Rafa Watch

[Daniel 7]

Fergie picked his battles though, for example as soon as Roy Keane out lived his usefulness he was out the door, Ince similar. He put up with Ronaldos preening bull**** too cos he was too good not to.

You have a point to a degree, but he did pick a fight with those horse owners that didn't exactly go down well.

[BigChief]

You have a point to a degree, but he did pick a fight with those horse owners that didn't exactly go down well.

And fcked off Stam when he as an absolute beast. Stam left and opened the way for Wenger's babies to become 'invincibles' unchallenged for a while. That was remedied with Ferdinand but imagine how much more Demento could have won if he was more careful.

[Muddled]

Those exploits, though, have not exempted Ronaldo from Benitez's attempt to “re-educate” Madrid's squad. Never more than a lower-division defender during his own playing career, Benitez is said to have sought to school individuals as technically gifted as Ronaldo and Luka Modric beyond tactical matters, even instructing them as to how they should play a ball. The coach's defensive approach is also unpopular with some players, who believe it is poorly matched to Madrid's squad and places them under unnecessary additional pressure from the notoriously demanding home crowd.

LINK: Full Article

That remark about being a 'lower-division defender' really helps hammer home his point.

[Chazza]

Duncan Castles is a massive Mourinho loving cunt.

[Chris]

They've played a player who should be banned apparently in the cup tonight. This will be interesting!

[baitman]

They've played a player who should be banned apparently in the cup tonight. This will be interesting!

i wonder if it was at the 'request' of el presidente

[Liverpel]

They've played a player who should be banned apparently in the cup tonight. This will be interesting!

Real Madrid could face disqualification from the Copa del Rey after appearing to field an ineligible player in their 3-1 fourth-round victory over Cadiz on Wednesday night.

Denis Cheryshev had given Rafael Benítez’s side the lead at the Ramón de Carranza but the Russia international had a one-game ban hanging over his head.

The 24-year-old had picked up three yellow cards during the competition with former club Villarreal last season and this was the first opportunity the winger had to serve the accompanying ban.

But, with Benítez making a host of changes, Cheryshev’s ban was overlooked as he started against the third-tier side.

Cheryshev, who scored after three minutes against Cadiz, was taken off just after half-time by Real manager Rafa Benítez, after the Cadiz fans had spent much of the first half chanting “Benitez, look at your Twitter,” and “Cheryshev can’t play”.


“We had no idea that Cheryshev was ineligible to play,” said the manager after the game. “No-one informed us of this situation.As soon as we were aware we took him off.”

A double from Isco secured victory for the 19-time Copa del Rey winners, with Kike Márquez scoring a late consolation for the hosts.

Cadiz would have to report the situation to the Spanish Football Federation on Thursday and the club’s Twitter feed, Cadiz-CF, said during the game: “The Board of Directors of Cadiz-CF will meet at the end of the match.”

Last season Osasuna were kicked out of the tournament for playing an ineligible player as Unai García was selected in the win over Mirandes despite being sent off the previous year.

Benítez was manager of Valencia when they were disqualified from the Copa del Rey having played too many non-EU players during a tie against Novelda in 2001.

Benítez saw his side take the lead in the third minute on Wednesday as Cheryshev arrowed home a left-footed drive after a smart pass from James Rodríguez.

Lolo Pla and Wilson Cuero came close to equalisers for the third-tier outfit as they looked to hit back quickly.

Cheryshev then passed up the chance to add a second with Rodríguez unable to turn home Alvaro Arbeloa’s pass as Madrid went in one ahead at the interval.

Mateo Kovacic then came on for Cheryshev just after the start of the second-half but the inclusion of the player in the starting line-up could result in Real’s expulsion from the competition.

Madrid made sure of victory on the night as Isco struck twice, grabbing his first with a well-taken effort on 65 minutes and putting the visitors further ahead nine minutes later after more smart work from Rodriguez.

Substitute Márquez reduced the arrears with two minutes remaining but it remains unclear who will advance into the fifth round.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/dec/02/real-madrid-copa-del-rey-expulsion-ineligible-player

[Kenneth]

“Benitez, look at your Twitter,”

[Vermilion]

Lots of clubs have done this, usually being fined for it.

[redmike65]

Cadiz have made their complaint.

[SK]

FFS how does this even happen, i used to administrate about 8 years ago in my local club, which was at the 5th tier of slovenian football, and even we had a program linked to the national FA's database, with which we registered players for every match, and if a player had a ban there was no way he was even on the bench let alone play, how the **** does this then happen to real madrid?

[Buzzo]

Surely it's a Real admin issue, and not Rafas fault anyway?

[Vermilion]

It's something to do with a ban carried over from last season when he played at his last club ?

[nineteen]

Surely it's a Real admin issue, and not Rafas fault anyway?

The haters are hardly likely to let such a small point get in the way of crucifying Rafa.

[redmike65]

FFS how does this even happen, i used to administrate about 8 years ago in my local club, which was at the 5th tier of slovenian football, and even we had a program linked to the national FA's database, with which we registered players for every match, and if a player had a ban there was no way he was even on the bench let alone play, how the **** does this then happen to real madrid?

Apparently they don't have a proper football admin figure, which I find hard to believe.