Joelinton will tear them a new one. 3-1 win and I doubt the takeover will happen before he completes his hattrick.
You've picked out the one game where he actually approached the Man C game somewhat properly - 1 out of 4 times he played them. Unless of course you're going to try and rewrite history, pretending Rafa didn't regularly put 11 men behind the ball against the big sides - not even attempting to get anything. I remember when other managers did this they were called a disgrace. Not Rafa though, he gets a free pass from the garglers. By the way his record against Man U, Man C, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool in 2018/19 season read: Played 12 Won 1 Lost 11 GF 11 GA 26 Not a massively successful approach, particularly when these games would be viewed as a free swing by most. What's most galling for fans is the one time he had a go, we won. He was better the season before if you look at results where we actually had a go. The games like the 1-0 defeat at home to Man City that season were some of worst seen at St James ever. I haven't checked but I reckon Bruce has probably amassed more points against the same sides already this season simply by tweaking it a little, still defensive but at least offering a threat. Makes you wonder why Rafa was too thick to work out his ultra defensive approach was actually ****ing useless. Don't tell me though, it meant the players confidence wasn't knocked... (Like we were told happened under Pardew. Yet Pards has a better record?)
Ah another daftie too busy gargling to see realise Rafa was more successful when he had a go. He just chose not to do so amassed a terrible record against the big sides. Don't let the facts get in the way of your Rafa Fairytale though.
What a pair of absolute fannies. Imagine being in the trenches with you boys: "But but but, they have bigger guns sir, can we not just stick up the white flag and surrender" ****ing grow a pair. No reason why we can't have an educated go. They'll likely beat us any which way, but sitting back ultra defensive is a proven way to lose. Their quality just tells eventually. The two home games against them show this over last two seasons. We sat in and cruised to a 1-0 defeat (could have been many more). We defended but carried a threat and won 2-1.
We have played them twice since returning to the PL. Last season we were defensive, but carried a threat. We won 2-1. We reverted to Rafa type against the big sides for the rest of the season and lost all 11 games. The year before we put 11 behind the ball and didn't even try to get a point. You will remember it well because of most of football including the pundits thought it was nothing short of stupid. We were fortunate to lose 1-0. The same season we had a right go against Man U and Chelsea. Won both games. I'd say if we haven't learnt from the last two seasons that this ultra defensive every man behind the ball, just doesn't work against the big sides, then we might aswell pack in. They always find a way. We are safe in the league. This is a cup game in a unique season. We simply must try to win. Why any fan wants to sit in and cruise to a defeat is bizarre. Just because Rafa drummed it into you this was the right way, doesn't mean its true, the results don't bear this out. We can beat Man City. it might be like a 1 in 20 chance but we can beat them. This **** happens in football all the time. It just doesn't happen when you put 11 behind the ball and don't even try.
Ahh the old “distraction” technique. When someone (TCM) destroys your (WP) argument then go for the old personal abuse tactic. Fixed
They have a better team than us and a better squad. They should beat us and should probably hammer us. But this is the cup and you never know........
