Rafa's best team in his own mind...

[Craig_H]

But Sally gunnell could do that. I feel for him and I wish he would start to produce some stuff to shut us all up but alas, he's just not got enough quality...

Spot on that.

Good honest hardworking footballers with little or no genuine quality are fine, if you're wigan. But we're not.

[Rashid]

Spot on DJS.

As for hardworking, thats the standard, all players should work hard.

[Craig_H]

Spot on DJS.

As for hardworking, thats the standard, all players should work hard.

Naturally. I suppose Kuyt takes it further than that, his energy and stamina is phenominal.

Not good enough though, when that's ALL he can do.

[Rich]

Spot on DJS.

As for hardworking, thats the standard, all players should work hard.

The important word is "should" a high percentage of players in the premier league don't put half the shift Kuyt does - which *might* be one of the reasons why he struggles in the finishing and quality stakes, perhaps he's literally running himself ragged to the detriment of his skills?! ....just a thought.

Personally, I would like either Crouch or Babel given the game time that Kuyt's had when Torres is on the pitch - I firmly believe they'd both score more and create more than Kuyt has done.

[Rashid]

I also think if players stopped, thought for a bit, held their runs, didn't rush as much they might be more effective than when they are doing their headless chicken in the dark routine.

[AFII]

----------------Reina
Finnan-----Carra------Agger-----Arbeloa
--------Masch--------Alonso-----------
-----Babel------Gerrard-----Kewell-----
----------------Torres-----------------

[Howard_lfc]

I also think if players stopped, thought for a bit, held their runs, didn't rush as much they might be more effective than when they are doing their headless chicken in the dark routine.

Like the utd game last week.

Rafa mentioned yesterday in his interview that the team played with 'game intelligence' which i believe is the point your making.

[Rich]

Howard, your avatar is really off putting

[Howard_lfc]

Howard, your avatar is really off putting

It's ace isn't it?

one of the new forum members put it on the setanta girl thread.

[Revo]

It's ace isn't it?

one of the new forum members put it on the setanta girl thread.

not to mention what i did

[Howard_lfc]

not to mention what i did

All over your keyboard as well. You never told us you had a left handed mouse Revo.

[Revo]

All over your keyboard as well. You never told us you had a left handed mouse Revo.

been on to the mrs all day to wear something yellow as there is a good chance she will be wearing me all over her tonight

[Howard_lfc]

been on to the mrs all day to wear something yellow as there is a good chance she will be wearing me all over her tonight

Give her the best 30 seconds of her week mate.

[Kilteragh]

I was always under the impression that Rafa picked his best 11 depending on the opposition.

Correct. Makes a nonsense of the pundits who claim "Rafa doesn't know his best 11".

[Alpha]

Nonsense Alpha.
Xabi's tackling is under-rated and his distribution and ability to dictate the rhythym of our game allows Stevie to do what he does best; back up the forwards and 'come onto the ball'.
Lately SG has been paired with Masher and IMO he's been playing too deep to affect the game the way we know he can; take the ManU game as an example.

"Mascherano gives us balance and allows the others to play their own game. It's really important for players like Torres that they can go forward and sometimes forget they need to defend."

I agree that Xabi's tackling is under-rated. But the one area where he is lacking is mobility. He needs a midfield partner to buy him time and space so he can concentrate on doing what he does best and dictate the rhythm from a fairly static position.

I'm not sure quite how Xabi's rhythm allows Gerrard to do what he does best better than Masher though. Gerrard is at his best driving forward from midfield with the ball at his feet. And while he has to share defensive responsibilty with Alonso, he is more free to advance in the knowledge Mascherano is protecting him.

Given his recent form, I'm not sure you can argue Gerrard has been ineffective alongside Masher.