DanP2311

I am surprised so many people think FL’s job is on the line over the next couple of matches. I would find that surprising if true.

Once the ball got forward Mount was in the box with the forwards. He can get those shots (and support the attack better) by not out running the forwards.

This was prescient for an early match comment

My 2 cents. 1. Our 2d half subs seemed to reverse the run of play somehow. 2. Pulisic on the left looked very menacing. Since all the attack was up the left and Werner was a give-away machine today, I wonder why Pulisic was moved to the right. Or why there was almost no attack up the right side. 3. Mount has been playing well at midfield but today he and Havertz were routinely too high on attack. Kante was the only midfielder not in the box on attack. Consequently Wolves were owning the second balls and were then off to the races. 4. As manager today Frank looked like a legendary club player.

Normally I’d say that both at Timo and Havertz are adjusting and deserve patience. I think Werner can thrive in at least three different positions, and will find a role. Havertz is young. He fits a #10 role but doesn’t really get to play that role here. But I do worry that they are moping together and delaying the adjustment process.

My son texted me during the match that Maguire is “literally not good at soccer” and that ManU would be “better with 10 men if you subtract Maguire”.

Nice pass

I have Werner in fantasy and am shocked at how passive and out of sorts he is

Havertz thrives as a central #10, with Mount and Kante both playing pinched defensive roles.

Once Pulisic gets on the left things happen

Werner in a fog

He wasn’t tentative. That means that if he stays healthy and gets minutes at LW, things will happen. It’s a law of nature. If not, then who knows?

No flow whatsoever. Just what Jose wanted.

The opposing midfield is solid. The outside seems more promising to me.

Then he goes on to employ, subtly, all the stereotypes Marsch detected. But whatever. They all seem happy with each other now, so it’s all good.

I yeah, that’s a little bit disrespectful. I expect that will motivate Burnley.

I too would like to see how that middle line fares in a league match, with Mount and Kante as disrupters and protectors of the back line. Neither excels at link up play, but the wingbacks do, and if Havertz comes back to get the ball, that might make for a powerful lineup. The front 4 haven’t had much time together on the pitch yet (with Ziyech right, Pulisic left), so they are still learning each others tendencies. It takes time to gel. Given the crowded schedule, they may not get a lot of time together. Both Werner and Havertz played the entire 90 yesterday, right? Frank may rest them. Or perhaps he is just trying to keep a squad happy, and flexible in terms of lineups in the hope that everybody will learn to play with everybody, in various positions, effectively when all is said and done.

Now that the back line seems more organized, it would nice to see the 4 thoroughbreds get some extended time together on the pitch up top in their proper positions (CP on the left, Havertz behind Werner, Ziyech in the right). They need to get a feel for each other’s runs, and Havertz instinct to wander needs to be able to develop so that it is efficient. To say nothing of getting Chilwell and James comfortable with the their roles vis-a-vis the others in attack. I am hopeful that if that group can understand each other’s tendencies, and learn to complement one another, it could develop into something special. That puts a fair amount of pressure on the wide midfielders to defend. I don’t see how Jorginho can fit, but I never have. Maybe I am missing something. Isn’t it clear yet that Mount is a midfielder, not an attacker? As for formations, pardon my ignorance, but isn’t the difference between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1 more about where the 2 wide midfielders play as against Havertz?

I too would like to see you Tomori and get more chances. But I also think that Zouma is having a good start to this campaign, a few notable lapses notwithstanding.

I took his Disaster Class on Facebook.

Yeah, I think getting the ball forward will have to come from the wingbacks because the CMs aren’t going to do it. And is the back 3 about getting some people in Rashford’s way?

Announcers’ nightmare: James v James on the right.

At this point I would just be just happy enough with Mount was playing somewhere other than the attacking line. That IMO is slowing progress.

No Mount? Hard to imagine.

I wonder if Havertz will crowd Pulisic like an extra defender again on Saturday?