OneMoSalah

Playing in a more counterattacking orientated Dortmund team probably helped that where as Hazard was afforded more of a luxury role at Lille with that regards and they were more a possession based team particularly his final season. Theres nothing wrong with that but weve also seen games (ie under Jose when Atletico put us out the CL) where Eden let his man go and it didnt help. Pulisic will get a bit mire of that freedom eventually I do feel but we have try and be a more proactive team like City or Liverpool where they do the pressure in packs very quickly after losing the ball and not sit off chasing fullbacks for instance.

Exactly. Also he isn’t just limited to going sideways and backwards but the difference in terms of the options we had when players had the ball in terms of passing options from earlier in the season to now is a big difference. You cannot always pass forward if the options have been shut off or there aren’t as many as there could be but people seem to think that Jorginho is usually always the reason as to why.... Rodri at City very much does a similar job but they’ve got the players who will move off the ball into clever pockets or run in behind and create problems for others as well as creating space where you see the likes of De Bruyne or Silva pick it up and have real time in these sort of half spaces. Jorginho is never going to get 10 assists a season for instance that isnt why he plays there. He controls the game and if our other midfielders/attackers were more productive this wouldn’t be an issue. Same with Rodri at City although his role is slightly different but their fans wouldn’t dare focus on ‘he isnt creative’ enough because there are others there to do that. Also tonight I was impressed by little things I seen from Todd Cantwell, most times he received the ball he was aware of if he was marked tightly and always was shaping or opening his body so he could go forward with it into space or an opening. It may only seem like a little thing but that is what I used to like about Barkley when he broke through at Everton. Kovacic is capable of it too. There is more problems than just Jorginho in this team. The lack of urgency and movement when we get up the pitch is alarming at times, as well as the finishing. Whats he meant to do if he gets it standing around the middle of his own half? Punt it 50 or 60 metres in behind a defence to Giroud who very rarely runs in behind teams as his strength is playing to his feet and getting guys closer to him to play off that? Or Willian who again prefers to come short? I wouldnt say he plays it safe but when he has to he does yes but just look at the difference from the start of the season to now. We had more willing runners and more unpredictability in attack, now we really dont for whatever reason (same as what Sarri did perhaps, try and keep more men in better positions so we are more stable if we lose it?). I mean If Pulisic doesnt do anything or end up on the end of a low centre/cross in the box from Azpi or Alonso or Giroud doesn’t score from a ball across the 6 yard box, where else is the goals going to come from? The bulk of our chances were centres from our fullbacks, some which were into promising areas, or from corners.

True maybe his working back helped him out but in attack at times he looked like he was more than contempt to slow it down as well as the fact maybe the movement wasnt there also. totally agree with the point about Ruben, think next season he will be better but he also has to try do a bit more at times. Hes another guy who can ghost past players but he didnt do it very often today.

Maybe he wasnt great or hasnt been in games since the restart but I think it is a similar situation to that period under Sarri during the winter. Everything was so slow today infront of him and there wasnt any real clever movement from the attacking players or Ruben/Ross when he came on (although he did grt a bit higher up more frequently than Ruben) to get in behind Norwich or between the lines. There didnt seem to be any real idea of how to break them down bar keep moving the ball from side to side and rely on the fullbacks crossing, which they did provide some half decent crosses that weren't taken advantage of but again its predictable and pointless if your not going to finish those chances or at least flood the box a bit more. Kovacic was steady enough in the middle tonight too but think he could have done more to take some of their MF players out of the game by asking for the ball off the CBs or Jorginho and spinning anyone tryna put him under pressure, he has done it in phases and his ability to retain the ball in tight areas indicates he should be looking to do it more frequently. Think we also missed Mason as well if I am perfectly honest but he has played a lot this season so can see why Frank maybe didnt take him on. I really get the impression Frank doesnt fancy Jorginho though. He would much prefer Ngolo or Billy there.

Says it all when our best chances really came from crosses from fullbacks. Ruben, Ross, Willian did nothing of note. Too slow in attack but the options weren't there either at times, lack of movement in and around Giroud meaning the likes of Willian would slow the game down to go backwards. Positives: -3 points -managed the game ok -clean sheet (Kepa more or less a spectator) -decent defensive showing -didnt concede many big chances -Reece, Azpi and Alonso put some decent crosses into decent areas where you would ideally want a CF/winger/3rd man runner to come into. Negatives: -boring and pedestrian through the middle -too many safe passes in final third -no real willingness from any MF players to get into the box regularly -poor finishing I would be interested in seeing who had the most touches today, I would imagine Azpi/Alonso will be right up there ahead of all of our attackers.

Honestly would say its worse than with Sarri at times. At least you knew we wouldn’t be too bad at playing out and getting to the final third with a bit more urgency and clearer patterns by the players but with the likes of Barkley and Willian (who has been one of our better players since the restart too) it is far too much for them to create something out of nothing. Plus bar Pulisic, really we dont have many guys willing to run in behind or play quickly which is a problem in itself and that includes Giroud as well who isnt mobile enough to be a big threat in behind teams in these scenarios. Werner and Ziyech should help us in this case but again, Franks persistence with someone like Ross is very frustrating he looks as if hes had the instinctiveness and creative side coached out of his game a bit and seems more of a safe player now a days. Subbing a fullback for a fullback is a poor decision in my opinion. Benitez-esque. Although tonight our fullbacks have really done alright and created the bulk of our half decent opportunities that youd feel if we had someone else like the likes of a Raheem Sterling or a proper top CF we would have more goals.

Giroud... not having much luck 🤣 another half decent ball in

True but again if he could show this sort of performances more often than not he would be very handy to have around the squad to make the numbers up as a backup/rotation option. Still undoubtedly better than Emerson. Alonso seems to have a decent connection with Pulisic when hes on the left. Obviously has his flaws but most of our defenders do. Most of his crosses tonight have been alright. Few blocked as well.

I think Atletico are building another good team though and will be much better next season compared to earlier this one. Felix has really started to up his game and is looking more like the player he was at Benfica. Plus theyve got the experienced heads still and Oblak is one of them, I doubt he will be looking to move. As nice as it would be to get him here. Thomas probably the most likely to move from Atletico this summer.

While that is true most of the time tonight he’s been one of our best players, picking good positions when we are attacking and has been very solid defensively.... if he played like this every week he would have a real chance of staying.

Good play down the left again. Giroud is having one of those nights though, could of had a hattrick by now. Zouma also should have done better with his chance. Willian and Ruben have been incredibly disappointing but Alonso, Pulisic, Kovacic and Azpilicueta all doing well imo.

Alonso has been unlucky with his final ball, defenders blocking him well but he is always in good positions. Pulisic also unlucky with that chance Krul made a good save. Hopefully get something in next 5 before HT.

Think Lindelof has really improved with Ole tbf. Was never overly keen when we were linked with him at Benfica but has improved a lot since in the last year and a bit. Joachim Anderson is a very decent player. Done well in Holland with Twente and Italy with Sampdoria and now progressing again in France.

Must admit I am eager to see how Cantwell does, really interesting young player. Also Buendia who has looked decent for them but think hes on the bench? they started well but think we should be looking to win comfortably. great ball by Alonso there

Thats workable then. I think we will struggle to offload everyone that is surplus to requirements on loan but if we can move say 3 or 4 on it isnt too bad. Suppose Pasalic is already going to remain with Atalanta and Morata will sign permanently at Atletico Madrid too. Kenedy has been mooted to sign for Getafe on a permanent deal too.

Hopefully get a result. The pressure is on, never ever thought playing Norwich would be a pressure game for us but its more to do with the fact United and Leicester dropped points in games you'd expect them to win. We cannot afford to drop anymore this season. Hopefully we see a big change attitude and effort tonight because that Sheffield United game was a joke. Like we were going through the motions or on holiday already despite the fact nothing is certain about the CL. Another loss and there will be more questions than answers imo, about Frank and about the squad. I think a poor end to the season will bring on a lot more media speculation as well about how we had managed to go from what was it, 11 points clear of the others before 2020, to struggling to get over the line.

Max of 6 players loaned out surely? Doesnt mean we will necessarily get rid of everyone I think there will be a few who rot in the reserves for a while.

I doubt we will sell 11 players in one window. Plus isnt Kenedy’s contract expiring this summer?

I have no doubt that this will not happen 😂 He didnt want to come here 2 years ago and I don't see it now. He would be an unbelievable signing though but the chances of it happening are practically 0.

Two good goals so far. Martial did brilliantly there with a real optimistic pass from Pogba. Be a couple of goals yet.

He was always under appreciated when Ronaldo was there but he has emerged as a key figurehead for them since he left and the last 2 seasons he has been doing what he does best. His general play has always been fantastic for me, like having a number 10 upfront, similar to Firmino at Liverpool. He was a big reason as to why Bale and Ronaldo worked so well with him during the years they were putting up insane numbers even if Benzema’s werent as high as they could have been. True but again, as we have seen with Ozil, James (loaned to Bayern), Di Maria, Morata. Madrid will sell/get rid of players if they feel the need to. Regardless of how good they are. Brahim Diaz is also a potential casualty for them this window but his career has stalled since going to Real. Jovic may have a better season next year at Madrid if he stays, it wouldnt surprise me but it also wouldnt surprise me if they offloaded him as he is a sellable asset to get someone else in. Leicester have been linked to Jovic in the last week or so.

Madrid need to sell players before buying to raise funds for players such as Pogba or Havertz who they are monitoring. Hakimi was another one they sold for this reason (as well as he didnt fancy being second choice) and James, Jovic, Brahim Diaz and a few others will be the same if a suitable offer is made.

Tbf Benzema is enjoying a renaissance of sorts this season having got 23 goals and 10 assists as well as 9 MoTM awards so far so its clear to see why Jovic isn’t playing, regardless of the off field stuff. Fair Jovic has had some issues off the field breaking lockdown protocols but so has Kyle Walker, Hudson-Odoi, Jack Grealish among many others off the top of my head. Jovic has also had injuries at Madrid which haven't helped and I think he has maybe not expected the difference to have been quite as severe when he moved to Madrid based on what he had done in Germany before.

Was always inevitable. Even more so when you look at the success CAS have had with overturning transfer bans etc. Money talks, bullshit walks. Time to roll the sleeves up and get over the line securing a CL place.

Maybe it is easier to integrate young attackers yes but they still their own issues. I feel for the other positions it is slightly harder for young players because if you make a big mistake in goal, in a back 4 or in central midfield they can be more likely to lead up to a chance or goal being conceded and these things can knock a player, ie: Andreas after his mistake v Barca under Conte. Sure attackers can have this but you always feel in the right team they will always get another big chance and then people forget that miss or this miss etc but as a GK or defender particularly these things aren't forgotten as quickly. I mean even established players in those positions, look at Jamie Carragher and Richard Dunne, both had long PL careers with varied levels of success but people still remember Dunne more for scoring the most own goals in the PL more than what he actually carved out which was a decent career. Carragher will be more remembered again for a few own goals and being made a right cunt of by Gianfranco Zola near a corner flag by opposition fans. David Luiz for the titles he’s won throughout his career, will likely always be remembered for his bad performances at club level and in particular than Brazil Germany game as opposed to the outstanding season under Antonio Conte or good performances he had with Benfica against Liverpool and some at the beginning here with Carlo. Also, the thing with United is that they have a real tradition of bringing through youth over the years and it is something engrained into the clubs DNA so to speak. Similarly like Ajax. We have to try go down that route, then maybe people will change their opinions towards it a bit and accept their will be issues with young players as there always are. Regardless though you need high standards as well good pros/players in and around these young guys to guide them, bail them out or tell them to get the finger out. Especially at the likes of a club of our stature where the history of the Roman era has been built on winning trophies. Being young shouldn’t necessarily mean they are immune to criticism but it has to be construction as opposed to plainly over the top.