Rotation and Ratings

[anfield11]

Disgusted!! There is just no excuse for that.

 

I understand that Rafa gets little praise when we go on a run and he rotates, but starting without a striker you paid £20 Million for is insane, it's like he has to justify giving Voronin a game. Yes I understand that Kuyt didn't do that much either, but at least he fights for everything. Personally I think the worst combination of our 4 strikers you could put out together is Voronin and Kuyt, they just don't complement each at all. What was he saving Torres for...the bl**dy League Cup!!

 

Also, we start out flinging crosses in while the most likely to score with headers are on the bench...albeit Crouch is sh*t in the air.

 

I really like Rafa, but this rotation malarkey has to stop. I've never been in favour of huge squads, it's just a waste of talent. We'd be much better with a base of 15/16 players that are really top notch and then rely on your best youngsters [like Leiva, Insua etc.] if you really need to. We could off load 3/4 of the borderline players and pick up a real creative player which is what we seem to lack in games like this.

 

I could go on a rant about loan players in the same division [idiotic rule] but that's probably just because the Arsenal loanee was probably their man of the match.

 

Ratings.

 

Pepe - 7 - Literally nothing to do.

 

Arbeloa - 7 - No complaints with him.

 

Carra - 7 - Little to do, no complaints.

 

Sami - 7 - Everyone claims he's really slow, rarely let's you down though.

 

Riise - 5 - Horrible left back. A bit brainless at times. Very poor defender. Can't beat a man. Occasional cracking goal. For me, he's one, for a decent offer, should be off loaded.

 

Pennant - 6.5 - He wasn't bad, but he wasn't good either. Has he ever beaten a man? Little, or no scoring threat. I'd have him in my 15/16, but really think for a consistent starter we need better.

 

Gerrard - 6 - Maybe he's that good that we expect more, but today it just wasn't working for him. Setanta giving him Man of the Match was a joke. Next time he has an injury like the broken toe, Rafa needs to tell England to p*ss off.

 

Mascherano - 8 - MOTM by a long way. But for a couple of wayward passes, it would have been a 9. I'd really like some assurances that his fee and purchase at season's end is already agreed, because if it hasn't someone has fecked up, as if we continue like this he'll be on his way.

 

Babel - 5.5 - Not at the races. He's strong on the ball and we know he can really hit a ball, but I think Rafa is putting too much faith in him at the moment, plus playing him in a spot that doesn't suit him. Personally I'd make him one of the four strikers, if we really have to have 4.

 

Voronin - 6 - I nearly typed 5. I can see this guy sold in the window. I don't have any real complaints about him, just that he's really not that good. I had the feeling that when we signed him [pre sale to Gillet/Hicks] that he was a "free" replacement for Fowler and believe if the new owners were on board then it wouldn't have happened. He wouldn't make my 15/16

 

Kuyt - 6.5 - As usual worked very hard, but lacked some composure when it was needed.

 

Subs.

 

Torres - 7.5 - Bar a goal, how would you give him more, but a great effort with the overhead and two class touches including the back heal to set up Crouch.

 

Crouch - 6 - I like Crouchy, but he's shocking in the air. He's one I'd offload to strengthen the 15/16 men.

 

 

I'd go with a really second string at Reading and go with the strongest I could vs. Wigan. If we don't win there, Rafa may have already blown the league with his p*ss*ng around and it will be the start of really questioning him. It's fine having a policy of rotating, but at some point you have to be gutsy enough to admit it's not working [he seems to have this ability, in moving players on quickly]. My fear is that he's just too damn stubborn.

 

LFC's most successful eras were done with much smaller squads of real quality...and please don't tell me there are more games now, that just doesn't wash.

 

 

Rant over....for now.

[crisps]

Rotation is a good idea when needed but like people have said so early in the season, it sucks. Like you say maybe a great starting eleven then 5 good outfield subs/backups should be enough and with all the youngsters we've bought, surely a couple should do an ok if needed at last resort. To me rotation is sometimes an excuse to just keep the fringe players happy.

[realtarragona]

I'm feeling generous

 

Reina 6

Riise 4

Carra 6

Hyypia 6

Arbeloa 5

Babel 5

Mascherano 6

Gerrard 5

Pennant 5

Kuyt 5

Voronin 4

Edited September 22, 2007 by realtarragona

[Mike]

riise shouldnt score more than a 2.

[meepins]

I'm feeling generous

 

Reina 6

Riise 4

Carra 6

Hyypia 6

Arbeloa 5

Babel 5

Mascherano 6

Gerrard 5

Pennant 5

Kuyt 5

Voronin 4

Funny and true.

[meepins]

riise shouldnt score more than a 2.

Was he really that bad, I missed most of the 2nd half due the stream dying.

[Sion]

Was he really that bad, I missed most of the 2nd half due the stream dying.

 

I admit sometimes he gets a bit more aggro than he deserves but today he was abysmal. His performance was typified by his s***house challenge midway through the 2nd half.

[Guest Kaizer]

Riise was our best player today.

[CaptainXabi]

Riise was our best player today.

[Coyler]

Kaizer in Finally Going Too Far Shocker.

[Sion]

Riise was our best player today.

 

you're sick

[johnc]

Agree - The Premier League will not be won with an excessive rotation policy. Spain may work but every team is capable of beating everyone in the Premier League consequently the best of what we have needs to start every game. Unless Rafa's policy will change he will not a league title.

 

The only plus so far this season is Chelsea getting rid of Mourinho which I think will rule them out for the season. So its now or never for Rafa. He says the league is his priority but his team selection says other wise. I just hope he doesn't loose the confidence of the fans.

[Flight]

Agree with most of the first post.

 

 

1. I don't rate Voronin as highly as some. He has scored in easy games and looked poor aside from them.

 

2. Babel is a forward not a left winger.

 

3. Riise shouldn't be at the club.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If Rafa continues this rotation s**** for Torres, he will lose the fans. FFS our next game is Reading in the Mickey Mouse Cup - WTF is he doing not starting Torres today, for the second Prem game on the run.

[Guz]

Anyone know how much unforced rotation we did upto and including the Derby game? Genuine question. Was it more or less than since the derby game (international break)?

[Gunga Din]

Reina 6 - nothing to do,

Riise 1 - f*** off Riise you useless c***. you can pass the ball forward too, its allowed

Carra 4 - poor game, hoofed all day

Hyypia 4 - same as Carra

Arbeloa 4- not playing well at the minute

Babel 5 - tried but nothing came off

Mascherano 7 - the only player who can hold his head up high after todays shambles

Gerrard 4 - one of his poorest games in a long time

Pennant - 6 tried his best but let down by those around him

Kuyt - 2 shocking performance,

Voronin 4 - didnt hide,

[floyd the barber]

disagree with the arbeloa rating....4?? c`mon....i think hes been our best defender this season and of the main reasons we`ve yet to concede a goal in open play...he was the reason we conceded a penalty recently but still!!! hes been excellent and again was solid today

[hideNseek]

Riise was our best player today.

 

How do you work that out? Not saying he wasn't, just wondering how you came to that conclusion when for me it was Masch who bar a few dodgy passes was brill again.

[_00_deathscar]

Agree - The Premier League will not be won with an excessive rotation policy. Spain may work but every team is capable of beating everyone in the Premier League

 

What a load of utter b******s.

 

Is that why the Premier League is won with points tallies somewhere up in the late 80's/early-mid 90's whereas in Spain 70-odd points is usually good enough for the win?

[boohog]

Er, Riise was actually good in that game. I almost agree with Kaiser

[_00_deathscar]

Riise started off well with the one two's and pass exchanges with Babel down the left, and also had that effort on goal that Taylor just saw over, but after that it was back to hoofing and shooting from anywhere within 40 yards of goal.

[boohog]

Riise started off well with the one two's and pass exchanges with Babel down the left, and also had that effort on goal that Taylor just saw over, but after that it was back to hoofing and shooting from anywhere within 40 yards of goal.

 

What would your summary be of the rest of our team's passing?

[_00_deathscar]

What would your summary be of the rest of our team's passing?

 

Passing? What passing? I wasn't aware we were trying to pass in last night's game...