Rotate to accumulate: How the argument has turned full circle

[Guest]

He has rotated Torres this season at times though.

And Stevie once or twice too I think. Torres was new to the league, so I think he wanted to ease him. He wasn't rotated much though, as he was using mainly a team comprised of players already there last season at the start, barring Torres who was the only 'regular' at the start of the season of the new players.

[saveferris]

I think the problem regarding rotation is not the fact it is being done. I do feel it is important to keep players fresher, it is the players themselves.

As has been mentioned there are some players that are more often than not kept in the first team, we know who they are. In my opinion they are consistently picked for 2 reasons. Firstly they are our better players, secondly they play well.

There are too many players that are not playing to the best of their ability. This season I think Kuyt, Kewell, Sissoko (when here), Crouch, Pennant, Riise, Aurelio, Voronin have been nowhere near their best on a consistent basis, and even Finnan and Carra have been poor compared to previous seasons. In recent years our defenders have been excellent, this season there have been more mistakes. I am not surprised that we have rotated more than normal. Part of the problem that arises because of this players like Arbeloa and Masher will have a bad game as they have played so much

In the games we have played really well Benitez has at times not rotated at all, or only rotated due to injury.

Rotation is not to blame for where we are, Chelsea, Arsenal and Utd all do it. The issue is that the players need to play to the best of their ability. We know in a lot of cases they can do better

[Joe Le Toff]

We dont have the quality in depth to rotate as much as Rafa does.

1 or 2 changes is fine but 4, 5 or 6 which on the face of it appear sometimes to be for rotations sake undoubtedly disrupt our consistency.

The point about some players not playing to the best of their ability is a fair one, but i think that rotation contributes to that as well, as the majority of players need to play regularly to piece some form together.

[keniget]

If it was just the personnel, we might get away with it at times, but it's not. We've 'rotated' our tactics and formations too quite often.

Plus stats don't take into account things like playing Crouch on the left. There is rotating.. and then there are decisions like that.

[Craig_H]

Not when he has been fit in the league or the CL.

Portsmouth away? Birmingham at home?

[Craig_H]

If it was just the personnel, we might get away with it at times, but it's not. We've 'rotated' our tactics and formations too quite often.

Plus stats don't take into account things like playing Crouch on the left. There is rotating.. and then there are decisions like that.

[Craig_H]

We dont have the quality in depth to rotate as much as Rafa does.

1 or 2 changes is fine but 4, 5 or 6 which on the face of it appear sometimes to be for rotations sake undoubtedly disrupt our consistency.

The point about some players not playing to the best of their ability is a fair one, but i think that rotation contributes to that as well, as the majority of players need to play regularly to piece some form together.

I seem to have discovered the 'sense' thread

[Reece]

I seem to have discovered the 'sense' thread

Please god make him stay in this thread

[Joe King]

I for one back Mr Benitez for rotation. The season is a marathon and not a sprint. In the past seasons, we have been to something of a climax. Three finals in three years isn't a bad feat but Liverpool shouldn't be associating itself as being a club which is happy enough to win a cup competition. Don't get me wrong, I would love to win the Champions League again but seriously, at the start of the season, everyone would have wanted to win the Premiership. I just find at this moment in time, we don't have the squad to succeed in winning the title or even sustaining a challenge towards the deep oceans of the season.

Rotation works if you have the really good squad but also rotating players at the right times and for the right occasions. This is why Rafa needs an assistant. An assistant would keep Rafa on his toes and remind him of his decisions. An assistant who would make sure Rafa doesn't get tempted to try something a bit too clever. Rafa needs to realise his mistakes and learn fast from them. Recently, his consistancy in the attacking part of the pitch has got him results. Now if Babel were to tire out, I would be stuck in this position. Would I play Kewell? No. Benayoun? Not in that position. So Rafa needs to understand if he is to play this system next season, which seems to be his bread and butter, then he needs to buy players who fit the system perfectly. Wingers in this sense are essential (Cliche, I know) and attacking full backs in order to bring more width into the game. I like how Babel operates on the left. It would be good to see Insua (I sound like AFII) next season to bomb down and put some quality in the box with hopefully a few men to contest the first or second ball.

I went on a tangent, I know but rotation fits nicely with everything about the systems and tactics used by Benitez. Bring in quality and you shall receive quality because it looks like the players are comfortable playing with the roles given to them. I know many have bleated on how Gerrard and Babel have blossomed even more so and Kuyt is looking dangerous (goodness me) so something must be going good.

Stick it to the Hammers lads!