Rafa Benitez - the science of winning

[DannyMan2006]

I would like to draw your attention to one such innovation: the utilisation of automated systems for measuring a player’s workload in training and in competition. These systems enable, amongst other things, the measurement of the amount of work and the exact level of exertion applied by every single player in a match, thereby allowing the coaches to plan a specific programme of recuperation and assess the recovery times necessary for every individual: providing vital assistance in planning that famous ‘rotation policy’. It is also a vital tool in the assessment of the physical demands of every specific playing position on the pitch and the tactical positioning of every player in every role in the team: permitting the creation of individualised preparation and planning for every formation.


Along similar lines, Benítez has made a further contribution with the development of a web based system that enable the gathering of information and images in real time, of any player anywhere in the world, updated via a network of scouts, in situ, spread out across the globe. This system also enables the development of a performance scale that can be used to measure the efficacy of each player against a different set of parameters. This database consists of literally hundreds of players.



Rafael Benitez

The first paragraph is true but these systems due not take into account a players mentality, the ability of some players to run through the pain barrier and to keep going when they have nothing left in the tank.

This probably explained why in his first seasons Rafa continually rotated as may as 7 players at a time on a regular basis. I think he's learned now though.

The second paragraph goes on about our great scouting network, but this by no means a fool proof system either.

All in all it's a bit of a Rafa Benitez love in, which as he is great mates with Ballague is no real suprise.

[BG1973]

i was busy at the time, oh and i heard that they had the manager of the local pie shop on the interview panel, have u seen rafa's belly lately? obvious bribery there

rafa over complicates things. too often i get the impression that he needs to show his tactical genius rather than simply beating the opposition because we're just better.

you honestly believe that?

that Rafa is in it for the ego?

[Rhys]

the science of winning - how about playing your best players in their best positions and then using the transfer window to buy in players that fill the gaps left. Now if there was a maximum 25 word tie breaker i'd win that littlewoods xmas hamper.

i was busy at the time, oh and i heard that they had the manager of the local pie shop on the interview panel, have u seen rafa's belly lately? obvious bribery there

rafa over complicates things. too often i get the impression that he needs to show his tactical genius rather than simply beating the opposition because we're just better.

has the :whatever: smilie ever been more nessesary. if fact i think ill give you a plus a

what dross you post. it really is laughable.

[rage]

has the :whatever: smilie ever been more nessesary. if fact i think ill give you a plus a

what dross you post. it really is laughable.

really, u telling me u read all that ****e?

we're winning this year because rafa is not over complicating things. yesterday, case in point - two banks of 4, all our players in their best positions, classic counter-type football similar to rafa's first season in the champions league where he only had a small squad of players.

do u really think rafa hasn't learned from his last 4 league disasters?

[rage]

you honestly believe that?

that Rafa is in it for the ego?

yes, i think that sometimes rafa likes to make it explicit that the reason we won a game is because of his tactical nouse rather than the skill and attributes of the players on the pitch. whether thats to do with his ego i have no idea.

i remember when mourinho was at chelsea and everyone hated him for his ego, everyone outside chelsea that is. maybe people outside of liverpool think the same of rafa, i don't know.

all said and done i'm chuffed we're top and i think that has a lot to do with the consistency of the team as much as anything else.

we now play 2 formations 4231 and 442. every player we have knows his role in both formations. only kuyt and gerrard play in two roles, everyone else the same role week in week out. the team is gelling as they are getting used to each other and the football is flowing as a consequence. too me thats a simple approach that was long overdue.

[frank the tank]

personally, i believe that some so-called fans will always try and pick faults no matter how well we were doing....

these fans blow on about how good things were under paisley and shanks but in the modern game, how good were things under Houllier....

also, we are punching way above our weight in terms of money spent on our team.... spurs have spent a fortune in recent years as have newcastle...... we have built this team over the last 3 years (out of the 2005 cl winning team, only xabi, carra and stevie are still there) and to be honest, i dont think anybody that knows anything about football would argue that the team isn't getting better and better.... also, it is the progression each year that means that sucess is more likely to be sustained - as opposed to if we have one awesome season followed by a lull (a-la houllier's team post treble!)....

at the end of the day, we will only really really appreciate Rafa Benitez when he is gone....if and when we look from the outside in at Juventus or Real Madrid winning all round them.....does anyone really think that if Jurgen Klinnsman was our manager today, we'd be top of the league, still unbeaten, and with a team that are playing their hearts out for each other....

i love liverpool asnd think that we have the best fans in the world but some of the stuff i read on here sometimes make me think how ****in stupid some people are..... like you Rage ya stupid douchebag!!!

[michelmas]

really, u telling me u read all that ****e?

we're winning this year because rafa is not over complicating things. yesterday, case in point - two banks of 4, all our players in their best positions, classic counter-type football similar to rafa's first season in the champions league where he only had a small squad of players.

do u really think rafa hasn't learned from his last 4 league disasters?

TBH Rafa seems to have streamlined his thinking this year, but mainly because he has made many mistakes during the last almost 4 years. When he took over the job he asked for 5 years to properly implement his methods. Lo and behold, in his fifth year the team has evolved into his methodology.

Science is all about making mistakes, and learning from them. Rafa appears to have the backroom staff and playing staff now that complement his analytical approach. Flexibility of style must be as important as that of
substance.

If you think that football is a simple game of lumping 11 players on the pitch and letting them go at it, then I'm afraid you are likely one of those people that look at TV and merely see moving images, without understanding the mechanics of the television; or drive a car without knowing what makes it move; or use words without knowing their etymology.

Do you think it's coincidence that the most drilled and methodical team in the league appear to comeback time and again in what seem like impossible situations? This team are learning from match to match - a slow start, the odd goal against, and the confidence to fight back and win.

Football is a mind game, especially in the last 20 minutes of a match when bodies tire and players make mistakes. I would argue that the majority of Rafa's methods kick in at this time in a match. It is the 5-10% difference in mental and physical strength that he has instilled in our players (through scientific analysis of their own stamina and that of their opponents) that has enabled them to come back so often this season and not as some pedants would have us believe, through luck.

And science, like football forums, are all about argument and interpretation. So you can have yours and I'll have mine. I know which I'd rather.

[pondus]

Rafa's post match comments on the offal:

Rafael Benitez saluted the character of his players after they went top of the Barclays Premier League with a magnificent 1-0 win at Chelsea.
Xabi Alonso's first half strike gave the Reds their first league victory at Stamford Bridge since 2004 and brings an end to the Blues' proud home run that had stretched to 86 matches undefeated.

"Everybody was talking about statistics and our record against the top sides and we knew they were unbeaten at home for a long time, so it was a massive game for us," said Benitez.

"We have the right mentality that you need for fighting against the top sides and to win and stay at the top of the table and remain unbeaten is a massive message.

"To come here with the mentality and the character the players showed today for winning was a big boost for the rest of the season. We have belief, quality and character.

"It's enough for being at the top of the table and we will now start thinking about Portsmouth and another three points.

"We have showed good qualities today that we can come to Chelsea and win the game. Against a very offensive team I felt we controlled the game.

"We had other chances and we didn't just sit back and defend the 1-0 lead. We kept the attacking mentality and tried to get the second goal.
"The team worked so hard and the players knew what to do. We had more space going forward in the second half because they were pushing more players forward. We defended really well and they didn't have too many opportunities.

"Credit to my players who were really good. The key for me is if you have players with quality who work hard then you know you will have a winning team.

"Our supporters were behind us as always and for them, for us and everyone in the club it was a fantastic day."

The Reds now face former Red Peter Crouch and his Portsmouth side at Anfield on Wednesday and Benitez is eager for his side to maintain their place at the summit of the table.

"Clearly I think we have to come down from this win and start thinking about Portsmouth," he said.

"It was important to beat Manchester United and now we have beaten Chelsea, but clearly if you want to stay at the top of the table for a long time you have to beat almost everyone."

The Reds boss also praised the strength of his squad and admitted it is a good sign for the future that the team can win without star striker Fernando Torres.

"Everybody was talking about how it would be difficult for us to come to Chelsea without Torres," said Rafa. "Fernando is a key player for us who can change a game and is always a threat for the defenders.

"But, if you work well as a team together you can manage like we showed today. If we have to play one or two more games without Fernando I think we have enough quality in the squad.

"We have confidence and we just have to keep it going. Every year we are trying to improve the squad. We have made mistakes signing players but we have also made some very good ones. When I talk about players I don't just mean quality because they need a very good mentality.

"Players like Agger, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Carragher, Reina, you can see the mentality they have and it inspires the rest of the players too.

"We have a good squad with good competition. Diego Cavalieri hasn't played much but he is pushing Pepe Reina, Dossena is pushing Fabio Aurelio which is really positive for us so the new players have a very good mentality. Lucas Leiva is working so hard in every training session and everybody has to be on their toes."


It's all about the players, mentality, mentalty, mentality and quality.

[Neil Young]

A lot of ex-players (Gray, Merson, Claridge, etc.) all seem to think our improvements are because Rafa has learned...not to rotate, play his best team, "what's required to win this league", etc.

It's futile to argue with minds as perceptive as theirs.

[DannyMan2006]

A lot of ex-players (Gray, Merson, Claridge, etc.) all seem to think our improvements are because Rafa has learned...not to rotate, play his best team, "what's required to win this league", etc.

It's futile to argue with minds as perceptive as theirs.

It's about more than that. But Rafa used to regularly rotate 6-7 players a game. His reasons for doing this are unknown to me. But you could hardly expect to keep the same high standards when he was leaving out Alonso for Biscan, or Carragher for Traore.

This season are quality is much better. A better first XI and better subs. Even a better reserve team and better under 18 team, even if the results are not showing this. The quality through out the whole club is just so much better.

So to say it is just about playing a regular first XI is wrong.

[bobbyfallon]

the man is a genius - he works 22 hours straight at times ?? for his own ego - dont think so.

rafa wants trophies and works hard to get them.

yes rage i agree some times when he rests certain players you have to think why - but we dont know why he does and **** me it can be frustrating. personally i think he is learning in this respect and maybe even sammy lee (whom is probably better dealing with the players) talks to him on the players views and rafa is slowly learning what exactly the players want.

he is the one employed to look after our great club and i for one feel he is getting very close to bringing us back to where we belong.

it is a fine line between the science and the passion of the game, one that is very hard to get right.

rafa will take us there - believe

[BG1973]

yes, i think that sometimes rafa likes to make it explicit that the reason we won a game is because of his tactical nouse rather than the skill and attributes of the players on the pitch. whether thats to do with his ego i have no idea.

i remember when mourinho was at chelsea and everyone hated him for his ego, everyone outside chelsea that is. maybe people outside of liverpool think the same of rafa, i don't know.

all said and done i'm chuffed we're top and i think that has a lot to do with the consistency of the team as much as anything else.

we now play 2 formations 4231 and 442. every player we have knows his role in both formations. only kuyt and gerrard play in two roles, everyone else the same role week in week out. the team is gelling as they are getting used to each other and the football is flowing as a consequence. too me thats a simple approach that was long overdue.

It's your opinion and you're entitled to it but i think that's a terrible perception of one of the least egotistical, most humble 'top' coaches out there.

You might be right that he over analyses things sometimes, you might be right that we are seeing more success because he's keeping it simpler in some ways. But I think you're dead wrong and a bit out of order to make a personal judgement like that.

[rage]

TBH Rafa seems to have streamlined his thinking this year, but mainly because he has made many mistakes during the last almost 4 years. When he took over the job he asked for 5 years to properly implement his methods. Lo and behold, in his fifth year the team has evolved into his methodology.

Science is all about making mistakes, and learning from them. Rafa appears to have the backroom staff and playing staff now that complement his analytical approach. Flexibility of style must be as important as that of
substance.

If you think that football is a simple game of lumping 11 players on the pitch and letting them go at it, then I'm afraid you are likely one of those people that look at TV and merely see moving images, without understanding the mechanics of the television; or drive a car without knowing what makes it move; or use words without knowing their etymology.

Do you think it's coincidence that the most drilled and methodical team in the league appear to comeback time and again in what seem like impossible situations? This team are learning from match to match - a slow start, the odd goal against, and the confidence to fight back and win.

Football is a mind game, especially in the last 20 minutes of a match when bodies tire and players make mistakes. I would argue that the majority of Rafa's methods kick in at this time in a match. It is the 5-10% difference in mental and physical strength that he has instilled in our players (through scientific analysis of their own stamina and that of their opponents) that has enabled them to come back so often this season and not as some pedants would have us believe, through luck.

And science, like football forums, are all about argument and interpretation. So you can have yours and I'll have mine. I know which I'd rather.

there you go, maybe different words but we agree

[rage]

It's your opinion and you're entitled to it but i think that's a terrible perception of one of the least egotistical, most humble 'top' coaches out there.

You might be right that he over analyses things sometimes, you might be right that we are seeing more success because he's keeping it simpler in some ways. But I think you're dead wrong and a bit out of order to make a personal judgement like that.

i didn't make a personal judgment on rafa. i tried to express an opinion where from an outsiders point of view the reason we sometimes win or don't is because of the tactics rafa uses. for instance everton last year when he took gerrard off and put lucas on - we won the game and many considered it a tactical masterstroke in taking off your captain and winning the game. we won because of rafa's intervention. also we have lost games or lost points because of rafa's intervention.

my personal opinion is that i'd rather have a manager that does something than sit on the bench and do nothing but rafa doesn't always get it right nor do i expect him to.

all of my points in this thread are actually a response to what i think is a crap article and i really don't want to get into a pro rafa - anti rafa conversation.

[Skillz]

i didn't make a personal judgment on rafa. i tried to express an opinion where from an outsiders point of view the reason we sometimes win or don't is because of the tactics rafa uses. for instance everton last year when he took gerrard off and put lucas on - we won the game and many considered it a tactical masterstroke in taking off your captain and winning the game. we won because of rafa's intervention. also we have lost games or lost points because of rafa's intervention.

my personal opinion is that i'd rather have a manager that does something than sit on the bench and do nothing but rafa doesn't always get it right nor do i expect him to.

all of my points in this thread are actually a response to what i think is a crap article and i really don't want to get into a pro rafa - anti rafa conversation.

Not the best of times for one of those is it? Best wait till we lose a game before you get going. Then again a draw might be enough.