Rafa's Rotating - Myth or Not?
- Thread starter BaZ87
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Thats just not true, as pointed out in the article in the OP we kept a pretty steady core of our side (just as many players as you and more than Chelsea, we had injuries too btw) and it was on on the wings and our 2nd striker that were 'rotated'.
And Crouch wasn't dropped after the hat-trick and nor was Torres for the Pompey game, Rafa left him out because he hadn't had a full training session (1 half-session) since returning from the Internationals and didn't think he was fully prepared (i personally would have played him btw).
that's an excuse, not a reason. this season torres is your best player, one of the most dangerous players in england on current form and he's what 23/24? he should be starting nigh on every match. The danger for Liverpool now is that Benitez takes the criticism personally and rotates for the big payload of being acclaimed as a tactical genius when it comes off rather than just because it's necessary.
he said it before the game so its a reason not an excuse, whether that decision was right or wrong is a different matter.
Why does Benitez always put out a really strong squad for the Carling Cup?
We don`t want another one rafa start aiming for the one we really want. If we are three nil up in a league game then you take off Torres and co and give them a rest.
Like I said Rafas tactics are more to blame than rotation.
We don`t want another one rafa start aiming for the one we really want. If we are three nil up in a league game then you take off Torres and co and give them a rest.
Like I said Rafas tactics are more to blame than rotation.
Caporegime
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i'm sure rafa admitting his rotating polices in last week's papers. If state that's how he won the league in spain.
Caporegime
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64 changes in 12 games. Don't believe he rotates for a minute.
Which includes 2 cl qualifiers and a Carling Cup match where near enough the whole side was changed (which takes up 36 of those changes (changes for those matches then changing the side back)).
People that use rotation as the reason why we drew today or our performances over the last few games are just looking for an easy excuse, as proven in the op to use the excuse of an unstable side for performances is simply wrong, Utd made just as many changes (regardless of the reasons for those changes) throughout last season and over the last 4-5 matches yet they have managed to win those games. Too often managers get the **** for under-performing players and this is a case of it happening again. Our back four and keeper have played together countless times before as have our midfield and won on many of those occasions, the players simply haven't been performing over the last few games and we've really missed both Agger and Alonso.
Both goals we conceded today were down to sloppy defending from our fullbacks who both have played reguarly this season. Other than our defence (which like i say have played together before and is our best back 4 atm) our generally play wasn't too bad, we scored twice and created some decent chances to have scored more.
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How many changes today from midweek? Like has been said MANY times before, United only make changes due to injuries. 99% of the time you can predict our lineup from the players available. Can't do that with Liverpool and neither can Benitez it seems. I think he just turns up on match day and sets the players up for a race a couple of hours before the match, first 11 to finish start.
Was either Giggs or Tevez injured midweek? I suppose they must have been otherwise they would have played.
Aurelio was out for Arbeloa, Sissoko for Mascherano, Pennant for Benayoun, Leto for Riise and Crouch for Voronin. Out of those Aurelio is injured and Pennant was suspended for the CL game and was always coming back in and the other 3 that were left out were dropped (because they played ****) not rotated and didn't even make the bench. But that won't get a mention, Rafa rotated 5 players.
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The manager got the praise for our European Cup success. He also got most of the praise for getting us to our other cup finals. Why should he get praise when we win but not get questioned when we lose? It's always the players fault when we lose, never his tactis or whacky substitutions. It's his job to pick the team, motivate the players and get them to perform as a team and it's just not happening. He must accept some of the blame.
Of course he should get a share of the blame (and said that himself) but you can't blame rotation for individual mistakes from Finnan (along with Carra our most consistent player for 3 years) and Arbeloa (arguably our best player this season), as i said above both players have been playing throughout this season.
Like i said above, without the 2 cl qualifiers and the CC game we've made 28 changes in 9 matches and had just as many (if not more) injuries than most other sides.
yes rafa should shoulder the blame for some decisions, but i firmly believe in him 100% .. the problem is personel, we still need more world class players .. with the backing we have now financially we can afford to spend 25mil on a player like what chelsea and man u have been able to do for the last 4-5years.. instead of say £7mil on players like crouch who do a job but are limited in style
unlike many oot fans who only see doom and gloom, when i got home from the match after gathering my thoughts and pondering over the 4pts weve dropped at home it isnt all that bad,a lull in form early in the season still unbeaten sitting fourth with a game in hand over many teams isnt a crisis, so while you all argue over rotation and other petty things ill have a cold stella get ready for top gear whilst ringing a few blue noses to ask how their season is going , haha
unlike many oot fans who only see doom and gloom, when i got home from the match after gathering my thoughts and pondering over the 4pts weve dropped at home it isnt all that bad,a lull in form early in the season still unbeaten sitting fourth with a game in hand over many teams isnt a crisis, so while you all argue over rotation and other petty things ill have a cold stella get ready for top gear whilst ringing a few blue noses to ask how their season is going , haha
Do you not think one of the main reasons Arbeloa has been (arguably) our best player this season is because he has not been rotated?
His excellent performances vs Barca were down to him playing reguarly as well?
Who has been rotated? Our left sided midfielder and our strikers, other than that the rest of our 'rotations' have been for injuries, Carra, Agger and Finnan (and Arbeloa as you said) have all played when fit as have Gerrard, Alonso and Pennant.
Answering your question, it may well have helped but Hyypia has played reguarly since Agger's injury and he's looked terrible.
arbeloa hasnt been our best however i do think hes a very good all round player, i think its obvious that the loss of agger and xavi have contributed to our bad form with international breaks contributing to this also ... again nothing sinister is happening other than poor all round form