How was Rashford's dive, by the way? I've tried Googling it, but apparently it never happened. I'm sure that the reaction would be exactly the same if one of his fellow young, English internationals did such a thing.
I do. Just to clarify though, he was booked for simulation and yet all that I get as a result is this: Seems rather odd.
Presumably nobody has seen it as worth posting yet, unless you are like the Scousers with the BBC and Sky and suspect some google conspiracy?
Not at the level of the Season Killer Cup, but for teams operating at razor-thin margins it certainly is
This highlights one of our main issues and one of few weaknesses in Pochettino. As much as he is improving in this area, he is still very predictable. And despite us doing well without him, if Kane is anywhere near fit, he starts. All whilst other players coming back from injury and reintroduced very slowly via the subs bench. The time to bench him, and use him as a super sub, would have been all of the matches up to and including the semi-final. If not Llorente, put Son up front. Give opponents something bigger to fear from the bench, and the rest of the team a chance to both develop their confidence and shape without Kane, and to diminish their reliance on him. Also, I'd love to have seen the team, after getting the goal, slow right down, defend solidly, attempt to frustrate Man United, control the game, and snipe more goals on the counter-attack. I feel like we have done this more often when we played three at the back with Rose and Walker on the flanks. Mourinho is one of the best at doing this kind of team/game management when it matters. Pochettino sometimes concedes too easily, throws all of the attacking cards on the table, from the subs bench, at the expense of shape, in a seemingly untested gung-ho manor and Mourinho, or whomever the opposing game killing manager is, rubs his hands knowing that they have even more control because their shape stays intact. It's desperation, and it's such a turn-off. (Literally, this is when I wanna turn off and stop watching.) As much as I like Sanchez, Alderweireld in the middle of a back three is a big miss, as is a top form Wanyama, who has been strangely disappointing this season. I do hope the personnel issues are all sorted before next season. Whilst we have done better in the CL, this season has been a step backward domestically in some ways. I guess it was to be expected. Here's hoping we push for top three, and improve in major ways next season.
Dim Sherwood's been slagging off Sanchez to anyone who'll listen, claiming he can be guaranteed to make one mistake per game. Remind me again why he's been out of managment for the best part of three years?
An unrelated post just reminded me of something that I meant to ask. Was VAR in use for this match, as it seemed conspicuous by it's absence in comparison to our other FA Cup games?
Yes. I recall one tackle being referred to VAR in the first half. It was on a United player, crying like a baby that he'd been seriously fouled. No change in decision.
