Rafa Watch

[Roboklopp]

I just never seen Rafa and Real Madrid as a good fit. Rafa is cautious, meticulous & likes a solid setup. Madrid fans will hate that and the boys upstairs want everything and more. They want to win trophies but they want to win big,flamboyant, score lots of goals, excitement blah blah blah.

It certainly will be interesting if Rafa can sort out their dreadful defence & keep that attacking flair going. If results don't go as planned early in the season.... you can imagine the reaction. Curious to know what the Madrid fans think of this appointment?

Haven't you just told us?

[Doc_Piptorious]

The 2nd stat is Ancelotti's record, got mixed up

Still, Real's relative lack of domestic success since around the turn of the century is quite amazing.

2 Copa Del Reys since 1993

And last year's CL win was their first since 2002.

Your first stat of them winning La Liga once in the past seven years is wrong as well

They have won La Liga twice in the past seven years and three times in the past eight years.

[red g]

Good Luck Rafa, You will need it

Real Madrid vice-president Eduardo Fernandez de Blas has accidentally let slip at the meeting of a fans' group that Rafa Benitez will be the new club coach.

Benitez will leave Napoli at the end of the season and has been hotly tipped to take over from Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu.

Real have yet to name Ancelotti's successor but an offhand comment during a club event on Saturday evening appears to have confirmed the former Liverpool manager's arrival.

"Ancelotti is an absolute phenomenon and we give him all our appreciation," Fernandez de Blas told the Madrid members' group.

"Until three days ago he was the best trainer in the world as two years ago it was Jose Mourinho and from this week onwards it will be Rafa Benitez. "

Italian Ancelotti was dismissed a year after he ended 12 years of Champions League failure and led Real to a record-extending 10th European crown, as well as a Copa del Rey triumph.

Former Liverpool and Chelsea boss Benitez, who once had a stint as a Real youth team coach, is expected by local media to be named on Wednesday as the new man at the helm.

[danperkins]

Madrid managers job is a volatile position, should be interesting.

[topscorer]

One or two seasons at the most and I'm sure he knows it. But it's his home club, he's got to take it if he has the chance.

[danperkins]

Yeah no manager would turn down that job, even if they know it's always a short term gig.

[Chris]

Even when he scores 2 Higuain still manages to enhance his reputation as one of the biggest choke artists in world sport, bless him.

[danperkins]

25 Goals & 10 Assists (2014-15)
24 Goals & 11 Assists (2013-14)
19 Goals & 8 Assists (2012-13)
27 Goals & 9 Assists (2011-12)
13 Goals & 6 Assists (2010-11)
29 Goals & 6 Assists (2009-10)
23 Goals & 9 Assists (2008-09)

Gonzalo Higuain Choke Artist

[Chazza]

[Chris]

[Daniel 7]

Short term job before Liverpool, maybe...

[Roboklopp]

Mr Bellend.

[Doc_Piptorious]

25 Goals & 10 Assists (2014-15)
24 Goals & 11 Assists (2013-14)
19 Goals & 8 Assists (2012-13)
27 Goals & 9 Assists (2011-12)
13 Goals & 6 Assists (2010-11)
29 Goals & 6 Assists (2009-10)
23 Goals & 9 Assists (2008-09)

Gonzalo Higuain Choke Artist

Very consistent player alright. He actually scored a couple goals more than what you listed there if his wiki page is correct.

His assist rate is more impressive than I expected it to be.

[danperkins]

Very consistent player alright. He actually scored a couple goals more than what you listed there if his wiki page is correct.

His assist rate is more impressive than I expected it to be.

yeah he's a great player alright, surprising how consistently he's been scoring for years now.

Very underrated IMO & I didn't think he got that many assists myself. Always seen as a poacher type.

[BigChief]

Ok, treading controversial waters here (again) but does anyone think Rafa will be anything other than an abject failure at Real Madrid?

I think Rafa is a decent manager but he is punching so far above his weight (ahem) that its going to be a one sided battering and we should just throw in the towel now before he gets really hurt.