Puel Don't get me wrong...I want us to return to our usual style of play...but that was a wonderful moment and I feel for Claude.
I was right behind the goal; and in line with Long when that went in. One of the highlights of my football supporting life, but tinged with sadness now because we didn't go on and finish the job at Wembley. Still, thank you Claude, thank you Shane.
It seemed a strange decision to get rid, some great teams have been built from a solid defensive unit, if he had brought in some quality up top it could have worked well.
Lovren and Long started running at the same time then Lovren had the pleasure of seeing the back of Long's shirt as he ran away from him for 70 yards.. really Lovren had the perfect view of the goal
Before you get too choked up let me remind you; It was Claude's decision to substitute Gabbiadini on the 85 minute of the final. He'd been the best player on the pitch and I feel his exit gave United the inspiration to go and score the winning goal.
Does that really say 'AMAZING SOLO GOAL'? Sims ran the entire pitch with the ball. You have to worry about some people.
Personally I think that the absence of VvD allowed Zlatan to get up unopposed for the winning goal. And an in form Fraser Forster would probably have kept both of their previous efforts out - the third as well, perhaps. None of that can be layed at Claude's door, but hey, blame the 85th minute sub if you like. It's all history now.
Would YOU have taken off Gabbiadini? I didn't want Puel to go, but he did make some strange decisions.
Had Zlat not scored, Stuart Burt would have run on the the pitch & volleyed the ball home......just to make sure.
He did make some strange decisions. Sometimes they worked, like bringing Long on to defend a lead against Everton. Too often they didn't, but sometimes by such fine margins. If we had scored 1 goal - just 1 - away from home in the Uefa League we'd have qualified from our group. Would I have taken Gabbi off in the Cup Final? No. But imagine if Long had scored the winner, or created enough havoc in Utd's back line to allow someone else to score it. Claude would have been a genius then!
Life is full of what ifs...at the beginning of the season Puel set us up to create lots of chances, but our players couldn't put them away. Puel may have been more adventurous if we had scored more goals and had more points on the board early in the season. The players would have felt good about him and....etc etc. All history now...let's swill the bad taste out of our mouths and get behind MP2.
