Very true,I remember having the same conversation on here in August,can't remember who it was with but he didn't seem to think there was a problem thinking about goal difference in August fs
I love how when we played them back in Sept the pundits were all over us cos City had 78% possession, I think Jamie Carragher (or one of them other ****s) labelled Rafa's tactics as a disgrace etc etc. When you look at the match stats for both games they are virtually identical yet it was a tactical masterstroke from Rafa....because we won ! I'm not sure our tactics were vastly different, we took our chances better last night and we stifled City in much the same way we did in the first game. Neither games were pretty to watch from our perspective but the outcome of the game last night makes you forget all that. I think Rafa's tactics have been spot on in our games against the top 4/6 sides....we're hardly been blown away, the football's been ****e but it's been ****e for the rest of the season to be fair. Hopefully better things are on the horizon. Jamie Carragher can **** off anarl.
Yeah it is a common misconception that goal difference plays a regular role in relegations. It has only happened 5 times since the PL began. 5 times in 26 seasons. It is far more likely you'll get relegated because of a lack of points. Its more than 80% more likely you'll be relegated on points and yet still this approach is defended as necessary. Its categorically untrue. That is just the PL too, really you should be looking at history since football began - which just makes it even less likely again. We aren't even touching on that they are saying this as early as August!
Not necessarily relegation though. Getting hammered 6-0 might have a big impact on morale compared to a tight 1-0 loss.
The game this season wasn't that bad away. I think the game where they were called a disgrace were either Chelsea this season or Man C at home last season. Both were a disgrace as we didn't try to win or offer any attacking threat. He literally sent out a team to keep the score down. I wouldn't get bogged down in stats personally. I watched us against Man C last season at home and at home to Chelsea this season, regardless what the stats say the approach to the game last night was very different. It is simply about carrying a threat for me. I think Rafa has realised the mistake he made early in the season, as he had a go against Man C in terms of counter. To be fair to Rafa, as early as the Arsenal game which we lost 2-1 he changed tack.
As last night showed, you won't get mullered 6-0 by carrying a threat. You might if you go gung ho. I don't think you'd find a single fan who wants us to do that against the likes of City, Liverpool or Chelsea. He was just going too far the other way. To be fair to him he has corrected this.
Point is you are always still in a hame at 1-0. At 2-0 down or more one lucky break isnt going to cut it. Only trouble is it can be very hard for players to change their mindset when they have been defending all game. Just watched last nights game on BEIN Catch- up and even in first half we were getting encouragement from City mistakes and picking up the ball from moves breaking down on edge of our box. They seemed very open in midfield as they really only had Fernandinho in a holding role, allowing us to push forward when we picked up the ball frim their breakdowns. Difference in 2nd half was we were starting to get both Rondon and the midfielders in to their box when we had the ball.
