Injuries? Bollocks

[el matador]

my personal opinion is that rafa is playing games with the board.

He knows the squad is better than our results suggest but he wants to prove a point to the owners that their lack of investment has caused us to fall behind the other big three and the chasing pack.

In reality, the loss of torres and gerrard cannot be underestimated but rafa has also biased his tactics and team formation to prove this point.

At the start of the season (after alonso left) he should have moved gerrard to the middle with masher so that we could get our play moving forward as neither lucas nor masher can do that. (at least until aquilani was fit)

But guess what rafa already knew that we wouldnt be able to get moving and kept with lucas - masher partnership. Gerrard was getting completely lost in midfield and was ineffective.

When torres was injured why did he persist with one up front knowing full well that neither ngog or kuyt can perform that role. The ball gets punted up front, their centre halves invariably win most headers and then we are under pressure again.

We have played awfully this season and people can bleat on about our injuries but torres and gerrard missed 20 odd games between them last season and we still finished second.

Why when we were desperately crying out for some creativity or a spark in the final minutes against blackburn did he not bring on aquilani. The bollocks about him not being fit is rubbish as he's played both gerrard and torres when they havent been fully fit before. There was no excuse not to give aquilani the last 20 mins against blackburn - so that we could try and win the three points.

My point is that rafa can turn it on when he wants and can turn it off when he wants. He is playing games and for that reason im annoyed with him.

[Guest]

my personal opinion is that rafa is playing games with the board.

He knows the squad is better than our results suggest but he wants to prove a point to the owners that their lack of investment has caused us to fall behind the other big three and the chasing pack.

In reality, the loss of torres and gerrard cannot be underestimated but rafa has also biased his tactics and team formation to prove this point.

At the start of the season (after alonso left) he should have moved gerrard to the middle with masher so that we could get our play moving forward as neither lucas nor masher can do that. (at least until aquilani was fit)

But guess what rafa already knew that we wouldnt be able to get moving and kept with lucas - masher partnership. Gerrard was getting completely lost in midfield and was ineffective.

When torres was injured why did he persist with one up front knowing full well that neither ngog or kuyt can perform that role. The ball gets punted up front, their centre halves invariably win most headers and then we are under pressure again.

We have played awfully this season and people can bleat on about our injuries but torres and gerrard missed 20 odd games between them last season and we still finished second.

Why when we were desperately crying out for some creativity or a spark in the final minutes against blackburn did he not bring on aquilani. The bollocks about him not being fit is rubbish as he's played both gerrard and torres when they havent been fully fit before. There was no excuse not to give aquilani the last 20 mins against blackburn - so that we could try and win the three points.

My point is that rafa can turn it on when he wants and can turn it off when he wants. He is playing games and for that reason im annoyed with him.

I think you're so wrong.

[ronanm]

It has been the worst run of injuries RB has had since he took over. It's times like this that he finds out his squad is not good enough and needs to rebuild. With 70+ players coming and going since he started, I'm sure we'll add a couple of faces in Jan on the back of this run..

[red g]

my personal opinion is that rafa is playing games with the board. He knows the squad is better than our results suggest but he wants to prove a point to the owners that their lack of investment has caused us to fall behind the other big three and the chasing pack.

In reality, the loss of torres and gerrard cannot be underestimated but rafa has also biased his tactics and team formation to prove this point.

At the start of the season (after alonso left) he should have moved gerrard to the middle with masher so that we could get our play moving forward as neither lucas nor masher can do that. (at least until aquilani was fit)

But guess what rafa already knew that we wouldnt be able to get moving and kept with lucas - masher partnership. Gerrard was getting completely lost in midfield and was ineffective.


When torres was injured why did he persist with one up front knowing full well that neither ngog or kuyt can perform that role. The ball gets punted up front, their centre halves invariably win most headers and then we are under pressure again.

We have played awfully this season and people can bleat on about our injuries but torres and gerrard missed 20 odd games between them last season and we still finished second.

Why when we were desperately crying out for some creativity or a spark in the final minutes against blackburn did he not bring on aquilani. The bollocks about him not being fit is rubbish as he's played both gerrard and torres when they havent been fully fit before. There was no excuse not to give aquilani the last 20 mins against blackburn - so that we could try and win the three points.

My point is that rafa can turn it on when he wants and can turn it off when he wants. He is playing games and for that reason im annoyed with him.

you really have a low opinion of Rafa dont you?

[Guest]

It has been the worst run of injuries RB has had since he took over. It's times like this that he finds out his squad is not good enough and needs to rebuild. With 70+ players coming and going since he started, I'm sure we'll add a couple of faces in Jan on the back of this run..

This squad needs only tinkering. Add a decent striker and a right winger and we'll be flying.

[BFG]

my personal opinion is that rafa is playing games with the board.

He knows the squad is better than our results suggest but he wants to prove a point to the owners that their lack of investment has caused us to fall behind the other big three and the chasing pack.

In reality, the loss of torres and gerrard cannot be underestimated but rafa has also biased his tactics and team formation to prove this point.

At the start of the season (after alonso left) he should have moved gerrard to the middle with masher so that we could get our play moving forward as neither lucas nor masher can do that. (at least until aquilani was fit)

But guess what rafa already knew that we wouldnt be able to get moving and kept with lucas - masher partnership. Gerrard was getting completely lost in midfield and was ineffective.

When torres was injured why did he persist with one up front knowing full well that neither ngog or kuyt can perform that role. The ball gets punted up front, their centre halves invariably win most headers and then we are under pressure again.

We have played awfully this season and people can bleat on about our injuries but torres and gerrard missed 20 odd games between them last season and we still finished second.

Why when we were desperately crying out for some creativity or a spark in the final minutes against blackburn did he not bring on aquilani. The bollocks about him not being fit is rubbish as he's played both gerrard and torres when they havent been fully fit before. There was no excuse not to give aquilani the last 20 mins against blackburn - so that we could try and win the three points.

My point is that rafa can turn it on when he wants and can turn it off when he wants. He is playing games and for that reason im annoyed with him.

Shouldn't laugh at other people's opinions but if this is a serious post then

[red g]

This squad needs only tinkering. Add a decent striker and a right winger and we'll be flying.

ranieri?

[ronanm]

This squad needs only tinkering. Add a decent striker and a right winger and we'll be flying.

Sorry - did not mean to imply the whole squad needs to go..

[Chrono]

But of course the "net spend mockers" will have us all believe we've spent as much as if not more than the Mancs. Cursory glances at the respective squads tells you all you need to know.

So it all comes down to what you spend? How do you think we would fair in the CL with Lucas and Spearing in central defence? Given that we get knocked out with our proper CBs.

[RedReet]

Shouldn't laugh at other people's opinions but if this is a serious post then

It's gonna be hard fitting all that under his username. Who'd have thought Brian McBride could have been topped?

[Guest]

Sorry - did not mean to imply the whole squad needs to go..

So it all comes down to what you spend? How do you think we would fair in the CL with Lucas and Spearing in central defence? Given that we get knocked out with our proper CBs.

I think you are pushing it a little too far mate. I also think confidence plays a very big part. We haven't done that bad even after our injury crisis, we are still 4 points or so short of 4th place and 12 points off the pace, which considering how good Chelsea and United were during that time, isn't a complete disaster.

We might not win the league, but we've always been very strong in the second part of every season Rafa has been in charge. We have basically been the better team always, points wise. We'll finish 3rd IMO, which is a correct reflection of our level.

[BFG]

So it all comes down to what you spend? How do you think we would fair in the CL with Lucas and Spearing in central defence? Given that we get knocked out with our proper CBs.

Not very well but they cost a combined £6million. Carrick alone cost £17million. Our 4 centre backs cost a combined £14million. What's that, Ferdinand's arms?

[Roboklopp]

Not very well but they cost a combined £6million. Carrick alone cost £17million. Our 4 centre backs cost a combined £14million. What's that, Ferdinand's arms?

Probably one of his stoopid floppy lips.

[red g]

So it all comes down to what you spend? How do you think we would fair in the CL with Lucas and Spearing in central defence? Given that we get knocked out with our proper CBs.

i wouldnt call the greek a proper cb

[Reece]

I can't believe anyOne would actually think that Rafa is deliberately getting bad results to prove a point.