Liverpool FC Forum

[Bad Bob]

excellent performance, last season or earlier this season we would have struggled in this game as rafa would have tried to work out how we could avoid defeat and not concentrate on winning. it seems he has finally grasped the concept of letting the oppo worry about our quality and its paying dividends, added to the end of ludicrous over rotation and breaking the spine of the team every week we are finally starting to look good, if only he sussed this earlier in the season, or sussed it last season even and we could be sitting pretty at the top tonight

Peewee, not wanting to argue after a great result but Rafa's rotating every bit as much as he was earlier in the season (see the debate in the rotation thread).  This notion that he's "seen the light" is a myth, mate--we're just playing much more like we are capable of.

i agree he is rotating bob, read my post properly and you will see i say 'over rotating and breaking up the spine of the team'. he is still making changes but we are not seeing the likes of torres warming the bench, this is the point i am making

Okay, so define "over rotating" as he's averaging 4 changes a game of late.

As for spine of the team, well he hasn't touched the keeper or CBs for months.  In central midfield, however, he's played Lucas and Sissoko at Newcastle, Gerrard and Mascherano against Porto and Gerrard and Lucas today.  That's some significant shuffling of the spine in my book.  Up top he's played Torres and Kuyt at Newcastle, Torres and Voronin against Porto and Torres and Crouch today.  Again, some significant shuffling of the spine unless, of course, rotation only becomes a problem if Torres doesn't play. 

[metalhead]

excellent performance, last season or earlier this season we would have struggled in this game as rafa would have tried to work out how we could avoid defeat and not concentrate on winning. it seems he has finally grasped the concept of letting the oppo worry about our quality and its paying dividends, added to the end of ludicrous over rotation and breaking the spine of the team every week we are finally starting to look good, if only he sussed this earlier in the season, or sussed it last season even and we could be sitting pretty at the top tonight

Peewee, not wanting to argue after a great result but Rafa's rotating every bit as much as he was earlier in the season (see the debate in the rotation thread).  This notion that he's "seen the light" is a myth, mate--we're just playing much more like we are capable of.

i agree he is rotating bob, read my post properly and you will see i say 'over rotating and breaking up the spine of the team'. he is still making changes but we are not seeing the likes of torres warming the bench, this is the point i am making

Okay, so define "over rotating" as he's averaging 4 changes a game of late.

As for spine of the team, well he hasn't touched the keeper or CBs for months.  In central midfield, however, he's played Lucas and Sissoko at Newcastle, Gerrard and Mascherano against Porto and Gerrard and Lucas today.  That's some significant shuffling of the spine in my book.  Up top he's played Torres and Kuyt at Newcastle, Torres and Voronin against Porto and Torres and Crouch today.  Again, some significant shuffling of the spine unless, of course, rotation only becomes a problem if Torres doesn't play. 

Sorry Badbob, but he hasn't rotated our key players that should play every game.

Torres and Gerrard are key players who should play every game because they make a massive difference to our side.

[account deleted by request]

excellent performance, last season or earlier this season we would have struggled in this game as rafa would have tried to work out how we could avoid defeat and not concentrate on winning. it seems he has finally grasped the concept of letting the oppo worry about our quality and its paying dividends, added to the end of ludicrous over rotation and breaking the spine of the team every week we are finally starting to look good, if only he sussed this earlier in the season, or sussed it last season even and we could be sitting pretty at the top tonight

Peewee, not wanting to argue after a great result but Rafa's rotating every bit as much as he was earlier in the season (see the debate in the rotation thread).  This notion that he's "seen the light" is a myth, mate--we're just playing much more like we are capable of.

i agree he is rotating bob, read my post properly and you will see i say 'over rotating and breaking up the spine of the team'. he is still making changes but we are not seeing the likes of torres warming the bench, this is the point i am making

Okay, so define "over rotating" as he's averaging 4 changes a game of late.

As for spine of the team, well he hasn't touched the keeper or CBs for months.  In central midfield, however, he's played Lucas and Sissoko at Newcastle, Gerrard and Mascherano against Porto and Gerrard and Lucas today.  That's some significant shuffling of the spine in my book.  Up top he's played Torres and Kuyt at Newcastle, Torres and Voronin against Porto and Torres and Crouch today.  Again, some significant shuffling of the spine unless, of course, rotation only becomes a problem if Torres doesn't play. 

Spot on Bob 

[The_Rock]

Penalty for Liverpool and third goal by Gerrard HERE

Thats not the penalty. Its a commercial for that sla.g of Sex and the City. Some perfume.

PS Spurs are losing 1-0 haha

Keano juz got 2 goals in 2 minutes for spurs........

[ivor_the_injun]

It seems he has finally grasped the concept of letting the oppo worry about our quality and its paying dividends, added to the end of ludicrous over rotation and breaking the spine of the team every week we are finally starting to look good, if only he sussed this earlier in the season, or sussed it last season even and we could be sitting pretty at the top tonight

Doesn't really hold water mate. Plenty of changes made today.

Bottom line is that rotation is an easy scapegoat when we lose or play badly, but when we're on a run like we're on now, you can't realistically argue with it.

In the last 5 games, we've scored 21 goals and conceded just 1. The goals have been shared between 7 different players.

I really don't think anyone can look Rafa in the eye and say that he's not doing things right. His policy is unaltered, but our injury problems have subsided and the players are performing much, much better. Great time to be an LFC fan right now.

[112-1077774096]

spine is reina, carragher, gerrard, torres unless you want to talk about a deformed spine.

even when its obvious you guys will still make excuses for rafas tinkering, the fact is that it affected us, or are you saying it was ALL the players fault, because that is just bollox.

the fact is we are playing better for two reasons, less stupid team changes and better tactics, i.e. we are now playing our football rather than worrying about what sh*te like bolton are going to do. these are the facts gentlemen and any other reasons you may give will just be swept aside as that is all they will deserve

[112-1077774096]

but our injury problems have subsided

agger, alonso, pennant, yeah mate no serious injury problems there.


anyway no need for arguing today, the fact is the past few weeks have been good, i know why they have been good and deep down you all know why

[Effes]

I wish we'd sorted out our game-in-hand with West Ham at home,
the club have been really slow in sorting that out.

I think it has a psychological advantage when you have the points in
the bag and a loftier position in the League.

[Bad Bob]

spine is reina, carragher, gerrard, torres unless you want to talk about a deformed spine.

even when its obvious you guys will still make excuses for rafas tinkering, the fact is that it affected us, or are you saying it was ALL the players fault, because that is just bollox.

the fact is we are playing better for two reasons, less stupid team changes and better tactics, i.e. we are now playing our football rather than worrying about what sh*te like bolton are going to do. these are the facts gentlemen and any other reasons you may give will just be swept aside as that is all they will deserve

Respond in the rotation thread if you want but I want to know exactly where you think we've made "less stupid" team changes and exactly what has changed in terms of our tactics.  We are playing better because the players are doing what they are capable of.  Those are the facts.  Rafa hasn't changed his approach at all.

[account deleted by request]

Reasons for our good little run :-

1/ After some early problems and initial overprotection of Hyypia, he is playing well again
2/ Gerrard looks in top form
3/ Torres (need I say more?)
4/ Confidence
5/Kewell is back and he gives us much better balance

[hijjawi]

Great chance for Liverpool missed by Crouch HERE

First goal for Liverpool by Hypia HERE

Anelka misses in front of empty goal HERE

2nd goal for Liverpool by Torres HERE

Penalty for Liverpool and third goal by Gerrard HERE

Fourth goal for Liverpool by Babel HERE

[mart]

spine is reina, carragher, gerrard, torres unless you want to talk about a deformed spine.

even when its obvious you guys will still make excuses for rafas tinkering, the fact is that it affected us, or are you saying it was ALL the players fault, because that is just bollox.

the fact is we are playing better for two reasons, less stupid team changes and better tactics, i.e. we are now playing our football rather than worrying about what sh*te like bolton are going to do. these are the facts gentlemen and any other reasons you may give will just be swept aside as that is all they will deserve

Respond in the rotation thread if you want but I want to know exactly where you think we've made "less stupid" team changes and exactly what has changed in terms of our tactics.  We are playing better because the players are doing what they are capable of.  Those are the facts.  Rafa hasn't changed his approach at all.

I've read a lot of your posts in the rotation thread Bob and imo you got it spot on. The tactics and rotation are pretty much the same but we have players with more of an attacking threat (on the bench too) now, and they are really working together as a team.

[ivor_the_injun]

but our injury problems have subsided

agger, alonso, pennant, yeah mate no serious injury problems there.


anyway no need for arguing today, the fact is the past few weeks have been good, i know why they have been good and deep down you all know why

Torres was injured during our very dodgy spell, and both Gerrard and Carragher were both incredibly shaky after their respective injuries. That's 3 of your spine.

Add to that the fact that Kewell is back and looking far and away the best option on the left, the fact that Aurelio is back in contention adding further depth, then yeah - our injury problems have subsided. They were a damn sight worse 6 weeks back.

[112-1077774096]

spine is reina, carragher, gerrard, torres unless you want to talk about a deformed spine.

even when its obvious you guys will still make excuses for rafas tinkering, the fact is that it affected us, or are you saying it was ALL the players fault, because that is just bollox.

the fact is we are playing better for two reasons, less stupid team changes and better tactics, i.e. we are now playing our football rather than worrying about what sh*te like bolton are going to do. these are the facts gentlemen and any other reasons you may give will just be swept aside as that is all they will deserve

Respond in the rotation thread if you want but I want to know exactly where you think we've made "less stupid" team changes and exactly what has changed in terms of our tactics.  We are playing better because the players are doing what they are capable of.  Those are the facts.  Rafa hasn't changed his approach at all.

i am happy enough responding in here thanks very much and I have made myself clear enough with my comments, if you cant work out what i mean from that then thats your problem bob, either way you will still say rotation wasnt a problem so there is no point me explaining any further, i have said many times where the problem was and i cant be bothered going over it again and again for the hard of thinking, no doubt it was all the players fault and the lord rafa and his tactics was all part of some masterplan that only higher spirits could understand, we were leading the oppo into a false sense of security by making 7 changes and leaving 22 million quids worth of world class goal scoring talent on the bench so he can be fit later in the season only for him to get injured in the next game.

the fact remains the changes have been less and less stupid, we have started to play our football and not to counter the other team and we are reaping the rewards for that and playing some quality football

[112-1077774096]

Torres was injured during our very dodgy spell, and both Gerrard and Carragher were both incredibly shaky after their respective injuries. That's 3 of your spine.

so thanks for proving my point, these 3 players are a must for every  game and should not dropped or pushed out to left or the right in the hope that it will work, and especially do not fob us off with some bollox that birmnigham will sit deep so torres cant play against them