Prem vs Champions League

[Nick77]

Why is it that it's Rafa's fault when we play ****e in the Prem but it's his tactical genius that helps us do so well in Europe?
I completely & utterly disagree as our players only want to turn up for European games, it's madness! We should just play the CL theme before EVERY Premier League game & we will win virtually every one of them!!!
And of course Rafa has to take some of the credit for when we do well in Europe but why is it his fault when those same players play Reall off the park in their own back yard can't even beat Stoke, West Ham, Fulham or Man City at home - amazing!

[BobTheCharmer]

We nicked a goal last night by all accounts. But 8/10 times it'd have been a draw.

Thats the problem in the league. We just don't create enough clear cut chances. In the last 10 years how many tap ins have we had?

[Reece]

We nicked a goal last night by all accounts. But 8/10 times it'd have been a draw.

Thats the problem in the league. We just don't create enough clear cut chances. In the last 10 years how many tap ins have we had?

43

[red g]

We nicked a goal last night by all accounts. But 8/10 times it'd have been a draw.

Thats the problem in the league. We just don't create enough clear cut chances. In the last 10 years how many tap ins have we had?

but when scum nick a 1-0 win its down to individual brilliance?

We were by far a better team last night and that was without Gerrard and a half fit torres. Credit where credit is due ffs.

[Nick77]

We were by far a better team last night and that was without Gerrard and a half fit torres. Credit where credit is due ffs.

That's my point - why do we look a different team in Europe than in the Prem?

[wiw]

That's my point - why do we look a different team in Europe than in the Prem?

One word - control

[tsb]

Pace of the game and style of opposition. Rafa's controlling gameplan suits the continental game. The PL is, for the majority, kick and rush football. Zonal marking and closing players down as a team seems to work better in the CL.

[JohnDoe]

We don't need to take the initiative in big games. Our defence is also much better when it's tight, deep and protected.

[BobTheCharmer]

43

I wrongly had a figure of 8 in my mind.

[PTP]

For me it's quite simple really - our whole set up really is geared for controlling the game, soaking up pressure, defending like 300 spartans, and then getting at the opposition when their heads go - it's almost like watching lennox lewis using his jab for 6 rounds to nulify the fight and then looking to pick off the opponent by a points win or if the chance comes taking the knock out blow

We are easily, the best team in europe at going away from home in a big match against a top side and getting the right result - it's how we are set up at the mo

The difference and the problem in the league is we lack prob two or three players to chance our style and tempo when we play smaller teams at home, who are happy for us to have the ball as long as they have ten men behind it.

Part of that could be down to rafa, part of that could be down to certain players, part of it could be down to not getting the right players in or a bit of luck

ie - right now, an ideal player for liverpool would be Ashley Young! - but.......iirc at the time villa were the only team prepared to gamble on the young lad for roughly £12m? and non of the big four looked interested, and we signed Ryan Babel for a similar price - Again, at the time this happened surely everyone in world football would have thought we had done the better bit of business

Now fast forward a season or two later and ashley young is twice the player babel is - now i know there is some people who straight away will blame rafa, but also for me, surely you have to look at the player too........eg babel came on for half an hour last night, fresh, fully fit and should be fighting for a place, he should have been running himself into the ground for that 30 mins for the shirt........he didnt' and it's not the first time i have noticied him look so out of place or disinterested - now if babel had delivered and come on as much as he had hoped or expected, he'd be pissing all over ashley young and then we have that extra attacking force we so desperatley need.

Also to point out - i have watched the mancs loads this season - and they haven't been some sort of invincible team playing football that only gods can play - they have been far from it and a lot of their performances have been very similar to some of our draws at home expect they have nicked won by the odd goal.

The difference - Tevez, Berbatov, Rooney, Ronaldo, - and as an attacking sense Giggs, even Nani and Park offer as much as threat

We have basically played all season without Torres who just hasn't been fully fit at all, we have Gerrard a superstar - but all our other attacking players - riera, kuyt, babel, n'gog, benayoun just don't come close to having a tevez, rooney etc as an extra option

And for me thats the major difference - we lack two maybe three players - who we can sign i don't know, cause you just can't guarentee how players will turn out - ie ryan babel vs ashley young

What the mancs have that we lack which means they can get away with their distinctivley average home performances that haven't be that dissimilar to ours is - a very attacking and good full back in evra, and extra class options up top - if we swapped Evra for Aurelio, Kuyt for Tevez, and say giggs for riera - we'd be top of the league

[Guest]

We need a player as talented as Torres upfront, a very good winger and possibly a very good right back. I think Dossena will prove to be useful if he's given the time ... and we have Insua at left back in case he reveals to be a flop.

We're not far away. We've been chipping at United and progressing each season since Rafa's here. Our time will come soon. Rafa needs to stay for the next 4/5 years to enable him to establish some sort of dynasty. No more contract talks and disruption behind the scenes.

[Imy]

urm yeah, what PTP said.

[BobTheCharmer]

We're not far away.

Thats where our opinions differ. I think we're as far away from Utd as we've ever been. Yes we're second but had chelsea been up to their usual standard they'd be ahead of us. Points wise I think we'll be around 15 adrift of Utd come May. Thats a massive gap. I don't think we've really challenged them. Being top at Christmas means **** all. Nothing gets handed out.

Thats my take.

[DeeTheDog]

I touched on this in another post, but since the departure of Gary Mac we have not had a set-piece specialist. Yes, Gerrard and Riise have scored some rasping shots and Sami has chipped in with a few headers but too often our set-pieces have been sorely lacking.

Last night a beautiful delivery by Aurelio meant instead of good draw we have a great win. Look at the Mancs against Blackburn, what decided that game? A quality free kick by Ronaldo. How many games have they won courtesy of a set-piece this season alone? During Mourinho's years at Chelsea how many goals did they plunder through set-pieces, Terry was easily getting 5-10 goals a season.

The home game against Stoke this season, highlighted our deficiency, we must have at least 20 corners and never once looked likely of creating a chance. Indeed, towards the end of the game when putting Stoke under pressure their back four were happy to concede corners, knowing they would amount to little.

[PTP]

urm yeah, what PTP said.

- read it and like it!!!!