Constructive - You are Rafa.....

[5InIstanbul]

So, you are Rafa, or perhpas a trusted adviser that definitely has his ear.

 

What are you going to do over the next month, or what are you going to advise him to do?

 

Whether it be selection, tactics, formation, motivation, whatever.

 

And no "I'd tell him to resign" bo11ocks, let's be constructive and see what we can come up with.

[Davvo]

So, you are Rafa, or perhpas a trusted adviser that definitely has his ear.

 

What are you going to do over the next month, or what are you going to advise him to do?

 

Whether it be selection, tactics, formation, motivation, whatever.

 

And no "I'd tell him to resign" bo11ocks, let's be constructive and see what we can come up with.

 

What would you do/advise ?

[5InIstanbul]

What would you do/advise ?

 

It's a fair challenge but I'm havin me tea.

[Zoob]

Remind players about the pass and move principle

Teach Insua how to defend - play someone else if it doesn't look like he'll be able to grasp it

Give Kuyt a few games rest

Move Gerrard either to midfield or to the right

Play Ngog and Torres

Play Aquilani to show us that he is a good addition to the team

Stop walking under ladders / crossing the path of black cats

Go visit Kev and Ant so they can tell Rafa what he's doing wrong

Edited December 20, 2009 by Zoob

[Davvo]

It's a fair challenge but I'm havin me tea.

 

soft a***

[FC Showster]

I'd say

 

Give Insua a break for a few games

Play someone up top with Torres so he isn't the sole physical focus of the central defence during this bad spell

Tell Johnson to keep attacking - make the opposition defend him rather than the other way around

Focus training on passing, movement, movement, passing, and movement

[nitski]

Play the best 11 a few times in a row.

Do not rest anybody unless injured.

Play 2 up front.

Play Aquailani.

Allow the creative players more creative freedom

Really try and win the UEFA and FA cup

Set sights on 4th place

Work on team spirit and get rid of any players not pulling their weight - I would rather see youngsters in the team

Have a long look at himself and realize that leading a team is not about scientific analysis and being aloof

Start seriously looking at who needs to come in for next season

[meepins]

Have a long look at himself and realize that leading a team is not about scientific analysis and being aloof

What a c**t.

[Zoob]

Play the best 11 a few times in a row.

Do not rest anybody unless injured.

 

Are you Charlie Nicolas / Paul Merson / Jamie Redknapp / Insert other generic Sky pundit who doesn't actually know anything about footie?

[Nebraska Red]

let the players go out and play the game with some fun and enjoyment.

 

get away from this 2 defensive/uncreative midfielders.

 

play 2 up front and tell them to stay up front, especially if it's Kuyt. Torres and N'Gog/Kuyt/Benayoun.

 

put Gerrard in midfield alongside Aquiliani.

 

have Lucas play the defensive role until Masherano is fit or un suspended.

 

put Aurelio at left back, Johnson at right back and tell them to bring the ball forward

 

Riera out on the left or Benayoun.

 

In the league we go at teams from the start and we keep going for 90 minutes.

[abc]

Tell the players that first and foremost, everyone in the club is in this together. We are playing for the club's survival at the top. And it's true, because if Villa, Spurs or City get into the CL they will make forward strides as they will have even more money to spend. Something that we didn't have even after the past few seasons of decent runs in the CL.

 

Let them know that there are no illusions about the situation - we are in dire straits. By our club's very high standards. Speak with some senior players, get their opinions on what they think is going wrong and what they think as players can help them perform at a better level. And then see if their ideas can be integrated into the methods/tactics/training.

 

But most importantly, tell the players to go out and play. Just enjoy playing the game of football. If it means relieving some the tactical restrictions, so be it. And this will be against Rafa's instincts because of the way he likes football matches to play out. The players need to be comfortable on the pitch - that will lead to better confidence. Tackle challenges head on: we're in a sh*t run of form - this means that most matches there will be some critical situation which goes against us. There are two ways to react when that happens; you either say "ah here we go again" or you refuse to accept your fate until the final whistle.

 

Under normal circumstances, in other normal seasons, Rafa's motto of working hard and doing the same things which have worked before usually pays off after a poor month or so. This season, we're fighting against injuries, shocking refereeing and freak incidents. This calls for a different style of management...perhaps this is a time to try a couple of riskier things. Start with as many attacking players as possible, I don't know. A left field play which could perhaps spark something...starting with playing Gerrard in central midfield (never thought I'd say that!) and giving Dirk a 4-match rest (bench him and bring him on as a sub).

[David Hodgson]

I'd ensure I always had a playmaker in central midfield at all times. My preference would be Gerrard to play alongside Mascherano (when available).

 

Purely to shake things up I might consider going with 3 at the back for a while, with Johnson and Aurelio as wing backs. I'd have Gerrard in alongside Masch, as I've said, play Aquilani ahead of them and Benayoun or Kuyt in support of Torres.

 

 

----------------------Carra------Skrtel------Agger

 

 

------------------------------Mascherano

 

 

--Johnson--------Gerrard-----------Aquilani--------------Aurelio

 

 

 

----------------------------Kuyt------------Torres

 

 

I'd also look to gamble on getting Babel more involved again to give us some much needed pace. He could support Torres or play in the free role I've earmarked for Aquilani or Gerrard.

[Spion kop]

Two up front

biggest players on the pitch

switch to man marking, it's simpler and will be easy for players low on confidence to play too

tell carragher that his voice is more important then his legs

move the ball foward

 

 

FM manager me.

[Davvo]

let the players go out and play the game with some fun and enjoyment.

 

get away from this 2 defensive/uncreative midfielders.

 

play 2 up front and tell them to stay up front, especially if it's Kuyt. Torres and N'Gog/Kuyt/Benayoun.

 

put Gerrard in midfield alongside Aquiliani.

 

have Lucas play the defensive role until Masherano is fit or un suspended.

 

put Aurelio at left back, Johnson at right back and tell them to bring the ball forward

 

Riera out on the left or Benayoun.

 

In the league we go at teams from the start and we keep going for 90 minutes.

 

Gotta love most of that. The modern day manager appears to be too clever for such reasoning however.

 

Your first point particularly, get the players f***ing smiling for christ's sake. It's the same in any environment, a happy employee is more productive than a miserable one.

[Swagger]

Aurelio at LB. Not left midfield, not CM, but LB. Insua needs a long stint on the bench.

Play Aquilani alongside Mascherano or Lucas. If injured, play Gerrard there.

Try Johnson at RM.

Let N'Gog try to take some pressure off Torres.

Have a long hard look at what the f*** it is that Pellegrino is doing.

[Zoob]

let the players go out and play the game with some fun and enjoyment.

 

That's a good point, but it's also something of a mystery. I know it's always easier for players to look like they're enjoying themselves when they're winning (i.e. the run we went on in the 2nd half of last season), but so often at the start of the season, our players look miserable, and like they've forgotten how to play football let alone how to play it with some sense of enjoyment.

 

I know a lot of people on here don't like Wenger, and Arsenal haven't won anything in years, but at least their players look like they enjoy playing football, enjoy passing and moving, enjoy attacking etc...

[Spion kop]

Remind players about the pass and move principle

Teach Insua how to defend - play someone else if it doesn't look like he'll be able to grasp it

Give Kuyt a few games rest

Move Gerrard either to midfield or to the right

Play Ngog and Torres

Play Aquilani to show us that he is a good addition to the team

Stop walking under ladders / crossing the path of black cats

Go visit Kev and Ant so they can tell Rafa what he's doing wrong

Indeed, currently they seem to be performing "pass and guard the area you're standing in"

[pipnasty]

I'd shout more at the players and wave my arms around on the touchline.

[5InIstanbul]

First thing that sprang to my mind. Sort Gerrard out. Dont know what the problem is, but Im sure its not (just) fitness, there is more.

 

Whatever it is sort it.

 

Thereafter, I agree with some of the suggestions regarding a change of formation to be much more attacking. F*ck the opposition, let them look at our team sheet/formation and think holy crap, how are we going to contain that!

[Davvo]

I'd shout more at the players and wave my arms around on the touchline.

 

I thought you'd be able to be more constructive when people are having a frank discussion.

[Hassony]

I would drop reina, the useless t***

[JonShar]

I'd tell him one thing, and one thing only: Lose games 4-3 if you have to, but get the team creating chances.

[Chili Palmer]

I'd tell him to ignore Jon Shar, don't lose anymore games.

[Davvo]

I would drop reina, the useless t***

 

You too, contributions like that are the equal of Mr Biscan.

[Woodsyla]

So, you are Rafa, or perhpas a trusted adviser that definitely has his ear.

 

What are you going to do over the next month, or what are you going to advise him to do?

 

Whether it be selection, tactics, formation, motivation, whatever.

 

And no "I'd tell him to resign" bo11ocks, let's be constructive and see what we can come up with.

I think we need to mix it up, we need to play attacking players at home and stop worrying about controlling the game and worry about being a threat in the final 3rd. Who cares if we surrender possession we need to create chances.

 

At home against Wolves I'd play

 

Benayoun Torres Ngog

Gerrard

Aquilani Lucas

 

let them worry about us rather than us worrying about them for a change. A 6-0 win over Christmas might put the spring back in everyones step. First choice XI for the FA Cup and we might start to build up a head of steam into January, turn over Spurs a crushing Derby win and things start to look a lot more pleasant.