I think the 1-6 in October and it being Jose is more of a reason for that performance than anything else. Just like City was. It's an outlier for this team and a tantalising hint of what this team can do once it takes the next step in its development but the motivation was there for them to overcome the fatigue that simply isn't there in all but the Liverpool and maybe Leeds games from those we have left.
Not that I think it's acceptable, but that's my POV
Yeah I guess you're right. Especially Pogba seems like the kind of player who would like to rub it in into the face of a hostile manager (and he kind of did yesterday ^^). Nevertheless, the match enables us to evaluate performances a little bit better. Because as you say, maybe the motivation is also a topic. Probably not a major one but it could play a role even though you would expect being top of the league would also work as a strong motivator which it didn't seem to be back in January.
Also - you mentioned "taking the next step in its development", what do you think this is?
Yeah I don't think its fair to look at yesterdays performance and make a 'well, why can't we play like that every week then?' claim because that's not realistic. We weren't particularly great in the first half and the disallowed goal was such a blow because it looked like it was going to be a game of few chances. I think the behaviour of the Spurs players lit a fire under the team and the adrenaline carried us through.
Who says it isn't? That's the thing isn't it - it is similar to one of the core questions of this thread "is it possible to get more out of this squad". We just don't know if the answer is yes or no, unprovable. To just put the great performance down to our players being agitated, I feel it takes something away from yesterdays achievements. We made use of the ball, we played with it. AWB was more committed, Fred was more involved and slightly closer to goal. Yesterdays performance isn't just down to "being motivated" for me. Look at the disallowed goal, it was a mostly nothing situation but Cavani attacked a space, gained a metre and Pogba played a simple pass into space, bamm goal. Stuff like that is usually missing from our play.
I have read many of your post and you give a slant towards the fact that the Coach performs an average job. However, considering the injustice of the disallowed goal and subpar refereeing, you need to give the Coach top marks of calming agitated players.
Don't think I said that. He is doing a good job and exceeds expectations. In some aspects he is doing a very good job. Doesn't mean that I shouldn't point out, what I might miss and also point out hollow praise when I feel it is due. You also felt the need to accuse me of things (see below) so... I guess it is the same situation isn't it?
Ole kept the team focused on the task at hand and galvanized them to perform excellently. The adrenaline rush from the perceived injustice during the match and the flashback to the same earlier injustice during the 1-6 defeat means the players are fired up when coming out for the second half.
Changes were visible in 1st half as well. I agree, being somewhat riled up has certainly played a part in our great performance. The actual extent is (like everything) debatable.
Credit to Ole for keeping them inline and not committing rash tackles and letting the game go out of hand.
100% agree, we kept our cool, kudos to the players and the manager.
This match adds another notch to the debate revolving around the importance of man management versus tactical acumen. In my opinion, on a percentage scale, I would apportion 60% to man management with 40% to tactical acumen.
I wouldn't come to this conclusion after the match seeing that Pogba was deployed in a somewhat unorthodox manner and we definitely weren't as direct as usual so I think, there is more to that performance than "mostly" man management. But I understand what you mean, it is a legit stance.
However, here we are the next day celebrating a profound win against Jose and his referee-conning team. Furthermore, the effect of properly managing the team and getting down to work despite the effect of the lack of preseason and less than stellar transfer window is quite evident at this point.
I get some RAWK vibes here... I don't like that. Shithousery is shit, bad refs are shit, stupid implementation of VAR is shit. But it is shit for everybody so it evens out. I'd be the first to support changes to prevent some things but nobody asks me so I accept it as part of the game, one that effects everybody.
We need to reconsider and recognise the positive effect of what Ole has done this season and not give backhanded compliments disguised as support.
Cheap shot. I could also disappear after a good performance and not say anything. But no, I display my happiness and being proud but the mind police is ready to accuse people of "being not sincere enough". Well done. Way to go to find a way out of the rampant tribalism around here. Let's just not do it, we are better off without it.
