Anyone still think Gerrard and Torres should have started on Sat?

[JohnDoe]

Looking at their level of energy, imagine their condition a few days ago...

Personally I want at least one of them to play every game since they're our biggest attacking threats in the team, but looking at their performance today you start to understand what Rafa's thinking when picking the starting line-up.

He sees things we don't see, he thinks about things we might not think about. To many people if it's not written in the player's profile that he's "jaded and in need of a rest" and his fitness stands at around 88%, he MUST play or the manager's incompetent.

Some perspective please.

[bigfooty]

I actually thought Torres looked pretty energetic, but we had so little of the play elsewhere he just had no chance to do anything really.

Gerrard was anonymous today and did more in his cameo at Pompy so I don't know how that 20 mins jaded him.

[kurtangle01]

Yes, I do.

[JohnDoe]

I actually thought Torres looked pretty energetic, but we had so little of the play elsewhere he just had no chance to do anything really.

Gerrard was anonymous today and did more in his cameo at Pompy so I don't know how that 20 mins jaded him.

Torres' movement was nowhere near what we're used to and there's a big difference between starting a match and joining for the last 20 minutes.

[cobain]

Yes, I do.

Same here

Gerrard and Torres were massive on Saturday, because they controlled the game and more important, Torres was fed with great passes and crosses. He was completely isolated tonight, so was Gerrard and majority of that is to be thanked to Rafa's incredibly dumb tactics!

[Skillz]

what tonight for me was realise that Xabi is still our best DM option. I know Masher can play alot better than that but his distribution was absolutely terrible. One of the main reasons Stevie struggled to get the ball IMO.

Great result all things considered.

[JohnDoe]

Same here

Gerrard and Torres were massive on Saturday, because they controlled the game and more important, Torres was fed with great passes and crosses. He was completely isolated tonight, so was Gerrard and majority of that is to be thanked to Rafa's incredibly dumb tactics!

Instead of blaming it all on Rafa's 'tactics', would you care to explain what do you think Rafa has instructed his players to do that was wrong tonight? It's fun saying 'tactics' but do you have any idea what that means?

[Icon]

Ummmmmmm

YEP!

[Red Chilli]

Yes, I do.

Same here

Ummmmmmm

YEP!

Yep

[JohnDoe]

Instead of blaming it all on Rafa's 'tactics', would you care to explain what do you think Rafa has instructed his players to do that was wrong tonight? It's fun saying 'tactics' but do you have any idea what that means?

[cobain]

Instead of blaming it all on Rafa's 'tactics', would you care to explain what do you think Rafa has instructed his players to do that was wrong tonight? It's fun saying 'tactics' but do you have any idea what that means?

Yes I CAN explain!

First of all, he knew Porto had quick players and gave a chance to slow Sami Hyypiä. Why he didn't play Daniel Agger is beyond me ... If he played, maybe we wouldn't have conceded a penalty. On the other hand, he couldn't have known that the whole squad (Kuyt excluded) would be ****e today!

Porto were playing mainly through the flanks and we have had difficulties with clearing and stealing the ball, yet nothing was done to prevent this. Porto broke every attack we tried in the middle and were we trying to get to them down the flanks? No, we kept losing the ball in the middle of the park. Then here is Pennant: in the first half, he looked like he was going to grab that red card, but Rafa did nothing. And BAM! Pennant gets sent off. How unpredictable eh?

And not to mention this ****ing high balls from defence to our forwards that are getting us nowhere! Rafa ****ed it tonight again and he is making too many mistakes lately! He is still a TOP MANAGER and all that, but he needs to acknowledge that he too makes mistakes! I think he is full of himself after two CL finals in three years and takes everything for granted.

[cobain]

:whatever:

[JohnDoe]

Yes, I do.

Same here

Ummmmmmm

YEP!

Yep

I bet all of you would have been quiet if we actually won the match, regardless of the way we performed.

Only reason Rafa gets the criticism for not playing Torres and Gerrard is the result of the match. I remember plenty of times before when he "over-rotated" and nothing was mentioned about it and you know why? Because we won. Not only that but he was praised for the same actions.

In football there is only one guarantee: Somebody will find something wrong about what you did when you lost, regardless if it helps you win more.

[Tee]

Looking at their level of energy, imagine their condition a few days ago...

Personally I want at least one of them to play every game since they're our biggest attacking threats in the team, but looking at their performance today you start to understand what Rafa's thinking when picking the starting line-up.

He sees things we don't see, he thinks about things we might not think about. To many people if it's not written in the player's profile that he's "jaded and in need of a rest" and his fitness stands at around 88%, he MUST play or the manager's incompetent.

Some perspective please.

They both should have started on Saturday - bolocks to all this energy level bullcrap - if their 'energy levels' dropped on Saturday they could have been subbed. Play your best team at all times.

We looked like we had 11 strangers out there for most of the game - rotation? I just do not get it.

BUT, I am not a football Manager so whilst I totally disagree with Rafas policy I accept it.

[cobain]

I bet all of you would have been quiet if we actually won the match, regardless of the way we performed.

Only reason Rafa gets the criticism for not playing Torres and Gerrard is the result of the match. I remember plenty of times before when he "over-rotated" and nothing was mentioned about it and you know why? Because we won. Not only that but he was praised for the same actions.

In football there is only one guarantee: Somebody will find something wrong about what you did when you lost, regardless if it helps you win more.

I'd be happy if we won tonight, but I would still point out negatives and I always do that.

I'm pissed off after tonights performance and I KNOW everyone are!