Sorry lads I know people are spouting off all afternoon but I just need to get this off my chest. It's my Wife's birthday and we are going out for a meal tonight so if I don't blow off steam now I'll end up getting hammered on red wine and pissing everyone off that's out with me....................so here we go:
1. Our squad is strong in numbers but short on quality and options in certain area's i.e RM, RB, LM, CM. If Momo, Xabi or Gerrard are out of from or get injured we have Zenden. Enough said he is not good enough to play for us whether it be on the left or in the middle. Yes we are missing the experience and quality of Kewell on the left. Garcia cannot play there, Aurelio and Speedy have not settled yet and JAR is needed at LB. Shame we didn't manage to get Duff!!! Same goes for the right. Gerrard needs to play there in the big games period. I like Pennant but he has not settled yet and is only good enough to play in the lesser games. ON top of this if Finnan picks up an Injury or needs a rest we are left exposed at RB aswell.
2. The squad is not the only reason for our form so my next point is rotation. While I think it is a neccesity to rotate players if they are tired or out of form or even if a certain game calls for a certain player I don't believe in changing 5 or 6 players a game. Form players should always play. Crouch scores a wonder goal on a wednesday and is benched on a Saturday. Replaced by a player who has scored 1 in 10 and is obviously out of sorts. I don't understand it. 95 games without playing the same 11 players is a bit much!!
3. I'm not even blaming rotation. However I think all Rafa's changing the team and dropping players might be putting a dent in the great team spirit that drove these players to CL and FA cup glory. Players want to play every game and it is impossible to keep everyone happy. IF and I stress if there is unrest in the dressing room it will spread like wildfire. We know what SG said about Rafa in his book, he is not the strongest at man management. As long as we are winning Rafa's management skills are untouchable but when things start going bad can he keep everyone happy and build team spirit??????????
4. I'm not blaming Rafa either but HELLO, we knew Bolton would kick us off the park so what does Rafa do he asks the Ref to protect us. Come on. Kick ****ing back. We should have fought fire with fire today. Went toe to toe with them and got an ugly win. Had Warnock at LB, Riise LM. No Pennant. SG on the right and Crouch up front with Kuyt. We should have made the game a war of attrition. Is rafa up to it tactically? great on the training ground but during a match can he make the correct calls........Galatasaray? say no more. We all know Aurelio should have been whipped off at half time.
To be honest this post is going nowhere. I know I don't have the answers but I just needed to get this off my chest. I think we are at a crossroads here. United away and an undefeated Villa at home coming up. Big games and 6 points needed if we want to challenge for the league. I do believe we are capable of winning the leaguebut we need to stop the rot asap. I said the word "Crisis" earlier and I meant it. Not at the moment but around the corner. I am not having a dig at anyone just venting frustrations. I am a diehard fan for 25 years now and it's like a stab in the back whenever we lose.
Anyway YNWA
1. Our squad is strong in numbers but short on quality and options in certain area's i.e RM, RB, LM, CM. If Momo, Xabi or Gerrard are out of from or get injured we have Zenden. Enough said he is not good enough to play for us whether it be on the left or in the middle. Yes we are missing the experience and quality of Kewell on the left. Garcia cannot play there, Aurelio and Speedy have not settled yet and JAR is needed at LB. Shame we didn't manage to get Duff!!! Same goes for the right. Gerrard needs to play there in the big games period. I like Pennant but he has not settled yet and is only good enough to play in the lesser games. ON top of this if Finnan picks up an Injury or needs a rest we are left exposed at RB aswell.
2. The squad is not the only reason for our form so my next point is rotation. While I think it is a neccesity to rotate players if they are tired or out of form or even if a certain game calls for a certain player I don't believe in changing 5 or 6 players a game. Form players should always play. Crouch scores a wonder goal on a wednesday and is benched on a Saturday. Replaced by a player who has scored 1 in 10 and is obviously out of sorts. I don't understand it. 95 games without playing the same 11 players is a bit much!!
3. I'm not even blaming rotation. However I think all Rafa's changing the team and dropping players might be putting a dent in the great team spirit that drove these players to CL and FA cup glory. Players want to play every game and it is impossible to keep everyone happy. IF and I stress if there is unrest in the dressing room it will spread like wildfire. We know what SG said about Rafa in his book, he is not the strongest at man management. As long as we are winning Rafa's management skills are untouchable but when things start going bad can he keep everyone happy and build team spirit??????????
4. I'm not blaming Rafa either but HELLO, we knew Bolton would kick us off the park so what does Rafa do he asks the Ref to protect us. Come on. Kick ****ing back. We should have fought fire with fire today. Went toe to toe with them and got an ugly win. Had Warnock at LB, Riise LM. No Pennant. SG on the right and Crouch up front with Kuyt. We should have made the game a war of attrition. Is rafa up to it tactically? great on the training ground but during a match can he make the correct calls........Galatasaray? say no more. We all know Aurelio should have been whipped off at half time.
To be honest this post is going nowhere. I know I don't have the answers but I just needed to get this off my chest. I think we are at a crossroads here. United away and an undefeated Villa at home coming up. Big games and 6 points needed if we want to challenge for the league. I do believe we are capable of winning the leaguebut we need to stop the rot asap. I said the word "Crisis" earlier and I meant it. Not at the moment but around the corner. I am not having a dig at anyone just venting frustrations. I am a diehard fan for 25 years now and it's like a stab in the back whenever we lose.
Anyway YNWA
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