Rafa - I'm here to stay

[AFII]

4 years ago, £16m would've probably got a world class player, but that's splitting hairs i guess. You're a good man AFII, disagreement after disagreement and you never get abusive. Highly admirable.

I just think that there is no point in being abusive.

I will judge Rafa after every season because it's only then we have the final result.

It's not fair to do it before then but I think he should get the time to see how the youngsters will do.

[Shaggy]

Crouch would not work in the system that we have played the last few games.

I think he would fit perfectly well if he were the '1' up front, but obviously he's not gonna be preferred to Torres.

Crouch played very well in that position in Capello's first game, when he came on for the last half an hour and had SWP, Gerrard and Joe Cole all running off him.

He's top back-up, though.

[barnes10]

Crouch is a consistent goal threat while Kuyt isnt - that, for me, is the key issue with a striker - you have to feel he'll get you a goal and i rarely get that feeling from Kuyt i'm afriad.

was crouch a consistent threat the season he joined us? took him a while didnt it? he seems to be a fits n starts player unless he comes on from the bench.

at the end of the day, kuyt looks to have proven he's too unreliable and all 3 need upgrading. possibly crouch to stay as a supersub but he won't be happy with that will he.

[Craig_H]

I think he would fit perfectly well if he were the '1' up front, but obviously he's not gonna be preferred to Torres.

Crouch played very well in Capello's first game, when he came on for the last half an hour and had SWP, Gerrard and Joe Cole all running off him.

He's top back-up, though.

Here's one for you shaggs...

God forbid, we start a game in 4-2-3-1 formation and torres got injured...

Do you think Rafa would bring on Crouch? I reckon he'd move Kuyt up front and bring on Pennant/Benyoun to play on the right. It'd be a real moment, but i honestly think he'd do that.

[tomasjj]

Rafa is sometimes wrong, but mostly right.

If the team wins, is it only the players credit, and if the team lose the managers blame?

Or, if the team wins, is it the managers credit, or the players?

Bit of both I reckon.

[Craig_H]

was crouch a consistent threat the season he joined us? took him a while didnt it? he seems to be a fits n starts player unless he comes on from the bench.

at the end of the day, kuyt looks to have proven he's too unreliable and all 3 need upgrading. possibly crouch to stay as a supersub but he won't be happy with that will he.

Sorry mate, that's factually wrong. All of his 18 goals last season came when he started - none from the bench.

[Shaggy]

Here's one for you shaggs...

God forbid, we start a game in 4-2-3-1 formation and torres got injured...

Do you think Rafa would bring on Crouch? I reckon he'd move Kuyt up front and bring on Pennant/Benyoun to play on the right. It'd be a real moment, but i honestly think he'd do that.

Depends what game, obviously. Horses for courses.

But yeah, that would always be the fear.

[AFII]

I dont disagree. I wouldnt play that system though. The reason we are is partly to accommodate Mascherano and Gerrard together in the centre without leaving Masher to do all the donkey work and partly because Rafa simply refuses to play Crouch & Kuyt is close to ineffective as a striker.

In those circumstances, 4-2-3-1 is the only way forward and fair play to rafa for getting it working so well.

Well, I think that Rafa is playing 4-2-3-1 because our wide players isn't good enough and he is now using the strength of the squad, our central players.

[Reece]

I think he would fit perfectly well if he were the '1' up front, but obviously he's not gonna be preferred to Torres.

Well yeah I meant because obviously Torres would have that central spot

[Craig_H]

Rafa is sometimes wrong, but mostly right.

If the team wins, is it only the players credit, and if the team lose the managers blame?

Or, if the team wins, is it the managers credit, or the players?

Bit of both I reckon.

I agree with you. Fact is though, we SHOULD win most games, shouldnt we?

[Craig_H]

Depends what game, obviously. Horses for courses.

But yeah, that would always be the fear.

Hmmm...

What game would anyone identify as being more suitable for Kuyt to play as a lone striker, ahead of Crouch? There cant be one, surely?!

[Shaggy]

Yes, in that situation Crouch would always be my horse. My lovely horse.

[Craig_H]

Yes, in that situation Crouch would always be my horse. My lovely horse.

More a giraffe than a horse...

I wont suggest what animalistic guise kuyt takes.

[AFII]

Hmmm...

What game would anyone identify as being more suitable for Kuyt to play as a lone striker, ahead of Crouch? There cant be one, surely?!

I would actually rather play Nemeth as a lone striker than Kuyt or Crouch.

[Shaggy]

More a giraffe than a horse...

I wont suggest what animalistic guise kuyt takes.

Never heard the phrase "giraffes for courses".