Liverpool FC Forum

[Ace Ventura]

Last year Rafa's subs scored more goals than any other side [except Chelsea I think].

An interesting statistic, but do you think he makes full use of his substitutions and puts them on at the right times ?

[A.B.]

There are times when I think that he waits a bit too long to throw in the subs. such is his faith in the players who are on the field to get the job done.

[Ace Ventura]

There are times when I think that he waits a bit too long to throw in the subs. such is his faith in the players who are on the field to get the job done.

One of the things bad bob mentioned in another thread was our inability to react when going a goal down and the team sorting of caving in.
I think immediately after a goal has been conceded this season we have gone to pieces and tactics or substitutions need to be made/changed quicker.

By the time our subs were made against Blackburn there players had gained alot of confidence and were right up for winning every tackle.
We gave them the initiative and wasted alot ot time trying to get it back.

[Redman in wales]

Hi Everyone,

  Hope everyone had a nice Christmas, just a shame about the result yesterday.    


   While watching the game yesterday, I felt we deserved something from the game. Bellamy once again impressed me with his general play and always being in and around the action. Crouch could of had a hatrick and Xabi Alonso's passing was excellent again. However the proverbial "sucker punch" happened again to us with Benni McCarthy scoring probably their only good chance.

  We were chasing the game once they scored and this is what got me thinking about Rafa's subs during the match. I am a big fan of Rafa, as many of you know. But I feel a slight critcism is the big fellas use of subs during a match. Yesterday we fell one - nil behind and he brought on:

Crouch  -   Kuyt  (56)
Aurelio  -   Gonzalez (64)
Bellamy -   Luis Garcia (76)

All decent subs, but for my liking they were not attacking enough. We were chasing a game and needed to score and these subs were just too similar for my liking. Its all like for like players.

   Its not nice to say it but, Mourinho has brought a lot to the English game and his use of subs is something to be admired and respected. I hate him but credit where credit is due, if he is losing a game, or even drawing, his use of subs is very adventurous and gets the results for him. If he is losing or drawing, he brings on his attackers for his defenders, he plays 3 - 3 - 4 and really cranks up the pressure on the opposing teams. Imagine your Paul Jewell and you have just got back into the game to make it 2 - 2 all and he sends on Shevchenko and Kalou for Geremi and Makaleke. What do you do? Attack or Defend? What formation do you play? What subs do you do? He makes the opposing teams worry and more often than not it results in Chelsea getting the winner. I know it could spectatularly blow up in your face like Chelsea at Newcastle a few years ago but I think its something I would like to see the team have a good at.

  At the moment our subs are very passive. Its man for man. Imagine yesterday if Benitez had brought on Kuyt for Finnan and Garcia for Riise. We could go 3 at the back and Xabi sitting with Garcia, Gerrard, Bellamy and Gonzalez all pushing forward with Kuyt and Crouch in the box. It would of been a worrying time for the Blackburn defence to contend with that. I know  your open to a counter but with that much attacking presence on the pitch, it worries the opposition and the manager.

  Its not a pop, obviously Rafa knows what he is doing , and is much more qualified than me, just a suggestion and to get the general consensus on the sub policy.

Cheers

Rafa-Dodd

just came across this as I was looking for something else, and found it even more relevent after the fa cup game.

against arsenal we were losing 1-0, 2-0 then 2-1.... always chasing a goal or two.... and the only substitution rafa made is a left back for a left back.

puzzles me. 

[Anfield rapper]

Hi Everyone,

  Hope everyone had a nice Christmas, just a shame about the result yesterday.    


   While watching the game yesterday, I felt we deserved something from the game. Bellamy once again impressed me with his general play and always being in and around the action. Crouch could of had a hatrick and Xabi Alonso's passing was excellent again. However the proverbial "sucker punch" happened again to us with Benni McCarthy scoring probably their only good chance.

  We were chasing the game once they scored and this is what got me thinking about Rafa's subs during the match. I am a big fan of Rafa, as many of you know. But I feel a slight critcism is the big fellas use of subs during a match. Yesterday we fell one - nil behind and he brought on:

Crouch  -   Kuyt  (56)
Aurelio  -   Gonzalez (64)
Bellamy -   Luis Garcia (76)

All decent subs, but for my liking they were not attacking enough. We were chasing a game and needed to score and these subs were just too similar for my liking. Its all like for like players.

   Its not nice to say it but, Mourinho has brought a lot to the English game and his use of subs is something to be admired and respected. I hate him but credit where credit is due, if he is losing a game, or even drawing, his use of subs is very adventurous and gets the results for him. If he is losing or drawing, he brings on his attackers for his defenders, he plays 3 - 3 - 4 and really cranks up the pressure on the opposing teams. Imagine your Paul Jewell and you have just got back into the game to make it 2 - 2 all and he sends on Shevchenko and Kalou for Geremi and Makaleke. What do you do? Attack or Defend? What formation do you play? What subs do you do? He makes the opposing teams worry and more often than not it results in Chelsea getting the winner. I know it could spectatularly blow up in your face like Chelsea at Newcastle a few years ago but I think its something I would like to see the team have a good at.

  At the moment our subs are very passive. Its man for man. Imagine yesterday if Benitez had brought on Kuyt for Finnan and Garcia for Riise. We could go 3 at the back and Xabi sitting with Garcia, Gerrard, Bellamy and Gonzalez all pushing forward with Kuyt and Crouch in the box. It would of been a worrying time for the Blackburn defence to contend with that. I know  your open to a counter but with that much attacking presence on the pitch, it worries the opposition and the manager.

  Its not a pop, obviously Rafa knows what he is doing , and is much more qualified than me, just a suggestion and to get the general consensus on the sub policy.

Cheers

Rafa-Dodd

just came across this as I was looking for something else, and found it even more relevent after the fa cup game.

against arsenal we were losing 1-0, 2-0 then 2-1.... always chasing a goal or two.... and the only substitution rafa made is a left back for a left back.

puzzles me. 

Yeah the thing that puzzles me is that he had Bellamy warming up for the whole of the second half.   

[A.B.]

Hi Everyone,

  Hope everyone had a nice Christmas, just a shame about the result yesterday.    


   While watching the game yesterday, I felt we deserved something from the game. Bellamy once again impressed me with his general play and always being in and around the action. Crouch could of had a hatrick and Xabi Alonso's passing was excellent again. However the proverbial "sucker punch" happened again to us with Benni McCarthy scoring probably their only good chance.

  We were chasing the game once they scored and this is what got me thinking about Rafa's subs during the match. I am a big fan of Rafa, as many of you know. But I feel a slight critcism is the big fellas use of subs during a match. Yesterday we fell one - nil behind and he brought on:

Crouch  -   Kuyt  (56)
Aurelio  -   Gonzalez (64)
Bellamy -   Luis Garcia (76)

All decent subs, but for my liking they were not attacking enough. We were chasing a game and needed to score and these subs were just too similar for my liking. Its all like for like players.

   Its not nice to say it but, Mourinho has brought a lot to the English game and his use of subs is something to be admired and respected. I hate him but credit where credit is due, if he is losing a game, or even drawing, his use of subs is very adventurous and gets the results for him. If he is losing or drawing, he brings on his attackers for his defenders, he plays 3 - 3 - 4 and really cranks up the pressure on the opposing teams. Imagine your Paul Jewell and you have just got back into the game to make it 2 - 2 all and he sends on Shevchenko and Kalou for Geremi and Makaleke. What do you do? Attack or Defend? What formation do you play? What subs do you do? He makes the opposing teams worry and more often than not it results in Chelsea getting the winner. I know it could spectatularly blow up in your face like Chelsea at Newcastle a few years ago but I think its something I would like to see the team have a good at.

  At the moment our subs are very passive. Its man for man. Imagine yesterday if Benitez had brought on Kuyt for Finnan and Garcia for Riise. We could go 3 at the back and Xabi sitting with Garcia, Gerrard, Bellamy and Gonzalez all pushing forward with Kuyt and Crouch in the box. It would of been a worrying time for the Blackburn defence to contend with that. I know  your open to a counter but with that much attacking presence on the pitch, it worries the opposition and the manager.

  Its not a pop, obviously Rafa knows what he is doing , and is much more qualified than me, just a suggestion and to get the general consensus on the sub policy.

Cheers

Rafa-Dodd

just came across this as I was looking for something else, and found it even more relevent after the fa cup game.

against arsenal we were losing 1-0, 2-0 then 2-1.... always chasing a goal or two.... and the only substitution rafa made is a left back for a left back.

puzzles me. 

Yeah the thing that puzzles me is that he had Bellamy warming up for the whole of the second half.   

He was warming up for tomorrow's game 

[PabloAimar]

Its not nice to say it but, Mourinho has brought a lot to the English game and his use of subs is something to be admired and respected. I hate him but credit where credit is due, if he is losing a game, or even drawing, his use of subs is very adventurous and gets the results for him. If he is losing or drawing, he brings on his attackers for his defenders, he plays 3 - 3 - 4 and really cranks up the pressure on the opposing teams.

go to disagree with you there.

maureen makes audacious substitutions because he can. his subs bench is worth more than most first teams and any 1 player can win the game for him.

remember against birmingham last season? the guys a tit and does it so he can look at his face in the papers the next morning while cracking one off in the disabled toilets at stamford bridge.

rafa inevitably makes mistakes - but he is right in keeping the balance and shape of the team if possible.

[PabloAimar]

...to add to my last comment, we were playing well when rafa wanted to make the substitutions and they killed the game off on the counter. i dont blame him. i was actually shouting 'wait, not yet' when bellamy began warming up in the 2nd half.