Timing of substitutions

[Puma]

To start of I'm not second guessing Rafa or thinking I know more than 0.1% of his footballing knowledge. I've noticed that Rafa rarely ever makes a substitutions before aprx 75th minute. I looked ( briefly I'll admit ) at some stats and could not find a single half time substitution.

 

Now this seems clearly his style but having said that there must be some games where halftime substitutions are needed. I'd dare to say, even with three points picked up, that a couple of half time substitutions would have been needed as we were not sharp and simply not playing well for the first half.

 

Has somebody ever asked Rafa this during some of the Q&A's everybody is raving about? I guess half of the answer would be that he is able to talk to the players during halftime and change things around that way.

[Cooger]

I seem to remember a little guy called Didi Hamann coming on at halftime in Istanbul, nulifying Kaka and our side going on to win the game.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

I seem to remember a little guy called Didi Hamann coming on at halftime in Istanbul, nulifying Kaka and our side going on to win the game.

 

YOU STOLE MY POST !

[Puma]

True. I'll admit to not being a stat sponge And I'm sure there are more instances. I was refering more to his chosen method. But, if wrong then I'm wrong.

[psl]

I seem to remember a little guy called Didi Hamann coming on at halftime in Istanbul, nulifying Kaka and our side going on to win the game.

 

That's going to be the first thing everyone thinks of.

[Puma]

Well, I thought and thought and spent all of 5 minutes looking at results and I didn't think of that

 

Still, I think it's a valid point apart from a three year old game

[billybunter]

yea but his hand was forced by the injury

 

also i reckon 3-0 down is the threshold point where he thinks "ah s***" lets not wait till the 65th min

[Maldini]

Yeah, our record in the second half really isn't good enough.

[Puma]

That's not really the point. I wasn't suggesting he got it wrong. More like wondering why he is this calm and collective about 0-0 games. Let's be fair shall we?

[Maldini]

That's not really the point. I wasn't suggesting he got it wrong. More like wondering why he is this calm and collective about 0-0 games. Let's be fair shall we?

 

Why wait til half-time?

[Cooger]

Didn't Alonso come off the bench against Sunderland at half time, setting Torres up for the winner?

 

I remember him coming off the bench in his first season at half time against Fulham changing the game and from 2-0 down we ended up winning 4-2.

 

I'll stop being pedantic now.

 

I get your point and I think if it is clear something is not working then it should be changed whether it's after 20, 45 or 60 minutes.

 

However I like it how Benitez doesn't panic and change for change sake. He picks a side that he thinks has the best chance of winning the game and he'll give them enough time for that to happen. If it doesn't work, then he change it.

[Puma]

Why wait til half-time?

 

Ummm, exactly?

[Hassony]

I find it funny that the time of substitution is the latest thing to have a go at Rafa for (since Rotation width and Zonal marking haven't really been much of an issue this season)

 

 

what will it be next season? Rafa's sign language on the side lines distracting the players?

[Earl Hafler]

I find it funny that the time of substitution is the latest thing to have a go at Rafa for (since Rotation width and Zonal marking haven't really been much of an issue this season)

what will it be next season? Rafa's sign language on the side lines distracting the players?

 

Rotation hasn't been much of an issue because he's not doing it as much !

[Chili Palmer]

I find it funny that the time of substitution is the latest thing to have a go at Rafa for (since Rotation width and Zonal marking haven't really been much of an issue this season)

 

 

what will it be next season? Rafa's sign language on the side lines distracting the players?

 

 

Someone did point out that Rafas body language on the touchline is not sending the right message to the players, would that count?

[Hassony]

Someone did point out that Rafas body language on the touchline is not sending the right message to the players, would that count?

 

wait until Gray picks up on it

[cymrococh]

wait until Gray picks up on it

"There he goes again Richard, that can't be doing the likes of Gerrah-rd any good at all. And I hate saying that."

Edited December 7, 2008 by Paul Caruso

[Mike]

i have no idea why he changed masch for lucas on sat.

[Hassony]

i have no idea why he changed masch for lucas on sat.

 

 

he always does that when we are winning, didn't you say last week that Masch is looking tired? do you want him to explain every substitution to you from now on?

[MFletcher]

Because Masch was hobbling off and couldn't run any more.

[Mike]

he always does that when we are winning, didn't you say last week that Masch is looking tired? do you want him to explain every substitution to you from now on?

 

its what i was thinking while i was watching from the stands, why be a smug t**? i don't think i said mascherano needed a rest no.

 

mfletcher, i didn't see mascherano hobbling.

[Chili Palmer]

Because Masch was hobbling off and couldn't run any more.

 

 

That might be classed as a good reason...

[Hassony]

its what i was thinking while i was watching from the stands, why be a smug t**? i don't think i said mascherano needed a rest no.

 

you did

[Mike]

you did

 

i said he possibly needed a rest because he was crap, and he got one, he was on the bench against west ham.

[Bailo]

Masch was definitely feeling something when coming off, he shook his head as well.