he inherited a bit of a cr&p squad tbf

He had the impossible job of following up Mourinho's impeccable achievements.

but the new manager and the same players don't?

No, Leonardo is following Rafa's less than impeccable achievements





Rafa had a touch of misfortune at Inter, lost a lot of the experienced players that contributed massively to Mourinho's success, such as Milito.

Howay Shola, my favourite Geordie-Nigerian...







...same again please.

Inter have won the league for the past 5 years, before Mourinho they were 3 titles. It's like managing Rangers or Celtic. It would be pretty hard to fck Inter up, but the Rafa did a great job.

Have no idea why but had my biggest wager of the season on spurs turning Utd over today. The 3 local derbies all to close to call.

Perhaps he mistook the playing kit for that of Aston Villa

You're right, it would be hard, but there are many things you have to take into consideration when wondering why certain managers fail there. Inter have an experienced squad, a squad that had been pushed to the limit psychologically by Mourinho, after that, they'll never give it all again because they just went through that with Jose. Add to that Benitez isn't a coach renowned for his ability to motivate players psychologically; he expects players to motivate themselves, his type of coaching requires highly motivated players, that's why Benitez was forever signing and selling, because as soon as he thought someone was weak mentally, he would want them gone. You could say that's poor coaching, you could claim it's too awkward, but it's clear as day he was the wrong man to appoint to replace Jose, as Rafa isn't the type to come in and keep things ticking over, he's the type to come in and make wholesale changes across the board. Add to that Inter had a fair amount of injuries, the only way they would go was down.



Still, I think that shows a weakness in Rafa as a manager, as he doesn't develop relationships with players, and seems to rely on the players to motivate themselves instead of his own ability to motivate. He does need to change and I feel he should have a year or two away from the game.

Have Everton ever played as poorly as this? Utterly shocking from every player on the field bar Tim Howard who must be shouting his way to an aneurysm by now.



The commentators are making it sound like Liverpool 'are back'. But they've not done anything special, their midfield and back four is terrible but Everton are just absolutely flat, clueless and none dimensional. Torres is back to his best they keep telling us. The Torres 2 years ago would be filling his boots against that performance.



A few pages back I commented that Pienaar going would reduce Baines' effectiveness. Runs in that first half sans Pienaar? Zero. Crosses, zero. Shots zero. I don't think he's even got over the half way line yet.



The way this game has gone it could go on till next Christmas and Everton wouldn't come close to scoring. Anichebe is pathetic and Beckford is just a finisher who can do absolutely nothing with no service.

FC united's keeper www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGcjDx_uvRo

FC united's keeper www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGcjDx_uvRo

Quote flipper="flipper"FC united's keeper www.utdforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158161'" What does it say? Appears it's been taken down or that you have to be a member.

Quote flipper="flipper"FC united's keeper www.utdforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158161'" What does it say? Appears it's been taken down or that you have to be a member.

Quote Saddened!="Saddened!"What does it say? Appears it's been taken down or that you have to be a member.'" sorry wrong link www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGcjDx_uvRo

Quote Saddened!="Saddened!"What does it say? Appears it's been taken down or that you have to be a member.'" sorry wrong link www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGcjDx_uvRo

Who on Earth signed that Meireles bloke?

Quote flipper="flipper"FC united's keeper www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGcjDx_uvRo'" Evil bounce, looks windy as hell too!

Quote flipper="flipper"FC united's keeper www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGcjDx_uvRo'" Evil bounce, looks windy as hell too!

Quote flipper="flipper"sorry wrong link www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGcjDx_uvRo'" Some of that football was better than the stuff served up in Leagues 1 and 2.

Quote flipper="flipper"sorry wrong link www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGcjDx_uvRo'" Some of that football was better than the stuff served up in Leagues 1 and 2.

Liverpool





I should do half time team talks more often. Bad news is Everton will now try to defend for 40 minutes instead of finishing this shower off.

The King is back and working his magic.

That was a proper mid table derby. There will be more quality in the warm up at White Hart Lane than there was in the whole game there. Liverpool are just dog rough without Stevie G. Ultimately it was Howard's brain explosion from all the shouting that caused him to gift Liverpool the penalty. Stupid decision, Maxi couldn't score from 5 yards with an open goal, never mind with a packed goalline and the ball moving away from goal. He should have just left him to it.



As you'd expect from Everton they worked hard but it doesn't seem like they really believe they can win games like that, despite it being there for the taking.



I thought the referee's performance was utterly bizarre. The free kick that lead to Liverpool's penalty wasn't a free kick. The corner that lead to Distin's goal wasn't a corner and how many absolutely blatant decisions did he get wrong? There was one late on where an Everton player hit a shot into the foot of a Liverpool defender and it squirmed up in the air and went about a yard wide. He gave a goal kick when there wasn't an Everton player within 12 feet of the ball.

Quote flipper="flipper"sorry wrong link www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGcjDx_uvRo'" Doesn't look at all strong enough. The initial kick looks like it would stop 30 yards from goal. How big was the pitch one wonders?

Quote flipper="flipper"sorry wrong link www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGcjDx_uvRo'" Doesn't look at all strong enough. The initial kick looks like it would stop 30 yards from goal. How big was the pitch one wonders?

Very good game so far this.

Raphael is carving them up down the right! One good final ball is all that it needs.

Game of two halves. You were $hite 1st half, we were $hite 2nd half.

What was worrying for Liverpool was how any belief they had built up in the first half, suddenly drained from them, once Distin equalised.



Once Beckford got the second there only looked one result, and to be honest, but for Howard's brain-fart, Everton would have cruised home, as Liverpool never looked like scoring in open play.



By the end though, both sides lacked any craft or drive to go on and get a winner, which while disappointing for Everton, should be more alarming for Liverpool, being the home side and having the supposed Dalglish effect going for them.

I think your last comment summed it up. For Everton, yes this was the derby, but they're away from home, obviously having a bit of an off day. Liverpool are supposed to be more motivated now, pressing on for something greater. They're still on near relegation form. Has to be a moral victory for the blues today. Liverpool were missing their talisman though so all is not lost, but there is still a lot of work to be done for the reds. A few signings in the transfer window is surely a must.