Topic: An overdue tribute to Mr. Rafael Benitez

[cracka]

He was worshipped since Istanbul....can we really move on  my Rafites?

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

I really don't care what sly thinks, why should we pander to their wants??

Low!  Come back.  You've gone home to your fish supper but the fuckers are still biting.

[billypilgrimnz]

Overdue? Has it been more than 15 minutes since the last one?

[buchigo!]

He was worshipped since Istanbul....can we really move on  my Rafites?

Overdue? Has it been more than 15 minutes since the last one?

is it that boring under the bridge? maybe you two can move rocks or clean up the moss or something. jesus. man can't even get a proper thread from fans who simply miss him.

[Millie]

Thanks for that Garsonite -

Still haven't got over him going

[Lime Eye]

Part of our great history, thank you Rafael.

[Dr Cornwallis]

Right now it feels like 2004-2010 was just a dream, it feels like we're right back where we started.
It's testament to the job that Rafa did with us, can you believe what we did with him?  He almost won TWO champs league finals, we came 2nd in the league, we destroyed teams, we destroyed the mancs, we beat Chelsea in major games...

[SteveZissou]

Time travel:

Journalist to Rafael Benitez: Do you think you will keep your job if you WIN the Champions League but only finished 2nd or 3rd in the Premier League?

Remember the days when winning the Champions League wasn't good enough for Liverpool... when reaching the semi finals or quarter finals was taken for granted?

[Passmaster Molby]

Looking forward to watching his Inter side win their 2nd trophy under his tenure tonight - god I miss that goatee beard

[ABEDNEGO]

Remember the days when winning the Champions League wasn't good enough for Liverpool...

errrm no...

[SteveZissou]

errrm no...

You should have read a newspaper in England.

[Trousers]

errrm no...

I don't suppose you remember the grief he got for having the temerity to reach his second CL final either.

[nocturnalvin]

In the telecast against Trab, the line up ..... Manager : Rafael Benitez.

not sure if anyone spotted.

[Shabby]

In the telecast against Trab, the line up ..... Manager : Rafael Benitez.

not sure if anyone spotted.

Ye, I noticed that too.

[DangerScouse]

In the telecast against Trab, the line up ..... Manager : Rafael Benitez.

not sure if anyone spotted.

It was on Setanta alright, i'd give my right arm for Rafa to be still in charge.

[ABEDNEGO]

Just seen Rafa on tv, strange seeing him in someone elses dugout!

Cant help thinking after the last 2 or 3 years working at our shambles of a club, taking on another massive job so soon was a mistake for him, would have liked to seen him take some time off with his family.

[GeneticRed]

Just seen Rafa on tv, strange seeing him in someone elses dugout!

Cant help thinking after the last 2 or 3 years working at our shambles of a club, taking on another massive job so soon was a mistake for him, would have liked to seen him take some time off with his family.

I felt the exactly the same. Especially following on from the success they had there last season when they were invincible. It made me feel that he should have some time off and recuperate before going back into football. Recharge the batteries.

[Sammy5IsAlive]

I was going through some old tapes the other day in my latest attempt to convert all of my old VHS collection into DVD format. Some home movies, plenty of Match of the Days and the odd film. As the task grew tiresome, I came across one in particular that I simply couldn’t fast forward through or throw away....

/quote]

I agree with the sentiment behind this post 100%. In particular the fact that all football matters aside Rafa is a decent man who not only behaved with dignity but with real courage in calling out the owners, way before the vast majority of the fanbase had realised the situation we were in (as well as in saying what everyone else is thinking about Ferguson, to the predictable media onslaught about his 'rant'). Whenever Rafa came onto the television screen or gave an interview he demanded my undivided attention and the vast majority of the time I would be mentally nodding along with him with a real sense of faith in what he was trying to achieve. The way that we handled his departure was unforgivable.

I would voice a 'however...' though. I don't want to take away from the above sentiment and if this isn't the place to bring it up then I apologise. But for me something had to give at the end of last season. There were so many games where the players were palpably disillusioned and did not seem to be motivated to play for the manager. The only way that there could be progress with Rafa in charge for me would have been a root and branch overhaul of the team. In particular that meant selling Gerrard and dropping Carragher. And I'm not sure whether Rafa had achieved enough to have been able to carry such a reform with the fanbase. In particular in his last two years his performance in the transfer market had been questionable. Keane was a disaster. He fell out with the heartbeat of the team and then replaced him with an injury plagued player who then spent most of the season injured. That is without mention the Dossena/Degan signings, neither of which worked out.

I didn't agree with the decision to essentially back the players over Rafa. I believe that a great deal of the problems that affected us last season had their root in the fact that the money that we brought in from Keane and Alonso disappeared into a black hole of debt. But I think that it is important that we don't forget that last season the team that had finished 2nd the season before (minus Alonso, whose departure was for me Rafa's biggest mistake) ended up finishing 7th and knocked out out the CL at the group stage and had looked disinterested for a worrying amount of the season. Something had gone wrong between Rafa and the players. For me, on paper, the board backed the wrong horse. But I don't feel that Rafa was blameless.

[FOWgamR]

I felt the exactly the same. Especially following on from the success they had there last season when they were invincible. It made me feel that he should have some time off and recuperate before going back into football. Recharge the batteries.

Yeh Sadly for Rafa the best he can hope for is to equal Mourinho's achievements of last season, and I think that's unlikely.

[Dubai_Red]

I am so glad to see that there are others out there that feel exactly the same way as me. I feel that with Rafa gone in the manner he has, a part of my affiliation with the club has gone.

Yes, the club will go on, but this isn't the same club anymore. This isn't the club whose values I share. This season, I am completely disinterested and, sadly Roy isn't fit enough to lace Rafas boots!

Rafa YNWA!!!

[Ski]

Was ready feeling quite emotional having seen Rafa earlier during the game and thinking how wrong he looked ina blue suit and tie and now just read this.

What with the news, albeit inevitable, that one of our best loved players of recent times, Masher, is actually going too its just been one of those days. Most days i've cursed the owners but today i've spent the whole day cursing them.

Look where we were and look where we are now. My heart is breaking you c$$ts!!

[rafa4sure]

It was on Setanta alright, i'd give my right arm for Rafa to be still in charge.

I wouldn't want him back to be honest. I hope he's successful and happy at Inter and beyond. The media have, and it seems, forever will have the knives out for Rafa. Typical Rafa-bashing from SlySports tonight by Alan Smith and the main commentator, belittling him, with what he said about Mourinho. Like a nice little double act they were. Rafa is a gentleman, he deserves better, and to be honest, the shithouses at Sly and beyond can go fuck themselves. If I was Rafa I would refuse to do any interviews with the English press, or if he is gonna, then only in his native tongue. Just hope the guy is happy, and wish him all the best.

[Kennys Right Boot]

Its not a question of whether you´d have him back, if we´d had proper owners within a settled club he would never have had left.

[Sammy5IsAlive]

I wouldn't want him back to be honest. I hope he's successful and happy at Inter and beyond. The media have, and it seems, forever will have the knives out for Rafa. Typical Rafa-bashing from SlySports tonight by Alan Smith and the main commentator, belittling him, with what he said about Mourinho. Like a nice little double act they were. Rafa is a gentleman, he deserves better, and to be honest, the shithouses at Sly and beyond can go fuck themselves. If I was Rafa I would refuse to do any interviews with the English press, or if he is gonna, then only in his native tongue. Just hope the guy is happy, and wish him all the best.

God knows what Benitez did to get him so badly into the English media's bad books. Couldn't believe it when I heard some of the commentary tonight.

[Fanxxxxtastic]

Thanks for a wonderful tribute to Rafa Garstonite.

I've not forgotten him.  I'm still not over him. 

The more that I see what's happening to this club, the more I get depressed that he's gone.

[rusty-la]

Great op Garstonite

But theres loads on here who think he designed our Titanic and according to them all todays problems are his fault.

I tell yer.... a few years of falling (were well on the way now) and there'll be loads on here wishing we had him back.
,
in a few years History will remind us how good he really was. 

I support Roy, he ours now.  But i fkin love Rafa.

[Red_Isle_Chap]

Well, just when i thought i was over the whole thing and moved on, today happens.

Was a bit gutted to read about Atletico's win in the super cup, but didn't think much more of it. Then i was in the audio/video thread and watched Tintin's video entry to MKB's competition, and watched it with a sadness in my heart if i'm honest.

So to get over it I decided to go and deal with a weed that i'd left so long down by the driveway, it had developed a bark and was more like a tree (I kid you not). Sorted the fucker out and realised I hadn't checked the post box today. Sat inside, only delievered today, was a hand written thank you card from Rafa. (Once i've got a working camera i'll happily post a pic to show i'm not a lying shit)

I'd sent him a letter about a day after he'd left us. Seen from a few other people that they'd got cards, but wasn't expecting one out here to NZ. It's sat proudly on top of bookshelf and I can't really believe that he took the time to handwrite me, a simple pleb out in bumblefuckland, New Zealand, a thank you card. I can honestly say that i'm very moved and very touched that he took the time and the effort.

But here's the thing. If any of you ever think that we're not utterly fucked financially, read on. Inside the card he'd dated it. 20/06/10. On the back of the envelope there was a massive sticker saying "The poster didn't pay enough for Par avion mail, so it had to be directed somewhere else first and this will have caused the delay" We're so poor that he couldn't even pay enough postage to get it here by normal mail (usually about 7 working days)!

Make of that what you will!

Cheers Rafa mate, best of luck to you again and thanks for all the amazing memories!

[rafa4sure]

Was nice to read that, thanks.

I was hoping for an Inter win also, for his career to get off to a good start. Had SoccerAM on in the background this morning, and they were talking about the Champions League draw with this Spurs fan. He said it didn't look too bad a group, laughed and said Inter wouldn't be a problem, because Rafa was there! Everyone just accepted the comment. I imagine that anyone who goes to work for Sly is taken into a darkened room, strapped to a chair, eye-lids held open, and a video of propaganda is streamed from a projector onto the opposite wall about Rafa, à la "A Clockwork Orange"! Or something a little more sophisticated. The more I watch the media, the more I am reminded of George Orwell's nightmare world of "1984". The lies accepted as truth, the re-writting of history, the Proles accepting whatever the telescreens tell them. I'm exaggerating for effect, but you get my point.

[domhawke]

It may be the case that at Inter he knows he can identify a player and trust the Chairman and technical Director to honour the amount of cash he has been allocated and to conduct the negotiations professionally and quickly.
Therefore he can get on with what he does best, which we all know is preparing and coaching his team.

True enough, posted it in the heat of the moment without hearing the interview. Thought it was a good talking point though and just shows how bad the structure of our club is/was when it comes to negotiating transfers

[ABEDNEGO]

True enough, posted it in the heat of the moment without hearing the interview. Thought it was a good talking point though and just shows how bad the structure of our club is/was when it comes to negotiating transfers

You think Inter have bought the players Rafa has identified then? More so than Liverpool?

[RedinExile]

Dearly hope Inter thrash the shite out of Spurs, then Arsenal, then Chelsea, and utterly destroy the Mancs. And Real.

[Guz-kop]

Goatee changed everything.

[Danny_]

He'll only be appreciated in hindsight.  Give Rafa the money that Chelsea/City/Scum have and he would walk the league.  Our loss is Inter's gain.  I hope he does well for them.

[BigMac]

Got to laugh at some of the comments in this thread, it really is Rafa FC for some of you guys.   

I thank Rafa for what he achieved here but its time to move on and give Roy the chance to resurrect a poorly balanced squad that had stopped performing for Rafa.

[Hazell]

Got to laugh at some of the comments in this thread, it really is Rafa FC for some of you guys.   

I thank Rafa for what he achieved here but its time to move on and give Roy the chance to resurrect a poorly balanced squad that had stopped performing for Rafa.

So you come into a thread titled 'An overdue tribute to Mr. Rafael Benitez' and you start to criticize him? Well done.

[Phil M]

Got to laugh at some of the comments in this thread, it really is Rafa FC for some of you guys.   

I thank Rafa for what he achieved here but its time to move on and give Roy the chance to resurrect a poorly balanced squad that had stopped performing for Rafa.

It's a tribute thread to what he did for us. Not that hard to comprehend is it?

[RedinExile]

Got to laugh at some of the comments in this thread, it really is Rafa FC for some of you guys.   

I thank Rafa for what he achieved here but its time to move on and give Roy the chance to resurrect a poorly balanced squad that had stopped performing for Rafa.

We are weaker without Rafa in lots of ways. I can also applaud Rafa and lament his departure while wishing Roy all the best. Those who don't appreciate what we've lost have a tiny IQ.

The issue is that they stopped performing yes, but if the reason for that is not Rafa but that the club is poisonous to the core, then we will underperform again and also have a weaker manager in charge.

If his continuing applause gets on your nerves, that's simply an added benefit.

[Skuzzlebutt]

He's going to have to problems at Inter I think.  There's already a war of words with him and Maureen in the press.  It's shades of the Damned United with Clough.  I just hope the players don't turn on him, and he has a good crack at the job.

[coolfire]

Aw fark, making me cry all over again. Dang it.

Rafa. The one who made us believe. Who let us dream again.

Hate to say this, but here's to people who will appreciate you more, Rafa.

[BigMac]

We are weaker without Rafa in lots of ways. I can also applaud Rafa and lament his departure while wishing Roy all the best. Those who don't appreciate what we've lost have a tiny IQ.

The issue is that they stopped performing yes, but if the reason for that is not Rafa but that the club is poisonous to the core, then we will underperform again and also have a weaker manager in charge.

If his continuing applause gets on your nerves, that's simply an added benefit.

Get on my nerves?   Im not the one who thinks we've lost a managerial genius who could do no wrong.