In May 2007, Liverpool lost 1-0 to Fulham in the final away game of the season, a result that condemned Neil Warnock's Sheffield United team to relegation from the Premier League. To this day, Warnock - now at QPR - holds a grudge against Rafa Benitez, and he is not afraid to admit it.
In his weekly press conference earlier in the week, Warnock insisted that Benitez's decision to play a weakened side against Fulham led directly to Sheffield United's demise:
"I don't hold a grudge against Liverpool, but I'll never forgive Benitez for playing what wasn't even a reserve team [against] the worst team in the division.
"I'd understand it if the Champions League [Final] was the following week, but it was 18 days away. He didn't give two hoots.
"You don't ever forget things like that. I'll always remember that.
The team Benitez put out for that Fulham game was nowhere a reserve side; granted, a couple of first-team regulars were missing, but it was still a very strong side:
---------------------- Reina
Arbeloa ---- Hyypia ------- Paletta ------- Insua
Pennant -------- Sissoko --- Alonso ------ Gonzalez
--------------- Fowler ----- Bellamy
Warnock also revealed that Benitez once threatened him with legal action over his constant public outbursts on the topic:
"Benitez sent me an email once saying that if I mentioned it again he'd take me to court".
Well, I think this constitutes mentioning the issue again.
Over to you, Rafa!
Jaimie Kanwar
In his weekly press conference earlier in the week, Warnock insisted that Benitez's decision to play a weakened side against Fulham led directly to Sheffield United's demise:
"I don't hold a grudge against Liverpool, but I'll never forgive Benitez for playing what wasn't even a reserve team [against] the worst team in the division.
"I'd understand it if the Champions League [Final] was the following week, but it was 18 days away. He didn't give two hoots.
"You don't ever forget things like that. I'll always remember that.
The team Benitez put out for that Fulham game was nowhere a reserve side; granted, a couple of first-team regulars were missing, but it was still a very strong side:
---------------------- Reina
Arbeloa ---- Hyypia ------- Paletta ------- Insua
Pennant -------- Sissoko --- Alonso ------ Gonzalez
--------------- Fowler ----- Bellamy
Warnock also revealed that Benitez once threatened him with legal action over his constant public outbursts on the topic:
"Benitez sent me an email once saying that if I mentioned it again he'd take me to court".
Well, I think this constitutes mentioning the issue again.
Over to you, Rafa!
Jaimie Kanwar
MMay be warcock should blame himself because they got relegated by not performing in 37 other games and not on back of one game....but guess Rafael benitez is easy target and as usual the English mob ganging up on rafa ..like little Sam and Fergie other ar*e lickers
ReplyDeletethat's not really a weakened side put out by rafa, sissoko and alonso in midfield should have kept us steady throughout the game, i suppose only paletta and insua were the weak links in our team.
ReplyDeletehow could warnock even think or say that! if thats not a bad loser i dont know what is.
ReplyDeleteSheffield United relegated for losing the home game vs Wigan on the final day. Warnock are simply not good enough as Premier League Management.
ReplyDeleteI see that Warnock's still conveniently forgetting that Benitez fielded a 'weakened' side against Sheffield United at the start of that season prior to the 2nd leg of the CL qualifier against Haifa..................and the fact that he played a weakened side against ManU at Old Trafford because he didn't have the balls to try and get a result.
ReplyDeleteSheffield United + Neil Warnock = Not good enough for the Prem, nothing to do with Rafa!
Every team has the right to play anyone they want and you can't blame them for not doing you any favor, You relegated because your team is not good enough in overall 37 games or maybe you and don't blame it on 1 game bad loser
ReplyDeleteWhat a bad blood Warnock had over Rafa. He should admit that Sheffield United are not good enough to be in the Premier League. Shame on you Neil.
ReplyDeleteWe couldn't finish higher and had the Champions League final 10 days later.....I'm sure Neil blabbermouth would have put his best team out in the circumstances
ReplyDeletewho says it had to be a reserve side, and if i recall correctly didn't liverpool lose their first leg against SU? he wanted to win, that's it, Warnock can't blame it on one game out of 38 games that he did badly on
ReplyDeleteI like Neil Warnock but he is so totally totally wrong on this. I even remember watching the game and we absolutely battered Fulham but didn't score - they got one chance and scored.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot blame your failure to stay in the premiership on ONE game. Someone should remind Neil that you have 37 other games to amass enough points to stay in the division. If you cannot do that, it means your team are not good enough and that is exactly what happened. You always have to rely on your own results.
The simple answer is, this is utter nonsense and Sheff Utd were NOT GOOD ENOUGH during the whole of that season to stay in the league. End of.
I agree with every part except "I like Neil Warnock". I fucking hate him. He is a hypocritical two faced lying twat and and the sooner he's back managing in the Championship or not managing at all the better. Bleating fucker.
ReplyDeleteI think if you look at the team the defence at that time in Palleta and Insua was the only weakness possibly Gonzalez but all the others were pretty much regulars. Nothing agaisnt Warnock as I wanted Barcelona to beat United but we have the likes of Neville, Ferguson and Warnock stating that they wanted Liverpool to lose the champions league final. I think football figures should be more professional and not make comment just have their own thoughts. There are thousands of workers who would love to have comment regarding customers but never do as they need to stay professional.
ReplyDeleteWarnock also fails to mention his mate Fergie fielded a weakened team against West Ham at Old Trafford in the last game of the season. If Man had won that game Sheffield utd would have stayed up, instead Man u lost.
ReplyDeleteWarnock you wally – you think Rafa gives a fuck about a meaningless league game when he could easily get a player injured for a month or more? Shit happens; breaks, ligament damage, sprains, hamstrings – no man in their right mind would field a strong team.
ReplyDeleteAnd, you must take 100% responsibility for all failings, no matter how unfair you think they are. The fact is, if your team hadn't failed so much, they wouldn't have to rely upon others for their safety.
Sue him rafa. Shit ur pie hole warnock, nobody cares, he did what was right for lfc
ReplyDeletedude, this isn't america, you can't just sue someone for no reason
ReplyDeleteIs that daft twat still going on about rafa? What's your problem, you deluded gobshite! YOU GOT YOUR TEAM RELEGATED, and NOT RAFA! And YOU hold a grudge! Don't know how well all sleep from now on! (sarcasm) TOOL!
ReplyDeleteHow can you blame going down on a match your team wasn't even involved in? I didn't realise Liverpool represented Sheffield utd as well as ourselves?
ReplyDeleteApart from Gonzalez and Paletta, there's not alot wrong with that team!!
ReplyDeleteGet over it man! Move on! Nothing wrong with that team, in fact 2 of those players currently play for arguably the 2nd best club side in the world!
ReplyDeleteWhat does he knows what Champions League is about? Does he remember the team he put against ManUtd earlier that year? Can anybody remember what he said about naming a weak side against ManUtd that year?
ReplyDeleteHe has never complained at the weakened side that Liverpool put out against his side in the first game of that season when Fowler scored a penalty to make it 1-1. Short memory Warnock.
ReplyDeleteNot mant people I dislike or disrepect in football, But that man makes my skin crawl, u horrible little man Warnock!! Eff OFF!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnother member of the old boy network who has won nothing of any status but always falls in to a nice soft job.Clearly Sheff Utd's relegation was everyone's fault but your's eh Neil ?
ReplyDeleteWhat is it they say, "the table never lies". Warnock should blame himself for Utds demise. That season they blamed everyone but themselves, West Ham, Tevez, The FA, refs, Rafa but not one of them blamed Warnock who took the team down. If they were so good they wouldn't have been at the bottom of the table.
ReplyDeletespot on mate.
ReplyDeleteWe fielded weakened team coz it was in middle of Champs League Qualifiers. Although Stevie G did play (and won the penalty!).
Fulham beat a weakened LFC team at home to take 3 points
Sheff U only drew against a weakened LFC team at home and won 1 point.
Warnock needs to look much closer to home, rather than blame Rafa!
A wise person is someone who realises that tragedy and travesty are blessings, they are what give you the opportunity to learn and grow from.
ReplyDeleteInstead of learning that it is never a good idea to leave everything until the last moment, the fool blames the last moment.
Join the queue warnock, there are plenty of fools you'll get on with who don't like Rafa, bodgson, froguson, mallardyce, moaninho, andy gay etc... the company you keep says alot about you, go on, you fit in perfectly with those ego morons, who knows, bodgson might even keep a seat warm for you at the next (LMA) Little Managers Alliance meeting.
Get over it.
ReplyDeleteWhat would you think if referee robbed your team or something like that happened.
Maybe these reserve players would try their best trying to get to the final while first team regulars would already be thinking about CL final and not playing their best.