Rafael Benítez

[johnson]

Seriously?

You are trying your best to twist this, but he took you to the f***ing championship, you are an embarrassment of a club and I wish you would fuck off from the forum quite frankly

So to summarise . . . the mags are keen to hold onto a manager with no proven ability at Championship level, utilising a group of players also with no proven ability at Championship level, in the hope that this will enable them to make an immediate return to the Premier League, the league where that same group of players have already proven themselves to be wholly ineffective.

I don't see any problems with that plan at all.

The only thing in his favour is the fans will stick with him, that has little impact in the top league, but in the championship it counts for a lot, some awful sides down there.

 

[smixsell]

Rafa has finally settled at his proper depth in the English Championship.

 

[G Force]

Talking about keeping your best players, who are they? If the likes of Wijnaldum, Sissoko, Tiote, Janmaat couldn't give a fuck in the premiership, what would they be like in the Championship

Benitez will make you a decent solid Championship team next season. And all for £5m a year...

 

[Sima]

A manager that has won a Champions League, La Liga titles alongside other honours will get us mid-table in The Championship?

I've watched The Championship this season and the standard is massively overrated. Joey Barton is one of the best players in the division and he's total wank.

Keep the likes of Shelvey, Perez (doubtful), Krul, Mbemba and Lascelles and I think we'll be just fine. Moreso if Benitez manages to persuade Townsend to stay on for another year. Players dropping down a level for what could possibly only be a year isn't unheard of, look at the likes of Buffon, Trezeguet, Del Piero and Nedved. I'm obviously not saying Townsend is that level (he's nowhere near), merely using it as an example.

Even the little ginger shithouse himself will probably find his level.

 

[G Force]

A manager that has won a Champions League, La Liga titles alongside other honours will get us mid-table in The Championship?

I've watched The Championship this season and the standard is massively overrated. Joey Barton is one of the best players in the division and he's total wank.

Keep the likes of Shelvey, Perez (doubtful), Krul, Mbemba and Lascelles and I think we'll be just fine. Moreso if Benitez manages to persuade Townsend to stay on for another year. Players dropping down a level for what could possibly only be a year isn't unheard of, look at the likes of Buffon, Trezeguet, Del Piero and Nedved. I'm obviously not saying Townsend is that level (he's nowhere near), merely using it as an example.

Even the little ginger shithouse himself will probably find his level.

Which players do you think you'll hold onto?

 

[Nelson!]

A manager that has won a Champions League, La Liga titles alongside other honours will get us mid-table in The Championship?

I've watched The Championship this season and the standard is massively overrated. Joey Barton is one of the best players in the division and he's total wank.

Keep the likes of Shelvey, Perez (doubtful), Krul, Mbemba and Lascelles and I think we'll be just fine. Moreso if Benitez manages to persuade Townsend to stay on for another year. Players dropping down a level for what could possibly only be a year isn't unheard of, look at the likes of Buffon, Trezeguet, Del Piero and Nedved. I'm obviously not saying Townsend is that level (he's nowhere near), merely using it as an example.

Even the little ginger shithouse himself will probably find his level.

Those players did it at Juventus under unusual circumstances. You are not Juve and you were relegated because you are shit plain and simple.

The delusion continues.

 

[Bear]

A manager that has won a Champions League, La Liga titles alongside other honours will get us mid-table in The Championship?

I've watched The Championship this season and the standard is massively overrated. Joey Barton is one of the best players in the division and he's total wank.

Keep the likes of Shelvey, Perez (doubtful), Krul, Mbemba and Lascelles and I think we'll be just fine. Moreso if Benitez manages to persuade Townsend to stay on for another year. Players dropping down a level for what could possibly only be a year isn't unheard of, look at the likes of Buffon, Trezeguet, Del Piero and Nedved. I'm obviously not saying Townsend is that level (he's nowhere near), merely using it as an example.

Even the little ginger shithouse himself will probably find his level.

Should just hand you's the championship trophy now reading this

 

[Sima]

Those players did it at Juventus under unusual circumstances. You are not Juve and you were relegated because you are shit plain and simple.

The delusion continues.

No one will want any of our players then if they are shit. Win-win.

Which players do you think you'll hold onto?

The ones in the first section (possibly not Perez).

Townsend will be very difficult due to the rumoured release clause. We have Adam Armstrong coming back from a successful loan spell albeit in League One.

Massive bonus if we can get Aarons on a new deal this summer as well.

Should just hand you's the championship trophy now reading this

Would save the inevitable 46-0-0 I guess.

 

[G Force]

The ones in the first section (possibly not Perez).

Townsend will be very difficult due to the rumoured release clause. We have Adam Armstrong coming back from a successful loan spell albeit in League One.

Massive bonus if we can get Aarons on a new deal this summer as well.



Would save the inevitable 46-0-0 I guess.

So about 7 players then? Rafa is good!

 

[Nelson!]

No one will want any of our players then if they are shit. Win-win

The clubs in proper leagues will pick over the bones for anything half decent. You'll be stuck with the worst of the worst.

I suppose Juve of the North is relative humility for your lot as you thought you were Barca a few years ago.

So about 7 players then? Rafa is good!

They're the first team ever to get relegated and become more arrogant. Hope they get shoeing after shoeing as the stars who beat spurs revert to type and they end up mid table at best.

 

[Sima]

So about 7 players then? Rafa is good!

Aye, only those seven players I have mentioned.

I'd be confident of this team getting promoted next season

Krul
Mbabu/Anita
Lascelles
Mbemba
Dummett
Colback
Shelvey
Townsend
Perez
Aarons
Mitrovic/Armstrong

We might need a bit of steel in midfield instead of Colback.

Obviously a few of those will more than likely leave but even keeping 6/7 of those will put us in good stead.

The clubs in proper leagues will pick over the bones for anything half decent. You'll be stuck with the worst of the worst.

I suppose Juve of the North is relative humility for your lot as you thought you were Barca a few years ago

They're the first team ever to get relegated and become more arrogant. Hope they get shoeing after shoeing as the stars who beat spurs revert to type and they end up mid table at best.

Hull managed to keep hold of some of their decent players this season, no reason why we can't do the same.

They are shit, after all.

The clubs in proper leagues will pick over the bones for anything half decent. You'll be stuck with the worst of the worst.

I suppose Juve of the North is relative humility for your lot as you thought you were Barca a few years ago.



They're the first team ever to get relegated and become more arrogant. Hope they get shoeing after shoeing as the stars who beat spurs revert to type and they end up mid table at best.

Which stars are you referring to here? The ones I have left out of the lists I have given?

 

[G Force]

The clubs in proper leagues will pick over the bones for anything half decent. You'll be stuck with the worst of the worst.

I suppose Juve of the North is relative humility for your lot as you thought you were Barca a few years ago.



They're the first team ever to get relegated and become more arrogant. Hope they get shoeing after shoeing as the stars who beat spurs revert to type and they end up mid table at best.

The "stars" of Spurs won't be anywhere to be seen. No chance "Gini", Sissoko, Janmaat will stay.

They should be left with a good championship team, just depends on how many they have left in terms of a squad. Ashley has bankrolled £100m on transfers, paying a manager £5m a year and they've a few players who might stay on £80k a week. Not sure where'll they'll find money to replace players

 

[Sima]

The "stars" of Spurs won't be anywhere to be seen. No chance "Gini", Sissoko, Janmaat will stay.

They should be left with a good championship team, just depends on how many they have left in terms of a squad. Ashley has bankrolled £100m on transfers, paying a manager £5m a year and they've a few players who might stay on £80k a week. Not sure where'll they'll find money to replace players

Totally agree, which is why I haven't named them in any proposed squads. Good riddance to them.

Hopefully we can get a decent amount of money for them when they fuck off.

 

[G Force]

Totally agree, which is why I haven't named them in any proposed squads. Good riddance to them.

Hopefully we can get a decent amount of money for them when they fuck off.

The problem being for you, is that if you take away those type of players you have an alright squad. The players left "should" get you in the top 2 or 3, but you're all expecting the title. Pressure is definitely on for Benitez. What players will he be able to bring into a championship squad? Good young Championship players cost a lot. We're seeing upwards of £8-£12m for them. Good free's will choose the Premiership.

I personally think you'll go back up, but it isn't going to as simple as many of your fans think. And paying a manager £5m a year down there? The fall out could be brilliant

 

[Sima]

The problem being for you, is that if you take away those type of players you have an alright squad. The players left "should" get you in the top 2 or 3, but you're all expecting the title. Pressure is definitely on for Benitez. What players will he be able to bring into a championship squad? Good young Championship players cost a lot. We're seeing upwards of £8-£12m for them. Good free's will choose the Premiership.

I personally think you'll go back up, but it isn't going to as simple as many of your fans think. And paying a manager £5m a year down there? The fall out could be brilliant

Not even true. Literally three posts ago

I'd be confident of this team getting promoted next season

I don't think that reads I'm expecting the title.

 

[West Winger]

Not even true. Literally three posts ago



I don't think that reads I'm expecting the title.

So you don't expect first, you expect 2nd.

Brilliant.

Only the mags could go down and become even more delusional.

 

[G Force]

Not even true. Literally three posts ago

I took you're "we'll be just fine" as promotion to be fair. Im sure you didn't mean that in the context of not going up. I'm yet to see a mag fan "worry" about next season... You all think it's in the bag man

Brighton, Derby, Norwich, Hull or Sheff Wed possibly even Villa. Then there's always a couple of dark horses in that league. You're likely in for a battle.

I've never seen such a confident group of fans post relegation...

 

[Mackem00]

I like the look of that Aarons fella like. We should buy him.

 

[Sima]

So you don't expect first, you expect 2nd.

Brilliant.

Only the mags could go down and become even more delusional.

What? I said I'm confident (hope), not I expect (will). It's not difficult to understand context.

On the second part, G Force himself said the following earlier.

I personally think you'll go back up

Is he delusional too?

 

[Fetch Fletch]

Should just hand you's the championship trophy now reading this

'Trophy' might need to translate that bit for the mag