Playing players out of position.
Now we have seen this countless times, sometimes with good effect Kuyt last season sometimes with Bad effects Babel consistently. Now what I would say if you are going to try then do it, if it is bearing the fruit of your labour then persist with it, If not cut your losses and play the player in a more natural position to get the best out of him.
Selections.
Now sometimes Rafa's selections leave me totally perplexed using Masch & Lucas as an example sometimes it works sometimes it does not, Now I agree playing two defensive midfielder's against the Chelsea's Arsenals and the United's of this world is a safe tactic, how ever playing against the Blackburns of this world it simply just is not needed.
Substitutions.
This is one thing that annoys the living daylights out of me, if the game is clearly not going our way why wait until the 60 minute to do anything about it ? for instance is Insua is being crucified on the left haul his arse off and replace him with him immediate effect do not wait until we concede or the 60th minute to address it.
Also on substitutions taking player off who look most likely to break the deadlock and replacing them with Dossena, N'Gog infuriates the life out of me, granted the players being substituted may not be %100 match fit, but in essence I'd rather have a %80 fit Torres on the pitch for the final 20 minutes when needing a goal than a %100 fit Voronin or N'Gog.
Mediocrity.
Now Rafa has pretty much assembled the spine of his team, the mediocrity of some signings has to stop, sure they were to fill holes in the squad and increase his spending power when selling them on, how ever I want to see quality over quantity & its the only way to build on top of what we have to move us forwards.
I agree with your other posts RLB (except for the negativity paragraph, its just another team selection rant) but these i see through somewhat.
Players playing out of position was led to us developing some good players. Kuyt the obvious one who was vital to our success last season and the season in which we made the CL final. Babel is a tricky one, who we cannot assume things about.
At Ajax, he played on the left side of three attackers. Fundamentally, he was a left winger who was given freedom to roam in the box. So, that one is in the middle of black and white, i feel.
Another, which so many overlook, is Alvaro Arbeloa. When brought to the club, he was a centre back. Rafa brought him in and shaped him into one of the best right backs in the Premier League and was good enough to receive call ups for the Spain squad (lets face it, no one is going to take Ramos' place).
In regards to his selections - every manager fields a side he feels will win and select those who are fit and able to play. He was employed by the club and has far more knowledge about players, attributes, opposition, etc. for us to question some of his selections.
Against Portsmouth, he used a foreign system to us all but we won. that was the perfect example of a manager adjusting to the circumstances.
Substitutions get me fired up also, but as a manager who gives instructions on how to win a game at half time, you want to give your tactics a chance to succeed. It's having faith in yourself and no one has more faith in themselves more than Benitez.
Mediocrity is a harsh word, IMO. He has chased big signings and only pulled out through mitigating circumstances/financial restraints (Simao, Joaquin, Silva, Alves etc.). He has had his fair share of poor signings but his success rate is fantastic when you consider the transitional phase the club has gone through.
If given the choice, i have no doubts the likes of Dossena, Voronin and Degen etc. would be out the door and better players in. Unfortunately, we have seen how injuries can rack up and these players are needed at those times.
Just finally, i do agree with the rest, but some i can see reasoning as to why Rafa has gone down these pathways.
