what do you want to ask rafa

[Revo]

It's a sig, an excellent I might add, but it's still a sig



My view is that the team picked for the match was spot on and we didn't win because of two defensive mistakes that resulted in Spurs scoring two goals against the run of play. From that point the players' confidence was shot down and they started rushing attacks, which caused inaccurate passing and frequent losses of possession.

If you've seen the match, Rafa was spotted on two occasions motioning to his players to "calm things down" and start playing with more patience. Unfortunately Gerrard did not step up when we needed him the most and completely disappeared from the game, leading to us missing a metronome in the centre of the pitch who could control our game and call the shots.

Eventually Mascherano took the responsibility and we started pressing Spurs in their half, resulting in the goal. The result, considering our complete dominance in the first half, was harsh.

If you think that some tactical decision to put Kuyt for about 7 minutes on the right and only bring Benayoun later is a "blunder" which might have cost us the game, you're clutching at straws.
If you're complaining about our passing in the game, remember that the manager can't run into the pitch and join in, he can simply instruct his players on what to do and it is up to them to deliver. They didn't, despite playing very well in the first half, when they should have scored at least another goal. Something with their mentality was hurt after conceding two goals in the manner they did, and I noticed it right away.

you really are a long winded pompous arsehole. i am interested in the mindset of the manager with the tactical change that he made. was it just a personell or tactical change? either way it never changed the shape of the team, is that too much to ****ing ask. also losing 2-1 at home with 7 minutes to go you wanna talk about clutching at straws? do me a favour with your if you think you can do a better job than the manager cop out, shove that right up your metronome arse.

[Neil Young]

Neil

Its fine to say In Arsene We Trust, but to respond to a discussion about a particular decision Wenger made by saying In Arsene We Trust simply shuts discussion down as though its not valid to question ANYTHING because we're just a bunch of plebs who go the match, and the manager is the manager.

Likewise its fine to say "I value Rafa and think he's a better manager than you", but really so what? If we were discussing whether Rafa Benitez should be managing LFC next season or whether Alun Parry should then it'd be a valid contribution.

Otherwise it's just a fancy way of telling everyone to shut the hell up. Which in my view is out of order. It's not sufficient to say he's a better manager than me when I question the style of play that we're engaging in at the moment. So what if he is a better manager than me? It doesn't address the point.

Any questioning of anything the manager does can be suffocated by that which in the end will translate into Rafa can do no wrong, because if you use the "he's a better manager than you so I'm trusting him line" on every critique given then that's what you end up with.

I'd rather be given the analysis of why his decision was right. At least that's a thought through opinion and has the ability to change my mind and see the world differently. To simply say Rafa Knows Best is not a thought through opinion, it is fawning deference, at least if it's expressed in that way.

I'm happy for people to tell me I'm wrong. That's why I enjoy this forum. I'm happy to have my mind changed too. Happens often. But I do want an opinion of WHY Rafa is right that goes beyond "he is Rafa and you're not."

And unless people do that then the logical conclusion will be that Rafa can do no wrong, because its often the stock response to any criticism given. And for me, that's not good enough.

If Rafa CAN do wrong, then let the debate continue, and let the critique be answered by *reasons* why he got it right rather than mere assertions that he is Rafa and we're not.

Revo,

I agree that closing down discussion is not helpful in the least. My comments were merely intended to argue that RCDNW is equally unhelpful - it entirely polarises the argument and doesn't actually engage with what is actually said.

In most instances, if not all, it's like saying "you're a w***er" so you're wrong." It doesn't actually get us anywhere.

I also completely agree that questioning of Rafa's decisions that leads to a discussion of why he might have done something and why it may have been right or wrong is very helpful and interesting. Certainly I've been very interested by a lot of the critical comments made on here in the last few days and it's certainly made me question my views. Not going to games like I did (not that that it is the only and/or sufficient qualification for having a more informed view) makes it difficult to form a reliable opinion on many issues so I tend to sit on the fence much more than I did a few years ago.

However, I think we can easily find examples on here of where a question has been asked and an answer suggested only for the original questioner, who is miles away from being able to make an educated judgment on the matter, completely disregarding it as a reasonable and justifiable possibility in favour of their own first thought. What's the point in asking then?

I think RCDNW and IKBTR are both unreasonable accusations in the vast majority of cases. Equally, it would be better if we each tried to make sure that we aren't in danger of justifying such accusations being levelled at us.

[JohnDoe]

you really are a long winded pompous arsehole. i am interested in the mindset of the manager with the tactical change that he made. is that too much to ****ing ask. do me a favour with your if you think you can do a better job and shove that right up your metronome arse.

Sorry but whoever begins a thread with this ****e:

the official site is doing some ass kissing promo bull**** about asking the manager questions. just emailed mine in

Some of us are not interested in what type of car he drives or what he had for his tea last night and would like a tough question or two to be answered in regards to tactics.

did not ask for a simple explanation of a tactical decision, but was trying to look all tough, clever and condescending and has the marks of actions done by a genuine long winded pompous arsehole. I doubt you even E-mailed them what you wrote.

Thank you

[Mumsafan]

Rafa. . . why in the sweet name of christ do u still play that useless b*stard Riise?!

Watch it you !

[RoadEnd]

Is there any chance of getting the team to pass the ball around? I was brought up on successful football teams passing it round, and those who didn't have the ball moving about in order to give the man with the ball several options. We generally did this at high tempo too. It was hugely enjoyable and entertaining to watch, and proved to be successful too. Given that watching people hoof the ball aimlessly is a lot to ask £36 of my money for - would it be possible to get us playing the kind of pass and move high tempo football you spanked our arses with when you were at Valencia?

[alunevans]

Revo,

I agree that closing down discussion is not helpful in the least. My comments were merely intended to argue that RCDNW is equally unhelpful - it entirely polarises the argument and doesn't actually engage with what is actually said.

In most instances, if not all, it's like saying "you're a w***er" so you're wrong." It doesn't actually get us anywhere.

I also completely agree that questioning of Rafa's decisions that leads to a discussion of why he might have done something and why it may have been right or wrong is very helpful and interesting. Certainly I've been very interested by a lot of the critical comments made on here in the last few days and it's certainly made me question my views. Not going to games like I did (not that that it is the only and/or sufficient qualification for having a more informed view) makes it difficult to form a reliable opinion on many issues so I tend to sit on the fence much more than I did a few years ago.

However, I think we can easily find examples on here of where a question has been asked and an answer suggested only for the original questioner, who is miles away from being able to make an educated judgment on the matter, completely disregarding it as a reasonable and justifiable possibility in favour of their own first thought. What's the point in asking then?

I think RCDNW and IKBTR are both unreasonable accusations in the vast majority of cases. Equally, it would be better if we each tried to make sure that we aren't in danger of justifying such accusations being levelled at us.

you replied to my post by starting it with Revo. You really are as old as they say aren't you....

[Neil Young]

you replied to my post by starting it with Revo. You really are as old as they say aren't you....

This is how it starts...

[alunevans]

by the way what does IKBTR mean?

[Neil Young]

"I know better than Rafa"

[alunevans]

to be fair though Neil, I don't think people have said that ever.

whereas the logical conclusion of shutting down a conversation with Rafa knows more than you do is to imply that Rafa can do no wrong, because any critique is met with some variant of "he knows more than you, so who are you to question him."

i'm happy to accept that he knows more than me and has more credentials to manage the club than me (although we are neck and neck in terms of premiership titles and in terms of top two finishes).

but he could still be wrong on certain issues. personally the phrase "too clever by half" springs to mind with him an awful lot. and i don't like the style of football we play, and i'm no fan of rotation either.

i'd rather everyone just give their view, without rancour, and with an open mind.

the thing that bothers me more lately is the fact that theres that bit more personalised abuse on here than there used to be. and by that i mean stuff thats angry and meant, rather than the more affectionate tongue in cheek stuff.

i'm sure we're all capable of disagreeing about the footy without calling each other names or getting cheesed off with each other. don't you think so, you old fart?

[tomasjj]

The fans pay Rafas wages. In the end, he is accountable to us.

[Tee]

Rafa, if money was no object, which player would you sign?

Answer: "You know my idea.. it is not about 1 player who is superstar. I like to have a better squad, that is for sure so I look at many players, not just 1."

[Neil Young]

to be fair though Neil, I don't think people have said that ever.

whereas the logical conclusion of shutting down a conversation with Rafa knows more than you do is to imply that Rafa can do no wrong, because any critique is met with some variant of "he knows more than you, so who are you to question him."

i'm happy to accept that he knows more than me and has more credentials to manage the club than me (although we are neck and neck in terms of premiership titles and in terms of top two finishes).

but he could still be wrong on certain issues. personally the phrase "too clever by half" springs to mind with him an awful lot. and i don't like the style of football we play, and i'm no fan of rotation either.

i'd rather everyone just give their view, without rancour, and with an open mind.

the thing that bothers me more lately is the fact that theres that bit more personalised abuse on here than there used to be. and by that i mean stuff thats angry and meant, rather than the more affectionate tongue in cheek stuff.

i'm sure we're all capable of disagreeing about the footy without calling each other names or getting cheesed off with each other. don't you think so, you old fart?

All this "it's my opinion, I can think what I like, who are you to question me" stuff is just so inane and ends up with the same result of closing down discussion.

The key phrase you use is "with an open mind." I'd add "with a bit of humility" too.

I agree with you about the anger but some of that partly stems from people not engaging with other people's arguments. Of course part of it is because of frustration with how things have been going lately and some of it is just because some people have difficulty conducting themselves properly.

Good talking with you, Revo.

[alunevans]

Good talking with you, Revo.

No problem fredo

[Neil Young]

No problem fredo