I'm absolutely deflated we've lost today it feels so painful, even though when putting things in perspective we've lost 0-1 too the world champions, and have played magnificently, and ALMOST been rewarded with something special.
Nobody today can possibly say the approach by Pulis was wrong, you could plainly see no area was left un-turned, we were never going to be able to out-play manchester united, we all knew that, what you have too do when you play them, is stop them from playing, and the work ethic in particular, for the vast majority of the game did just that.
Our chances were always going too be limited, and if we were too win the game we HAD to take the chances that came, and i think fuller's chance inside two minutes was one of the best, if not the best, i think it suprised him he was in that position to score after a matter of minutes, it certainly shocked me.
For the first few minutes of the second half we looked a bit shakey, and for the first time in the game, were allowing man utd too attack and press on us, but once we pushed forward and got the ball too the feet of fuller, we looked as dangerous.
I thought we were alot less one dimensional today, mainly due too not having the ingredients to be, normally we would be playing a long ball to try and pick out sidibe's head, but instead today, the ball was played to riccy's feet, and that approach look just as dangerous and useful and long ball's too mama.
I hope based on that it encourages Pulis to mix things up more, because when we are free of injuries and suspensions we have the players too adopt both approaches, thus giving us more methods of breaking down our opponents, ultimately increasing our chances of winning games, hopefully.
I thought Chris Foy had a mixed game, undoubtably he had to send wilko off, and i'm sure wilko will be sat down now regretting his challenge, and seeing it was silly, but it's a natural reaction, and before his sending off i think he was having the best game he's had all season.
Being pety, if Foy had have dealt with Ronaldo's kick at wilko prior too it, a sending off offensive too alot of ref's as we saw in 98' with david beckham, if ronaldo had have gone for that, he wouldn't have been on the pitch for andy to chop down.
And how that thug Rooney wasn't send off or so much as cautioned for his two attempts to swing at our player right in-front of the linesman is beyond me.
Buts that football, you get some you don't.
There are so many positives too take from this, despite our unbeaten run at home coming too an end it's the best home performance since Arsenal in my opinion, that can only be a good thing.
19 games gone, 20 points, with away trips at Sunderland, Everton, Hull and west brom too come in the second half of the season, and more winnable home games, with Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea having all have already been here.
A couple of positions being addressed in January, a pacey winger with flair and creativity would be ideal, and maybe another striker and defender would be nice.
Providing we invest well in January, stick together, and make our home form the force it has been so far, we can, and will stay up.
A disappointed, but proud Stokie.
Role on the fecking Hammers !!!!!!
