Strongest starting XI

[Jezzman]

I've read several times lately that Rafa must field his strongest starting XI for various big games against e.g. Chelsea, Barca, ManU. But do we have such a thing, as THE strongest starting XI, or is it merely a temporary term describing the best possible team available for the next match, considering such things as fitness, form etc?

 

Is the term 'the strongest starting XI' a term of the past, when we only had 15-16 playes available? Does our current rotation policy mean that we're going from THE strongest starting XI to the currently strongest starting XI?

[Alonso]

Rafa will pick his strongest 11 based on player fitness, the opposition and the tactics he wants to be carried out during the game.

[Gomez]

It's just a short hand term for think pundits like charlie nicholas who 'just can't get what Rafa is trying to achieve'

 

It means, I don't understand tactics or squad rotation, thus I feel stupid when managers use them. He should just pick his best 11 players as it doesn't matter if they win or lose, as long as I understand it when I have to criticise it later.

 

There is an optimum team to play against each team, and that depends on many things, whether you are home or away, a night match, the conditions of the weather and the pitch, the oppositions strength, do they have good wingers, are they physical, do they hoof? And you have to take into account future matches (such as Momo not playing Saturday as he was one match from suspension against scum)

 

The days of playing your own game and letting the opposition worry about you are long gone, when you have large squads and lots of different options, it would be negligent not to take advantage of it.

[Alonso]

It's just a short hand term for think pundits like charlie nicholas who 'just can't get what Rafa is trying to achieve'

 

It means, I don't understand tactics or squad rotation, thus I feel stupid when managers use them. He should just pick his best 11 players as it doesn't matter if they win or lose, as long as I understand it when I have to criticise it later.

 

There is an optimum team to play against each team, and that depends on many things, whether you are home or away, a night match, the conditions of the weather and the pitch, the oppositions strength, do they have good wingers, are they physical, do they hoof? And you have to take into account future matches (such as Momo not playing Saturday as he was one match from suspension against scum)

 

The days of playing your own game and letting the opposition worry about you are long gone, when you have large squads and lots of different options, it would be negligent not to take advantage of it.

Exactly, a beefed up version of what I was saying!!

[beejay]

The strongest starting XI is different from the best XI players. Form, fitness, physical or mental tiredness affects the performances of all players and Rafa studies these aspects more than most managers to get the best out of his team.

 

TLW have a poll at the moment about who amongst our squad should be in the starting XI and when last I looked there are 7 with 90% or more of the vote (Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Sissoko, Alonso, Gerrard) and 3 more with over 50% (Kuyt, Bellamy, Mascherano). Trailing in with 21-14% were Garcia & Crouch with the rest at only 10%. It's not a bad litmus test of supporters' views but Rafa has no truck with this approach, it's all about picking 11 from a pool of 22 to win the next game, having regard to the games after that.

[Alonso]

FWIW My best 11 (injuries permitting):

 

4-2-3-1:

 

Reina

 

Finnan Carragher Agger Riise

 

Alonso Sissoko

 

Bellamy Gerrard Kewell

 

Kuyt

[Gomez]

The strongest starting XI is different from the best XI players. Form, fitness, physical or mental tiredness affects the performances of all players and Rafa studies these aspects more than most managers to get the best out of his team.

Yes, but pundits don't mean that, they have no idea about fitness or tiredness, only the coaching staff do.

 

TLW have a poll at the moment about who amongst our squad should be in the starting XI and when last I looked there are 7 with 90% or more of the vote (Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Sissoko, Alonso, Gerrard) and 3 more with over 50% (Kuyt, Bellamy, Mascherano). Trailing in with 21-14% were Garcia & Crouch with the rest at only 10%. It's not a bad litmus test of supporters' views but Rafa has no truck with this approach, it's all about picking 11 from a pool of 22 to win the next game, having regard to the games after that.

It's also pointless, I doubt we will see much of a midfield containing Momo, Xabi, Stevie and Mascherano. As awesome as that collection of players sound, I doubt it would produce a good performance. That's the Keegan school of management.

[Spoone]

It's just a short hand term for think pundits like charlie nicholas who 'just can't get what Rafa is trying to achieve'

 

It means, I don't understand tactics or squad rotation, thus I feel stupid when managers use them. He should just pick his best 11 players as it doesn't matter if they win or lose, as long as I understand it when I have to criticise it later.

 

There is an optimum team to play against each team, and that depends on many things, whether you are home or away, a night match, the conditions of the weather and the pitch, the oppositions strength, do they have good wingers, are they physical, do they hoof? And you have to take into account future matches (such as Momo not playing Saturday as he was one match from suspension against scum)

 

The days of playing your own game and letting the opposition worry about you are long gone, when you have large squads and lots of different options, it would be negligent not to take advantage of it.

 

I think Thommo gave them all something to think about on Sky the other day (when Merson apologised). He made complete sense out of Rafas 'strange' selection against Barca by pointing that that Arbeloa, a right footer, was playing at left back so that when Messi cuts iniside he will be on his strongest foot and with Riise in front for backup, and then Gerrard on the right to give back up to Finnan against Zambrotta and Ronaldhino. The rest of the idiots still all looked at Thommo as if he was a mad man though!

[_00_deathscar]

 

I think Thommo gave them all something to think about on Sky the other day (when Merson apologised). He made complete sense out of Rafas 'strange' selection against Barca by pointing that that Arbeloa, a right footer, was playing at left back so that when Messi cuts iniside he will be on his strongest foot and with Riise in front for backup, and then Gerrard on the right to give back up to Finnan against Zambrotta and Ronaldhino.

 

He was the only person I've seen in the media, from any newspaper, any broadcast etc that acutally mentioned it, if not noticed it!

 

The rest just said "Benitez threw Arbeloa in for a debut start at the Nou Camp"...

[Falconhoof]

People seem to forget that Dalglish was succesful in changing his formation, tactics and players for different teams.

Its taken to its logical conclusion now and Rafa is a master at it but these aren't new ideas.

[floyd the barber]

from what we`ve seen this season, its pretty obvious what rafa thinks his strongest side is...with the left side being the one where he is still unsure..

 

---------------------reina-----------------

finnan-----carra---------agger---riise/aurillo

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

gerrard--sissoko-----alonso----gonzalez/aurillo/riise

---------------kuyt--bellamy-------------

[surf]

Can see Bellamy filling in at left mid, with Mascherano added in the middle.

So Gerrard and Bellamy on the flanks supporting Kuyt and three in the middle.

[MickeyDocs]

FWIW My best 11 (injuries permitting):

 

4-2-3-1:

 

Reina

 

Finnan Carragher Agger Riise

 

Alonso Sissoko

 

Bellamy Gerrard Kewell

 

Kuyt

 

 

get a better left back than Riise and that's a great 11

[tag]

I've read several times lately that Rafa must field his strongest starting XI for various big games against e.g. Chelsea, Barca, ManU. But do we have such a thing, as THE strongest starting XI, or is it merely a temporary term describing the best possible team available for the next match, considering such things as fitness, form etc?

 

Is the term 'the strongest starting XI' a term of the past, when we only had 15-16 playes available? Does our current rotation policy mean that we're going from THE strongest starting XI to the currently strongest starting XI?

 

i get what u're saying, but why can teams like Mancs, Chavs & Barcelona know their first XI. it's not about arrogance, but if a team/manager knows that he has a first XI, it does bring stability to the team. you can tinkle here and there depending on fitness/form, but FWIW, a good team needs to know his first choice starting eleven & his first preference system.

 

we're lucky that we have Rafa who has more 'armory' on his tactical nous and not 'tied-up' to play certain players i.e. sheva & chavs, but i do sincerely believe he needs to have a 'fixed' first XI and a prefered system.

 

[Clay Davis]

is it A historical OR an historical?

 

never known which one

[fyds]

an

[Guest Scot]

an

 

Banders

[Jezzman]

an

 

Just like it's 'a apple'