Pizy

Ruben looks MILES off the pace here. Even physically he's getting bullied. We just have no single dominant, assertive defender. Every one of them is a reactive player. We will continue to be like this unless that changes. Hugely embarrassing (and doubly so after all the results that broke our way this week) if we don't come back and win this.

Story of our season. Utterly dominate and then concede to an AWFUL fucking side who haven't done a thing all game.

Villa players going down with the slightest contact and winning free kicks over and over.

We've finally got Kante back as the deepest midfielder. Hopefully he's there to stay.

He has played there for a couple of seasons now. And he's ridiculously quick. Mount isn't.

Whether it ends up being Mount or RLC playing out wide, I'm never a fan of using non-natural wingers playing in those positions. Just makes them so predictable for defenders because you know they're going to want to drift inside. Very surprising XI, must be said.

I've done a little research on several hot LB prospects and it seems every one of them is very good going forward but not great defensively. That's just the modern fullback. Only very few are world class at both. You either get a fullback like Azpi or Wan Bissaka who are basically defense first and nearly useless going forward or you get an all out attacking fullback who you just hope doesn't fuck up very often to cost you. Look at Liverpool's or City's fullbacks. Robertson, TAA, Walker, and Mendy are all fantastic going forward. But if you have a quality winger who is direct and aggressive they all can be got at. If we sign Chilwell it's the same. There will be times against quality wingers where he's going to get burned. It's inevitable. I've watched numerous big CL games where Marcelo looks like a clown defensively. But he's so outrageously skillful going forward that it's overlooked and accepted.

Villa are dreadful and were ultra boring the other day against Sheff United. A flash here and there by Grealish apart they are horrendous. Disgrace if we lose this considering we have a full arsenal of players available. I know it's the first match back but there's no way we should be losing or even dropping any points. Save our slip up for Man City next. 😅

Adama Traore has improved so much this season. He's a beast now rather than just a headless chicken with pace. This whole Wolves side is truly good. Very classy players all over the pitch and excellently coached. They may actually be the dark horse that's our biggest worry rather than United.

Their fans must feel like they're seriously cursed. That's now 3 key injuries in the two matches. They have probably been wishing the season was void.

That's gonna be the trade off with Chilwell just like it is with Alonso. Can attack brilliantly but needs protection and help defensively. But fuck off, Watford. Solid all game and then lose at the death. Could've been a great result for us if they held on.

Chilwell definitely looks vulnerable when a direct, extremely fast winger runs at him. Very tidy on the ball and dangerous when he's surging forward, though. He's nowhere near an £80m player but I'd take him for sure if he's £40-50m. Let's see if he's really intent on leaving or not.

Luckily, they'd probably have to sell one of Mané or Salah to afford him. I hope...

So you guys really look at Havertz's YouTube highlights and see a CF? Because I absolutely don't. I see instance after instance of him carrying the ball from the middle of the pitch, dribbling past players, shielding it with his considerable size, bursting into the box, and scoring while arriving late. He looks to me like a hybrid #8/#10. Similar to Pogba or Yaya Toure. Kills you in that area between the halfway line and the edge of the box.

I've said since we were initially linked with him that we'd surely have to sell someone (Barkley) for this move to make any sense. That's why I won't get my hopes up that anything will come of this interest.

Which is why buying Havertz as a striker makes no sense. Spending £80m or more on someone who isn't a natural CF is nonsensical. He'd be an advanced midfielder who plays behind the target man making late runs and scoring lots of goals. Basically doing the same kinds of things Lamps did when he played. ----------------------Tammy------------------- Werner------------Havertz-------------Ziyech Thats how I think we'd set up if we signed him with Havertz and Ziyech interchanging at will basically and Havertz getting into the box as much as possible. That could be an attack rivaling Liverpool & City.

I don't feel we'd be after him with thoughts on him playing up top when we have Tammy and just extended Giroud. Maybe if Frank permenantly switches to a 2 striker system, I guess.

I don't think there's any chance we'd deploy him as a CF. I think he'd be competing with Mason as the #10. A midfielder who is always high up the pitch and around the box to hunt the ball.

That second penalty United were awarded says everything you need to know about Jon Moss. Just sees someone hit the ground out of the corner of his eye and his first instinct is immedietly to award a pen. What a bastard. He and Anthony Taylor are the two worst refs in the league.

What a soft ass foul. But stupid as fuck from Dier. United seem to get a penalty every other damn match.

Spuds look shattered. Only a matter of time... Kane looks as you'd expect someone to look after not playing for 6 months. He's been nonexistent.

Fernandes really is class. If Pogba stays there and if they get Sancho they'll be a serious side next season just like us.

Think United will still win this 2-1. Spuds will Spud it up somehow.

When the question about injuries was asked I held my breath a bit dreading that Frank would say Pulsic and Kante are injured again. Big air punch when they weren't mentioned. Hopefully we see Pulisic straight away this weekend.

I do wonder if Frank picks up right where we left off with Billy thrown straight back in at the base of the midfield. I also wonder what his thinking will be on playing Willian knowing that he has yet to extend until the end of the season. Or will he just try to get us ready for life without him?