Just got back from the game. I stayed until the end - to those who left early.
Anyway, just a couple of points before we are passing the cyanide round.
Rafa said at the beginning of the competition that he (like Wenger) intended to play some youngsters and fringe players in the competition.
Dudek did have a sh*t game on Saturday, but he probably didn't expect him to have an even shi**er game.
The likes of Peltier, Paletta, Fowler et al had got us to the Quarter Final in the first place. Would it have been right to just discard them now. Rafa clearly believes that if he has given his word to those players, then he will keep his word. Not an entirely disagreeable point.
At the end of the day I would have loved to have gone to Cardiff but it isn't the end of the World. Getting knocked out the FA Cup was arguably far far worse.
I think it was the manner of the defeat which shocked - the goalkeeper (one man) has a heavy burden of responsibility on his shoulders for that. I don't think Rafa is entirely to blame that Jerzy Dudek had his shi**est game - probably of his career.
Hopefully three points at Watford, and a F**k up by Arsenal, the Mancs and Chelsea in the league and this will be wiped from the memory.
Let's have the last laugh and knock Arsenal out the Champions League.
Logged