All I posted was a response to 1 sentence I thought didn’t hold weight in Zonal Markings original article and 1 incorrect claim by you that Benitez would not have changed anything at half time but for Finnans injury.

‘My coach told me to warm up just before the break,’ Hamann said. ‘He told me I was going to take care of Kaká.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2005/may/29/newsstory.sport12

If you still think you’re right you are deluded. Its also plainly embarrassing that you don’t know the story of half time in Istanbul as a Liverpool fan. Benitez’s speech, Traore getting in the shower and 12 men on the chalkboard are all part of LFC folklore now.

Zonal Marking has politely responded to my criticism on Twitter:

Zonal_Marking @pitchslap Ha not at all, was an interesting read. Your points about RB’s subs last term are entirely fair.

Case closed so STOP TALKING ABOUT ME, CALLING ME ARROGANT AND STOP WAFFLING ABOUT YOUR UEFA COACHING BADGE AND EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU COACH A LOCAL SCHOOL TEAM IN CONNECTICUT FFS.

“It’s not that you are not welcome, it is the manner with which you present your opinion. If you need a UEFA badge to support it, then I doubt you will get much respect but rather be seen as pretentious and arrogant.”

If you read the thread carefully, I posted an initial opinion, to which Pitchslap replied. His first sentence stated “I don’t know if I should bother, but…”, itself an arrogant stance as it implies that only he has the answers. He then went on to present some “statistics” that purportedly proved his argument over mine. At the end of his post, he then stated that “I [Pitchslap] deliberately posted stats to prove what I perceived as an inaccuracy in the article and your original post so I don’t see how you can discount my argument without producing evidence to the contrary.”

So in rebutting his “appeal to authority” (the authority of his stats) I presented my background, not to be arrogant, but to show that he wasn’t the only poster who could lay claim to scientific evidence in order to support their argument. As it happens, Benitez is one of the coaches I have studied intently. I’m also a Liverpool fan. I liked elements of Pitchslap’s post (and other posts he’s made, too). But if it is perfectly fair for one person to claim authority because of statistical research, then surely it is also fair for another person to claim authority because of qualification, no?

If that is perceived as arrogant, then that is a problem with the perceiver. I’m a generally humble person, especially when it comes to coaching. I haven’t yet reached the heights of a Mourinho to be able to call myself a Special One. But I WILL defend my opinions in the face of criticism that doesn’t seem to want to allow for discourse.

Also, Juve need BIG changes for next season if they are to challenge for the Scudetto again. Roma are doing well. Maybe getting rid of Ranieri was a bit hasty?

“It’s not that you are not welcome, it is the manner with which you present your opinion. If you need a UEFA badge to support it, then I doubt you will get much respect but rather be seen as pretentious and arrogant.”

If you read the thread carefully, I posted an initial opinion, to which Pitchslap replied. His first sentence stated “I don’t know if I should bother, but…”, itself an arrogant stance as it implies that only he has the answers. He then went on to present some “statistics” that purportedly proved his argument over mine. At the end of his post, he then stated that “I [Pitchslap] deliberately posted stats to prove what I perceived as an inaccuracy in the article and your original post so I don’t see how you can discount my argument without producing evidence to the contrary.”

So in rebutting his “appeal to authority” (the authority of his stats) I presented my background, not to be arrogant, but to show that he wasn’t the only poster who could lay claim to scientific evidence in order to support their argument. As it happens, Benitez is one of the coaches I have studied intently. I’m also a Liverpool fan. I liked elements of Pitchslap’s post (and other posts he’s made, too). But if it is perfectly fair for one person to claim authority because of statistical research, then surely it is also fair for another person to claim authority because of qualification, no?

If that is perceived as arrogant, then that is a problem with the perceiver. I’m a generally humble person, especially when it comes to coaching. I haven’t yet reached the heights of a Mourinho to be able to call myself a Special One. But I WILL defend my opinions in the face of criticism that doesn’t seem to want to allow for discourse.

Also, Juve need BIG changes for next season if they are to challenge for the Scudetto again. Roma are doing well. Maybe getting rid of Ranieri was a bit hasty?

As I said, both of you make some fine points, and as a Juventus fan I have been forced to really take a close look at Benitez’s spell at pool to see if he would fit la vecchia signora if he ever makes it over. As of now, I am leaning towards NO, he won’t. We shall see what happens