Pizy

There are some glaring weaknesses we have in defense when it comes to concentration and focus but I’m going to take the positives away from that. Arse have been miles and miles ahead of us but we have absolutely cut that gap. We aren’t quite a top team yet but we’re heading in the right direction. We played them completely evenly there despite our best attacker having perhaps his most ineffective match of the season thus far. Caicedo excellent, Neto getting better and better. We no longer panic and shit the bed when we concede against the big teams. In all 3 of the matches against Liverpool, United, and now Arse we give away a goal and respond well. We are on the right track. Just a couple of steps away from being a serious team.

Really, really have to stop allowing Saka to get isolated on one of our wingers. Cucu needs to take that responsibility himself.

Just look at that replay, man. They had TWO players wide open on our back post. WTF is Gusto doing there?!

Fucking kill oursleves again with a terrible giveaway in midfield.

Some nice bursts into space from Jackson that half but I thought he once again struggled to actually be a danger in the final third when it matters. He thrives against high lines where he can burst in behind, but when he’s got multiple defenders who he can’t run past he struggles.

Though Caicedo was again great, btw.

Really, really disappointing from Cole that half. Of any player on the pitch you’d want him on those two free kicks and he blasts the wall both times. Come on, man.

Offside but still embarrassing we were switched off there throughout the whole team.

Said it every game he has played in this role, but James scores all or most these chances that Gusto gets over and over. He just isn’t composed enough in the final third.

For the love of god, please don’t let this be one of those games where we can barely control the ball and get a sniff of it for long stretches. I hope we are aggressive from minute 1.

Yep. As I just mentioned above Noni needs to start justifying the faith Maresca has placed in him today or else he’s the first one I’d drop as soon as Sancho is back ready to go. He has continued to be super dangerous in the wide areas running at defenders and causing chaos but his end product has been awful since that hat trick game ages ago now.

Arse badly need to win here to keep their title hopes alive so I expect them to be much better than they have been in recent matches. So our defenders need to be super sharp or Saka, Odegaard, and Martinelli will rip us apart. And on the other end, Madueke really needs a massive performance. After a super promising start to the season he hasn’t done much at all in terms of end product and yet Maresca treats him the same as Palmer or Jackson who are nailed on starters no matter what in the PL. Which I don’t think he should be.

Think it’s now abundantly clear with this XI today that Maresca doesn’t yet feel like Reece can start matches in his natural position. That’s why he kept “protecting” him but playing him on the left in a reserved, defensive only role where he never bombed forward and why he is not playing today, surely. Doesn’t want him dealing with the lightning quick Martinelli all game.

No matter how fucking SHIT they are we just can’t beat them. Infuriating. They’ve been fucking woeful and we’re handing them the game.

Both Caicedo and Lavia are dominating in midfield, btw. The attackers are getting the ball between the lines well but haven’t been sharp enough.

Gusto experiment in this advanced position should be over at halftime. He’s not good enough using the ball in those advanced positions. Reece would be destroying United in these exact same positions. Let Cucu play the withdrawn, defensive role that Reece is currently playing and put Reece where Gusto is.

Neither winger involved enough. Not at all, really. That has to change.

HOW IS THAT A FOUL?! Ugarte kicks Gusto!

We keep causing our own problems by giving it away so cheaply.

Malo is so loose and careless with his passes. Has to sharpen up.

He’s done exactly what I hoped he wouldn’t and shoehorned Gusto in the XI out of position again. 😔

Spuds look like shit once again. They look so short of creativity and ideas. A draw is what we want here but I don't see where a goal comes from for them.

We still have vastly more quality in attack than they do and also in the middle of the park. Our defense is capable of shambolic moments for sure but United have been woeful at scoring this season. I don’t think they have the quality to make this “one sided.” Unless we literally gift them multiple goals from like Sanchez or Fofana howlers. Which I suppose can’t be ruled out… 😭😭😭

They’re absolutely going to raise their game to levels they haven’t showed all season but their team is still filled with players capable of idiotic mistakes or ones who are woefully out of form. I expect a super high energy, aggressive start from them but as long as we ride that out without conceding a stupid goal we’ll be fine. The biggest key for us is the wide players and Nico up front. I hope Maresca has drilled them in training to be as aggressive and direct as possible. Their fullbacks and defenders have been all over the shop. So if Madueke and Neto can pin them back constantly I don’t think United will be able to deal with it. Really hope Maresca doesn’t experiment with the defense again like we did the other day with Reece on the left. Play him in his natural spot and start Cucu.

Anyone else not really bothered at all about this competition? I’m not even watching it, just checking in here and there on Twitter. Of course I always want us to win but if we go out 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️