Liverpool
Rotation - Part Two
By Captain Scarlet
September 27 2007
Ok folks after a good victory in the CC on Tuesday night where the team was once again rotated, I thought that the people who look upon rotation in a positive way would be on high and say 'look it does work'.
On that note and NOT a dig at Rafa I though I'd put forward my points against constant rotation.
1. Rotation early in the season means longer to get to full fitness, assuming it takes 5/6 matches to gain it.
2. Rotating many players each match makes partnerships and 'understanding's' between players harder to achieve. The reason Zonal marking took ages to work on was due to constant changes in personnel.
3. If 'understanding's' are not formed between players, then mistakes are more likely to happen.
4. Players want to play, simple as.
5. The more influential players are often not on the pitch.
6. The less influential players are often on the pitch.
7. Rotation does NOT protect against injury. Agger and Xabi are both out and after "protecting" Torres against Portsmouth and Birmingham in league games we needed to win, he could have been injured inside five minutes against Reading in the CC.
8. Our unbeaten spells in the second halfs of the last two seasons saw very little changes between players.
9. The 'better' players sitting on the bench are having to come on if drawing or losing with 15/20 frantic minutes remaining to go and rush around trying to turn the result around, meaning MORE chance of picking up an injury. Why not pick a strong team to start and once in a comfortable position, substitute players then.
10. Scoring a goal, two goals or a hat-trick and then being 'rested' feels like being dropped just when your confidence is high.
We needed a good start and we got a good start. But after a 6-0 drubbing of Derby we lost momentum by making six changes at a Pompy side 'there' for the taking.
We will have some great results after the team has been rotated, just as much as we will have defeats if the team wasn't. But I believe that we'd be a much stronger side with a consistent line up with others fighting for places.
Ok rest a player here and there if absolutely needed, but not 5 or more every match.
As Paisley used to say when asked what his team selection was, "Same again".
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
I thought it was Shanks who when asked for his team used to answer...'same as last year'
Can I put it on the front page?
---------------------------------
“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly
W don't need to make as many changes in the latter stages of the season because the players aren't as fatigued.
I think there are pro's and con's to rotation.
Imo the squad is still two or three players short before Rafa can bring in like-for-like players, or quality-for-quality.
The midfield takes care of its self. Momo, Xabi, Stevie and Mascheranoooo in whichever combination played will dominate. Its just the flanks ive still got a problem with. Kewell, Riise and Aurelio aren't good enough cover. Im not going to cast judgement upo Benayoun yet. Pennant is looking better with every game he plays but there are better right wingers playing in the Premier League. Ronaldo, Lennon, Wright-Phillips...Babel is the only one, imo that could hold down a regular place in the side.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007:09:27:12:23:38 by L'pool FC.
All the top managers rotate their players to an extent,is slur Alex being riddiculed by the press this morning? Rafa has a proven pedigree when it comes to winning things ,ok to us we cant see the sence of not going for Pompeys throat but he believed in the team he put out. After 6 games were unbeaten ,havnt even conceded from open play so hes not far off the mark. If were in striking distance of the title and looking fit as butchers dogs in April rotation will be a forgotten word like zonal. If were off the pace at this stage again then questions must be asked. As for now have faith IN RAFA I TRUST
L'pool, you don't really believe players are fresh at the end of the season due to rotation do ya?
I'd agree on some of your points on wide players but I personally feel Pennant has been better than Lennon for a while now. SWP is good but hit and miss at present and I doubt whiskey gob would sell us Ronaldo, if he wouldn't sell us Heinz.
Theses unbeaten runs for the past two seasons can't be down to luck. We have been to 3 cup finals in three seasons. For that you need to be at your best in every game up until the final whistle.
Because as I said, he doesn't rotate the team as much towards the end.
One or two get rested as opposed to 5/6/7 or more at the start.
I know a fair few managers rotate but does that make it right? They also don't do six or seven at a time.
I know Rafa believed that the team v Pompy was good enough as he thought v Brum was good enough too.
He has been sucessful I know, but I like many many others would love to see us have a settled side.
It's not a knock or a bandwagen to jump on and I couldn't care less what the papers say, they change their tune, I don't.
---------------------------------
“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly
I can see good & bad points in both systems, I think it can
work very well in cup campaigns as it's been proved in what wev'e won. Espeically gainst AC Milan in the CL final, coming back from 3 nil down.
But if it's true players needing 5/6 matches ta get match fit after a couple of game lay offs, I can see where the team lacks in gelling.
We need ta be consistant, before the international break we stormed ta the top with good results. Then the next couple of games we couldn't string two passes together.
Having players fresh at the end of the season with all the rotation is wonderfull. But to be honest, it depends on how far behined the top two we are, becacuse of inconsistancy throughout the season.
As Carra says, we all want the same result come may, So lets all back Rafa 100% with his tactics & see what he can cunjur
up for us. but would like him ta use a settled side ta see what that can achieve too!!!!
Having Torres in our side can mean only one thing, CONFIDENCE & he has bundles of it & hopefully it will rub off.
SO "IN RAFA WE TRUST",....
Drogba, Terry, Lampard etc played virtually all season long with out looking too tired, even in CC ties and they lifted the PL trophy two years running.
Over the last few seasons we have "lost" the title at the start of the season, not the end. Being twenty points behind at the turn of the new year then trying to pull them back with 'fresh' players ain't gonna happen.
If players can't manage 4 or 5 matches without getting tired at the start, how can they manage 10 or 11 at the end?
Red Cookie
Obviously chilling out somewhere if your heart only works 9 hours a day.
How come the Liverpool players of old could manage three matches a week?
Xperiment
I said rest a player here and there if needed and if Torres was struggling to adapt then fine. But the man is on fire and full of confidence.
More Liverpool headlines
- Controversy in Carras Last Derby
- A testing game for Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers
- It's an honour to play with Suarez - Coutinho
- We Weren't Good Enough - Brendan Rodgers
- Zenit midfielder impressed with Reds fans
- UNITED, LIVERPOOL, WHO IS THE GREATEST?
- Jonjo Shelvey Willing to Work Hard to Get Back in First Team
- Borini Raring To Go
- Gerrards hopes for Suarez
Liverpool latest threads
- Controversy in Carras Last Derby
- Liverpool v/s Chelsea .
- A testing game for Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers
- Anne Williams fighter for justice RIP
- It's an honour to play with Suarez - Coutinho
- We Weren't Good Enough - Brendan Rodgers
- Zenit midfielder impressed with Reds fans
- New Spurs forum
- UNITED, LIVERPOOL, WHO IS THE GREATEST?
- Jonjo Shelvey Willing to Work Hard to Get Back in First Team