tomasjj

Note for Kaizer.... the centreback sets the offside line...not the fullback.

Proves he can be wound up on the pitch as well....

Strange how Henry never gets picked and Etoo is so out of sorts and plays. Messi looked like he wanted it more than the rest of his team. They just didnt have the hunger.

too many playmakers in that barca team...not enough pace and determination xavi. deco. iniesta.... very good players, but all playmakers of a kind and how etoo keeps his place in the team i will never know...he was s***

Well, I was kind of hoping the poster who wrote about this would answer. A couple of pages back there was a post on this.

I see Riise says he is "over it" now. Well, that sounds daft. He should be able to say that if we knock the Chavs out...then he will be over it.

Did Silva check out of the Malmaison, or is he staying another night? Cheers.

Agree with that. No matter what Rafa will say when we are down a goal, I think the players tend to get too impatient and we are exposed. I have seen this happen to us in important games before.

Just a though...if we, prays to God not, go out on Wednesday, do you think the Rafa out people will start again? The 4th is not good enough, CL manager only..he has had as much money as Manure...etc...etc.. stuff. You know what I mean.

So, no one with knowledge from Holland has heard anything about where he is going then? I know what kind of player he is.

There is a rumour on EST that he was in Manc-land this week. Surely this summer he is gonna move somewhere? Anyone in Holland, or with knowledge of the Dutch league heard something about where he might end up? I could not make much out of the Ajax forums.

I give you Agger and Skrtel.

I cannot tell His ideas are much more complex than what I just said though. He is no c*** though. Kazer talked s***e there.

No, not at all. Very simplified, it is more about making sure that players complement each other, in a way that makes maximum use of the strengths of the different players. Sort of making teammates sure that SG gets the ball high up the pitch facing goal...because that is where he is more dangerous.

As a fellow Norski, I have to agree with Kaizer on this. Eggen was fantastic, and his achievements tell their own story. He was not a c*** though, even if Rosenborg used to be one of the main rivals of my hometown team. Outspoken, yes, but a colourful and very smart and educated man. Great at building teams and teamspirit. I don't think his written legacy on football "godfoten" (the good foot) is available in English..that is a shame, cause it is a cracking read.

I predict that jar will get a chance at the bridge, and waste it

wenger always looks concerned. if you look closely at the wrinkles in his forehead you can make out the letters and he is French as well!!

looking at Rafa's transfers where we have spent substantial amounts, I think it is likely we will sign someone younger than Villa if we splash the cash. Someone under 25.

the smug git

So, one and a half player out of hundreds then. Seems we know what we are doing then.

Start with the upper cent then. I was there for the Inter game and it was dull as f***. Lots of locals there too. About 10% max were singing.

Good job that.

Can't believe no one commented on my well thought out post. Wanders off, sulking to a pub...

that argument does not hold water. Do you remember how we won the UEFA cup and the leauge cup and which teams we played against? And add the Owen magic final when we were played off the park. Then consider what teams we have knocked out to win the cups under Rafa. Major difference.

I got some theories as to why Rafa's approach, tactically and in using the squad does not work as well in the PL as in Europe. I put this down to a few simple factors: 1) The higher tempo of the PL means the players are dragged more out of position and thus negating some of the main advantages from his tactical approach. We can see how the continental teams we meet in the CL are more often have to give in when in a tactical battle with Rafa. 2) Also, with the higher tempo of the PL, you need more cohesion between the players, something you cannot get going in and out of the side... This is especially telling watching our attacking play. Here I think that Rafa demands too much of the players, like they are machines, both in terms of being motivated no matter if you are rotated and not, and that they can just slot into several different positions, or in and out of the team, and still perform. 3) His style of play, or the most typical one, compressing play, keeping possession and moving the ball around the box creating openings calls for top quality players, creative and intelligent ones. The PL is extremely competitive. And I think not having top class players in some of the attacking positions makes this approach less bountiful. -- On to some of the other typical sticks to beat Rafa with, which also is related to the rotation issue... 1) Always play your best 11, or he doesn't know his best 11. Like Smith said in the Echo. Rafa doesn't have one, and he does not need a best 11 imo. It depends on the opposition and I see nothing wrong with that, as long as the core is kept intact - so rotating, but not over-rotating. Here I think Rafa needs to cool down and only change 2 max 3 players a game. Also, this best 11 thing is something of the past when the game was slower, and there were, I think, fewer games.