Defending Rafa - Great Piece

[NICKZS]

I think there was a bit too much re-modelling done, bit more than was necessary.

Well that's personal opinion. I think (although, I reckon we can safely say I KNOW ) a lot of people would disagree with that. I think when we are able to spend over £18m on squad players then we are challenging Man U for spending power.

[wiw]

We're a few steps ahead of what we were under GH, and credit to the manager for that. I disagree with you to a point about rotation, in itself and done properly, it's hugely beneficial but i personally consider the amount of rotation Rafa does as being problematic (meaning going from one game to the next with half the team being changed) and the fact that we're playing players in unnatural positions for them to also be an issue.

Arsenal's way isnt the only other method out there

Of course it isn't, but they've competed in all comps with a small squad and won **** all. We've competed with a big squad and in the end haven't finished up too far behind them in the league, lost a match we shouldn't have done in the FA cup and got to the CL semi's. We all know our squad isn't good enough, but its a progressive process, now being in a position where we have a great spine, all we need is a couple (or more ) top players adding, which is the position Man U found themselves in a couple of years ago.

We all know the rotation argument it's been done to death, and I agree that half the team being changed is problematic. Don't forget though that due to the rebuilding we are still using relatively new players (Lucas etc in their first season), and the latter part of the season proves we're heading in the right direction. As above we're IMO a couple of top players away, as we get them our confidence will improve, our guile, our allround play, and IMO our style of play will transform as a result. And Rafa will (probably) rotate less when he has a squad he's happier with.

[Nic83]

I'll reiterate my feelings about Rafa. While he pays more attention to detail and is a great tactician, he makes more BASIC errors (IE: selection, bad substitutions etc), than any of the other top managers which is why unless he has 3 worldclass frontmen under his wings which will allow him to rotate without affecting results, we won't ever win the title under him.

[Skillz]

Man Utd havent paid for Tevez...only a loan fee.

Your right. Correct me if I am wrong but Tevez has played for them though? So what is his commercial value, because they are benefiting from his professional value

EDIT: My point is that they have added more to the field of play this year in commercial value, regardless of whether they have paid for him yet. Also, they started 20+ points in front.

[The Erectile Banana]

The first thing I notice about this article are the elementary spelling and grammar errors - is it written by a journo or a fan?

Yeah, there's a few typos on it.

It was written by a fan on the Guardian Sports Blog.

I pulled it off there as I thought it made an interesting read.