We have the players to give any team a game. Yes, any team.

We do not have to be set up with the sole intention of not conceding and with very little emphasis on playing football. Passing and moving is something that Rafa is afraid of in case it moves a player temporarily out of position.

At home the away team should be worrying about what we can do just as much as us worrying about what they can do.
Away should be the same but with a bit more caution against the bigger teams, of which there are only a few that are capable of destruction.

You can't expect to be a moving duck on a side stall whilst being peppered and not expect to be knocked down and out.
People can defend that for as long as they want. It's their choice...but I'll hazard a guess at one thing. It won't be long before the natives get restless if Rafa carries that nonsense on, regardless of making up excuses of not having X amount of large double figured millions of pound players.


The truth is, if this team had six 20 million plus players in it and played like that, it would be because we didn't have 7 or 8.
The excuses are fine but the reality is there on the pitch with 11 players plus subs, footballers sent out to perform a specific task and it won't be long before they get sick of doing it.

Too many of those players are being deprived of expressing their talent...and believe me there's much more in many of those players.