Not you Ron..
Didn't realise pboros quote would disappear...
I agree that in too many games we have defended the lead too early, especially against teams of our own calibre or slightly worse that we should've beaten. However, the tactics that we employed against Man Utd weren't that different - it worked because the team was playing well, as ronandtet is also pointing out. And also, like you say Ghost, because we gave it a go the full 90 mins, though we increasingly defended more than possessing the ball and attacking. So it's a combination. But the main thing is that a player like Shelvey stepped his game up (and Yedlin and Lejeune and Gayle and Diame and Dubravka etc.), something that he hasn't done because he's been lazy, bad-tempered, out of form, out of luck or Rafa couldn't motivate him (depending on how you look at it).
Not you Ron..
Didn't realise pboros quote would disappear...
Ok let me try and put it in a better frame.
Against Man Utd, of course we defended a lead but we also attempted to add to it, as and when we had the chance.
We knew a team like Man Utd would come at us, like any team would that is trying to get back into the game....and this is the key issue.
You see, in many other games we attacked many teams in the first half and many times we took the lead.
Then we would get pegged back or go behind in short order.
The second half would see us set out for damage limitation rather than having a real go. That's my issue.
All I asked for was a horses for courses game in a balanced way.
Against Man Utd I was excited and entertained.
Against most teams this season I've been mind numbed and depressed.
Very few games gave me excitement.
All I ask for is that kind of have a go mentality.
I would also expect us to go on and finish lesser teams off when we are in the ascendency or at least try to rather than holding on to a draw at home or the likes.
If Rafa keeps this mentality up we will more than comfortably hold our own this season which I've stated on many occasions.
I also said we were not a championship team and the resurgence of players proves it...but....I don't really want to play tit for tat arguments with everyone saying, " I told you so" because we can all bring up a whole host of past posts that can paint us all in hypocritical lights.
That's the nature of being a fan of any club, whether you're top of the tree or hanging from weak branches of it.