Pako leaving a blessing for Rafa?

[Skillz]

Well we all know it has been at times a very difficult season for the Gaffa. A lot was said of losing our no 2 at the time and thereafter. Many suggested it had affected the squad because they had noone being the "good cop" etc.

Personally myself I think it had more effect on Rafa himself. I think it is clear now that the episode was a shock and a massive disappointment to Rafa. It also disrupted a great start to the season, along with the injuries to Agger and Alonso. However I feel this is a blessing in disguise.

Rafa has been forced to re-evaluate the way he handles a squad. He has recently admitted he has a more hands on approach with the squad and spends more time with them than previously. I have noticed since about December that he now is happy to praise individuals a lot more than he used to, infact he was always reluctant to. Steven Gerrard, inparticular has been the recipient on many occassion. Rafa doesn't go over the top with praise but it is a lot more prevalent.

For me Rafa is developing another skill that was not part of his CV before as he had Pako to do that. For someone who according to some posters had lost the squad Rafa has turned it around big time and deserves much credit considering what he has had to deal with behind the scenes.

I have never seen Stevie enjoy his football as much as he is right now and he even praised Rafa on the weekend. This pleases me a lot cos if Rafa and SG are happy I have no doubt it will spread through the squad as it appears at the moment.

Now lets win number 6

[dww]

Interesting take on things. Perhaps you are right. There has certainly been an improvement in mood around the team later in the season and I guess I can see what you mean about the praise.

Even if you are I really think we should bring in an assistant or maybe someone in another role to give a different opinions on players and tactics as well as to be involved with players on a more personal level. There have been times this season when I think pressure has shown on Rafa and he has made odd decisions that a second opinion might have helped (the Reading game for example).

[Gray]

Since Pako leaving he has definitely got closer to the players, and with all the boardroom stuff going on may of helped him in some ways.

[Dessy]

Personally I think we lost our way a little on the pitch when Pako left, however, I would agree that Rafa has since turned things around.

Prior to Pako leaving I thought we were playing some really good stuff and on the verge of better to come?

But then you ask yourself would we have stumbled across the 4-2-3-1 that seems to suit our current crop?

Fair play to Rafa......with what hes had to contend with this season?

[Pablo]

Since Pako leaving he has definitely got closer to the players, and with all the boardroom stuff going on may of helped him in some ways.

Yep, the off the pitch stuff does seem to have glavanised everyone together.

Interesting point on Rafa softening by the way Skillz, you are right, after the last few games he has picked at least one player out for praise, even sometimes withouth being prompted by the media. Its obviously a dleiberate tactic and one I approve of.

[homer1]

Personally I think we lost our way a little on the pitch when Pako left, however, I would agree that Rafa has since turned things around.

Prior to Pako leaving I thought we were playing some really good stuff and on the verge of better to come?

But then you ask yourself would we have stumbled across the 4-2-3-1 that seems to suit our current crop?

Fair play to Rafa......with what hes had to contend with this season?

Not having a go at you mate but that comment winds me up no end

A number of journalists & media outlets have focussed on this "stroke of luck" by Rafa too, ignoring the fact that he played 4-2-3-1 all the time at Valencia and I believe always intended to do so at Liverpool but didn't have the players

[Skillz]

Interesting take on things. Perhaps you are right. There has certainly been an improvement in mood around the team later in the season and I guess I can see what you mean about the praise.

Even if you are I really think we should bring in an assistant or maybe someone in another role to give a different opinions on players and tactics as well as to be involved with players on a more personal level. There have been times this season when I think pressure has shown on Rafa and he has made odd decisions that a second opinion might have helped (the Reading game for example).

I think we should bring in a no. 2 as well. The main point was that I think Rafa has not only learnt from the loss of Pako, but developed as a manager. Either way he has turned around a pretty bad run and everything on the pitch looks pretty good to me at the minute.

As for feeling the pressure, we can only try to imagine how bad some days, weeks etc were for Rafa, IMO.

[Skillz]

Yep, the off the pitch stuff does seem to have glavanised everyone together.

Interesting point on Rafa softening by the way Skillz, you are right, after the last few games he has picked at least one player out for praise, even sometimes withouth being prompted by the media. Its obviously a dleiberate tactic and one I approve of.

He's been doing it since dec/jan I reckon. He has been giving Gerrard praise for a while, Torres and Masher as well. I also approve, just hope he is here next year

[Reece]

But then you ask yourself would we have stumbled across the 4-2-3-1 that seems to suit our current crop?

Stumbled? I think Rafa deserves more credit than that.

[Dessy]

Not having a go at you mate but that comment winds me up no end

A number of journalists & media outlets have focussed on this "stroke of luck" by Rafa too, ignoring the fact that he played 4-2-3-1 all the time at Valencia and I believe always intended to do so at Liverpool but didn't have the players

What players wouldn't have fit into this sytem when he first took charge and why?

I'm dont mean to imply that Rafa is clueless and maybe stumble is wrong word to use but we did play some good stuff before pako's departure with largely the same squad? No?

[Dessy]

Stumbled? I think Rafa deserves more credit than that.

See above

[Woobus]

What players wouldn't have fit into this sytem when he first took charge and why?

I'm dont mean to imply that Rafa is clueless and maybe stumble is wrong word to use but we did play some good stuff before pako's departure with largely the same squad? No?

A fast intelligent striker I would guess, I dont think Cisse could play the role Torres is playing.

[Reece]

See above

[homer1]

What players wouldn't have fit into this sytem when he first took charge and why?

I'm dont mean to imply that Rafa is clueless and maybe stumble is wrong word to use but we did play some good stuff before pako's departure with largely the same squad? No?

No idea, that's why Rafa's the manager & I stick with internet forums

It is undeniable that this is a past favourite formation of his though and I fully expected to see him impliment it before now. I would guess Alonso's injury delayed it to a degree as 2 x holding midfielders is key to the formation and he has struggled with injury and form earlier in the season

He will always try different things with different players depending on player availability, fitness, form etc but to say he stumbled across this 4-2-3-1 formation suggests he did it by accident which most certainly isn't the case

[El Jefecito]

What players wouldn't have fit into this sytem when he first took charge and why?
I'm dont mean to imply that Rafa is clueless and maybe stumble is wrong word to use but we did play some good stuff before pako's departure with largely the same squad? No?

Rafa had to ditch 442(1-1) because a) it was obvious we did not have a good enough partner for Torres b) he had to find a way to get more from SG than we could as a deeper CM.

We still don't have the players to suit this system. Kuyt and the FBs are questionable in their roles.