The Guv

...Who is to blame for what we've been forced to endure this season? As much as the players bear partial responsibility, Benitez in my opinion has been the prime culprit in what as been a catalog of disgraceful performances. The reason why Chelsea are Chelsea, Man U are Man U and Newcastle are Newcastle is because of the mentality of their managers and the ability of their coaching collectives. Even if we buy a new starting eleven in January, "a team of carraghers" if you like, nothing much will change as long as they're being managed and coached with the same mentality that our present bunch are being. Our mentality stinks! The lack of passion from the management and the coaching staff trickles down to the players, who are bombarded with endless tactical jiberish that is useless, confusing and over complicated. Football is a simple game that is arguably more psycological than tactical during a fast tempoed premiership encounter. Benitez tactically over-complicates at times, paying less attention to other aspects of the game and the result is a display of shambolic proportions. Zonal marking from set pieces, squad rotation, resting fit players, dropping on-form players, playing players out of position, purchasing lackluster footballers in the transfer market is to name just a few of our problems, all steming from the manager. Winners don't get beaten like we've been today. Winners don't look beaten only 1 nil down and 50 minutes to play. Winners we are not at the moment. Still think Rafa's one of the best in Europe though and hence wouldn't be too quick to get rid of him like others are suggesting. I hope he's acknowledged our weeknesses in greater depth than we do and use his ability to turn things around before his name gets chanted from the stands in a different tone and his services become despensible.

........and me aswell please

Thats the problem with this board. Any critisism given to the manager all of a sudden is a sin. Fair enough but i wont stop saying how i feel. Do you expect me to lie and say yes i agree 100% the way rafa deals with his players? I dont give a flying f*** about the links ES has and how many posts CL has and any other brownosers on this site. My opinion is as valid as any and i stand by it. Tell me why its so hard to believe that you could lose respect for someone who you often disagree with. All everybody says is "awww...he won champions league.....he won spanish titles......he won super cups.........your a cvnt for questioning him". Nobody has actualy denied he has an unfounded favouritism towards some of his players, and is forcing some out based on un football related issues. I dont agree with that policy therefore he loses respect from me. end of.

i was wondering whent the usual culprits was going to show there faces. You lot seem to call me every name under the sun whenever i mention morientes or benitez. Typical. Why do you feel to insult every poster that doesn't lick benitez' a*** in every decision. What...is this a board where we all say how happy we are and everything is perfect. Elisha, carraleggend....You guys are pathetic. Please dont post in this thread. I've had enough of your insults.

I have a genuine dislike growing towards benitez, for some strange reason. The manager that one us the european cup for the first time in 20 years (in his first season), and won another trophy tonight. I use to be a believer in the 'In Rafa we trust' religion but now im no so sure. I think it has been lingering for the past month and i've tried to fight it but i have to be honest to myself, tonight i lost a lot of respect for him. Although for the majority of last season, i didn't agree with a lot of his selections, they seemed to work at anfield and in europe. But this season he is really taking the piss. He continuosly plays mori in every game and tries to build the team around him however bad he plays. He sells baros who was our top scorer last season and played welll in pre season. Then throws cisse on the right despite bieng our best striker. His clear favouritism towards his own signings is really doing my head in because every football fan can see nando just isn't working. The icing on the cake for me though is his treatment towarsd cisse. I just dont understand it. He is clearly head and shoulders above our current strikers yet he refuses to start him i n a striking role. Yet when he does come on with ten minutes left, he turns the game around. However benitez doesn't even look at him. I guarentee if that was morientes he would have at least given him a pat on the back. It is like he is forcing a quality player out of the club just like baros, while players like mori will turn up every week and put in 30% effort. To be honest, i dont even feel happy after winning the trophy and i think that feeling is reflected in the majority of the posts tonight. I just have this growing dislikefor benitez inside me and its crazy. I know people will think im bonkers to critisise benitez and I know this forum has a 'never critisise manager because he nows best" policy but i cant hide my feelings.