Rafa Watch

[dom9]

Madness.

[Vermilion]

The ones I know are firmly in the 'You're not welcome here Rafa' camp.

Some of them have been Chelsea fans for over 30 years.

Well tell em, What Roman says is law, he's the one that's welcomed Rafa in, he's the one that dragged them out of the gutter and certain bankruptcy, and who he welcomes is his business because he's the boss!

If they're unhappy with that, tell em to get the 'Your not welcome Roman' banner out!

[Tee]

Well tell em, What Roman says is law, he's the one that's welcomed Rafa in, he's the one that dragged them out of the gutter and bankruptcy, and who he welcomes is his business because he's the boss!

If he's unhappy with it, tell him to get the 'Your not welcome Roman' banner out!

Vile hypocrites. Yesterdays crowd looked more like a gathering of the EDL/BNP rather than a home football crowd welcoming a new Manager.

[Chazza]

And none of them will question Abramovich's approach in all of this.

I appreciate he has flooded the club with money and put them where they are now but he was the one who pulled the trigger on Di Matteo and appointed Rafa.

Edit - As Vemy say's above

[Shaggy]

Oliver Kay said this, fair point about Graham

A Chelsea-centric week ended with a trip to Stamford Bridge yesterday for Chelsea 0 Manchester City 0. What a disappointing game. It reminded me of what a slog these games can become over the winter, when players start to look tired and pitches get heavy. All the best performers on the pitch were the hardy types (Kompany, Zabaleta, Nastasic, Barry, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta, Cole, Luiz). At least Luiz looked like he was responding to an instruction to show more discipline. If instilling some discipline in Luiz turns out to the only thing Rafa Benitez does at Chelsea, then at least it's something. Chelsea looked more solid than they have done of late, but at a cost in terms of attacking fluency. I think they sacrifice something in Mata when he is forced wide to accommodate Oscar. I also wonder whether, in the long-term Oscar might be better in a deeper position. But that would need a total rethink from Chelsea -- and when did Abramovich ever give a manager the time or the freedom to think long-term? I found the reception for Benitez quite depressing. I realise he's almost the opposite of "proper Chels", but, to put this context, as Matt Dickinson did in The Times this morning, George Graham got only mild boos on his first game in charge of Tottenham in 1998 -- and he had the Arsenal crest built into his patio ... Mind you, that was in 1998. People in general were a little less rabid then.

[Vermilion]

Vile hypocrites. Yesterdays crowd looked more like a gathering of the EDL/BNP rather than a home football crowd welcoming a new Manager.

And none of them will question Abramovich's approach in all of this.

I appreciate he has flooded the club with money and put them where they are now but he was the one who pulled the trigger on Di Matteo and appointed Rafa.

Edit - As Vemy say's above

[Tee]

Having said all that, I have little sympathy for Rafa. What was he expecting from that horrible club? He should have know from his time with us what type of reception he would get. Like Torres he made his choice and he has to live with it.

[Fredo]

Oliver Kay said this, fair point about Graham

Interesting.

And I think that if Rafa is given time, he'll make Luiz a world class defender (and most players in that Chelsea team). The fella has got loads of quality.

Abramovich's obsession with Guardiola is nonsensical. It's just a plaything for him, he's probably bored to death.

[Tee]

Abramovich should just make himself the Manager. I am sure he really wants to.

[Daniel 7]

I don't think Abramovich does. He doesn't exactly court the spotlight does he?

[Nicey]

Do any of you have any friends who are Chelsea fans? What do they think about this nonsense?

I used to have a friend who is a Chelsea fan, I then realized he was a cunt and have since lost contact

[Norbs]

I'm not sure anyone could have expected the fans reaction to be so extreme.

I could. Like I've mentioned before, we're in a Chelsea stronghold and they absolutely hate him.

Good luck to Rafa, I hope for his sake he gets what he wants from this but my hope is that they dive and he gets the sack ASAP. He'll get his contract paid up and it's not as if the fans that matter's opinions will change on him.

Come on Rafa, **** Chelsea up good and proper. We'll love you even more for it

[Norbs]

Do any of you have any friends who are Chelsea fans? What do they think about this nonsense?

Yep, loads. When it comes to football they are all ****bags. They'll not consider any other team to be a match for them, and I've never heard a bad word about Roman from any of them. When they win something, even the CL, their reaction is muted. It's as if they expect it, and it's just not cherished in the way that we've cherished trophies. I hate them far more than United these days. When it's under your nose constantly it's vile

[Tribute]

Having said all that, I have little sympathy for Rafa. What was he expecting from that horrible club? He should have know from his time with us what type of reception he would get. Like Torres he made his choice and he has to live with it.

for a few million quid over just a 6 month window, I could put up with booing every game...

[Buzzo]

Mad to think when the Chavs next visit their manager will likely get a warmer reception from our support than theirs.

They don't deserve you Rafa.