Fuckit - it has to be said.
The Man City game was the proof that any team challenging for the title needs money. We've punched above our weight all season and now we're in second place with little chance of winning the title.
You can stick all your tactical, rotational, zonal marking, pick your best eleven (score 3 then take them off), motivation, no passion, too defensive, too negative bollocks up your arse.
We missed Gerrard and Alonso desperately today. Slag Lucas off all you want - but who else did we have available to play in that position today? Plessis or Aurelio?
Simple fact is that we don’t have the strength in depth that Man U have.
Today, we put on Aurelio, Babel and El Zhar in an attempt to change things. Yesterday, against Blackburn, Man U put on Vidic, Tevez and Giggs.
But, put aside who they were playing, their result and who we played today and our crushing result – it’s irrelevant in that sense. The only thing relevant is the overall picture and the difference in squad depth.
Had we been able to bring on the likes of Rooney, Tevez, Giggs or Ronaldo then we’d have won today, wouldn’t we? Sadly, our best players of the season, of any season, Gerrard and Alonso – significant game changing players – were not available to us. We couldn’t afford Gareth Barry and so Lucas is our only alternative in midfield.
Despite the obvious misconceptions, Lucas was not the worst player on the pitch today though – but he clearly isn’t good enough. He has potential. We’re hardly in a position to rely upon potential but what else do we have?
Nothing really. Until we get money, the money we were promised. Obviously it won’t happen until things change at the top.
Until Snoogy Doggy signs we can only continue doing what we are, challenging. Moan the fuck all you want about Rafa and what he should or should not be doing, the simple facts are that you get what you pay for. It really is that simple.
So, open to you – is it all about money? Deep down, once you consider the whole picture – it surely is, no?
