Tevez to be absent for Manchester City game?

[Reece]

Reece, I notice you didn't leave your thoughts in the after match thread during the week, what did you think of the performance?

I didn't think it was as bad as many made out. Not great obviously, and we clearly struggled to break down the resilient defence. But we are missing three attacking players in Torres, Benny and Johnson that can greatly improve our threat going forward. I realise that sounds like an excuse but I genuinely think we would have put them to bed far more easily with those three playing. Whether that questions Rafa's squad purchases is another debate before you go there

[Armchairkopite]

Can you think of a player who has left either on good terms or because he wanted to that has had a bad word to say about Rafa? Even Alonso was pretty complimentary. I'm not saying there hasn't been but I genuinely can't think of any.

I think just because Rafa isn't the old 'Arry put your arm around me' type manager' that it doesn't me he doesn't get along with the players. We've seen plenty of times that he has a charming charisma about him when he wants to, and I've seen nothing to say that this isn't extended to the players when he feels it appropriate.

Was Babel complaining not so long ago?

[Craig_H]

I'm not saying he doesnt get on with his players at all. I'm sure he does.

I think you need to sometimes do things slightly differently from how your 'rulebook' tells you, depending on the situation and be less rigid and 'by the book' about everything, and i dont think Rafa has that flexibility.

I'm not saying he should be out drinking with the players Just that different situations can require a different way of dealing with them, but i think Rafa sticks to his rigid, 'always the same' methods all the time.

Do you not think flexibility and the ability to judge each case on its own merits can be beneficial?

To be totally honest, in any other walk of life, or in any other situation, i'm sure you'd agree that flexibility and the willingness to sometimes look at how you do things, could be useful. But it does come across (whether it's the case or not) that people just simple will not ever say anything against what Rafa does. Wont even consider that MAYBE, a certain aspect of how he does things just MIGHT have scope for improvement. If i'm wrong about that, ok. But it's how it comes across.

[Reece]

Was Babel complaining not so long ago?

About what exactly though? Not playing enough? Is that his fault or Rafa's?

[Guest]

Flmao at Craig, he's still arguing this.

[Reece]

I'm not saying he doesnt get on with his players at all. I'm sure he does.

I think you need to sometimes do things slightly differently from how your 'rulebook' tells you, depending on the situation and be less rigid and 'by the book' about everything, and i dont think Rafa has that flexibility.

I'm not saying he should be out drinking with the players Just that different situations can require a different way of dealing with them, but i think Rafa sticks to his rigid, 'always the same' methods all the time.

Do you not think flexibility and the ability to judge each case on its own merits can be beneficial?

Absolutely, but again I've seen no evidence to suggest Rafa does otherwise.

On the drinking thing, it would be pretty frickin awesome to catch Rafa doing a spot of karaoke with the players

[Armchairkopite]

About what exactly though? Not playing enough? Is that his fault or Rafa's?

Rafas style of management as far as i can remember.

Anyway, I think the Rafas backing of Babel in recent interviews is the equivalent of an arm around the shoulder.

What did you think of the game on Thursday?

[Craig_H]

Was Babel complaining not so long ago?

That'll be his fault. Somehow.

[Reece]

Rafas style of management as far as i can remember.

Anyway, I think the Rafas backing of Babel in recent interviews is the equivalent of an arm around the shoulder.

What did you think of the game on Thursday?

I just answered that a couple of posts ago

[Craig_H]

Absolutely, but again I've seen no evidence to suggest Rafa does otherwise.

On the drinking thing, it would be pretty frickin awesome to catch Rafa doing a spot of karaoke with the players

Maybe it's not about the man management directly, but how about the almost 'clockwork' 65 minute substitutions? Or the 'never ever ever' approach to non-enforced HT subs?

Is that not stubborn or rigid?

Agreed on the karaoke thing

I dont think Rafa's not a nice fella, nor do i think he's uncharismatic.

In his work though, he strikes me as having a touch of hyper-rigidness about him and i think at times, you can benefit from thinking 'outside the box' and trying something out of the ordinary. Like treating players slightly according to their personalities, rather than all the same

[Guest]

Maybe it's not about the man management directly, but how about the almost 'clockwork' 65 minute substitutions? Or the 'never ever ever' approach to non-enforced HT subs?

Is that not stubborn or rigid?

It's not, it's scientific, even surgically so.

[Reece]

Maybe it's not about the man management directly, but how about the almost 'clockwork' 65 minute substitutions? Or the 'never ever ever' approach to non-enforced HT subs?

Is that not stubborn or rigid?

Well that's a different argument altogether surely? And not one I'm willing to get into after the amount of wine I've drunk

[Vermilion]

Well that's a different argument altogether surely? And not one I'm willing to get into after the amount of wine I've drunk

I'd like to see the stats on when unenforced subs have been brought on myself, just to see if it is as rigid a system timing wise, as has been said, and the stats would need to be for the whole of the managers time here.

[Craig_H]

Well that's a different argument altogether surely? And not one I'm willing to get into after the amount of wine I've drunk

Lightweight

[Armchairkopite]

I didn't think it was as bad as many made out. Not great obviously, and we clearly struggled to break down the resilient defence. But we are missing three attacking players in Torres, Benny and Johnson that can greatly improve our threat going forward. I realise that sounds like an excuse but I genuinely think we would have put them to bed far more easily with those three playing. Whether that questions Rafa's squad purchases is another debate before you go there

Found it.

Not as bad as many made out.

Where you there mate?