rafa's football philosophy

[badpiggy]

You're wrong. Gerrard is very highly rated by Rafa, like it or not. He's a player who could fit any system. It's just that he's so dominant that he sometimes stifles other players.

i think fredo is having one of his turns. it's important not to laugh.

[Guest]

i think fredo is having one of his turns. it's important not to laugh.

That's your point, probably not the point of others though.

[badpiggy]

I think Gerrard has something similar to the Henry effect at Arsenal; he is our best player and recognised as such by the rest of the team, which means the other players are always looking to get the ball to him as often as possible, I think it's quite natural and understandable, especially for the younger players, but it's not always the best option for the team. It's easier to break a team's rhythm when everything goes through a single source. In the few games SG hasn't played this season we have looked more fluid.

I think it would be madness to sell him as he is one of the best players in the world, but the whole team needs to change their philosophy towards him. King Kenny was the greatest Liverpool player I have ever seen, but as good as he was, he wasn't the star that everyone turned to, but rather the best member of the 11 on the pitch.

nice thinking. i don't put much seam into this whole captain's thing but i really wish SG wasn't our captain.

[badpiggy]

That's your point, probably not the point of others though.

actually, on reflection i know what you mean. kinda misunderstood you for a minute there brother. group hug etc...

[Guest]

actually, on reflection i know what you mean. kinda misunderstood you for a minute there brother. group hug etc...

No harm made whatsoever.

[Parm]

nice thinking. i don't put much seam into this whole captain's thing but i really wish SG wasn't our captain.

hmm, yes I see your point there, I think someone like Xabi or JC would be better choices.

[Guest]

Stevie is clearly the heartbeat of our team. He probably demonstrates his love for the club (along with Carra) more than anybody. That's just his personality.

[el matador]

You're wrong. Gerrard is very highly rated by Rafa, like it or not. He's a player who could fit any system. It's just that he's so dominant that he sometimes stifles other players.

im sure rafa rates does rate him highly and so he should. Steven Gerrard is the finest midfield player in the world bar none. I said that he doesnt fit into the typical benitez mould of a central defensive midfielder - which he doesnt.

He is not a defensive midfielder and by using him as such would take away 80% of his potential.

I agree that he does like to dominate the ball which is not necessarily a good thing.

[Guest]

im sure rafa rates does rate him highly and so he should. Steven Gerrard is the finest midfield player in the world bar none. I said that he doesnt fit into the typical benitez mould of a central defensive midfielder - which he doesnt.

He is not a defensive midfielder and by using him as such would take away 80% of his potential.

I agree that he does like to dominate the ball which is not necessarily a good thing.

He's never been suited to central midfield if you ask me. He sure is deadlier in the centre but I would see him as a support striker just behind Torres and roaming from there. That would be a fantastic partnership upfront, with Xabi and Mascher pulling the strings in midfield.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I believe that his first idea is to stop the opposition playing, then building our attacks from this point. His style is counter-offensive.

Sounds awfully like Houllier that.

I actually don't think that's true though.

What's really frustrating me at the moment is that I remember that Valencia side Rafa had 5 years ago coming into Anfield and absolutely walking all over us. The 1 and 2 touch passing was irresistible that night.

Yet the team he's built with us now looks a million miles away from that. And most worryingly some of the players he's bought are completely incapable of playing at that level of passing and movement. Like Kuyt and Sissoko for example. And he still uses players like Riise who are brutal in possession and distribution. We simply don't have enough technically proficient players in our team, and even some who can't execute the basics of the game.

So what philosophy is he using then?

Forget rotation, it's not helping but it's not the big problem here. With the style of play we currently use we simply don’t score enough goals, or look like doing so. Looking back to season 2005/06 where we finished 3rd with 82 points if I remember rightly, that season we had Crouch, Morientes, Cisse, Gerrard, Kewell and Garcia all scoring goals, and even then the success of that side was based mostly on a strong defence. What's happened since then? A series of changes to personnel which have taken us sideways not forward: Kuyt's replaced Morientes, Pennant’s replaced Cisse (who played mostly right side that season) - now I absolutely don't rate Cisse but at least he chipped in with a few goals, not even Pennant can manage that; 1 goal in 70 odd games. Shocking. Garcia’s gone, and with it a lot of ingenuity from the attack.

So we're over 3 years in and with all that Houllier deadwood he's inherited he's by and large go rid of it and just signed a lot more. Yes he's brought in some quality players like Agger, Alonso, Reina, Mascherano and now Torres, so why aren't we a lot better than that side of 2005/06 which was still half made up of Houllier buys? And more to the point why does it seem that the quality of our football has gone backwards as well. It's hit and hope right now. It’s predictable. It’s very worrying.

[badpiggy]

He's never been suited to central midfield if you ask me. He sure is deadlier in the centre but I would see him as a support striker just behind Torres and roaming from there. That would be a fantastic partnership upfront, with Xabi and Mascher pulling the strings in midfield.

is the logical conclusion of this argument that rafa is so obsessed with the system he wants that he ignores players' qualities and shoehorns them into unsuitable roles? or is SG the one player he wants to accomodate but can't? or something else?

[Guest]

is the logical conclusion of this argument that rafa is so obsessed with the system he wants that he ignores players' qualities and shoehorns them into unsuitable roles? or is SG the one player he wants to accomodate but can't? or something else?

Stevie's always banging to the press (or is this the press who questions everything?) that his preferred position is CM. He's a typical No. 10 for me, that's my opinion. But he can do so much more that he can play anywhere. It's just where Rafa sees him in the end.

[Parm]

Stevie's always banging to the press (or is this the press who questions everything?) that his preferred position is CM. He's a typical No. 10 for me, that's my opinion. But he can do so much more that he can play anywhere. It's just where Rafa sees him in the end.

if only Stevie could realise that he can play this postion he would improve vastly and would slot right into our system and be even more effective.

[badpiggy]

if only Stevie could realise that he can play this postion he would improve vastly and would slot right into our system and be even more effective.

and do you think that rafa will tire of this stubborness?

[Parm]

and do you think that rafa will tire of this stubborness?

well both are very stubborn, I think it could esculate to a point where it's a choice between one or the other.