The Woes - With a Spin! To keep certain people happy!!!!

Would we have taken played 10 / 20 points before the season had started - yes!  So a positive.

Would we have taken played 3 / 1 point Champions League - No!  So a negative.

Did some fans expect us to be serious challengers this term?  Yes, me for one!

Did early season form, show this was justified?  Yes, we got the results!

Are some fans dissapointed with our current performances / results - Yes.  Is this justified?  WHY NOT!

Do we look like a team with confidence - NO.  WHY the hell not!

I honestly believe, that rotation has caused us to look dis-jointed - we are not playing as a fluid team.

I think many people are getting the ACTUAL amount of rotation that has taken place with the crippling amount of injuries the squad has suffered this season to date.

Rotation has been done to death on here - but what's with this Formation Rotation that now seems to be happening!

Rafa, likes to swap players and now he's swapping our style of play week in week out!

If a player is injured he has to swap him ffs!

This season JC, SF, AA, DA, FA, HK, JP, SG, MS, XA, JM, FT - have all been swapped-out as you put it - because they were not fit to play... or would you prefer them to play in a lovely formation and end-up playing like FT did yesterday - was crocked from the 1st minute!

If a player is injured he has to swap him ffs!

This season JC, SF, AA, DA, FA, HK, JP, SG, MS, XA, JM, FT - have all been swapped-out as you put it - because they were not fit to play... or would you prefer them to play in a lovely formation and end-up playing like FT did yesterday - was crocked from the 1st minute!

Sorry but you are wrong!!!!

We could have played Babel on the left and Yossi on the right yesterday - two natural wide players.  Get your facts right before you start putting your 'ffs' on this site please.

But Rafa decided to play Kuyt and Voronin on the wings - which is a selection/formation disaster!

Sorry but you are wrong!!!!

We could have played Babel on the left and Yossi on the right yesterday - two natural wide players.  Get your facts right before you start putting your 'ffs' on this site please.

But Rafa decided to play Kuyt and Voronin on the wings - which is a selection/formation disaster!

Didn't realise this thread was only referring to yesterday.

I (FFS) thought for a second it referred to all the games dating back to the start of the season. Silly me.

Oh btw - frankly fine sir (= ffs)....what *were* you thinking? .

But Rafa decided to play Kuyt and Voronin on the wings - which is a selection/formation disaster!

Such a disater that we drew against probably the best team in Europe right now

you know what ffs meant!  And you're not funny!

The formation was about yesterday and all our games.  I cannot be negative about injuries - that's no-ones fault.  But I can be critical of changing formations for the sake of the opposition and then playing people in positions they are not accustomed too!

Such a disater that we drew against probably the best team in Europe right now

The result was positive - the performance wasn't - in my opinion!

In your words, Arsenal are the currently the best team in Europe.  Why aren't Liverpool - ED?  Surely that's negative, and show's something isn't quite right?

So you're happy with Kuyt and Voronin playing on the wings then - silly me, I must be missing something.

you know what ffs meant!  And you're not funny!

The formation was about yesterday and all our games.  I cannot be negative about injuries - that's no-ones fault.  But I can be critical of changing formations for the sake of the opposition and then playing people in prositions they are not accustomed too!

Sounds like you've been playing Football Manager too much on the old xbox...

Rafa plays the cards with those available to him at that time - I thought we looked decent in the first half hour with that forward 3. Although Fernando looked short of pace from the very start.  I personally would have started with Yossi instead of Voro... but that's why Rafa is the manager and me and you are not. He decides. End of.

Oh and I might not be funny - but I would have a decent bet you are a bit of a fanny though... ;0)

Can you feel the love?

silly me, I must be missing something.

A brain - perhaps?

Sounds like you've been playing Football Manager too much on the old xbox...

Rafa plays the cards with those available to him at that time - I thought we looked decent in the first half hour with that forward 3. Although Fernando looked short of pace from the very start.  I personally would have started with Yossi instead of Voro... but that's why Rafa is the manager and me and you are not. He decides. End of.

Oh and I might not be funny - but I would have a decent bet you are a bit of a fanny though... ;0)

Can you feel the love?

Another Wally getting personal - what's wrong with people not being able to banter there views!

Another Wally getting personal - what's wrong with people not being able to banter there views!

If you look for it - my view is in the middle of the personal stuff fella.

Anyway, how did you know my name was Walter? (bit pesonal isn't it?)

The result was positive - the performance wasn't - in my opinion!

In your words, Arsenal are the currently the best team in Europe.  Why aren't Liverpool - ED?  Surely that's negative, and show's something isn't quite right?

So you're happy with Kuyt and Voronin playing on the wings then - silly me, I must be missing something.

Yes, on current form I believe Arsenal are the best team in Europe, I also believe though that we will have a run during which we will be the best team in Europe or close enough.

Kuyt & Voronin didn't play on the wings yesterday, they played as wide strikers. Kuyt IMO did very well in the role, Voronin didn't, but that's a question of personell not tactics, I think the tactic worked well.

Yes, on current form I believe Arsenal are the best team in Europe, I also believe though that we will have a run during which we will be the best team in Europe or close enough.

Kuyt & Voronin didn't play on the wings yesterday, they played as wide strikers. Kuyt IMO did very well in the role, Voronin didn't, but that's a question of personell not tactics, I think the tactic worked well.

They played as wide strikers on the WING!  So they are Stricker Wingers - that's a new one to me!

No mate, there is a big difference between wide strikers and wingers, and I know you're intelligent enough to know the difference so I'm not gonna go into it.

No mate, there is a big difference between wide strikers and wingers, and I know you're intelligent enough to know the difference so I'm not gonna go into it.

That's the first compliment you've given me - I knew you'd come round.  You're officially part of the Negative Gang.

They played as wide strikers on the WING!  So they are Stricker Wingers - that's a new one to me!

No they didn't JAR and SF came up as wing backs on the offensive ... (JAR doing this rather badly for the record) ...and Kuyt and Voro acted as wide strikers on the offensive and as part of a 5 man midfield on the defence.

You should study the game more... maybe you just get too wound-up with Rafa's beard or something to concentrate on what is actually going on? (just a thought).

No they didn't JAR and SF came up as wing backs on the offensive ... (JAR doing this rather badly for the record) ...and Kuyt and Voro acted as wide strikers on the offensive and as part of a 5 man midfield on the defence.

You should study the game more... maybe you just get too wound-up with Rafa's beard or something to concentrate on what is actually going on? (just a thought).

May be you're right -  I wish I was more like you !

May be you're right -  I wish I was more like you !

You're not alone a lot of people do.

Signed picture in the post at the end of the season if you stop winding all the sane people on here up. Pretty promise.

Yours truly,
God
(not the Fowler variety either)

You're not alone a lot of people do.

Signed picture in the post at the end of the season if you stop winding all the sane people on here up. Pretty promise.

Yours truly,
God
(not the Fowler variety either)

You'll soon be gone !

You'll soon be gone !

You'll soon be gone !

You wish.

It's worth coming on here just to scramble your one (lost in space) neurone every afternoon.

Can you feel the luuuuurve....?

You wish.

It's worth coming on here just to scramble your one (lost in space) neurone every afternoon.

Can you feel the luuuuurve....?

You've given the game away about your age!

My son is two and watches 'Nina and the Neurons' on Cbeebies.  Back tomorrow aren't you? 

You've given the game away about your age!

My son is two and watches 'Nina and the Neurons' on Cbeebies.  Back tomorrow aren't you? 

Who? What?

BTW - How does it feel to have a son mentally superior to his dad?

If you two want to argue, do it via PM.

The result was positive - the performance wasn't - in my opinion!

In your words, Arsenal are the currently the best team in Europe.  Why aren't Liverpool - ED?  Surely that's negative, and show's something isn't quite right?

So you're happy with Kuyt and Voronin playing on the wings then - silly me, I must be missing something.

It was a positive performance considering the current form of both sides... And no, the fact that Arsenal could be considered the best side in Europe at the moment cannot be classed as a negative for Liverpool.  I understand what you're trying to imply, but Liverpool are yet to hit top form, and in my opinion Arsenal will drop points throughout the season.  They may be the best footballing side to watch at present, but that doesn't guarantee Premiership success.

Also, Voronin and Kuyt were used either side of a three man strike force, and not wingers, in my opinion.  However, I would have thought that Babel and Benayoun would have been better options, as they offer more creativity.

you know what ffs meant!  And you're not funny!

The formation was about yesterday and all our games.  I cannot be negative about injuries - that's no-ones fault.  But I can be critical of changing formations for the sake of the opposition and then playing people in positions they are not accustomed too!

Richobaz, it's common knowledge that Rafa will change formations and players depending on the opposition. This for me is a positive point to his style of management as it shows he goes into detail in his preparations and as a result has given us many positive results in the past especially when the odds seemed stacked against us.

Two European Cup Finals, an FA Cup final, a record Premiership season, European Super Cup win.  Top of the table position for the first time in 5 years. 6 points off the top with a game in hand.

Yeah Benitez - listen to all of us telling you where you're going wrong.

Two European Cup Finals, an FA Cup final, a record Premiership season, European Super Cup win.  Top of the table position for the first time in 5 years. 6 points off the top with a game in hand.

Yeah Benitez - listen to all of us telling you where you're going wrong.

World Club Champions runner-up...One Charity Shield.

All Rafa doubters - roll-it up gently, stuff it in your pipe and smoke.

The guy is a football genius.

Look at the mess Valencia have been in since he left... only yesterday sacked their latest manager!

^^QFT.

And Valencia probably have a better squad than when Rafa was in charge....A very good Morientes/Villa partnership up front...Silva flourishing....Joaquin etc....

I think we played some of the best football since the beginning of the season.  When I saw the 4-3-3 formation in the warm up I was a bit worried but it worked quite well and as the stats show we had as many chances as Arsenal.  Did Arsenal pass the ball around better than us? Yes.  Was their movement better than us? Yes.  What Arsenal lack is a clinical cutting edge as we do at the moment with Torres not fit and Voronin and Kuyt not doing it.

I admit I was seriously worried before the game that we could have been stuffed, particularly with Arsenal coming in on a good run with their confidence high and us on the back of a poor run with our confidence low.  This makes the result and our performance even more creditable. 

One thing I must take up is the performance of Kuyt.  No one can critcise his effort.  He gives 200% in every game.  What bothers me is his control in that the ball bounces off him far too much which allowed Arsenal to easily nullify his threat.  A lot of his running seemed to be trying to recover balls he has lost.  I remember on one occasion the ball was played out to him from defence but he was closed down by their defender and he seemed to have no answer as to how to get past him.

This is a major concern to me as we can't expect a fit Torres to do it all himself.   

What I don't get about Rafa is that he continues to leave our adventurous players on the bench and play the not so adventurous players. Also I don't get the fact that he continues to play off-form players and leave the young hungry players to rot in reserves.

Blackburn tough game or not, I'd actually consider starting Lucas, El Zhar & Insua because neither of them have done any worse than the senior players and they are probably more hungry for competition.

Anyway going back to why Rafa leaves out the adventurous players, I mean look at how well Benayoun plays! He is a fantastic player, very creative, very quick and a very good thinker. He can keep possesion of the ball and has brilliant technique... but I find it bizarre that Benitez continues to start him on the bench for most games. You telling me the clueless Pennant could do a better job than Benayoun? Or Riise? I doubt it very much.

Lucas should be starting far more games, he's got touches of class in him, not tried anything spectacular yet but he's still a new boy and he knows what he's capable off. Play him more often, and he'll be confident to show you what he's got.. but I reckon he's not going to get the chance to improve his career when Sissoko & Alonso are still here.

Another thing I don't get is why Rafa has so much faith in Sissoko.. I mean he's PANTS and he would never make it at any other top team.

What I don't get about Rafa is that he continues to leave our adventurous players on the bench and play the not so adventurous players. Also I don't get the fact that he continues to play off-form players and leave the young hungry players to rot in reserves.

Blackburn tough game or not, I'd actually consider starting Lucas, El Zhar & Insua because neither of them have done any worse than the senior players and they are probably more hungry for competition.

Anyway going back to why Rafa leaves out the adventurous players, I mean look at how well Benayoun plays! He is a fantastic player, very creative, very quick and a very good thinker. He can keep possesion of the ball and has brilliant technique... but I find it bizarre that Benitez continues to start him on the bench for most games. You telling me the clueless Pennant could do a better job than Benayoun? Or Riise? I doubt it very much.

Lucas should be starting far more games, he's got touches of class in him, not tried anything spectacular yet but he's still a new boy and he knows what he's capable off. Play him more often, and he'll be confident to show you what he's got.. but I reckon he's not going to get the chance to improve his career when Sissoko & Alonso are still here.

Another thing I don't get is why Rafa has so much faith in Sissoko.. I mean he's PANTS and he would never make it at any other top team.

I'd start considering Lucas a lot more at the minute! I agree that El Zhar and Insua would be hungry but I don't think they'd fare as well in the league matches!

Agreed too on Benayoun, although he is effective coming off the bench and changing games!

 

Blackburn tough game or not, I'd actually consider starting Lucas, El Zhar & Insua because neither of them have done any worse than the senior players and they are probably more hungry for competition.

Let me get this right you are trying to say lets forget the title this season and try develop some youngsters this season!

Let me get this right you are trying to say lets forget the title this season and try develop some youngsters this season!

Mate I don't want to sound too negative but the way we are playing, we'll never win the Premiership.
It's Rafa's tactics, they are set out so we don't lose.. thats why we don't lose but draw a hell of a lot of the time.
I'm 100% sure we won't win the Premiership this season, looking at Arsenal, United & Chelsea.. we are still a class below which we need to work on before thinking of winning that title.

Mate I don't want to sound too negative but the way we are playing, we'll never win the Premiership.
It's Rafa's tactics, they are set out so we don't lose.. thats why we don't lose but draw a hell of a lot of the time.
I'm 100% sure we won't win the Premiership this season.

Chin up mate!  Just have a little faith

I can see where you are coming from about Arsenal & United being a different class because they are playing football to kill at the minute.

Chelsea aren't a problem at the minute.  As long as we sort it out and in the mean time I don't care if we play sluggish to win!

At the end of the season there will be one team standing.  I don't care how we do it.