Lots of negative stuff about Rafa

[bigfooty]

Our lack of width is what is killing the attacking side of our game of late.

Going into a match with Arsenal playing Gerrard, Mascherano, Xabi, Voronin, Kuyt and Torres might have helped break up Arsenal's passing in the middle but of those guys only Gerrard provided width when he made bursts down the flanks with the ball. Riise tried to push on but had to be careful with no proper cover on the left, Finnan the same on the right.

Against Blackburn it was more of the same, Babel stayed left to give him some credit but with Yossi mostly playing infield play got compressed and again we had no outlet on the right. This was evident again in the second half when most of our better movement was down the left hand side of the pitch, particularly when Kewell came on.

Rafa's transfer dealings since joining the club have seen us buy a smattering of pretty average natural wide players. As far as those that have come within a sniff of the first team are concerned:
Nunez - Gone
Gonzalez - Gone
Leto - Not ready
Anderson - Doing well on loan
Pennant - Can't score, can't really create much either

We've basically relied on players like Gerrard, Garcia, Zenden and now the likes of Babel and Yossi who are not naturally suited to playing wide, all tending to drift infield and in most cases lacking the pace or guile to get beat people. Harry Kewell is still by far the best wide midfielder we have at the club but he's been injury for over a season and wasn't even signed by Rafa.

The more I hear about Babel being a panic buy the more I can believe it as we clearly didn't need him, we needed someone in the same price range but who actually wants to play on the wing. Instead we have an overpriced raw talent who doesn't fit into Rafa's system and is going to find it incredibly hard to develop his game because of this.

[AFII]

We have played Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea off the park at Anfield, so no, Rafa isn't incapable of coaching attacking football.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

I think, simply, it's because they're a miles better side than we are.

I'm not buying this.

Our best 11 players on the pitch matches up pretty well with theirs, I think.

To me it's more to do with with Rafa's rigid defensive tactics than the talent of our current players.

Of course the situation is exacerbated with Alonso, Torres and Agger out. But lets be honest it's still nowhere near free flowing when they are availble.

Perhaps Heighway 09 is right that we'll always be this way under Rafa, and we'll just have to accept it. Just think we'll never league doing it his way.

[dww]

Our lack of width is what is killing the attacking side of our game of late.

I don't really think it is a lack of width per se that is the problem. It's that we use the wide areas poorly and our wide players are not keep on exploiting space behind defenders or cutting in to join the striker. The decision making of our wide players has been poor for most of the season. It was a breath of fresh air when Kewell came on the other night.

The more I hear about Babel being a panic buy the more I can believe it as we clearly didn't need him, we needed someone in the same price range but who actually wants to play on the wing. Instead we have an overpriced raw talent who doesn't fit into Rafa's system and is going to find it incredibly hard to develop his game because of this.

I'm torn by Babel. I think in the future he might be an ideal player for Rafas system. He has good touch, pace and can play any of the attacking positions in a 4-2-3-1 or variant formation. However it was IMO the wrong time to bring in an inexperienced player whose weakness is in the mental/decision making areas of the game. I think what we needed was an experienced and guileful attacker to link our midfield and attack.

[willa1975]

ex****inxactly. Have people never heard of **** FORM? we are obviously gonna improve, the question is will we improve quickly enough to get right back to the top before its too late?

Two years ago, we played like **** until December, then came alive, but it was too little too late.

Last year, we were **** until December, then came alive, but it was too little too late.

This year, we start well, then turn to **** in early September, a run that is still going, and are hoping to come alive by December and that it won't be too little too late.

This is the problem where I'm concerned. It's the same ****ing thing every ****ing year. The **** starts, the lack of goals, but this time, in all likelihood, without a cup run to put a shine on things. Yes, sides like Man U and Chelsea have poor runs, but they last 3-4 games, not 3-4 MONTHS. For the same thing to be happening year after year...at least some of it has got to fall on the manager. Rafa needs to sort it out or get out.

[brightred]

You want him out yet you have an avatar of him? hmmmm, Mixed signals there mate, don't you think?

I'm confused

[fowlen]

There are a number of reasons for us to be complaining at the moment - almost all of them because of Rafa:
- we are not playing good or attractive football, infact we are very predictable and boring
- constant rotation
- constant disregard in players who have only appeared in spells during the season
- constant selection of three players (kuyt, sissoko and voronin) who are our three poorest players at the moment.
- almost all of us can see the above three not performing, as well as the impact that the likes of Crouchy, and Benni have made when coming on, so why hasn't Rafa?

This combination makes almost every fan infuriated.

There is no doubt that we can play better, and if Rafa does away with his stubborness and plays Benni, Crouch and maybe Leiva more often we'd all be happier.

Personally I think we are about to explode - and the availability of Agger, Alonso and Torres will be a massive plus.....hopefully only one more league game without them. I also think that the PL is going to see the Harry Kewell that everyone was in awe of a few years ago......

At the same time let's not forget that we are only 6 points off the top, and this season, more than ever teams are capable of taking points from others.

Personally I am sick and tired of Rafa doing what has been mentioned above, and if we don't qualify for the next phase of the champs league and improve our league standing he has to go -- purely because of his stubborness and missing the obvious.

[willa1975]

We have played Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea off the park at Anfield, so no, Rafa isn't incapable of coaching attacking football.

Agreed. We also put together some nice attacking football against Juve in the CL back in 05. But right now, I can't imagine us playing anyone off the park. There's nothing redeeming in being unwatchable and not getting the results to justify it.

[fowlen]

I don't think it's quite a matter of being incapable.
It's more a matter of defensive tactics, and stubborness.

Wenger and Ferguson believe that you need fluidity and attack minded players to win games, but Rafa believes in Defense first.

Both philosophies can result in the same result, although I'd prefer us to play like the other red teams mentioned above.

[willa1975]

I'm torn by Babel. I think in the future he might be an ideal player for Rafas system. He has good touch, pace and can play any of the attacking positions in a 4-2-3-1 or variant formation. However it was IMO the wrong time to bring in an inexperienced player whose weakness is in the mental/decision making areas of the game. I think what we needed was an experienced and guileful attacker to link our midfield and attack.

I still think Babel has potential, but he will need games to fulfill that potential. If Kewell defies the odds and becomes anything like the player he used to be, then he should definitely get the starting nod. Otherwise, we don't really have any better options than Babel, so I'd play him and bank on him improving for next year.

We're not winning any trophies this year anyway...so there isn't much to lose.

[carlton]

I don't think it's quite a matter of being incapable.
It's more a matter of defensive tactics, and stubborness.

Wenger and Ferguson believe that you need fluidity and attack minded players to win games, but Rafa believes in Defense first.

Both philosophies can result in the same result, although I'd prefer us to play like the other red teams mentioned above.

Agreed. Rafa seems to like squeezing the life out of teams defensively. If he wanted to play free flowing attack at all costs football wouldnt we have 2 genuine out and out wingers playing every week. Also with Riisee and Hyppia amongst others we arent exactly blessed with speed.

[REDSCOUSER]

Rafa Out?

I'm going to bite the bullet.

I love Rafa for winning no.5.

I love him for the F.A Cup.

I love him for the beard.

But.....we are playing ****e football and there is no way we can win the league while playing like that that.

Are we going to win with Rafa?

theres some numpties on this site nowadays..
hang on a tick let me laugh a bit more

[einar]

That's six point over eleven games.

You think we'll be 6 points off the top in 10 games time, if we keep playing as we have been?

No, but why do you think we will keep playing like we have been?

[einar]

This is interesting.

He's doing things which you yourself think are wrong. Yet, you have faith in him. That's a bit confusing.

Why is it confusing that someone supports someone he does not understand?

[einar]

There are a number of reasons for us to be complaining at the moment - almost all of them because of Rafa:
1. - we are not playing good or attractive football, infact we are very predictable and boring
2. - constant rotation
3. - constant disregard in players who have only appeared in spells during the season
4. - constant selection of three players (kuyt, sissoko and voronin) who are our three poorest players at the moment.
5. - almost all of us can see the above three not performing, as well as the impact that the likes of Crouchy, and Benni have made when coming on, so why hasn't Rafa?

This combination makes almost every fan infuriated.

There is no doubt that we can play better,
6. and if Rafa does away with his stubborness and plays Benni, Crouch and maybe Leiva more often we'd all be happier.

Personally I think we are about to explode - and the availability of Agger, Alonso and Torres will be a massive plus.....hopefully only one more league game without them. I also think that the PL is going to see the Harry Kewell that everyone was in awe of a few years ago......

At the same time let's not forget that we are only 6 points off the top, and this season, more than ever teams are capable of taking points from others.

7. Personally I am sick and tired of Rafa doing what has been mentioned above, and if we don't qualify for the next phase of the champs league and improve our league standing he has to go -- purely because of his stubborness and missing the obvious.

1. Do you think Rafa is asking them not to play good football?

2. Rafa would probably resign before giving up rotation. Plus we dont know that that is the cause of our bad form.

3. Again, that is you assumption that others would do better.

4. Again, we dont know that Crouch, Lucas or any other then those who are injured would do any better.

5. Plus Benny is playing more and more and doing fine.

6. Another very big assumption.

7. Why would you sack a manager at this time when history tells us that many of the best managers in the history of the game where in the very same position as Rafa is in now. Some of them are our own past greats.

Fact is Rafa has shown that he can compete with the best, by winning twice in Spain and the CL with mediocre teams. I dont know, sacking him now could be a very good thing. But it could also be the biggest mistake in the history of our beloved club.