Sky's the limit when it comes to rotating the knife into Benitez

[Benitez]

Dion Fanning article:

 

Sky's the limit when it comes to rotating the knife into Benitez

 

Sunday March 16 2008

 

'It does make you wonder what he would have done if he had played more regularly." Richard Keys said of Fernando Torres last Tuesday, entering a world of magic realism without the magic or, indeed, the realism. It was remarkable in itself that Torres' stats of 26 goals in 35 matches had just been mentioned, because most broadcasters have only one thing in their heads when talking about Rafael Benitez.

 

It was also, perhaps, an indication of Benitez's stubbornness that when he was asked a similar question by Sky's Geoff Shreeves a few minutes later, he did not reply, "Well, Geoff, if you checked your facts you'd see that Torres has started every league and Champions League game since September." He may have had to qualify this by adding, "when fit" because there are many in the media who seem prepared to criticise Benitez for not playing Torres even when he's injured.

 

Instead Benitez played along, talking about rotation, unwilling, it appeared, to engage at any level with people whom he clearly feels serve no purpose when he is thinking about things like knocking the Italian champions out of the European Cup.

 

In fact, Sky's question would more accurately be asked about Wayne Rooney. Why don't we see more of him? Manchester United have lost more league matches than Liverpool this season and Rooney has missed every one of them, usually rested. Torres, who if Sky are to be believed is glimpsed as frequently as the Aurora Borealis, has played five games more than Rooney this season, but Benitez is the man who has to answer questions about rotation.

 

It is customary to see Tom Hicks get more credit for the purchase of Torres than Benitez. The American is usually praised for putting up £26m for the striker, although the fee was a lot less than that, and then the coverage usually proceeds along the lines that the signing was a no-brainer.

 

Last summer, Torres's signing was questioned by many of those who now wonder why he doesn't play more often. Arsene Wenger and Ferguson hesitated before Benitez signed the player for £16m, the same price Spurs paid Charlton for Darren Bent. The critics said he didn't score enough goals -- one every three games was his ratio at Atletico -- and now, as he's scored 26 (all of them from open play), they wonder why he doesn't play more often.

 

To report it along the lines that Benitez had made the best signing of the summer and had played some part in developing a player regarded by some in Spain as a laughing stock would involve praising the Liverpool manager.

 

Of course, it is the Italian league and its failings that are the reason for Liverpool's victory over Inter, according to the pundits who last week predicted that AC Milan -- nearly 20 points behind Inter -- would knock out Premier League leaders Arsenal.

 

The Italian league is decaying, but if it was wholly rotten, Real Madrid -- eight points clear at the top of La Liga -- wouldn't have lost to Roma -- six points behind Inter. There is always another reason for Benitez' success; something they missed when writing him off beforehand but a factor beyond his control, something for which he deserves no credit. It was summed up perfectly by the journalist who appeared on Sky to talk about Liverpool's first-leg victory against Inter. He wasn't the only one who

 

seemed reluctant to acknowledge that the game had lasted 90 minutes, preferring instead to emphasis that Liverpool had struggled to score for 85 minutes before winning by two goals.

 

He seemed reluctant to concede that Liverpool had, in fact, won the game. "Goals," he sighed, finally forced into some admission, "determine how we view matches."

 

For the time being they do anyway and while goals and results shape matches rather than journalists, Benitez has a chance of continuing to be a success.

 

linkage

[Montse]

[David Hodgson]

I think we can now safely say that Dion Fanny is our favourite journo.

 

Great stuff.

[Guest Si]

Praise the lord.

 

Can we email this to Keys and the rest of his gorilla-like colleagues.

[Lee W]

Hasn't this already been established this week:

 

Keys = c***

Shreeves = c***

Redknapp = clueless media whore

Hicks = c***

Sky in general = c****

 

 

The only thing Fanning doesn't mention is that Gerrard isn't world-class

[chrisbonnie]

and you call us Irish thick

[dodgy1]

I think we can now safely say that Dion Fanny is our favourite journo.

 

Great stuff.

 

 

[Dule]

Absolutely great article, could probably apply to some of the people on this board also.

 

AHHH the difference a couple of league and CL wins can make.

 

Some people need to look at the bigger picture and also to just remember how lucky we are to have a manager such as Rafa. This is the most points our team has gotten in 30 games since Rafa has been here, we will get 4th, maybe even 3rd.

 

P.S Moscow will be all RED and it wont be because the dirty COMMIES!!

[Guest Si]

Hasn't this already been established this week:

 

Keys = c***

Shreeves = c***

Redknapp = clueless media whore

Hicks = c***

Sky in general = c****

The only thing Fanning doesn't mention is that Gerrard isn't world-class

 

Hansen is also suckling from the ifithadntbeenfortorresroation teet

[Lee W]

Hansen is also suckling from the ifithadntbeenfortorresroation teet

 

Aye - saw that last night. Another lemming.....

[Earl Hafler]

copy, compose e-mail, paste and send to Sky f.a.o the usual suspects.

 

Even Hansen was joining in last night, though at least he said it was early in the season when Torres was dropped.

[usualsuspect]

copy, compose e-mail, paste and send to Sky f.a.o the usual suspects.

Even Hansen was joining in last night, though at least he said it was early in the season when Torres was dropped.

hey

[Dan]

copy, compose e-mail, paste and send to Sky f.a.o the usual suspects.

 

Even Hansen was joining in last night, though at least he said it was early in the season when Torres was dropped.

 

He was also foaming at the mouth over Mascherano.

[Earl Hafler]

He was also foaming at the mouth over Mascherano.

 

And ? You have to be f***ing nuts not to see how good is he. Last season, Hansen was still talking about Makelele like he was the first person to notice how good he was.

 

Hansen hasn't said anything insightful for years.

[Guest JV]

I won't believe that article until I hear what Ant has to say first.

[Frosty Jack]

copy, compose e-mail, paste and send to Sky f.a.o the usual suspects.

 

Even Hansen was joining in last night, though at least he said it was early in the season when Torres was dropped.

 

well worth doing, i can't believe how far this myth has permeated how.

[ali]

Nicholas and even Thommo joining in yesterday lunchtime regarding the Mascher, never worth the money, doesn't score goals etc. (had a chuckle about that later)

 

They're on the mailing list along with the rest, not only is it Sky with an agenda, Setanta too have been piss poor. ITV with their coverage of Inter at home, were most respectable, I never thought I would be able say that, credit to them.

Edited March 16, 2008 by ali

[Rimbeux]

Nicholas and even Thommo joining in yesterday lunchtime regarding the Mascher, never worth the money, doesn't score goals etc. (had a chuckle about that later)

 

They're on the mailing list along with the rest, not only is it Sky with an agenda, Setanta too have been piss poor. ITV with their coverage of Inter at home, were most respectable, I never thought I would be able say that, credit to them.

 

ITV treat it as if it were the national team, unapologetically pro the English teams

[psl]

That's a really good article because its actually based on fact, unlike all the other s*** everyone keeps talking.

Edited March 16, 2008 by psl

[surf]

You'll never get anywere in journalism with that attitude.

[ali]

ITV treat it as if it were the national team, unapologetically pro the English teams

 

 

hardly surprising when our national team has been s****, Paddy Barclay just on Sky, how Torres is making Gerrard look good now that he's deigned to play in that position finally, how England should be set up like this with Rooney and Gerrard behind, which of course he suggested for 2006 WC. Rooney is stronger than Torres with a better touch but not quite the pace

Edited March 16, 2008 by ali

[gkmacca]

Great article. Those idiots on Sky's Sunday Supplement were at it again this morning - 'It was crazy resting Torres so often early in the season, if he had played regularly then the team would be closer to the top by now'. Absolutely amazing how they all ignore the facts. (Yet last season someone at Sky went to the trouble to count how often Rafa rotated his teams!)

[Cliff M]

Great article. Those idiots on Sky's Sunday Supplement were at it again this morning - 'It was crazy resting Torres so often early in the season, if he had played regularly then the team would be closer to the top by now'. Absolutely amazing how they all ignore the facts. (Yet last season someone at Sky went to the trouble to count how often Rafa rotated his teams!)

 

 

Full of opinion, lacking in conviction.

[Rimbeux]

Great article. Those idiots on Sky's Sunday Supplement were at it again this morning - 'It was crazy resting Torres so often early in the season, if he had played regularly then the team would be closer to the top by now'. Absolutely amazing how they all ignore the facts. (Yet last season someone at Sky went to the trouble to count how often Rafa rotated his teams!)

 

 

Repeat something enough and it becomes fact, it becomes common knowledge, received wisdom, it becomes 'quit talking about new players and start coaching the players we have'. Unfortunately not harmless chit chat

[Guest Prongsy]

I think we should start beating Rafa for playing Kewell so often over teh last few games. It's about as accurate as this torres myth.