OneMoSalah

Jesus. Cut that across the box. Never scoring from there. Cant score from 6 yards out whys he thinking he can score from there?

100% agree. Not natural for someone with his goalscoring record to miss these sort of chances. If we go in with him as our main source of goals next season we wont progress simple as that. Even if our defence and midfield improves again, time and time again you need that clinical player in the final third. He is not that atm.

Thats why we needed a second. Benzema. Bastard. Why is Azpi marking Casemiro?

Second goal please.

Get in. Thank fuck he didnt pass to Werner, I am sorry but every time I see him miss I begin to think hes never going to ever be a success here. Cannot miss those chances.

Seems they’ve gone to a back 3 and wingbacks to match us. This will be interesting. Can see why he’s went for the same 3 at the back and also Azpi at RWB. Madrid have got 3 CBs in Militao, Nacho and Varane plus Casemiro and Benzema who are surprisingly strong in the air. Not only that it gives us more solidarity although Azpi at RWB may infuriate some people going forward. Suppose though it may give TT the option of changing a CB for Hudson-Odoi later on and putting Azpi back to RWB perhaps? Marcelo at LWB maybe why Azpi is staying at RWB too.

Think Lo Celso and Ndombele if you get them fit and playing every week its a good base to go from for a more expansive minded manager. Ndombele showed plenty flashes first half of the season. Their defence would be the biggest issue tbf. RB and CBs not good enough. The LB is the only one who you’d want to keep. Derailing post a bit but I am personally quite surprised how poorly Lo Celso has done as he was a classy wee player at Real Betis in that team that were playing great stuff under Setien. Similarly to Bielsa’s Bilbao team that season they put United out of the EL, Betis were of a similar mould, looked a real good team. He looked a really good technician, athletic, could take the ball under pressure, scored goals and got assists. Play deeper, box to box or as a 10. Re ten Hag: I do wonder if ten Hag can replicate his success outside of Holland though, they haven’t had the same success as they did in 2018-2019 season. He’s undoubtedly a good manager and their list isn’t exactly going to be huge for candidates who are of a certain calibre because theirs not many managers out there looking for work. Also looks like Sarri is likely to go to Roma to replace Paulo Fonseca so thats maybe another name off their list of potential targets alongside Nagelsmann. I reckon they’ll go for Hasenhuttl in all honesty, who probably isnt going to take them any higher than top 4/top 6 and would need time.

Oh no, honestly, do some research. The whole were 1st now 5th thing, look at the results they had and points they dropped, majority’s without Tomori. He didnt play in the 3-0 loss v Atalanta. Didnt start v Spezia who beat them 2-0, he came on a sub when it was 1-0 at like the 64th minute. Didn't play in 3-0 loss to Inter. Didnt play v Udinese in the 1-1 draw. Thats 11 points lost in games he wasn’t involved in (okay 26 minutes v Spezia). They have only dropped 7 he has played in, not counting the 26 mins he played v Spezia because he was already subbed on when they were losing. Earlier in the season they’d also dropped points v Roma, Hellas Verona, Parma, Genoa, Juventus prior to Tomori going there towards the end of January. The damage was done before he signed realistically and Inter have went on a huge run only dropping 13 points. Milan never had the staying power to finish top of the league. They've dropped 27 points all season so only 10 when Tomori’s been there (including Spezia game although was 1-0 when he subbed on and he played 26 mins). Theres a reason why Romangoli was dropped. For your captain as well to be dropped it doesn’t exactly look good performance wise. Thats why they are saying Milan want to sign Tomori because he’s probably playing at a better level, obviously Romagnoli has quality but he had been making mistakes/playing poorly. Dont agree with the better than de Ligt comments from that guy but some of his individual defensive play has been very good over there, asking the question why Frank didn’t give him more game time last season and this before being sacked. Will fetch us €30m this summer unfortunately as they are keen so good luck to him, I think for a younger CB theres no better league for him to learn. And even then, overrated? Really? Were you not shouting Connor Gallagher was better than Mason Mount when he was playing at Charlton last season for about 2 months? Let me guess Guehi is better than Tomori now also 😂 ? I think people will never be happy with our youngsters. Was same with Lewis Bate being better/could be better than Billy Gilmour last season. Some folk will never be happy.

I think we will go through if we show up and play well like v Atletico, Liverpool and City also with Tuchel. Just have a feeling. No doubt Madrid are a good team, undoubtedly, but their not as good as some make out. Their experience counts for a lot though. I think if Casemiro, Kroos and Modric play we have to be playing at a high tempo, being relentless off the ball and pressure them. They are top players but Kroos and Modric are also 30+ and both have missed games due to injury so we need to crank it up and get about them. Standing off Kroos like Liverpool did will cost us, two goals directly came from Liverpool not getting close to him. Should be an intriguing game. Hopefully get a big Kante performance as well, if he plays well and we defend well, I think we will have a huge chance. Obviously we need to score goals but I think Mount, Pulisic, Werner/Havertz have the ability to test their back 4 also. No Mendy at LB for them so talk of Nacho playing there plus no Ramos so they are there to be gotten at. Militao is a good player but the drop off between Ramos and Varane to him is big.

Yeah it is infuriating at times. The best fullbacks know when to go first time, when to take a touch and put it on or when to recycle it. Chilwell is guilty of taking too many at times, his delivery is usually not bad but the extra touch or two ruins the momentum of our moves and allows people to close him down. Have been impressed with how hes bounced back though, Alonso at the beginning looked like he would be more regular out of the two but Chilwell is slowly growing into the wingback role.

Linked with Varane and also Kounde from Sevilla again. I would assume we will lose Zouma and Tomori this summer then as talks are Silva will be staying as we have a 1 year extension. We need a left footed CB though, not chasing Laporte a few seasons back was a huge error I think its crazy City have got both Dias and Laporte who are two of the best CBs in Europe and they dont even pair them up a lot. How he doesnt play for France is even crazier. Much better than Umtiti, although Umtiti is a good CB also but has regressed. If we go to a back 4 then we will be selling for sure Tomori and a CB. You probably need 4 CBs in the squad for a back 4, so Silva, Rudi, Christensen (selling would be a mistake now I think Tuchel has put huge faith in him and hes clearly delivered) and then one of Varane/Kounde/Sule? Plus the we have Azpi who can do the role even in a 4 as he did for Spain as LCB with Lopetegui if needed as well as obviously back up at LB and playing RB. Whoever it is must be dominant in the air as we lack height and prominent ability to attack the ball bar Rudiger and Zouma, although Silva and Christensen are capable but not as dominant in that regard. 40-50m for Varane would be a steal.

If we went to a 3 man MF and lost one of Jorginho or Ngolo I could see the need for him. Wont happen though. Plus I think if went to a 3 man MF, Kovacic is 100% on to start most games, Kante/Jorginho then for another position and Mount as the more advanced player. Or Havertz although I think his intensity isnt up to it for a MF role unless its a 10 and he also looks better off the front/false 9. If we keep with a 2 he isnt the sort of guy we need really. Unless he played ahead of Mount or whoever in the front 3 as a 10.

If we want Varane, I would expect then at least one of the current CBs to leave. Maybe two? Including Tomori I suppose. Maybe Zouma might be one to leave from the current guys. I think Christensen will stay now and get a new deal as when he has played centrally in the back 3 he has looked great and I think, even in a 4, Tuchel can continue aiding his progression. The clubs never going to bin Azpi seeing as he is the clubs captain and still has a tonne to offer at RCB also as well as can cover RB and LB. Players who can play 3/4 roles are always useful.

Tbf Tuchel went for height in the back 3 and it was a wise move. I do think maybe resting him would of been better than playing him at wingback.

Still he‘s probably been our best player this season and again showed how key he is to the team again today I felt. He was the only one who really looked likely of getting our second goal due to Werner’s Torres impression. Goals and assists can improve as we always say before but his energy, drive and other aspects of his play bring so much to the team. Next season with Tuchel I think he can potentially get double figure for goals and improve on assists a lot.

Playing in a 3 man MF as a more advanced player/box to box player who has responsibilities of creating/scoring goals is different than playing in a double pivot in a 2 man midfield though. If you’d watched Lazio v Napoli you’d have seen specifically that SMS looks anything but capable of playing as a more disciplined CM role also. Everytime they lost the ball he was miles off it. Good with the ball but poor off it. Need someone who can do both. Even then watch how we play under Tuchel or how many of his sides have played, these deeper midfielders are very key to getting the ball out and building the play. They aren’t exactly given a huge license to bomb into the box. They screen the area in front of the defence and help the wider CBs/wingbacks cover. Then with the ball again they aren’t extremely advanced a lot. And even then, taking all of that out of consideration, why sign a more attacking midfielder when we need more a deeper option? Its square pegs for round holes. Yes Kante Jorginho and Kovacic have their limitations but getting someone whos closer to a number 10 than a number 8 or a 6 would be daft. Particularly for the money he would cost. This isnt FIFA or FM and have people not forgotten we already tried the 3 man MF with Mount and Havertz earlier this season also with Kante sitting and it didnt really bear fruit so I hope we stick to players in their more traditional positions instead of spending big money to gamble on a player that might not do the job in that role. It is clear we need a player who is a bit more physical and also technically good enough to play between the lines but effectively signing a number 10 to play as a 6/8 for the cash he will cost, would be a bit unwise unless we went 433 considering his lack of defensive nous, which 2 other MFs would compensate for but again we need someone to compete/rest/back up Kante if we persist with 343.

Abraham. Wow. Fucking hell we need 2 CFs.

Havertz and CHO on please.

For the love of fuck. Is that Torres upfront

Tbf at Monaco in the CL run and their Ligue 1 win he obviously made an impression against some teams but I think some people still got carried away with the comparisons/praises when we were linked because of the Monaco games against City particularly. I remember thinking he wasn’t an upgrade on Nemanja Matic from the previous season based on what I had seen. Matic’s role in that team will always be under appreciated due to Kante’s impact that season we won the title, like many felt and many also though selling him would be fine because of his age, United wanted him and the fact Bakayoko was supposed to be our new “midfield general” or the new Yaya Toure (😂) which were both extremely hopeful based on a handful of games. Speaks volumes about Bakayoko’s level that Conte wanted to keep Matic still despite the club having signed Bakayoko. Maybe would of grew into a good player with a bit of work but hasn’t done so. And was a utter disaster after the game v United really. Was like a championship/league 1 player was playing in midfield for us. First touch like a rapist. Seen blind men who could pass the ball better. Should have kept Matic and Chalobah and used the 40m somewhere else.

Never mind that then. 🤣 Get in. Not another false dawn hopefully.

Also against a back 3, why is Werner leading the line? Very questionable choice as physically he isn’t going to compete with their CBs. West Ham will sit in and grind us down, be little space for him in behind, off the left I could see why but centrally not so much.

Its tough because they are playing same formation so we are effectively cancelling each other out. Hard to stretch a team playing a back 3 as their wingbacks just mark ours, theres no spare man. Need Mount and Pulisic to come up with something, Mount has started brightly though and again looking like out key cog. Their wingbacks doing the dirty side of the game well, Chilwell not so well for us.

God no. Get rid.

People keep saying we need a Fabregas but they need to move on from it. There is unfortunately only one Fabregas. I mean seriously, pick me out a player of that style that is playing today? There isn’t a like for like out there and there probably wont ever be either because midfielders are now too safe as they don’t want to lose the ball or don’t possess the same quality in the final third, in and around the box as well as being a threat from deeper.