no I didn't - but that's what you assumed I did.
I didn't assume Mick. It's in black and white.
just how long would it have taken to to have listed all of the possible permutations of pre match planning, without turning the whole thing into some meaningless epic? It was a resume of the main points, and it was based upon the structure of virtually all of our games this season.
Almost every team sets up the same every week. I don't understand what the point is in pointing out how we play, then suggesting how easy it is to simply counter this style of play? It was just a very simplistic view and to be honest offered nothing.
Now the simplest answer could be that the whole "sit back in the second half" is our plan to open them up, so we can counter attack as they stretch themselves. It could also be a simple case that everyone has to play like that - because we give them no choice.
You patronisingly attempt to put me down and state that the gaps in my argument are the wins between Newcastle and Everton, and then start fabricating history (Norwich are a good team ? Ignore the fact that Southampton overran us in the second half and that the pattern of the watford game - bar the goal, was identical to the scenario I indicated) and wonder why I tell you to fuck off?
Every team in the Premier League are capable of winning any given week, bar Aston Villa. That is a fact, and has been proven this season week after week. To suggest brushing Norwich aside was simply a formality is nonsense.
You felt you could question my opinion of the Southampton game (that I watched in full) because you read a newspaper review? Ok. Papers are known for their indisputable accuracy.
Why the big affront over the expression? I can't believe that no-one has told you to fuck off in an argument/discussion about football before.
Yet you were aggrieved by my response (as you said to Joe) because I pointed out you were completely ignoring 3 victories in between a loss and a draw, of which you've already admitted one of the games you didn't even watch?
I've been told to fuck off by teenagers in arguments about football Mick, maybe the odd drunk, and possibly Gibbs. In general though, that isn't the best opening line to encourage discussion if I'm honest mate.
Your answer and approach suggests that you have preconceived notions about me, or you would not have been so patronising without at least attempting to rebut any of the points I made. All I did was describe in general terms the pattern of most of the recent games we have played, and made the point that if I was a manager - having noticed that, they would be the main aims of dealing with things.
How does me saying "you have to ignore those results" suggest I have perceived notions about you? I think you're paranoid if that's the case. Or overly sensitive.
Yes, your tactics were to 'mark the striker' Mick. You're not exactly rewriting the laws of football with that sort of insight.
Hence my point about the need for a creative midfielder. you came up with eriksen, which makes me doubt whether you have either full vision or faculties, because evidence of creativity from the guy has been in painful short supply this season to date.
No it hasn't. His assists suggests otherwise, but also just the chances he creates in general. His vision for a pass is superb and, more often than not, it's the recipient of the pass that prevents Eriksen getting far more assists than he does already.
Then again we've already established you watch games in the newspaper so it's a bit rich for you to suggest to me I don't have 'full vision'.
Try not to be so precious, or condescending and maybe you will get a decent conversation out of me. Rather than simply shitting what I had to say, why not think about the pattern of the games we have played, and bar a few exceptions, most of them have fallen into an all to similar rut.
No they haven't. That simply isn't true. Some have, but far from most.
But of all things - don't take me for a sammy who just wants to slate the players, pick my favourites, or think I am better than the manager and know more - because I know for a fact that I don't, or he would be the sales manager of my company and I would be picking the next first 11.
We've always got on alright Mick, I don't have any preconceptions about you, nor do I judge you on arguments you've had this others.
we are two quality players short of league champions, because of the fantastic team spirit, ethic, attitude and skill set of the squad, and because we have a damn fine manager.
Agree, though I think we could get CL without 2 world class additions, dependant on injuries.
You've admitted to not having watched Southampton, for all I know that's the only game you haven't seen this season - or maybe you haven't seen any - who knows...but given you were trying to point out the pattern of our play is almost identical every game this season yet you're using newspaper reviews to confirm this kind of rips the whole argument apart. I can count the number of games this season where we've faded drastically at the end on one hand, yet we've played 20+ games. Watch us Mick. It's honestly not that black and white. We've been superb (as you've said yourself), and you don't get the kind of results we've got without being able to change our style and patterns of play. Toby's long balls to Alli are a perfect example of something very much against the general ethic and style of the team.