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

[CAD]

I dont think he needs to stop it mate. But there's a core of players, a 'spine' if you will, that should play most of the games, maybe being rested (not all at the same time) for home games against Sunderland, Brum, Derby, Wigan, Fulham, Boro, Reading etc....and of course Carling Cup games too. Other than those type of games, the 'spine' (Reina, Carra, Gerrard, Torres) should play more or less as much as they're fit to. Similar to Cech, Terry, Lampard and Drogba for Chelsea.

He can rotate around them by all means, but those four between them, can ensure that we're still a threat going forward, and still difficult to break down. That's the key IMO.

I think that Chelsea has so much more width and are able to rotate more agressively than us. It has been so in the past and no wonder when we compare their squad to ours.

Players I would try to field in the starting XI every single PL away game if fit:

Reina
Finnan
Carra
Agger
Gerrard
Torres
Kuyt

Something like that...

I don't think the squad is strong enough to rotate around 4 players.

[sonsofthedesert]

I dont think he needs to stop it mate. But there's a core of players, a 'spine' if you will, that should play most of the games, maybe being rested (not all at the same time) for home games against Sunderland, Brum, Derby, Wigan, Fulham, Boro, Reading etc....and of course Carling Cup games too. Other than those type of games, the 'spine' (Reina, Carra, Gerrard, Torres) should play more or less as much as they're fit to. Similar to Cech, Terry, Lampard and Drogba for Chelsea.

He can rotate around them by all means, but those four between them, can ensure that we're still a threat going forward, and still difficult to break down. That's the key IMO.

Yeah I agree with that, quite fair.

[sonsofthedesert]

I think that Chelsea has so much more width and are able to rotate more agressively than us. It has been so in the past and no wonder when we compare their squad to ours.

Players I would try to field in the starting XI every single PL away game if fit:

Reina
Finnan
Carra
Agger
Gerrard
Torres
Kuyt

Something like that...

I don't think the squad is strong enough to rotate around 4 players.

Too many players as your spine and also Kuyt should not be an ever present as Voronin and Crouch will have a lot to offer in the league against the right teams. I do believe that Crouch against Pompey was not a good fit.

[CAD]

Too many players as your spine and also Kuyt should not be an ever present as Voronin and Crouch will have a lot to offer in the league against the right teams. I do believe that Crouch against Pompey was not a good fit.

Take away Kuyt then. The point is the same. We don't have the depth/quality to rotate around only 4 players. That's my take on it.

Agree to disagree

[JohnDoe]

The spine of the team is Reina, Carragher, Gerrard and Torres. Agger is included at the moment because we don't have a really strong alternative.

Rafa always plays these four players when they are fit, unless it's a meaningless game.

[CAD]

The spine of the team is Reina, Carragher, Gerrard and Torres. Agger is included at the moment because we don't have a really strong alternative.

Rafa always plays these four players when they are fit, unless it's a meaningless game.

I do believe that Finnan is part of the spine as well. In a really important match I think Kuyt is first choice as well.

[JohnDoe]

Finnan will be dropped if he ever has a poor run of form, you can't say the same about Carragher, Gerrard and Torres.

Kuyt might be preferred over Crouch/Voronin at the moment, but that doesn't make him part of our spine, who are picked regardless of any matter.

[Craig_H]

The spine of the team is Reina, Carragher, Gerrard and Torres. Agger is included at the moment because we don't have a really strong alternative.

Rafa always plays these four players when they are fit, unless it's a meaningless game.

Except at Pompey...and if they werent fit, they wouldnt/shouldnt have been on the bench.

[red g]

The spine of the team is Reina, Carragher, Gerrard and Torres. Agger is included at the moment because we don't have a really strong alternative.

Rafa always plays these four players when they are fit, unless it's a meaningless game.

agger is part of the spine, because he is a superb player and enables our defense to play higher up the field.

[JohnDoe]

Except at Pompey...and if they werent fit, they wouldnt/shouldnt have been on the bench.

If they were fully match fit, they'd have started and you're clutching at straws.

[JohnDoe]

agger is part of the spine, because he is a superb player and enables our defense to play higher up the field.

I rate Agger very highly, but I hope we find a good alternative in the summer like Chelsea have with Terry/Carvalho or Alex. Rafa also tends to pick Hyypia for some games even when Agger is fit (see Sunderland).

[Craig_H]

If they were fully match fit, they'd have started and you're clutching at straws.

You dont have someone on the bench if they're not fit enough to play 90 mins. What if you get an injury and they're needed 2 mins in?

I'm not clutching at anything, you're just wrong and cant admit it.

[JohnDoe]

You dont have someone on the bench if they're not fit enough to play 90 mins. What if you get an injury and they're needed 2 mins in?

I'm not clutching at anything, you're just wrong and cant admit it.

That's called taking a risk.

Anyway, we've discussed exactly the same subject a couple of pages ago.

If you think Rafa left them on the bench because he "rotated them", think that way.

[Craig_H]

Yeah, cos he NEVER rotates, does he?

[Pacman]

I rate Agger very highly, but I hope we find a good alternative in the summer like Chelsea have with Terry/Carvalho or Alex. Rafa also tends to pick Hyypia for some games even when Agger is fit (see Sunderland).

You dont have someone on the bench if they're not fit enough to play 90 mins. What if you get an injury and they're needed 2 mins in?

I'm not clutching at anything, you're just wrong and cant admit it.

That's called taking a risk.

Anyway, we've discussed exactly the same subject a couple of pages ago.

If you think Rafa left them on the bench because he "rotated them", think that way.

Yeah, cos he NEVER rotates, does he?

Get a room you 2