Crisis?

[kopdan]

I think Rafa's tactics are to blame for the away form, plain and simple.

If we put out a stronger team with a plan to win, we will see the "crisis" disappear.

[Joe Le Toff]

I think Rafa's tactics are to blame for the away form, plain and simple.

If we put out a stronger team with a plan to win, we will see the "crisis" disappear.

The way he sets us up for away games is baffling, for sure. I thought Crouch was bought for that purpose, to give us an outlet, to hold the ball up and be some kind of threat in the opponents half when we were away from home.
Dont even get me started on the substitutions he makes because theyre so far off of what is needed at the time its embarassing.

[Red_Al_77]

Rafa's tactics bore the pants off me.

[Rocket]

Rafa's tactics bore the pants off me.

yet at valencia, they were a very exciting team.

is it because we haven't got the players?

or is he just confused

[Red Chilli]

Rafa's tactics bore the pants off me.

That could easily be misinterpreted

[Red_Al_77]

A mixture of both to be honest. Players out of position and lack of quality does not win you football games. Pennant looks very wasteful at £6.8mil.

Rafa just doesn't seem to know who his best 11 are. He doesn't seem to know where Gerrard should play. He doesn't seem to want to play Crouch despite him scoring 3 times as many goals as anyone else in the team.

I am fed up with some of the excuses as well eminating from the Club.... Gerrard not happy out on the right, Internationals, hard run of games. What a load of bollox. The club have gone soft.

[Red Chilli]

A mixture of both to be honest. Players out of position and lack of quality does not win you football games. Pennant looks very wasteful at £6.8mil.

Rafa just doesn't seem to know who his best 11 are. He doesn't seem to know where Gerrard should play. He doesn't seem to want to play Crouch despite him scoring 3 times as many goals as anyone else in the team.
I am fed up with some of the excuses as well eminating from the Club.... Gerrard not happy out on the right, Internationals, hard run of games. What a load of bollox. The club have gone soft.

Good post, sums up how I feel.

This 90-odd games without playing the same side is Houllier-esque and is absolutely barmy.
Gerrard is the best central midfielder in the world, play him there.
Crouch deserves his place.

[Slim]

So depressed after yesterday, I just don’t know where to start. Away from home we have no absolutely no direction, style, or pattern of play. What we supposed to be doing yesterday is anyone’s guess. I’m afraid Rafa must take a lot of the stick. His team selections, subs and tactics have been questionable this season. He should defo have gone 2 up top. I can’t understand how he stuck with Crouch last season when he couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo, and now he is in the form of his life he drops him. There is definitely something up with Stevie and I expect rumours to start flying soon.

It’s the total lack of fight and heart yesterday that annoyed me most. When Utd were 1 down at half-time last week to Wigan you just knew in the second half the slaughter would come. When we go 1-0 down you know it’s all over.

Rafa better watch it as people are starting to doubt he can cut in the league. Villa at home and Arsenal away next? I am worried.

[Depth_Charge]

1 away point out of a possible 15 - if it was any other top 4 club we would be talking about some sort of crisis all right, we would also be rubbing our hands in glee and grinning from ear to ear.

With Villa and Arsenal up next in the league things are hardly getting any easier either - a fewe half decent home performances and a good performance against Chelsea (despite losing 1-0) aside it's basically been all downhill since the Charity Shield. At least when you hit the bottom you're supposed to bounce - is that what we're waiting for?