I wouldn't have brought on Lampard. I do agree he could have used Moses though.
Moaning about him only making one sub, only player he could realistically bring on to do anything would be Moses.
Torres came on because you needed a goal but we all know what you think of Torres, Lampard wouldn't have done you any good in the slightest and you have no one else left.
So a man who has built a career of scoring goals from all types of ranges would not have given us something different or another threat? Also not sure what you mean by " we all know what you think of Torres" comment.
So a man who has built a career of scoring goals from all types of ranges would not have given us something different or another threat? Also not sure what you mean by " we all know what you think of Torres" comment.
I thought Torres did alright when he came on.
But i really think Lampard on would have let Toure just destroy you on the counter.
Lampard would have just weakened your midfield even more giving City even more control over the game, you'd basically be playing with four attacking midfielders and Ba would still be isolated and having no luck at all.
At that point it was do or die mate. Either take a gamble and possibly steal a goal or you concede again and still lose anyway. Torres has been playing exceptionally well in the past 2-3 weeks.
Di Mateo setting up to win two cups, ignoring the league and finishing 6th - hero
Benitez setting up to win two cups , still in 4th spot with one extra game - scum
Wot logic.
Seriously though, first half was ****, but realistically speaking you cant hope to win a game vs. team like City when ref misses obvious red card and a pen.
Also yeah, Lampard would only made things worse.
I think you would have gone from a close 2-1 defeat to a 4-1 mauling with Lampard on.
Di Mateo setting up to win two cups, ignoring the league and finishing 6th - hero
Benitez setting up to win two cups , still in 4th spot with one extra game - scum
Wot logic.
Was at the game earlier. Put up a decent fight in the second half but you can't afford to go 2-0 down against a team of that quality. On the balance of play I would say City just edged it, but they certainly had a bit of luck on their side, RE the Nasri goal rebounding off about 10 players and falling to his feet, and the refereeing.
This felt like watching Mourinho's Chelsea vs Arsenal. With us being Arsenal this time, and City being the old us. Lacked any real domineering presence in midfield (Mikel really isn't good enough to be a guaranteed starter).
When Robbie took over the league was gone and top 4 was in question and CL started to look like the only way we could get CL for next season. When Rafa took over we were 4 points off top!
Oscar did not merit playing 90 minutes today, i tweeted at half time that he was having a shocker. Lampard's experiance and know how could have given us something different. Anyway me saying "he may have changed something" and you saying "you would have been worse" is a pointless debate to get into because it didn't happen.
I keep seeing these posts slating Mikel but he was on a hiding to nothing today! Yaya Toure was always going to make him look second rate. My theory is that Yaya is someone who needs to be man marked and this is something Rafa does not believe in. I personally would have sat Ramires on him, is he stronger than Ramires yes but Ramires is quicker and would have forced him into making passer earlier and maybe forcing him into errors. Just my take on it.
Oscar hasnt been great, but Lampard has never convinced me as a proper AMC, as opposed to an MC coming from deep. I think we will disagree on Lampards merits in this game, but I really think he missed a trick with Moses by not bringing him on.
Not just today. Whenever a team presses our midfield Mikel develops Lampard syndrome, he completely crumbles. Lacks any real athleticism and gets bypassed so easily because he can never react in time. We only had a foothold in the middle when Oscar was moved there, which was a surprise as he was dire out wide.
Aguero will not be punished by the FA after two footing Luiz purposely. Ashley Cole was right the FA really are a bunch of twats.
Im not even annoyed mate as i didn't get my hopes us in the first place. Everyone apart from the FA themselves know the way they deal with things is wrong. These incidents will just keep on happening unless represpective punishment can be handed out, absolute joke of an organisation.