Portsmouth Away

[gkmacca]

You'd think Adams won the game - he's had no flak at all!

[House of Dirk]

Did anyone see Rafa screaming at Mascherano to 'get back' when the score was 2-2? What does he do? he goes forward and plays the crucial pass! I do feel that we're at our best when the players forget the tactics, forget the controlling instructions, and just go for it (like IStanbul; like the 2006 Cup Final; like ManCity)

 

If this game tells us anything, it's that Portsmouth are relegation fodder; that we clearly don't practice defending against set pieces (anaother sign of Rafa's stubborness and arrogance); and that David N'Gog is worse than Sean Dundee.

 

We won - but so we should against that shower. For me, we won in spite of Rafa today, not because of him, but at this moment I don't care!!

 

Absolutely spot on. We got out of jail today, and against a team like Pompey, that should never be an issue.

[ScottyT]

Jesus H Christ, that was very scary. I thought my worst nightmare was going to come true.

 

There was a similar feel towards the end of the game, seemed like the players just didn't care about whatever they'd been instructed to do and they just decided for themselves that they were winning this game, just like at Man City earlier in the season. Nobody expects out and out attacking football with zero discipline but I wish this team would be let loose more often.

 

We played great tonight, absolutely no complaints about anything other than some sloppy individual mistakes.

[ReddOrDedd]

Nooooooooooooo, not Kuyt.

 

(Prove me wrong, Dirk.)

 

I'm sorry Dirk - you proved me wrong. I am a faithless twat.

[CrouchieBoy]

I didn't say there was a problem with us winning. The argument was we started with six defenders, and a holding midfielder. People disputed this because the full backs played further forward.

 

Does that all of a sudden mean they're not defenders?

 

Of course it doesn't

 

but Rafa got it right today imo. And i'll be the first to admit that I was skeptical when i read the team sheet this morning, but the gamble worked

 

simple as that really

[JohnnyH]

and we won, with 6 defenders on the pitch and a goal keeper who had a bad game

 

i dont get the problem here

 

There was a fucking huge problem there. We got away with it today massively thanks to a couple of terrible defensive fuck ups by Portsmouth. I'm over the moon we won, but burying your head in the sand as to how we won and how we are playing is doing nobody any good.

 

Surely we've gone passed the "jesus, we fucking won and that's all that matters" and realise that we need to start playing well and winning well. There is only so many times we will ge away with it and it is because of this type of play that we drew against Stoke, Hull, Fulham, etc.

 

We can't paper over the cracks because of exciting wins like this.

[ScottyT]

Absolutely spot on. We got out of jail today, and against a team like Pompey, that should never be an issue.

 

Behave. We need to drop this arrogance as there are no gimmies in football and you have to grind it out in this league.

[Spy Bee]

We won. We're top of the league. Rafa is manager.

[Ponz]

Sherwood and co. spend 10 minutes extolling the virtues of man marking after which they blame the Portsmouth defenders for "not picking up" Torres. Comedy gold.

[The Party Boy]

There's a lot wrong with us but sometimes I just wonder wether were just destined to win the league. Bit like 2005.

[gkmacca]

Did anyone see Rafa screaming at Mascherano to 'get back' when the score was 2-2? What does he do? he goes forward and plays the crucial pass!

 

That's a bit unfair IMHO. Any manager would say that to his holding midfielder at that stage. If he'd shouted 'get forward' then they'd played the ball through the gap he'd left Rafa would be crucified for panicking.

[Spy Bee]

Behave. We need to drop this arrogance as there are no gimmies in football and you have to grind it out in this league.

 

Is right. How many 1-0's have United had this season?

[ratcatcher]

Did anyone see Rafa screaming at Mascherano to 'get back' when the score was 2-2? What does he do? he goes forward and plays the crucial pass! I do feel that we're at our best when the players forget the tactics, forget the controlling instructions, and just go for it (like IStanbul; like the 2006 Cup Final; like ManCity)

 

If this game tells us anything, it's that Portsmouth are relegation fodder; that we clearly don't practice defending against set pieces (anaother sign of Rafa's stubborness and arrogance); and that David N'Gog is worse than Sean Dundee.

 

We won - but so we should against that shower. For me, we won in spite of Rafa today, not because of him, but at this moment I don't care!!

 

 

Theres some correct points here. Torres pulled us from the brink of despair to the heights of ecstasy due to his brilliance.

 

OK we've got some injuries but some of the decisions that have been made since the 'rant' have been bizzarre at the very least.

[ScottyT]

There was a fucking huge problem there. We got away with it today massively thanks to a couple of terrible defensive fuck ups by Portsmouth. I'm over the moon we won, but burying your head in the sand as to how we won and how we are playing is doing nobody any good.

 

Surely we've gone passed the "jesus, we fucking won and that's all that matters" and realise that we need to start playing well and winning well. There is only so many times we will ge away with it and it is because of this type of play that we drew against Stoke, Hull, Fulham, etc.

 

We can't paper over the cracks because of exciting wins like this.

 

Did you watch the game or was you too depressed?

 

We played well and won, albeit with a few individual mistakes that made it harder that it was.

[Fugitive]

Every substitution was spot on today.

[GUS]

2 league victories in a week with very late winners. Got to have a positive result on the players confidence.

 

The players will get a bit of a rest now (yes I know most will have games for their country, but a friendly international can't be as tiring as a must win Premier League game) then bring on Man City.

[1892-LFCWasBorn]

We can't paper over the cracks because of exciting wins like this.

 

Summed up perfectly.

[Dirk]

Absolutely spot on. We got out of jail today, and against a team like Pompey, that should never be an issue.

 

The Mancs have been doing that shit for 15 years.

[ScottyT]

Theres some correct points here. Torres pulled us from the brink of despair to the heights of ecstasy due to his brilliance.

 

OK we've got some injuries but some of the decisions that have been made since the 'rant' have been bizzarre at the very least.

 

Kinel, I'm not a huge fan of Rafa but some of the misery on here is unreal.

 

I'm begining to think our fans are never happy unless they're moaning about some fucking thing.

[JohnnyH]

Did you watch the game or was you too depressed?

 

We played well and won, albeit with a few individual mistakes that made it harder that it was.

 

Fuck off Manc.

[King Gheedorah]

Who gives a fuck about these shitty pundits. Might as well get a random man from the nearest boozer to come in and give his view on matters instead of these no-mark stained pants former booze hounds.

 

Don't come in here and moan about them, they're cunts, so fucking what. We're not liked by someone in the media, big deal.

 

Put 5 Live on and mute the telly next time, unless Lawro's on.

[ScottyT]

Summed up perfectly.

 

So what do you want us top do, stop winning exciting games late on because we're just deluding ourselves even though we're top of the league?

[drewy]

Some people need to get a fucking grip. Calling the manager a retarded cunt is not on EVER.

 

Come on you reds.

[ScottyT]

Fuck off Manc.

 

Good one. Must have taken a while to come up with that sparkler.

 

Watch out for any high bridges.

[INTORRESTING]

The first 20 mins i actually thought to myself, i am enjoying this! It is a shame we didn't take our chances but if Torres was fit i think we would have murdered them. Not sure N'gog will get many more chances now as if fit Torres needs to play in every single league game. Kuyt can play up top in the cl and Torres can be a sub as Rafa's tactics get us through cl games.