THE post match reaction thread....

[Red Chilli]

Does anyone actually believe that Rafa can actually admit when he may be over doing it?.
Are we in a situation here whee staff members are afraid to say something to Rafa in fear of falling out of favour.

I don't think it's a question of admitting that he's over doing it, I just think it's Rafa's way of doing it. It's not designed to irritate, it's just his philosophy.

[bazza76]

Babel will only fully adjust by playing games. While he still shows signs of spark, i'd keep playing him.

I know that mate, same can be said of all the promising players though.
But I honestly do not feel he is an effective winger, I know it is really really early days for Babel, but I do wonder sometimes why he is rated so highly, especialy as he was hardly setting the world alight at Ajax before he came, people seem to have taken a shine to hime because of the European U21 Championships.
Personally speaking, id start with Riise in midfield ahead of him for now, just until the squad settles, it was the same last season, Gonzales trying to find his feet, players like this not adapting to the squad and system quickly enough cost us points early on. Babel has bags of potential I will admit that, but I dont think he should be a regular starter for us just yet.

[kurtangle01]

Does anyone actually believe that Rafa can actually admit when he may be over doing it?.
Are we in a situation here whee staff members are afraid to say something to Rafa in fear of falling out of favour.

I don't think that's the case. I'm sure all his staff have opinions and Rafa will value them. He doesn't have to agree with them though and at the end of the day he's the one that comes in for criticism if things go tits up.

Rafa's single minded and will do things his way. I'm certain that in the not to distant future we'll all be praising him as a tactical genius again.

Just another day in the life of a fickle footie fan after all.

[bazza76]

I don't think it's a question of admitting that he's over doing it, I just think it's Rafa's way of doing it. It's not designed to irritate, it's just his philosophy.

I know that mate.
My question is though, can Rafa admit that his philosophy may be flawed and needs fine tuning, IMO it is, I do like his thinking, but think he is over doing it. Familiarity has to come into the equation aswell, especially so early on in the season.

[Craig_H]

I know that mate, same can be said of all the promising players though.
But I honestly do not feel he is an effective winger, I know it is really really early days for Babel, but I do wonder sometimes why he is rated so highly, especialy as he was hardly setting the world alight at Ajax before he came, people seem to have taken a shine to hime because of the European U21 Championships.
Personally speaking, id start with Riise in midfield ahead of him for now, just until the squad settles, it was the same last season, Gonzales trying to find his feet, players like this not adapting to the squad and system quickly enough cost us points early on. Babel has bags of potential I will admit that, but I dont think he should be a regular starter for us just yet.

My main reason for being keen on him is that he is capable of running at defenders at pace, is direct, quick and frightens the opponents. Attributes which are simulatanously necessary, and also somewhat lacking in our squad.

[Shanks]

Rafa Can Do No Wrong...something a large portion of people seem to believe...

The problem is though is you are picking the team based on what you see on the pitch whether that be live, or on TV.

We can all do that!

How about you see if you can get into Melwood and find out what's really going on behind the scenes.

Do you know everybody's fitness state, mental state, any medical issues personal issues.
NO.

All you know is that we paid top dollar for a striker who has started well so far so why isn't he playing..


It's not a case of Rafa can do no wrong, more of a case of believing in him.

Best start since when?? No goals conceeded from open play..

Thank **** your not in charge eh.

You'd be still picking the side that won in Istanbul.

[bazza76]

I don't think that's the case. I'm sure all his staff have opinions and Rafa will value them. He doesn't have to agree with them though and at the end of the day he's the one that comes in for criticism if things go tits up.

Rafa's single minded and will do things his way. I'm certain that in the not to distant future we'll all be praising him as a tactical genius again.

Just another day in the life of a fickle footie fan after all.

I'll admit, I have been one of Rafa's biggest fans, I still am, just think he needs to sit back and take stock for a bit.
At the end of the day, results on the pitch are down to the management, and it is not as if we haven't spent big since he has arrived.

[Red Chilli]

I think Babel has more chance of making it as a striker than a winger

[Craig_H]

The problem is though is you are picking the team based on what you see on the pitch whether that be live, or on TV.

We can all do that!

How about you see if you can get into Melwood and find out what's really going on behind the scenes.

Do you know everybody's fitness state, mental state, any medical issues personal issues.
NO.

All you know is that we paid top dollar for a striker who has started well so far so why isn't he playing..


It's not a case of Rafa can do no wrong, more of a case of believing in him.

Best start since when?? No goals conceeded from open play..

Thank **** your not in charge eh.

You'd be still picking the side that won in Istanbul.

Yes, Rafa's perfect....

[bazza76]

My main reason for being keen on him is that he is capable of running at defenders at pace, is direct, quick and frightens the opponents. Attributes which are simulatanously necessary, and also somewhat lacking in our squad.

Yes I know, I like them too, I just think he needs to adapt a bit more, I know he needs games to improve, but can we afford this kind of luxury so early in the season, if it was Slur Alex, you can bet your bottom dollar he wold be coming on late in games and the players that are playing well are the ones that would be playing.

[AFII]

I think Babel has more chance of making it as a striker than a winger

Play Leto on the left instead. He is a winger.

[kurtangle01]

I'll admit, I have been one of Rafa's biggest fans, I still am, just think he needs to sit back and take stock for a bit.
At the end of the day, results on the pitch are down to the management, and it is not as if we haven't spent big since he has arrived.

I'm a big fan of Rafa aswell but he's not above criticism. Days like today and pompey last week he deserves that criticism, imho. On the flip side though, if we'd won both matches we would be hailing him a genius.

There's a thin line between success and failure. Rafa will get it right and hopefully it wont take to long. We don't need to be left behind.

[cobain]

I think Babel has more chance of making it as a striker than a winger

If Rafa keeps playing Babel on the wing, he'll be no better than Diouf or Cissé.

Arsene Wenger turned Henry from a no good winger to a world class striker - we seem to be doing this in the opposite direction

[Red Chilli]

Play Leto on the left instead. He is a winger.

100% agree with that.

[bazza76]

I think Babel has more chance of making it as a striker than a winger

Maybe so, but the thing that worries me about that statement is, he will never be considered as a main striker by Rafa.