Greg

I cant argue, that is true. But I watched Stoke City dominate Man City a couple of seasons ago, and they just went for it. That City side apart from KDB last night was weaker than ive seen. Especially throwing fernandinho into the back four. Pep was laughing inside fully aware we had bottled it.

Did really well up against players in in the same transfer fee bracket.

He was blowing out of his arse, had to come off.

Astounded at some of the posts on here tonight. It really doesn’t get any more simple than we’d have been hammered if we’d ‘had a go’ tonight with this squad. We’d all love our team to have had a go, but we haven’t got the quality to do it yet until, please god, we are rid of Ashley and can buy better quality. The fact is, we were a goal line clearance off a draw here. With this squad. The tactics and game plan were spot on. I’m astounded that people think the way we played for most of the game was the right way especially the first half. It wasn’t as if allowing city so much space, time and just do as they like with the ball restricted them to one or two chances they could and should have had 5 plus with all the chances they had. You do not allow teams like city to be able to basically walk the ball towards the goal. The only reason we were only one down was due to city having an off day in front of goal. Or maybe our defence and GK were able to restrict them to shots from distance and half-chances from awkward angles. Not having that like. Apart from two good saves by Elliott, I don't remember them missing any glaring chances. Yeah, Gary Neville kept on going on about how they should have had 4 or 5 but had an off day in front of goal. I genuinely can't remember them wasting many clear chances at all. I think there's a fair bit of misunderstanding towards the tactical side of last night's game, we tailored our setup exactly right against a vastly superior, attacking team and nearly got something from it. The fact the game finished 1-0 and were in it right up until the last minute blatantly shows Rafa was correct and his tactics were spot on. To say City had an 'off' game and that was the only reason they didn't get more is ignorant really, they didn't score because Rafa's tactics stopped them from playing their usual game, limiting them to half chances as opposed to easy shots. No misunderstanding at all, if you allow teams to keep coming at you without putting challenges in they are going to put you in trouble with the quality they have and they did. Think some people need to watch the game again apart from the two saves, the goal, aquero hitting the post, de bbruyne putting wide when clean through which I would class as very good chances we also had another two shots hit the post and a few other efforts put over when in decent positions all because no player was even attempting to challenge. Was that down to the s*** in our team maybe but to say the way that team played in the first half especially was acceptable is quite plainly laughable. The right tactics were to play on the counter but to make sure that city were not given time on the ball and that did not happen. If also doesn’t help when you have a useless plank up front who lost the ball time and time again ably assisted by the two wide men who did the same. Rafa I’m sure was wanting to use Joselu to hold the ball and utilise the pace of the two pace men but it never happened. The lack of challenges and backing off last night again especially in that first half was shocking. You do not allow quality teams the freedom of the park at any level. This is nonsense mind. The game plan was clear first 30, very disciplined flat back 5 and then a bank of 4 and so limiting the space for City to play in. If we had pressed this City side and try and do what you say are the correct tactics we would have been picked off, space opened up and probably been thumped.

I think it was Lascelles header from a corner off the top of his head that went for a throw in.

Made a few decent saves but time and time again failed to deal with balls into the six yard box. For the goal he either has to cover his near post or come out and take the fucking lot. He’s shit. So is Darlow.

Just not good enough. Cost us a point.

Rafa been on the Christmas sherry?

He's never been anything other than not good enough in the Premier League tbh, managed 10 goals in a season once in 11 seasons. Just happens to have played very, very well against us a few times.

What? It wasn't a particularly good free kick which the keeper should have saved. It shouldn't be used to gloss over a thoroughly average display and a horrendous mistake for their first goal. Your mate blobby would have saved it eh? It was a very good free kick.

Let's hope it's our Jesus.

Just got back. Fucking magical. Nothing quite like following United when we win away.

Great goal but awful from Mingolet again.

Gameweek 19 fixtures Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool Everton 0-1 Chelsea Brighton 1-1 Watford Man City 3-0 Bournemouth Southampton 2-0 Huddersfield Stoke 0-0 West Brom Swansea 1-1 Crystal Palace West Ham 0-1 Newcastle Burnley 1-1 Spurs Leicester 0-2 Man Utd

When should we unlock it?

Pulis record at WBA was shocking yes and he rightly deserved the sack, anyone no matter who you are if you have that kind of record you deserve the sack...Mourinho,Van Gaal,Ancelotti have all been sacked too for s*** records Rafa takes 1 point from f***ing 27 though and hes absolved of all blame on all counts Yes we are a championship team and f***ed up majorly in the summer because of such tight restraints but the players we did buy are absolute garbage and a complete waste of 30m quid and this lad Kenedy will be no different. Tart it up all you like but 1 point from 27 is a sackable offence imo You’ve just said yourself that we’re a Championship team and yet you expect Rafa to be winning games in the PL with it. You’ve just contradicted yourself enormously! We are a championship team simply because we failed in the summer to move on from a championship team to a lower half premier league team. We bought players who have failed at premier league clubs and championship players. We failed to get rid of the s**** that contributed to us getting relegated in the first instance and yet these players still get gametime for us 2 years after that relegation. Im not contradicting myself at all. You mean to tell me that Benitez plays absolutely no part in us failing to get better players than what we bought and its all the fault of the team behind him. I really don't buy that at all after all this is the same Benitez that went to war with Gillet & Hicks over them not letting him sign Gareth Barry to replace Xabi Alonso He has signed these players or do people on here think he was just given them on a plate. Surely to god there were better options out there for the money we spent Murphy 12m.....Lejeune 8m......Joselu. 5m.....Atsu 6m....Manquillo 5m....All f***ing rubbish Money wasted on s**** Were they his first choice players, the players he had lined up for months? It doesn't matter, if you wanted a Maserati but couldn't afford it would you just settle for a clapped out Nova that couldn't move just for the sake of having a car...no What a load of shite man. So if we can't get our top target we shouldn't bother and just give up? Sure fire way to guarantee relegation and implosion.

Im not saying I want him sacked im saying that his record this season is a sackable offence and grounds for dismissal. Am I wrong in that judgement or thought Yes.

He played 16 minutes of football for Watford.

Can make a 4th substitution now.

Spurs have said recently they may night need to play all early season games away next season.

Still at a 5. 50/50, so much of the season to play for but massively depends on arresting our current form ASAP and strengthening in January.

Old quotes.