SouthCoastShankly wrote:Hoodfella wrote:stu_the_red wrote:Also, why thedid he drop Alonso, our second best player for one of the hardest games we'll play all season?
I dont know the reasoning behind playing Djimi, but I would hazard a guess on Alonso.
I think he looked at the game, and the threat of it being a very physical one (not that he cant hold his own!) and as I think he sees Alonso as the 'Key' to our team and the tempo that he wants us to play at (which of course further makes you think, 'Why'!) that he wanted to save or rest him, and not risk him getting injured.
I have noticed, that if Rafa is going to rest one of our two key players (Xabi/Stevie) he tends to rest Xabi first and foremost.
Which in my mind, tells its own story!
Tells what story?? Because you can take it either way. Either Rafa rests Alonso more because its too risky to leave out Gerrard or that he rests Alonso because he values Alonsos fitness more?
I think the former, Gerrard is different that Alonso is so many ways but the biggest difference is creating goals Gerrards recent run in form and scoring goals proves to me that he is more important player than Alonso. Thats why IMO Rafa rests Alonso more often than Gerrard
Rafa has said that he believes Stevie G can play two games straight after each other