So, how many changes for Villa then?

[Taffy]

Rafa's getting close to 100 consecutive different team line-ups for The Reds - which has got him a lot of stick over the time he's been here. How many changes will he make for tomorrow's game? Quite a lot considering it was the Carling Cup game we last played I'd guess.

Here's my guess at what he'll play (but will he have one eye on the CL match next week whilst selecting his team I wonder):

-------------Reina
Finnan-Carragher-Agger-Riise
Gerrard-Sissoko-Alonso-Gonzalez
---------Bellamy-Kuyt

He may use Warnock at left back as Riise played in midweek, but Riise's playing well and should be played. I can see him 'resting' on of Gerrard, Sissoko and Alonso but I've put all three in anyway - Xabi may get a rest with Stevie in the centre (for a change) and Pennant/Garcia on the right.

Up front it's a guessing game I suppose. Kuyt will probably play with his old man coming over to watch (hope he scores for him), but Robbie gave Rafa a little reminder with his well-taken goal in midweek, but will Bellers be fit? If so, I think he'll play. Crouch keeps scoring though and will want to put one over his old side won't he! I'd like to see Rafa play the big guns and get some sort of stability going, but I guess he won't be doing that!

So many option and no doubt Rafa'll shuffle the pack once again - as long as we win and get those all important three points I don't care who plays really!

[mooha]

Just for curiosity, when was the last time Rafa fielded the same side two games
in a row?

----------------

[red g]

Just for curiosity, when was the last time Rafa fielded the same side two games
in a row?

----------------

1974

[paulc]

Just for curiosity, when was the last time Rafa fielded the same side two games
in a row?

----------------

the scum have not played the same team in two league games in a row this season

Chavski did once

Arsenal same as us..

[Taffy]

Just for curiosity, when was the last time Rafa fielded the same side two games
in a row?

----------------

Has he ever done for us? Not sure?

A lot has been made of our rotational policy - mainly due to our lack of success on the pitch lately (you don't see much mention of the Gooners and other teams who do it probably due to them being more successful on the pitch than us at present). I guess what I'm trying to say is that if we were winning, or when we were winning games last season with 10 winning games on the trot (or whatever it was), everything was rosy, but once the wheels start to come off this topic is brought up straight away!

I started this thread with a hope that Rafa may try to get some continuity going in the coming months and play a settled line-up with maybe only a change or two when needed to freshen things up. The media have made a lot of fuss about his rotational policy especially when things aren't going well on the pitch - I'm hoping he gets a little more consistency into our play and less changes thus also bringing more success at the same time.

The problem we have is we've quite a large squad now and it's going to be difficult to keep everyone happy with playing time, and with games coming thick and fast it's an ideal opportunity for Rafa to continue with his rotational system.

[Taffy]

Just for curiosity, when was the last time Rafa fielded the same side two games
in a row?

----------------

Just seen this on another thread:

"Rafa the Rotator", as the Liverpool manager has become known, has not named an unchanged line-up for 98 matches, since a 3-1 home win over Fulham on 5 February 2005.

[Morph]

Just seen this on another thread:

"Rafa the Rotator", as the Liverpool manager has become known, has not named an unchanged line-up for 98 matches, since a 3-1 home win over Fulham on 5 February 2005.

And that was probably due to the ridiculous amount of injuries we had at the time.

Don't know why people just dont get used to this rotation and drop it, it's not like he switches about 7 players each match, it's usually about 2 or 3.

As for the side we could expect, I'll say:

----------------Reina--------------
---Finnan--Carra---Hyypia--Riise---
-Pennant-Gerrard-Sissoko-Gonzalez-
-----------Bellamy--Kuyt-----------

I expect Hyypia to come in for Agger, seeing as it was aggers first match back. Gerrard in the middle might be pie in the sky, but i'd like to see Pennant play again, to see if he can carry on his form against a better team, this would push Gerrard ionto the middle alongside Sissoko who would have to play more of a holding role. Gonzalez on the wing, especially after reading the piece on the LFC website from the villa fan, and Bellamy and Kuyt up front.

Would like to see Robbie in place of Bellamy, but I don't expect it to happen.

[G]

I hope Robbie starts.Or at least makes the bench.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Just for curiosity, when was the last time Rafa fielded the same side two games
in a row?

----------------

5 a side in training last week

[Kinell]

12 changes.

[Morph]

12 changes.

[REDSCOUSER]

Taffs, I like your team.
Only change I would do to that is Fowler instead of Bellamy. I think Bellers is still carrying a knock.

[Red Chilli]

Fowler MUST start

[friedk]

I think Rafa should shock everyone and name an unchanged side