If we could have turned 6 of 13 draws into wins...

[Catrin]

All I can say is thank ****ing Jesus Christ that Birmingham are finally, finally gone out of the Premierleague.

The number of times those cunts sat for a point or harassed a 1-0 win out of us, for such an ordinary side, just beats the **** out of me.

Brum are exactly the type of well organised, ambitionless dross that totally confounds Rafa every time.

Good riddance ye ****ters.

Although now that fat head Bruce is Wigan boss, expect them to secure two 0-0s against us next season!!

I would rather have seen Bolton go down than Birmingham. They didn't play much football under Fat Sam. they didn't give Little Sam much of a chance and they haven't played much football under Megson.

I'm pleased to see Reading go down though because they tried to kick lumps out of Torres in the Carling Cup game at theirs and could easily have wrecked our season.

[Catrin]

That's all fine, but foolish things like Torres playing at Reading in the Carling Cup, but not at Pompey in the league, are Rafa's undoing.

And no matter how strong your squad is, changing half the team between games will destroy any hope of stability.

That's a bit spooky. I don't suppose you also thought that Fulham should have gone down as payback for prematurely sacking Coleman and for adding insult to injury by replacing him with Sanchez?

[Craig_H]

That's a bit spooky. I don't suppose you also thought that Fulham should have gone down as payback for prematurely sacking Coleman and for adding insult to injury by replacing him with Sanchez?

I havent a clue what you're on about and i dont suppose you're in the position to clarify.

[Dhav]

That's all fine, but foolish things like Torres playing at Reading in the Carling Cup, but not at Pompey in the league, are Rafa's undoing.

And no matter how strong your squad is, changing half the team between games will destroy any hope of stability.

I said at the time I wasn't happy about Rafa resting Torres v Pompey (ahead of the CL tie).

Similarly I was not happy about Torres starting in the League Cup at Reading, but he scored a hat-trick away from home to a Prem side, and one that tried kicking him off the park to boot did and that confidence gained from that must have done him the world of good and stood him and us in good stead for the rest of the season. So in hindsight I think that particular decision worked for Rafa.

Personally I don't agree that changing half the side destroys stability, all top clubs have done it before and gotten results. Players have been together at the club long enough to play well, irrespective of who they're playing with, as long as they're playing a settled system and one they are used to. So what I'm saying is that constantly changing formations, as Rafa has done, which impacts on continuity and stability more IMO. When we've played a settled formation of late it has coincided with a good run of form. Within reason, we should do what Man U do, only change tactics/formations when we play a top 4 team.

[wavydavy]

You could also say had we beaten the Mancs home and away we'd have finished above them (although behind Chelsea).

By the same token, Everton could say the same about us. Reverse the double we did over them and they'd be sitting above us now.

Swings and roundabouts.

As they say there are lies , damn lies and Shaggy Alonso. Everton's double was a damn sight nearer to happening than ours!!

[Catrin]

I havent a clue what you're on about and i dont suppose you're in the position to clarify.

We both wrote about the carling cup game against Reading at the same time, you that Torres should have been rotated and me that I was pleased Reading got relegated because they had given him a lot of rough treatment in that game. I the same post about Reading's relegation I was also going to mention that I thought it was a shame Fulham stayed up because relegation would have been payback for prematurely sacking Chris Coleman and replacing him with Lawrie Sanchez. It would be bad enough losing your job, to then be replaced by a ****wit would have been an added insult.

[bonzai]

if my granny had balls................................

[Craig_H]

We both wrote about the carling cup game against Reading at the same time, you that Torres should have been rotated and me that I was pleased Reading got relegated because they had given him a lot of rough treatment in that game. I the same post about Reading's relegation I was also going to mention that I thought it was a shame Fulham stayed up because relegation would have been payback for prematurely sacking Chris Coleman and replacing him with Lawrie Sanchez. It would be bad enough losing your job, to then be replaced by a ****wit would have been an added insult.

Your thought process is far more advanced than mine on a sunday evening. I'm in zombie mode right now mate

[Parm]

when you win, no one ays **** abot rotation

[Craig_H]

I said at the time I wasn't happy about Rafa resting Torres v Pompey (ahead of the CL tie).

Similarly I was not happy about Torres starting in the League Cup at Reading, but he scored a hat-trick away from home to a Prem side, and one that tried kicking him off the park to boot did and that confidence gained from that must have done him the world of good and stood him and us in good stead for the rest of the season. So in hindsight I think that particular decision worked for Rafa.

Personally I don't agree that changing half the side destroys stability, all top clubs have done it before and gotten results. Players have been together at the club long enough to play well, irrespective of who they're playing with, as long as they're playing a settled system and one they are used to. So what I'm saying is that constantly changing formations, as Rafa has done, which impacts on continuity and stability more IMO. When we've played a settled formation of late it has coincided with a good run of form. Within reason, we should do what Man U do, only change tactics/formations when we play a top 4 team.

I dont think 5 or more changes does anything for stability, let alone for the 'incentive' issues when it comes to playing well to earn your place in the next game. Which top side makes 5+ changes per game, on a regular basis?

Furthermore, for strikers especially, as well as CBs, you need to be playing regularly and get a good rhythm going, in order to perform at your best.

What chance do our lads have?

[Craig_H]

when you win, no one ays **** abot rotation

The point is, when you rotate half the team, game by game, you're likely to win less.

[Dhav]

I dont think 5 or more changes does anything for stability, let alone for the 'incentive' issues when it comes to playing well to earn your place in the next game. Which top side makes 5+ changes per game, on a regular basis?

Furthermore, for strikers especially, as well as CBs, you need to be playing regularly and get a good rhythm going, in order to perform at your best.

What chance do our lads have?

In a settled system and pattern of play I think they'd have every chance.

The stats bear out that Rafa makes no more rotations than Fergie.

[Craig_H]

In a settled system and pattern of play I think they'd have every chance.

The stats bear out that Rafa makes no more rotations than Fergie.

Rafa makes too many in individual games.

[rage]

rafa ****ed up. he didn't prioritise the premiership and our results as outlined above shows.

last chance for mr benitez, shape up or **** off as far as i'm concerned. and to start that he needs to stop ****ing about in the transfer market and buy only 3 players in positions that we need instead of wasting our money on barry, milner, valencia etc.

he's seen what happens when we buy proven quality, but he still needs to buy **** squad fillers instead of promoting the reserves.

[Guest]

We'll learn one thing and feck up another. It's the same every year.

As for rafa, i'll eat my left hand if he changes his rotation policy. He said himself in recent weeks, that the reason it's happening less now is because we're not in 4 competitions. Next season, it'll be back.

The only salvation from it is if we somehow end up with 'reserves' who are actually good enough that you dont notice much of a difference.

That's just fantastic news. Rotation is the way forward.