- May 31, 2011
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I suspect those wondering why we didn't try to smash a team 7 leagues below us by 10+ goals have never really competed in sport.
It's the same reason as you wouldn't put your 5 year old kid in goal in your back garden and repeatedly smash the ball past him and celebrate tanking him 20-0.
There is a level of respect necessary during these mismatches where you still have to beat them but you don't go out to humiliate them.
This is their cup final, the height of their careers that they will go on to tell their grandchildren about.
You don't try to post a cricket score and ruin what should be the best day of their lives.
We won comfortably 5-0, they walked off with their pride intact so it was a very professional job respectfully done.
Don't think thats much of the reality.
When we had Clarke, Gedson, Devine or White on the pitch, I think they would be all over scoring goals and making the most out of their "once in a season" moment. They just were not able to do it also because the rest of the team dropped their efforts a bit as the job was done. And actually Marine did quite well to keep the defensive structure in the 2nd half. Also we took out every experienced playmaker who could unlock defenses.
Whatever result would have come out it would never have been a humiliation to Marine. Jose even said before the match the biggest compliment would be to score lots of goals to show we took it seriously.
Personally I thought all our young ones did well but there seems to be no one close to be ready to play Premier League matches. No one there right now to burst onto scene and really made a name for himself. Its fine as they just need time and gain experience. I just would have hoped (bar Devines great goal) they would be able to create a bit more against Marine, but as I said, were not really helped by the circumstances.
Again: Result and performance were absolutely alright.