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With Liverpool's once promising season beginning to show some wobbliness, it's worth comparing Rafa Benitez' approach to squad rotation with Arsene Wenger's at Arsenal. Specifically it's worth comparing the fortunes of Fernando Torres and Robin Van Persie. Torres has shown glimpses of his ability, but Benitez insistence on benching the Spaniard after good performances has hindered him hitting full stride with any consistency.
But Wenger has taken the old fashioned approach to squad rotation: Dropping the players who are in poor form. Van Persie's early season efforts earned him a place on the bench for Arsenal's 5-0 demolition of Derby. But back in the team at the weekend and with a point to prove, Van Persie scored the only goal in Arsenal's 1-0 win over West Ham, before repeating the trick away to Steau Bucharest.
Meanwhile Liverpool came unstuck at home to a struggling Olympique Marseille team, losing 1-0 at Anfield with all the big names misfiring. Rafa knows plenty about football and usually seems spot on (if a little cautious) with his tactics. But his heavy squad rotation makes it impossible for players to play themselves into or out of the first team, so fails to provide the rocket in the arse that Wenger gave Van Persie not so long ago.
But at least Benitez still has his sense of humour. Asked whether there was anything positive to take from the 1-0 defeat to Marseille, Benitez paused. "Yes," he replied. "It is finished."
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6 Responses
Jody on 04-10-2007 at 2:55 am
Wenger does rotate better than Bentez but Van Persie was not dropped due to poor form. He needed to give Eduardo a game and RVP had played the lot. Wenger even said (i’ll admit that this does not always mean he’s really injured – see Jens Lehmann) that he was worried about overplaying him and thus against weaker opposition it was wise to give Eduardo his chance and offer him the opportunity to get his first league goal for the club.
Jason on 04-10-2007 at 3:03 am
Bad article. Everybody is so quick to critisize Benitez, and praise Wenger. The fact is that if you compare their records since benitez has joined Liverpool, Benitez comes out far superior. Arsenal will go yet another season without a trophy, but I spose that is ok because he has a young team.
One other thing everyone is so amazed by Wenger not spending a lot of money in the transfer market. In my opinion Arsenal’s transfers need to be investigated. The are always buying at an undisclosed fee and selling well below value. This tells me a lot of cash is being dealt on the side. Henry for 16 million? What ever. Rosicky? What did he cost? Many more examples are there like Viera ect ect. Fabregas will probably be sold for 15 million in 3 years time because we wont see the other 20 million that was under the table.
useroz on 04-10-2007 at 4:04 am
if jason is amadmant there’s a case for arsenal and/or arsene to answer in relation to any dealings, there are more official and effective channels; rather than bitching about it on blogs; i suppose success does attract the wrong sort of jealous opposition… that’s life; after all there’s not a hint in the investigation/ inquiry arsenal would/ should be implicated
Phil on 04-10-2007 at 4:27 am
Jason, your conspiracy theories are hilarious, we got rid of Henry because he is 30, and would go for less and less each year which isnt good business especially when we have so many talented players coming through who have improved vastly since he is no longer there glaring at everyone. With Rosicky we paid about £7mill which was the buy out clause in his contract.If we were getting cash on the side in the order of scores of millions as you imply, do you honestly think that someone at the Inland Revenue wouldnt have noticed. Thats a 1/10 of our entire turnover. Mug.
Finsbury Parker on 04-10-2007 at 4:31 am
Jason : That’s paranoid nonsense. We just have a better scouting network than you. Get over it!
I sense some bitterness because Liverpool aren’t where everyone predicted them to be, having ‘splashed the cash’.
Mikey on 04-10-2007 at 7:10 am
If Rafa is so bad at rotating then why have Liverpool finished above Arsenal for the last two seasons and got to a cup final in each – including ANOTHER CL final!
This is just early season ‘hot air’ I’m afraid. Arsenal have yet to be really tested – stand by for ‘pizzagate’ part two – as we all know what happened when Arsenal started to believe their own press.