substitutions

[Liverpool]

I am becoming a little restless at a number of things Rafa is currently doing. His rotation policy policy does my head in but this is a well discussed topic. I would like to focus on his substitution policy.
The first point I would like to make is why does he invariably wait an hour before making substitutions. It was quickly obvious yesterday that Voronin and Kuyt-who are too similar in my opinion-were making no impact on goal. Voronin was anonymous in the first half.Why wait an hour to make a change? Where something isn't working a quick change of player can make all the difference as was shown when Torres came on. This is not just something that arose from yesterdays game but has been symtomatic of Rafa for a number of seasons.Whats his problem with recognising something isn't working and changing it immediately.On a smaller scale it reminds me of Houlliers determination to prove he was right and we were wrong by continually picking crap players he had brought on.
The second point is that if you wish to use substitutes it should be done in a reverse way. He should pick his best players ,get on top in a game, score a few and then bring them off. Yesterday was a prime example of why his current policy is wrong. We started out with a so so team allowing Birmingham time to grow in confidence. One goal would have changed their entire match strategy. Torres should have started. When we scored he could then have been taken off. his time on the pitch over a number of games would average roughly the same but the difference is we are winning when he goes off rather than struggling when he comes on. We have the players to win the league this seaso. Having watched the games against Pompey and Birmingham I believe that Rafa is screwing up our chances by his initial team selection and timing of substitutions. If this continues for the rest of the season the finger of responsibility will rightly be pointing to Rafa. I am incredibly frustrated at the moment

[Morph]

I agree with most of your points there, for instance the pomopey ame was crying out for a half time sub, but he still sent the same team out, and he always does, I can never work that policy out.

Just a suggestion to you tho, please use paragraphs next time

[Joe King]

I agree with a lot of your points there, lad

[Johnny]

Don`t we have enough Rafa is at fault threads ????

[andyinswinton]

I guess this is something he has been doing for the majority of his career and if we look back over the last couple of seasons, we will probably see that he hasn't made substitutions earlier but we just haven't noticied it.

TBH, I would have thought he has gone into the dressing room at half time and given the players a bollocking and given them 15 minutes to step it up. Thats something I don't disagree with.

[Morph]

Thing is unless there's an injury he never makes a sub before 60 mins, even if a player is having an absolute stinker, I think I recall one game in particular were Gonzalez was pure ****e and he still left him on the pitch after half time.

If you look at the stats i'm sure it'll run in some sort of sequence, usually, first sub 60 mins, second sub 70-75, third sub 80-85 - it's like he follows some sort of pre-set plan with his subs rather than moving with the game

[Parm]

Don`t we have enough Rafa is at fault threads ????

far too many, it's not like we'e lost this season!

[Joe King]

far too many, it's not like we'e lost this season!

yes but we have lost points. those matches feel like losses

[Parm]

yes but we have lost points. those matches feel like losses

it's swings and roundabouts fella, utd started off very poorly but have dragged themselves (although with a lot of fortune today) up the league. We're still handily placed and can catch Arsenal.

[Joe King]

it's swings and roundabouts fella, utd started off very poorly but have dragged themselves (although with a lot of fortune today) up the league. We're still handily placed and can catch Arsenal.

We don't seem to have that playing ****e-getting results thing going for us though. I'd be happy to be playing ****e and winning games and climbing up the table

[Growler]

I agree, at the end of the day, its better to start with the strongest line-up and go at them. If you then take off Torres and Gerrard at 40 minutes for example, whats the difference to bringing them on in the second half?

[cobain]

I am becoming a little restless at a number of things Rafa is currently doing. His rotation policy policy does my head in but this is a well discussed topic. I would like to focus on his substitution policy.
The first point I would like to make is why does he invariably wait an hour before making substitutions. It was quickly obvious yesterday that Voronin and Kuyt-who are too similar in my opinion-were making no impact on goal. Voronin was anonymous in the first half.Why wait an hour to make a change? Where something isn't working a quick change of player can make all the difference as was shown when Torres came on. This is not just something that arose from yesterdays game but has been symtomatic of Rafa for a number of seasons.Whats his problem with recognising something isn't working and changing it immediately.On a smaller scale it reminds me of Houlliers determination to prove he was right and we were wrong by continually picking crap players he had brought on.
The second point is that if you wish to use substitutes it should be done in a reverse way. He should pick his best players ,get on top in a game, score a few and then bring them off. Yesterday was a prime example of why his current policy is wrong. We started out with a so so team allowing Birmingham time to grow in confidence. One goal would have changed their entire match strategy. Torres should have started. When we scored he could then have been taken off. his time on the pitch over a number of games would average roughly the same but the difference is we are winning when he goes off rather than struggling when he comes on. We have the players to win the league this seaso. Having watched the games against Pompey and Birmingham I believe that Rafa is screwing up our chances by his initial team selection and timing of substitutions. If this continues for the rest of the season the finger of responsibility will rightly be pointing to Rafa. I am incredibly frustrated at the moment

Rafa used to substitute player(s) at an hour mark! Every time! It was either 60th or 61st minute. He used to substitute at exactly this time last season. We were always joking about this ... But lately, he just (what it looks like) forgets to substitute. I mean ... Waiting for the last 10 minutes or so is just plain dumb! Especially if nothing goes our way. I don't know, I wish sometimes Rafa would substitute earlier, so the player could have a REAL impact (for instance Crouch in the Champions League final last year).

[Matt]

I dont disagree with what you're saying but going by your rationale, Torres would have to start 60-odd games in the season.

I think we all know that any Liverpool team should have enough to see off Brum, especially at home so its frustrating.

Hopefully its still just a hangover from the international games. Lets give the kids and squad players a good run out against Reading and then we can go all guns blazing against Wigan.

[lfcruleus]

I agree, at the end of the day, its better to start with the strongest line-up and go at them. If you then take off Torres and Gerrard at 40 minutes for example, whats the difference to bringing them on in the second half?

The difference is the oppostion defense will be tired hence using Torres's pace to our advantage, rocket science it isnt.

[Morph]

Rafa used to substitute player(s) at an hour mark! Every time! It was either 60th or 61st minute. He used to substitute at exactly this time last season. We were always joking about this ... But lately, he just (what it looks like) forgets to substitute. I mean ... Waiting for the last 10 minutes or so is just plain dumb! Especially if nothing goes our way. I don't know, I wish sometimes Rafa would substitute earlier, so the player could have a REAL impact (for instance Crouch in the Champions League final last year).

This is basically what I said in my post above, except your wrong that his policy has changed, it's exactly the same he still makes subs on 60 mins etc, the champs league final was just a one off.