...at all this sudden positivity from the very same people who had been full of doom and predicted we would be relegated all season whilst the previous manager was in charge, all in spite of the fact we are now (in my eyes anyway) just about absolute certainties for the drop. Honestly, if it wasn't so depressing it would be bloody hilarious, you couldn't make it up!!
I've read so much nonsense since the Liverpool game about what a miraculous improvement it was against anything under Hootun, how brilliant we were in the second half, how thew substitutions made such a massive difference and how we would have almost certainly rolled over and got beaten 8-0 had we not have changed managers. Isn't it amazing how those half-empty glasses suddenly seem so half-full to so many of you, whilst I personally am finding it tough noticing too many positives to go on at the moment.
Just as an example, I have been comparing the weekend's game to the one we played away at Arsenal earlier in the season and to me the similaritiies are stark. We went 2-0 down against the Emirates to a couple of superb goals, only to mount a decent fist of it in the second half when we pulled a goal back and then camped out in their half for 20 minutes or so looking for the equaliser only to be finished off by a couple of late Arsenal goals on the break. I was at that game and can remember how good we looked in the second period, and were the better side for spells against a team who were on fire and at the top of the table at the time. I work with some Arsenal fans who were also there that day, and I remember them commenting about how worried they were that we were going to nick an equaliser after having them on the ropes during the second half. We had 8/11 of the same starting players on both games (Pilks, Bassong and Tettey played instead of Redmond, Whittaker and Johnson), so I really don't see what was so different - apart from the personnel in the dug-outs of course - and we certainly came away with the same number of points anyway. I am also mindful that at 2-0 it is easy for the team in front to take their foot off the gas, and sit back in an attempt to control the game more, which is precisely what both Arsenal and Liverpool did that allowed us to get a foothold back in the game. Interesting that as soon as Hooper scored on Sunday, the scousers moved up another gear and scored their third goal within a few minutes, telling me that they were always in control. And it was hardly as if we were peppering the Liverpool goal in the last ten minutes, we put them under pressure sure, but it's not as though there were shots cleared off the line, brilliant saves or goalmouth scrambles.
Also going back a season further, anyone remember the home game against Man City when we were 2-0 down within the first few minutes, and it looked like a cricket score was on the cards for us to then stage a bit of a comeback to only end up losing 4-3? Ok, they did play the second half with ten men, and we were never within a goal of them, but we did have a bloody good go and Chris Hootun was manager that day as well, you'd never believe it though would you!
I just it fascinating to see the rose-tinted spectacles coming out for certain people as soon as Hootun was sacked, clinging on to every tiny smidgen of positivity (even when there is none) despite having spent a full year moaning, groaning and finding nothing but negativity in everything they see - despite us being in a far more secure situation then than we currently find ourselves in now.
For me it's just another example of people seeing whatever they want to see to suit their own little opinion, which ultimately is anyone's prerogative to do so, but it also doesn't take into account the full set of facts and only tells half the story, which I personally find disingenuous, inaccurate and more than a little insulting when trying to have a debate.
I've read so much nonsense since the Liverpool game about what a miraculous improvement it was against anything under Hootun, how brilliant we were in the second half, how thew substitutions made such a massive difference and how we would have almost certainly rolled over and got beaten 8-0 had we not have changed managers. Isn't it amazing how those half-empty glasses suddenly seem so half-full to so many of you, whilst I personally am finding it tough noticing too many positives to go on at the moment.
Just as an example, I have been comparing the weekend's game to the one we played away at Arsenal earlier in the season and to me the similaritiies are stark. We went 2-0 down against the Emirates to a couple of superb goals, only to mount a decent fist of it in the second half when we pulled a goal back and then camped out in their half for 20 minutes or so looking for the equaliser only to be finished off by a couple of late Arsenal goals on the break. I was at that game and can remember how good we looked in the second period, and were the better side for spells against a team who were on fire and at the top of the table at the time. I work with some Arsenal fans who were also there that day, and I remember them commenting about how worried they were that we were going to nick an equaliser after having them on the ropes during the second half. We had 8/11 of the same starting players on both games (Pilks, Bassong and Tettey played instead of Redmond, Whittaker and Johnson), so I really don't see what was so different - apart from the personnel in the dug-outs of course - and we certainly came away with the same number of points anyway. I am also mindful that at 2-0 it is easy for the team in front to take their foot off the gas, and sit back in an attempt to control the game more, which is precisely what both Arsenal and Liverpool did that allowed us to get a foothold back in the game. Interesting that as soon as Hooper scored on Sunday, the scousers moved up another gear and scored their third goal within a few minutes, telling me that they were always in control. And it was hardly as if we were peppering the Liverpool goal in the last ten minutes, we put them under pressure sure, but it's not as though there were shots cleared off the line, brilliant saves or goalmouth scrambles.
Also going back a season further, anyone remember the home game against Man City when we were 2-0 down within the first few minutes, and it looked like a cricket score was on the cards for us to then stage a bit of a comeback to only end up losing 4-3? Ok, they did play the second half with ten men, and we were never within a goal of them, but we did have a bloody good go and Chris Hootun was manager that day as well, you'd never believe it though would you!
I just it fascinating to see the rose-tinted spectacles coming out for certain people as soon as Hootun was sacked, clinging on to every tiny smidgen of positivity (even when there is none) despite having spent a full year moaning, groaning and finding nothing but negativity in everything they see - despite us being in a far more secure situation then than we currently find ourselves in now.
For me it's just another example of people seeing whatever they want to see to suit their own little opinion, which ultimately is anyone's prerogative to do so, but it also doesn't take into account the full set of facts and only tells half the story, which I personally find disingenuous, inaccurate and more than a little insulting when trying to have a debate.
...
