Liverpool FC Forum

[Bam]

I have no doubt he had good tactical reasons but I do think at times he overthinks and complicates things to much

I agree with you mate, dont worry your not on your own.

[GYBS]

Doesnt every manager do the odd think that makes you wonder ?

[account deleted by request]

Back to the point I was making.

Team against Bolton         
     4-0

25  Jose Reina 
17  Álvaro Arbeloa 
4  Sami Hyypia 
6  John Arne Riise 
23  Jamie Carragher 
11  Yossi Benayoun 
7  Harry Kewell 
8  Steven Gerrard 
21  Lucas Leiva 
15  Peter Crouch 
9  Fernando Torres 

Subs
30  Charles Itandje

46  Jack Hobbs

19  Ryan Babel

20  Javier Mascherano

18  Dirk Kuyt


Team against Marseille

     4-0

25  Jose Reina 
17  Álvaro Arbeloa 
4  Sami Hyypia 
6  John Arne Riise 
23  Jamie Carragher 
20  Javier Mascherano 
11  Yossi Benayoun 
7  Harry Kewell 
8  Steven Gerrard 
18  Dirk Kuyt 
9  Fernando Torres 

Subs
30  Charles Itandje

46  Jack Hobbs

3  Steve Finnan

12  Fábio Aurélio

21  Lucas Leiva

19  Ryan Babel

15  Peter Crouch


And sandwiched in between the team and formation selected for the Reading game ?

[GYBS]

Im sure he had his tactical reasons for changing things mate - im pretty sure he didnt do for any other reason but to try and win the game .

[Leonmc0708]

9/Styling .....seemed at times more interested in showing how clever he was rather than picking a team that would win the game.

Not having a pop at you personally, but:

Do you really think that Rafael Benitez makes decisions on the team he puts out rather than based on winning the game or the opposition SIMPLY to prove HE IS CLEVER ?

Get a grip.

Maybe you have a better explanation for playing Crouch on the left wing as we lost our first game of last season?

Reading v Liverpool   3-1

25  Jose Reina 
17  Álvaro Arbeloa 
46  Jack Hobbs 
6  John Arne Riise 
23  Jamie Carragher 
8  Steven Gerrard 
20  Javier Mascherano 
22  Mohamed Sissoko 
9  Fernando Torres 
10  Andriy Voronin 
15  Peter Crouch 

Subs
30  Charles Itandje

4  Sami Hyypia

7  Harry Kewell

19  Ryan Babel

18  Dirk Kuyt

Most of the time you can usually come up with "some reason" for selecting a certain team or formation, this one honestly baffled me. Especially as there were two left wingers on the bench who had hardly played too much football.

How many times has he picked an unusual team/formation and we have struggled and as soon as we have gone to a more familiar formation played much better?

I have no doubt he had good tactical reasons but I do think at times he overthinks and complicates things to much. Maybe if he just picked his best team more often, he could be a successful manager like me?

Just like with the Alonso argument, people know when a player is playing well, similarly with selecting the team. How many times over the past few years have we been saying WTF when the team has been anounced? How many this season ? I would suggest very few have moaned this season, while most have been at the very least "surprised" by some of his teams and formations in the past.

So you think he did that to prove he was clever and not because he thought it would win hte game or get a result ?

For Fuc.ks Sake.

[account deleted by request]

9/Styling .....seemed at times more interested in showing how clever he was rather than picking a team that would win the game.

Not having a pop at you personally, but:

Do you really think that Rafael Benitez makes decisions on the team he puts out rather than based on winning the game or the opposition SIMPLY to prove HE IS CLEVER ?

Get a grip.

Maybe you have a better explanation for playing Crouch on the left wing as we lost our first game of last season?

Reading v Liverpool   3-1

25  Jose Reina 
17  Álvaro Arbeloa 
46  Jack Hobbs 
6  John Arne Riise 
23  Jamie Carragher 
8  Steven Gerrard 
20  Javier Mascherano 
22  Mohamed Sissoko 
9  Fernando Torres 
10  Andriy Voronin 
15  Peter Crouch 

Subs
30  Charles Itandje

4  Sami Hyypia

7  Harry Kewell

19  Ryan Babel

18  Dirk Kuyt

Most of the time you can usually come up with "some reason" for selecting a certain team or formation, this one honestly baffled me. Especially as there were two left wingers on the bench who had hardly played too much football.

How many times has he picked an unusual team/formation and we have struggled and as soon as we have gone to a more familiar formation played much better?

I have no doubt he had good tactical reasons but I do think at times he overthinks and complicates things to much. Maybe if he just picked his best team more often, he could be a successful manager like me?

Just like with the Alonso argument, people know when a player is playing well, similarly with selecting the team. How many times over the past few years have we been saying WTF when the team has been anounced? How many this season ? I would suggest very few have moaned this season, while most have been at the very least "surprised" by some of his teams and formations in the past.

So you think he did that to prove he was clever and not because he thought it would win hte game or get a result ?

For Fuc.ks Sake.

Either way IT DIDN'T WORK did it ? Yet we won the two games either side of it  4-0 with a conventional 4-4-2. 

I am still waiting for your explanation for it ?

I have no doubt he had good tactical reasons but I do think at times he overthinks and complicates things to much.

[Leonmc0708]

9/Styling .....seemed at times more interested in showing how clever he was rather than picking a team that would win the game.

Not having a pop at you personally, but:

Do you really think that Rafael Benitez makes decisions on the team he puts out rather than based on winning the game or the opposition SIMPLY to prove HE IS CLEVER ?

Get a grip.

Maybe you have a better explanation for playing Crouch on the left wing as we lost our first game of last season?

Reading v Liverpool   3-1

25  Jose Reina 
17  Álvaro Arbeloa 
46  Jack Hobbs 
6  John Arne Riise 
23  Jamie Carragher 
8  Steven Gerrard 
20  Javier Mascherano 
22  Mohamed Sissoko 
9  Fernando Torres 
10  Andriy Voronin 
15  Peter Crouch 

Subs
30  Charles Itandje

4  Sami Hyypia

7  Harry Kewell

19  Ryan Babel

18  Dirk Kuyt

Most of the time you can usually come up with "some reason" for selecting a certain team or formation, this one honestly baffled me. Especially as there were two left wingers on the bench who had hardly played too much football.

How many times has he picked an unusual team/formation and we have struggled and as soon as we have gone to a more familiar formation played much better?

I have no doubt he had good tactical reasons but I do think at times he overthinks and complicates things to much. Maybe if he just picked his best team more often, he could be a successful manager like me?

Just like with the Alonso argument, people know when a player is playing well, similarly with selecting the team. How many times over the past few years have we been saying WTF when the team has been anounced? How many this season ? I would suggest very few have moaned this season, while most have been at the very least "surprised" by some of his teams and formations in the past.

So you think he did that to prove he was clever and not because he thought it would win hte game or get a result ?

For Fuc.ks Sake.

Either way IT DIDN'T WORK did it ? Yet we won the two games either side of it  4-0 with a conventional 4-4-2. 

I am still waiting for your explanation for it ?

I have no doubt he had good tactical reasons but I do think at times he overthinks and complicates things to much.

Dont dodge the question.

Do YOU saint beleive that HE Rafael Benitez based his only thoughts on the formation/lineup/tactics of the game against Reading on proving that he was clever and gave little or no thought at all to winning the game or the opposition.

IN ANSWER to your question - I think he got it wrong to a degree and I think that the players performed under their usual level to a degree and I think Reading played well. How can you over think something ?

[GYBS]

when does any manager always get it right when it comes to tactics and formations ? ferguson nearly blew it last season when he played a weakened team against chelsea

[Leonmc0708]

when does any manager always get it right when it comes to tactics and formations ? ferguson nearly blew it last season when he played a weakened team against chelsea

I admire your defence of Rafa, however there is little point in pointing out the failings of Sir Alex or Saint Arsene of The emirates in this argument.

[account deleted by request]

Yes I think he picked the team to show how clever he was, I certainly don't think he tried to pick the best team to WIN the game.

How can you over think something ?

I wouldn't worry about that bit if I was you, but it means to over analyze a problem so much that you reach a wrong conclusion.

Maybe you have a better explanation for playing Crouch on the left wing as we lost our first game of last season?

That was my question !

[GYBS]

Wasnt really comparing them just sort of highlighting they all make mistakes when it comes to tactics etc .

[Leonmc0708]

Yes I think he picked the team to show how clever he was, I certainly don't think he tried to pick the best team to WIN the game.

How can you over think something ?

I wouldn't worry about that bit if I was you, but it means to over analyze a problem so much that you reach a wrong conclusion.

You think a manager of a team picked a side to prove he was clever and not to win the game ?

You have lost it lad.

And the snidey smart ar.se comment simply adds weight to theory.

[Bam]

How can you over think something ?

Probably by dissecting every last detail right down unto what the players passed through their bowels that morning. Seriously I think a manager can over complicate and think things to much, for example testing the fitness of players during training while being wired up to some computer. If a player is down on his levels I reckon Rafa would take that reading and seriously toy with the idea of resting him, even though he is in form. Of course I dont know this, but this is just an example of how a modern day manager can over think something along those lines.

What was running through Rafa's mind when Crouch couldnt score for Toffee after a lengthy run in the side. Rafa persisted with him then, but once the tall fella started to find the onion bag he was rotated out of form. Us mere mortals dont understand this, maybe some computer is telling him at Melwood that Crouch wasnt doing the K's during the match and went with the decision to rotate him ?
I dont know, but it is odd. When fans look at these decisions based on what they've seen during games it does and can come accross as either overthinking something, or styling for the hell of it.

Torres last season being a prime example of this, Rafa rested the Spainard and said in an interview that the Birmingham defence would sit to deep. And that Torres wouldnt get the space so he opted for Voronin who would be better suited to play in between the lines.
That comment Rafa made was a very poor excuse, either he did try and other think things, or he styled just for the hell of it, or as the pro's Ro's would say rested him. But either way the comment was shoddy and ontop of other selection/substitutions/tactics/formations and rotations during the past three years it does make you wonder.

[GYBS]

Yes I think he picked the team to show how clever he was, I certainly don't think he tried to pick the best team to WIN the game.

How can you over think something ?

I wouldn't worry about that bit if I was you, but it means to over analyze a problem so much that you reach a wrong conclusion.

Maybe you have a better explanation for playing Crouch on the left wing as we lost our first game of last season?

That was my question !

I find that shocking to beleive that any manager would pick a team to show how clever he was and not to win the game .

[account deleted by request]

I still await an explanation