I'm not going to try and change your mind, you do you. But you're welcome back on the Rafael bandwagon anytime.
As I've said before it was a strange appointment initially when the rumors were floating about, but when he signed, I just felt like the man had balls of steel to take the Everton job coming from a rival. I've never been to England, but I understand rivalries, sometimes there are lines that can't be crossed and Liverpool Everton can be like that sometimes, that's why I'm impressed he doesn't really care what people think.
But a comment on last night's game - that was something else, the game plan is clearly a 100 yard sprint to the other end and we have pretty quick players, Richy, DCL, Grey, Doucoure even Iwobi but some of them have massive engines as well that can run all day. In basketball one of the most important things is two way players that can play defence and offence, we're starting to turn some of these players into very effective two way players - Doucoure, Townsend immediately gives us two more attackers.
I don't think its the worst thing to play 3 at the back. I wasn't a fan of it previously, but watching last night I actually see how it could be effective. Teams that play 442 and do an overlap and outnumber on the flank to get a cross in - its easier for us to get 2 or 3 there to stop the cross. A CB and LB moves across and stops the threat plus the winger can help. Secondly as I've always said - I always though Allan and Doucoure are both box to box midfielders, last year Carlo was using them wrong as DMs and playmaking from the back. I don't think that's the best use of Allan. With 3 at the back, both Allan and Doucoure can get further up field, and one of the 3 CBs can be the DM like Godfrey or Mina. Allan and Douc have massive engines and can get up and down the pitch. I don't think it worked last night, because we were more comfortable with 4 at the back, but maybe another night.
