This is long but I had to do this to dispel some negativity here.
Some posters, select few, here have to realize that BR set up the first half at Stoke for damage-limitation. It was about NOT letting in goals or allowing shots on target. And guess what, we did that!
We played sh*t yes, the plastics did the same on 27Apr14. They were absolutely appalling to watch but they came with a purpose. NOT TO LOSE and taking chances when provided. Maureen told his team, 'This is your day, silence the circus'. They did that for 90 minutes and we did that for 60 minutes. BR's message to our lads would've been on very similar lines. So, if they can do that at the fag end of the season with nothing to lose in terms of the title race, why cant we do it on the opening day of a new season, at a place where we were phenomenally slaughtered 11 weeks back??
Last Saturday was HUGELY built up on the mold of a revenge and give-it-back kinda game. Imagine the egg on our faces had we shipped in a couple of goals in the first half. I can practically put down 25 headlines on how BR must have been sacked, how Lovren must have been sold, how we are sh*t in our transfers again, how FSG should've gone all out for another manager, how they should consider 'refining' the transfer committee, blah blah, etc etc.
If this is how we are gonna set up for all 'big' games and grind out a win, I'm ALL IN for it. And so will everyone. Again, I call this 'big' because of what happened 11 weeks back. Media are already predicting that Maureen would be happy with a point against City this Sunday. But there are some 'fans' here who ALWAYS blow things out of proportion if we enter a game with a 'do-not-lose' mindset.
And there were comparisons to last year's Swansea game and thereafter. Based on the personnel available, I don't think we could've set it up in any other way other than a 3-4-2-1. Sterling already wanted out. Our full backs were sh*te. Central Defense was Titus Bramble. There is only much you can hide under a carpet. The loss to Mancs shattered our confidence before Ozil and Sanchez scored exquisite goals at the Emirates.
Someone said, we didn't "react" to the losses. In fact, we did. We played a 4-3-3 vs Newcastle (Johnson-Can-Lovren-Moreno; Hendo-Lucas-Allen; Ibe-Coutinho-Sterling) and it was one of the most comfortable wins of the season. That was the game when Coutinho played false-9 with Ibe and Sterling either side of him. That actually built up our confidence a bit but the next game at Wembley was a disaster. Again partly because of the personnel who were available. Lucas was injured in the Newcastle game and Stevie was his replacement whose took Ibe's place behind Sterling cos Ibe was cup-tied. Johnson was amazingly sh*te, so Lazar had to come in. Skrtel became available after his red card, so we played a back-3 again cos of the personnel available.
Venturing late into the cup competitions takes the toll on you unless you have a damn good squad (Read: Arsenal 2011). We were hit physically and mentally after the semi final defeat and couldn't capitalize on the Mancs' defeats for that 4th spot. It was just too late. We then played a 4-2-3-1 vs West Brom and a 4-3-3 vs Hull. So, to say we didn't "react" is just the most foolish claim to make. In fact, BR reacted after 45 mins at Swansea and converted to a 3-4-3 diamond that got us the win.
So before anyone complains AGAIN about how pathetic we were last weekend, rattle your brains a bit to consider 'other' factors and then spout your sh*te. At least, the quantity of sh*te will be comparatively lesser. Bottomline - ALL THAT MATTERS IS 3 POINTS!!
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