Liverpool FC Forum

by **bigmick** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:23 pm

My plan is quite a simple one really. Let's decide on what we think is our best team (or at least let Rafa decide) and then barring injury, lets play it in the next three or four games before we re-assess where we are. No more playing steven Gerrard on the left-wing (what on earth is all that about?) or playing a different front two every game, along with a different defensive four and a different formation.

Now before anybody goes off on one, I've been saying this since the pre-season and I'm not knee-jerking on the back of an admittedly quite decent performance at Chelsea. it really is time to stop meddling and faffing with the starting eleven. Tell the players that you are going to pick what you currently believe to be your strongest team, if they've got the shirt they are in posession and if they haven't, they'd better work their socks off in training/when they come on as sub to get a start in the next game.

To anybody who thinks I'm talking nonsense I offer two things. Firstly, I thought we played OK today DESPITE the fact that we played our best player woefully out of position and that the line-up had never played together before, not because of it. Secondly, it's customry in a difficult period to get the players together, have a no holds barred clear the air session where everybody gets their grievances off their chest. If Rafa was to do this tomorrow, what do you think the players would say? I reckon I know.

My last point is this. If we are to constantly refer to games being decided by the "smallest details", by "making no mistakes" and by "that extra couple of percent", how many percent does anybody feel is gained by players instinctively knowing where their teammates are going to be? That supernatural sense of where to lay it off, when to hold it to wait for your partner to arrive? Too often today Liverpools play was slick but just a couple of degrees off.

It's time. Lets stop fecking around and give ourselves a chance to find some rhythm.

by **The_Rock** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:25 pm

Didn't u come back with a similar thread last season ? (just before rafa took your advice and went on that unbeaten run)

BTW, IMO, i think the league is history. I think its better for us to concerntrate on the champions league...

by **Santa** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:34 pm

The_Rock wrote:BTW, IMO, i think the league is history. I think its better for us to concerntrate on the champions league...

all right then...let's send in the reserves for the Spurs and Newcastle game and rest our best XI players until the CL comes calling again :laugh:

I hoped I'm reading you wrong here but your accessment is laughable :eyebrow

by **Leonmc0708** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:00 pm

The_Rock wrote:Didn't u come back with a similar thread last season ? (just before rafa took your advice and went on that unbeaten run)

BTW, IMO, i think the league is history. I think its better for us to concerntrate on the champions league...

After four games played you think the league is over ? FFS ! ! !

by **Gaunt** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:03 pm

We're only 5 points off if we win our game in hand. Hardly curtains already.

by **tubby** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:15 pm

bigmick wrote:My plan is quite a simple one really. Let's decide on what we think is our best team (or at least let Rafa decide) and then barring injury, lets play it in the next three or four games before we re-assess where we are. No more playing steven Gerrard on the left-wing (what on earth is all that about?) or playing a different front two every game, along with a different defensive four and a different formation.

Now before anybody goes off on one, I've been saying this since the pre-season and I'm not knee-jerking on the back of an admittedly quite decent performance at Chelsea. it really is time to stop meddling and faffing with the starting eleven. Tell the players that you are going to pick what you currently believe to be your strongest team, if they've got the shirt they are in posession and if they haven't, they'd better work their socks off in training/when they come on as sub to get a start in the next game.

To anybody who thinks I'm talking nonsense I offer two things. Firstly, I thought we played OK today DESPITE the fact that we played our best player woefully out of position and that the line-up had never played together before, not because of it. Secondly, it's customry in a difficult period to get the players together, have a no holds barred clear the air session where everybody gets their grievances off their chest. If Rafa was to do this tomorrow, what do you think the players would say? I reckon I know.

My last point is this. If we are to constantly refer to games being decided by the "smallest details", by "making no mistakes" and by "that extra couple of percent", how many percent does anybody feel is gained by players instinctively knowing where their teammates are going to be? That supernatural sense of where to lay it off, when to hold it to wait for your partner to arrive? Too often today Liverpools play was slick but just a couple of degrees off.

It's time. Lets stop fecking around and give ourselves a chance to find some rhythm.

Great post as ever bigmick but just one thing.

Your not Rafa and you know that Rafa will try his hardest to get a tactic right. Its in his nature to try and be a perfectionist.

What your saying is exactly the thing what we should blookdy well do.

The only question is how long will Rafa continue to rotate.

I have a feeling that he will try this again against Newcastle.

Also we cant forget that we have 2 of our key players injured still.

by **GOAT** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:26 pm

Yeah the rotation sh.ite must stop

by **Dundalk** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:59 pm

bavlondon wrote:Your not Rafa and you know that Rafa will try his hardest to get a tactic right.

Are you sure?? :eyebrow

by **welsh wizzard** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:11 pm

bavlondon wrote:
bigmick wrote:My plan is quite a simple one really. Let's decide on what we think is our best team (or at least let Rafa decide) and then barring injury, lets play it in the next three or four games before we re-assess where we are. No more playing steven Gerrard on the left-wing (what on earth is all that about?) or playing a different front two every game, along with a different defensive four and a different formation.

Now before anybody goes off on one, I've been saying this since the pre-season and I'm not knee-jerking on the back of an admittedly quite decent performance at Chelsea. it really is time to stop meddling and faffing with the starting eleven. Tell the players that you are going to pick what you currently believe to be your strongest team, if they've got the shirt they are in posession and if they haven't, they'd better work their socks off in training/when they come on as sub to get a start in the next game.

To anybody who thinks I'm talking nonsense I offer two things. Firstly, I thought we played OK today DESPITE the fact that we played our best player woefully out of position and that the line-up had never played together before, not because of it. Secondly, it's customry in a difficult period to get the players together, have a no holds barred clear the air session where everybody gets their grievances off their chest. If Rafa was to do this tomorrow, what do you think the players would say? I reckon I know.

My last point is this. If we are to constantly refer to games being decided by the "smallest details", by "making no mistakes" and by "that extra couple of percent", how many percent does anybody feel is gained by players instinctively knowing where their teammates are going to be? That supernatural sense of where to lay it off, when to hold it to wait for your partner to arrive? Too often today Liverpools play was slick but just a couple of degrees off.

It's time. Lets stop fecking around and give ourselves a chance to find some rhythm.

Great post as ever bigmick but just one thing.

Your not Rafa and you know that Rafa will try his hardest to get a tactic right. Its in his nature to try and be a perfectionist.

What your saying is exactly the thing what we should blookdy well do.

The only question is how long will Rafa continue to rotate.

I have a feeling that he will try this again against Newcastle.

Also we cant forget that we have 2 of our key players injured still.

Bav who is the other key player injured.

J.A.R. is the one but who is the other...

by **PabloAimar** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:14 pm

rafa hasn't named an unchanged side in 90 (yes NINETY) games.

im disappointed that we didnt score ONE of our clear cut chances against 10 men chelsea.

cnt believe gerrard was put on the left.

also, this summer we're gna have the same ol' gerrard transfer saga of 2 years ago. he didnt sound convincing in sky sports' interview before the game. this summer will be pivitol because is he is ever going to leave, this summer will be the last chance we'll get a respectable fee for him. next summer he'll only have 12 months left (like owen did).

by **PabloAimar** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:16 pm

kewell and riise are 2 first team players missing.

say what you want but a fit kewell will walk straight into the starting 11 at least once a week

by **Jan Cuelemans** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:16 pm

welsh wizzard wrote:
bavlondon wrote:
bigmick wrote:My plan is quite a simple one really. Let's decide on what we think is our best team (or at least let Rafa decide) and then barring injury, lets play it in the next three or four games before we re-assess where we are. No more playing steven Gerrard on the left-wing (what on earth is all that about?) or playing a different front two every game, along with a different defensive four and a different formation.

Now before anybody goes off on one, I've been saying this since the pre-season and I'm not knee-jerking on the back of an admittedly quite decent performance at Chelsea. it really is time to stop meddling and faffing with the starting eleven. Tell the players that you are going to pick what you currently believe to be your strongest team, if they've got the shirt they are in posession and if they haven't, they'd better work their socks off in training/when they come on as sub to get a start in the next game.

To anybody who thinks I'm talking nonsense I offer two things. Firstly, I thought we played OK today DESPITE the fact that we played our best player woefully out of position and that the line-up had never played together before, not because of it. Secondly, it's customry in a difficult period to get the players together, have a no holds barred clear the air session where everybody gets their grievances off their chest. If Rafa was to do this tomorrow, what do you think the players would say? I reckon I know.

My last point is this. If we are to constantly refer to games being decided by the "smallest details", by "making no mistakes" and by "that extra couple of percent", how many percent does anybody feel is gained by players instinctively knowing where their teammates are going to be? That supernatural sense of where to lay it off, when to hold it to wait for your partner to arrive? Too often today Liverpools play was slick but just a couple of degrees off.

It's time. Lets stop fecking around and give ourselves a chance to find some rhythm.

Great post as ever bigmick but just one thing.

Your not Rafa and you know that Rafa will try his hardest to get a tactic right. Its in his nature to try and be a perfectionist.

What your saying is exactly the thing what we should blookdy well do.

The only question is how long will Rafa continue to rotate.

I have a feeling that he will try this again against Newcastle.

Also we cant forget that we have 2 of our key players injured still.

Bav who is the other key player injured.

J.A.R. is the one but who is the other...

He may mean a certain Mr Kewell.

by **welsh wizzard** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:23 pm

a fit Harry Kewell yes!!

But where we ever going to find a fit Harry Kewell. I think his days are numbered. He even suffers with bloody gout now as well as a knackered groin. He needs to leave his Sher alone and stop pestering her for sex then he might last a few games of footie.

by **Red Dotty** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:58 pm

bigmick wrote:My plan is quite a simple one really. Let's decide on what we think is our best team (or at least let Rafa decide) and then barring injury, lets play it in the next three or four games before we re-assess where we are. No more playing steven Gerrard on the left-wing (what on earth is all that about?) or playing a different front two every game, along with a different defensive four and a different formation.

Now before anybody goes off on one, I've been saying this since the pre-season and I'm not knee-jerking on the back of an admittedly quite decent performance at Chelsea. it really is time to stop meddling and faffing with the starting eleven. Tell the players that you are going to pick what you currently believe to be your strongest team, if they've got the shirt they are in posession and if they haven't, they'd better work their socks off in training/when they come on as sub to get a start in the next game.

To anybody who thinks I'm talking nonsense I offer two things. Firstly, I thought we played OK today DESPITE the fact that we played our best player woefully out of position and that the line-up had never played together before, not because of it. Secondly, it's customry in a difficult period to get the players together, have a no holds barred clear the air session where everybody gets their grievances off their chest. If Rafa was to do this tomorrow, what do you think the players would say? I reckon I know.

My last point is this. If we are to constantly refer to games being decided by the "smallest details", by "making no mistakes" and by "that extra couple of percent", how many percent does anybody feel is gained by players instinctively knowing where their teammates are going to be? That supernatural sense of where to lay it off, when to hold it to wait for your partner to arrive? Too often today Liverpools play was slick but just a couple of degrees off.

It's time. Lets stop fecking around and give ourselves a chance to find some rhythm.

Big mick far be it for me to question your tactical knowledge but i have just one little point with your comment. For the most part i completely agree as we have to find a way to get the consistencey started. But the comment about stevie g made me think. He is a center midfielder and thats where i want to see him play week in and out but today i think Rafa's idea was that he would keep Ballack deeper by playing Stevie on that side and if Ballack did not bother as he didn't, then he would get at Chelski's new right back and give him hell hoping to get a 2 on 1 against him.

Just a thought mate :eyebrow

by **bigmick** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:44 pm

It's a good point Dotty mate and Gerrard being the player he is, he managed to give the right-back a sufficiently torrid time to make Chelsea take him off (I understand he is normally a centre-half). The point about Ballack is an interesting one also, and if I'm honest it's something I hadn't even considered. I wonder though whether playing Aurelio wide-left (my first choice) or Gonzales (my second) wouldn't have had the self same result. As it is the Chelsea midfield of Lampard, Ballack, Essien and Makeleli is disfunctional anyway with no width and the three other than Makeleli all looking at each other trying to decide which one goes forward.

I actually think that Rafa played Gerrard wide left not to restrict Ballack, but because he a sneaking notion that Gerrard would score from a Pennant cross which had eluded everyone else. Looking at how narrow chelsea played though and at the space Pennant got both before and after the sending off, you have to wonder how ashley Cole would have coped with Gerrard bearing down on him every five minutes. My basic problem with the whole idea though mate is that regardless of situation, your best player should not have to play in a totally alien position just to accomodate a tactical whim.

Despite what some would have you believe (and I'm the world's worst sometimes), football is actually quite a simple game when it comes down to it. Like most sports, you should do what your opponent would least like you to do. That means against Chelsea that Gerrard plays right or centre, and probably that Peter Crouch plays uptop aswell.

As I said earlier, the thing is we played OK against Everton and even better today. I do believe though that we are needlessly handicapping ourselves with at times bizarre selections and endless rotations. We have a really good squad. With the possible exception of Zenden I don't really mind who he plays, as long as there is some continuation, and as long as the best midfielder in Europe is afforded the opportunity to influence the game as only he can.

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