Why is it that fat rafa seems 2 be so effective in Europe but more or less average in the prem? He usually gets his tactics and team selections spot on, but in the prem he makes some basic schoolboy errors. Why do you think this is? He's been here long enough now.
The answer is that he doesn't understand tactics for premiership away games. It's all very well to play for a draw or a narrow defeat away in europe, but in the premiership the bar has been raised in the last 2-3 years. An away draw is no good anymore. Of course, if you play for a draw often you'll end up losing (attack is always the best form of defence). Maybe the penny will drop soon.
When you play against most European teams, tactics matter a lot because you don't play each other that often, and so this is where Rafa tactics play a big part. In the premiership, the teams know each other well and so tactics aren't as much of a factor. I wouldn't always put Liverpool's defeats down to rafa (although playing kuyt on the left versus Everton was a poor decision). Rather, the team just doesn't perform well enough.
I think he is more used to the european game, but now is starting to get to grips with the premiership. He has won us a trophy in each of his first to seasons and we are in with a good chance in the CL this season.
When you play against most European teams, tactics matter a lot because you don't play each other that often, and so this is where Rafa'tactics play a big part. In the premiership, the teams know each other and so tactics aren't as much of a factor.
