Do you want Rafa back?

[Craig_H]

ah no of course not craig, that would way too much for your fragile self to bear. Relax pal its christmas, no need to be so serious. Its only football chat on the internet, its not russian roulette or anything.

And a "Touch of Man Bites Dog" about my post you say, well.... better than a touch of a rapist" about most of your tripe. The real question is "when is Craig going to stop arguing with me"? Until he thinks he is the winner maybe?

I'm fairly convinced that this is a highly innapropriate comment to make. I'll give it some more thought in due course.

As for my 'man bites dog' comment - i know some consider you to be a bit slower than others, but i'm firmly in your corner, i think you're as savvy as they come, and if there's only one thing i could ever do on this earth, it would be to back you up in terms of wit and intellect. Put simply, i dont think there are many better.

With that in mind, and perhaps taking a moment to consider Neil Young's 'characterisation' on this site, maybe the 'man bites dog' comment might now strike a cord a little more than the first time you read it?

Come now. Woof woof. Fetch.

Good boy.

[The Erectile Banana]

Counting Maxi twice is a sneaky trick. And it would've worked too, if it wasnt for those pesky kids

I'm not sure how 'first team' Aquilani was going to be - we had Mascherano and Lucas (who Rafa was very keen on), plus Gerrard to play in the hole. So how much first team match-time Aquilani would've got, i dunno.

Ditto Maxi, who was basically a right-sided midfielder/forward - same as Kuyt's role, who again was a big favourite of the manager.

I could even question Keane, as he wasnt ever going to take Nando's place and Gerrard had the 'hole' position firmly nailed too.

So i'd be interested in how you'd put together a case for those three all being meant as nailed on first teamers - i dont think you could.

This post is a bit facetious in regards to Aquilani and Keane. I don't think any manager would spend nearly £40M on two international players and not consider them as first teamers.

[danperkins]

Counting Maxi twice is a sneaky trick. And it would've worked too, if it wasnt for those pesky kids

I'm not sure how 'first team' Aquilani was going to be - we had Mascherano and Lucas (who Rafa was very keen on), plus Gerrard to play in the hole. So how much first team match-time Aquilani would've got, i dunno.

Ditto Maxi, who was basically a right-sided midfielder/forward - same as Kuyt's role, who again was a big favourite of the manager.

I could even question Keane, as he wasnt ever going to take Nando's place and Gerrard had the 'hole' position firmly nailed too.

So i'd be interested in how you'd put together a case for those three all being meant as nailed on first teamers - i dont think you could.

Ok ebough of the arguing and banter. Seriously though:

- A lot of money was spent on Aqua, he was brought by Rafa to replace Alonso so Rafa said, he was 100% meant to be a first teamer.

- Maxi was meant to be a first teamer too but found it hard to adapt.

- 20 million on keane, what to sit on the bench? He was meant to be a first teamer.

I am no fan of Rafa but i think i have always been quite balanced when i talk about him on here if even certain people defence mechanisms are on red alert 24 7 about anything that is Rafa.

But his transfers in his last 2 years at the club ultimately got him the sack.

[Craig_H]

This post is a bit facetious in regards to Aquilani and Keane. I don't think any manager would spend nearly £40M on two international players and consider them as first teamers.

Perhaps not, but i also dont think any manager would've been looking to drop Torres and/or Gerrard - which throws the 'first teamers' tag of Aquilani and Keane into considerable doubt, IMO.

[Craig_H]

For the record dane, i think you're great (geddit?) and if you ask someone who i just PM'd a moment ago about you, whether i 'care' and whether i take you seriously, i think their answer would definitely not be in the affirmative. I genuinely like the fact that you're here, because comic-relief is a major reason why i post on forums.

[danperkins]

I'm fairly convinced that this is a highly innapropriate comment to make. I'll give it some more thought in due course.

As for my 'man bites dog' comment - i know some consider you to be a bit slower than others, but i'm firmly in your corner, i think you're as savvy as they come, and if there's only one thing i could ever do on this earth, it would be to back you up in terms of wit and intellect. Put simply, i dont think there are many better.

With that in mind, and perhaps taking a moment to consider Neil Young's 'characterisation' on this site, maybe the 'man bites dog' comment might now strike a cord a little more than the first time you read it?

Come now. Woof woof. Fetch.

Good boy.

i'm fairly convinced that 50% of what people say to people on the site in highly inappropriate, so lets not attempt to start any silly little fires, don't a selective silly billy.

Ah some people don't like people answering them back, seen it all before. Unlike you, i don't take internet chat seriously, when its comes to football talk on the internet i take most of it with a pinch of salt. All bark and no bite, its all good Woof!!! I think your great too must be the mutual appreciation society eh, well something like that anyways

[el matador]

not sure if this has been posted. apologies if it has...

Benitez set to leave Inter


It is a question of when, rather than if, Rafa Benitez`s tenure as Inter Milan coach is officially brought to an end in the coming days. Benitez will not be returning to Inter to maanage the club after the winter break and he has had this confirmed by the club.The manner in which his spell in charge at the San Siro is formally concluded could end up being resolved by the lawyers in order to determine whether Benitez quits or is dismissed - along with the quantity or eligibility of any compensation.


It is true, as has been reported in the media today, that Rafa Benitez is currently on Merseyside and is enrolling his children at school in the area and it is where he intends to settle once his involvement with Inter is concluded.


He is deeply disappointed by his experience in Serie A where he found his role limited to that of simply a coach and although numerous signings were discussed – Mascherano, Kuyt, Lucas Leiva – he was frustrated that the club failed to deliver.
If I were to make an educated guess as to where Benitez will most likely end up after Milan, I would have to say that out of the three big European leagues, a return to the Premier League would suit him best and would be his preferred option.


http://www.guillembalague.com/blog_d...titulo=Benitez set to leave Inter&id=537

[Imy]

Ok ebough of the arguing and banter. Seriously though:

- A lot of money was spent on Aqua, he was brought by Rafa to replace Alonso so Rafa said, he was 100% meant to be a first teamer.

- Maxi was meant to be a first teamer too but found it hard to adapt.

- 20 million on keane, what to sit on the bench? He was meant to be a first teamer.

I am no fan of Rafa but i think i have always been quite balanced when i talk about him on here if even certain people defence mechanisms are on red alert 24 7 about anything that is Rafa.

But his transfers in his last 2 years at the club ultimately got him the sack.

I believe one of the reason we bought Aqualani was to do with the structuring of payments and recouping money Roma owed us from the Riise sale (before Roma who were/are in dire financial straight went bankrupt).

I'm sure had the owners given him £20m straight he would have bought somebody else.

Maxi has been hit and miss but for what it cost (£1.5m?) he was well worth the gamble, how many Argentinan or any top footballing countries international players can be bought for that money.

Keane was a Parry signing, (it's been said many time the priority was Barry then Keane), he had a very good season with Spurs prior to signing for us but was totally **** when he played in the red shirt. It was stupid of Rafa to sell him though without having assurances that the money recouped would be spent on another top class striker.

All in all i believe Rafa was certainly hamstrung by the then owners.

[Shaggy]

Maxi was free.

[Fredo]

Ah some people don't like people answering them back,

It's not that. People just pick holes in your answers, then you become quite aggressive. Just give it a rest if you've run out of ideas, no need to say anymore.

[Vermilion]

It's not that. People just pick holes in your answers, then you become quite aggressive. Just give it a rest if you've run out of ideas, no need to say anymore.

[Darth Marty]

I dont care whether people hate rafa or love him (As I do) but please just say that during his tenure here he was working under extremely difficult conditions. Because he most certainly was.

That he sometimes heaped pressure on himself is something I will admit to, because he did, but all the same under precisely the same conditions I am 100% confident that no other manager could have done what he did for us.

[Buzzo]

I never saw this thread turning into a brawl.

...and one involving Daniel Perkinson. I'm so shocked.

[Shaggy]

The best bit had to be this:

I am no fan of Rafa but i think i have always been quite balanced when i talk about him on here.

[Mattshark]

The best bit had to be this: