Rafa Watch

[Scratch]

Quite a witty quote from the Telegraph...

Such was the high-speed, high-octane brilliance of Tottenham Hotspur last night that Rafa Benitez’s Inter Milan resembled an unsteady priest climbing a mountain of sugar in flip-flops.

[Fredo]

Quite a witty quote from the Telegraph...

Such was the high-speed, high-octane brilliance of Tottenham Hotspur last night that Rafa Benitez’s Inter Milan resembled an unsteady priest climbing a mountain of sugar in flip-flops.

Rather predictable cack and coming from Henry Winter, I wouldn't have expected anything else.

[Taxi]

To be fair, if Hodgson had let Bale run us ragged like that again in the second leg after the warnings from the first, he'd be getting stick, and rightly so.

[Scratch]

To be fair, if Hodgson had let Bale run us ragged like that again in the second leg after the warnings from the first, he'd be getting stick, and rightly so.

Was thinking that...what top notch manager would let a lad like Bale run free without a contigency plan to stop him, cos he is Spur's danger man? Especially after the warnings from the first match.

[Neil Young]

Was thinking that...what top notch manager would let a lad like Bale run free without a contigency plan to stop him, cos he is Spur's danger man? Especially after the warnings from the first match.

Are you really meaning to imply Rafa isn't a top notch manager?

[Chris]

Was thinking that...what top notch manager would let a lad like Bale run free without a contigency plan to stop him, cos he is Spur's danger man? Especially after the warnings from the first match.

By that logic Ferguson isnt a top manager because Torres rips them apart time and time again.

[Fredo]

Was thinking that...what top notch manager would let a lad like Bale run free without a contigency plan to stop him, cos he is Spur's danger man? Especially after the warnings from the first match.

Allegedly, Maicon is one of the 'best right backs in the world'. Do you mean that the Inter manager shouldn't have had trust in him dealing with Bale? Inter beat Spurs in the first leg, so it's irrelevant that Bale was 'running free' in that match - they still got beaten.

As for last night's showing, the reasons that Benitez gave for Inter's defeat had nothing to do with how good Bale was. He mentioned 'lack of physical intensity' (or something of that ilk) as their main problem, not that Bale 'ripped us to death', like the English press' sensationalist headlines seen today.

[Rich]

Inter trashed by Spurs? Must have been a different game to what I saw. Spurs were good value for the win and Bale is on fire at the moment but a weakened-through injury Inter were still pretty good.

[Fredo]

My original statement was deliberately worded to point out that Rafa made a glaring error in set-up, and to show that he isn't the infallible messiah that some on here make him out to be. It was intentionally done to highlight his, in my opinion, glaring mistake.

Mainly because some people and their self-rightous "Rafa is the greatest and anyone who doesn't see it knows nothing about football" attitude (not aimed at you) pissed me off and it's nice to be able to point out that he can make some pretty glaring errors.

I aint a Rafa hater...in fact, if you go back through my posts when the fella was in charge, i defended him on many occasion, even to the point of being accused or being in the RCDNW camp. But he's gone, and i don't think he should come back, cos i don't think he is the answer to our managerial problems.

As if you aren't 'self righteous' yourself with your sarcastic posts - maybe you haven't heard of the word hypocritical?

As for the last part of your post, the way you say that you were accused of defending Benitez to the point of being tagged in the RCDNW camp, I can remember you defending Roy Hodgson 4 or 5 weeks ago; does that mean that your opinions change like the changing tide and that you don't necessarily hold any personal views/beliefs yourself?

[Nick77]

My take on the game - yes Spurs played well & deserved to win but to be fair it was their Cup final so to speak. When last did they get to play the reigning European Champions in a competitive match? 30 yrs ago or something? Also if it wasn't for Bale there's no way in hell they would've won that game. Furthermore had they gave as much effort last night against the Mancs on the weekend they would have beaten them too...

[Fernandinho]

My take on the game - yes Spurs played well & deserved to win but to be fair it was their Cup final so to speak. When last did they get to play the reigning European Champions in a competitive match? 30 yrs ago or something? Also if it wasn't for Bale there's no way in hell they would've won that game. Furthermore had they gave as much effort last night against the Mancs on the weekend they would have beaten them too...

They played us in 2005/2006 season and played United in the 2008/2009 season

[Nick77]

They played us in 2005/2006 season and played United in the 2008/2009 season

Ok Continental reigning champions smart arse

[Fernandinho]

rafa

[Shaggy]

This thread is for people who like him and want to keep an eye on his progress, that's it. It's clear in the first post. Yet people still come here and post antagonistic stuff, peddling the same "I'll leave you to your worship" type crap.

[Zapater]

Rafa must be furious with Samuel as his individual error made them go a goal down, well played by Caracciolo though, class finish. Also like seeing Brecsia because of Diamanti as well, got a soft spot for him whenhe played for West Ham.

Call Rafa defensive look at this starting 11:

Maicon - Lucio - Samuel - Chivu
Coutinho - Zanetti - Sneijder - Pandev
Milito - Eto'o

It's been more through force due to the injuries than choice, but **** me that's an offensive team.