Rafa Watch

[RichC]

I think we had a first 11 on at least a par with anyone else, the squad certainly not though. Winning it easily, no way the PL was probably at its best then in terms of depth and quality, IMO anyway.

[Exiled_red]

Didn't he say he'd like the job full time not so long ago?

Rafa has a lot of rebuilding of his CV to do, since leaving us he's had a bit of a tough time of it, maybe he's made some wrong choices. Like going to Inter after Mourinho just won the treble and they wanted to slash their wage bill.

He'll want to prove himself again and at the moment it's not good enough, no excuses, he knew the job he was walking into.

I'm a massive Rafa fan by the way I just don't think he's helped himself at all.

Going to Inter under those circumstances wasn't the best, and taking the Chelsea job was crazy IMO, he was never going to win the fans over.

[Exiled_red]

That's because he's always thought himself as a top manager since his two league wins with Valencia. Unfortunately for him, and for us, he is not a top manager and I hazard he never will be.

A very good manager, who transformed our youth academy, sure. But the way "he lost" our reasonably easy league title in 2009 spoke volumes. Inter were fooled, and then Chelsea.

Sadly, a great many of our own fans are still fools too.

What do you mean lost the title? Our form at the end of that season was fantastic we picked up 31 point out of 33 in the last 11 games the reason we didn't win the league was probably due to a poor run of form in the middle of the season drawing something like 7 out of 10 games, we were never the favourites to win the title that season we were always playing catch up, in reality we did well to run them so close.

[RedReet]

That's because he's always thought himself as a top manager since his two league wins with Valencia. Unfortunately for him, and for us, he is not a top manager and I hazard he never will be.

A very good manager, who transformed our youth academy, sure. But the way "he lost" our reasonably easy league title in 2009 spoke volumes. Inter were fooled, and then Chelsea.

Sadly, a great many of our own fans are still fools too.

[Buzzo]

That's because he's always thought himself as a top manager since his two league wins with Valencia. Unfortunately for him, and for us, he is not a top manager and I hazard he never will be.

A very good manager, who transformed our youth academy, sure. But the way "he lost" our reasonably easy league title in 2009 spoke volumes. Inter were fooled, and then Chelsea.

Sadly, a great many of our own fans are still fools too.

Is he not allowed his Champs league win and final defeat with us on his CV either?

'Relatively easy league titles' FTW

[cream]

Inter and Chelsea were two really poor decisions by Rafa. He'll have trouble getting a job at a top club now, if it was hard before, it'll be impossible now.

[RichC]

I would think he'll be fine back in La Liga, I don't see any options for him here though, the press over here have done such a hatchet job on him it's unreal.

[Shaggy]

Relatively easy?!

That United side wound up with 90 points, a home record of P19 W16 D2 L1, and an away record of P19 W12 D4 L3!

Easy!

[Gibbo]

I still think he will end up at Real.

[Neil Young]

Whatever, they were robbed by the ref yesterday.

[Bender]

Benitez's future at the club could be in doubt if the Blues fail to beat Wigan this weekend.
Full story: Daily Telegraph

[barnes10]

His career is really in the **** if he gets the boot

[RichC]

Sounds like Cech has broken a finger, who's the Chelsea number 2 ?

[Lee]

Turnbull.

Hilario is number three.

[Captain Stu]

Sounds like Cech has broken a finger, who's the Chelsea number 2 ?

Ross Turnbull.