Will Rafa win the league with Liverpool?

[Dhav]

Rotation is not the problem, it's the squad's quality in depth which is. In an ideal world, Rafa would have 22 players of equal calibre. He's won 2 La Liga titles FFS, and he's been rotating his Valencia squad as much as he's doing to ours.

Well this is the problem isn't it? When he rotates the likes of Gerrard and Torres the team in significantly weaker. In the absence of more inspirational players IMO Rafa has the responsibility to play the strongest possible line-up in league matches as this is the only way we can win it this season. We dont have enough quality to play weakened teams in the league (and still expect to win) so that we can win matches in the CL.

[Johnny]

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.

Your back again,great.

[-V-]

If he stops putting his faith on average joes like Voronin.

There are plenty of people on here who never stop going on about how great the crow is. Yeh right. He is average at best, wasn't even that great against sunderand. There is a reason why we got him for free. He is not good enough, sadly Rafa rates him.

No idea why

[bazza76]

I have no problem with Rafa's tactical decisions, but he does drop players too often, especially when it is very important to gather a head of steam and build up confidence within the squad.
It can be argued yesterday that Rafa dropped Torres for Tactical reasons, and he did say he dropped Torres because he knew Birmingham would play deep, meaning he would not get the opportunity to use Torres speed beyond the back 4 effectively.
If that is the case, I do believe he has under estimated Torres's ability from deep. He is a fantastic footballer who can play a variety of forward roles and has great instinct.
I think Rafa will have learned from yesterdays game, I do think we can go on and win the league under Rafa, I will stil stand by him and say, on a game to game basis, depending on the opposition, there is no better manager in European football.
But, I guess you could say tactically, over a whole league season, if you include rotation as part of tactics, we are over doing things at the moment, especially at the vital early stages of a league season when we need cohesion.
I have said this last season and the season before, we need to start with the familiars early on, players who know Rafa's tactics. And then blood the new boys in, with the exception of world class players like Torres, who, has the ability to adapt quickly due to his exception tallent.
Rafa is stil evolving as a manager, that there is no doubt about, he is also a very clever man, I have no doubt he will realise, hopefully sooner rather than later, that squad rotation, especially at the early stages of the season, is costing us points.
To be totaly honest, I was a bit disspointed in pre season when Rafa was blaming our poor starts on the pre season training regime. I was hoping he would realise it was the rotation, ahh well, fingers crossed he realises this next season.

[bazza76]

He has to do oen thing for me or I want him gone.

1. Challenge for the league right up until Easter.

These would be nice but if he does number 1 noone will care.

2. Drop Rotation
3. Buy some genuine creative players so we can play half decent football.

Rashid, post crap lie that on any forum, and you are putting your hand out to be slapped. Who someone who has been around the forums so long can post such tripe is beyond me.
What about all the trophies Rafa has won us? what if win the European Cup again this season, you would still let Rafa go then?.

[JohnDoe]

So basically, judging by this poll, at least 25% (those who have said he'll never win us the league) want him sacked?!

Whoever voted that, I'll be happy to read some of your cases for a replacement who will be able to win us the league, because if you have no faith in him what's the point?

Seems fair to ask.

[Dhav]

So basically, judging by this poll, at least 25% (those who have said he'll never win us the league) want him sacked?!

Whoever voted that, I'll be happy to read some of your cases for a replacement who will be able to win us the league, because if you have no faith in him what's the point?

Seems fair to ask.

No doubt many will say Mourinho

[JPK]

If he stops putting his faith on average joes like Voronin.

There are plenty of people on here who never stop going on about how great the crow is. Yeh right. He is average at best, wasn't even that great against sunderand. There is a reason why we got him for free. He is not good enough, sadly Rafa rates him.

No idea why

His deal was agreed before the investment and Rafa will give him a year.
He should be 4th choice and yesterday Torres mad way for him
Spurs got Leverkusen's best striker and we take there second best.

I would love to know Rafa's future transfer strategy and what type of players he will go for.Torres and Babel are young and have great futures but I hope he does not sign average Joe's along with them.That is our main problem and our squad is imbalanced with average players and top class players.

[JohnDoe]

His deal was agreed before the investment and Rafa will give him a year.
He should be 4th choice and yesterday Torres mad way for him
Spurs got Leverkusen's best striker and we take there second best.

I would love to know Rafa's future transfer strategy and what type of players he will go for.Torres and Babel are young and have great futures but I hope he does not sign average Joe's along with them.That is our main problem and our squad is imbalanced with average players and top class players.

First of all, Voronin was signed to replace Fowler. He wasn't brought to be our star striker and he didn't cost a dime. Sometimes you need to make these sort of signing to fill up gaps in your squad, there's no shame in signing bosman players.

The only summer Rafa actually had the luxury to spend lots of money on top quality players was this summer. Before that he was always forced to buy decent players for good prices because he had to spread his budget around plenty of positions. He also never got a decent deal for selling players because the squad he inherited was ****.

[JPK]

First of all, Voronin was signed to replace Fowler. He wasn't brought to be our star striker and he didn't cost a dime. Sometimes you need to make these sort of signing to fill up gaps in your squad, there's no shame in signing bosman players.

The only summer Rafa actually had the luxury to spend lots of money on top quality players was this summer. Before that he was always forced to buy decent players for good prices because he had to spread his budget around plenty of positions. He also never got a decent deal for selling players because the squad he inherited was ****.

I understand this and if we had the investment before the Voronin deal then I doubt it would of been done.Rafa has an eye for players and examples are Eto'o who he wanted here as his first signing but he used the money for Xabi and Luis insteadVilla before he joined Valencia was heavily linked but we did'nt have the money,Alves but we would'nt pay the extra few quid,Gaby Milito,Malouda,Mancini to name a few.

Instead we signed stop gaps like Crouch,Pennant,Yossi who are not in the same league as the above players.

[Johnny]

I understand this and if we had the investment before the Voronin deal then I doubt it would of been done.Rafa has an eye for players and examples are Eto'o who he wanted here as his first signing but he used the money for Xabi and Luis insteadVilla before he joined Valencia was heavily linked but we did'nt have the money,Alves but we would'nt pay the extra few quid,Gaby Milito,Malouda,Mancini to name a few.

Instead we signed stop gaps like Crouch,Pennant,Yossi who are not in the same league as the above players.

Sack Parry!!!!!!

[Craig_H]

So basically, judging by this poll, at least 25% (those who have said he'll never win us the league) want him sacked?!

Whoever voted that, I'll be happy to read some of your cases for a replacement who will be able to win us the league, because if you have no faith in him what's the point?

Seems fair to ask.

I have faith in him, but he MUST revise his thinking on leaving out the top players on such a regular basis...

Because if he doesnt, and continues in a manner that sees us losing stupid points on a regular basis...i'd turn it around and ask what's the point in him being here?

[JohnDoe]

I have faith in him, but he MUST revise his thinking on leaving out the top players on such a regular basis...

Because if he doesnt, and continues in a manner that sees us losing stupid points on a regular basis...i'd turn it around and ask what's the point in him being here?

I wasn't talking about you, you voted "Yes, but only if he changes some things" which is fine and sits with your opinions.

I'm asking those who said a clear "No".

[JPK]

Sack Parry!!!!!!

Not at all!!Just unlucky that we did'nt pull some of them off.

[Parm]

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.

thing is, when he rotates and we win, there is no problem. But when we draw/lose then all of a sudden it is a problm. The bigs all rotate and they have to, it's a must for the modern game. it'd be nice to go back to the day of Paisley when we jusy used 14 players in an entire season, but sadly we cant/.