Rafa Watch

[Alex]

It’s a weird how some of the better coaches of their time didn’t adapt and couldn’t keep going at the top level. If you compare Rafa, Jose and Ancelotti who are all around the same age and how they have gone. Ancelotti did it before those two and after while Jose hung around a bit longer than Rafa but wasn’t anywhere as successful as he was at the start of his career. Both Rafa and Jose were probably more defensive minded managers, I wonder if that attitude limited their ability or willingness to adapt.

All had different strengths at their peak though? Out of all of those, Ancelotti is known as a better man manager and has the ability to make all egos pull in the same direction.

Something Rafa and Jose could never do.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I would say he did really good job at Newcastle given he had no budget and kept them in the league. Possibly laid the foundation for some of the success Howe is having despite Bruce trying his best to sabotage it. He did a fair job at Napoli too.

Never got a fair go at Madrid and the Everton job was doomed from the get go. I think it's hard to say he's done that badly since he's left us, just had a few poor decisions, particularly Everton. Apart from the Madrid job, he hasn't really had any resources at any club, although I believe he should have done much better with Celta.

In terms of elite managers like Rafa and Mourinho not fitting in as well, it must be something to do with their communication styles not fitting into the current generation of players. I find it impossible to believe that them and their extensive teams cannot keep up with the times from adapting what served them well to work in the current game. It is interesting that a manager like Ancelotti who apparently backs his players to 'find solutions on the pitch' more than controlling every minor detail on the pitch has managed to attain better longevity across leagues and counties more so than the old school tactician and disciplinarian type. I also think that they are built for chasing honours near the top rather than midtable management. Imagine giving Pep the Newcastle or Celta job and asking him to play his football, it'd be disastrous.

I wonder how Trapattoni would get on today. I consider him possibly the best given his track record abroad.

And yet, in the case of both, results at a number of clubs says otherwise.



Think the big difference between Ancelotti and Rafa/Mourinho is that the former adapts his systems and set ups to get the best out of the players he has at any given time and changes his set ups to suit the squad he has, the latter pair seem to try to make the players fit a preconceived system or set up.


Look at how Rafa used to set us up and then try to find an elite or supposed elite manager of nowadays that tries to do similar.

The two guys that come the closest imo in terms of being that conservative tactically would be Tuchel and Simeone. Tuchel's set ups are basically taking what Klopp does but removing the attacking impetus from it.

[Zapater]

I would say he did really good job at Newcastle given he had no budget and kept them in the league. Possibly laid the foundation for some of the success Howe is having despite Bruce trying his best to sabotage it. He did a fair job at Napoli too.

Never got a fair go at Madrid and the Everton job was doomed from the get go. I think it's hard to say he's done that badly since he's left us, just had a few poor decisions, particularly Everton. Apart from the Madrid job, he hasn't really had any resources at any club, although I believe he should have done much better with Celta.

In terms of elite managers like Rafa and Mourinho not fitting in as well, it must be something to do with their communication styles not fitting into the current generation of players. I find it impossible to believe that them and their extensive teams cannot keep up with the times from adapting what served them well to work in the current game. It is interesting that a manager like Ancelotti who apparently backs his players to 'find solutions on the pitch' more than controlling every minor detail on the pitch has managed to attain better longevity across leagues and counties more so than the old school tactician and disciplinarian type. I also think that they are built for chasing honours near the top rather than midtable management. Imagine giving Pep the Newcastle or Celta job and asking him to play his football, it'd be disastrous.

I wonder how Trapattoni would get on today. I consider him possibly the best given his track record abroad.

[RedReet]

God no.


Rafa had his time and with us it was great, but no thank you to even the idea of him in any hands on role for the club again.


Him as a club ambassador or similar would be a no brainer imo though.

T'was a joke. One I can't remember writing, but a joke all the same.

No way would Edwards make the dream team.

[peterbread]

It’s a weird how some of the better coaches of their time didn’t adapt and couldn’t keep going at the top level. If you compare Rafa, Jose and Ancelotti who are all around the same age and how they have gone. Ancelotti did it before those two and after while Jose hung around a bit longer than Rafa but wasn’t anywhere as successful as he was at the start of his career. Both Rafa and Jose were probably more defensive minded managers, I wonder if that attitude limited their ability or willingness to adapt.

[Le Chef]

God no.


Rafa had his time and with us it was great, but no thank you to even the idea of him in any hands on role for the club again.


Him as a club ambassador or similar would be a no brainer imo though.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Rafa and Edwards. The dream team.

God no.


Rafa had his time and with us it was great, but no thank you to even the idea of him in any hands on role for the club again.


Him as a club ambassador or similar would be a no brainer imo though.

[RedReet]

Rafa and Edwards. The dream team.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I’d take him as Ireland manager

Feck sake I would take you as the next manager of Ireland.



Would not say no to Rafa either though.


Not sure what it was with Rafa but from a young (well in terms of manager ages anyway) he seemed he either could not or would not adapt to the modern game.


Mourinho seemed to be similar though Mourinho operated at a higher level for much longer than Rafa.


Mad that Rafa is only 63 but he basically spent the last decade being a journeyman manager who for the most part got you the sort of results one would expect of a journeyman manager.


Not including managing B teams, he has managed at 14 clubs, 8 of those since leaving us in 2010.



Main thing for us though is that we got the best version of him (as did Valencia to be fair) and we got to experience him burning bright.

[Irishnev]

I’d take him as Ireland manager

[Angryred]

Rafa was a great manager for us and Valencia but it feels like the game has moved beyond him and he has been left behind. I know he has taken some difficult jobs, but none seem to have worked out for him

Yeah, he should take the hint & do some punditry work or FIFA. He might do some good as an international manager somewhere...Wouldn't mind him for Ireland as has still got some pedigree rather than the gross we have been linked with!! ****ing Coleman & Lennon...do me a favour!!

[Exiled_red]

Rafa was a great manager for us and Valencia but it feels like the game has moved beyond him and he has been left behind. I know he has taken some difficult jobs, but none seem to have worked out for him

[Angryred]

He’s been sacked by Celta Vigo. They’re currently fourth from bottom, two points above the relegation zone.

Was he still looking for that sofa & they got him the food tray instead?

[Buzzo]

Feels like this thread is one for the Ex players and legends thread.

[Kenneth]

He’s been sacked by Celta Vigo. They’re currently fourth from bottom, two points above the relegation zone.