Rafa

[Guest prophet]

"But Benitez, who has been criticised for not using the likes of Fernando Torres or Peter Crouch regularily enough, dismissed the suggestion, saying: 'You can talk about team selection, and we have been talking about big names, but those big names did not play well from the start.'

 

 

He added: 'It was a poor game for us, we did not play well and we did not make many chances. It was clearly not our day.' "

 

This was on the subject of rotation. i am worried if he thinks as such, that a peerson who does not feature

regularly can just come on and click just like Rafa wishes. How does the BIG names score when the midfield made up of part timers, YES PART TIMERS in playing time click and supply the balls to the BIG names???? HUH?

 

Rotation as someone has mentioned will prevent us from the PL title. END OF.

 

really think hes such a stubborn git, he fails to see through his own pink tainted glasses.

 

losing faith in him very quickly.....

 

Are we in a slump yet?

Edited October 3, 2007 by prophet

[Clay Davis]

losing faith in him very quickly.....

lol, whopper

[CarraLegend]

"But Benitez, who has been criticised for not using the likes of Fernando Torres or Peter Crouch regularily enough, dismissed the suggestion, saying: 'You can talk about team selection, and we have been talking about big names, but those big names did not play well from the start.'

He added: 'It was a poor game for us, we did not play well and we did not make many chances. It was clearly not our day.' "

 

This was on the subject of rotation. i am worried if he thinks as such, that a peerson who does not feature

regularly can just come on and click just like Rafa wishes. How does the BIG names score when the midfield made up of part timers, YES PART TIMERS in playing time click and supply the balls to the BIG names???? HUH?

 

Rotation as someone has mentioned will prevent us from the PL title. END OF.

 

really think hes such a stubborn git, he fails to see through his own pink tainted glasses.

 

losing faith in him very quickly.....

 

Are we in a slump yet?

 

In English?

[Guest Snorky]

lol, whopper

 

Maybe or maybe not, but still entitled to an opinion regardless.

 

I do think though some fans are looking in the rear view mirror prior to an about turn.

[crisps]

Never ever doubted Rafa but last few weeks it seems even if he knew his 'rotation' wasn't working he wont change it due to just being to stubborn which if anything will be his decline. Hopefully he will rectify his mistakes like he does with his transfers that don't work out

 

...however which ever team he picks should still know which team they're supposed 2pass 2 (unlike tonight)

Edited October 3, 2007 by crisps

[Guest prophet]

Never ever doubted Rafa but last few weeks it seems even if he knew his 'rotation' wasn't working he wont change it due to just being to stubborn which if anything will be his decline. Hopefully he will rectify his mistakes like he does with his transfers that don't work out

 

...however which ever team he picks should still know which team they're supposed 2pass 2 (unlike tonight)

 

Problem is if he keeps rotating how will they learn to pass? The team tonite was like, assembled just hours before the kickoff!

[Guest prophet]

The main point of this is really.....hes BLAMING THE PLAYERS! Is he not?

 

"but those big names did not play well from the start."

[Nebraska Red]

The main point of this is really.....hes BLAMING THE PLAYERS! Is he not?

 

"but those big names did not play well from the start."

 

 

and so he should blame the players.

 

he is not likely to have said to Sissoko, "every time you get the ball, give it to a blue shirt, fail to control it or kick it out"

 

or to tell Benayoun to play anywhere but wide on the right. or tell Leto to run with his nose on the grass and never look up.

 

he picked a side that was capable of winning had they played to their expected level and they didn't.

 

there were not many "oh no's" when the side was named.

[CaptainXabi]

I think there's nothing wrong with the rotation itself, but there needs to be some formula for who gets rotated that's understandable to the players. For instance if he generally rotated the poorest 3 or 4 players, I think the players would understand that and use it as motivation. But in general, humans react very poorly to inconsistent outputs to the same inputs - it drives us crazy. I think Rafa needs to relent a little on this one, not because it's fundamentally wrong, but because the psychological benefits could be greater than the physical benefits (freshness).

[Guest prophet]

He should not be sprouting bout the players to the press while the Real problem is his rotating no?

 

He should just keep his mouth zipped....

[Guest prophet]

I think there's nothing wrong with the rotation itself, but there needs to be some formula for who gets rotated that's understandable to the players. For instance if he generally rotated the poorest 3 or 4 players, I think the players would understand that and use it as motivation. But in general, humans react very poorly to inconsistent outputs to the same inputs - it drives us crazy. I think Rafa needs to relent a little on this one, not because it's fundamentally wrong, but because the psychological benefits could be greater than the physical benefits (freshness).

 

Good stuff!

[dodgy1]

bring back Pako - there lies the problem.

[Guest prophet]

bring back Pako - there lies the problem.

 

dodg! YOU REMEMBERED!

 

Are we in a slump yet?

[So Cal Red]

I think there's nothing wrong with the rotation itself, but there needs to be some formula for who gets rotated that's understandable to the players. For instance if he generally rotated the poorest 3 or 4 players, I think the players would understand that and use it as motivation. But in general, humans react very poorly to inconsistent outputs to the same inputs - it drives us crazy. I think Rafa needs to relent a little on this one, not because it's fundamentally wrong, but because the psychological benefits could be greater than the physical benefits (freshness).

 

fully agree w/ you... its Pavlov's dog all over again.

 

no consistent reward/cost pattern for what we've seen this season in Rafa's rotation.

 

the uncertainty of who will & won't get the nod for the next game must be mentally draining for the players.

Edited October 4, 2007 by Little Red Riding Hood

[dodgy1]

dodg! YOU REMEMBERED!

 

Are we in a slump yet?

 

are you being a prick or a smart a*** t*** ? either way you sound like a rifght f***in w***er !!!

[Guest prophet]

are you being a prick or a smart a*** t*** ? either way you sound like a rifght f***in w***er !!!

 

Methinks Rafs gotten to you as well! No need for dogs lingo here.....just a friendly discussion after a frightful game...

[dodgy1]

Methinks Rafs gotten to you as well! No need for dogs lingo here.....just a friendly discussion after a frightful game...

 

f*** off

[adayinthelife]

fully agree w/ you... its Pavlov's dog all over again.

 

no consistent reward/cost pattern for what we've seen this season in Rafa's rotation.

 

the uncertainty of who will & won't get the nod for the next game must be mentally draining for the players.

 

I agree to a certain extent, however this is nothing new and most of the players should be well used to it by now. Benitez should have earned the trust of the players, but I can't help but feel he just doesn't trust them at all.

 

Pako leaving has meant Benitez working more with the players on the training ground, so why has it coincided with some of the worst football we have played in years, especially at home?

 

His negativity and the lack of freedom he allows the players seems to be hindering the team to such an extent that they have simply forgot how to enjoy and express themselves on the pitch.

[surfaris]

why bring in voronin & play him on the flank?

why not babel? put him on the right, move yossi in the middle support the middle.

 

why our back 4 defend so deep? why gerrard was asked to play holding midfielder?

he s our strongest attacking threat from the middle, & u put him at the back in our HOME game?

 

if want to play with momo-gerrard combination, play 5 men midfield, put yossi as creative hole

 

feckin hole

[Guest prophet]

why bring in voronin & play him on the flank?

why not babel? put him on the right, move yossi in the middle support the middle.

 

why our back 4 defend so deep? why gerrard was asked to play holding midfielder?

he s our strongest attacking threat from the middle, & u put him at the back in our HOME game?

 

if want to play with momo-gerrard combination, play 5 men midfield, put yossi as creative hole

 

feckin hole

 

Cos a certain Pakos missin?

[Nerik]

Or maybe because a certain Xabi and a certain Daniel are missing i.e. the two players we have in midfield and defence who can actually start a good passing move.

[John am Rhein]

All this s*** about Benitez being 'stubborn' (as was Houllier we were increasingly told).

 

What's the alternative, FFS? Continually change and rethink tactics as dictated by the whim of media and fans? Now that REALLY WOULD be his downfall.

[Widnesian]

Methinks Rafs gotten to you as well! No need for dogs lingo here.....just a friendly discussion after a frightful game...

"dogs lingo" not sure what it means but I like the sound of it

 

[Guest prophet]

All this s*** about Benitez being 'stubborn' (as was Houllier we were increasingly told).

 

What's the alternative, FFS? Continually change and rethink tactics as dictated by the whim of media and fans? Now that REALLY WOULD be his downfall.

 

Maybe just maybe, rotation IS the problem? i cannot imagine that when the players do not play enough together competitively, they can form a good understanding amongst themselves. You could see that the midfielders were totally outta sync with each other last nite, therefore the missed passes and lack of possession. Statiscally Marseille had as much if not more posession than us! That should say something aboiut our football. AT HOME as well....

 

4th from TOP of EPL vs 4th from bottom of L 1 and LOST!!! What were the odds given by the bookies?

[RP]

EPL I love it when people say EPL.