I attribute Liverpool's present problems to two main possible reasons: the inability of Rafa to settle a 'first 11' team (rotation policy) and his inability to settle his players in an 'appropriatly' consistent playing position.
His ability to buy new players who fit well in the team might also be questioned.

Mario, you are talking rubbish.

1. we haven't lost a game yet
2. a couple of draws and the world and his dog get on Rafa's back
3. Name the players who are played out of position
4. Who are the players that do not fit into the team?

Please remember all the good things that Rafa has done!

I think Mario is right though.

We haven't lost a game yet, but with the 3-point system 3 draws is like losing 2 matches from 6 games, and 2 of them against mid-table teams, which isn't a very impressive record, I think, although it's a little bit too early to assess though .

Remember these players which were imported and exported by Rafa, and some of them very soon too?

Morientes, Bellamy, Nunez, Kromkamp, Gonzales, Josemi, Pellegrino etc. They plainly and simply didn't fit.

Regards players played out of their best position, some good examples: Babel's Ajax position was that of a forward not a pure winger. Riise left back or left wing? Arbeloa right or left back? Aurelio left back or left wing? Pennant right or left winger? Bennayoun right winger of central midfielder? And not to mention Gerrard too.

You can't settle a team like that really. Consider other top clubs, they don't meddle with the team so much. So what do you exactly attribute to most Liverpool players' lack of consistent form, present and recent?

agreed. please do not rehash tabloid comments that are just plain dumb.

to reiterate, our best runs in the last 2 years came while rotating and playing Gerrard 'out of position'.

As for the new players - Benayoun very skillful, Babbel could be a master, Arbeloa v reliable, voronin done great so far (and free), Torres, Kuyt, even crouch who became far more than we expected.

Final comment - all players who failed to shine to the required level are gone except Kewell. For heavens sake how can a liverpool fan complain?

sam,

with this type of play liverpool is not going win anything this season. they are back at their old habits. i see no drive in the palyers. who to balme. sometimes i wonder what rafa is thinking. is he playing his team to win or he just want try-out what he wants. at the end of the day what matters is not what rafa wants but whether he delivers what the fans want - titles.

Re: Anton,

Do you know anything about football? All the examples you quoted about players being played out of position are nonsense. All of those players CAN play IN MORE THAN ONE POSITION. It's known, in the game, as tactics!! Do you know the 'great' 'pool sides did this - Stevie Nicol could play anywhere, Barnes and Houghton would often swap wings during games and so on........Benitez likes his players with 'intelligence'

Sometimes, you can aquire a player and it doesn't work out. If that player goes to 'pool he is subject to more scrutiny than ever though. Morientes worked well for the team but never got the crosses he thrives on. Kronkamp was solid enough but not as good or as versatile as Arbeloa. The others, well, in and out. Don't forget also, that transfer funding is more plentiful now, so instead of maybes we can buy definites. And the signs are good so far with the players that have come in.

I think that fans who complain like this so early in the season, are quite plainly, idiots. And I suspect no Liverpool fans at all. I even saw some comments on Teletext saying Rafa should go - these people are obviously deviod of any understanding of the game.

And Anton, form is form. Every club has patchy form at some point. Stop slagging a great manager.