Post match wash-up/rant thread

[Guest]

Why leave on useless kuyt in there and took out our most dangerous player, Craigh Bellamy?
WHY?

He probably was knackered. Even then we had our best chance after that and continued to dominate the game.

[FowlerLeftFoot]

Agree with that. Alonso was off today....like he has been most of this season.

I thought Kuyt had a decent game, but Bellamy was giving Vidic problems. I'd have taken Momo or Alonso (who had been booked) off, put Bellamy wide right and Crouch up top with Kuyt.

[Revo]

said it before and i dont rate him but i wonder how cisse would play with kuyt playing in the hole behind him, cisse playing the all out striker?

[Rich]

I agree with the sentiment of much of this thread - today highlighted one thing to me, our lack of genuine TOP CLASS attacking talent, we are good going forward, just not excellent and when you play against a team like Man U we needed that one player that can score with a half chance.

I like Kuyt, but he's showing that he's a worker, a chaser, and doesn't have a clinical finish on him. Bellamy can cause lots of problems for defences, but usually because of his explosive pace, and not because of genuine goal threat, and it's a similar story with Crouch, he can cause problems due to his 'awkwardness' to play against, but isn't top class.

However, as a team and squad we ARE almost there. Vital summer approaches.

[Neil Young]

He probably was knackered. Even then we had our best chance after that and continued to dominate the game.

Also, thinking of Tuesday perhaps?

[Red_Al_77]

He probably was knackered. Even then we had our best chance after that and continued to dominate the game.

Knackered? After 60 odd minutes when he hadn't even played for 10days. Doesn't say much for his general level of fitness. The substitution of Bellamy was a mistake IMO and no amount of pony old excuses will convince me otherwise.

[Kopite_Colin]

said it before and i dont rate him but i wonder how cisse would play with kuyt playing in the hole behind him, cisse playing the all out striker?

Agree with you. Cisse however did have poor control, but he did have the knack of hitting the net too. Granted he missed a few too (e.g. Utd last year), but he score in important games. He has one thing defenders hate - raw pace. Through the middle that can be lethal. But he needed to work harder. For the record, I'd like to have seen Owen and Cisse together.

[Neil Young]

Knackered? After 60 odd minutes when he hadn't even played for 10days. Doesn't say much for his general level of fitness. The substitution of Bellamy was a mistake IMO and no amount of pony old excuses will convince me otherwise.

Living up to your tag I see.

[knockers]

The substitution of Bellamy was a mistake IMO and no amount of pony old excuses will convince me otherwise.

I have to agree. Vidic must of been delighted to see Bellemy leave. Heading is food and drink to him, someone with pace and persistance seems to cause him problems. We played to their strengh, too many long balls IMO.

[Rich]

Another point is that for much of the game Alonso wasn't at the races.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

It's very disappointing but it's not a major setback.

In the grand scheme of thing it means very little.

Our league campaign ended months ago, and even had we beaten them today they were still likely to win the league.

What's frustrating is that Rafa hasn't improved us as an attacking force since he's arrived. And I'm talking about degrees here.

I'll stop short of declaring that this summer if make or break for Rafa, but it's pretty close. And it's not just about signing the top players we need. He's got to look at his his tactics and beliefs and decide whether they fit the approach needed for a successful league campaign. I'm not sure he's gotten it yet, in Europe it's different.

[knockers]

Another point is that for much of the game Alonso wasn't at the races.

Neither did Carrick or Scholes though, the midfield cancelled each other out. I also though Speedy was causing them a few problems on the left was disappointed to see him go off too.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

said it before and i dont rate him but i wonder how cisse would play with kuyt playing in the hole behind him, cisse playing the all out striker?

Kinell mate you know he was a ****in joke player.

[Neil Young]

I thought (and it's difficult to see on TV so I may well be wrong) that, knowing he's poor on the ball, Man Utd gave Sissoko time and space which allowed them more scope to pressurise Alonso.

If that's how good teams are going to play against us then Momo's limitations are increasingly going to be a problem.

[Neil Young]

In the grand scheme of thing it means very little.

Our league campaign ended months ago, and even had we beaten them today they were still likely to win the league.

What's frustrating is that Rafa hasn't improved us as an attacking force since he's arrived. And I'm talking about degrees here.

I'll stop short of declaring that this summer if make or break for Rafa, but it's pretty close. And it's not just about signing the top players we need. He's got to look at his his tactics and beliefs and decide whether they fit the approach needed for a successful league campaign. I'm not sure he's gotten it yet, in Europe it's different.

I agree with much of what you say but I do think our attacking play has improved a fair bit (although maybe that's what you meant about "degrees"). We've got more options, we aren't entirely set up to play on the break and we can beat poor teams who sit back and defend for 90 minutes more often and more easily than before. Having said that, it's obviously not there yet.