Hats off to Rafa and the lads

[Bootle Buck]

He said he wanted to win every game up until Milan away and the players responeded. We are looking like a unit again and are hard to break down. Gerrard and Torres are World Class and are forming a great relationship. Kudos to Skirtel too who is looking a good buy.

Edited March 8, 2008 by Bootle Buck

[Cobs]

Well in, lads

 

and all this despite the off field shenanagins.....

 

 

[BDB]

Yup, Brilliant -- 5 Wins in a row now.

 

Class!

[stressederic]

We're looking good at the moment. Lots of confidence right throughout the team.

[Kahnee]

Well in, lads

 

and all this despite the off field shenanagins.....

There have been shenanagins?

[Skillz]

We're looking good at the moment. Lots of confidence right throughout the team.

 

 

Good to see Rafa look so happy again. Didn't he lose the dressing room recently

 

 

w*****s.

[MickeyDocs]

At least when he rotates now he keeps the formation. The issue with Rafa's rotation is that at times he changes both personnel and the system.

Great to see Gerrard as an out and out attacking mf but in a central role. He is developing a great understanding with Torres. Babbel is also suited to this system... we now need one more quality player to fit into our attacking 4.

[suzyv]

I think we could perhaps catch chelsea for 3 but if not a fourth place finish and a good run in chapions league would be a good result considering all that has happened off the field this season

[Mike]

At least when he rotates now he keeps the formation. The issue with Rafa's rotation is that at times he changes both personnel and the system.

Great to see Gerrard as an out and out attacking mf but in a central role. He is developing a great understanding with Torres. Babbel is also suited to this system... we now need one more quality player to fit into our attacking 4.

 

absolutely correct. the only weakness out there was in the wide positions (apart from riise obv). pennant and benayoun. they're out of their league.

i certainly would never player benayoun out there in that formation, he was lost.

[Lanus]

IT'S ON!

[alias75]

At least when he rotates now he keeps the formation. The issue with Rafa's rotation is that at times he changes both personnel and the system.

Great to see Gerrard as an out and out attacking mf but in a central role. He is developing a great understanding with Torres. Babbel is also suited to this system... we now need one more quality player to fit into our attacking 4.

 

We're also rotating from a position of strength with the core of the side staying the same and only 1 or 2 coming in. I think our main problem this season has been Rafa's been working with too big a squad, so some games you have players like Kewell, Voronin playing, in reality we have maybe 15-16 players that are good enough and this is the squad we should be working from, this way when you do change things slightly its only a couple of positions and your replacing quality with quality. I think in his own mind Rafa is working with a smaller squad and certain players like Kewell are almost not even being considered anymore.

[Rimbeux]

At least when he rotates now he keeps the formation. The issue with Rafa's rotation is that at times he changes both personnel and the system.

Great to see Gerrard as an out and out attacking mf but in a central role. He is developing a great understanding with Torres. Babbel is also suited to this system... we now need one more quality player to fit into our attacking 4.

 

 

Up till the recent five games, we'd played 4-4-2 every league game apart from Arsenal, Blackburn, Wigan, Newcastle, Reading, Everton of the top of my head, they were two wins, one defeat, three draws, six games out of twenty four where we played a different formation, and I think three of them were consecutive league games. During the run of five games without a win that cost us the title shot, think it was only Wigan where we went 4-5-1.

[MickeyDocs]

We're also rotating from a position of strength with the core of the side staying the same and only 1 or 2 coming in. I think our main problem this season has been Rafa's been working with too big a squad, so some games you have players like Kewell, Voronin playing, in reality we have maybe 15-16 players that are good enough and this is the squad we should be working from, this way when you do change things slightly its only a couple of positions and your replacing quality with quality. I think in his own mind Rafa is working with a smaller squad and certain players like Kewell are almost not even being considered anymore.

 

 

I agree the squad is too big, and Rafa has been bringing in too many players at a time. We need a squad in which every player has a confidence in where they fit in. It is for these reasons I believe Benayoun, Voronin, and Kewell are surplus to requirements. Voronin and Kuyt need to make way for a quality striker that can

 

We need to sign a special player, a player that deserves to wear the number 7 to transform the attacking trio of Gerrard, Torres and Babel into a quality attacking quartet. Robinho is a player that comes to mind. He arrived at Real too early in his career, but is developing into a really good attacking midfielder, who can of course play up front. Will he make it in the premiership?

 

I'd keep Pennant as he does what he is told, ie. hug the by line and get crosses in. Crouch offers us something different, a plan b as such, but is he willing to play back up.

 

Anderson deserves a chance. He looks like quality but will this xfer to the premiership?

Nemeth looks good for the future but how far away is he from the match day squad?

Surely these two players deserve a chance rather than wasting xfer funds on more players to fill the squad.

[Mike]

I agree the squad is too big, and Rafa has been bringing in too many players at a time. We need a squad in which every player has a confidence in where they fit in. It is for these reasons I believe Benayoun, Voronin, and Kewell are surplus to requirements. Voronin and Kuyt need to make way for a quality striker that can

 

We need to sign a special player, a player that deserves to wear the number 7 to transform the attacking trio of Gerrard, Torres and Babel into a quality attacking quartet. Robinho is a player that comes to mind. He arrived at Real too early in his career, but is developing into a really good attacking midfielder, who can of course play up front. Will he make it in the premiership?

 

I'd keep Pennant as he does what he is told, ie. hug the by line and get crosses in. Crouch offers us something different, a plan b as such, but is he willing to play back up.

 

Anderson deserves a chance. He looks like quality but will this xfer to the premiership?

Nemeth looks good for the future but how far away is he from the match day squad?

Surely these two players deserve a chance rather than wasting xfer funds on more players to fill the squad.

 

doubt pennant will be here next year. not nearly good enough for liverpool.

[alias75]

I agree the squad is too big, and Rafa has been bringing in too many players at a time. We need a squad in which every player has a confidence in where they fit in. It is for these reasons I believe Benayoun, Voronin, and Kewell are surplus to requirements. Voronin and Kuyt need to make way for a quality striker that can

 

We need to sign a special player, a player that deserves to wear the number 7 to transform the attacking trio of Gerrard, Torres and Babel into a quality attacking quartet. Robinho is a player that comes to mind. He arrived at Real too early in his career, but is developing into a really good attacking midfielder, who can of course play up front. Will he make it in the premiership?

 

I'd keep Pennant as he does what he is told, ie. hug the by line and get crosses in. Crouch offers us something different, a plan b as such, but is he willing to play back up.

 

Anderson deserves a chance. He looks like quality but will this xfer to the premiership?

Nemeth looks good for the future but how far away is he from the match day squad?

Surely these two players deserve a chance rather than wasting xfer funds on more players to fill the squad.

 

7 subs next season so i think some of the young players will get their chance, and in certain games when we're winning well they can be eased in. I agree that the "filler" for a better word in our squad should be the best prospects from the reserves. Work with a strong core of 15-16 players and make the rest up from the best of the ressies.

 

At the very least these young players will be hungry and enthusiastic when they get their chance and if 1 or 2 make the step up well that saves us millions on future signings. The once that don't quite make it at least have had PL experience and we can make some money on them.

[MickeyDocs]

Up till the recent five games, we'd played 4-4-2 every league game apart from Arsenal, Blackburn, Wigan, Newcastle, Reading, Everton of the top of my head, they were two wins, one defeat, three draws, six games out of twenty four where we played a different formation, and I think three of them were consecutive league games. During the run of five games without a win that cost us the title shot, think it was only Wigan where we went 4-5-1.

 

 

The key now is when we play 4-2-3-1, the top four players are being played as out and out attacking players and their defensive role is to defend from the front rather than dropping back into midfield all the time. This really suits Babel, and Kuyt has also adjusted well, but it is obvious he doesn't have the out and out pace for this role which is based around breaking quickly .

 

I can't wait for Alonso to hit his groove as this formation is well suited to his strengths.

 

It'll be very interesting to see this formation with Agger alongside Skittles as we'll have Alonso, Agger, Skittles... all players able to launch attacks with a measured pass... and plenty of pace at the back

[Rimbeux]

The key now is when we play 4-2-3-1, the top four players are being played as out and out attacking players and their defensive role is to defend from the front rather than dropping back into midfield all the time. This really suits Babel, and Kuyt has also adjusted well, but it is obvious he doesn't have the out and out pace for this role which is based around breaking quickly .

 

I can't wait for Alonso to hit his groove as this formation is well suited to his strengths.

 

It'll be very interesting to see this formation with Agger alongside Skittles as we'll have Alonso, Agger, Skittles... all players able to launch attacks with a measured pass... and plenty of pace at the back

 

Completely agree we've cracked how to play it, and completely agree that before we've been playing it with the wide players playing no differently to how they would in a 4-4-2. What that was down to, poor instruction, poor execution, confusion, who knows, but it seems to have been resolved. Also agree that Kuyt is lacking in pace for it, would add Pennant lacks the positional brains and power, and Yossi lacks the power and pace to make one of the roles their own.

[MickeyDocs]

Completely agree we've cracked how to play it, and completely agree that before we've been playing it with the wide players playing no differently to how they would in a 4-4-2. What that was down to, poor instruction, poor execution, confusion, who knows, but it seems to have been resolved. Also agree that Kuyt is lacking in pace for it, would add Pennant lacks the positional brains and power, and Yossi lacks the power and pace to make one of the roles their own.

 

What do you think of Arbeloa in this role, is he good enough? What of Aurelio. Apart from a top number 7, the full backs and back up keeper are also areas of concern. Finnan has been a great servant but much more suited to a 4-4-2 (imho). Rafinha has been mentioned but I must admit that I've only seen him in the CL.

[Rimbeux]

What do you think of Arbeloa in this role, is he good enough? What of Aurelio. Apart from a top number 7, the full backs and back up keeper are also areas of concern. Finnan has been a great servant but much more suited to a 4-4-2 (imho). Rafinha has been mentioned but I must admit that I've only seen him in the CL.

 

 

I like Arbeloa, I like his attitude and ability to hit space with his running, he gets into dangerous areas. The only real issues I have with him is that he can fall asleep defensively, wander out of position and isn't that strong one on one. I'd like to see a class player at right and left back, and use Arbeloa to cover both positions. I think Finnan has gone, niggling injuries and time seem to have caught up with him, I dont think Aurellio will stay fit enough, or has that pace and power you look for, and Riise doesn't have the ability needed.

[Smith]

But Rafa and Xabi is schit...

[psl]

9 points off the top with 9 games to go...

[Lee W]

At least when he rotates now he keeps the formation. The issue with Rafa's rotation is that at times he changes both personnel and the system.

 

Agree with that, but would also add it's not the 'R' word itself it's who is rotated and the number of changes.

 

Regardless of the result, yesterday was a good example of how we should use the system. Minimal changes (three, I think), get the game won and then bring off the match-winners.

 

Obviously, it's not always gonna be that simple but when we change half the team nearly every game, there just isn't any continuity or partnerships formed, save for maybe the centre-backs.

Edited March 9, 2008 by Lee W

[Gary Wolf]

Starting with the Inter game I'm wondering if it's really that simple: play the strongest team available, make logical substitutes and you win

[Rimbeux]

Starting with the Inter game I'm wondering if it's really that simple: play the strongest team available, make logical substitutes and you win

 

We're playing a formation that suits more of the better players, I think it's that simple, that's all that's 'changed'.

[Earl Hafler]

We're playing a formation that suits more of the better players, I think it's that simple, that's all that's 'changed'.

 

And instead of rotating everyone apart from Torres and Gerrard, other players are being given a run of games. Also, we've been playing some poor sides. Tougher fixtures in the next few games.

 

I think we'll see the return of Kuyt and Babel for the Inter game and Gerrard playing slightly deeper.