TheDonis Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Rafa is all about balance and control. You'll lose count of the times you'll hear him say 'We controlled the game' or 'We lost control of the game'. He will make late substitutions with that in mind, even when you're chasing a game, and I can't think he'll ever start with two out and out strikers, though you might often finish with two on the pitch. As for balance, at LFC he used a saying about a 'short blanket'. Pull it too high and your feet get cold; have it too low and the head gets cold (it sounds better when he says it though ) but it sums up his approach. He will always make sure the defence is protected and he will always make sure there are goals in the team, but one won't outweigh the other. So today Yedlin gets a rest because having not started Atsu before he probably wanted a more solid right back than an attacking right back to stop the feet getting cold. Dummett is solid defensively (in principle) so there's scope to have a more attack-minded left mid and help warm the head etc. Last season when he Real got pumped by Barcelona at home, which basically sealed his fate, word is he listened to Perez and the players and played all the Galacticos. No real holding mid, attacking wing backs. I remember being amazed that Rafa allowed himself to play such a team. I don't think he'll be repeating it in a hurry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milburn Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 My problem with Rafa is that you just know that Atsu will be benched again in the next match while Dummet, Colback and Diame will all keep their places. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 On 01/10/2016 at 15:59, ope said: Would love to us play with Atsu and Ritchie out wide, swapping sides. Shelvey and Diame/Hayden in the middle and Mitro alongside Gayle up front. We'd smash the likes of Rotherham with that. :thup: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 On 01/10/2016 at 16:33, Ronaldo said: Quote Would love to us play with Atsu and Ritchie out wide, swapping sides. Shelvey and Diame/Hayden in the middle and Mitro alongside Gayle up front. We'd smash the likes of Rotherham with that. :thup: Aye to this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Fact is mostly everyone would have mitro playing upfront with zero mobility he offers and that is why Rafa is our manager and he isn't picking him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 That lack of mobility really hampered us as we put 6 past QPR like. Crippled us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayson Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 On 01/10/2016 at 16:31, Milburn said: My problem with Rafa is that you just know that Atsu will be benched again in the next match while Dummet, Colback and Diame will all keep their places. Dummett was alright defensively today. I think he favours Hayden, not sure on the theory as to why he's been rotated out but he played a few in a row during our winning streak. I wouldn't be suprised if Diame was rotated again also. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest palnese Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 On 01/10/2016 at 16:34, neesy111 said: Fact is mostly everyone would have mitro playing upfront with zero mobility he offers and that is why Rafa is our manager and he isn't picking him. If he had a partner things would like a bit different. On his own with little support he's pretty useless. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
huss9 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 the set up has been safety first but we've still created more than half a dozen decent chances in each of the last 3 games, so he is getting it right. just our finishers aren't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
number9shirt Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Rafa Benítez ‘I enjoy winning, it doesn’t matter how’. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanj Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 On 01/10/2016 at 16:33, Hanskissedhispantz said: Quote Quote Would love to us play with Atsu and Ritchie out wide, swapping sides. Shelvey and Diame/Hayden in the middle and Mitro alongside Gayle up front. We'd smash the likes of Rotherham with that. :thup: Aye to this. Same 100% Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Venkman Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 On 01/10/2016 at 15:59, ope said: Would love to us play with Atsu and Ritchie out wide, swapping sides. Shelvey and Diame/Hayden in the middle and Mitro alongside Gayle up front. We'd smash the likes of Rotherham with that. Is there a case to be made that he's setting the team up to play in a balanced way no matter who we're playing? I understand the horse for course angle, by from his point of view we're probably going to be in the premier league next season and we'll need to be balanced then, so the more experienced we are at it the better? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinho lad Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 I think he's finding the balance between winning (promotion) and his players understanding his methods. (Preparation for the PL) Genius. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Yeah, always going to focus more on developing a sustainable model than going out to smash the likes of Rotherham. Same reason he won't go to two strikers, he needs everyone to understand his system and be able to rotate players in and out of it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holloway Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Cautious, ruthless fucker heh heh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiotes Witch Doctor Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 I remember loads of Liverpool fans and even ex players saying hes quite a cold manager, not an arm around the shoulder deep chat kind of guy, but from what I've seen he seems like hes softened in his old-er age. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 One thing I admire about him, and always have is that even when he sets up defensively, he doesn't pick strikers up front who are just big lunks. Gayle offers movement and finishing, Diame can look like he's not involved, but his play is ideal for setting away a quick forward like Gayle or Atsu. Playing a big striker is pretty easily dealt with by playing a big defender. That style of attack can be useful in desperation mode, but in major competitions, how many teams actually have that type of striker and are successful? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 On 01/10/2016 at 16:34, neesy111 said: Fact is mostly everyone would have mitro playing upfront with zero mobility he offers and that is why Rafa is our manager and he isn't picking him. Anothere fact could be that he doesn't offer zero mobilility and that probably our biggest problem so far is holding the ball up front. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robster Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 When I look at the mess that Villa appear to be in at the moment, I am very grateful that we have Rafa in charge. We are very lucky. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figures 1-0 Football Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 I love Rafa more each day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foluwashola Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 On 01/10/2016 at 18:06, Kanji said: Quote Quote Quote Would love to us play with Atsu and Ritchie out wide, swapping sides. Shelvey and Diame/Hayden in the middle and Mitro alongside Gayle up front. We'd smash the likes of Rotherham with that. :thup: Aye to this. Same 100% Pretty certain Shelvey & Diame in the middle would be a disaster like. Thankfully Rafa isn't stuck in some sort of Football Manager mindset and values the defensive side of the game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest palnese Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 You have to value the defensive side of the game on Football Manager as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest firetotheworks Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 I think the reasoning for it is sound. We used to play in the championship with a central midfield of Nolan and Guthrie, you don't need to have that defensive player if it means improving the overall team enough to the extent where attack is the first line of defence and we simply don't need that defensive player on the ball. Sometimes players like that become a self fulfilling prophecy. They're there to get the ball back, when we could have kept it in the first place with another player. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest palnese Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 KI Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danh1 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 On 02/10/2016 at 10:02, Robster said: When I look at the mess that Villa appear to be in at the moment, I am very grateful that we have Rafa in charge. We are very lucky. Aye, it's all well and good spending money on bringing a load of new players in but it doesn't mean they're going to settle click straight away. Rafa is doing a good job so far as frustrating as it has been at times. Love him me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts