Right. You're 1-0 behind in an FA Cup final. Your only useful attacking option is Rory Delap and his ridiculously dangerous long throw ins. You have ten minutes left to score the goal that will take your side to extra time. What do you do?
Manchester City Vs. Stoke City, 2011 FA Cup Final: Rory Delap Taken Off For John Carew
If you're Stoke City manager Tony Pulis, you haul off Rory Delap to introduce ex-Aston Villa ex-hitman John Carew, which makes about as much sense as asking Aleksandar Kolarov to defend. It does add another forward to the mixer, but leaves Stoke with absolutely no ability to deliver the ball in (Delap is out, Etherington is out, Pennant is feeling an ankle injury). All seems very silly, if you were to ask me.
Manchester City are opting to defend in numbers, of course - they're perfectly happy with a 1-0 win, thank you. That said, they wouldn't be too sad if they could get another goal, and David Silva came pretty close to doubling their advantage, forcing another good save from Thomas Sorensen.
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