Tomo

Apparently Steve Cotteril wasn't a fan atall when he took over but has been working hard with him to improve Boga, and as Jeremie celebrated his goal with the manager it looks like he is on board with Steve's plans for him.

Never realized he was always in the 18 under RDM and Rafa, the contrast compared to the 2 Portuguese managers either side of that pair was crazy.

You can only imagine the media if he was playing at United. Funny thing is i felt he blew hot and cold at youth level, maybe he was just bored. Im pretty sure Bertrand had a run of starts under Benitez, and the year before in the prem while we were keeping Ash wrapped up in cotton wool for the CL.

Problem with Cesc is, when he's not physically on point he's practically useless despite his rare skillset, he has had some pretty horrific performances that are only going to get more frequent. Some point soon i can see a Malouda esque snap where he becomes useless almost over night. I think running down his contract is the best option for all parties.

You just know pundits will bring his name up everytime Hazard and Pedro aren't at their best

I haven't checked his thread on Cafe but a few weeks ago i was branded delusional by a United fan on a night out when i said he wasn't all that post NYD 2015, so if he's anything to go by i would say they are still in the honeymoon phase.

Redcafe on Lukaku, looks like reality is hitting big time, how stupid must they feel for mocking us and Morata? Literally every single reason that i wasn't arsed about selling him nor wanted him back is covered here. Poor movement, static play, lazy, poor technique etc etc, honestly i would genuinely rather have the version's of Eto'o or Ba we got in 2013 over Lukaku let alone Costa or Morata.We already have 1 "flawed but scores" striker in Bats we certainly didn't need another.

Given they will be 32/33 at that time, i would imagine their use even as squad players would likely be declining fast so we will have to find replacements either way. Maybe we can sound out United in the summer see if they fancy any of them for £40m

Tbh im not too bothered with the other 4. If we go into 19/20 with any of them as starters then something is seriously wrong.

How did these draw twice to Atletico? Worst team we have played in the CL by far.

Im not enamoured for the complete opposite reason, some players should have been left at home, we don't have a full week rest until January at the earliest, when you have a such a brutal schedule calculated risks are a must.

I usually agree, but this front 3 work pretty well together plus Morata is still a bit rusty in terms of starting 3 games a week.

Azpi aswell, his minutes is Lampard circa mid 00's territotry.

Ofcourse i'd rather finish 1st than 2nd, but since the new format it's not as crucial as it use to be. Before there use to be a clear golf between the winners pot and the runners up pot, if you won the group and got a giant you were unlucky, now it's 50/50 either way.

The only place you could even think maybe is if we reverted to 3412 and he was Hazard's back up behind the strikers, but even if we did that hypothetical formation change i'd rather give that spot to Ruben when he returns.

They weren't great but they certainly were better than a lot of teams that beat United at Old Trafford down the years, so there was always that element of risk.

Course it was, if Schalke opened the scoring at Old Trafford on the night then United were clinging on with the b team out.

No thanks, Mata isn't even half the player he was in 2012 and even that version would struggle for games under Conte.

I do, but the reality is with our schedule, some calculated risks need to be taken somewhere. We only need to look back at 2015 to see what eventually happened when Jose repeatedly played his strongest side no matter what. Fergie took a similar risk in 2011, with a 2 goal lead from the first leg vs Schalke, he heavily rotated for the home game so his first team was fit to play us, when the odds are in your favour is the right time for it.

I honestly wouldn't care. Will be annoying for the first few weeks while the media and United fans make out he's Ronaldinho reborn and bring him up every time Hazard and Pedro get dispossessed, but the crux of the matter is United will be throwing silly money at yet another Chelsea player who's best days are in the past, he's been our 3rd choice winger under Conte for a reason. It's a shame Woodward wasn't running transfers at United around 2011 time, we could have palmed Alex, Essien, Malouda, Anelka and Kalou on them for obscene cash.

If we are going 3 5 2 as the way forward, i would rather replace him with a striker.

I think Azpi-Christensen-Cahill complement eachother quite well and between them compensate for each other's weaknesses. Azpi and Cahill bring the experience the Dane lacks, Azpi's lack off Ariel ability is compensated with the other 2, as is Cahill's not so great technical ability.

Does make you wonder what 'input' he use to give when he was with us, maybe Malouda at full back was his idea

I'd leave some player's at home. Even the travel will be tiring, and with our schedule calculated risks need to be taken. After all the absolute worst case situation going to match day 6 is we need a draw at home, and even that's only the case if both results go against us here, the odds are in our favor to take some gambles with selection here.

Pedro may not be at that level in terms of natural talent, but he is the perfect foil for player's that are, there's a reason he was a regular for Pep.