Rafa Benitez, Football Manager

tbf barca were combusting post-rivaldo/luis enrique and lol galacticos too busy being drunk and famous to be great

see i wasn't paying much attention to spain at the time. his signings are a good laugh generally.

he had a p good director of football at valencia iirc

"Benítez e' Fuori!" [Benítez is out] read the front page of this morning's Gazzetta dello Sport. The paper names Zenit St Petersburg manager Luciano Spalletti as favourite to replace Benítez, with former AC Milan manager Leonardo as an alternative.

"There are three possibilities for the club," said Benítez after the game. "One, 100 per cent support for the coach and buy four or five players to build a stronger team with competition among the players to be able to carry on winning matches and trophies.

"Two, carry on like this without a project, without planning, and go ahead with one person to blame, for the whole season. The third is to speak to my agent to reach an agreement if there is not this support. Simple."

Oh wow, just wow. If only he'd inherited a treble-winning squad or something, then he might not be in such a difficult position.

I wish I could remember what game it was, but earlier in the season was the first time I'd seen Coutinho and Inter were something like 4-0 up and rampant (I don't think it was against Spurs but it could've been). Coutinho was fabulous, trying all sorts of audacious things and having great fun, until Rafa came charging out to the edge of the technical area and started directing the lad around. He didn't have a clue what he was supposed to do and eventually ended up static somewhere at left midfield. He kept looking round for guidance, getting none and then shuffling forward or sideways five or six yards as if hoping that would make everything make sense. It was kind of heartbreaking.

sounds exactly like the spurs game

when this happens can we lock thread and declare me winner of all long-running hotly contested ilx footy debates pls

If Rafa does leave Inter, there are suggestions that the Italians will target England boss Fabio Capello which has obviously resulted in the British media suggesting that Roy Hodgson would be favourite to replace him.

KOPTALK sources claim that John Henry and Tom Werner have shortlisted Rafa as a possible candidate to take over from Hodgson - who will be replaced at the end of the season if not before - but we can't see that happening as things currently stand. Just because they haven't ruled him out (as yet) doesn't mean that they will seriously consider bringing him back.

Supposedly Rafa's daughter was reregistered at her old school on the Wirral a couple of weeks ago :/

just you darragh? team game iirc

that would be beyond hilarious

its too much

Roy to Inter, Capello to Liverpool, Rafa to England.

Capello to Inter, Moyes to England, Rafa to Everton

Rafa for England, Big Sam to Inter, that'd work too

Capello to Blackburn would be ;_;

rafa to sheffield united

'arry to Engerland, Rafa to Spurs.

rafa to newcastle, pardew to arsenal, wenger to barcelona

England opting for Hodgson over Redknapp has a ring of likelihood to it, especially given the first thing Hodgson would say upon getting the job would be "we have to be honest about the fact we are not one of the best teams in the world" which would be both true and A+++ trolling.

keane/staunton dream team for ingerlad, payback for big jack

Man, the tabloid response to that first Hodgson press conference would be brutal. The FA should just give Harry a life contract if that's the priority.

I think we can easily say that making fun of an unfortunate twitch is yes, the priority

MILAN - (ANSA) "Stay relaxed. I'm not going to speak today, I don't want to create arguments with anyone." These were the only comments spared by the Inter president Massimo Moratti for the journalists waiting outside the Saras offices. (ANSA)

"I have not been sacked. Many people that read the newspapers have called me up to ask me if I had been dismissed.

"It's not true, I am surprised that it has been reported as a done thing.

"I am currently on holiday to rest and then to begin again.

"For months I have heard and read things that are not true."

The Spaniard's rant following Inter's win on Saturday was not welcomed by Moratti but Benitez defended his position and even re-emphasised his desire for financial backing.

"The president (Moratti), with whom I had spoken prior to that press conference, had already left Abu Dhabi, and the only possibility was to publicly say something which was evident," said Benitez.

"I don't want to put the president under pressure, but I had spoken to him in the past about my project.

"My project was to include a series of useful players immediately as well as young players for the future.

"Moratti, with whom I have a correct and respectful relationship, liked it.

"The president has to take a decision regarding the line we want to follow.

"While I am here (at Inter) I will work in the best possible way in order for the team to continue to win.

"But in order to win and to do well it is necessary to bring in reinforcements.

"Injuries have hindered us and I don't want this to happen again.

"The transfer market begins soon and hence, this is the time to speak openly about acquisitions."

you shuff yer maaf you filfy caaah

Apparently his sacking has been confirmed by his daughter posting about it on Facebook. Obviously learnt nothing from the Konchesky family.

hodgson- this is not my mess
mourinho- benitez should thank me for world club cup

The demise of this man makes me smile.

Inter were fucking stupid in the first place, glad they didn't wait too long to sort their mistake.

dunno if paying him 3 yrs ridic wages to leave after 6 months is any kind of victory

that v. relegation and losing yr best players and bankruptcy

even i dont think he'd have gotten them relegated tbf. he'd def have kept them top 15.

well over his full contract obv

oh ya, def

this is like the most slow motion dismissal in history

just fucking get done with it

not his mo, rly

moratti basically said earlier that rafa would have got got long ago, but he's learned to be patient with managers

right attitude, wrong instance

god i feel so impatient

he's just sitting there with a .44, reading the complete works of petrarch to a fatally wounded benitez before administering the coup de grace

KILL KILL KILL

nah u got him all wrong, it's the last rites. this is where benitez absolves himself through ritual mantras before passing on.

kinda like the last year at liverpool what what

hodgson saying this isn't his mess is bullshit though. his tactics have sucked and he's full of shite.

http://www.joe.ie/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-has-been-sacked-confirmed-008166-1

I assume this is not Darragh and is kosher.

Oh wait, Sky Sports have caught up.

Moratti, asked if Rafa Benitez is still the Inter coach: "Yes, he is, at this precise moment"

Liverpool as a Christmas present then?

Has any other club reappointed a manager they sacked that quickly? I have a vague memory of someone recently (2-3 years) changing owners and bringing the same person back in <6 weeks but can't think who it was?

Seriously, why would Liverpool reappoint him?

NESV are already on record as saying he's #1 on their list as manager. If Roy was sacked he'd be theman they were after.

Or, an alternative reading, having told Roy today he's got nothing to spend in January (and reading his press conference this doesn't seem outlandish) they were only waiting on Rafa being available, which he now is.

They really said that? Truly I don't understand football. If it does happen, I hope he pays back the £6m at least.

That would require some honour.

Plus they've also said their priority is building on the reserve and youth teams. As is aid on the takeover saga thread

Players bought for the reserves/youth team under Benitez:

Antonio Barragan, Godwin Antwi, Bezian Idrizaj, Jack Hobbs, Miki Roque, Paul Anderson, Ryan Crowther, David Martin, Martin Hansen, Astrit Ajdarevic, Alex Cooper, Jordy Brouwer, Fransisco Duran, Ronald Huth, Andras Simon, Dean Bouzanis, Krisztian Nemeth, Ryan Babel, Daniel Pacheco, Sebastian Leto, Gary Stevens, Mikel San Jose, Daniel Sanchez Ayala, Garard Bruna, David Amoo, Damien Plessis, Emiliano Insua, Charles Itandje, Lauri Darra Valle, Vincent Weijl, Vitor Flora, Diego Cavalieri, Nikola Saric, Emmanuel Mendy, David N'Gog, Peter Gulacsi, Zsolt Poloskei, Christopher Buchtmann, Victor Plasson, Chris Mavinga and (arguably) Danny Wilson.

he's clearly got an eye for the young boys so seems tailor made for the job.

sorry, "I said"