Rafa's has his favourite players

[Guest Kev]

Something else discussed in the pub later, is the number of times the same players either come off or come on during a game:

 

Here's some of the list:

 

Crouch - 22 times (10 on/12 off) - only completed 4 full games.

Gonzalez -18 times (9 on/0 off) - only completed 2 full games.

Pennant - 18 times (8 on/10 off) - completed 9 full games.

Bellamy - 16 times (6 on/10 off) - completed 9 full games.

Garcia - 16 times (8 on/ 8 off) - completed 7 full games.

Kuyt - 15 times (6 on/9 off) - completed 10 full games.

 

Next comes Fowler, Zenden and Momo who have been used 10 times.

 

Aurelio though has completed 6 full games and only been brought off once, and used 7 times as a sub.

 

It appears to me that Rafa is pretty predicatable when it comes to substitutes, something that was said in the pub by the fella who picked out Crouch, Bellamy and Gonzalez as the three who would come off

 

These facts above appear to give this some clout.

[CarraLegend]

 

These facts above appear to give this some clout.

 

Looks like a crock of s*** to be honest.

 

Reina isnt going to be subbed, Gerrard is hardly ever going to be subbed, same with Alonso, same with Momo, same with Carra, same with Hyypia or Agger, same with Finnan.

 

All the stats say is our better players dont get subbed often, hardly translates to "favourites". We dont have a star striker as such so all get subbed often, Luis, Pennant and Gonzalez arent Gerrard, Alonso, Momo so get subbed. Seems simple enough to me.

[Guest Kev]

Looks like a crock of s*** to be honest.

 

Reina isnt going to be subbed, Gerrard is hardly ever going to be subbed, same with Alonso, same with Momo, same with Carra, same with Hyypia or Agger, same with Finnan.

 

All the stats say is our better players dont get subbed often, hardly translates to "favourites". We dont have a star striker as such so all get subbed often, Luis, Pennant and Gonzalez arent Gerrard, Alonso, Momo so get subbed. Seems simple enough to me.

 

Riise - only subbed once !

Alonso - 8 times - 3 on/5 off

 

When chasing a game in the last ten minutes, I would take off a defender for an attacking player rather than like for like which was why I wanted Pennant on for Finnan yesterday.

 

But it mustn't give those players confidence knowing that they'll only complete a full game once in a blue moon ?

[Florist Cinema Pond Goal]

Given the importance of general fitness in Rafa's rotation policy it wouldn't surprise me if that has a significant bearing on who comes off.

[Guest Kev]

Given the importance of general fitness in Rafa's rotation policy it wouldn't surprise me if that has a significant bearing on who comes off.

 

Could be I suppose

[shanks59]

Riise - only subbed once !

Alonso - 8 times - 3 on/5 off

 

When chasing a game in the last ten minutes, I would take off a defender for an attacking player rather than like for like which was why I wanted Pennant on for Finnan yesterday.

 

But it mustn't give those players confidence knowing that they'll only complete a full game once in a blue moon ?

Center-Back more appropriate

[Guest Kev]

Center-Back more appropriate

 

Well I said defender so that'll do. It was just yesterday I believed that Pennant would have been more of a threat down the right than Finnan.

[Bootle Buck]

IMO Crouch seems to get the worst of it from Rafa. Yesterday he rested Kuyt to give Crouch a game. However, as soon as we went down he brought Crouch off. There are many others on our team who miss chances but are not subbed because of it. If you are going to rest a player then do so, if you are giving a player a chance then do so for more than 50 minutes.

[jariiiiiiiiiise]

IMO Crouch seems to get the worst of it from Rafa. Yesterday he rested Kuyt to give Crouch a game. However, as soon as we went down he brought Crouch off. There are many others on our team who miss chances but are not subbed because of it. If you are going to rest a player then do so, if you are giving a player a chance then do so for more than 50 minutes.

 

nothing to do with Crouch missing three easy goals and looking like he was never going to score if they played all night

 

and replacing him with like for like

[Kite]

Something else discussed in the pub later, is the number of times the same players either come off or come on during a game:

 

Here's some of the list:

 

Crouch - 22 times (10 on/12 off) - only completed 4 full games.

Gonzalez -18 times (9 on/0 off) - only completed 2 full games.

Pennant - 18 times (8 on/10 off) - completed 9 full games.

Bellamy - 16 times (6 on/10 off) - completed 9 full games.

Garcia - 16 times (8 on/ 8 off) - completed 7 full games.

Kuyt - 15 times (6 on/9 off) - completed 10 full games.

So Rafa alternates his wingers and forwards, regularly, but not his defence and central midfield.... is what the stats point to basically. Nothing to do with favorite players as such but the offensive positions.

[Bootle Buck]

nothing to do with Crouch missing three easy goals and looking like he was never going to score if they played all night

 

and replacing him with like for like

 

Other players have missed bagfuls of chances this season without being subbed so early. Kuyt has looked just as bad in front of goal the last few games.

[realtarragona]

Crouch can have absolutely no complaints about being brought off yesterday. If he'd taken his chances the game would have been dead and buried at half time.

 

Also in the last few games we were winning so even if Kuyt was missing a few chances so there isn't the same urgency to make a sub.

Edited December 27, 2006 by realtarragona

[Flanders]

Crouch will play second fiddle to Kuyt until he leaves, simply because he is not as good as Kuyt.

There are plenty of players that rafa has bought in because of budget restraints that will eventually be replaced in his search for the title winning side, I just hope gets the time.

[anny road]

Crouch will play second fiddle to Kuyt until he leaves, simply because he is not as good as Kuyt.

There are plenty of players that rafa has bought in because of budget restraints that will eventually be replaced in his search for the title winning side, I just hope gets the time.

 

 

you have said what I have been saying sionce the summer

 

only more succinct than me

[jon_hall]

Is this the how many threads can Kev start week. BOGOF of the forum world.

[Cam]

I read it was Crouch's first start in 3 months!!! That true?

 

It's obvious that Rafa doesn't like making 2 or 3 subs at once. He likes to make one change and let the team adjust to that for a few minutes before making another. Whether that's a sign of good planning or a lack of trust in the intelligence of some of his players I don't know. It's almost 'subs by numbers'.

 

Sometimes (like Saturday) it's apparent that Garcia needs taking off. I'm convinced Rafa doesn't like to no matter how bad he may be because he has the intelligence and special 'Rafa-knowledge' to move around in fill in other positions. He'll be moved around a few positions to help the team understand the formation and prepare for the next change.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Something else discussed in the pub later, is the number of times the same players either come off or come on during a game:

 

Here's some of the list:

 

Crouch - 22 times (10 on/12 off) - only completed 4 full games.

Gonzalez -18 times (9 on/0 off) - only completed 2 full games.

Pennant - 18 times (8 on/10 off) - completed 9 full games.

Bellamy - 16 times (6 on/10 off) - completed 9 full games.

Garcia - 16 times (8 on/ 8 off) - completed 7 full games.

Kuyt - 15 times (6 on/9 off) - completed 10 full games.

 

Next comes Fowler, Zenden and Momo who have been used 10 times.

 

Aurelio though has completed 6 full games and only been brought off once, and used 7 times as a sub.

 

It appears to me that Rafa is pretty predicatable when it comes to substitutes, something that was said in the pub by the fella who picked out Crouch, Bellamy and Gonzalez as the three who would come off

 

These facts above appear to give this some clout.

 

Essentially, that is all our midfield players except Gerrard and Xabi, our two best players higher up the pitch.

 

Basically, it just says rafa likes to put fresh legs on in midfield and attack as the clock ticks down.

[Ombudsam]

why did garcia need subbing Cam?

[Guest Anders Honoré]

why did garcia need subbing Cam?

 

It's a trap!!

 

[Rimbeux]

So Rafa alternates his wingers and forwards, regularly, but not his defence and central midfield.... is what the stats point to basically. Nothing to do with favorite players as such but the offensive positions.

 

 

Aye

 

Other players have missed bagfuls of chances this season without being subbed so early. Kuyt has looked just as bad in front of goal the last few games.

 

I remember Kuyt being hauled off when he had a similar shocker a couple of weeks back, difference was as has been pointed out, we were winning.

 

On the whole, I don't think we chase games particularly well, probably in terms of composure and tactics.

[Coyler]

Well I said defender so that'll do. It was just yesterday I believed that Pennant would have been more of a threat down the right than Finnan.

More of a threat than constantly dropping the ball invitingly on the strikers' heads, you mean? Finnan put as many accurate crosses in in the first sixty minutes as Pennant has managed since he arrived, for f*ck's sake.

 

Finnan was 50% of our entire threat along with Bellamy, which is the depressing thing about it.

Edited December 28, 2006 by Coyler

[Figaro]

throw in injuries or knocks picked up during a game

[Knox_Harrington]

More of a threat than constantly dropping the ball invitingly on the strikers' heads, you mean? Finnan put as many accurate crosses in in the first sixty minutes as Pennant has managed since he arrived, for f*ck's sake.

 

Finnan was 50% of our entire threat along with Bellamy, which is the depressing thing about it.

Great post. There's no more consistant crosser of the ball at the club than Steve Finnan. Gerrard may occasionally be more dangerous but so many do drift out for throws or goal kicks. Finnan's delivery against Blackburn was marvellous.

[Stevie H]

Great post. There's no more consistant crosser of the ball at the club than Steve Finnan. Gerrard may occasionally be more dangerous but so many do drift out for throws or goal kicks. Finnan's delivery against Blackburn was marvellous.

you can tell what he's going to do as well, but defenders don't or can't stop him. feint outside, check back onto the left peg, curl a lovely ball over their centre halves to the back post. wonderful full back play.

[Earl Hafler]

Finnan has been the most consistently good player in the last 18 months.

Best right back in Europe, i.m.o

 

( :awaits posts mentioning Gerrard: )