Premier League 2012-2013

[BaaBaa.]

Breaking News: Rafa Benitez sacked by Chelsea.

[caller]

No surprise!

I certainly agree with the organisation thing. And not expecting round pegs in square holes and all that - two right backs on the pitch last night - one actually played at right back! Hazard as a lone forward? Ramires as a defensive midfield player?

Sad to say, last night reminded me of Ranieries last euro game when his selections were equally bizarre, on saying all of that, just that little run of the ball with our 1st chance.......

I guess Benitez is also last chance saloon for Torres as well, if he can't get him going, nothing will.

And here's hoping he may win us the league!

[BaaBaa.]

Have you got a proper defensive midfielder who'll cover the whole ground and cover both fullbacks runs? In a similar mould to Mascherano or Lucas?

If so he's got the tools and wouldn't put it past you winning the league.

He beat Mourinhos Chelsea more often than not. Just saying.

He'll have Hazard or possibly Mata playing off Torres, ala Gerrard. Luiz won't be playing centre back.

[Zidane]

Benitez did well for Liverpool till Hicks and Gillett started interfering with team affairs.....same at Inter Milan till the owner started meddling.....so how the fcuk will he cope with Abramovich ?
Four or five seasons ago Liverpool should have won the Premiership under Benitez when they finished two points behind United.They surely would have done but for drawing 7 home matches......seems such a long time ago now.

[BaaBaa.]

Agreed Zidane, nice to see some perspective. He built us a fantastic side until the yanks started ripping it up for interest repayments.

Blows my head off when I see people say they'd prefer Redknapp or Moyes.

[Arcadian]

Breaking News: Rafa Benitez sacked by Chelsea.

Plenty of Spanish restaurants in the Kings Road if he needs a job.

[Arcadian]

What is the story behind the Chelsea fans dislike of Benitez?

[blue05]

Agreed Zidane, nice to see some perspective. He built us a fantastic side until the yanks started ripping it up for interest repayments.

Blows my head off when I see people say they'd prefer Redknapp or Moyes.

benitez spent 15 times more money than moyes when he was spending, he should have a better team, if he was so revered why has he not had a job for so long?

[BaaBaa.]

Agreed Zidane, nice to see some perspective. He built us a fantastic side until the yanks started ripping it up for interest repayments.

Blows my head off when I see people say they'd prefer Redknapp or Moyes.

benitez spent 15 times more money than moyes when he was spending, he should have a better team, if he was so revered why has he not had a job for so long?

Eeerm, waiting for the right offer? Guardiola going to be poor after his year out?

How do you explain winning LA Liga twice in 3 years with Valencia, that's like winning our league with Spurs.

Benitez spending is a myth peddalled by the media folks that didn't like him, it's almost 0 spent after the Torres sale. We made 50 million profit on Torres and Alonso alone.

How's this little fact for you......of the 84 managers that have managed in the premier league, only 5 have a better win % than Rafa.

And it wasn't a dig at Moyes, it just winds me that them 2 get lauded and Benitez gets nothing but stick. It's not what you know it's who you know with the gutter press.

Notice they are both British? AVB is getting similar stick, Christ,1 paper had an article mocking AVB for using a notepad.

[caller]

What is the story behind the Chelsea fans dislike of Benitez?

His mouth. He even managed to get a dig in about some flags - just as well He's not at Anfield any more. He just made a few sneering comments around the time Jose was at the Bridge and had a few digs at the fans!

It's all a bit hyped up in reality, but this is about the flags:

“We don’t need to give away flags for our fans to wave – our supporters are always there with their hearts, and that is all we need. It’s the passion of the fans that helps to win matches – not flags.”

There's also this, which he seems to have forgotten:

“Chelsea is a big club with fantastic players, every manager wants to coach such a big team. But I would never take that job, in respect for my former team at Liverpool, no matter what. For me there is only one club in England, and that’s Liverpool.”

[BaaBaa.]

Yeah, that quote that's doing the rounds, supposedly from 2007, when he was Liverpool Manager.

Why would he refer to Liverpool as "former club" in 2007?

He's not wrong about your plastic flags, I mean, they kept the Shankly gates on a Torres banner they copied.

Truth is he knocked Mourinhos Chelsea out the Champions league a few times and Chelsea fans needed a rival ala Liverpool-United, Arsenal-Spurs.

Chelsea fans hate Liverpool, Liverpool fans couldn't care less about them, Just think this new generation are tossers.

Oh, and Mourinho fuelled all the tension, like he does at every club.

[caller]

I don't think Chelsea fans hate Liverpoool, any more than Mancs, Spuds etc.......

I think what gets up a lot of other teams noses is the view that Liverpool are on some sort of pedestal somehow above others? Its hard to describe it really, maybe Blue can help?

[BaaBaa.]

We get portrayed as thinking that but it's bollocks, we're quite self deprecating but won't have lies pedalled, which is why I stick up for Benitez so much. Same with Suarez, we back our own.

The City is like that, were not English we're Scouse, goes way beyond Football.

It's our year etc is shite.

The only team I genuinely despise and every fabric off them is United, alot of that rivalry even comes from the Citys, Manchester ship canal etc.

[caller]

I always thought you were oirish immigrants, not English!

[Terry]

Chelsea managers under Roman Abramovich

Claudio Ranieri : Sep 2000 to May 2004
Jose Mourinho: Jun 2004 to Sep 2007
Avram Grant: Sep 2007 to May 2008
Luiz Felipe Scolari: Jul 2008 to Feb 2009
Guus Hiddink: Feb 2009 to May 2009
Carlo Ancelotti: Jun 2009 to May 2011
Andre Villas-Boas: Jun 2011 to Mar 2012
Roberto Di Matteo: Mar 2012 to Nov 2012
Rafael Benitez: Nov 2012.............................?

I think we should maybe run a pool on his exit date

Too be honest, the merry-go-round of Premiership Managers is beginning to ruin the game for me.