A point about today's team selection...

[Craig_H]

What would you suggest then?

Generally keeping players in the side when they're playing well.

[Kronenburg1892]

How does it up the level of competition? What do the players think? "I might not be playing, so if i do, i'd better play well so i keep my place" ?

Clearly not, given the nature of rotation...

No.

I'll give you an analogy....

I'm a freelancer, I'm as good as my last job, you may not have the need for my particular skills for the next job, but I have something to offer to your business should you require my talents.

It's a matter of showing on the training field what you are capable of.

[Craig_H]

No.

I'll give you an analogy....

I'm a freelancer, I'm as good as my last job, you may not have the need for my particular skills for the next job, but I have something to offer to your business should you require my talents.

It's a matter of showing on the training field what you are capable of.

Um...yeah....ok...

Or you could just do what tonnes of successful managers have done since the dawn of time, and pick players who are on song.

[El Jefecito]

Generally keeping players in the side when they're playing well.

Rafa is more sophisticated than that though. Would you play the same team against someone who plays a highline as you would someone who plays deep?

I think not!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Craig_H]

Rafa is more sophisticated than that though. Would you play the same team against someone who plays a highline as you would someone who plays deep?

I think not!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh FFS, it's worked for virtually every successful 'unsophisticated' manager since....oh yeah, the dawn of time.

[Kronenburg1892]

Or you could keep players within your squad hungry for more business.

The point is, we've had a shed load of new attacking players in the last 18 months. NON of them are crap imo. All have something to offer. Even Kuyt.

Take today for example. Fulham have been the draw specialists of the premiership so far, they have shown to tire in the second half. Surely it's wise to throw in fresh pace at the latter end to exploit their tiredness?

[El Jefecito]

Oh FFS, it's worked for virtually every successful 'unsophisticated' manager since....oh yeah, the dawn of time.

Horses for courses mate

[Craig_H]

Horses for courses mate

This is partly true.

TBH, i couldnt care less, if we win the title, i'd happily see Heather Mills starting up front for us.

[Kronenburg1892]

Oh FFS, it's worked for virtually every successful 'unsophisticated' manager since....oh yeah, the dawn of time.

Not true, it's seriously tough to keep a good squad together. Gone are the days of a season of 14 players. Look at United, they lose Rooney or Ronaldo for a few weeks, they're ****ed.

[El Jefecito]

This is partly true.

TBH, i couldnt care less, if we win the title, i'd happily see Heather Mills starting up front for us.

Slag/bitch/etc

[bazza76]

In an utterly absurd moment of 'out of character-ness', Rafa actually named an unchanged side.

Do you think it's a coincidence that this happened on a day which saw our last game for 2 weeks?

He genuinely liked the mix of what he got from the team that beat esiktas, and who could blame him, against them, they had everything, despite them being decidely average, a wide range of players, good balance in midfield, fullbacks pushing high up the field and pinning the opposition back, great movement up front, solid at the back. If Torres had have been fitter, he possibly would have started today.

[bazza76]

How does it up the level of competition? What do the players think? "I might not be playing, so if i do, i'd better play well so i keep my place" ?

Clearly not, given the nature of rotation...

It helps them train harder right up to the last training session.

[Dan]

It helps them train harder right up to the last training session.

Exactly. Otherwise we'd have the lads coming off the pitch on a Saturday after performing well and going "**** it I'll be playing on Wednesday so I wont bother working my arse off in training"

[bazza76]

Exactly. Otherwise we'd have the lads coming off the pitch on a Saturday after performing well and going "**** it I'll be playing on Wednesday so I wont bother working my arse off in training"

sulking

[Craig_H]

Not true, it's seriously tough to keep a good squad together. Gone are the days of a season of 14 players. Look at United, they lose Rooney or Ronaldo for a few weeks, they're ****ed.

You mean like near the start of the season where they lost Rooney and won game after game?