Rafael Benitez

[MikeO]

Well I guess we need a new thread then. Now he's here wish him all the best, be right behind him unless/until he gives me reason to not be.

[Zoo 2.0]

To summarise what I think (as I've done it to death in the other thread).

- Not my preferred choice, but at the top half of a bad bunch. Wouldn't be surprised if he's gone inside 18 months though.

- The banner outside his home made me want to get right behind him, so whereas I'm not jumping for joy wish him the very best. 

- Not excited about the new season, think the club is in a mess to put it bluntly but will still be there at Goodison Park for the opening day, being there through the shite makes the good (if it ever comes) all the more sweeter.

[Sibdane]

Surprised no one made shouts for Unsworth. Or did they, and I didn’t see it? 

[Sibdane]

Whether I like or Rafa or not, I do believe he is a professional and will try to do his best. I like to think he chose the wrong club before, and now he’s at a club where he’s been “chosen” (hopefully). 
 

[Sibdane]

Yep, sounds like Mohiri’s choice. 

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2181535/farhad-moshiri-why-we-wanted-rafa

[RuffRob]

Big welcome to Everton. 

I was very excited when Ancelotti came - and in the end he was a massive let down - and then some!!

I was not very enthusiastic when Bentiez was announced as the favourite for the job, but the more I have read about him then the head actually thinks he might be a good fit for us at this moment in time. 

I have no doubt he will work his socks off for us, he obviously has a deep affection for this city, and will have a good understanding already about us as a club. It will have be a massive decision for him to come here - given this City is his family home - this move is a risk for him as well. I genuinely believe he has come here for all the right reasons and thinks he can do good things with the club. 

I also think he and Brands can work well together scouring the continent for top young players (much better than Ancelotti bringing in the old guard of players he has worked with before!!).

I do hope, much like I have now done,  underline his Liverpool past and simply more on and concentrate on his Everton future and get behind him and the team.

I will remain positive and optimistic until I have reason to think otherwise. Given what I now know about Ancelotti, I think that maybe we should be more positive that somebody else (more in line with Brands) is actually at the helm this coming season.  I believe another year with Ancelotti could have been a disastrous for us, and we may have just had a lucky escape. #

Lets hope he gets a fair crack at the whip.

[Hafnia]

4 minutes ago, Sibdane said:

Yep, sounds like Mohiri’s choice. 

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2181535/farhad-moshiri-why-we-wanted-rafa

Wow.  Damage limitation exercise eh.....

I'm sure the interview process was very tough ..... "Impressed us with his football intelligence".... yeah but in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.  

 

 

•  

[Sibdane]

2 minutes ago, Hafnia said:

Wow.  Damage limitation exercise eh.....

I'm sure the interview process was very tough ..... "Impressed us with his football intelligence".... yeah but in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.  

 

 

•  

I have no doubt Moshiri wanted him before interviewing anyone. 

[London Blue]

Ultimately if he is a success who cares?

[Romey 1878]

No thank you.

[MikeO]

14 minutes ago, London Blue said:

Ultimately if he is a success who cares?

Liverpool fans.

[London Blue]

22 minutes ago, MikeO said:

Liverpool fans.

Never cared what they think (football wise), despite being related to two of them and married to another.

Although I will be saying that managing Liverpool was his apprenticeship.

[Hafnia]

Just watched his interview.... Comes across well I must say. 

[Gwlad]

He's here, he's our manager, let's crack on. He was my second choice after Conte but he has to get our season off to a flying start and I bet he knows it.

[Shukes]

It’s done now. He is here and I will be behind him. 
Watched his interview and it didn’t seem to be full of the usual bullshit…. Quite refreshing actually.

He really believes in himself, and at this level… you need to. This confidence could rub off on some of our players and get an extra 10% out of them. 
 

Rafa…. You tasted second best in this city, now try the best!

[MikeO]

13 minutes ago, Hafnia said:

Just watched his interview.... Comes across well I must say. 

 

[Hafnia]

7 minutes ago, Shukes said:

It’s done now. He is here and I will be behind him. 
Watched his interview and it didn’t seem to be full of the usual bullshit…. Quite refreshing actually.

He really believes in himself, and at this level… you need to. This confidence could rub off on some of our players and get an extra 10% out of them. 
 

Rafa…. You tasted second best in this city, now try the best!

It was almost as if the club and interviewer were giving him an ideal opportunity to go OTT about us and to address the elephant in the room. ...... To his credit he was more arsed about getting in and getting started and never went down the bullshit route. 

[London Blue]

Impressive interview, I am despite initial reservations positive about this.

[RuffRob]

He is definitely using the right words for me - proud, ambition, fight, compete, winning mentality, walk the walk- not talk, working hard, passion, commitment, giving everything.

If that is what he is expecting of himself, then we can be pretty sure the players will have nowhere to hide, as one thing is for sure Benitez is not afraid of upsetting players or even club owners if they are not on board and supporting this. I will give him one thing, he has never pussy footed around his employers (Hicks and Gillet or Ashley) if they are not properly behind a 'project' he will let them know, even if it cost him his job in the end!! He wants to compete and win.

 

[Zoo 2.0]

This statement speaks volumes to me, no "I had great conversations" or "I was really sold the minute I met him". Just a generic statement from the DOF which shows to me that this appointment has totally split the boardroom.

 

Won't end well this.

[Gwlad]

I liked him emphasising having a winning mentality - something that was sorely lacking in many of our players in several games in 2021.

[Cornish Steve]

Very disappointed, I must confess. Moshiri proved me wrong: I was convinced he would listen to his team. Let's see whether everyone falls in line with his direction.

My expectations are low, and I'm anticipating Sam 2.0. I'm not looking forward to our style of play (old dogs never learn new tricks) but hope it leads to success anyway. I wish him well, but I'm a realist. My prediction is six months before we're going through this cycle once again.

[Palfy]

1 hour ago, London Blue said:

Impressive interview, I am despite initial reservations positive about this.

Every Evertonian needs to have an open mind and give him and the team the backing it clearly needs. 

[RuffRob]

I am not sure why a lot of people think Brands and Benitez will not work well together or at least not better then Ancelotti and Brands - when Ancelotti's two signings where Allan and James both players pushing 30. 

Posted this before. Why wouldn't this manager work well alongside Brands? Sounds like two people signing from a similar hymn sheet. 

https://www.themag.co.uk/2019/11/rafa-benitez-sets-out-blueprint-for-growing-a-club-it-could-should-have-been-newcastle-united/

 

[Romey 1878]

Is he gone yet?  

[milky71]

Disgraceful appoint 

 

end of

[Wall Writer]

I think he came across well in the interview, said all the right things. 

Know let's see him walk the walk he talks and instill a winning mentality in the team.

If he doesn't then it'll be him that'll have to walk, alone! 

I wish him the best though. If he can bring the success he had with that other team, then I'm not sure many would be complaining. 

 

[Goodison Glory]

Not thrilled about the appointmen but I honestly think he will do well....though we have a low bar to clear thanks to last year. I don't think it is going to be anywhere near the shit show that was Allardyce (playing style or personality style)

Frankly most of us have had blue tinted glasses on at one time or another in the past 5 years relative to our managerial appointments. We were convinced one or more of those appointments were exactly what we needed at that time (and who can blame us). So for me a muted response this time is a refreshing change. Let's have the results do the talking (one way or the other)

I don't read too much into the interview. The club will have thought about "landmine questions" and said we have to be seen to ask you about these 5-6 things and answers will have been thought about in advance.

Like I've said in a prior post I am interested in our squad activity this year. It's not about splashing the cash as that hasn't worked in the past but I could see Moshri feeling the need to go big and make some investments - not a one player splash but really backing (his) manager (and screw FPP - slap on the wrist for first time offender)

[Wall Writer]

I will say this. I've supported Everton for over 25 years. 

At the beginning, we won the FA Cup and it was brilliant. Since then the Moyes era stands out. Outside the top 4 as it was then, we were pretty consistent in being the best of the rest. I was proud of them team then, competing on our shoestrings. 

Since then we've lost our way a lot, despite the investment. 

Also, in my time supporting Everton, managers have come, managers have gone, players have come and gone, some have stayed in our hearts and some have been forgotten. But Everton FC remains. A club with a rich history, a club that has been at the top table pretty much more than everyone, a club that 100% will have its glory days back. 

And no matter who's on the pitch, who's on the bench or who's in the dugout, as long as they give their all for the badge, we'll be behind them. 

And if they fail or if they succeed, it'll still be Everton I support. 

[Newty82]

To be honest guys, sorry to say, I feel flat. As I've said before, usually I'm well up for the new season and one of the more overly positive always see the good amongst us on here - with others too of course.

But all I can say is I feel flat and just nothing much at all at the moment.

Now this isn't purely because of Rafa. I think a big stinking pile of smelly reality has hit me after last seasons fall to 10th. We played shit most the season with one of the most decorated managers in the game. In recent weeks I've looked back over the last 5 years and realised how chaotic it's been. And it seems like we'll be paying for that for a few years to come as it doesn't feel like we can manoeuvre freely with transfers etc.

On Rafa. Well, maybe the reality of the options open to us where underwhelming. I'm not happy with this one. But, again, it's a statement of where we are as a club and how we are 'run'. That's the reality and we have to accept it.

If I'm honest, he came across well in his interviews. He made me feel less dubious. I also got a hint that this has been known for a lot longer than we imagine. There's a couple of clips in there that make me think this, one particular where he's talking about transfers and almost kind of realises what he's about to say and kind of holds back.

He needs to hit the floor running. Ancelotti did this and was afforded many shit performances afterwards. I think Rafa really can't afford any fuck ups in his early days and won't have the same leeway Ancelotti was given. However, like it or not, most of us footy fans are fickle and he can win us over.

Kind of glad I expect fuck all. Anything above mid table will be great now