Rafa thread - decisions & comments etc

[El Jefecito]

The decision to take SG off was quite simply ridiculous. He was our best player today and changed the game with his lung bursting runfor our equaliser. On top of this we were playing against 10 men with 2 defensive midfielders in a game we had to win.
momo was hapless today and should have made way for Lucas.

To top the lot, Rafa then made a quite disgraceful after match comment about SG. To say SG was playing with his heart & not his head is a joke. Even if it were true that sort of criticism should be made in the dressing room not on national TV. Rafa's starting to feel the pressure in my view.

Or he's fed up with SG

[Fowler_God]

If we hadn't scored that injury time pen, then all the points of view on these boards would be different.
Rafa would be getting compared to when Houiller lost the plot, Stevie and Rafa would be the new houllier/Folwer saga, title race would be over.

The 'we won so so what' argument masks a few issues still. We are still playing poor, if Torres doesnt play we look toothless up front, there is still a issue with the wingers in the team, the full backs are having nightmares and the Captain and manager maybe having issues.

[keniget]

If we hadn't scored that injury time pen, then all the points of view on these boards would be different.
Rafa would be getting compared to when Houiller lost the plot, Stevie and Rafa would be the new houllier/Folwer saga, title race would be over.

The 'we won so so what' argument masks a few issues still. We are still playing poor, if Torres doesnt play we look toothless up front, there is still a issue with the wingers in the team, the full backs are having nightmares and the Captain and manager maybe having issues.

But we DID win, didn't you see?

It was a masterstroke that once again underlines the genius of Rafa for all to see.

[Red_Al_77]

Surely, most of that is down to missing Alonso, Agger and Torres though?

If it is then that shows we don't have the strength in depth we thought we had. We have the numbers but some are just not at the races these days.

[tomasjj]

True.

I think people get a little touchy at times, especially after a win, when people question things, but I don't see why.

We lucked out today and in a way, it made victory all the more enjoyable given the opposition.

In isolation, it wouldn't be a big deal given that it was a derby and all that, but the fact of the matter is, we've been playing poorly for a while now and we keep looking for a turning point.

Yeah. I agree.

We did get lucky in the way we won it, but to be fair, as Rafa said, we did have the most chances and deserved a win.

Let us just hope that this is our turning point confidence wise, cause we seem to need it, as our play has, as you rightly point out, been below our usual standards. I put this down to a couple of key players being out though, Agger and Alonso in particular. Also, getting Torres back for Besiktas and Arsenal will be good.

[El Jefecito]

If we hadn't scored that injury time pen, then all the points of view on these boards would be different.
Rafa would be getting compared to when Houiller lost the plot, Stevie and Rafa would be the new houllier/Folwer saga, title race would be over.

The 'we won so so what' argument masks a few issues still. We are still playing poor, if Torres doesnt play we look toothless up front, there is still a issue with the wingers in the team, the full backs are having nightmares and the Captain and manager maybe having issues.

I wasn't following closely at that time. Does this seem similar?

[CJ]

Like I said, in isolation, that decision, that game, that performance - they'd all be fine. However, there have been too many iffy selections, dodgy subs, awful performances of late to simply brush things under the carpet.

If the win today is enough for you, then fine. Maybe you can make yourself a DVD of the game.

and if a win and one European cup one fa cup and another European cup also being unbeaten in the league and the only goal from open play we have conceaded away is an own goal then i suggest your always going to be unhappy.

i dont think rafa always gets it right but on balance he does more often than not. i think that its a lack of confidence that makes the decisions look strange. if we had more confidence then it wouldnt look as bad.

the substitution isnt the issue the fall in confidence is.

[keniget]

Surely, most of that is down to missing Alonso, Agger and Torres though?

I hope so.

The fact that we're still "up there" and can expect those three back soon is encouraging, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

The Arsenal game is massive.

[Sir Bob]

Or he's fed up with SG

Well if he's fed up with SG then don't start him and certainly don't criticise him in public. It was shocking man management in my view

[rage]

I hate the way people say that.

What about a tactical decision FFS.


Gerrard is a good player but at the moment isn't playing on form
(Agree with KDDDD)

neither is momo. **** it we won i'm off to bed.

[keniget]

i dont think rafa always gets it right but on balance he does more often than not. i think that its a lack of confidence that makes the decisions look strange. if we had more confidence then it wouldnt look as bad.

So, you admit that Rafa doesn't always get it right, yes?

Well, in this instance, I don't think Rafa got it right. The fact that we got a win is great, but I don't think his tactical brilliance was the main contributing factor. Far from it. That's my opinion. Some allow you to express it, others seem to immediately go for the pitchforks and torches and shout you down for not being supportive enough or some ****.

As for your point about confidence, I'm not quite sure I follow, so you can elaborate on that if you wish.

[Fowler_God]

I wasn't following closely at that time. Does this seem similar?

Heskey was playing ****e but houiller always backed him. Fowler had a bad game and he would be out
Houiller didnt like Fowler always being the centre of attention and the local hero type figure.
Houiller came out a few times in public to say something coded about Robbie.

Im not saying this is the same thing, but it has the same feel to it.

[Fowler_God]

But we DID win, didn't you see?

It was a masterstroke that once again underlines the genius of Rafa for all to see.

Everything isnt as black and white as we won so everythings great.

[tomasjj]

The decision to take SG off was quite simply ridiculous. He was our best player today and changed the game with his lung bursting runfor our equaliser. On top of this we were playing against 10 men with 2 defensive midfielders in a game we had to win.
momo was hapless today and should have made way for Lucas.

To top the lot, Rafa then made a quite disgraceful after match comment about SG. To say SG was playing with his heart & not his head is a joke. Even if it were true that sort of criticism should be made in the dressing room not on national TV. Rafa's starting to feel the pressure in my view.

Agree that Momo should have been the one to make way though, I was as baffled as you when he took SG off, but, sorry, SG was not our best player today, far from it, even if he did make that great run. What else did he do?

As for Rafa's comments, ask yourself, why would Rafa make such comments about SG? If it might seem to me that SG needed to be put in his place, then why so?

If it came down to a spat between Rafa and SG, who would you support?
I know who I would support.

[CJ]

when asking why not momo off and leave stevie on with lucas what do you think to this.

stevie just by his stature within the team would get more of the ball than lucas so the impact of lucas would have been less.

so while it looks a strange decision that might be how rafa called it?