Has Rafa lost the plot?

[Red Nick]

Of course. It's the squarking, the offensive, vomiting of nonsense that people are passing off as reasonable; that's the fucking choker. Rafa made some baffling decisions yesterday but none that warrent him being called a cunt, a shithouse or people making things up like saying Babel was dropped out of spite because he played at The Olympics. I've read on here recently that some people think that Rafa doesn't give young English lads a chance because he doesn't like young English players. So what's that then? Rafa's a cunt, a shithouse, and a spiteful racist/xenophobe. Have a fucking word with yourselves.

 

 

Maybe I am missing the point here as the only time I saw the word cunt used was when posters were abusing fellow posters for criticising Rafa's decisions, Never saw Rafa being called a cunt.

[DJLJ]

I have sympathy for Rafa because his plans for the new season have been compromised by the Olympics, the board, internationals and a few niggly injuries. I know other top clubs are in the same boat but I think it's had more of an effect on us, especially losing Mascherano and not being allowed to sign Barry. The Barry thing really sticks in the throat, I'll try not to go on about it though.

 

Hopefully we'll be in better shape physically after the international break.

 

Surely using the Olympics as an excuse is just plain wrong? It is one of those things that you can actually plan for, and Rafa should have. Everyone is in the same boat on this, same as after internationals. Using them as an excuse is just plain wrong. It is the same for everyone, plan for it.

[Dirk]

Surely using the Olympics as an excuse is just plain wrong? It is one of those things that you can actually plan for, and Rafa should have. Everyone is in the same boat on this, same as after internationals. Using them as an excuse is just plain wrong. It is the same for everyone, plan for it.

 

He did, he wanted Gareth Barry.

[Guest TK-421]

Surely using the Olympics as an excuse is just plain wrong? It is one of those things that you can actually plan for, and Rafa should have. Everyone is in the same boat on this, same as after internationals. Using them as an excuse is just plain wrong. It is the same for everyone, plan for it.

 

We lost three players, one of them a key first team player and two more with lots of first team experience, and I think it had an effect on our preparations. Hardly a controversial statement, is it?

[DJLJ]

He did, he wanted Gareth Barry.

 

Planning based on something that might or might not happen is not great planning. You plan based on what you have and make contingency plans based on what might be.

[Dirk]

Planning based on something that might or might not happen is not great planning. You plan based on what you have and make contingency plans based on what might be.

 

That's what all plans are based on, future outcomes that may or may not happen.

[kopitegaz]

He did, he wanted Gareth Barry.

 

 

 

I think your rational point may be declared void, as the FF spoke and didnt want him. You may have missed this. I think it was on pages 1-500 of several Barry threads. I'll go back and read them all again. If I dont lose the will to live, I will publish my findings.

[DJLJ]

That's what all plans are based on, future outcomes that may or may not happen.

 

I didn't explain that too well. But hopefully you get my point. Make your plans based on what you have, not what you might have.

[Dublin Red]

Mate, Rafa is not infallable, there are things that madden me about him, sometimes he seems negative and sometimes I just dont understand his thinking especially for not using babel lastnight. But we are in the top 4 and continue to be so season after season we also make the CL semis each season, inspite of all the issues you and others are saying about Rafa. For me, that is the unfortunate height of our ambition right now, given the situaiton around ownership, lack of commercialism etc so as long as we continue to achieve it, I say he is the best man for the job. Im not just blaming the americans, but right back Moores stewardship, Parry who was brought in to modernise us but completley failed and even Peter Robinson, who didnt envisage the fundamental changes in football and capitalise on our domination, both on and off the pitch back in the 80 and 90s. United always had a strong brand, but we were far stronger by the end of the 80s. Had we used that position, Im sure we'd be in a very different position today than we are. So the seeds of our current malise were sown a long time ago, in the times of our greatest success. And while i wouldnt go as far as to say we bought a title, we were certainly able to buy whoever we liked in those days, 3 english transfer records are testimony to that. Id ask, if we could ever financially repeat the summer of Houghton, Barnes and Aldridge, surely 50m worth of talent in todays market ?

 

So yes Rafa frustrates, but IMHO to change him would put what we do achieve in jeopardy. So maybe finshing 3rd or 4th isnt what we'd like, maybe having a strong CL doesnt tick our 'must win the title box' but at this point in our history i think we should take it with open arms. As to me, a change will only lead to going down, look at Spurs sans Jol......

 

 

You make some good points about the club ownership but I don't see how that affected the way we played yesterday, or have played for quite some time now....or more specifically, the extremely negative way our manager approaches most games away from home since he has been here. For instance, if the yanks had given the £18m to Rafa for Barry, do you honestly think he would suddenly drop the caution and go out like Utd and Arsenal and attack Villa from start to finish ?

 

To be honest, I wouldn't really have a problem with a top 4 finish as long as we at least challenge the leaders till the last few weeks and play some decent football along the way. But we do neither.

[terry mac]

this is 2002/2003 season all over again

[bigmacbrownie]

Football - Anfield's wasted space could be put to good use | Football | guardian.co.uk

 

I might as well join in and say ouch. Sad but so true.

[Royal Family]

I hope that some people re-reading this thread the 'morning after' as it were, are rightly ashamed of themselves.

 

I think the main problem (beyond the cowboy owners) with this club is a divine sense of entitlement. We were great in the 70s and 80s - do fans really think that gives us the divine right to be great eternally, especially when off the pitch the way we do business is still stuck in that era. We are MILES behind United, Chelsea and Arsenal OFF the pitch, and dangerously behind the 'middle-tier too'

 

For heavens' sake, we are massively overachieving under Rafa given our size, wage bill and transfer budget. Yesterday we played - away, without our best two players - a team that has spent to date £48m net during this transfer window. We have spent net a total of what? £5m? £6m? And we got a creditable draw. Villa ought to be the disappointed ones.

 

Of course Rafa makes mistakes: signing Robbie Keane for £20m was a massive one, and might well be fatal, as he simply cannot afford to waste money like that, especially on players who are simply not good enough to play at the highest level. But we're now in an era when we're no more than midtable in our spending power - the likes of Villa, Sunderland, Spurs and ManCity are all in some ways bigger and better-funded clubs than us. And then you'd replace Rafa with whom - Sammy Lee?! Don't make me laugh. I truly despair of some of our so-called fans, who seem to be expecting Rafa to work miracles.

 

I think some people need to downscale their expectations. Enjoy the Champions League as, in the gloomy years to come, you'll look back at this as a golden era. Until and unless the owners go, there's only one way that this club is going ... and it ain't defining gravity.

[redrosetints]

You make some good points about the club ownership but I don't see how that affected the way we played yesterday, or have played for quite some time now....or more specifically, the extremely negative way our manager approaches most games away from home since he has been here. For instance, if the yanks had given the £18m to Rafa for Barry, do you honestly think he would suddenly drop the caution and go out like Utd and Arsenal and attack Villa from start to finish ?

 

To be honest, I wouldn't really have a problem with a top 4 finish as long as we at least challenge the leaders till the last few weeks and play some decent football along the way. But we do neither.

 

I don't think Barry would suddenly have made us more attacking, not in the way you mean. But i do think it would have made us more balanced and therefore, more effective, which means Id expect us to play better, create and score more.

 

I think its far too oversimplistic to suggest we just need to "get out there and have a go", my opinion of course and it could be you're right it is that simple. But like all things, for me its about balance, as Paisley said, not the long ball nor the short ball but the right ball. And while I conceded that sometimes Rafa gets it wrong, overall, his results prove him right, in fact as far as Im concerned we punch well above our weight in europe.

 

What stops us going to the next level in the league, is for me, finance. We dont have a strong enough and deep enough squad to compete week in week out over 9 months. But I guess our differences could simply be down to different views on football and what its about.

 

Anyway as i type Voronin has gone out on loan, Finnan has moved on, yet still no Reira .....

[d.k.E.]

Further comment on our tactics and performance...BBC SPORT | Football | Premier League | Lee Dixon's tactical view

 

No doubt will be shrugged off by most as an anti-Liverpool, ex-Arsenal view, but there are so many out there (professionals and fans) that can see this, yet Rafa remains stubborn to his mantra of playing players (particularly costly forwards) out of position, while freezing out his own purchases for those roles...

[Kevin D]

To answer the question the thread poses: no, Rafa has not lost the plot.

 

Before the game many people were fearful of a defeat, and many commented how they would take a draw. Well, that's just what we got, and for me, it was a point gained rather than two lost.

 

I think it has already been pointed out, but Liege took a lot out of the players in midweek. Stevie was missing and Nando came off early too. Yet despite all that, with a fair wind we might have picked up the three points. Ngog did a lovely shot towards the top corner which was slightly deflected (I think) just over. Kuyt hit the side netting with a decent chance, and Keane looked like he was fouled as he was about to pull the trigger late on.

 

It should be pointed out that our defence played very well too. Last year we conceded too many sloppy goals, and it looks to me as though Rafa has been working on that with them. Dossena also had his best game for us so far, and while I think there is still more to come, he did put in some good crosses. It was noteworthy that Mascherano played very well in tackling everything that looked as though it might come to threaten the defence too. Welcome back to our gold medal marvel.

 

Villa are a very good attacking team and there won't be many teams who do not let them score at home this season.

 

OK, it would have been nice to have won the game, but given the Stevie and Torres situation, that was probably more hope than expectation. Our play will improve, especially the attacking play, as we get going.

 

We're in the CL proper. We are joint top with Chesea. Of course we're not firing on all cylinders yet, but perspective, please!

 

Surprised at you. Usually you see both sides of the arguement well.

 

Its disappointing that there are so many people who seem to be willing his failure.

 

Thats quite a cuntish thing to say ,like.

[theghost]

I thought it was funny, therefore I laughed.

 

I was more interested in what you thought was funny about it

[Paul]

Deep breath, everyone (this should have been an article for Dave rather than a post).

 

I know this is a highly emotive subject, but it shouldn't be beyond fellow Reds to debate it without resorting to abuse. Aside from loving the club, the universal theme amongst almost everyone on this issue is that they like Rafa as a bloke. Why then can't people recognise that those Reds who are critical of his management are not grinding some personal axe? There isn't a Red alive who doesn't love the bloke for Istanbul; does anyone think it's possible to feel that way but also make an unfair assessment of his overall record in charge? I don't. Let's cut out the abuse eh, boys?

 

I began to doubt Rafa roughly this time two years ago as I saw him repeating many of the same mistakes he's already made. To my mind, there are several areas for which he is deserving of criticism. None of them can be explained away by the ownership issue, in my view, and I see all of them in the context of an expectation that Liverpool Football Club must put in a credible challenge for the league every season.

 

Now the apologists inevitably nit pick over that criterion, but it should be interpreted as (relatively) loosely and fair-mindedly as you like. I think we should be getting a roughly improving points tally each year (give or take a minor blip), rather than regressing, ultimately finishing within a couple of matches' difference of the winners at the end. We should be talking about maybe two draws and a defeat being the dividing line rather than 20 points when all's told, and the 82 point record should be seen as both a precedent and a benchmark.

 

So, those are my criteria and they're not dependent upon matching the spending of the big two. I wouldn't mind, but as I said, he's already measured up to what I'm looking for in his second season. Against that context, I believe Rafa has consistently made numerous errors of judgement:

 

1. He is obsessed with rotation to the point of disrupting both individual and team performances. There is a ton of what I would regard as evidence for this, but I'm not going to bother citing any here. Basically, I think too many times we've seen players go out on the pitch and look like total strangers to each other, as well as fall short of their own individual best. Rotation is an essential element of top class football now, but it should be used far less liberally than it has been under Rafa. I'm most dubious about its use in defence and it worries me that the last season or so has seen him begin to deploy the policy there too after being previously more circumspect.

 

2. Because of the above issue (and the changing tactics mentioned later on), he has signed dozens of players who were never good enough to improve the first team. So what if he moves some of them on for a profit? There is still the money that has gone out of the club's pockets in agents' fees that was needlessly spent. And besides, the priority is to improve the team, not the balance sheet (this was going on way before The Twats came near the club).

 

There have been a number of players who have been broadly good signings, but the only ones I consider to have unequivocally proven their first team quality are Reina, Agger, Alonso, Mascherano, Torres and Crouch - and at least two of those would have some Reds quibbling and a third has been injured for going on half his time here. Beyond them, there have been other decent signings and a couple could still prove their brilliance, but how many were dramatically better than those they replaced?

 

The bottom line is that Rafa has, with very few exceptions, spread the money too thin - and often at the expense of Academy/youth players. No-one can yet argue that a youngster has left the club to prove him wrong (Ste Warnock would be stretching the term "youngster"), but I don't see why he has to sign so many 4th or even 5th choice players on contracts that will exceed those of the young lads and simultaneously impede their possible development. If all you want of a 4th/5th choice is someone to "do a job" a mere handful of times a season, why can't that player be a youngster?

 

Quantity over quality is a flawed policy and one that is still being employed.

 

3. He is obsessed with changing things in almost every area of his job. He uses players out of position too many times. Lucas on the left, Kuyt on the right of a 4 (or even a three), Yossi on the left, Xabi too deep, Keane on the left, I could go on and on and on as those are only examples from the five games of this season. How can he possibly think these players are better than specialists for those roles? And if he doesn't, why has he not signed specialists yet? He has had four years to do so, after all.

 

Similarly, he has ditched systems that work (Crouch as the fulcrum in the 2nd season to accommodate Kuyt and apparently 4231 this season) to no discernable advantage, and players who still have plenty to give, at least relative to many of those who remain.

 

4. He is tactically too cautious. Too many people interpret this criticism as a call for reckless and naive football, or else they attempt to diminish it by picking holes in the tactics used by the clubs who have consistently finished above us. Is there anyone who can deny that Rafa seems more concerned about avoiding defeat rather than going for the win, though? The fact is that a win and a defeat gives you a point more than two draws - and we've had too many of them under Rafa.

 

5. His personal relationships are fraught with conflict and create extra tension for the club and team. In terms of players, Crouch and Alonso have been poorly treated in my view, both to the possible detriment of the team. He has also had detrimental public arguments with his bosses, coaches and colleagues in The Academy. The fact that his stance in some of these may be justified, doesn't mean it is in his or the club's best interests to play them out in public. Am I alone in being reminded of the boy who cried wolf in relation to the quit threats?

 

In short, I don't think Rafa is going to achieve what I regard as the minimum requirement for this season and I don't think he will have recourse to any explanation beyond his own decision making. The thing that is so frustrating is that if he'd stop over-complicating absolutely everything, he actually has the players to beat that 82 point record. In my view he should play the 4231 system with these players (despite the question marks that exist about the fullbacks and Babel):

 

Reina

 

Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossena

 

Xabi The Chief

 

Gerrard Keane Babel

 

Torres

 

The front four should be given the freedom to play fluidly in terms of their positions, the full backs encouraged to push right on (albeit not recklessly), Xabi given licence to dictate the play and The Chief told to sit and protect the centre halves. A high defensive line should be held with Pepe able to sweep up behind and a high tempo employed in an aggressive manner. He would then have some great options from the bench in those who remain - maybe not to change a game (although I think Yossi and Dirk could be much more effective players if used in the hole and centrally, respectively), but certainly to allow the first teamers to have a rest.

 

Loads of people will call my criticism unfairly premature, but I can't see our position in terms of either the results or performances of a five game-old season; I see it in the context of a tenure in its fifth year. What I want is very simple and I think both Rafa and the players are equipped to deliver it. However, I don't think it will happen because Rafa will over-complicate everything as outlined above and if we fall short, I will want to see a change in manager at the end of the season.

 

I really and truly hope that I am wrong and that Rafa can deliver in the league. I'm not saying that to placate those with the opposing view or to sound like "a good Red"; I'm saying it because, despite his faults, I really like Rafa and I want to see him succeed.

 

Come on Rafa, lad!!!

Edited September 1, 2008 by Paul

[WaltonRed]

Exactly how I feel Paul, awesome post.

[RedKnight]

Stellar post by Paul.

[Section_31]

Stellar post by Paul.

 

It's not a post, it's a treatise, an awesome one.

[Guest TK-421]

Out of those criticisms number 5 is the one that rings true and I'd like to see a more amicable set up overall.

 

As regards ditching last season's 4-2-3-1 I'm not sure. Firstly I don't know if it was Rafa's long term plan to set the team up this way, and secondly I'm convinced that he's had to alter his approach this season to date because of the Barry saga and other factors. The results justify this decision in my opinion, especially with the defence being tight again.

[Kobayashi Maru]

Deep breath, everyone (this should have been an article for Dave rather than a post).

 

I know this is a highly emotive subject, but it shouldn't be beyond fellow Reds to debate it without resorting to abuse. Aside from loving the club, the universal theme amongst almost everyone on this issue is that they like Rafa as a bloke. Why then can't people recognise that those Reds who are critical of his management are not grinding some personal axe? There isn't a Red alive who doesn't love the bloke for Istanbul; does anyone think it's possible to feel that way but also make an unfair assessment of his overall record in charge? I don't. Let's cut out the abuse eh, boys?

 

I began to doubt Rafa roughly this time two years ago as I saw him repeating many of the same mistakes he's already made. To my mind, there are several areas for which he is deserving of criticism. None of them can be explained away by the ownership issue, in my view, and I see all of them in the context of an expectation that Liverpool Football Club must put in a credible challenge for the league every season.

 

Now the apologists inevitably nit pick over that criterion, but it should be interpreted as (relatively) loosely and fair-mindedly as you like. I think we should be getting a roughly improving points tally each year (give or take a minor blip), rather than regressing, ultimately finishing within a couple of matches' difference of the winners at the end. We should be talking about maybe two draws and a defeat being the dividing line rather than 20 points when all's told, and the 82 point record should be seen as both a precedent and a benchmark.

 

So, those are my criteria and they're not dependent upon matching the spending of the big two. I wouldn't mind, but as I said, he's already measured up to what I'm looking for in his second season. Against that context, I believe Rafa has consistently made numerous errors of judgement:

 

1. He is obsessed with rotation to the point of disrupting both individual and team performances. There is a ton of what I would regard as evidence for this, but I'm not going to bother citing any here. Basically, I think too many times we've seen players go out on the pitch and look like total strangers to each other, as well as fall short of their own individual best. Rotation is an essential element of top class football now, but it should be used far less liberally than it has been under Rafa. I'm most dubious about its use in defence and it worries me that the last season or so has seen him begin to deploy the policy there too after being previously more circumspect.

 

2. Because of the above issue (and the changing tactics mentioned later on), he has signed dozens of players who were never good enough to improve the first team. So what if he moves some of them on for a profit? There is still the money that has gone out of the club's pockets in agents' fees that was needlessly spent. And besides, the priority is to improve the team, not the balance sheet (this was going on way before The Twats came near the club).

 

There have been a number of players who have been broadly good signings, but the only ones I consider to have unequivocally proven their first team quality are Reina, Agger, Alonso, Mascherano, Torres and Crouch - and at least two of those would have some Reds quibbling and a third has been injured for going on half his time here. Beyond them, there have been other decent signings and a couple could still prove their brilliance, but how many were dramatically better than those they replaced?

 

The bottom line is that Rafa has, with very few exceptions, spread the money too thin - and often at the expense of Academy/youth players. No-one can yet argue that a youngster has left the club to prove him wrong (Ste Warnock would be stretching the term "youngster"), but I don't see why he has to sign so many 4th or even 5th choice players on contracts that will exceed those of the young lads and simultaneously impede their possible development. If all you want of a 4th/5th choice is someone to "do a job" a mere handful of times a season, why can't that player be a youngster?

 

Quantity over quality is a flawed policy and one that is still being employed.

 

3. He is obsessed with changing things in almost every area of his job. He uses players out of position too many times. Lucas on the left, Kuyt on the right of a 4 (or even a three), Yossi on the left, Xabi too deep, Keane on the left, I could go on and on and on as those are only examples from the five games of this season. How can he possibly think these players are better than specialists for those roles? And if he doesn't, why has he not signed specialists yet? He has had four years to do so, after all.

 

Similarly, he has ditched systems that work (Crouch as the fulcrum in the 2nd season to accommodate Kuyt and apparently 4231 this season) to no discernable advantage, and players who still have plenty to give, at least relative to many of those who remain.

 

4. He is tactically too cautious. Too many people interpret this criticism as a call for reckless and naive football, or else they attempt to diminish it by picking holes in the tactics used by the clubs who have consistently finished above us. Is there anyone who can deny that Rafa seems more concerned about avoiding defeat rather than going for the win, though? The fact is that a win and a defeat gives you a point more than two draws - and we've had too many of them under Rafa.

 

5. His personal relationships are fraught with conflict and create extra tension for the club and team. In terms of players, Crouch and Alonso have been poorly treated in my view, both to the possible detriment of the team. He has also had detrimental public arguments with his bosses, coaches and colleagues in The Academy. The fact that his stance in some of these may be justified, doesn't mean it is in his or the club's best interests to play them out in public. Am I alone in being reminded of the boy who cried wolf in relation to the quit threats?

 

In short, I don't think Rafa is going to achieve what I regard as the minimum requirement for this season and I don't think he will have recourse to any explanation beyond his own decision making. The thing that is so frustrating is that if he'd stop over-complicating absolutely everything, he actually has the players to beat that 82 point record. In my view he should play the 4231 system with these players (despite the question marks that exist about the fullbacks and Babel):

 

Reina

 

Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossena

 

Xabi The Chief

 

Gerrard Keane Babel

 

Torres

 

The front four should be given the freedom to play fluidly in terms of their positions, the full backs encouraged to push right on (albeit not recklessly), Xabi given licence to dictate the play and The Chief told to sit and protect the centre halves. A high defensive line should be held with Pepe able to sweep up behind and a high tempo employed in an aggressive manner. He would then have some great options from the bench in those who remain - maybe not to change a game (although I think Yossi and Dirk could be much more effective players if used in the hole and centrally, respectively), but certainly to allow the first teamers to have a rest.

 

Loads of people will call my criticism unfairly premature, but I can't see our position in terms of either the results or performances of a five game-old season; I see it in the context of a tenure in its fifth year. What I want is very simple and I think both Rafa and the players are equiped to deliver it. However, I don't think it will happen because Rafa will over-complicate everything as outlined above and if we fall short, I will want to see a change in manager at the end of the season.

 

I really and truly hope that I am wrong and that Rafa can deliver in the league. I'm not saying that to placate those with the opposing view or to sound like "a good Red"; I'm saying it because, despite his faults, I really like Rafa and I want to see him succeed.

 

Come on Rafa, lad!!!

 

Can not really add anything more than that. Pretty much covers all the bases for me in my thoughts on this subject. Nice post.

[d.k.E.]

Excellent post - all the things I could never be bothered to type down nor express so well. I too think he has to do it this season or go, but for the reasons you list, I think he is already set for failure (against our expectations, that is)...

[Hand Shandy]

I agree with every single word Paul. Nothing would make me happier than seeing Rafa learn from his mistakes, swallow his pride on the odd occasion, and take us on to win number 19.

 

However, if the Yanks aren't out by the end of the season, I'd rather keep Rafa even if we still only finish fourth.

 

Cue howls of derision and fury (and multiple neggings...) but I would be extremely concerned about who they (and Coco!?!?!) would bring in to replace him...

[philyhamann]

Deep breath, everyone (this should have been an article for Dave rather than a post).

 

I know this is a highly emotive subject, but it shouldn't be beyond fellow Reds to debate it without resorting to abuse. Aside from loving the club, the universal theme amongst almost everyone on this issue is that they like Rafa as a bloke. Why then can't people recognise that those Reds who are critical of his management are not grinding some personal axe? There isn't a Red alive who doesn't love the bloke for Istanbul; does anyone think it's possible to feel that way but also make an unfair assessment of his overall record in charge? I don't. Let's cut out the abuse eh, boys?

 

I began to doubt Rafa roughly this time two years ago as I saw him repeating many of the same mistakes he's already made. To my mind, there are several areas for which he is deserving of criticism. None of them can be explained away by the ownership issue, in my view, and I see all of them in the context of an expectation that Liverpool Football Club must put in a credible challenge for the league every season.

 

Now the apologists inevitably nit pick over that criterion, but it should be interpreted as (relatively) loosely and fair-mindedly as you like. I think we should be getting a roughly improving points tally each year (give or take a minor blip), rather than regressing, ultimately finishing within a couple of matches' difference of the winners at the end. We should be talking about maybe two draws and a defeat being the dividing line rather than 20 points when all's told, and the 82 point record should be seen as both a precedent and a benchmark.

 

So, those are my criteria and they're not dependent upon matching the spending of the big two. I wouldn't mind, but as I said, he's already measured up to what I'm looking for in his second season. Against that context, I believe Rafa has consistently made numerous errors of judgement:

 

1. He is obsessed with rotation to the point of disrupting both individual and team performances. There is a ton of what I would regard as evidence for this, but I'm not going to bother citing any here. Basically, I think too many times we've seen players go out on the pitch and look like total strangers to each other, as well as fall short of their own individual best. Rotation is an essential element of top class football now, but it should be used far less liberally than it has been under Rafa. I'm most dubious about its use in defence and it worries me that the last season or so has seen him begin to deploy the policy there too after being previously more circumspect.

 

2. Because of the above issue (and the changing tactics mentioned later on), he has signed dozens of players who were never good enough to improve the first team. So what if he moves some of them on for a profit? There is still the money that has gone out of the club's pockets in agents' fees that was needlessly spent. And besides, the priority is to improve the team, not the balance sheet (this was going on way before The Twats came near the club).

 

There have been a number of players who have been broadly good signings, but the only ones I consider to have unequivocally proven their first team quality are Reina, Agger, Alonso, Mascherano, Torres and Crouch - and at least two of those would have some Reds quibbling and a third has been injured for going on half his time here. Beyond them, there have been other decent signings and a couple could still prove their brilliance, but how many were dramatically better than those they replaced?

 

The bottom line is that Rafa has, with very few exceptions, spread the money too thin - and often at the expense of Academy/youth players. No-one can yet argue that a youngster has left the club to prove him wrong (Ste Warnock would be stretching the term "youngster"), but I don't see why he has to sign so many 4th or even 5th choice players on contracts that will exceed those of the young lads and simultaneously impede their possible development. If all you want of a 4th/5th choice is someone to "do a job" a mere handful of times a season, why can't that player be a youngster?

 

Quantity over quality is a flawed policy and one that is still being employed.

 

3. He is obsessed with changing things in almost every area of his job. He uses players out of position too many times. Lucas on the left, Kuyt on the right of a 4 (or even a three), Yossi on the left, Xabi too deep, Keane on the left, I could go on and on and on as those are only examples from the five games of this season. How can he possibly think these players are better than specialists for those roles? And if he doesn't, why has he not signed specialists yet? He has had four years to do so, after all.

 

Similarly, he has ditched systems that work (Crouch as the fulcrum in the 2nd season to accommodate Kuyt and apparently 4231 this season) to no discernable advantage, and players who still have plenty to give, at least relative to many of those who remain.

 

4. He is tactically too cautious. Too many people interpret this criticism as a call for reckless and naive football, or else they attempt to diminish it by picking holes in the tactics used by the clubs who have consistently finished above us. Is there anyone who can deny that Rafa seems more concerned about avoiding defeat rather than going for the win, though? The fact is that a win and a defeat gives you a point more than two draws - and we've had too many of them under Rafa.

 

5. His personal relationships are fraught with conflict and create extra tension for the club and team. In terms of players, Crouch and Alonso have been poorly treated in my view, both to the possible detriment of the team. He has also had detrimental public arguments with his bosses, coaches and colleagues in The Academy. The fact that his stance in some of these may be justified, doesn't mean it is in his or the club's best interests to play them out in public. Am I alone in being reminded of the boy who cried wolf in relation to the quit threats?

 

In short, I don't think Rafa is going to achieve what I regard as the minimum requirement for this season and I don't think he will have recourse to any explanation beyond his own decision making. The thing that is so frustrating is that if he'd stop over-complicating absolutely everything, he actually has the players to beat that 82 point record. In my view he should play the 4231 system with these players (despite the question marks that exist about the fullbacks and Babel):

 

Reina

 

Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossena

 

Xabi The Chief

 

Gerrard Keane Babel

 

Torres

 

The front four should be given the freedom to play fluidly in terms of their positions, the full backs encouraged to push right on (albeit not recklessly), Xabi given licence to dictate the play and The Chief told to sit and protect the centre halves. A high defensive line should be held with Pepe able to sweep up behind and a high tempo employed in an aggressive manner. He would then have some great options from the bench in those who remain - maybe not to change a game (although I think Yossi and Dirk could be much more effective players if used in the hole and centrally, respectively), but certainly to allow the first teamers to have a rest.

 

Loads of people will call my criticism unfairly premature, but I can't see our position in terms of either the results or performances of a five game-old season; I see it in the context of a tenure in its fifth year. What I want is very simple and I think both Rafa and the players are equiped to deliver it. However, I don't think it will happen because Rafa will over-complicate everything as outlined above and if we fall short, I will want to see a change in manager at the end of the season.

 

I really and truly hope that I am wrong and that Rafa can deliver in the league. I'm not saying that to placate those with the opposing view or to sound like "a good Red"; I'm saying it because, despite his faults, I really like Rafa and I want to see him succeed.

 

Come on Rafa, lad!!!

 

I agree, Rafa out.