Good post Mark, however there are a few things.
Rafa has always had the standoffish approach to players I just think its more noted in players who aren't getting picked. It's something he really needs to work on.
In fact the only player in recent history I can remember that has got back in favour when so obviously out is Yossi and I'm positive thats down to Yossi and not the manager.
That aside his massive mistake over the last 18 months was buying Keane and not realising the kind of player both on and off the pitch he was getting. How did he not do his research and realise he wouldn't want him almost instantly? To blow 20M like that was crazy and our squad hasn't recovered.
I said the day he signed it was a big mistake and ultimately would cost us the title when we were so close to having a squad to win it and I think I've been proved right. A lack of cutting edge in the final third against weaker teams cost us last year. That money went on a player that was not used.
This summer was all about midfield. We simple have lost our mistro in Alonso and effectively for the 1st 10 games this year replaced him with Lucas. A mindboggling misstep by Rafa which could ultimately cost us fourth. He gambled on the likes of Gerrard and Torres to get us going in the first games without Aquaman and its backfired horribly. Simple as that. You want answers thats it. Everything else is a side note.
Our midfield now consists of a very below standard Lucas and and off form Masher (Neither capable of getting the ball to Gerrard or torres and hence both have been isolated when playing. Any decent team with any sort of midffield have ran over us. The only fix was Gerrard in the middle and Yossi in the hole. He did this for one game we won 4-0 Yossi scored a hat trick and what does he do. He changes back to the Lucsa love in the next game.
He totally blinded by Lucas and it could cost us everything yet. I could go on but I'm tired.
And this is not knee jerk either I've seen it coming fro ma long way.
Rafa has always had the standoffish approach to players I just think its more noted in players who aren't getting picked. It's something he really needs to work on.
In fact the only player in recent history I can remember that has got back in favour when so obviously out is Yossi and I'm positive thats down to Yossi and not the manager.
That aside his massive mistake over the last 18 months was buying Keane and not realising the kind of player both on and off the pitch he was getting. How did he not do his research and realise he wouldn't want him almost instantly? To blow 20M like that was crazy and our squad hasn't recovered.
I said the day he signed it was a big mistake and ultimately would cost us the title when we were so close to having a squad to win it and I think I've been proved right. A lack of cutting edge in the final third against weaker teams cost us last year. That money went on a player that was not used.
This summer was all about midfield. We simple have lost our mistro in Alonso and effectively for the 1st 10 games this year replaced him with Lucas. A mindboggling misstep by Rafa which could ultimately cost us fourth. He gambled on the likes of Gerrard and Torres to get us going in the first games without Aquaman and its backfired horribly. Simple as that. You want answers thats it. Everything else is a side note.
Our midfield now consists of a very below standard Lucas and and off form Masher (Neither capable of getting the ball to Gerrard or torres and hence both have been isolated when playing. Any decent team with any sort of midffield have ran over us. The only fix was Gerrard in the middle and Yossi in the hole. He did this for one game we won 4-0 Yossi scored a hat trick and what does he do. He changes back to the Lucsa love in the next game.
He totally blinded by Lucas and it could cost us everything yet. I could go on but I'm tired.
And this is not knee jerk either I've seen it coming fro ma long way.
