Originally posted by Dhavlos
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I've not read the whole thread, but I feel compelled to comment on these two posts as soon as I read them.
Bringing up the Reading game is not the best example. He was under extraordinary pressure in the run up to the Marseille game, to win, get the extra revenue towards his transfer kitty, possibly even to save his job. Yes he said he would prioritise the league this season, which may be should have meant not taking Gerrard and Torres off when we still had a chance of wining the game, but if there were rumours that keeping your job depended on the result of the following game would you have one eye on that game as well? And whatever team/formation Rafa selected, it doesnt change the fact that the team out there was good enough to win, and probably would have if it wasn't for individual errors (actually it was more than that, it was gross stupidity) from the senior players ie Gerrard and Carra, and some highly questionable refereeing decisions. Remember up to that point we were undefeated in the league.
You may think the pressure he is working under should not affect how he does his job. Perhaps. But it doesn't change the fact that it probably is. He is only human, having to be followed by this constant speculation, being asked to comment about it all the time, hearing rumours he's to be sacked, that his job has been offered around, all the time when it seems the board are not reassuring him, that must take its toll. It must take some focus and concentration off doing his job. Aren't workers in ordinary jobs often demotivated when there are rumours of lay-offs? Why shouldn't football managers be any different? You think it's ludicrous that the speculation is affecting him. I disagree, I think it has also permeated the players as well. I can see no other reason why they have been so abject for so long. Look at Mourinho last season, and the speculation that he would be gone imminently - he failed to win the league despite having the most expensively assem,bled squad in history. May be a coincidence, on the other hand there may some correlation. I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand though.
As for Crouch, well last season's performances mean nothing this season - he's been poor and IMO not particularly worthy of a starting place. I struggle to think of one game he's started this season and managed to match his performances of last. For a man who needs to seize his chance when he starts to impress the manager, that is surprising. You'll say that Voronin and Kuyt have been poor also, and I agree, but those two seem to be putting in more effort when they play.
Lauding him when he gets it right? I wish that were the case mate, but sadly this year Rafa has too often been criticised even when he's made big decision that have paid off. Personally I think taking off Gerrard in the derby was a masterstroke, sometimes on this big occasions the man is too impulsive and you need someone who is calmer with a bit more composure (see his performance v Croatia), in this case Lucas, who I thought did particularly well. We win the game, Lucas plays a crucial role in the winner but Rafa gets panned for taking off his best player and it's the ref that gets him out of jail.
I can't agree that the treatment of Crouch is bordering on disgraceful either. Yes, I would have liked to have seen him get more playing time, but someone who is playing so rarely needs to seize his opportunity when selected, and when he has played I think we can agree ont he whole he's been poor, particularly when he's started. Coming off the bench he's looked more of a threat. We don't know what his commitment and attitude has been like behind the scenes, on the training ground, but if his on the pitch performances are anything to go by I would suggest that they haven't up to standard.
I do agree that Rafa has been chopping and changing too much, and that the players would benefit from a more settled line-up and team, but if I know Rafa I imagine that his plan for the second part of the season is to play a more settled line-up and formation, as he did in 2005-6.
Bringing up the Reading game is not the best example. He was under extraordinary pressure in the run up to the Marseille game, to win, get the extra revenue towards his transfer kitty, possibly even to save his job. Yes he said he would prioritise the league this season, which may be should have meant not taking Gerrard and Torres off when we still had a chance of wining the game, but if there were rumours that keeping your job depended on the result of the following game would you have one eye on that game as well? And whatever team/formation Rafa selected, it doesnt change the fact that the team out there was good enough to win, and probably would have if it wasn't for individual errors (actually it was more than that, it was gross stupidity) from the senior players ie Gerrard and Carra, and some highly questionable refereeing decisions. Remember up to that point we were undefeated in the league.
You may think the pressure he is working under should not affect how he does his job. Perhaps. But it doesn't change the fact that it probably is. He is only human, having to be followed by this constant speculation, being asked to comment about it all the time, hearing rumours he's to be sacked, that his job has been offered around, all the time when it seems the board are not reassuring him, that must take its toll. It must take some focus and concentration off doing his job. Aren't workers in ordinary jobs often demotivated when there are rumours of lay-offs? Why shouldn't football managers be any different? You think it's ludicrous that the speculation is affecting him. I disagree, I think it has also permeated the players as well. I can see no other reason why they have been so abject for so long. Look at Mourinho last season, and the speculation that he would be gone imminently - he failed to win the league despite having the most expensively assem,bled squad in history. May be a coincidence, on the other hand there may some correlation. I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand though.
As for Crouch, well last season's performances mean nothing this season - he's been poor and IMO not particularly worthy of a starting place. I struggle to think of one game he's started this season and managed to match his performances of last. For a man who needs to seize his chance when he starts to impress the manager, that is surprising. You'll say that Voronin and Kuyt have been poor also, and I agree, but those two seem to be putting in more effort when they play.
Lauding him when he gets it right? I wish that were the case mate, but sadly this year Rafa has too often been criticised even when he's made big decision that have paid off. Personally I think taking off Gerrard in the derby was a masterstroke, sometimes on this big occasions the man is too impulsive and you need someone who is calmer with a bit more composure (see his performance v Croatia), in this case Lucas, who I thought did particularly well. We win the game, Lucas plays a crucial role in the winner but Rafa gets panned for taking off his best player and it's the ref that gets him out of jail.
I can't agree that the treatment of Crouch is bordering on disgraceful either. Yes, I would have liked to have seen him get more playing time, but someone who is playing so rarely needs to seize his opportunity when selected, and when he has played I think we can agree ont he whole he's been poor, particularly when he's started. Coming off the bench he's looked more of a threat. We don't know what his commitment and attitude has been like behind the scenes, on the training ground, but if his on the pitch performances are anything to go by I would suggest that they haven't up to standard.
I do agree that Rafa has been chopping and changing too much, and that the players would benefit from a more settled line-up and team, but if I know Rafa I imagine that his plan for the second part of the season is to play a more settled line-up and formation, as he did in 2005-6.
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