Rafa Watch

[Maxiedge]

Well, I've got my opinions on Rafa Benitez as a manager these days and it's not what anyone wants to hear but I'll just say I'm glad he did not come back to us, more for his sake than ours.

Rafa Benitez, the man, is a different story

[Maxiedge]

The difference between us and Chelsea is that we are a bit ****.

not sure how serious you are being but I actaully think we're the better side since January.

They have an even softer defensive centre. I don't think Cahill's injury has helped them though.

[peekay]

8 years to this day

[Daniel 7]

Terry looks like he's recreating Robbie's gesture to le Saux there

[Tee]

8 years to this day

Get in!!

And it WAS a goal Brendan, okay?!!!

[Sarb]

Mourinho has just turned up to his Real Madrid Presser and is reading off a paper having a rant. I bet he won't get mocked for that by his chums over here

[ashey]

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has been named Premier League manager of the month for April.
The Spaniard, 53, is the first Chelsea boss to win the monthly award since Carlo Ancelotti in April 2011.
Benitez's April record
Premier League Europa League
Games
4
3
Won
3
2
Lost
0
1
Drawn
1
0
Benitez, who last won the accolade in charge of Liverpool in March 2009, will leave this summer with Chelsea fans chanting for Jose Mourinho's return.
Unbeaten in the Premier League in April with three wins from four, Benitez has guided the blues to third place.
Ahead of Sunday's meeting with Europa League finalists Chelsea at Old Trafford, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has conceded Benitez has done a good job "in the last few weeks".
The pair have had a fraught relationship since Benitez's time at Liverpool, with the Spaniard accusing Ferguson of ignoring a handshake before March's FA Cup quarter-final.
Chelsea are third in the Premier League as they close in on a place in next season's Champions League, and Benitez has also guided them to the Europa League final.
Chelsea managerial records
Benitez Di Matteo
Games
42
42
Won
23
24
Lost
10
9
Drawn
9
9
Win ratio
55%
57%
He remains unpopular among large sections of the Stamford Bridge crowd.
"He is very concerned about his CV. He refers to it quite a lot," said Ferguson, whose United side have already been crowned champions.
"But you can't dispute the fact he has done a good job in the last few weeks.
"The key to it is that the fans have settled down a little bit. They have left him alone. He has got on with managing his job.
"It can't be easy, listening to pressure from the fans all the time.
"They have eased up. It has allowed him to relax and they have produced some good results."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22401657

[Vermilion]

Durham and Gough are ripping into the Chavs for their classless singing of Maureens name last night, and at the same time praising the job Rafa has done with Chavski, and the work he's done with players like Luiz, Mata, Oscar etc. while all the time taking the bile and tripe off idiot fans too.

edit: Well they were 5 mins ago, no idea what's happening now, but you can bet they'll reel in some Chavs with what's been said...

[Shaggy]

Haha Ferguson is obsessed with him.

[spanky]

Nobody riles old ginsoak up like Rafa does, he can't stop talking about him. It won't happen but Rafa in charge of man city would send him off the deep end

[Exiled_red]

8 years to this day

[Lee]

8 years to this day

What a game. An evening. A player.

Luis Garcia.

[Shackanory]

Come on guys, lets call the Europa League what it is. Hardly like he has had to beat tough opposition. I think including this Europa League run in getting to the final is doing a little disservice to the Champions League finals he got to for us.

As much of an achievement it is, I wouldn't class them the same at all. Same thing hacks me off when people talk about domestic cup finals.

You wouldn't talk about a Golfer winning Tournaments and give the same weight to a Major as a Tour win. Which is what it sort of feels like here.

A European trophy is still a European trophy.

[Rich]

Anyone winning the Europa League should be proud, it's a tough competition to win. Ok, it doesn't rival the Champions League and our 2005 run but its impressive all the same.

I still wish he was our manager. I don't care.

[AnfieldForever]

With the squad they have, it would be a disgrace if they didn't win something this year.