Is Rafa learning?

[magneto]

Investment and transfer talk aside, do you think Rafa's learning from his mistakes and improving as a manager?

 

Personally I feel he's still not able to vary our play when required and his formations do not necessarily suit the players he has on hand. The most worrying aspect for me is that he takes too long to realise things aren't working and so perseveres until he's hand is forced (goal has been conceded, time running out etc).

 

Rafa's a good tactician when it comes to the pre-match game, sizing teams up. But I feel when things go wrong on the pitch, he reacts too slowly and is unwilling to make the change (formation, tactics, substitution) until it's too late.

[Earl Hafler]

Investment and transfer talk aside, do you think Rafa's learning from his mistakes and improving as a manager?

 

Personally I feel he's still not able to vary our play when required and his formations do not necessarily suit the players he has on hand. The most worrying aspect for me is that he takes too long to realise things aren't working and so perseveres until he's hand is forced (goal has been conceded, time running out etc).

 

Rafa's a good tactician when it comes to the pre-match game, sizing teams up. But I feel when things go wrong on the pitch, he reacts too slowly and is unwilling to make the change (formation, tactics, substitution) until it's too late.

 

I think he's changed as a manager. When he arrived, i'd have listed those attributes you mention as something Rafa had that Houllier didn't. Now, i think he's rigid.

 

Yesterday should have seen the kitchen sink thrown in for the last 30 minutes but it was like for like, one at a time. Clockwork.

Maybe he's just accepted 4th is out of our reach and he was subbing the usual suspects as a matter of course. I think it's ridiculous how some players have stayed on the bench whilst others have played poorly for weeks on end.

In that respect , i see no improvement.

 

A couple of years ago he had an hokey cokey approach to rotation. We then played a more settled side and finished the season well. Same thing last season.

I think he's failed to utilise the squad to it's potential.

[yellow jumper]

if the result is bad, one of the first things that are criticised is the subs. pure benefit of hindsight.

 

sometimes they work. sometimes they don't. as with any manager. more often than not the deciding factor is the quality of the player, not when and how you make them.

 

i thought he got it wrong yesterday, most probably do. personally i think he should have left it, bar perhaps kuyt for n'gog sooner. it wouldn't have changed the moaning about subs if the result had stayed the same though.

 

there's very often no consensus about who was playing well/badly when we fail to win anyway. just look at the man of the match thread, some think aquilani was awful, others think he was our best player.

[KIDORIGINAL]

Until he gets into his head that we need a top draw attacker and have done since Macca left for Real Madrid, he won't have learned nearly enough.

[Billy Dane]

Until he gets into his head that we need a top draw attacker and have done since Macca left for Real Madrid, he won't have learned nearly enough.

 

eh?

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

eh?

 

he's used that line before.

don't think he counts Gerrard or Torres as attackers, for some reason.

[Mooster]

Something that I've wondered recently, does Rafa go to watch other teams in person? The TV often show other managers sat watching other team's games, but I can't remember them spotting Rafa (apart from LFC TV showing him at the occasional reserve game.)

[yellow jumper]

don't think i've seen wenger personally scouting an opponent.

 

but of course he's of the 'let the opposition worry about us' school, not possible that rafa could be of the same thinking.

[Mooster]

don't think i've seen wenger personally scouting an opponent.

 

but of course he's of the 'let the opposition worry about us' school, not possible that rafa could be of the same thinking.

 

 

Not necessarily saying it's a good or bad thing, just that given the frequency you hear the arguments on here about how much more you can see if you are at the game as opposed to watching it on telly I think it's interesting that some managers seem to spend their time travelling to games to watch in person, whereas some presumably rely on other people's scouting reports/videos etc. Maybe it depends on how much you trust the scouts in question? Or maybe how desperate you are to avoid going home in the evening?

[KIDORIGINAL]

he's used that line before.

don't think he counts Gerrard or Torres as attackers, for some reason.

 

 

And believe me mate, I'll use it many more times before it actually happens.

 

 

Torres is not an attacker, he's a striker. He does not play in the second line of offense and is not a creative force, that much is kind of obvious. Gerrard is only an effective creative force when played behind Torres but because he plays in the middle, he's easy to mark out of games if you get a man on him. We need a wide man, preferably someone who plays on the left, and have done for years. Is the fact we very rarely create clear-cut chances not enough to tell you that I'm right on this one? I'm not on a high horse, it's just blinking obvious.

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

And believe me mate, I'll use it many more times before it actually happens.

 

 

Torres is not an attacker, he's a striker. He does not play in the second line of offense and is not a creative force, that much is kind of obvious. Gerrard is only an effective creative force when played behind Torres but because he plays in the middle, he's easy to mark out of games if you get a man on him. We need a wide man, preferably someone who plays on the left, and have done for years. Is the fact we very rarely create clear-cut chances not enough to tell you that I'm right on this one? I'm not on a high horse, it's just blinking obvious.

 

I just think you've invented your own definition of the word 'attacker'. It's peculiar.

[johngibo YPC]

I just think you've invented your own definition of the word 'attacker'. It's peculiar.

 

I've proper never heard it

I'd love to tell Rushie he wasn't an attacker. See what he said

[KIDORIGINAL]

I just think you've invented your own definition of the word 'attacker'. It's peculiar.

 

ATTACKER = SECOND-LINER.

 

TORRES = FIRST-LINER.

 

TORRES = NOT ATTACKER.

[johngibo YPC]

ATTACKER = SECOND-LINER.

 

TORRES = FIRST-LINER.

 

TORRES = NOT ATTACKER.

 

where do you get that from?

Is this a joke?

[Chili Palmer]

And believe me mate, I'll use it many more times before it actually happens.

 

 

Torres is not an attacker, he's a striker. He does not play in the second line of offense and is not a creative force, that much is kind of obvious. Gerrard is only an effective creative force when played behind Torres but because he plays in the middle, he's easy to mark out of games if you get a man on him. We need a wide man, preferably someone who plays on the left, and have done for years. Is the fact we very rarely create clear-cut chances not enough to tell you that I'm right on this one? I'm not on a high horse, it's just blinking obvious.

 

 

'Attack, attack..attack attack attack'

 

Torres 'they're not talking to me'

[Billy Dane]

And believe me mate, I'll use it many more times before it actually happens.

 

 

Torres is not an attacker, he's a striker. He does not play in the second line of offense and is not a creative force, that much is kind of obvious. Gerrard is only an effective creative force when played behind Torres but because he plays in the middle, he's easy to mark out of games if you get a man on him. We need a wide man, preferably someone who plays on the left, and have done for years. Is the fact we very rarely create clear-cut chances not enough to tell you that I'm right on this one? I'm not on a high horse, it's just blinking obvious.

 

ohhh, you mean a winger?

 

Makes you wonder how we managed to score so many goals last season, if we've been missing this creative tour de force for so long.

I presume you're blaming Rafa for Houllier's failure to replace Macca and Parry's decision to try and sell him to Barca?

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

ATTACKER = SECOND-LINER.

 

TORRES = FIRST-LINER.

 

TORRES = NOT ATTACKER.

 

does anyone other than you use this definition?

[johngibo YPC]

does anyone other than you use this definition?

 

I've decided its Knox on the wind up

The talk of 'lines' gave it away

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

I've decided its Knox on the wind up

The talk of 'lines' gave it away

 

I'm going to start calling goalkeepers 'maintainers'.

[KIDORIGINAL]

does anyone other than you use this definition?

 

Uh huh.

 

I advise you go back and watch our games against Fulham (yesterday), Stoke City, Wigan and Wolves before you start accusing me of being a WUM.

[johngibo YPC]

I'm going to start calling goalkeepers 'maintainers'.

 

LAST LINE = PREVENTERS

NEXT LINE = MAINTAINERS

 

REINA = LAST LINE

REINA = PREVENTER!!!!!!!!!!

 

Uh huh.

 

I advise you go back and watch our games against Fulham (yesterday), Stoke City, Wigan and Wolves before you start accusing me of being a WUM.

 

What does Liverpool's bad performances have to do with you're bizarre English?

I've got to go out in a bit. I'm devoed i'm gonna miss this bedlam

[D.Boon]

Torres=Punisher

[Earl Hafler]

'Attack, attack..attack attack attack'

 

Torres 'they're not talking to me'

 

[Gunga Din]

Torres=Punisher

 

 

thats brilliant

[Falconhoof]

ATTACKER = SECOND-LINER.

 

TORRES = FIRST-LINER.

 

TORRES = NOT ATTACKER.

 

 

this could be great