Comments on: Rafa’s Rotating Days Could Be Over

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:11:26 +0000

All the referee did was set the tone with early calls. Inter never adjusted and brought a Serie A style to a European match. The flopping about and bullying style was not okay, was indicated early on and they kept it up.Tactically they came in unprepared, looked the weaker side, and paid the price with a slow man gone.

By: Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:24:29 +0000

It’s too bad the referee decided the outcome of the match (in favor of Liverpool) vice LFC earning the victory on their own. They won’t get that luxury for the remainder of the EPL and CL.

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:37:58 +0000

If you’re a team like Liverpool, who expect a Champions League spot every year, every league match is “significant”. The match at Portsmouth was significant, when Gerrard and Torres were subs midway through the second half, and Liverpool settled for a 0-0 draw. So was the 0-0 draw at Anfield with Birmingham, when Torres didn’t start. The rotation policy isn’t something we’re just making up … it certainly has been an issue for Liverpool.

By: Ak

Ak — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:34:57 +0000

I think it’s “irrotate” …

By: Daryl

Daryl — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:35:33 +0000

I disagree Micah. There are plenty of games where one or more of them haven’t started and Liverpool’s results have suffered. We know Benitez picks his strongest team for the big games, or the significanat games as you call them.

But there are plenty of games where he doesn’t and the team pays for it with results and with loss of form. Otherwise Liverpool wouldn’t be stuck in fifth place and out of the FA Cup.

By: Micah

Micah — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:18:04 +0000

Too bad he didn’t start his strongest XI today.

Also Gerrard, Torres, Macherano, Carragher, Agger, and Reina have started every significant match when healthy/available. There goes that ingenious theory out the window.