Is rotation the issue?

[AFII]

Rotation is an issue the first few months of the seasons.

Why?

If you rotate the starting XI and the players position on the pitch all the time then it will take longer time for any new players to learn the system.

They will have learned it after a few months but then it may be to late.

If you play seven or eight players week in week out in the same positions and rotate the rest then the players will learn the system better.

Rafa didn't rotate some of his players in Valencia. Albelda, Baraja, Mista, Vicente, Ayala, Aimar and Marchena played more or less all the time.

[Joe King]

How many games a week do you need to play to be used to each other? 2? 3?
If you think about it, most of the players don't go more than 2 weeks without playing. How can they forget how to play with each other in that short space of time?

If Rafa needs to rotate, he needs to rotate the players who don't make up the spine of the side. Rotating the wingers would be fine but not Gerrard or Jefe or Alonso (whichever is fit)

[Kopite_Colin]

Rafa didn't rotate some of his players in Valencia. Albelda, Baraja, Mista, Vicente, Ayala, Aimar and Marchena played more or less all the time.

That, my friend is a VERY, VERY good point.

[carlton]

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. I wonder if there is a strong enough counter-balance to rafa now that his mate is gone. is rafa surrounded by too many yes men not prepared to be critical of his methods?

Anyone know what he said in post match?

[Morph]

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. I wonder if there is a strong enough counter-balance to rafa now that his mate is gone. is rafa surrounded by too many yes men not prepared to be critical of his methods?

Anyone know what he said in post match?

that we played poorly and rotation absolutely wasn't the problem, he laughed it off in fact

[Alpha]

I blame poor form.

Come back Pako, all is forgiven.

[paulcooper4]

I blame poor form.

Come back Pako, all is forgiven.

**** Pako, stick with the men that are still here

[-V-]

Rotation is an problem when it results in players of poor quality getting to start big games..........


Pure and simple, Rafa should stick to those we trust in the big games. This was a big game.

When your team is struggling you stick your best 11 on the park and trying and get them to get back to winning ways

Playing Leto and Crouch was not clever at all. I mean why try a new pairing up front in a champions league game? Why the hell is Leto starting a match against a top french team? He wasnt even convincing against Tolouse

Sissoko was awful, as was Benayoun who should be a sub always

Where was Kuyt, Babel, Mascher and Riise???????????

Carragher looked tired, i layed into Rafa for his team selection against Reading and i was proved right today

[Alpha]

**** Pako, stick with the men that are still here

For the record, I mean't that remark tongue-in-cheek.

[Red Chilli]

For the record, I mean't that remark tongue-in-cheek.

Nice avatar mate

[Joe King]

I don't think Rafa has the squad to rotate, rotation is all good if you are manager of Real Madrid when they have a good plethora of players but at Liverpool, it shows there are players who aren't cracked up to it.

[Johnny]

Rotation is a good excuse.Individual performances by our "World class" players seem to be where the problem lies.





These players train together every day in different formations.I wonder if they can actually pass a ball in training because in real games..........................

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Rotation is a problem when some of the players you are rotating in aren't as good as you think.

[ronan]

Rafa didn't rotate some of his players in Valencia. Albelda, Baraja, Mista, Vicente, Ayala, Aimar and Marchena played more or less all the time.[/QUOTE]

like reina finnan agger(when fit) gerrard riise carragher alonso (90 per cent of the time) and now torres.?

[Scaramanga]

I'm not suggesting it is or it isn't, but given the amount of media coverage the issue gets was Just looking to see what everyone thinks, after our recent run of results

I was half thinking it might be but given the comments from Andy Gray and Souness I;ve changed my mind!

All the talk was not about fitness but 'touch' and 'match fitness'. I'm sorry but I thought these players were paid >£20k per week to play football in training 24/7 so 'touch' should not be an issue.

Anyone who thinks 11 players can play upwards of 60 games a season whilst the rest of the squad hapily sits on the bench is deluded.