A Critical Evaluation of Rafa

[puredale]

As much as you and many others are using the League Title as a measuring stick for Rafa's greatness/demise, there are far too many other things at play for me to follow suit.

We can not and will not EVER be able to compete with Chelsea's money, and SAF has been in control of Manure for so long that he only needs one or two solid signings a year now to maintain. This is the first year (and it's still to be proven) that Rafa has had a transfer kitty to delve into.

I would be willing to give him 4-5 years to challenge for the title, and even then, we know he'll have racked up a bevy of other hardware for us in that time, so it still wouldn't upset me if we couldn't get it.

Cups and league are totally different; as was proven in the CL when over 2 legs we beat Chelsea AGAIN this year to go on to the final. Rafa is king at a 2 legged race, but it's tough to challenge for a title when you're up against the other contributing factors.

For the record, I hope we're both wrong.

I agree with you - which doesn't make for great debate.

Rafa plays with 6 defenders and four attackers (two DMs in a 442) and that system worked well for him in Spain but you need more points (on average over the last five years 8 more points) to win the league in England and that means he needs to play 5 defenders and 5 attackers (either 352/343 or one DM in a 442) - a system that is alien to him. Until he demonstrates a more adventurous strategy - 'must win' rather than 'do not lose' - I will have my doubts about his ability to win the league in this country.

We will continue to be good in cup competitions with Rafa's style - because the emphasis is on 'not losing' rather than 'must win'.

Rafa needs another couple of years of being well supported in the transfer market before it is possible to know 'for sure' if he can deliver No.19.

[loco_law]

Well damn you all to hell.