For once and for all...

[kris90210]

The stock kind of reply.

Answer my point about stability and disruption, or do you think changing the system and players all the time IS the optimum way to win matches?

I think Rafa is in a better position to make that judgment than you are. Am I wrong?

[Red_Polo]

What about the overall point Polo?

1) - you cant afford as many dropped points in PL (as we've agreed)
2) - chopping and changing players and systems causes disruption
3) - with consistent disruption, you lessen your chances of winning

1) Yes, agreed.
2) Can do, not necessarily all that significantly though.
3) Obviously, yes, but given the answer to point 2 the effect of this one impact needn't be significant. It would also be pretty crass if we made our minds up about rotation without considering the other impacts it can have.

[Pacman]

I think Rafa is in a better position to make that judgment than you are. Am I wrong?

Oh no no no DJS is in far better position than anyone else in the whole world to make judgement on all things Rafa and Liverpool.

[Craig_H]

Criticism is one thing, but you've charged him, convicted him and sentenced him already. Already calling for his head and wanting Mourinho in his place. You've formed your judgement already, and the season's only half-way through. With this kind of mentality, Wenger would have been sacked several times over for all those years when Arsenal udnerachieved and were nowhere.

This isn't the end of his rebuilding, the team/squad is still evolving. This team with two or three additions will be right up there, under Rafa's leadership. Have a little patience.

and btw, if the criticism/praise is unbalanced, that's because we're supporters, not journos/media. Rafa has had more than his fair share of criticism from those cunts, is it wrong to expect a bit of support from the club's fans?

It's halfway through the FOURTH season Dhavlos, you speak as if he's had no time whatsoever to challenge, like he's only just joined.

And as for your wenger example - no i WOULD NOT have had him sacked because, for the five hundred millionth time, HE WON THE DOUBLE IN HIS FIRST FULL SEASON and consistently challenges for the title.

[Red_Polo]

Let's be fair though, we're all entitled to hold an opinion that's different to Rafa's. You don't have to think you're a better manager than him to disagree on a given point.

[Craig_H]

I think Rafa is in a better position to make that judgment than you are. Am I wrong?

It's not a matter of judgement, it's a fact.

Settled players DO feel more comfortable and do perform better.

What next, i say they play on grass and you say Rafa's in a better position to 'judge' that too?

[Craig_H]

1) Yes, agreed.
2) Can do, not necessarily all that significantly though.
3) Obviously, yes, but given the answer to point 2 the effect of this one impact needn't be significant. It would also be pretty crass if we made our minds up about rotation without considering the other impacts it can have.

Generally speaking, it's a fair conclusion to reach that consistently changing things disrupts the stability.

I cant believe i'm even having to make this point

[JohnDoe]

You sure the problem is rotation and not:

1. Playing at least one striker every game who is incapable of scoring or creating a scoring opportunity.

2. Having no match winning wingers who belong at the very top level.

3. Having a back four who is inferior to the other "big 3" in terms of possession and distribution of the ball?

Because those reasons seem to be much more reasonable than the "rotation argument" and actually have something to do with the game of football which is played on the pitch...

Do I trust Rafa to see Kuyt and Voronin are not up to it and replace them with strikers who can pose a threat in the box? Yes.

Do I trust Rafa to find, with proper funds and backing, a winger who will have as big an impact as Torres did? Yes.

Do I trust Rafa to improve our defence by getting rid of the weak links (i.e Riise) and providing good alternatives to the excellent yet currently irreplaceable CB we already have (Agger)? Yes.

Do I think Rafa's youth project will start reaping the rewards in a couple of years? Yes.

Do I trust any other manager to lead us forward and do better than Rafa at the moment? Absolutely-****ing-not.

Nah, it's rotation.

[Craig_H]

Oh no no no DJS is in far better position than anyone else in the whole world to make judgement on all things Rafa and Liverpool.

[johnp]

Wasn't there an article posted that said that Utd and maybe Chelsea or Arsenal have changed their teams just as much as Liverpool?
But that they kept their "spine" more than we did.

Dunno, maybe I made that up or dreamt it!

[Craig_H]

You sure the problem is rotation and not:

1. Playing at least one striker every game who is incapable of scoring or creating a scoring opportunity.

2. Having no match winning wingers who belong at the very top level.

3. Having a back four who is inferior to the other "big 3" in terms of possession and distribution of the ball?

Because those reasons seem to be much more reasonable than the "rotation argument" and actually have something to do with the game of football which is played on the pitch...

Do I trust Rafa to see Kuyt and Voronin are not up to it and replace them with strikers who can pose a threat in the box? Yes.

Do I trust Rafa to find, with proper funds and backing, a winger who will have as big an impact as Torres did? Yes.

Do I trust Rafa to improve our defence by getting rid of the weak links (i.e Riise) and providing good alternatives to the excellent yet currently irreplaceable CB we already have (Agger)? Yes.

Do I think Rafa's youth project will start reaping the rewards in a couple of years? Yes.

Do I trust any other manager to lead us forward and do better than Rafa at the moment? Absolutely-****ing-not.

Nah, it's rotation.

Rotation is one simple word, it can sum up a few things. Rotation of players, rotation of systems, formations and mentality, if you will.

It all comes together and causes our situation. But ultimately, the lack of consistency and stability, whilst not being the sole issue, plays a mighty big part.

[Craig_H]

Wasn't there an article posted that said that Utd and maybe Chelsea or Arsenal have changed their teams just as much as Liverpool?
But that they kept their "spine" more than we did.

Dunno, maybe I made that up or dreamt it!

I dont dispute that. Keeping their spine more than us = maintaining more stability than us.

They're also wise enough to change their teams at sensible times, and not just according to the 'set rota' that Rafa seems to have.

[JohnDoe]

Rotation is one simple word, it can sum up a few things. Rotation of players, rotation of systems, formations and mentality, if you will.

It all comes together and causes our situation. But ultimately, the lack of consistency and stability, whilst not being the sole issue, plays a mighty big part.

Nah, I think it's the fact our defence is crap on the ball without Agger, we don't have match winning wingers, and we play one striker who sits 40 yards from goal. It has nothing to do with this rotation. It's a load of ****.

[Craig_H]

Nah, I think it's the fact our defence is crap on the ball without Agger, we don't have match winning wingers, and we play one striker who sits 40 yards from goal. It has nothing to do with this rotation. It's a load of ****.

Right, so removing the stability of the team by chopping and changing players and systems has NO impact?

[Dhav]

It's halfway through the FOURTH season Dhavlos, you speak as if he's had no time whatsoever to challenge, like he's only just joined.

And as for your wenger example - no i WOULD NOT have had him sacked because, for the five hundred millionth time, HE WON THE DOUBLE IN HIS FIRST FULL SEASON and consistently challenges for the title.

Does Wenger consistently challenge for the title? By my reckoning he has only challenged for the title in half the seasons he's been at Arsenal. Congrats also to Wenger for winning the double in his first full season, when he inherited a very good squad and only had Man U to overcome.

BTW Rafa also won CL in his FIRST FULL SEASON, (which also happened to be his first season) with probably one of the worst squad of players ever to win that competition in that guise but hey, forget about that.

Anyway **** this ****. As fun as it is going around in circles with you I'm off home.