Comments on: Rafa Snub Keeps Feud Alive

By: miele

miele — Tue, 19 May 2009 06:47:23 +0000

By ‘it’ I meant Rafa’s behaviour ofc, not Wayne’s post. Of which much fun has been had Rafa’s sore-loserness.

By: miele

miele — Tue, 19 May 2009 06:45:21 +0000

Ed, you’re right, the issue hardly needs sensationalising. However it does hint of pettiness, especially after all the events of this season.

Never mind, cant wait for the 27th!*rubs hands*

By: Wayne Farry

Wayne Farry — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:48:30 +0000

Not just Rafa, Fergie’s complexion hardly suggests he’s a teetotaler either.

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:39:58 +0000

Didn’t mean that you were making a huge deal out of it, just that all the sources reporting it are, as usual, sensationalizing. No offense meant, just reacting to what I’ve read most everywhere else, so I may have come off a bit harsh. Loss of title hopes + copious amounts of booze = lack of discretion. Come to think of it, maybe Rafa just needs a breathalyzer.

By: Wayne Farry

Wayne Farry — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:34:36 +0000

Nice last line Ed. Don’t think I’m making a big deal about this. i don’t think it’s a massive story, nor do I think there has been uproar, I just thought it was worth writing.

And let’s face it Ed, this is a Man Utd blog, and we don’t much like Rafa ’round these here parts.

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:07:41 +0000

Come on, Wayne. I get it, I really do. The endless stream of hyperbole about four quotes in an interview is ridiculous. Yeah, Rafa went off the deep end earlier in the year and is stubborn as a mule, and sometimes as bright as one. Should he have made a point to exclude Fergie from his congratulations? No. But it’s not quite the case that Hiddink or Wenger were going out of their way–”…and the manager” and “…congratulations to him” respectively. Rafa declined when given the opportunity. Horrors. This whole concept that Rafa’s a classless individual on the basis of his public lack of compatibility with another manager is insane. I doubt they’ll be hosting any fundraisers together, they probably won’t take vacation at the same resort, and that’s fine for me. Like you, I’d prefer Rafa express these sorts of opinions behind closed doors, which I’m sure he does as well, but to have an uproar over comments like this seems a bit much. These are public figures that don’t always manage to handle themselves appropriately–Fergie’s no exception, Hiddink’s no exception, Wenger’s no exception, and Rafa Benitez is clearly no exception. I completely agree that his focus needs to be on Liverpool instead of anyone else, and I’m hoping the break in action over the summer will see all this nonsense fall by the wayside. Now I’m back to drinking, and no, I won’t congratulate you, but I will congratulate your blog.

By: Wayne Farry

Wayne Farry — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:07:00 +0000

As I said above, it just shows a distinct lack of class on Benitez’ part. Every manager loses, and even Ferguson (who’s won so many) is gracious in defeat. And I have to disagree that having won 11 of 18 makes the ones that got away hurt less. I’d bet my house that Fergie still looks back on titles that have been lost, from the 9 point lead lost in 97/98 to the draw with West Ham in 94/95 that handed Blackburn the title, they all still sting.

Of course Rafa is going to be unhappy that they didn’t win the league, but he should keep it to himself in my opinion. He showed a real lack of professionalism by refusing to congratulate the league-winning manager.

You shouldn’t like defeat, but you should be able to take it graciously.

By: George

George — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:43:18 +0000

Ferguson is hardly the most magnimanous in defeat though is he? Hiding in toilets after the defeat at Old Trafford is not a classy move – Neither manager can back down, because to lose face would undermine the team’s confidence.

Ferguson sends the winning manager Champagne and a note? A nice touch, but I think if Benitez had won 11 out of 18 titles, it might sting less when one got past him.

These gights come and go – Wenger, Mourinho and now Benitez – it’s Fergusaon’s way of inspiring his side to fight off his nearest competitor and there’s nothing wrong with that, but to get too defensive when he refuses to bow graciously? Hardly seems a “prick of the highest order” to me.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:11:55 +0000

Guy has no class. It seems that he really is a nasty individual without redeeming qualities.

By: David

David — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:33:10 +0000

Benitez is a prick of the highest order!