Benitez - the sh*t stick stirrer
Last week Jorge Valdano accused Liverpool’s Champion’s League football of being like shit hanging from a stick. He said that just because those who are passionate about the club say its a work of art, doesn’t change the fact that in reality its shit hanging from a stick.
He went still further and claimed that Liverpool’s lack of flair football reflects Rafa’s own failure to make it as a player, and now he feels the need to jealously stamp out talent and flair in their own teams to show the it is strength and resolve that wins matches, not skill or talent, two of the key attributes Rafa lacked.
Rafa has hit back saying that Jorge’s comments are unjust, and that it infuriates him that people with access to the media do not express themselves through it with honour or respect….
To prove his point he then goes on to use the media to dishonourably disrespect Jorge’s achievements in both playing and management careers… Doh!
Benitez and Rick Parry have been more than willing to disrespect the achievements and the football of other clubs over the past Season, but now its been done to Liverpool, Rafa has spat his dummy out. Most of us took Jorge’s comments with a pinch of salt, but perhaps Rafa’s outburst has shown they were closer to the mark than we thought….
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Uncategorized
24 opinions for Benitez - the sh*t stick stirrer
Mark Hobbs
May 16, 2007 at 8:30 am
Benitez told AS: “Look, the people at this club working to obtain objectives deserve respect, deep respect. And I believe what was said has shown a lack of respect to the club, the fans, who are something sacred as is our stadium, Anfield.
“Talking about ’s*** on a stick’ and other unjust descriptions, for me, shows an absolute ignorance of the historical reality of this organisation in the world-wide scheme of football. And I am talking about Mr Jorge Valdano, a person I have known for 20 years, since we were working with the junior teams of Real Madrid and someone I do not regard highly in the professional aspect. Nevertheless, I have not gone his way to attack him through the media.”
Benitez declared: “It simply infuriates me that a person who has the privilege of being able to express himself through the mass media does not do it with honour and education. And I repeat, does not do so by showing little respect to an organisation like Liverpool, with it’s success and enviable history.”
He went on: “Look at our Champions League form. The first game against Barcelona at Anfield. It was spectacular. And against Galatasaray, Bordeaux, PSV … ”
Benitez also fired a broadside at Valdano: “I know what he’s like. He has a lot to be grateful for to people like (former Real identities) Ramon Martinez, Angel Cappa and Alberto Giraldez, to mention only some examples of where a coach and sports director work well together. People, that we all say, contributed more to a project than has been acknowledged.
“I feel he (Valdano) was at the forefront of the press conferences and when the medals were being handed out, while the real professionals with talent were always in the shade.”
I don’t think you can say that was “using the media to dishonourably disrespect Jorge’s achievements in both playing and management careers”.
Yes it may have been personal, but he was giving his insight into working alongside Valdano and saying that he claimed all the glory for himself rather than acknowledging talented people around him. Not quite the same as Valdano’s INSULTS and not quite the same as Everton fans like yourself trying to twist stories to make people from Liverpool look bad (or spread lies and gossip like you have done before).
magnumopus
May 16, 2007 at 8:40 am
Good response mate. Rafa has class and everybody who knows him knows that! This world seems to have lots of egoes not knowing how to fill a days time!
Sack the Juggler
May 16, 2007 at 8:55 am
well talking about someone who doesn’t recognise a club’s history or achievements perhaps you also condone Parry’s snide remarks about Chelsea: “I guess when you’ve invested £500m it’s a fantastic season to win the League Cup”, people in glass houses…
trader
May 16, 2007 at 9:02 am
Another rant from Sack, the supporter of the most bitter club in the world, that we club known as Small Everton. I suppose if Everton got to 2 European Cup finals in 3 years, I too would be jelous as hell so its understandable.
By the way, Sack, how many European cup finals have your dogs of war club been involved in? Oh thats right, zero! You qualify for the it and have a party and then fail to even make the group stages. Hope the video of your 3-0 derby victory over us is selling well. Making a video of one league victory……now that is something only a small club would do.
Happy bitterness sack.
Sack the Juggler
May 16, 2007 at 9:21 am
Jeez - you’ll all a bit touchy today, and dragging out the stats to prove Jorge wrong. Yes trader Liverpool has been to two cup finals so we should all support them, …or maybe we’re not all plastic fans and we support our local teams instead….
Mark Hobbs
May 16, 2007 at 9:30 am
Ha ha - you’re making out that Chelsea have a history!!
Only kidding of course.
I’m not trying to make out that every person at Liverpool is infallible. I’m just taking offence that you try to have a dig at Liverpool at any given opportunity and even do so when the opportunity isn’t even there. It just makes you look bitter.
Scouse Billy
May 16, 2007 at 9:33 am
Yes, Juggs. You decided to bring up the old shit on a stick nonsense and after the predictable few responses (mainly due to numbers of LFC fans rather than popularity of your site) tell us we’re touchy.
Your season’s over and you have nothing better to do?
It’s not all doom and gloom though: you can still support Wayne on Saturday now he’s moved to a bigger club.
trader
May 16, 2007 at 9:35 am
Sack, Im from Liverpool mate. Yes, we have more fans from outside Liverpool but we also have more fans inside the city as well.
Sack the Juggler
May 16, 2007 at 10:01 am
Trader - I take it back mate - clearly you’re one of the those Liverpool fans who can claim to support their local club
Kopite
May 16, 2007 at 10:14 am
Sack, try commenting on/supporting your own team rather than slating Liverpool. You might feel better and goodness knows Everton need support.
Tony Khouri
May 16, 2007 at 10:22 am
Sack the juggler I’m new to these pages but alredy one thing I understand from the purile bile that you vomit over these forums is that you are a moron.In your reference to Parry’s commente aimed at Chelsea,did you forget who actually started the sh*t throwing that day too???No I’m not a Liverpool fan believe it or not I follow Chelsea,our manager slagged off Liverpool and imo Parry’s response was justified.So shut your trap .
Sack the Juggler
May 16, 2007 at 10:24 am
Billy - it was Rafa who dragged it all up again, not me, I just thought it strange that Jose didn’t say anything about the comments, yet Rafa felt the need to, it obviously touched a nerve there… and from the fans as well it seems…
AJ
May 16, 2007 at 10:26 am
I’m from Liverpool, my whole family is. We’ve moved South now with work, is it ok is i Still support my home town please?
Who cares is Liverpool have more supporters outside of the City, goes to show we’re a big club with far reaching support as we’re globally well known through our winning glorious history.
Its teams like Liverpool who put football on the global map, it’s thanks to Liverpool we have 4 teams in the CL.
It’s thanks to our history you’re even in Uefa cup - show some respect for our history and how well we’re doing now.
Rafa is more than a manager, he has a great deal to offer Liverpool, fantastic manager and person.
This banter is pathetic, fair play to Rafa who once again diligently & articulately responded to yet more slurs against us.
Cant wait for the final next week. Greece here we come!
YNWA
Sack the Juggler
May 16, 2007 at 10:36 am
AJ - ok then, I’ll let you support Liverpool… but only because you were born there so, technically its still your home town, although now you have moved away, you can also officially support Man U or Chelsea. Its good to see some loyalty…
Kaka
May 16, 2007 at 11:17 am
Tripe.
Parry had a pop at Chelski because of their classy manager forever popping off about Liverpool.
Benitez answered criticism, so what. What would you expect him to do - not answer. Add to that it was someone that he ‘knew’ and he must have felt obliged to answer.
So my question is who else have they (Rafa and Parry) disrespected (and don’t say Everton please or rough and tumble Bolton)?????????
Sack the Juggler
May 16, 2007 at 11:25 am
Kaka, ok, I wasn’t going to mention it, but since you have, we know that Rafa is always happy to slate Bolton for their style of play. Yet when others slate Liverpool’s style of play the fans justify it by pointing out that they are in the final - well perhaps Bolton can justify their style of play by pointing to their league position. It just seems hypercritical that Rafa is happy to mouth off about other clubs, but when his own is criticised he suddenly thinks its disrespectful. I think that perhaps Jorge’s is closer to the truth about rafa than we thought….
Mark Hobbs
May 16, 2007 at 11:45 am
Stop having a go about Rafa. He responds to questions in press conferences and he responds with dignity and wit. He doesn’t mouth off.
Certainly not like your manager who gets sent to the stand for losing his control.
When have you seen Rafa get sent to the stands?
Scouse Billy
May 16, 2007 at 11:56 am
Juggs, please, please tell us you’ll be supporting Milan on Wednesday.
trader
May 16, 2007 at 12:28 pm
At the end of the day, I agree that Liverpool play direct football but so what, so do Chelsea and for an Everton fan to crticise this style is hilarious. Everton have been a dogs of war, long ball, direct-style team for 20 years. I dont care how Liverpool play, Rafa has got us to 2 European Cup Finals in 3 years, compared to Jose (0 in 3 at Chelsea), Wenger (1 in about 10 years at Arsenal), Ferguson (1 in about 25 years at Manu) and Everton (0 in their entire history). Does it say in the history books: Liverpool: European Champions 2005 (long-ball team)….nope! So who cares! If you wants to see beautiful football, go and watch Arsenal struggle to win Sweet FA playing the most attractive football in history.
Tony Khouri
May 16, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Hey trader that part about “Everton (0 in their entire history)”. Type that again please,it made me laugh.
Sack the Juggler
May 16, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Trader - fair play mate about the long ball style, but its not an Everton Fan who is criticising it, its a world cup winner and former Real Madrid winner who is criticising it, I’m just reporting his comments.
Billy - still haven’t decided who to support on Wednesday - I know a few lads who will be there (some of them even have tickets!), so I’d be made up for them if you won, on the other hand, I don’t think I could bear to hear all the plastics who’ve never even been to a game coming out with “we won it six times”….
trader
May 16, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Yeah but Real Madrid are just jelous because they arent getting to finals playing good football. I agree that Liverpool arent the most attractive team to watch but Rafa is doing what he can with what he has got. Liverpool are not as good as the top European sides yet here we are in our 2nd European Cup final in 2 years. Im sure our style of play will improve as the quality of the squad improves. David Moyes has done a similarly good job at Everton. I think Moyes has done a brilliant job (even if he does look like Golem) and to finish in the top 6 for the 3rd time under his management is an achievement. Everton dont play the most attractive football but do everton fans care? Nope. Do Everton fans care what ex-players of other clubs might say? Nope. Neither do we. That ex-player wants Real Madrid in the final is whinging because they havnt been there for a few years.
Kaka
May 16, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Please don’t say Liverpool play a long ball game because they don’t. It is a part of their game, but not all the time (remember Everton’s tactics at Anfield - long hopeless balls up to AJ!!!). There is enough variation in Liverpool’s play to reject that criticism - and add to the fact that ‘pool have been robbed of their two most creative players for large chunks of the season - Kewell and Garcia.
I think you can critize tactics etc without being hypocritical but when someone oversteps the mark and calls your club ’shit’ in the media then you have a right to reply.
trader
May 16, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Yeah but Kaka, I genuinely dont give a shit what ex-players or current players or ex-managers or anyone else linked to a rival club says about our side when we are being successful. His comments are borne out of jelousy that we are in another European Cup Final, just like Mourinho’s were and just like Fergies are when he tries to avoid mentioning Liverpool when he talks about clubs who have won it 4 or more times. It doesnt anger me, it makes me laugh because I then know that Liverpool have got to them. I couldnt understand the reaction of Everton fans to the Benitez small club jibe. I would have been laughing if I had been an Everton fan as all it did was show everyone that Rafa was frustrated by Everton on the day.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: