Bad Bob wrote:Well, I'll state the obvious bit first: I want to see us turn the most of the draws we've seen this season into wins next season. We've lost fewer matches than the Mancs but have racked up 11 draws to date. Turn most of those into wins and, all other things being equal, we'll challenge for the title.
So, the tricky question becomes, what's caused all the draws and how do we fix that problem? The main contenders for an explanation seem to be:
1) Lack of cohesion due to rotation Rafa-style
2) Squad not quite good enough (need some additional attacking quality)
3) Players not motivated properly (lack of killer instinct)
4) Injuries
5) Off-field distractions
6) Too much focus on the Champions League
Well, what's "as obvious as the nose on my face" to me is that all of the above have played some role in the points we've dropped this season. It follows that all of them need to be addressed to some degree...which is of course another way of saying (again) that it's not just about rotation.
Of the above list, there's nothing much that can be done about #4, so let's focus on the rest. Hopefully #5 will not be a factor come next season and hopefully its resolution will address problem #2 during this summer's transfer window (provided Rafa spends the money well, like he did with Torres and Mascherano).
That leaves rotation (#1), player motivation (#3) and CL emphasis (#6) in Rafa's hands to address. Personally, I'm very comfortable with his current approach to rotation and hope he sticks with it. I think we are seeing greater team cohesion at the moment and I think the competition for places is currently quite healthy (except in a few chronic positions). On player motivation, perhaps an assistant will help somewhat--although I'm not as convinced as some that Pako was the master-motivator and Rafa's the aloof tactician. I also think motivation comes from the players themselves, from top quality competitors like Gerrard, Torres, Carragher, Masch and Reina, who set the tone with their passion and skill. And, of course, winning is a habit that provides the greatest motivation (as we're seeing) so we need to get out of the blocks quickly next year, get on a sustained winning run and reap the rewards. In a nutshell, then, I think that the manager can only motivate a team so much and then it's in their own hands.
And, as for the balance with the CL, I don't think there's much wrong in Rafa's approach to be honest. We've actually done much better this year in getting results both before and after Europe and I think that will continue as the squad improves. Yes, he'll rest players with a view to the European match on the horizon but--since Portsmouth--he hasn't done that with Gerrard, Torres or Carragher (before anyone brings up Reading, they all started). Add more quality to the team this summer (#2) and we'll be in better shape to keep results ticking over in the league whilst also saving something for the European campaign. Because, bottom line, we want and need to do well in both competitions. Rafa cares about them both and so do the vast majority of supporters and that means that, sometimes, you need to take some risks with team selection. (And that goes in both directions, as Rafa proved with the Marseille match at Anfield, where he played some squad players in what should have been a fairly straightforward home match against limited opposition).
It's fine margins that have led to draws instead of wins this season and, now that we're showing what we're capable of again, I don't think radical surgery is required...including the most radical surgery of all: replacing the manager.
top post bob...
another thing is rafa is sometimes guilty of over-strategising against lesser clubs in the league... that needs to stop...
by