28 Apr 2025 21:27:02
Now that the dust has settled from yesterday, here's my tuppence worth to the excellent points already made on here.
Firstly, before the game I did say that Nuno is a superb coach but very occasionally he over thinks it. Sunday was a case in point. He played 3 centre backs and packed the midfield with the understandable aim of covering for his full back shortage and wearing down City in a sort of Ali rope a dope like he did in our win at the CG. Unfortunately, it came unstuck in the first 2 minutes with an attack down our centre which should have been packed with bodies. As the great Prussian Field Marshall Helmuth Von Moltke the Elder said "Even the best battle plans rarely survive first contact with the enemy". So it proved. The second goal was likewise not down the wings but via poor defending in the centre from a corner.
Secondly, we missed Yates. Apart from his height he wouldn't have been brushed aside down the middle like Danillo. He might well have been booked or given away a free kick but they wouldn't have got past him.
Thirdly, Danillo needs a pre season start from scratch as he's never been at it since his injury. It was a mistake in selection to start him
Fourthly, Anderson needs to play centrally not out wide wheres he s wasted and ineffective.
Fifthly, young Abbott did ok and is definately one for the future. He will learn a lot from this game and the occasion, so credit to the lad.
Lastly, let's keep things in perspective comrades. City's starting 11 cost £441 m, ours cost £141m. Their bench cost £280 m ours cost £94m. They have had billions to spend over the years from an entire oil rich state, we have 23 years in the lower leagues and 2 near the bottom of the Premier League with one man's investment. We have been docked 4 points for a 3 month unauthorised FFP overdraft, they have been fined jack ?for a decade of illegal funding. I'll leave it with the great man's words. " You can throw all your cups and medals and your pots and pans in the bin because you've got them all by cheating". As it was, in the end, we lost by fine margins. If any of those 3 efforts which hit the woodwork or Elangas inexplicable miss had gone in, well who knows. We should have gone at them from the off. We may well have lost anyway but at least we wouldn't have died wondering "what if"? In football, as in life, in my view, it's always better to die on your feet than live on your knees, my friends.
As a PS I'll say we have the best fans in the world, the support at Wembley was first class so hats off to all those who travelled. Coyr! ??????.
28 Apr 2025 22:45:55
No he didn't play three centre backs at all
He played a kid at right back that normally plays centre half for the under 21s
What happens to city is irrelevant when talking about the game
That's just sour grapes.
28 Apr 2025 22:49:39
Great post?.
28 Apr 2025 22:53:54
Stokey also the atmosphere died when city scored the first, picked up when elanga should of scored plus when gibbs white should have scored and when awoniyi and gibbs white struck woodwork
Didn't see much moaning down in Wembley must admit
Sun was shining and barring the result, a very enjoyable day out
Seen so many of the old boys, great day.
28 Apr 2025 23:26:54
Hey DTP, i take it you've finally recovered from the sugar crash after all those panda pops?
Haha sorry i couldn't help myself.
The second half atmosphere was electric mate, the players responded to it until the scored their 2nd.
Great day in the capital, as you said shame about the result but as Stokey stated the difference in the squads was huge.
29 Apr 2025 07:19:45
Which is what I've said st pirran
They scored after 6 mins of second half
I had to keep sending out to just eat for my pops as pub didn't sell em ????.
29 Apr 2025 10:36:57
I teared up on Wembley way mate, never seen so many reds in one place. ?.
29 Apr 2025 11:08:44
DTP, mate, of course it was 4 at the back on paper as there were only 4 defenders in the starting line up. But Zach played very narrowly, effectively a 3rd centre back, usually leaving mostly the likes of Dominquez and occasionally CHO to pick up Marmoush. Perhaps he was aware of his lack of pace, inexperience at this level and reluctance to get too far out. I’d imagine Nuno, with his attention to detail, would have sanctioned this. In the event, the lad did very well and the goals came from poor defending down the middle. The threat from the flanks was mostly contained by Zach and Toffolo who both put in a shift. However, I only watched it on TV so I defer to your greater judgement, being present.
I remember back in SCs Championship promotion team when he played 3 in the middle ( usually Cook, McKenna and Worrall) Joe, with his lack of pace, was always anxiously urging Spence to cover for him out wide. Perhaps similar on Sunday.
As for City, it’s not sour grapes, just pointing out to what extent we are always underdogs against moneybag teams like them. I leave other people to form their own judgements on the bias and unfairness. I have my own opinions and it is what it is. Cloughies quote referred to Revies Leeds conduct on the pitch ( and the Dons infamous dossiers ) not financial matters. But, in my view, it’s cheating none the less.
It also highlights how brilliantly we’ve done this season against massive odds, much like Cloughie.
29 Apr 2025 11:53:22
Sorry Abbott played at a right back all full backs come in from the bye line when the ball isn't on their side of the pitch, that's normal defending.
29 Apr 2025 13:29:33
Yes I meant even when the ball was on his wing mate. He was still tucked in with support. But, as I say, you had a better view of it as I only saw it on TV.
29 Apr 2025 14:57:29
At times from the over view we had 9 at the back with Woody as the only player pressing ?.