The current situation at the club suggests that 4th place is impossible with the current regime. Benitez doesn't get all the blame but must shoulder at least 50% of it due to his negative tactics and poor transfer record of late.
If you play the worst team in the league, do you really need 2 holding midfielders? Do you need an abysmal left back playing left wing when there are other better and more attacking options available. Is there no point in playing 2 strikers to at least put the worst defence in the league under some kind of pressure.
Masc's tackle was bad enough to warrant the card, on another day he might have got away with it. We were struggling before that, so it can't be used as a credible excuse.
I really want Rafa gone now. The sooner the better. There is no light at the end of the tunnel with him here. I think he tries to over-anylize everything and ends up looking like he hasn't got a scoobie. Time for a change, someone who likes to play with a bit of flair rather than stifling the team with over-complicated game plans.
I'd love Redknapp to get the job, but he wouldn't want to take a step backwards. Jose won't want it. Nor O'Neill. Don't really care as long as he's not Klinnsman.