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Post by Tatty on Sept 11, 2021 16:17:49 GMT
Antonio got sent off today, so misses the game against us next week
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Post by redcase on Sept 12, 2021 16:43:15 GMT
How anyone can rate bielsa is beyond me
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Post by Paul on Sept 12, 2021 17:09:19 GMT
Hope Elliott is ok, did look a nasty injury even if it wasn't a nasty challenge.
What I do find bizarre is that Pawson gave a red because of rhe severity of the I jury and not the challenge, which I find absolutely mental.
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Post by RAZ on Sept 12, 2021 17:30:48 GMT
maybe i am already getting ahead of myself but i cant help but being very excited about this season. not only because of united and the buzz around us. but also because it really looks like chelsea, city, united and liverpool will walk the league and usually its just one, max 2 teams creating those couple of points difference between them and the others. and no idea who those will be out of the 4 teams mentioned. all 4 are capable of winning the title.
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Post by viking22 on Sept 13, 2021 10:52:16 GMT
Still think it is between Chelsea and City. Better managers. More strength in depth. City are used to winning titles. While winning the CL has probably done wonders for Chelsea's self belief.
That being said we have an outside chance.
You cannot underestimate the importance of Ronaldo and Varane as field generals helping to instill a winning mentality and guiding the players through a title challenge.
And Ronaldo is a talisman. Our players and even our manager must now believe we can win the title and that self-belief is so so so important and has been lacking every since Fergie left. It also creates a fear factor that will make a lot of teams simply roll over which is always helpful. And if they are too scared by our attack to have a proper go at us that goes a long way towards taking the pressure off our leaky midfield and defence.
Midfield is a big problem and Ole isn't smart enough to find a viable band-aid although a tighter defence and our amazing attacking options will help to paper over the cracks. I think our title chances rely heavily on whether Pogba can step up and be a disciplined midfield general for us this season as well as how well Scotty adapts to playing as a single holding midfielder. And of course how often Ole wimps out and falls back on McFred. I think that will be the real make or break. And that (as well as Ole) is why I still see us as outsiders.
And of course we are completely screwed if Varane, Scotty or Bruno get hit by a bus.
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Post by ratbag on Sept 13, 2021 11:09:17 GMT
Still think it is between Chelsea and City. Better managers. More strength in depth. City are used to winning titles. While winning the CL has probably done wonders for Chelsea's self belief. That being said we have an outside chance. You cannot underestimate the importance of Ronaldo and Varane as field generals helping to instill a winning mentality and guiding the players through a title challenge. And Ronaldo is a talisman. Our players and even our manager must now believe we can win the title and that self-belief is so so so important and has been lacking every since Fergie left. It also creates a fear factor that will make a lot of teams simply roll over which is always helpful. And if they are too scared by our attack to have a proper go at us that goes a long way towards taking the pressure off our leaky midfield and defence. Midfield is a big problem and Ole isn't smart enough to find a viable band-aid although a tighter defence and our amazing attacking options will help to paper over the cracks. I think our title chances rely heavily on whether Pogba can step up and be a disciplined midfield general for us this season as well as how well Scotty adapts to playing as a single holding midfielder. And of course how often Ole wimps out and falls back on McFred. I think that will be the real make or break. And that (as well as Ole) is why I still see us as outsiders. And of course we are completely screwed if Varane, Scotty or Bruno get hit by a bus. Two things: You have mentioned them both recently... One, probably our best option currently for midfield is Scotty as a DM...I don't think anyone else can do the job...maybe Garner but he is young and more importantly, on loan at Forest...so Scotty it is and NOT McFred... Two, Ole really needs to give Dalot an extended run at RB...he can defend pretty well but also contributes well going forward... We need a threat from the right and someone to help Mason or whoever is playing up there at RW...
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Post by viking22 on Sept 13, 2021 11:16:28 GMT
Yeah I think we are pinning a lot on Scotty doing a job as DM and Ole resisting the temptation to go back to McFred. Hopefully Ole's desire to get Pogba to sign a new contract and get our best players on the pitch will force him to keep playing Pogba in the middle of the park which should hopefully keep Fred and Matic warming the bench.
Agree re Dalot. But Ole doesn't seem to fancy him. Would have been much better if we'd paid up to sign Trippier. When he is so obviously perfect for us we shouldn't worry too much about paying £10m or so over the odds and AWB definitely needs the kick up the backside Trippier's arrival would have provided. But maybe if AWB continues to suck we might go back in for Trippier in January.
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Post by redcase on Sept 13, 2021 11:47:33 GMT
There is no fucking chance he goes back to 2 DMs you'd think, based on the cornucopia of attacking talent we've got, and we have an actual good defensive pairing for a change.
I don't mind him asking AWB to help back in defense a bit more seeing as he's piss going forwards anyway. Use one DM and let the forwards loose, pin AWB to hang back a bit more in case of any counters. He's still the best one on one defender in the world in my eyes so play him to his strengths and design a strategy based on our attack.
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Post by Bestie on Sept 13, 2021 12:08:15 GMT
There is no fucking chance he goes back to 2 DMs you'd think, based on the cornucopia of attacking talent we've got, and we have an actual good defensive pairing for a change. I don't mind him asking AWB to help back in defense a bit more seeing as he's piss going forwards anyway. Use one DM and let the forwards loose, pin AWB to hang back a bit more in case of any counters. He's still the best one on one defender in the world in my eyes so play him to his strengths and design a strategy based on our attack. That's what we basically had on Saturday. It was clearly a 4-2-3-1 shape. Don't let Newcastle sitting so deep fool you, Pogba's position was flat square with Matic. Ole didn't change formation. We also don't have a decent CB pairing. We have one brilliant CB.
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Post by redcase on Sept 13, 2021 12:56:41 GMT
There is no fucking chance he goes back to 2 DMs you'd think, based on the cornucopia of attacking talent we've got, and we have an actual good defensive pairing for a change. I don't mind him asking AWB to help back in defense a bit more seeing as he's piss going forwards anyway. Use one DM and let the forwards loose, pin AWB to hang back a bit more in case of any counters. He's still the best one on one defender in the world in my eyes so play him to his strengths and design a strategy based on our attack. That's what we basically had on Saturday. It was clearly a 4-2-3-1 shape. Don't let Newcastle sitting so deep fool you, Pogba's position was flat square with Matic. Ole didn't change formation. We also don't have a decent CB pairing. We have one brilliant CB. I know you hate him, but he's been vastly better served with Varane around. His own dumb as fuck mistakes aside i.e. Since we can't get rid of him I'll throw my support behind him hoping he'll improve. We still, have the overall best back line in England imo. Our fullbacks are better than anybody else's and we still have a fantastic keeper.
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Post by anti_social on Sept 13, 2021 13:25:01 GMT
That's what we basically had on Saturday. It was clearly a 4-2-3-1 shape. Don't let Newcastle sitting so deep fool you, Pogba's position was flat square with Matic. Ole didn't change formation. We also don't have a decent CB pairing. We have one brilliant CB. I know you hate him, but he's been vastly better served with Varane around. His own dumb as fuck mistakes aside i.e. Since we can't get rid of him I'll throw my support behind him hoping he'll improve. We still, have the overall best back line in England imo. Our fullbacks are better than anybody else's and we still have a fantastic keeper. I’m not a Harry fan either, but he’s looked much better since Varane arrived I agree. Problem is still the holding midfield. Ole basically played a 4-1-5 agaunst Wolves and they cut theough us with ease. Against the “Toon” Pogba was a bit further back but he’s clearly not the answer in that role, Scotty can be good but needs time to grow into that role (ideally supported by a more experienced/able sidekick. Matic will be spent well before the season ends.
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Post by Stretty on Sept 13, 2021 20:02:43 GMT
I know you hate him, but he's been vastly better served with Varane around. His own dumb as fuck mistakes aside i.e. Since we can't get rid of him I'll throw my support behind him hoping he'll improve. We still, have the overall best back line in England imo. Our fullbacks are better than anybody else's and we still have a fantastic keeper. I’m not a Harry fan either, but he’s looked much better since Varane arrived I agree. Problem is still the holding midfield. Ole basically played a 4-1-5 agaunst Wolves and they cut theough us with ease. Against the “Toon” Pogba was a bit further back but he’s clearly not the answer in that role, Scotty can be good but needs time to grow into that role (ideally supported by a more experienced/able sidekick. Matic will be spent well before the season ends. agree with the CB point that Harry looks better with varane along side him(not perfect but ok).my main problem with the defenders is AWB he’s bench quality at best in a top side. we need an upgrade on him next summer along with a top DM.
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Post by Bestie on Sept 13, 2021 20:09:18 GMT
That's what we basically had on Saturday. It was clearly a 4-2-3-1 shape. Don't let Newcastle sitting so deep fool you, Pogba's position was flat square with Matic. Ole didn't change formation. We also don't have a decent CB pairing. We have one brilliant CB. I know you hate him, but he's been vastly better served with Varane around. His own dumb as fuck mistakes aside i.e. Since we can't get rid of him I'll throw my support behind him hoping he'll improve. We still, have the overall best back line in England imo. Our fullbacks are better than anybody else's and we still have a fantastic keeper. I only 'hate' him because I do not at all rate him as a footballer and he's somehow captain of Manchester United. I was thinking about this at the match, about Maguire and Lingard. If they do well, it hopefully means the team is doing well and to an extent carrying them. I don't actively want either of them to be shit. Unfortunately I just see it as inevitable and therefore don't want them anywhere near the team. Especially as having then in the team/squad is used as an excuse/reason not to bring in or play far superior players. The fact that both in different ways seem to have a personality that makes me massive eye roll is almost incidental.
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Post by Deez on Sept 17, 2021 19:25:21 GMT
ASM is far too good for the Geordies
*I know this is hardly an unpopular opinion! Probs an Everton or Spurs move next you'd think
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Post by Deez on Sept 17, 2021 19:46:06 GMT
ASM is far too good for the Geordies *I know this is hardly an unpopular opinion! Probs an Everton or Spurs move next you'd think If only I'd put a bet on him to score next instead of coming on here ffs
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