Wotcha.
Some extraordinary responses to last night’s game floating around last night. Responses from people who have either not watched us play at all this season, or have completely forgotten what it’s like to watch a game of football.
Perhaps some of the joy was tempered by the belief that we’ll get marmalized by Chelsea in the final? But more of that later.
The bottom line is that we won. It’s a dubious business to start playing fast and loose with success. When you Google 2008 League Cup final winners does it simply say Spurs or is there an * and then at the foot of the page it says *ball went in off of Woodgate’s head, but he didn’t know anything about it?
United played an excellent game. One that proved that Clough Jnr can certainly manage. ‘All’ the Blades were lacking were one or two more attacking players like their goalscorer, Che Zach Everton Fred Adams.
And the UKIPs say that multicultural Britain isn’t working.
United’s strength lay in when they didn’t have the ball. I felt that the accusation that they ‘parked the bus’ after the first leg was too simplistic.
Spurs played a good game. The starting XI I liked, the work ethic was a refreshingly positive one. Aside from the all too familiar undividual insanities, the real killer were our substitutions.
Did we make a meal of it? Yes of course, but then we have all season, bar the Chelsea win. The weather was unforgiving, the pitch was grim.
So I’m more impressed that nobody hid and nobody came off in a clean kit.
Vorm had a tough game, but then anyone who thought he was in for a walk in the park was wishing. Hugo’s niggle was bad timing, but based on his last few appearances, I don’t believe that Vorm is suddenly a weak link.
Bonzo’s most certifiable contribution was to weave past a couple of their lot while bringing the ball upfield, only to instigate a Blades’ break by passing not to one of our players, but staright to one of theirs.
Dier was assured in the main as was Vertonghen. In the main.Davies was ‘all right’. No more.
Mason was much improved, or perhaps more accurately, was alot more involved and managed to cut out the errant passing. I like Mason. I hope he continues to gently progress. He has the potential to become as important a player for us as Kaneinho.
Stambouli impressed, yet of everyone he was the one that made me ponder how he might fare against a more sophisticated opposition. He’ll need to refine his game for the Premier League, but last night he was very effective.
Lamela had a really good game. Yes, there was the odd blip, but the good stuff outweighed the the less than good; he’s defensively conscientious He needs to always be played on the right.
Mousa had one of his best performances of the season. In that forward role he occasionally caused the Blades something close to chaos. His decision making was a little slow now and again, but then we new that.
Eriksen drifted in and out, gave us hope with wonderful goal, drifted a little more, then gave us salvation with and world class goal.
Kane of all the current first team players is probably the closest to the the ‘Pochettino model’. That said, last night there were odd flashes of selfishness. But he’s well in credit awith the way he routinley contributes so much elsewhere, he can be quickly forgiven.
Will we beat Chelsea in the final? It will be a brave man that backs us significantly for a straight win. The heart says anything could happen and are more than capable of edging a win. The head says that we’re equally capable of being beaten 5-0.
The biggest question raised last night however has to be, what the flip has happened to Paul Robinson (pictured above)?
