Before you read this story, think of this:
us - no unchanged teams this season
scum - no unchanged teams this season
tscum - only once have they named an unchanged team this season
arse - only once have they named an unchanged team this season
Rotation is needed to be a success, insists Benitez
Oct 25 2006
By Ian Doyle, Daily Post
Rafael Benitez
RAFAEL BENITEZ has launched the most impassioned defence yet of his
rotation policy as he prepared to ring the changes once again this evening.
The Liverpool manager has come in for increased criticism for
continually altering his starting line-up after his team's dismal 2-0
defeat at Manchester United on Sunday left them 11 points off the
Premiership leaders.
Benitez, though, has an unshakeable faith in the system and will make
changes for the 98th consecutive game for tonight's Carling Cup third
round clash against Reading.
And the Spaniard pointed to his trophy haul during little more than
two years at Anfield as proof that rotation pays dividends.
"Our idea is to use the squad, work with them, and use the players
you need for each game," said Benitez. "In two years and two months
at this club we have played in six finals and won four - how many
other teams can say the same?
"We did that by changing players. Maybe there is another way of
winning trophies, yes, but this way is working.
"We have the same idea as last season. You cannot play in four
competitions using just 15 players, you need to use your squad.
"If we keep on using the players we are using now in every game, by
March and April we will struggle in the league."
With one eye on improving his team's Premiership position, Benitez
will make wholesale changes this evening for what will be Liverpool's
first ever meeting with Reading.
Robbie Fowler will start his first game since the Merseyside derby
last month. Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso will definitely be rested
while the likes of Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and
John Arne Riise are unlikely to begin the match.
Benitez has a healthy respect for the Carling Cup - his first final
as Anfield manager came in the competition in 2005 against Chelsea -
but admits it is bottom on his list of priorities.
"I don't want to use some of the big names, because they are playing
a lot of games both for us and their national teams," said Benitez.
"They cannot play at their level and at the tempo of modern football
in every game.
"The priority is Premiership, then Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup.
"We want to win the Carling Cup. But we don't need to use the players
who are playing two games a week.
"We need to use the players who, in our opinion, give us the
possibility of progressing. Two years ago we were in the
quarter-final against Tottenham with seven lads in the team.
"But people don't seem to talk about that, they prefer to talk about
last season when we lost to Crystal Palace with some young lads in the team."
There will be youngsters in Liverpool's line-up this evening, with
Benitez calling up full-backs Lee Peltier and James Smith and reserve
midfielder Danny Guthrie, while Gabriel Paletta should make his first
senior appearance since arriving from Argentina in the summer.
Fabio Aurelio (ankle), Craig Bellamy (calf), Mark Gonzalez (ankle)
and Harry Kewell (foot) are all out, while Jerzy Dudek's suspension
means 20-year-old reserve goalkeeper David Martin will understudy
Pepe Reina on the bench.
us - no unchanged teams this season
scum - no unchanged teams this season
tscum - only once have they named an unchanged team this season
arse - only once have they named an unchanged team this season
Rotation is needed to be a success, insists Benitez
Oct 25 2006
By Ian Doyle, Daily Post
Rafael Benitez
RAFAEL BENITEZ has launched the most impassioned defence yet of his
rotation policy as he prepared to ring the changes once again this evening.
The Liverpool manager has come in for increased criticism for
continually altering his starting line-up after his team's dismal 2-0
defeat at Manchester United on Sunday left them 11 points off the
Premiership leaders.
Benitez, though, has an unshakeable faith in the system and will make
changes for the 98th consecutive game for tonight's Carling Cup third
round clash against Reading.
And the Spaniard pointed to his trophy haul during little more than
two years at Anfield as proof that rotation pays dividends.
"Our idea is to use the squad, work with them, and use the players
you need for each game," said Benitez. "In two years and two months
at this club we have played in six finals and won four - how many
other teams can say the same?
"We did that by changing players. Maybe there is another way of
winning trophies, yes, but this way is working.
"We have the same idea as last season. You cannot play in four
competitions using just 15 players, you need to use your squad.
"If we keep on using the players we are using now in every game, by
March and April we will struggle in the league."
With one eye on improving his team's Premiership position, Benitez
will make wholesale changes this evening for what will be Liverpool's
first ever meeting with Reading.
Robbie Fowler will start his first game since the Merseyside derby
last month. Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso will definitely be rested
while the likes of Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and
John Arne Riise are unlikely to begin the match.
Benitez has a healthy respect for the Carling Cup - his first final
as Anfield manager came in the competition in 2005 against Chelsea -
but admits it is bottom on his list of priorities.
"I don't want to use some of the big names, because they are playing
a lot of games both for us and their national teams," said Benitez.
"They cannot play at their level and at the tempo of modern football
in every game.
"The priority is Premiership, then Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup.
"We want to win the Carling Cup. But we don't need to use the players
who are playing two games a week.
"We need to use the players who, in our opinion, give us the
possibility of progressing. Two years ago we were in the
quarter-final against Tottenham with seven lads in the team.
"But people don't seem to talk about that, they prefer to talk about
last season when we lost to Crystal Palace with some young lads in the team."
There will be youngsters in Liverpool's line-up this evening, with
Benitez calling up full-backs Lee Peltier and James Smith and reserve
midfielder Danny Guthrie, while Gabriel Paletta should make his first
senior appearance since arriving from Argentina in the summer.
Fabio Aurelio (ankle), Craig Bellamy (calf), Mark Gonzalez (ankle)
and Harry Kewell (foot) are all out, while Jerzy Dudek's suspension
means 20-year-old reserve goalkeeper David Martin will understudy
Pepe Reina on the bench.


Comment