Liverpool FC Forum

by **Kev Huyton 2006** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:43 pm

Hello,

As a concerned fan, I have raised eyebrows over Rafa's over- enthusiasm to say he is going to change it round a lot.
He boasts we now have two players for every position and in the games thus far, too many changes in Personnel.

I personally do not think this is a good idea, as the team will be unsettled, possibly resulting in loss of form.

Great teams of the past, Arsenal, Man Utd in the 90's did not change the team selection that much, but Rafa has openly said he is going to change it round a lot, with all of the "options" we have.

If Agger plays well, is he then going to get dropped for Carra?
Will Pennant get dropped if Stevie goes back on the right wing for the next match?

Will Kuyt start up front, meaning an in-form crouch will get dropped?

Is Zenden going to take the place of Gonzalez or Aurelio?

And where is Kewell gonna fit in now?

Too Much change is not good.

by **tubby** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:51 pm

Kev Huyton 2006 wrote:Hello,

As a concerned fan, I have raised eyebrows over Rafa's over- enthusiasm to say he is going to change it round a lot.
He boasts we now have two players for every position and in the games thus far, too many changes in Personnel.

I personally do not think this is a good idea, as the team will be unsettled, possibly resulting in loss of form.

Great teams of the past, Arsenal, Man Utd in the 90's did not change the team selection that much, but Rafa has openly said he is going to change it round a lot, with all of the "options" we have.

If Agger plays well, is he then going to get dropped for Carra?
Will Pennant get dropped if Stevie goes back on the right wing for the next match?

Will Kuyt start up front, meaning an in-form crouch will get dropped?

Is Zenden going to take the place of Gonzalez or Aurelio?

And where is Kewell gonna fit in now?

Too Much change is not good.

The bottom line is that Rafa want to be able to have a squad by which he can get the resuls whatever the combination of players. And who can blame him for wanting to do that?

After all were not a 1 man team are we!!!!

I dont think Zenden is going to replace Gonzales and Aurelio. Infact Rafa was talking about using him in the centre more often.

I think your getting too worrid Kev mate. Dont forget that we currntly missing a handfull of key 1st team players so its only natural Rafa will shake things around as best as he sees fit to get the results.

by **drummerphil** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:52 pm

To be honest as long as we continue to win games and keep pressure going at the top of table he can play noddy and big ears for me.Alot is expected from many many people this year.

by **Sabre** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 1:02 pm

Hello,

As a concerned fan, I have raised eyebrows over Rafa's over- enthusiasm to say he is going to change it round a lot.
He boasts we now have two players for every position and in the games thus far, too many changes in Personnel.

The important injuries so far has proven the need of having many options right. By doing balanced rotations you keep many players ready to occupy a starting eleven place in case you need it.

I personally do not think this is a good idea, as the team will be unsettled, possibly resulting in loss of form.

I disagree. Traditionaly teams played once per week. The Champions League introduces a number of games. You could play a player on week end, rest him on Wednesday game, and bring back him next week end. That player would be rested, and no loss of form would occur. And that player wouldn't be knackered in May.

Great teams of the past, Arsenal, Man Utd in the 90's did not change the team selection that much, but Rafa has openly said he is going to change it round a lot, with all of the "options" we have.

Great teams of the past lost 4-0 against Cruyff's Barcelona, except for one good Manchester United season. The Champions League of the 90ties didn't have as many teams as this one, nowadays CL is more game demanding.

Teams in Spain that haven't a deep squad and play the CL, pay it dearly. Celta de Vigo was relegated with the same squad that qualified them for the C.L. Real Sociedad was second one year, with Alonso, and with Alonso they were almost relegated the next season, with the same squad. Real Sociedad only made 2 signings.

If you add that there's scientific evidence that if you do not rest properly in summer, chances are that you're going to have muscle troubles (and this summer there was a world cup) deep squads are necessary. And when you have a deep squad you need rotations so that everybody fight for his place in the training sessions and nobody gets confident.

If Agger plays well, is he then going to get dropped for Carra?
Will Pennant get dropped if Stevie goes back on the right wing for the next match?

It depends on the game. You can face continental teams and play one player and you can face EPL teams with other players. Kewell would be more appropiate against deep defences as he has better dribbling, but if an oposition comes up with a not deep defence , I'd rather use Gonzalez's Speed.

Too Much change is not good.

Too much, indeed not. The right balance, definitely yes.

by **davo_LFC** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 1:08 pm

Sabre wrote:
Hello,

As a concerned fan, I have raised eyebrows over Rafa's over- enthusiasm to say he is going to change it round a lot.
He boasts we now have two players for every position and in the games thus far, too many changes in Personnel.

The important injuries so far has proven the need of having many options right. By doing balanced rotations you keep many players ready to occupy a starting eleven place in case you need it.

I personally do not think this is a good idea, as the team will be unsettled, possibly resulting in loss of form.

I disagree. Traditionaly teams played once per week. The Champions League introduces a number of games. You could play a player on week end, rest him on Wednesday game, and bring back him next week end. That player would be rested, and no loss of form would occur. And that player wouldn't be knackered in May.

Great teams of the past, Arsenal, Man Utd in the 90's did not change the team selection that much, but Rafa has openly said he is going to change it round a lot, with all of the "options" we have.

Great teams of the past lost 4-0 against Cruyff's Barcelona, except for one good Manchester United season. The Champions League of the 90ties didn't have as many teams as this one, nowadays CL is more game demanding.

Teams in Spain that haven't a deep squad and play the CL, pay it dearly. Celta de Vigo was relegated with the same squad that qualified them for the C.L. Real Sociedad was second one year, with Alonso, and with Alonso they were almost relegated the next season, with the same squad. Real Sociedad only made 2 signings.

If you add that there's scientific evidence that if you do not rest properly in summer, chances are that you're going to have muscle troubles (and this summer there was a world cup) deep squads are necessary. And when you have a deep squad you need rotations so that everybody fight for his place in the training sessions and nobody gets confident.

If Agger plays well, is he then going to get dropped for Carra?
Will Pennant get dropped if Stevie goes back on the right wing for the next match?

It depends on the game. You can face continental teams and play one player and you can face EPL teams with other players. Kewell would be more appropiate against deep defences as he has better dribbling, but if an oposition comes up with a not deep defence , I'd rather use Gonzalez's Speed.

Too Much change is not good.

Too much, indeed not. The right balance, definitely yes.

by **Bad Bob** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 2:06 pm

Sabre's said what needs saying about the original post so I'll leave it at that. Something's struck me, though, since yesterday about our squad depth.

Consider our injury list for a minute: Carragher, Riise, Paletta, Kewell, Sissoko. Paletta aside--who's still new to the league and is still young--that is a handful of "international class" (where's Stu?

) players sidelined. You would reasonably expect us to really be hobbled by such absences.

Yet, look at who we fielded yesterday: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Agger, Aurelio, Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso, Garcia, Crouch and Bellamy to start. Did we suffer for all of those injuries? Not really. Now, that's not to say that I don't think we need any of those players back. What I'm saying is that we now have the ability to put out a top drawer team--with quality substitutes on the bench--even with 5 key players receiving treatment. Rafa is building a monster of team!

So, when it comes to "tinkering" I'm not bothered because, for the life of me, I still cannot name a consistent best 11 for us which surely means that we are bursting at the seams with quality...which also means that we'll be able--and need to--rotate as needed to keep all of our talent fresh and hungry. The bigger worry for me would be to have players of such talent on the bench week in, week out, never getting a game. Now that would be a waste! :buttrock

by **J*o*n*D*o*e** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 2:50 pm

lets face it its all about results, if things keep progressing then no one will be on his back, the minute things start turning sour then people will start calling for a more settled team.

injuries aside we need to give every player a chance and we also need to find which systems and personnel work best.

by **48-1119859832** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 2:56 pm

J*o*n*D*o*e wrote:lets face it its all about results, if things keep progressing then no one will be on his back, the minute things start turning sour then people will start calling for a more settled team.

injuries aside we need to give every player a chance and we also need to find which systems and personal work best.

It is indeed about results, but fans pay their hard earned money and their TV license to watch, eventful and entertaining football. So I think results and good performances go hand in hand.

I agree we need to give every player his fair share of playing time, but I wouldn't change the core of the team unless they are injured, suspended or exhausted.

Tinkering on a small scale like two or three changes is fine, it's when you take out seven or eight players, that you can do some serious damage to the balance of the team and like Ranieri found out at Chelsea and Houllier at Liverpool; it costs you points and it costs you in knock out football.

by **davo_LFC** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:24 pm

all this bollox about rotation went on at the beginning of last year but when rafa got a settled team we went on some pure runs like before chrimbo so am sure as the season progresses rafa will have a settled squad, i dont think their will be wholesale changes every other game because rafa isnt thick he knows the team needs playing time to gel and go on runs so i dont see what the fuss is all about, rafa has already said this season that some players are not 100%, so am assuming rotation is needed to rest some players and try and avoid injury to some players until they are 100%. cack thread. end of

by **onizukaeikichi** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:50 pm

with different type of players at our disposal, i believe our opponents will have a freaking hard time trying to get the right tactics against us + we manage to cover up so many injuires at a time proves that having a large squad is beneficial. Players wont get overconfident and we will have more variety in every area that we can play

by **kalos** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:06 pm

Have to say I agree with davo_LFC. Rafa has jsut bought 5 new players. How on earth is he supposed to know his best players and tactics without giving players a fair crack of the whip??

Of course doing this in a balanced , constructive way with the opposition in mind is the best way and surely the way he will "tinker".

Once he knows his best 11 for the OPPONENTS we are facing they are the ones that will get played probably irresepective of who played the previous games.

Roll on the rafalution. :buttrock

by **aCe'** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:07 pm

i think rotation in the scale some are suggesting is not a good idea ! we should have 6 or 7 players starting every game when fit and i'd keep the rotation part to a minimal if possible !
In a club like Liverpool, with a squad like the one we have, i dont think picking different players for different games will work . The way i see it .
Reina, Carragher, Finnan, Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko/ start whenever fit !
Riise and Kuyt, if they prove themselves in the next few weeks can join this list, which only leaves us with the LW spot and the second striker role !
Those are the two positions i see us rotating most this season.
Pennant is a very good player and will play some part indeed ! When one of the CM players is injured, needs rest, suspended, Pennant steps in ! many opportunities ! im not saying that we dont subs. the 6 i mentioned ever unless their unavailable... just saying they should play as many games as they can, and should together !

by **Ciggy** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:41 pm

If we didnt have these injuries that we have forced on us at the moment, and he kept changing the squad as he does, I would be extremly worried.
A lot of people have been baffled by his chopping and changes in the past, and our settled squad if you like kept all them clean sheets last season.
But I fear this season we will see loads of changes this season for the simple fact that we have a lot of additions to this current squad.
And he wants 2 teams if you like and the both of them I think he feels can beat anyone.
Except against the other big clubs and in Europe.

by **dawson99** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:42 pm

All the big squads need to tinker a bit. players need to be kept happy but also the best team is not always the same depending on the team we are facing. so im not bothered with the tinkering if it means we win games and play the right systems at the right times

by **stmichael** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 5:01 pm

fans had better get used to it. it's been clear since day one that rafa is going to use a lot of squad rotation this season. the fact of the matter is, we have an excellent squad now with players of equal ability so the squad will be rotated a lot.

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