Yeah, but......
Seriously, I agree with the general sentiment but it just re-enforces how lightweight we are up front without Torres. There aren't enough goals in the rest of the team to overcome that loss.
I think fans have a right to be disappointed mate....
We go to Madrid and grind out a memorable 1 0 win which is fantastic but its in the Premier League where we are at fault
We play the same formation away to Madrid as we do when we play bottom half teams in the league...was at the Boro game Sat...we had 2 defensive midfielders...boro didnt even have that...we show poor sides too much respect
I think the manager is to blame...when you watch united play it is attack after attack...with us its mascherano giving the ball away and alonso seraching for passes that aren't available
We WONT win the league with this manager
See here's what I don't get though.
If we're so reliant on Torres, so hopelessly toothless without him, and if we are hampered as well by such a catious, negative manager...
How the hell have Utd only scored 3 more than us in one more game?
How are we, without our main striker and playing football that supposedly even George Graham would dismiss as dull, the joint 2nd highest scorers in the prem, level with 'gung ho' city, and ahead of 'most attackiest team in the world ever' Arsenal and 'British style passion wingers and goals' Aston Villa?
Now, I'm not about to pretent that Rafa is a 'gung ho' manager. Nor am I going to suggest with a straight face that our attack is up there with Utd's just yet...
But we are a LONG way from toothless without Torres (who hasn't been involved in any of our bigger wins this season, except Everton away and Chelsea home), and we certainly don't play defensive, counter attacking football aiming only not to concede.
Our GD against Utd and Chelsea is far more down to goals leaked than goals scored.
Can I also point out that when Man Utd play it isn't 'attack after attack'. What a load of bullshit. If you really think that you haven't been watching them play this season...they've been very controlled, and actually (when I've seen them) play more defensively than we do after going a goal up...like Newcastle yesterday. Once they got the lead they barely attacked for the rest of the game.
Also, if you honestly think (2nd poster quoted) that we WON'T win it with Rafa...well mate. You might as well give up now because there's no-one better out there. No one. The only managers with records to touch him have won their big trophies at bigger (certainly based on recent history) clubs with much more money (EG Cappello, Lippi, Mourinho etc)