If the league is our priority this season ....

[David Hodgson]

..should Rafa be looking to rest key players against Madrid next week ?

 

We've got a cluster of crucial league games coming up, and the only chance we'd get to rest the likes of Torres and Gerrard would be for the Atletico game.

 

These two will play twice for their countries, and then we've got 2 games a week for a few to come. Something has to give, and I think there's a case for risking an adverse result in the Madrid game, to preserve the main players for the Chelsea game, in particular.

 

Firstly, the Madrid game is going to be a tough one to win, even at full strength, so why not go there without Torres and Gerrard, dig in, and take a draw, with the hope of mugging them on the break ?

 

Even a defeat would be no tragedy. I think the coming weeks will be a real test of just how serious Rafa is about prioiritising winning the league.

[Mike]

but we're going to madrid. for purely selfish reasons i don't want to see us lose, it would ruin my trip

 

start with strong sides and bring them off early if the game is won i say. wigan at home, get the game won and take them off after 60.

[Bigal]

but we're going to madrid. for purely selfish reasons i don't want to see us lose, it would ruin my trip

 

start with strong sides and bring them off early if the game is won i say. wigan at home, get the game won and take them off after 60.

 

yes Ron

[Cooger]

I think we should look to play our best team out in the Madrid ties. We win these then, we're guaranteed top of the group and can play significantly weaker teams against Marseille and PSV.

 

That's the time to rest them, unless we're dominating games 2 or 3 nill up and they can have a breather.

 

Let's remember these two haven't had too much football this season, as they have been injured.

Edited October 9, 2008 by Cooger

[muleskinner]

Madrid have got a fair few injuries and were beaten 6-1 by Barcelona at the weekend. If we win over there and I'm expecting to, we have as good as qualified for the knockouts. Full strength side for me and get the game won. Plus, I can't see Torres wanting to miss these games.

[John am Rhein]

..should Rafa be looking to rest key players against Madrid next week ?

 

We've got a cluster of crucial league games coming up, and the only chance we'd get to rest the likes of Torres and Gerrard would be for the Atletico game.

 

I'm not sure the League is our priority (who's said that?) but I certainly think we have an opportunity due to our strong start in the European Cup. The Wigan and (especially) Chelsea games are more important than Atletico Madrid away so we have a chance to rest key players in a European match rather than in the League.

 

However, if we are going to rest (say) Torres, does it make sense to take him to Madrid to sit on the bench or would a better rest be achieved by staying home for routine training? Depends how much is taken out of the players by travelling and how much by playing.

[Ronnie Whelan]

I'm not sure the League is our priority (who's said that?)

 

 

It must be our priority this season. The mancs are one away.

[Knox_Harrington]

Torres and Gerrard are both players who have been spoken of as not needing much rest. Gerrard is very rarely rested (league cup and that's about that) and Torres managed virtually every league and European game he was fit for last season.

 

Keane should probably only play two of Wigan/Madrid/Chelsea. Same for Kuyt, Riera and possibly Alonso. Be tempted, if at all possible, to give Arbeloa a rest in there (Wigan? But then he's highly unlikely to play 90 for Spain) and Aurelio/Dossena is the rotated position of choice.

[baz2107]

The Chelsea game is on the Sunday, Rafa has said he prefers games on a Sunday after Champions League on a Wednesday so I don't think there'll be many changes from the Athletico away game to the Chelsea match.

 

Against Wigan it wouldn't surprise me if Mascherano misses out with the travelling back from Argentina he'll have to do, but we shouldn't need him for that game, we've got enough quality in the squad to put the game against Wigan to bed nice and early and then take off the stars for the Athletico game.

 

I think the league is the priority but lookign at the financial side of things we need to get through the group stages of the Champions League, there is no reason why we can't fight on both fronts, and like others have said, beat Madrid twice and we've topped the group, if we got 1 or 2 points from those games, then we'll be fighting with another side (probably Marseille) to go through, I'd be much happier if we got the job done, and then played the last two champions league games with reserve sides

[Cobs]

i think he should carry on with his lesser rotation policy that's served us so well through the first part of the season

 

Once we qualify for the knockout stages he can make more changes in Europe

[Knox_Harrington]

we've got enough quality in the squad to put the game against Wigan to bed nice and early

We've never beaten a Steve Bruce team under Benitez in the league. This may well not be an easy game.

[Hassony]

We've never beaten a Steve Bruce team under Benitez in the league. This may well not be an easy game.

 

I think we will draw against Wigan and against Chelsea

[Cobs]

We've never beaten a Steve Bruce team under Benitez in the league. This may well not be an easy game.

 

no easy games in the Premier League

 

 

but it's about time we gave that fat-headed ponce a good beating

[Smith]

i think he should carry on with his lesser rotation policy that's served us so well through the first part of the season

 

Once we qualify for the knockout stages he can make more changes in Europe

 

Didn't Rafa actually hint at this?

[Cobs]

Didn't Rafa actually hint at this?

 

not to me

[Bailo]

Wonder if Rafa will see it as qualify and then rest players, or win the group and then rest players? I imagine generally the better teams win groups? Or do they rest play as as soon as they qualify, drop points safe in the confidence that they'd beat anyone?

[jimmylibel]

How to piss off Torres? Put him on the bench for his homecoming.

[Cobs]

How to piss off Torres? Put him on the bench for his homecoming.

 

good call

 

 

it's for the best, tell him he'd end up playing with his heart not his head

[John am Rhein]

It must be our priority this season. The mancs are one away.

 

This is a matter of opinion. Is there anything to indicate the club take that view?

 

I reckon they see the European Cup as at least as important as the League, possibly even more - above all because of the revenue it generates.

[Ronnie Whelan]

This is a matter of opinion. Is there anything to indicate the club take that view?

 

I reckon they see the European Cup as at least as important as the League, possibly even more - above all because of the revenue it generates.

 

 

Fair point. Ask fans what they would like to prioritise this season and the vast majority will say the league, im sure a lot of players are saying the same thing, surely memebers of the board are aware of this too (excluding our american oweners). The club could never make a statement or insinuate to that end.

[baz2107]

We've never beaten a Steve Bruce team under Benitez in the league. This may well not be an easy game.

 

 

Very true his sides are always hard to beat (Except the 7-0 in the cup!!) but if we want to win the league these are the sorts of games we shouldn't be dropping any points in, with the players we have got we are more than capable of getting a couple of goals ahead and then resting players for the last half hour, I know football doesn't always work like that but it has to be the aim.

[Spike]

According to Rafa's recently espoused 3/4 day rest logic...

 

international game on the wednesday and Wigan on Saturday = some internationals rested for the saturday

4 days until the CL game = first choice team in CL

4 days from CL game until Chelsea = First choice team against Chelsea

 

First choice = pretty much what we've seen this season with the odd full back change.

 

I can see a Stoke/Manc scenario and lots of angry postings about dropping points versus wigan despite a win at chelsea

[MFletcher]

If we beat Atletico away we basically have our group tied up.

 

I also suspect Torres will be looking forward to this match quite a bit.

[smithdown]

If we beat Atletico away we basically have our group tied up.

 

I also suspect Torres will be looking forward to this match quite a bit.

 

 

Is right.

 

Win this and then there's three games left to rest players.

[psl]

Its also the first time Rafa's taken his Liverpool team to his home town for a competitive game isn't it?

 

(Can't think of a friendly there either actually).

Edited October 9, 2008 by psl