Will Rafa win the league with Liverpool?

[Rashid]

Well?

Did this on TLW and the majority said Yes if he changes some things, many said No. I think he can but only if he ditches rotation.

[JPK]

If he buys quality players and offloads the duds then yes

[Jack D Rips]

He can if he makes it his priority.

Although he has said that that is the case I dont believe him.

If he really meant it then I can only say that he hasnt a clue how to go about it.

[Frank Leroux]

He needs to stop his players treating certain PL games like CL games. For games like Birmingham (at home, anyway) we need momentum, momentum, momentum. High tempo.

I don't think Benitez can really do (or instill, if you like) high-tempo. It may be his philiosophy, it may be his Spanish experience. But slow & calculated doesn't win the PL.

Dropping the rotation thing mightn't hurt either.

And I was beginning to feel optimistic about this season....

Frank.

[Red_Polo]

Well?

Did this on TLW and the majority said Yes if he changes some things, many said No. I think he can but only if he ditches rotation.

You haven't seen the statistics on the number of changes made by Man Utd and Chelsea in their league winning seasons then?

[bigfooty]

Almost a year ago this poll was held on Koptalk and 95% said he would win us the league, I was one of the 5% that said no.

Will be interesting to see how things have changed since then.

[JPK]

Almost a year ago this poll was held on Koptalk and 95% said he would win us the league, I was one of the 5% that said no.

Will be interesting to see how things have changed since then.

95% of them have probably left now

[bigfooty]

And most probably ended up here

[Tom]

He's not going to ditch rotation, he will, given the same financial resources as manure, win us the league. Rotation complete red herring.

These bollox polls should really come out and say what they mean.
What this one, and the other bollox poll from yesterday really ask is:

"sack rafa, yes or no".

[Dhav]

You haven't seen the statistics on the number of changes made by Man Utd and Chelsea in their league winning seasons then?

May be they rotated more wisely than Rafa is mate or may be they had better squads and so their rotations had less impact on the quality of the team?

I don't think there is anything wrong with rotating, in fact it is imperative if you expect to have a succesful campaign. But either Rafa needs to be a bit smarter with which games he rotates the team and the personnel he rotates or we need to bring in better quality options in certain positions.

Personally I think we have depth to be able to rotate effectively and win PL games, but perhaps not the quality yet to rotate and have both a succesful PL and European campaign. In which case it would need Rafa to firmly make the league his number one priority if we are to win it this season.

I still think we can win it this season, but it will take a change of approach and mentality from Rafa.

[desertscouser]

You haven't seen the statistics on the number of changes made by Man Utd and Chelsea in their league winning seasons then?

RP, I'd be interested in seeing those stats. The thing is, I'd be willing to put money on the fact that both United and Chelsea seldom rotated their group of core players from premiership games and both teams still remained in the hunt for major honours up to the last kick of the season.

How many times do you reckon Mourinho rotated Cech, Terry/Carvalho, Lampard and Drogba in prem games? very few.

Same goes for United. Van Der Sar,Ferdinand/Vidic, Carrick, Ronaldo, Rooney.

I'll vote for yes but only if Rafa stops over rotating and keeps a core group of players playing the majority of premiership games. He must also make the premiership our priority if he's to bring back no 19.

[Dhav]

He's not going to ditch rotation, he will, given the same financial resources as manure, win us the league. Rotation complete red herring.

These bollox polls should really come out and say what they mean.
What this one, and the other bollox poll from yesterday really ask is:

"sack rafa, yes or no".

Indeed, it seems some people are in the mood to call for Rafa's head even though we've only played 6 league games and are still undefeated.

He needs to be given more time. This is the first time he's been able to buy top quality players, so obviously it will take time to build a squad with the quality that the Mancs and Chelsea have been able to build given their financial clout.

If we end up miles behind this season (which i dont think we will) then his methods and approach will need to be questioned and I think he will be in serious jeopardy. but if we are close but don't actually win it, he deserves more time. We are behind the likes of Man U and Chelsea in terms of the development of our squad/team - there's no denying that. What we need to see this season is that we are making up ground on them and going in the right direction.

[Dhav]

I'll vote for yes but only if Rafa stops over rotating and keeps a core group of players playing the majority of premiership games. He must also make the premiership our priority if he's to bring back no 19.

Indeed. Like it or not we do not have the quality in our squad for Rafa to rest the likes of Gerrard and Torres for tricky away league games and play them in Europe instead and still expect to win the league.

What's disappointed me about Rafa this season is that he has come out and said that the league is the main priority this season yet at the first sight of a European game he's held back two of our best players from a tricky league game to make sure they are rested for Europe.

[Tom]

Indeed, it seems some people are in the mood to call for Rafa's head even though we've only played 6 league games and are still undefeated.

He needs to be given more time. This is the first time he's been able to buy top quality players, so obviously it will take time to build a squad with the quality that the Mancs and Chelsea have been able to build given their financial clout.

If we end up miles behind this season (which i dont think we will) then his methods and approach will need to be questioned and I think he will be in serious jeopardy. but if we are close but don't actually win it, he deserves more time. We are behind the likes of Man U and Chelsea in terms of the development of our squad/team - there's no denying that. What we need to see this season is that we are making up ground on them and going in the right direction.

Great post mate

[Lee]

We've got the squad to win it.

But he needs to prioritise the League over anything else, and stick the same core of 7/8 players week in week out (barring injuries, suspensions and rests later on in the season).

It's only this summer that we've been able to fork out serious money on a top striker. Utd & Chelsea have been doing it for years