should he stay or should he go?

[ghostrider]

Fact is, if it was your decision, Rafa wouldn´t be our manager any more.

What a master stroke that would´ve been, eh?

Earlier on you're right, I'd have rolled him down the road out of the ground and sent him back to Liverpool to await his next expensive take over of some club.

Would that have been a mistake?
That depends on who would have replaced him at that time. It could have turned out equally well or better.

It's amazing how many people seem to know what was going to happen now that things are running smooth but the same people were all too willing to blame Ashley and a championship squad if it all went teets up.

I'm happy with the ways things are going as of now...for me...not for the appeasement of others.
I'll be equally peed off if Rafa dares to revert back to depressing tactics if he decides to stay next season and if he does, I'll call for his sacking.
As it stands I believe he's learned a lot at this club and one is not to keep dealing backward football, because the fans who championed him would soon turn had he not changed it.

Just looking at the players tells me all I need to know about how down they were earlier and how they've perked right up when allowed to play to their strengths and express themselves whilst being drilled when it matters, defensively.

[Jammy89]

some people know football, others know how to wind people up!

And we all keep biting - myself included.

[ghostrider]

I know this is pointless but. . .

Do you really think that Rafa would have played the same way earlier in the season if he'd got the Kenedy, the keeper and striker he wanted in Summer?

He didn't change the way he played after Jan because he thought - oh Ghost isn't happy i better change. He changed it because he got the personal he wanted to play the system.

He got one player to play the system you talk about. Kenedy.
The keeper is fine but he's last line of defence, not an offensive change up.

The system was there all the time to change but Rafa chose not to do it and play backward football.
If people think playing Joselu for extended periods of time and messing about with the team in head scratching ways was a master class then what can I say?

By all means believe Rafa had it all under control. I believe he was a whisker away from losing it due to stubborn arrogance by not setting us up to have a go for 90 minutes plus in a balanced way.

[ghostrider]

some people know football, others know how to wind people up!

Give over. What's the matter can't you handle different opinions?

[ghostrider]

And we all keep biting - myself included.

Biting for what?
My opinion when prompted?
Don't bite then and put me on ignore for crying out loud.

[waalsendmick]

He got one player to play the system you talk about. Kenedy.
The keeper is fine but he's last line of defence, not an offensive change up.

The system was there all the time to change but Rafa chose not to do it and play backward football.
If people think playing Joselu for extended periods of time and messing about with the team in head scratching ways was a master class then what can I say?

By all means believe Rafa had it all under control. I believe he was a whisker away from losing it due to stubborn arrogance by not setting us up to have a go for 90 minutes plus in a balanced way.

you show your total lack of football knowledge in a tactical sense here.

a good commanding goalkeeper is paramount to team shape and balance, through confidence, direction and an all round presence.


Dubravka has made an enormous difference, because our other 2 are just not premier league quality.

[ghostrider]

you show your total lack of football knowledge in a tactical sense here.

a good commanding goalkeeper is paramount to team shape and balance, through confidence, direction and an all round presence.


Dubravka has made an enormous difference, because our other 2 are just not premier league quality.

He should be confident, he's got a good defensive unit around him, also.
He's a decent keeper, no doubt about it but the point still stands.
Oh and don't give me this lack of football knowledge nonsense.

[waalsendmick]

it's not his confidence I'm on about. it's the confidence that the defence have in him. it is there for all to see, that confidence was not there in front if darlow or Elliot, neither if whom have any commanding presence at all.

a good shot stopper is only halfway to being a good goalkeeper.


our team has improved as a unit, because they are playing in front of a good goalkeeper

[ghostrider]

it's not his confidence I'm on about. it's the confidence that the defence have in him. it is there for all to see, that confidence was not there in front if darlow or Elliot, neither if whom have any commanding presence at all.

a good shot stopper is only halfway to being a good goalkeeper.


our team has improved as a unit, because they are playing in front of a good goalkeeper

I know the team has improved. Dubravka has improved it and so has Kenedy. No arguments there but my point still stands.

[ex_pat_magpie]

He got one player to play the system you talk about. Kenedy.
The keeper is fine but he's last line of defence, not an offensive change up.

The system was there all the time to change but Rafa chose not to do it and play backward football.
If people think playing Joselu for extended periods of time and messing about with the team in head scratching ways was a master class then what can I say?

By all means believe Rafa had it all under control. I believe he was a whisker away from losing it due to stubborn arrogance by not setting us up to have a go for 90 minutes plus in a balanced way.

The right keeper can be the start of penetrating offensive moves if the rest of the team are coached to fit in.

The previous keepers we had were by their standard decent shot stoppers but certainly not offensive creators.