: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:18 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

I was watching SSN the other week, and they brought up something like out of all of the top 4 teams, United had used the most players this year, something like 29 different players, and Liverpool had used something like 23. So to say rotation doesn't work is wrong, as the team at the top do it just as much as anybody else.

Other than the game against Pompey away (which we won), I can't really remember a game where Rafa has made stupendous amounts of changes. Maybe 'Boro away.

I think rotation does work, United have rotated and they're top, Scolari didn't rotate and they looked knackered and crap. I don't think you can blame our league position on rotation this time, sorry.

Having four/five different right backs would have a bearing on that.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:22 pm  

Neville, Rafael and Brown?

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:23 pm  

I don't think Liverpool are far off winning the title anyway. They certainly look better this year IMO. Started off extremely well and capable of winning the big games. The only thing to rectify is their home form, I recall a few needless dropped points at home earlier on which you wouldn't expect them to. When the only thing a side needs to sort out is winning rather than drawing a couple of home games, then you really aren't far from being a title winning side.

I wish Spurs were that close.

I also think anybody suggesting replacing Benitez with anyone is out of their minds, the guy is a top, top manager and Liverpool IMO were foolish to mess around with his contract. When you have a guy like that, he should be given total control of all squad related dealings.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:29 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Neville, Rafael and Brown?

O Shea and Eckersley

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:29 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Neville, Rafael and Brown?

O'Shea and Eckersley have also played there. In fact, I think in a couple of games Evans has had a spell there as well.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:35 pm  

Ande wrote:

I admit being one of the best teams in Europe is great and Benitez's record is outstanding yes but i'd much rather be one of the main forces within the Premiership.

You're joint second, having done the double over United and Chelsea. I'd say this year you are a force within the PL.

Ande wrote:

Something that Mancini did for his league teams was win the title, 3 years in a row. That shows quality within the league. he may not be the best man for the job but you could look for Bernd Schuster, Rijkaard, Slavan Billic etc.

That shows he was good in the Italian league, which is nowhere near as good as the PL.

Ande wrote:

Yes Rafa did make the signing of Torres and Benayoun and Skrtel etc but he now has to realise that he must play his BEST team week in and week out throughout the Premiership season, this is the thing that narks me and alot of other Liverpool fans off.
Rotation does not work look at United and Chelsea over the past 5 years for playing the best team week in and week out.

Liverpool have (apart from injuries) probably had the most consistent side selection of the top 3 this season, we've rotated in just about every game, through injury and through choice. Rotation works, it's just how you rotate your players, something Benitez got wrong in his first few years, but has since cut out.

Ande wrote:

As long as he continues to tinker and change and make quite frankly appauling signings then i will have reservations about him as Liverpool manager.

That's something I don't understand, he's brought two CL finals, with one victory, IIRC an FA Cup and maybe a Carling Cup, and he has got you closer to the PL title than other managers have managed.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:36 pm  

keithcun wrote:

I think you best check your facts, whopper.

The above apology by Airliebird9 (at least he's man enough to apologise) proves you wrong yet again. FACT.

Fair enough keith I apologise....I was totally wrong, two people didn't make you look a dick.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:19 pm  

Eurob0y wrote:

Josemi Rey
Antonio Nunez
Luis Garcia
Xabi Alonso
Mauricio Pellegrino
Fernando Morientes
Scott Carson
Antonio Barragan
Boudewijn Zenden
Jose Reina
Mohamed Sissoko
Peter Crouch
Godwin Antwi
Miki Roque
Jack Hobbs
Besian Idrizaj
Mark Gonzalez
Paul Anderson
Jan Kromkamp
Daniel Agger
David Martin
Robbie Fowler
Craig Bellamy
Gabriel Paletta
Fábio Aurélio
Jermaine Pennant
Dirk Kuyt
Nabil El Zhar
Jordy Brouwer
Francisco Durán
Ronald Huth
Álvaro Arbeloa
Lucas Leiva
Mikel San José Domínguez
Sebastian Leto
Fernando Torres
Andriy Voronin
Yossi Benayoun
Ryan Babel
Charles Itandje
Emiliano Insúa
Martin Skrtel
Javier Mascherano
Philipp Degen
Andrea Dossena
Diego Cavalieri
David Ngog
Robbie Keane
Albert Riera



So are you saying Benitez didnt want ANY of these players? Because thats a hell of a lot of players Liverpool have signed and still havent been anywhere near winning a premiership title.

How many of those were bought as youth players and not expected to be in the first team within 2 to 3 years though. Of course he's made signings that haven't worked out, which manager hasn't?

Some players don't translate well to the PL (this was the case with Josemi), some have potential that doesn't materialise (Gonzalez), sometimes (as was the case with a fair few of the earlier years of his tenure as manager) we just needed bodies to fill the squad to a decent level.

It amazes me that some think that because he doesn't have a 100% success rate in signings it should be used as a stick to beat him with. I wonder if these people have either forgotten the likes of Djemba Djemba, Veron, Forlan and Davis Bellion or just ignore them.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:25 pm  

Ande wrote:

I admit being one of the best teams in Europe is great and Benitez's record is outstanding yes but i'd much rather be one of the main forces within the Premiership.

Something that Mancini did for his league teams was win the title, 3 years in a row. That shows quality within the league. he may not be the best man for the job but you could look for Bernd Schuster, Rijkaard, Slavan Billic etc.

Yes Rafa did make the signing of Torres and Benayoun and Skrtel etc but he now has to realise that he must play his BEST team week in and week out throughout the Premiership season, this is the thing that narks me and alot of other Liverpool fans off.
Rotation does not work look at United and Chelsea over the past 5 years for playing the best team week in and week out.

As long as he continues to tinker and change and make quite frankly appauling signings then i will have reservations about him as Liverpool manager.

Have you actually watched these teams play over this time or are you just relaying dodgy media hype? I'll pretty much guarantee that they never go more than 2-3 games without having some changes in the team.

Every top manager rotates their squad when then can.

: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:02 pm  

Mark wrote:

Fair enough keith I apologise....I was totally wrong, two people didn't make you look a dick.

To be fair he does a good enough job of that on his own.