Rafa Watch

[Gibbo]

I can't believe some people still think he's a **** manager.

Maybe his time was up with us (I don't know) but he is one of the best managers around, and replacing him with Hodgson was ken of the worst footballing decisions ever.

[dww]

I think next year is a big one for him. If he can build from what he has there he could do something special. Needs to recruit well as every time I hear he has rested someone they lose.

[Liverpool]

I was (pointlessly ) thinking about how Rafa would have gone down amongst our fans if he had just joined for the first time now, with his tactics and 2 deep lying midfielders and zonal marking etc etc. Seems the game has gone that way a lot more recently and is more accepted. He was ahead of curve and just got **** for it.

Also I think he ****ed up with his time here with how he was with the press, we've seen the benefits of how Rodgers/Martinez deal with them and when things aren't going too well, get a stay of execution and some of their faults overlooked instead of heaping the pressure on.

[Shaggy]

Also I think he ****ed up with his time here with how he was with the press, we've seen the benefits of how Rodgers/Martinez deal with them and when things aren't going too well, get a stay of execution and some of their faults overlooked instead of heaping the pressure on.

Possibly. It's a difficult one. Interesting topic though. I totally get why some of them, like Rafa and Kenny, have no time for the press and see it as nothing more than a pain in the arse that gets in the way of their real work. But at the same time as you rightly say, Rodgers and others pretty much charm the press and getting an easier ride from the press - as ridiculous as it is - is probably quite helpful.

I thought Rafa pitched it about right tbh, and unlike some I still absolutely stand by his 'facts' speech. He was correct in everything he said, not to mention the bollocks it took in standing up to Ferguson (and, in turn, his huge army of cronies). In retrospect I think Kenny was probably a bit too harsh and spiky with them.

[Le Chef]

I thought Rafa pitched it about right tbh, and unlike some I still absolutely stand by his 'facts' speech. He was correct in everything he said, not to mention the bollocks it took in standing up to Ferguson (and, in turn, his huge army of cronies).

I think he got the timing wrong, couple of weeks later would have been ideal, but he probably should have got a few more journalists on his side before launching it. That said, brilliant and priceless.

[dww]

Possibly. It's a difficult one. Interesting topic though. I totally get why some of them, like Rafa and Kenny, have no time for the press and see it as nothing more than a pain in the arse that gets in the way of their real work. But at the same time as you rightly say, Rodgers and others pretty much charm the press and getting an easier ride from the press - as ridiculous as it is - is probably quite helpful.

I thought Rafa pitched it about right tbh, and unlike some I still absolutely stand by his 'facts' speech. He was correct in everything he said, not to mention the bollocks it took in standing up to Ferguson (and, in turn, his huge army of cronies). In retrospect I think Kenny was probably a bit too harsh and spiky with them.

Ferguson was always unpleasant to the press too. I really struggle to see this as anything other than a sideshow that accelerates the end when things are going badly any way. Rafa's reign ended the way it did because of H&G and Kenny's because after the league cup final we fell apart and he seemed to have no answer.

[Le Chef]

Ferguson was always unpleasant to the press too. I really struggle to see this as anything other than a sideshow that accelerates the end when things are going badly any way. Rafa's reign ended the way it did because of H&G and Kenny's because after the league cup final we fell apart and he seemed to have no answer.

Fergie wasn't though, he had a few trusted journo's who he could rely on to seek his own agenda and quite a few followed suit. Those that did publish stuff that he didn't like often got kicked out, but the Sports editors kept apologising as covering United sold Newspapers and generated hits.

[Shaggy]

Ferguson was always unpleasant to the press too. I really struggle to see this as anything other than a sideshow that accelerates the end when things are going badly any way. Rafa's reign ended the way it did because of H&G and Kenny's because after the league cup final we fell apart and he seemed to have no answer.

I tend to agree about it being a ridiculous sideshow...that's how it seems to me but I'd love to know whether the perceived pressure (from the media) has any real, tangible effect on a squad and its management.

[Fredo]

I tend to agree about it being a ridiculous sideshow...that's how it seems to me but I'd love to know whether the perceived pressure (from the media) has any real, tangible effect on a squad and its management.

Think the pressure is between the managers themselves. If it gets to them it eventually has the potential to be passed on to the players.

[Le Chef]

I tend to agree about it being a ridiculous sideshow...that's how it seems to me but I'd love to know whether the perceived pressure (from the media) has any real, tangible effect on a squad and its management.

I'd say it does, doing well - Cosy chats, Doing badly and its open season, just look at the leaks out of United lately, Van Persie, Ferdinand, Hernandez, Rooney, Anderson to name a few.
Moyes can't buy a friend in the Media at the moment, which probably isn't his fault, there seems to be a lot of payback at the moment from those who weren't part of Fergies pack.
Look at Spurs earlier on, doing badly and the back pages are all about Spurs whereas last season they were going unnoticed.

[meffin]

Still get me every time

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRllRTMU51s"]Rafa Benitez in tears at Hillsborough 22 memorial - YouTube[/ame]

[dww]

Fergie wasn't though, he had a few trusted journo's who he could rely on to seek his own agenda and quite a few followed suit. Those that did publish stuff that he didn't like often got kicked out, but the Sports editors kept apologising as covering United sold Newspapers and generated hits.

I think Rafa and Kenny had a few trusted journalists or at least supporters. I think Fergie's press conferences have always been as prickly as Kenny's were and he banned far more journalists and organizations. Having exceptions does not 'prove the rule' in the modern sense of the word prove.

Agree about the fact that editors don't care about the balance but only the revenue.

[Liverpool]

Possibly. It's a difficult one. Interesting topic though. I totally get why some of them, like Rafa and Kenny, have no time for the press and see it as nothing more than a pain in the arse that gets in the way of their real work. But at the same time as you rightly say, Rodgers and others pretty much charm the press and getting an easier ride from the press - as ridiculous as it is - is probably quite helpful.

I thought Rafa pitched it about right tbh, and unlike some I still absolutely stand by his 'facts' speech. He was correct in everything he said, not to mention the bollocks it took in standing up to Ferguson (and, in turn, his huge army of cronies). In retrospect I think Kenny was probably a bit too harsh and spiky with them.

I'm making my judgement on Rafa in hindsight, I was loving it at the time. But seeing the perception of other fans and media now seems preferable than having everyone out to get us.


Always Fergies stance on the media how did he manage to get to that level? Was he nice to begin with then gradually turned? Was the football media not really a big thing back when he started so could get away with it.

[G]

He was successful. You can say and do anything you want when you know you're untouchable at your club.

[Yozza]

Swansea v Napoli on live tonight

Amid all the controversy of sacking manager Michael Laudrup and their indifferent league form, Swansea face Italian giants Napoli.

New boss Garry Monk will get to pit his wits against Champions League winning manager Rafa Benitez , who is back on British shores.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea manager has star names such as Gonzalo Higuain and Pepe Reina at his disposal, making it a tough Europa League encounter for the Welsh side.

Watch Swansea v Napoli live on ITV and ITV.com from 7.45pm on ITV and ITV.com on Thursday 20 February