What is Rafa on about ?

[Tinkerbitch]

i don't think rotation is really the problem, realistically, about 8/9 players usually stay the same

reina

finnan
hyypia
cara
riise

momo
gerrard
xabi

kuyt

only like 2 players generally change, just the fact thats its not the identical team, and sky can continue using the 90 odd different team stat, that people make a big deal out of it

Please dont let the facts get in the way of the band wagon

[alunevans]

Please dont let the facts get in the way of the band wagon

i think he later revised that to 4 positions, which is the "third of the team" that i initially claimed.

[lfc4ever]

from the offal:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N153855061023-1055.htm

BENITEZ: ONE OF MY WORST DAYS

Jimmy Rice 23 October 2006

Reds boss Rafa Benitez admits Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Old
Trafford marked one of his worst days in management.
The loss leaves Liverpool 11-points adrift of United and Chelsea at
the top of the Premiership.

"It is clearly one of my most disappointing days as manager of the
club," Benitez confessed.

"It is a game I know everybody at the club and the supporters wants
us to win, particularly at Old Trafford.

"I felt we started the game well but we didn't create enough. We had
some chances and good possession, but we could not create clear
openings. Things were okay until we conceded the first goal.

"That changed the game for both sides. We needed to go forward, the
game was more open and with their quality it became more difficult for us."

Benitez has still to register a league victory over Manchester United
as Liverpool boss.

The Spaniard must now turn his attention to the midweek visit of
Reading in the Carling Cup and Saturday's league clash against
unbeaten Aston Villa.

He said: "I know we are 11 points behind, but I cannot change that
now. To improve we must work hard and concentrate on the next game,
beating Aston Villa in the league.

"Whether you are top, bottom or in the middle of the table, you have
to only think about how to get better and to win the next one. If you
worry about the past results you will achieve nothing.

"The way to change things in your life is to work harder and better.
We must think about Reading in the Carling Cup and then Villa.

"We must focus on improving, getting better at what we do. And the
things we are not doing well."

[Morph]

i think he later revised that to 4 positions, which is the "third of the team" that i initially claimed.

nah that was me and I revised it to three positions, which I think is acceptable

:annoyingsmartarsesmiley:

[alunevans]

nah that was me and I revised it to three positions, which I think is acceptable

:annoyingsmartarsesmiley:

I'm sure it was 4

[Morph]

2nd striker and left and right wing = 3

[alunevans]

2nd striker and left and right wing = 3

And centre back.

I quote

"So I make that 4 positions, all of which I think are justifiable.

Your turn"

[Morph]

I believe we'd left the CB position, because Agger would be there had he not broken his hand.

oh and **** off with the shakehands smiley, and any other one for that matter

[alunevans]

I believe we'd left the CB position, because Agger would be there had he not broken his hand.

oh and **** off with the shakehands smiley, and any other one for that matter

hahhahaha

no we hadn't left CB because Agger hadn't made it his own. It was rotated between the three of them until he got injured

and just for you

[Morph]

But isn't that what you want Agger fighting for a position?

[alunevans]

But isn't that what you want Agger fighting for a position?

Not rotating so we can't predict the centre back pairing on the way to any game no I don't.

Which was the point of my initial post criticising the rotation and saying a third of the team is shared.

I want someone to HAVE the shirt and someone else breathing down his neck to take it off him.

I don't want the mentality of "I'll have it this week and you have it next".

I want the shirt to be precious and jealously guarded. If a place in the team is rotated then its shared. Its something you wait for, not fight for.

That was my point in the first place basically.

If Agger is the best man for the job play him but let Sammi fight like billyo to get it back off him.

[Morph]

If Agger is the best man for the job play him but let Sammi fight like billyo to get it back off him.

well i'm pretty sure that's the idea, but injuries have meant it never worked out that way. Also the basic problem is that, Hyypia will done by the end of this season or next, so it's not exactly going to create competition.

Also Rafa hasn't finished his rebuilding yet, so how can a player fight to take a shirt from someone, if no one has it in the first place. - I know this is your point, but a rebuilding exercise takes time, the right wing granted is a problem, left wing not as much, in the sense we do have the players, just one wasn't ready, one is injured, and one is trying to adjust.

Also I've changed my mind about the striking combo, after Rafa's comments today it's clear his first choice top two are Kuyt and Bellamy.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

He seems more and more frustrated with the players they dont seem good enough to do what he wants them to do. Valencia players were more technically better and could more things(possibilities)

[alunevans]

well i'm pretty sure that's the idea, but injuries have meant it never worked out that way. Also the basic problem is that, Hyypia will done by the end of this season or next, so it's not exactly going to create competition.

Also Rafa hasn't finished his rebuilding yet, so how can a player fight to take a shirt from someone, if no one has it in the first place. - I know this is your point, but a rebuilding exercise takes time, the right wing granted is a problem, left wing not as much, in the sense we do have the players, just one wasn't ready, one is injured, and one is trying to adjust.

Also I've changed my mind about the striking combo, after Rafa's comments today it's clear his first choice top two are Kuyt and Bellamy.

Its Sami's shirt at the mo until he selects someone to replace him. He didn't replace him with Agger he rotated the three of them so we've had combos of Agger JC, Agger Hyppia and JC Hyypia which in defence is ridiculous in my view.

Why not just pick your best two centre backs when all are fit and stick with it? I still don't see why you think thats not possible.

We'll see re: Kuyt and Bellamy being his first two. I suspect we'll see them being rotated but time will tell on that one.

But why couldn't he have picked his two centre backs and (while fit) stick with them?

[alunevans]

He seems more and more frustrated with the players they dont seem good enough to do what he wants them to do. Valencia players were more technically better and could more things(possibilities)

Hmmm well, he did buy many of them.

Crouch, Kuyt, Bellamy, Pennant, Alonso, Sissoko, Agger, Gonzales, Aurelio, Garcia are players he has no right to be frustrated with really. They are not his inheritance anymore.