Rafa Watch

[ntto]

and to make matters worse Tomkins just retweeted Shaggy into my timeline

[Bender]

Cristian Maxedo of Eurosport's Madrid office believes that Real Madrid's press conference tonight does not spell the end for Rafa Benitez.

Sure, Real Madrid have just announced a press conference for tonight, but that's something that we would expect after the disaster in the Clásico -

and especially after Florentino Pérez was booed by fans during the match. We think they are not going to fire Rafa Benítez.

Instead, they will actually strengthen Benítez’s position, showing their total support for him. We also think Pérez will deny the rumours that he either dictated or suggested the starting XI for the match against Barcelona.
All of the rumours in Madrid currently point this way, at least. But being Florentino
Pérez… only God knows!
link

[Bender]

I feel so sorry for Rafa. Remember when he was unveiled and he had tears in his eyes. P16 W10 D4 L2 F33 A11 - this is the thanks he gets. ****house of a club.

i said it before he was on a hiding to nothing..too much player power there like chelsea,no club values or nothing...i remember when they got rid of Del Bosque on the back of winning the European cup and other trophies.

[redmike65]

Graham Hunter seems to think the dreaded vote of confidence is going to be issued

Hunter thinks he'll keep Rafa in place to protect Perez - if he is sacked and then replacement fails then he (Perez) comes
under great pressure.

[Maxiedge]

I think, wrongly, he doesn't have a reputation as a big name manager.

I thought in theory, his idea of team ethos and tactical awareness could turn Madrid into a really dangerous side combined with their obvious footballing ability.

The reality is that he's probably faced with quite a few ******s in there who won't take his ideas on board as he doesn't have the reputation.

[Darkon]

Yup, lack of ego massaging from Rafa - he's always had a team ethos even when having World Class players at his disposal - take his attitude towards Gerrard for example.

I think this was always destined for disaster though, his approach to management was never going to fit well with that dressing room.

Unfortunatly, it really felt like the chance Rafa needed to take all things considered, but it had nothing good written on the wall tbh.

[Darkon]

Lose against Barcelona and you are lucky to survive, that's the old firm mentality of La Liga.

Aye, a loss can be acceptable if the performance is good, but when outplayed for 90 minutes at home against Barca it's few that survives it. Especially when little else have been shown for Rafa to be the right fit thus far (to little time etc.!)

Add to that they were outplayed at Sevilla last weekend - although narrower results - and the general consensus in Spain that they've been lucky to get anything from the PSG games and it doesn't look in Rafa's favour right now. Rafa and the team have done very well in the must win games this season, but have struggled with each game against another top team.

What are they 5 points behind?

I reckon they've been looking to sack him for a while since that dressing room full of spoilt *******s don't like being told what to do, and are looking to use the Classico as an excuse.

From what I've picked up on the radio recently, both players and fans have been increasingly negative about the performances and a lot of tension in the squad right now. Add to that little confidence that Rafa is the type of manager to get this under control and it looked like the excuse needed just landed.

[The_weatherman]

Klopp has finally exorcised the deep feeling of disappointment of not having Rafa as our manager in me.

Would I want to replace Klopp with Rafa? No. He's the first manager we've had since Benitez that I'd have given a positive statement to that question.

This, so this. It's a breakthrough for me really

[RichC]

Yup, lack of ego massaging from Rafa - he's always had a team ethos even when having World Class players at his disposal - take his attitude towards Gerrard for example.

I think this was always destined for disaster though, his approach to management was never going to fit well with that dressing room.

[Maxiedge]

Lose against Barcelona and you are lucky to survive, that's the old firm mentality of La Liga.

I'm on Rafa's side but that was a diabolical loss.

[Shaggy]

Rafa has just never kissed superstars' arse - something I respect him for hugely - and that's surely the main reason for all this.

[redmike65]

The players wanted Ancelotti to stay, Perez is an idiot and fans have an unbelievable sense of entitlement. It was never going to be an easy ride.

(just as aside boy I'm glad Klopp is at Liverpool cos the worst of situations could have occurred - Madrid get Jurgen and the LFC fan base goes mad tearing itself part over getting Rafa back)

[Gibbo]

What are they 5 points behind?

I reckon they've been looking to sack him for a while since that dressing room full of spoilt *******s don't like being told what to do, and are looking to use the Classico as an excuse.

[redmike65]

Lose against Barcelona and you are lucky to survive, that's the old firm mentality of La Liga.

[Shaggy]

I feel so sorry for Rafa. Remember when he was unveiled and he had tears in his eyes. P16 W10 D4 L2 F33 A11 - this is the thanks he gets. ****house of a club.