What's this? Rafa head hunting again?
Yes, he's spent much, but he has recouped much as well. Again,
we've seen how Real Madrid spent and yet success is never within
their grasps, and I don't believe Rafa buys simply for the sake of
buying, but rather in acquiring players who can gel with the team
and who can work with him -- even when they're injured, because
they cost less when they're not 100% fit.
Alonso, Arbeloa, Pennant, and now Rieira, to name a few, were
players who found that they preferred to be working with another
boss and club, and when the mind of a player changes, you don't
really want them in your first 11 anymore, no matter how much
digits goes into the cheque.
Contrary to popular beliefs, he hasn't lost his job. He's never
worried about losing it anyway, and it's just the media and forum
dwellers who go on an on about how he's losing it at the end of the
season. Pure speculations.
Did anyone watch that game before Torres went off? Sure he's a
world class player whom you want to be on the end of the final
balls, but all Torres was getting is hacked down at every
opportunity from the back -- so do you 1) save your player's
fitness, 2) Give him a rest and get him hungrier for the next game,
3) continue playing a tired player and hope?
Against Birmingham, when Ngog came in, he created more space by
running around, evident by the amount of chances that came his way,
and of course, his finishing were woeful. He's young, 21yrs old but
he'll come good. And Birmingham at home, this season, is
simply formidable. That spirit of theirs is hard to crack when they
have a form like that, and when faced against them, you don't want
tired players on the field.
No I'm not defending Rafa, because I'd prefer
to see Torres AND Ngog upfront instead, but Benitez's motto of
"Don't lose" instead of "Go for Win" meant he'll pack 5 in midfield
and not allow Birmingham to build, and allow his midfielders to
chase and close down any space and try to win the ball.
We got 1 point from a tricky encounter, and got players who were
fresh enough to kill off Benfica later on.
Tonight, it's Fulham's visit, and with both teams fresh from
their European exploits (And the only English team left in Europe)
I'm pretty sure it'll be a 4-4-2 and cagey game. I'm expecting more
width with Rodriguez on the right, Babel on the left, with Kuyt and
Torres upfront. Masch and Gerrard in the middle, while Aquilani
sits again. Quite an attacking line-up but...
.. knowing Rafa, you really can't expect anything other than a
"Don't lose" formation.