well the strangest of seasons just got a little stranger. another controversial team selection, another uninspiring performance, but another game in which we not only avoided defeat but managed to find a last gasp winner to return to the top of the table. admittedly, we didn't stay top for long, but still, this was one in the eye for likes of me who felt that we probably wouldn't top the table again this season after surrendering a once healthy lead.
rafa was five minutes away from being absolutely crucified, but the cavalry he'd sent on to rescue him came up trumps as kuyt and torres both found the net late on to sink a plucky, but seriously woeful, portsmouth side. the three points are most welcome, but they shouldn't disguise the fact that once again we allowed ourselves to be dragged down to the level of poor opposition.
rafa will argue that torres was in no condition to start this game and he had no choice but to go with babel and n'gog. i can accept that torres was a little tired, but all that this has done is ensured he'll be fresh for the spain game in midweek. could we not have given him 60 or 70 minutes here, get the game won and then bring him off? or at the very least, play kuyt up front and bring torres on later on if need be? i can accept torres being rested, but i can't accept n'gog and babel leading the attack.
there's such a fine margin between success and failure. rafa will be lauded for getting the win and making the game winning substitutions, but would the same people doing that have been praising him had torres not grabbed that stoppage time winner? rafa took a huge gamble, and just about got away with it. i hope we don't see him do that again though, as next time he might not be so lucky.
we actually played ok for the most part, but the complete dearth of talent up front hurt us. we knocked the ball about quite well, and aurelio acquitted himself quite well in an unfamiliar midfield role. mascherano looked more like his old self, although he's not there yet, whilst benayoun continued his recent run of decent form and looked lively throughout.
i keep saying how unimpressed i am with most of our displays, and yet here we are still right in the thick of the title race. i can't quite get my head around it, as it's obvious that we really aren't that good. having said that, no-one else looks that good either. the mancs have turned into george graham's arsenal, grinding out 1-0s, whilst chelsea have lost the plot and arsenal will do well to catch villa for a cl spot. like i say, strange season.
rafa was five minutes away from being absolutely crucified, but the cavalry he'd sent on to rescue him came up trumps as kuyt and torres both found the net late on to sink a plucky, but seriously woeful, portsmouth side. the three points are most welcome, but they shouldn't disguise the fact that once again we allowed ourselves to be dragged down to the level of poor opposition.
rafa will argue that torres was in no condition to start this game and he had no choice but to go with babel and n'gog. i can accept that torres was a little tired, but all that this has done is ensured he'll be fresh for the spain game in midweek. could we not have given him 60 or 70 minutes here, get the game won and then bring him off? or at the very least, play kuyt up front and bring torres on later on if need be? i can accept torres being rested, but i can't accept n'gog and babel leading the attack.
there's such a fine margin between success and failure. rafa will be lauded for getting the win and making the game winning substitutions, but would the same people doing that have been praising him had torres not grabbed that stoppage time winner? rafa took a huge gamble, and just about got away with it. i hope we don't see him do that again though, as next time he might not be so lucky.
we actually played ok for the most part, but the complete dearth of talent up front hurt us. we knocked the ball about quite well, and aurelio acquitted himself quite well in an unfamiliar midfield role. mascherano looked more like his old self, although he's not there yet, whilst benayoun continued his recent run of decent form and looked lively throughout.
i keep saying how unimpressed i am with most of our displays, and yet here we are still right in the thick of the title race. i can't quite get my head around it, as it's obvious that we really aren't that good. having said that, no-one else looks that good either. the mancs have turned into george graham's arsenal, grinding out 1-0s, whilst chelsea have lost the plot and arsenal will do well to catch villa for a cl spot. like i say, strange season.
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情人节快乐^^
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