Rafa thread - decisions & comments etc

[Craig_H]

Good to see Rafa's finally got the hang of it...

I felt both penalty decisions were right. And I also agree with the yellow card for Kuyt and not a red.

No more of this diplomatic ****e...give it to 'em with both barrels gaffer!

[alunevans]

What's the saying....there's a fine line between genius and madness.

I'd go for the full moon one.

I now expect the subs to bemuse me. Voronin against Spurs had me flummoxed but I called it correctly simply because I'm so used to oddball substitutions that I tend to predict the one that is most baffling and I get them right 75% of the time.

[alunevans]

For what its worth I thought Stevie played well today, only thing I could see that he wasnt doing as well as normal was the defensive duties, but that said signs that hes coming back to somewhere near his best. It all bodes well for the rest of the season. As for the subbing...whilst it was unexpected it certainly paid dividends, if that was luck or judgement remains to be proven, however I am willing to give Rafa the benefit of the doubt.
We won when not playing particularly well, against everton, away, and are still unbeaten in the league. Good day in my opinion.
Oh, Stevie didnt look that unhappy at the final whistle and shortly after in my opinion either.
In Rafa I trust.

I saw Stevie and Carra jumping into each other's arms grinning.

Carra's mad celebration was boss!

By the way, for all the doubts I'm expressing, I'm giving Rafa the benefit of the doubt myself. Though I'm probably a Rafa skeptic at the mo, he still gets the benefit of the doubt.

The Arsenal game is looking to be a key one.

[alunevans]

At the end of the day, it's all relative. Stevie is thick when you compare him to the likes of Stephen Hawkin

Blimey! That's one substitution I would DEFINITELY go nuts about!!!!

[alunevans]

It didn't take Everton 5 minutes to sort themselves - it took at least 15.

yep it took them a good quarter of an hour.

[Parm]

Rafa is paid to make the decisions and live with the consequences I guess

yup his neck on the line

[Joe Le Toff]

If Rafa was looking to make a point to Gerrard that he isn't indispensible to the team, drawing 1-1 in a derby game isn't the place to do it.

[Tom]

We made 4 or 5 genuine chances after Lucas came on. He set up the winner it was the correct tactical substitution, it was nothing to do with "making a point". Rafa doesn't do "emotional" decisions like that.

Right call rafa.

[kemm1]

We made 4 or 5 genuine chances after Lucas came on. He set up the winner it was the correct tactical substitution, it was nothing to do with "making a point". Rafa doesn't do "emotional" decisions like that.

Right call rafa.

it is interesting the comments that Rafa made for taking off Gerrard.......... playing with the head and not the heart bit. Is this why Rafa doesn't trust Gerrard to play central midfield full time?

What about the article posted on here a few weeks ago when the journalist said that Gerrard doesn't have the ability to control a game?

Would Rafa prefer a Xavi (of Barcelona) type of central midfielder?

[Guest]

it is interesting the comments that Rafa made for taking off Gerrard.......... playing with the head and not the heart bit. Is this why Rafa doesn't trust Gerrard to play central midfield full time?

What about the article posted on here a few weeks ago when the journalist said that Gerrard doesn't have the ability to control a game?

Would Rafa prefer a Xavi (of Barcelona) type of central midfielder?

Xabi Alonso is his general on the pitch whilst Gerrard is the heartbeat of the team who makes things happen with his drive. Alonso has an old head on his young shoulders, that's why he's an ever existant in Rafa's selections.

[kemm1]

Xabi Alonso is his general on the pitch whilst Gerrard is the heartbeat of the team who makes things happen with his drive. Alonso has an old head on his young shoulders, that's why he's an ever existant in Rafa's selections.

OK, but for Sociedad Xabi, had a defensive midfielder sit behind him so where does that leave Gerrard? Would that mean a 4-5-1 formation or Gerrard out wide again?

[SB]

Exactly. In the period in which lucas came on we made 4 chances two from crow, a babel shot and an effort from sissoko. We then went on to get the winner as a direct result of Lucas's shot.

Great tactical decision, also gives a kick up the arse to players (and fans) who think that a player is guaranteed a place in the side on reputation only.

Bravo. Well said.

Considering that Stevie was supposed to be playing on the right hand side in the 1st half , I hardly saw him near the side line at all and a lot of the bitters movement was down that side as a result. I was thinking at the time how bad Stevie was (and has been lately) and just for a moment considered if Rafa would have the guts to replace Stevie in the derby. I dismissed the idea immediately!

Credit to Rafa and hope that there is no negative fallback as a result of this.

[JPK]

You wonder if Rafa had it in his head to take Gerrard off before the game even kicked off.To show him how ruthless he is and also show his faith in Lucas.

This could be the kick up the hole Gerrard needs.

[kewellnthegang]

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.

amazing isnt it ?
if we had got beat or even drawn rafa would of been hammered

he makes a brave decision that pays off and still gets grief

the way i see it we didnt play well yeah but the bitters didnt even manage a shot on goal yet still the ginger freak claims they deserved to win :whatever:
yesterday was about winning - confidence has been low but we dug in and won so the result is so much more important than the performance

as manure aarse and chavs won this shows how crucial it was

rafa can make mistakes yeah and momo was poor yeah but ffs we won the game and had more chances when stevie left the pitch - and by his own admission he has been poor lately so hows aboyt stepping back givin the manager a break and our full support and judging him in may

by that time ui think quite a few of the doubters will be eating their words


in rafa i trust

[Craig_H]

In response to Shaggy...

I dont think he can be criticised either really. BUT, i do feel we won yesterday in spite of Rafa's decisions, rather than because of them.

But that cant be proved and as you say, he got the result so you have to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Need to win in turkey but i feel we can do that without using the strongest side. Then as you say, beat Arsenal and everything will look rosy.