Another myth to add to the pyre

[Maldini]

All season we've had to put up with Andy Gray going on about Rafa's "predictable substitutions" and the inevitable parrots using it as a stick to beat him with. Next time some idiot starts spouting this nonsense just point out this little chart to them of the goals scored in the last 15 minutes:

 

 

Team - goals scored - goals conceded - goal difference

---------------------------------------------------------------

Liverpool - 20-5-15

Everton - 14-5-9

Arsenal - 14-7-7

Newcastle - 10-6-4

Tottenham - 11-8-3

Man Utd - 9-6-3

Chelsea - 8-5-3

Aston Villa - 14-12-2

Sunderland - 10-8-2

Man City - 12-11-1

Wigan - 10-9-1

West Brom - 6-7-(-1)

Fulham - 5-8-(-3)

Blackburn - 11-15-(-4)

Middlesborough - 9-14-(-5)

Hull - 8-13-(-5)

Bolton - 7-13-(-6)

West Ham - 5-11-(-6)

Portsmouth - 7-18-(-11)

 

What'll the next nonsensical meme be? The smiling thing seems to have died a death. I reckon it'll be the way Rafa gesticulates on the sideline. Either that or we'll win the league and they'll give him a break for a few months.

[Raj]

we're boss

[billybunter]

The smiling thing seems to have died a death.

 

Not on the stream I was watching.

 

"That smile he had at half time..." etc

 

Its actually quite pathetic. If you can think of anything to talk about, then just shut up and wait. Dont just create nonsensical BS that has really nothing to do what is going on in terms of football. Learn to have a bit of insight you t***s.

[KD07]

i like the usage of the pyre here. up in the fire. boss.

 

this fat spanish waiter is serving dessert!

[John am Rhein]

Goals scored in the last 15 minutes are lucky

[Nerik]

Was at a coaches' seminar yesterday and part of it was about how the top teams are trained to maintain a certain level of fitness throughout a game (178 bpm circa) and that it is usually those same teams who are more often than not capable of scoring late winners. Man U were brought in as an example with all their late winners, but I guess we are now that sort of team too.

[Maldini]

Yeah, I think it's important to point out that most of those 20 are key goals that won us points too, not the 3rd goal against an already beaten team.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Goals scored in the last 15 minutes are lucky

they shouldn't count - hopefully someone in the press can recalculate the league table with goals only in the first 67 or so mins.

 

 

That'll show the true state of play

[John am Rhein]

Was at a coaches' seminar yesterday and part of it was about how the top teams are trained to maintain a certain level of fitness throughout a game (178 bpm circa) and that it is usually those same teams who are more often than not capable of scoring late winners. Man U were brought in as an example with all their late winners, but I guess we are now that sort of team too.

 

This kind of management of the players' fitness levels is almost certainly much more important than the kind of tactical decisions that get far more coverage

[Nerik]

Another interesting point made that nowadays less top teams make changes that will alter the shape of the team and that it is more and more likely to be a direct swap, but just a player who offers something a bit different. Yesterday we had Babel for Dossena and Yossi for Kuyt, which is a classical example of that.

[carrafan]

All season we've had to put up with Andy Gray going on about Rafa's "predictable substitutions" and the inevitable parrots using it as a stick to beat him with. Next time some idiot starts spouting this nonsense just point out this little chart to them of the goals scored in the last 15 minutes:

 

 

I disagree. I think its our style of play which lets us score all these goals. We almost robotic with passing the ball down on flank, looking for a move and if it isnt on getting the ball back to Alonso and trying down the other. It wears the midfield and defenses down over time and hence lets us score all the late goals. I doubt it has a lot to do with Rafa's impact subs getting those extra goals for us.

 

But thats not a defense to people who agree with the idea that Rafa prepares his subs and when they're on waay in advance cos that's just silly.

[John am Rhein]

I disagree. I think its our style of play which lets us score all these goals. We almost robotic with passing the ball down on flank, looking for a move and if it isnt on getting the ball back to Alonso and trying down the other. It wears the midfield and defenses down over time and hence lets us score all the late goals. I doubt it has a lot to do with Rafa's impact subs getting those extra goals for us.

 

Well yesterday's goal was scored by the sub and it's not the only time it's happened.

 

The substitutions are probably more effective because he usually fits them into an established pattern of play rather than trying to change it.

[Maldini]

It's not boxing, defences don't accumulate damage.

[John am Rhein]

It's not boxing, defences don't accumulate damage.

 

I think they can sometimes loose their shape as they are put under sustained pressure, though.

 

However, the well-organized ones are usually able to withstand that.

[drdooom]

And players to get more tired as the game goes on. Very rarely do teams sub in a defender with fresh legs for the last 15 mins whereas it happens often with attacking players.

[carrafan]

It's not boxing, defences don't accumulate damage.

 

 

I think they do. Mentally (with the defenders) and physically (the midfielders) when they're against a team which doesnt give away the ball and have to chase the game for majority of the game.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

The players scored those goals to spite Benitez because he is trying to sabotage our chances of winning the league so he can focus on the Champions League.

 

Farking Benayoun !!

[Maldini]

Or the longer a team holds out against a top team the more they believe they can keep a clean sheet.

[Snoeker]

I think they can sometimes loose their shape as they are put under sustained pressure, though.

 

However, the well-organized ones are usually able to withstand that.

 

Thanks for nothing, O'Neil.

[_00_deathscar]

Thanks for nothing, O'Neil.

 

Disgraceful is probably the best word to describe Villa last night when they didn't have the ball.

 

No pressure on the Man Utd midfield, and the defence playing like 4 headless chickens rather than as a unit.

[MFletcher]

The defence they had out last night cost close to £30M.

[_00_deathscar]

Impossible!

 

Don't you know...Martin O'Neill's done it on a shoe-string budget yadda-yadda...

 

I doubt all our defensive options including back up keepers cost upto 30m.

[Mr Makaveli]

Yeah, I think it's important to point out that most of those 20 are key goals that won us points too, not the 3rd goal against an already beaten team.

 

So it isnt just fitness but character too. Drive and determination.

 

We have all the ingredients we need to win the league and I tihink we will.

 

I think Utd think we will too. I firmly believe that Rafa was spot on to say that utd are afraid of us.... we took their legs out from under them and they arent going to recover quite so easily. Meanwhile, in the batlair, we're on the form of our lives.

 

They might have barely beaten Villa and we may have barely beaten fulham but the scores dont really tell the tales there do they

 

add to that the fact that utd drew 2-2 at home to Porto......... Porto, a piece of s*** team who arent even top of a piece of s*** league.... and they went to the theatre of dreams and got a result ;P

 

theatre of dreams is right... they'll never pass us out in league or european championships!

[Mr Makaveli]

It's not boxing, defences don't accumulate damage.

 

I don't agree with that... during 90 minutes certain players get worn down and have to be replaced... why can this not happen to the players who are still on the pitch? If a defence is being run around for 80 minutes then of course they are more likely to make a mistake.. to not quite make that tackle or get pulled out of shape from a lack of concentration.