Rafa thread - decisions & comments etc

[El Jefecito]

We created about 4 decent chances other than those which lead to the penalties and only two were real 'should score' type openings. We finished poorly and let them dominate about 30 minutes of the game these are faults of our team. We maybe didn't play as badly as some make out but we did play poorly.

We created little for long periods and failed to deal with a persistent tactic to target Finnan with long balls and Lescott pushing on from fullback, despite having 2 defensive midfielders in the middle. I think any other analysis is polishing a turd to be honest.
On the plus side derby games are often like that and we got the three points and they came at a great point in the season for us. It was also an early kick off after internationals which we know can cause us problems.

Finnnan, was hung out to dry by SG, who was supposed to be guarding the right. He, instead, decided to hang out in the middle. Can't blame Finnan for that.

[Guest]

We created about 4 decent chances other than those which lead to the penalties and only two were real 'should score' type openings. We finished poorly and let them dominate about 30 minutes of the game these are faults of our team. We maybe didn't play as badly as some make out but we did play poorly.

We created little for long periods and failed to deal with a persistent tactic to target Finnan with long balls and Lescott pushing on from fullback, despite having 2 defensive midfielders in the middle. I think any other analysis is polishing a turd to be honest.

On the plus side derby games are often like that and we got the three points and they came at a great point in the season for us. It was also an early kick off after internationals which we know can cause us problems.

That's mostly due to a lack of confidence. We'll play better and I think sooner rather than later. Winning, albeit ugly and the fact we're still undefeated after the merseyside derby will give us a great lift.

Riise missed a sitter when he chose to blast the ball instead of taking a touch and placing it. Momo missed another sitter, along with Voronin who should have buried the ball past Howard right at the beginning. That's at least 3 clear cut chances. Everton had none.

[Shanks]

Originally Posted by MrMichael
We WON!
We're unbeaten.
We have the best away record in the league and it isn't over yet.

Ends all posts on this thread.

[carheex]

Rafa has king sized bollocks and is afraid of nothing. Was a wild decision which baffled the **** out of me when he done it, but at the end of the day, it worked.

Rafa is a hardcase lar, he knew full well the stick he would have got if we hadnt won but he done it anyway.

Full respect to Rafa for doing a very brave (foolish, psychotic even?) thing.

Rafa is the boss at that club and I think stevey just got that message.

Rafa the mentalist

As I said earlier, we won "despite" rafa's tactics, not because of them. Gerrard was one of our better players today and the time to try and prove a point to him (IF that's what rafa he was doing) isn't mid game in a derby with points at risk. Rafa got luck today - you can't say his tactics won us the game. The thing that won us the game was piss poor refereeing and everton having 2 men sent off.

[paulcooper4]

It was a pretty weird decision.

But hopefully it will give Stevie the kick up the arse he needs.

[Guest]

Rafa has king sized bollocks and is afraid of nothing. Was a wild decision which baffled the **** out of me when he done it, but at the end of the day, it worked.

Rafa is a hardcase lar, he knew full well the stick he would have got if we hadnt won but he done it anyway.

Full respect to Rafa for doing a very brave (foolish, psychotic even?) thing.

Rafa is the boss at that club and I think stevey just got that message.

Rafa the mentalist

If Rafa listened to us all, he'll be devising thousand of team selections and tactics for one match alone. If he brings home No 19 because we're fresher and playing better in the latter part of the season, then some people will have egg on their faces.

I can bet my life that Arsenal won't carry on winning like that till the end of the season. It's impossible. Last season we were 12 points off the pace at the same stage. Now we're 6 points off and if we beat Arsenal it'll be taken down to 3.

[dww]

Finnnan, was hung out to dry by SG, who was supposed to be guarding the right. He, instead, decided to hang out in the middle. Can't blame Finnan for that.

Well he was hung out to dry by a combination of Rafa, Momo, Mascher, Gerrard and Voronin if you ask me. Voronin and Gerrard seemed to be swapping whose job it was to cover right side of midfield and neither were any good at it. If you have two defensive midfielders in the team then they should loko to cover those sorts of gaps and if our tactics including Gerrard wandering into the middle are allowing the opposition chances then Rafa should have changed something.

[Guest]

As I said earlier, we won "despite" rafa's tactics, not because of them. Gerrard was one of our better players today and the time to try and prove a point to him (IF that's what rafa he was doing) isn't mid game in a derby with points at risk. Rafa got luck today - you can't say his tactics won us the game. The thing that won us the game was piss poor refereeing and everton having 2 men sent off.

Again you're targeting a player while football is a team game. We passed the ball better when Stevie went off, that's a FACT. And Lucas should have scored. Another FACT.

[Guest]

Well he was hung out to dry by a combination of Rafa, Momo, Mascher, Gerrard and Voronin if you ask me. Voronin and Gerrard seemed to be swapping whose job it was to cover right side of midfield and neither were any good at it. If you have two defensive midfielders in the team then they should loko to cover those sorts of gaps and if our tactics including Gerrard wandering into the middle are allowing the opposition chances then Rafa should have changed something.

I think most of Everton's chances came from set pieces or long punts aimed at our center backs. These kind or matches are rarely played by the book anyway, it's always a battle out there, and we dealt with it better, as we tried to play it on the deck. Apart from that freakish own goal conceded by Sammy, I don't think they had too many chances.

[carheex]

Again you're targeting a player while football is a team game. We passed the ball better when Stevie went off, that's a FACT. And Lucas should have scored. Another FACT.

We wouldn't have won the first penalty or had everton reduced to 10 men, and therefore would not have won the game if it wasn't for gerrard. There's another one for your book of facts!

[anfieldanfield]

Did you go the game today Cooper ?

[paulcooper4]

As I said earlier, we won "despite" rafa's tactics, not because of them. Gerrard was one of our better players today and the time to try and prove a point to him (IF that's what rafa he was doing) isn't mid game in a derby with points at risk. Rafa got luck today - you can't say his tactics won us the game. The thing that won us the game was piss poor refereeing and everton having 2 men sent off.

I didnt say his tactics won us the game, read what I posted again, but while were on that point, technically they did. We won cos everton where ****ter than us (somehow) and Mark Clattenburg is the greatest red of all.

[El Jefecito]

Well he was hung out to dry by a combination of Rafa, Momo, Mascher, Gerrard and Voronin if you ask me. Voronin and Gerrard seemed to be swapping whose job it was to cover right side of midfield and neither were any good at it. If you have two defensive midfielders in the team then they should loko to cover those sorts of gaps and if our tactics including Gerrard wandering into the middle are allowing the opposition chances then Rafa should have changed something.

Only one of then was supposed to be playing RM. SG!

To suggest that Rafa should have been playing RM is just disingenuous

[paulcooper4]

Did go the game today Cooper ?

No mate, nearly had a ticket as well. A lad in work couldnt go because he was doing overtime. But cos hes a bitter blue **** he wouldnt flog me it cos im a red. ****in typical

[carheex]

I didnt say his tactics won us the game, read what I posted again, but while were on that point, technically they did. We won cos everton where ****ter than us (somehow) and Mark Clattenburg is the greatest red of all.

Sorry, my comments weren't all directed at you - i just wanted to bring them up again whilst replying to you. Anyway....WOOHOO!! 3 points!