OneMoSalah

Hopefully see Barkley, Pulisic and Giroud (if still here) in some capacity. They can't do any worse than Mount and Willian. And dont risk Tammy for the love of god, remember when Kante, Emerson and Rudiger were risked earlier in the season and ended up out for longer.... Hopefully should be straight forward enough.

Again, exactly. I am not utterly convinced Telles is the best LB out there but he is far better than what we have. I am still baffled regarding Eriksen and will.continue to be so. Not even just us, Man United not going for him either, it is as if the clubs dont want to improve....

Tbf I think its a fair point to say aeve been lucky the other teams around us havent done so well while we have struggled in recent games. To call it luck of the footballing gods is another thing. I think if Spurs had performed better under Mourinho (as I felt they would have personally because they have the firepower) we could have been out the top 4. United we have a bit more of a chance with because they are as fucked as we are if not more so but again they seem to manage to nick points in big games bar the Liverpool one, where as we really tend to struggle in the big games, which based on how we are doing in the smaller games could determine our top 4 status this season. I do seem to remember when we only finished 3rd under Sarri due to the 'other teams playing poorly as opposed to us doing well last season... I think it could be more the same this season if we manage it. The people making out people are moaning about Lampard all probably moaned a lot about Jose, Conte and Sarri.... fans moaning about managers not doing well isnt exactly unwarranted, its not as if we are playing great just now and Lampard doesnt deserve the criticism from fans?

If Frank and the board keep coming out with this naive 'it has to be the right player' shite for the remainder of the window when guys like Edinson Cavani has handed in a transfer request - a top player in a position we are crying out for hugely just now - then I don't know. I mean who or what are the board looking at/doing? If they can miraculously decide they want to go after Giroud for Conte then surely when somebody of Cavani's ilk puts in a transfer request they take notice? Surely? We continue to be linked with younger players (particularly English ones in Chillwell and Sancho who are obviously with more long term in mind but we need something now to refresh the group. Even Eriksen is going to Inter, for 17m, I mean who at the club hasnt thought you know what he might do a job for us and for 17m... why not? Surely Frank and Jody isnt thinking Mason and Ross are better options than Christian Eriksen? 17m is hardly breaking the bank and even then at 20 or 30m he is a top quality player and his final pass is better than anything we have in the squad at the moment. Eriksen and a new CF as well as shipping Ross out who Frank clearly doesnt fancy (was linked with West Ham) would of been a great window imo.

Yes if somebody much better came along I would go for it. We need to. He needs the competition and we need another more than capable striker. Yes hes the striker but above all else this is his first spell in the PL at a big side, he was always gonna go on a barren run at somepoint, hes still young and hasnt scored reguarly bar at Championship and youth level his whole career. Its as if people assumed him and Mount were gonna coast the PL based off a few seasons of championship and dutch football... they are struggling but because we are short and Franks mismanaged certain squad players, they will continue to play. Lampard and the board will take a lot of blame if we cannot get somebody in this month to reduce the pressure/burden on Tammy. That is my honest opinion. I do think Lamps was naive to basically throw Giroud aside after a month, if he had played more he might have been able to offer more in certain games. I am getting worried if we are forced to rely on just Tammy upfront and we continue to dominate games but not score, dropping easy points in small games, the other teams will smell blood and eventually leap frog us which despite their current state of affairs I dont think is so unforeseeable. If that happens, surely it means 2 things, no CL and potentially no FL at the helm especially if we go from 4th to outside it. Other managers have been let go for the same things (Villas-Boas).

Something along the lines of Buffon was talking to club executives about championship winning bonuses as they had already won the league, although the season wasn't over. Not sure if it was season they went unbeaten or not.

Something along the lines of Buffon was talking to club executives about championship winning bonuses as they had already won the league, although the season wasn't over. Not sure if it was season they went unbeaten or not.

Probably a small fraction of what Ferguson or Clough did back in the day. Even Mourinho prior to 2010.

And what about if he didnt score all the goals he has this season? Where would we be? Abraham can still get better but he is more exempt from criticism than some of the other players this season in my eyes, he had a shocker in the PL for Swansea, went to the championship - done well again and has improved even more so again this season scoring a lot of goals for us. He has arguably carried our team in terms of goalscoring this season. The likes of Mason Mount, Willian, Hudson-Odoi, Barkley, Pedro, Giroud and Batshuayi should all be doing more when they play (or if FL would play them maybe theyd take some burden off him) and contributing with goals. Its nothing like comparing him to Torres for winning a corner (and for all the corners that Torres would of won us anyway, half his shots cleared the bar or posts and more than half his dribbles he rsn out of play).... I am sure when Costa didn't score goals but found other ways to affect a game in a positive way not a word was said by many fans... You said hes only scored 3 in his last 11 but how many others in our squad have scored more than that in their last 11 as well? Striker or not he needs help. Aguero has Sterling, Sane, Silva etc to chip in with goals. Kane has Son, Lucas, Dele who can chip in with goals. We have got Mount, Willian and Barkley who arent really big scorers traditionally although MMs record in Holland and championship was decent and I would have expected more in that department from him.

He has struggled this season but lets not forget how many countless big saves he made last season in games where we werent great. People branding him a panic buy really are forgetful and need to calm down. I am concerned with how hes being coached behind the scenes though.

Lampard has said similar things maybe not the same level but similarly still. Solskjaer is living a charmed life at United just now though. He has been there for over a season now and they have regressed significantly under him.

He didnt neccessarily fail but I said before we appointed him it was hardly a hugely outstanding feat. Thats the stark truth but for his first job, it was a step in the right direction for his trajectory as a manager. There was a lot of subplots because they cut their wage bill, reduced the average age of the squad and changed their style etc but his records at Derby and here show one thing: his teams really cannot keep clean sheets and arent clinical enough. I still think Frank has put his stamp on the team, the youngsters are proof of that but if he keeps us in the top 4 this season he will remain for sure. There is a lot to be desired still about how we play and some of it is down to the quality we have and some of it due to coaching. The defensive set up at corners, ingame management at times and restricted use of more senior players who maybe arent amazing but could have offered something different to others (in a season where he wouldnt know if he could buy players) has annoyed me though. He was making mistakes earlier on tactically but looked as if he was learning from them but now it seems as if he isnt. Hopefully he will go back to learning from his own mistakes and get us going again. His saving graces so far are his affinity with the club (although his reputation as a player has to be put to one side when regarding him as a manager), the fact we are still in the top 4 and the youngsters being given a chance. We have been lucky that Spurs Mourinho appointment hasnt neccessarily brought the results many would of expected and that OGS has been the managerial equivalent of Ali Dia at United. How he has walked into that job and continued to keep it is beyond me (and how we havent beaten his side everytime weve played them too). He does need to add to the group, anyone can see that and as well as the young guys who didnt play PL football last season who are quickly learning and need to mature, he also has to learn and mature as a manager. He was a risky appointment, undoubtedly, but there have been some good signs this season although there have been some worrying ones too. I said before Sarri went we should of tried harder to keep him, although the discontent and uncertainty from the fans and board, he was never gonna stay as soon as Juve moved - I mean Juve are Juve and they wanted him. Or went all out for Allegri. But here we are so we have to back what weve got. The Pep and Zidane comparisons regarding ex players at their clubs was always a bad thing to hold Lampard to though. And many on here did it or used it as some sort of hope that it would be straight forward for Frank as it perhaps was for those 2 at Barca and Real.

I dont think City and Liverpool are that far away. It is maybe difficult to see it now but remember the season we recalled Courtois, bought Costa and Cesc for our starting 11 and went to win the league? After finishing 3rd the previous season where Hazard, Matic and Azpi were probably our best quality of players in that period compared with the others? Weve still got good players but with 3 or 4 players of the right quality, in key positions and an improvement in our shape/organisation/team structure (which has been an issue this season), we can compete. Hopefully Tammy, Mason, Andreas, Ruben, Tomori, Reece will continue to play (if they deserve to thought) and develop, becoming better players too in the next season or two but I do think with 3 or 4 very good additions in weakspots in our team, we can be right up there. Maybe not next season but the one after? The young guys do need to come of age and there is huge potential with some of them but it will be a gradual process undoubtedly. I think a few players between 23-26 who are already pretty established at a good level and experienced along with one or two smart short term deals (ie Cavani) can definitely help us. As stated above by Vesper in the next 4 or 5 years City and Liverpools main bulk of their squad will be older. Theyll buy to replace but even then City lost Kompany and you can see the impact thats had, they will lose Silva at the end this season and Aguero probably the season after. They werent/arent just top players, they are huge figureheads in the dressing room which you need to be successful too. Leroy Sane is definitely not a cert to stay either. De Bruyne, Sterling and B. Silva are still incredible players but at the same time I dont think any team can just replace an Aguero or a David Silva or a Kompany. These guys arent/werent just top players, they are almost as vital to City as Drogba, Cole Lampard, Cech and Terry were to us as figures.

Id say he is an improvement on what United have. He is also an improvement on Mason and Ross in that more advanced position imo but we will never pay that fee for him. Hes got a bit of potential to go up another level for me but he will never truely be an elite player. Why we arent bidding for Eriksen makes no sense to me. Spurs want like 20m from Inter, fs, we should throw 35m at them if it will make them sell to us. I do think a move will reignite his career which this season has stagnated due to not wanting to be there and lack of consistent playing time under Mourinho. A much better player than Bruno Fernandes which is why I am shocked United arent after Eriksen this month too....

Too much too soon. Probably deserves the reality check based on his attitude at Celtic alone. Almost as if he was above the SPL and that team, just look at him now. Rodgers was a coach renowned for improving players too during his time in Scotland. For evidence, just look at Stuart Armstrong, Kristoffer Ajer, Kieran Tierney, James Forrest, Moussa Dembele, Ousmane Eduaord even Paddy Roberts who career has arguably nosediced since being at Celtic that first spell.. even at Liverpool the likes of Coutinho, Henderson, Sterling, Suarez (although it was obvious for me under Kenny that he would be a top top player) ... all improved a lot with him. Ndidi, Maddison, Pereira, Chillwell, Barnes etc at Leicester now again have improved and no doubt due to Rodgers influence. Charlys 23 now but he has always been overrated. He may turn good yet but never to that level many thought he would be. Id sell him with 10 or 15% sell on clause incase. If he goes again after a move for more money we would net some cash then.

Cavani yes please. 1 and a half years. Would be an Excellent move.

We have seen in a 3 Kante can also provide in the final third (under Sarri) despite the talk of he should of played as a fixed DM.... People thought Sarri was stubborn but we broke down in the final third due to being too slow and lack of off the ball movement more than poor decision making I felt. Mount has been a huge culprit in the last run of games as has Franks constant stubbornness in his selection of him. Emerson or even Alonso's output at Lb again would be valued in these sort of games but he refuses to play them even in matches where they will basically be wing backs... I mean people keep bringing Reeces final ball and ability to cross at RB but havent said why isnt Frank using Emerson or Alonso, who are naturally left footed on the other side to try create similar... Against a team who play counter surely having someone whos best strengths are recovering the ball, second balls and being very effective in duels is handy? Especially if we are going to press high to win the ball back? Or if they are going to get up the pitch eventually, having his ability to recover the ball would be vital I think. The honus isnt just on Kante to create as he isnt purely an offensive minded midfielder. While he can still do better so can the whole attack and in particular as I've said, Mount has shown this season he can do it but has played a lot of minutes where he hasnt. Same with Willian and others. He can do it but its very scarce which has been frustrating throughout his whole spell here. Pedro and Barkleys lack of minutes has also been a huge factor in why we have struggled. While they arent the best surely Barkley if he can recreate his performance against Burnley, can offer something? Or Pedros running in behind teams off the ball can offer something different to everyone standing on their heels waiting? We do sorely lack Pulisic in these games I feel though. He has got a lot of qualities in 1 v 1s and his end product is very decent. He has a purpose when he gets the ball in the final third. Giroud can offer an alternative compared to Tammy but Frank again, wrongly in my eyes, has basically exiled him from the team and sticks to his system of 1 up far too often. If it was Jose, Sarri or Conte there would be a lot more uproar regarding poor use of squad players. I dont think its unfair to say the same about Frank. Especially when he wasnt sure if he would get a transfer window this season, not using these players more often in certain moments of games/the season where they might have made a difference has killed us in certain matches along with the poor set up from corners and freekicks which will continually be a problem. We just seem naive in these scenarios. I suppose you can only piss with the cock you've got but at the same time theres been obvious mistakes in how hes used the squad/substitutes. If he doesnt find the solutions or manage to make improvements in these sort of games we will not be so comfortable in our position in the table and he could find himself under immense pressure. I think now with the January window he has to make at least 1 or 2 signings to bring something else to the group, be it defensively or offensively. Conceding in stoppage time to Newcastle depsite having 19 shots (not many on target either) just sums up how weve been in recent times.

Tried? Being linked with players and making moves is 2 different stories. We havent made a move for anyone but Dembele in all realism. Nobody would expect Alaba to leave Bayern for Chelsea, not even Chelsea realisitically I would imagine. Werner has already been reported that he will leave in the summer of 2020 or 2021 for seasons now in the German media and as of now it looks more realistic than January. Chillwell would never leave Leicester in January in this season where they are 2nd and I doubt the club would be so stupid to think so either. Sancho is again, been told he is allowed to leave in the summer so I doubt we tried this window. Dembele is the only one we definitely tried this window and even then couldnt pull off a deal.

Or drop Mount and play Kovacic as a 10? Even use Pedro and play Willian as a 10? For me, Newcastle were always gonna play on the counter so why wouldnt you put Kante in whos athletisicm and recoverys could be very helpful. Kovacic has shown an increasing attacking input and his ability to manoeuvre in tight spaces could of been helpful closer in more advanced positions closer to Tammy than the deeper position he normally plays in a game like this where teams will set up to frustrate us. Same with Willian and use Pedro on the sides where he runs in behind or always finds himself in and around the box... almost as if Mount is undroppable just now despite doing little. People keep pointing at Kantes inclusion but I would have him ahead of Mount regardless of opposition right now.

Been a poor season from him but surely he can have offered much more than what Mason has for weeks on end where he has been very very poor? I know this is Masons first PL season but he hasnt offered a lot in the last run of games and its frustrating that Frank seems stubborn in his selection along with no natural LB of late. This talk of Mason does the pressing etc is an excuse, almost Oscar-esque for his selection, he is a number 10, scoring and assisting goals as well as creating chances is what he should be doing but he hasnt of late. I said beforehand Franks lack of use of Ross, Giroud (although Tammy has done better than expected and his form hasnt been as inconsistent as Mason or Willians for instance) and Pedro this season has been rather strange.

Another poor result, lucky Spurs dropped points again and United still to play. Like for like changes not so ideal, almost Sarri esque. Playing Azpi at LB too a bit of a puzzle considering we had most of the ball.....

They have Tierney (better than both Kurzawa and Kolasinac imo) and Kolasinac? Another LB... strange

Was impressed with him yesterday. Always positive on the ball, driving forward, always wanted to take it on the half turn so he can get at the opposition. If he can do this every game, as well as start adding goals and assists, he can be an asset for us but its one game and hes been very poor since arriving bar the good run under Sarri.

Abraham could have easily scored 3 or 4 himself. Good win and performance.

I just dont buy it. I mean Andreas had huge success when he broke in to our team in a back 3 under Conte. Frank talks about his ability about picking the right pass/quality of pass yet how many times have we seen Zouma in that middle CB role when we have used a 3? Overhitting poor long range passes? Or Rudiger on the right side doing the exact same? I think if we got 30m or 40m the club would sell Andreas without hesitation and I doubt Frank would stand in their way. He has certainly regressed the last 2 years. No doubt.