Damian_de

Don't think this one has been mentioned, but it's one of my favourite Rafa memories (bar all the obvious ones ) In the build up to Rafa's 100th game in charge the UK media was beside itself with the upcoming 100th rotated team, with Rafa's position as the 'new tinkerman' about to be written in stone, and out of the blue he names the same team as the last match for the first time since he took over I loved him for that. The reporter on 5 Live didn't know what to say (having hyped the tinkerman thing for the previous 2 hours) and I can only imagine what Sky made of it all. YNWA Rafa.

Except not as enjoyable.

Good post (in its entirety) but I do think Pipnasty has it right by saying the key to the relationship was him wanting a proper team and them wanting a profit, and by leaving that out of the analysis you are being too kind towards a pair who absolutely deserve no kindness.

He did, but was never going to get that chance with not just owners, but a management structure set up to get him out one way or the other.

C'mon David, I don't think there are many (if any) who considered him fundamentally unsackable. The issue is 1) Rafa being the only guy in the management team fighting for the values of the club, and 2) it being incredibly unlikely we will replace him with a better manager. If you move us forward into a better position - some money, different owners - I think a lot more people would have been willing to discuss a change. In your case you have been able to absolutely remove the surrounding context from performance on the pitch. Most people defending Rafa were doing so in the context of a bigger picture. Personally I favour the latter, but I wouldn't claim it is the only possible perspective.

It was the worst we had seen at the time. Then again, we weren't used to qualifying for it very often back then.

I've never been a believer in

Looking forward to this summer - should get a decent kitty and sign some top players.

Oh dear, Alan, what a shocking piece you've put your name on.

Except us.

This. Couple of seasons back, different story.

Well that's true, but things go in and out of fashion - look at all the reverse side wingers this season, half the teams in Europe are up to it, partly because of the fuss over Messi.

Be interesting to see how many teams start copying the Inter principle next season.

Missing the point about the Google thing, too, isn't he? I'd always took that to mean not that it should have been used to check out whether Hicks had any cash, but the very easily discoverable business model he has used on multiple occasions for other sports 'franchises' - saddle 'em with debt and sell off all the assets (after a couple of marquee signings in the early days). As if Rothschilds are going to advise that the man might be a bit unscrupulous FFS.

Everyone in the squad gets a medal, right?

Also Pique - Mancs - Barca

Great first half. Blackpool really play some adventurous stuff, love it.

Football's not the same now as it was when GH was here so it's quite hard to compare. From an aesthetic point of view I much prefer what I've seen from Rafa up until this year.

No Chelsea

There is plenty of that in the lower leagues, but you are right, the standard and style in the playoffs has been pretty good, I think.

except Laudrup

Can't see him fancying Inter. Not much glory, not much challenge, and certain to be over inside a couple of seasons. Not shown himself to be that wandering manager-type yet.

fair play NYR

Be nice to get players of that quality in