Rafa thread - decisions & comments etc

[DeeGame]

I for one was gobsmacked when Rafa substitutied Stevie G for Lucas considering the blue****e was on the ropes with 1 player sent off and Stevie G is our best attacking midfielder.

So is Rafa a pure genius for subbing Stevie G off in the 70th minute and replacing him with an unknown south american kid, Lucas? or is he off his rockers & lucky to get away with the win?

[Dan]

Off his rocker and lucky to get away with it.

He could of taken Sissoko off then and put Lucas on and play with 2 attacking mids.

But Rafa is boss

[The Erectile Banana]

Perhaps a bit of both.

A true genius is always walking that fine line between inspiration and insanity.

[Shaggy]

I thought it was very curious at the time but I could understand the answer he gave at the end.

I don't see how he can be criticised today - he made the changes and we won.

Beat Arsenal and we're flying again.

[paulcooper4]

both.
who gives a ****, we won.

[Parm]

Genius

[reds123]

He wanted to rest Gerrard and he said something like he wanted players to play with the head not with the heart.

Wonder if Sissoko knows how to play with the head!!!

[Kopite_Colin]

1) We won
2) we're still in the title race
3) Our better players are yet to come back (Torres, Alonso, Agger, Arbeloa)

Nothing else matters

[JohnDoe]

I didn't understand why Gerrard was off and not Sissoko, putting Lucas on was a good decision. He's still a genius to me, even if I didn't agree with that particular decision.

[Alex]

It was a judgement call that paid off. Lucas would have scored the winner if it wasnt for Nevilles diving save.
Perhaps he could see that Stevie wasnt really getting much joy. I mean other than the run he made for the penalty in my view he didnt really do much.
This is why he is liverpools manager and im not.

[Colemere]

In a way I can see what he was thinking...

Is Steven Gerrard likely to get us a goal? yes
What do we need to get that goal? possession
Will Steven Gerrard keep possession? doubt it, probably lose it trying to play expansive balls across the pitch
Who will be more likely to win possession back if we lose it? Sissoko
Who should I take off Steven Gerrard

Trust me, I'm a sports psychologist

[Skillz]

Genius. He would of been raped if we didn't win. Fact is he made a tough call and it may now pay off. If we finish this week positively Rafa deserves praise.

He deserves praise for today full stop. I wouldn't normally bother TBH, but he has copped a lot of **** lately so I am more than happy to sing his praises when we win.

[Red_Al_77]

If he'd have put Lucas on for Momo then I'd understand. Anyway I don't care anymore. We won. My heart rate has returned to normal. Rugby anyone?

[Guest]

Who cares, we got 3 points.

[Nic83]

He said, Gerrard was playing with his heart, not his brain.

Trans: he was likely to make bad decisions and waste oppurtunities. (according to Rafa)

I disagree with his decision to take Gerrard off.