by Bam » Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:57 am
We're in good form at the moment and it seems Rafa has eased up on the rotation lark. I dont think thats a coincedence not atall, and although we have players in the side like Arbeloa, Kuyt and Aurelio who some say arent good enough to be in a title challenging side, (I myself have said this about the Dutchman) could of called it wrong. I dont neccerserily believe you need to have World Class players in every position to win the title, after all United proved that with Hargreaves, Carrick and the likes of Fletcher.
After looking at our early season form I dont think we need to nit pick our players as much as we do, again I include myself in this. Since Rafa has left this team more or less to function itself, by letting the lads find their own co-hessivness, rythm, trust, understanding and resiliance. Its looked alot more positive, I'm not saying we're going to stroll the league this year but in its present state the team look certainly favourable to make a fist of it.
Posters like S@int and Mick in the past have often said that they felt that Rafa had the players present to sustain a challenge. Personally I couldnt see past the ' we need a couple of players ' syndrome. But looking at it now, I think they've probably called it right myself.
I never thought I'd be content in watching Kuyt play right mid for us week in week out for us, we all know about his shortcomings as a footballer. But his major asset is his work rate, I was discussing this with some lads on another forum and they kind of made me realise that Rafa was influenced by Sachhi and his AC Milan side in the late 80's. Although his team comprised of World class attacking talent like Gullit and Van Basten, the team ethic was built upon incredible work rate pushing and pressing your opponents all over the pitch. It goes without saying they had a very strong defence with the likes of the imperious Maldini and Franco Baresi. Even though with all the talent on show in their side, their game was a about pressing opponents back into their own half.
Its no secret that Rafa was heavily influenced by Sachhi and his side, and he's trying to bring that ethic into his current side, as he also did with Valencia. With players like Kuyt in the side, this can only highlight the reason he is selected week in week out, our team do press well, players like Keane, Kuyt, Mascha, Gerrard and even Torres all help out defending from front to back.
With the quality AC had back then, and the players we have now, we're obviously a much more pragmatic side than Sachhis Milan were. This is where I can see a couple of glitches in our side, firstly we dont pose anything with attacking abundnce as Sachhi's Milan side did although we do have two World class players in Torres and Gerrard that contribute. That said I still do worry about us being able to break teams down at Anfield, Stoke being the perfect example. This can be sorted two ways IMO, more attention in training to breaking down defences. Maybe overload the defence and train and pattern the attackers to break teams stubborn defences down. Or go out and buy another quality attacking midfielder or two.
That is my only real concern with our lads at the moment, we have the misely defence, we have the industrious work rate but sometimes we just lack that knack to open teams up and kill em off.
Rafa has tried to combine the influence of Sachhi's Milan side with modern day football thus enter rotation. He's pretty much got the first part of that right, but as far as this rotation lark goes I still honestly think its hindered the teams progress a fair bit. If a player like Alonso (who I've critised in the past) is genuinely back on form and is showing it, he's worthy of his place in the side, so as it stands now I wouldnt drop the Spainard out of the side come Sunday just to give Mascha a run out. Alonso's form will need to dip, or even his fitness burn out later on down the track during the campaign. Meanwhile I'd expect Mascha to be showing all the right signs in training to be willing to fight for his place back. Like wise (cough) with Kuyt, technically he's the worst player in the side, but he's bringing work rate and pressing style of play which not only possibly gives players like Torres, Keane and Gerrard room to exploit, but also balance in a team like midfield. Never thought I'd say that ... He is part a successful midfield and we're in form and when I now think of Kuyt (who I know I will still b.loody curse in the heat of the moment during a match) I think of Sachhi's work ethic and his Milan side.
Going back to the flip side of the arguement again, Kuyt isnt the type of player IMO you need in your side when your trying to break 6 CB's down, and 4 fullbacks, thats the snag with him. Like I said earlier, this is my only concern with the team really as a whole really, the ability to break stubborn teams down.
The other concern is the manager and whether sometime this season he'll get itchy feet and feel the urge to rotate the team back to dizzyness again.
One more point that will also be interesting to see sometime this season, is the bouncerbackability of the side after a defeat.
Last edited by
Bam on Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
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