever other than aiding the opposition and as such was mis judged and mis calculated.

Don't get me worng, everything Rafa said was spot on. But to think the people who were listening would care was just insane. If Rafa had already won the title and had a bit more credability in the English game that "Rant" would have been fine.

You missed the point completely. He didn't need to have won 15 league titles to have a go at him, just a bit of nerve to dispel all the insane drivel that Ferguson was spouting and which no one would dare stand up against.

The whole Man.Utd 'belief' thing is a total myth. It still was a master stroke because Ferguson is still fuming and ranting at Rafa. The league title took a backstage at the time Rafa said that, he wasn't playing any 'mind games' as he said it numerous times.

[DannyMan2006]

You missed the point completely. He didn't need to have won 15 league titles to have a go at him, just a bit of nerve to dispel all the insane drivel that Ferguson was spouting and which no one would dare stand up against.

The whole Man.Utd 'belief' thing is a total myth. It still was a master stroke because Ferguson is still fuming and ranting at Rafa. The league title took a backstage at the time Rafa said that, he wasn't playing any 'mind games' as he said it numerous times.

He didn't need to, no. But it would have given him some extra cedibility in the press. You have to accept that the media do carry some influence. Some use it to their advantage and do the seige mentality, others fold.

I think If Rafa had won the league that year, and then the following season had a crack at Fergie, the press wouldn't have said anything. In fact, it would be a master stroke aimed at unsettling Fergie. Becuase he'd never won the prem, they thought he was carcking up.

[Fredo]

He didn't need to, no. But it would have given him some extra cedibility in the press. You have to accept that the media do carry some influence. Some use it to their advantage and do the seige mentality, others fold.

I think If Rafa had won the league that year, and then the following season had a crack at Fergie, the press wouldn't have said anything. In fact, it would be a master stroke aimed at unsettling Fergie. Becuase he'd never won the prem, they thought he was carcking up.

Rafa doesn't care for credibility with the press. He was simply making a point about how no one was questioning the drivel Ferguson was on and the pressure he puts on referees, which was (and still is) detrimental to the game. Nothing more.

The whole 'lost the plot', 'lost the league' or whatever quote I've seen because of his rant doesn't make him look a fool at all. There needed someone to stand up and he did it.