OneMoSalah

Eden is not being stifled because of Alonso, that is a lame excuse, if a left back can see those runs and make them then why can't a world class player like Eden do it? Its not rocket science to run in between the full back and center back or between the centre backs in more central areas is it? Eden like Willian too, comes to the ball far too much, particularly in deeper areas of the pitch (an issue Sarri has mentioned he should be wanting to get much more involved in the final third) he should be looking to get beyond and finish off moves, this has always been why people will question whether or not he will score more than 20 or 30 goals a season. Pedro is a great example I think, somebody who is not as gifted technically but will always bundle goals in somehow because hes selfless and will run off the back of teams even if he doesn't get it 99 out of 100 times because he knows eventually he will get it. Fair enough hes not going to score 30 goals a season but he will get 10+ this season in the PL, which for a player who isn't exactly at the level he was years ago or particularly blessed with anything that sticks out like Eden is with regards to dribbling, key passes etc is impressive. A lack of width is stifling the team more than anything, its like under Di Matteo were we are continuously looking to play through the centre as if its the only option and it cannot be done every match 38 times a season, teams defend and congest the middle of the pitch more than anything these days.... Conte's 343 system should have taught us the value of width, even if its having Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso providing it, they were always so wide it stretches teams and created spaces for the likes of Eden, Pedro, Willian infield. There are other variables but Alonso is not a direct fault for Eden, they get in each others way at times though and I've always felt theres too much instance from Eden and Willian particularly to come inside at times to pass to each other when there are better/other options. Even Sarri's Napoli, like Peps Bayern and City team, had the full backs play more centrally, to create overloads and combination plays. The key is having good variation. Which we don't have, although this Alonso plays almost as a 10 or striker talk is bullshit, on average he is the widest player in the team in terms of position.

Perhaps but he never fit United traditionally as a player, same with Kagawa in a way. They played with out and out wingers and where as now they still have wingers but who are more inside forwards and are very narrow at times. Regardless, he needs to be in a more offensive team with midfield runners, that's when he's at his best, when he can come into that half spaces and find people running in behind. That's why I think if he was here with Pedro and Costa he'd of been a huge plus for us playing as a 10 because those 2 love to run in behind teams (although Mourinho preferred Oscar to Mata because he would hunt the ball down, sigh). Costa's movement especially would of been fantastic for Juan but we all know how it went. I would imagine Conte could of found use for him too in that wide 10 roles we used in a 343 too. Even when he signed for United he was arguably better than any other attacking MF players they had but they shunted him on the right and his lack of pace affected his performances (traditionally youd expect a Ronaldo, Nani, Giggs, somebody who had real pace and energy in those positions) and Moyes tried to keep United playing in that style with wingers and crosses into the box that Ferguson's teams had become renowned for and been very successful with. Hence why he also signed Fellaini, a strong aeriel player who would be a handful in the box. Again I'm not fully convinced Moyes wanted Mata 100% like he did Fellaini but United were desperate after their summer failings too... it worked our alright for us though, he's not a bad player but unless playing as a 10 (where Rooney played mostly) he wasn't exactly a United player in that sense. Although he had some good games under van Gaal as a right winger or a false right winger as van Gaal called it 😂 There have been times where I've seen us play though and thought we could do with him for that final pass because Willian and Pedro can be very poor with that and force it. If Mata was around the box he'd conjure up something. Also for a more creative player he would chip in with 10 plus goals a season on top of the chances he created/assisted, he has managed it 5 times in his career in England. He has been unfortunate with his international career as well because Spain have got so many talented players across the board in those positions too. Same can be said for a lot of Spaniards though.

Well based on some United fans and the looks of this forum it would seem he is being looked back upon as good as opposed to being our best player at the time when he was here. He always delivered something in matches. Even after Eden and Oscar arrived, always did. Mourinho was the beginning of the end for him though.

For a player who seems to split opinions now he was crucial for us when he played here. Always came up with something in big games too, although he won't get the credit for that as perhaps others would. Think we are sometimes blinded by the fact we have Eden but reckon the team wouod of been better if both Eden and Juan played with each other for more seasons. Also imagine Mata playing with Costa, Pedro and Fabregas? What could have been. Espeically Pedro and Costa, his ability to find players in behind teams was brilliant. Selling him worked out okay though after initial outrage, same with KDB, both weren't exactly improving or showing why they should have stayed, especially KDB who was demoted tontrain with u21s after playing absolutely pish against a league 1 side. Maybe now he's flourished but.

Totally agree, severely underrated. That was his 5th PL goal this season from 12 games (7 starts 5 sub appearances). Pretty good return. Has an assist one well but hes more a scorer than a creator. Keeps going at this rate and he'll get 10 plus easily. Just depends if he comes on from the bench or starts, sure he can improve but we need goals in those attacking areas, particularly Eden (has 8 goals already but hasn't scored in how long?), Willian (always lacked goals bar 2 seasons he got 10 or around there) and the strikers bevause it will pick us up points even if we play badly.

Is this a joke lol?

Jorginho has been man marked before, just has managed to keep influencing matches. Spurs didn't do anything new. It happened to him in Italy and the CL all the time too. Teams have tried to in the PL as well. For me the other MF players have also got to step up and there has to be some sort of interchange with those 3 if Jorginho is marked to get the ball out and to get him in the game but if nobodies helping then he's going to keep doing it (sure every player can improve under pressure also) even if it means getting caught out or giving it away bevause that's his role and that's vital to the team. Kante and Kovacic maybe not the best blessed MF players at doing what Jorginho does but they can do better in that regard, Kovacic especially, who has the right skill set to do something on the ball from deeper positions, even just showing for the ball a bit more. I mean even under Jose, Oscar playing as a 10 would drop in and Cesc would move higher to get the ball. 433 has to be flexible, all 3 MF guys have to be comfortable taking the ball, we can't be a team that relies on Jorginho too much in MF for getting out so to speak because if teams mark him out successfully we'll lose a lot of balls, there has to be alternatives to the man on the ball (Cesc coming in and playing on that left side maybe worth a shot, given how he is able to play passes through the lines and very aware of his team mates positions), even Luiz and Rudiger can get us out too through the lines but there's risks involved every time they get that because if they are cut out in our half it's 3 or 4 players count attacking against 3 or 4 players most of the time with lots of space. The pressing is huge issue still as well, didn't watch all the game today but against Spurs it was disjointed. It was better today but the result meant more than the performance. Still lots to improve. Still needs time does Sarri, Rome wasn't built in a day, but I feel as if he's trying to not completely remake a team like Napoli, because we aren't Napoli, he's trying to make the team similar but not identical.

He had a difficult game. So did Hazard. They didn't help each other out which is a massive problem, both want to come to the box, it just crowds the area. I think there will need to be rotations in the next 4 or 5 games in key areas to prevent burning out players. Alonso has played non stop every week for 3 seasons now here, he needs rotation (said this last season) so does Azpi (again mentioned it seasons ago) because you can see with Sarri's demands of high full backs, overlapping, being really advanced and the regularity that these guys have had playing almost every minute for the last 3, 4 or 5 seasons, it's catching up with them, both are obviously fit enough to play the roles naturally but it must be physically exhausting playing every match every season. Also guys like Kante and Jorginho might end up having to be rested in upcoming games to try keep them fresh. Pedro, Willian and Hazard again played a lot of games this season too maybe time to use Callum a bit more regularly to rest these guys around 60/70 mins in (although if taking Sarri ends up taking Eden off and gets anything like Conte got on here from certain members fuck knows how long he'll be liked 😂). The rotation between Giroud and Morata has been decent enough, they've managed to play each other out of the team, playing a few games then getting changed, although through lack of goals or poor performances than a need for rest....

Will be Reals top transfer target if this is true. No surprise reports in Spain saying he'll leave. Let's be honest I doubt we'd get him.

Good to see he got a goal, a assist and from all I've heard was a good performance all round. Food for thought for Sarri but still think it will go back to the usual team v Fulham.

But the way of playing is the same, 433, 4141, 352, 4231, the way of playing doesn't change, there's no compromise in his principles (since Barcelona he has been stubborn with this possession based philosophy, insistent that his teams will play any other way). Same with Jurgen Klopp who's teams have always played a high intensity high pressure football where they press and are so fast in transitions (originates from his time at Mainz). The formation doesnt mean anything in particular because its the style thats important. They don't change their philosophy because they believe that is the right way for their teams to play.

Not going to lie, posts like this are slightly embarrassing. People wanted a change in style from Conte. We got one with Sarri. It's not perfect but if he wants to build a team in his image he needs to do it, no point half arsing it. Did Pep have a plan B? Did Klopp? No they play there way and that's it. Conte had a plan B, lump it long to Giroud/Morata but apparently that was outdated and we should be playing attacking football, now we have a manager who's trying to do that and now he's not flexible enough.. some of you guys never cease to amaze me. It's a process. Takes time. Few players need replaced. Give the guy a chance. Swear some folk just cause a stir because they've fuck all else to do.

Yes I get it. But again it's nothing new. Prior to Conte, prior to Hiddink, prior to Mourinho, prior to Benitez, prior to Do Matteo, prior to Villas-Boas.... we rarely used youth. Ancelotti tried it, freshening up the squad in his second season, to lower the average age but got sacked for finishing 2nd. The same Carlo Ancelotti who has won countless trophies in various leagues and is generally well respected across the whole footballing front. So what chance will Sarri have? If things don't go so well but he says oh I played 2 or 3 young guys regularly though. Everyone expects it but all managers here in the last 10 year's have barely done it despite successful youth teams. So to continually moan about it is pointless. Nothing's changing fast. It doesn't shape a managers fate here. Also regarding the other teams: Liverpool have 1 academy player in their first 11, Alexander-Arnold from their academy. City have 0. Spurs have Kane from their academy. United have Rashford or Lingard through their academy playing regularly. Their squads sure maybe fill of avademy players but at the same time we have Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Andreas Christensen, Callum Hudson Odoi, Marcin Bulka and Ethan Ampadu.... Sure they don't play a lot but again make up the squad. Like several others at those club's. I want to see more of Ethan and Callum but I'm not going to be daft enough to think Sarri will play then from the start every week in every cup game, thought Villas-Boas would do that but it turned out he was the same. Not saying they can't hold their own because they quite clearly have shown they can in limited game time.

Yes which is why I've said he still has something to offer (that role he is oue only backup) but Jorginho will be untouchable unless injured, if Cesc does go. Pinning the back up role which Cesc can do on a 18 year old too? Won't happen. Sure he's talented but again what good does serving as a back up at aged 18 do if you don't play regularly? We've seen Sarri barely rotates and we've seen how much he rates Jorginho so to say "yeah Cesc out and Sandro Tonali in to be back up to Jorginho" is all well and good but the guy will prefer to play every week, even if it's at Serie B level with Brescia rather than once in a blue moon with Chelsea. We can't even guarantee our own top youngsters minutes so what does that spell out to a 40m one who has never played higher than the Italian second division? I am 10000% not concinced hes anywhere near the level of Marco Verratti before going to PSG either (Verratti played 3 full seasons) so regardless of all the talk of huge talent and Italy call ups, he still has to prove himself and the best place to do that is Brescia for now.

£10m for a 30+ y/o with half a season on his contract? How is that a bad move when you also consider his wages that are over 150k a week too? Personally, still think Cesc has more than plenty to offer here but thats hardly a bad deal. It will be a bargain for AC if he goes there and hits the ground running which I would expect him to but again 10m for somebody who's on that much a year and plays 10 minutes a game except cup games? Is It that bad?

Celtic would of been a bold move. But after Musonda spell there maybe a bit of a put off. Also they signed Eduoard from PSG for 9m and he is very much their project. Holland would take his game up a level, technically he can still improve a lot.

Bit of an ironic comment seeing as how we are brilliant at promoting youth and playing them season after season..... I honestly don't get it, how people are still surprised about this, it fucking baffles me, people moan about youth here as if we were like Ajax or United under Fergie or somebody in that ilk but we aren't so let's fucking give it a rest talking in the manner as if it goes against the traditions of the club or whatever bla bla bla, it doesn't. We have issues yes but a couple of teenagers aren't necessarily going to fix them either (although I see CHO and Ampadu both as guys who are more than good enough to play for this club regularly and maybe they deserve a fair short), there's a lot bigger concerns than to why Sarri, a manager in his first season at a club renowned for short term goals and sacking managers (managers who have done a lot more than him in football) regularly, isn't playing two teenagers more. Andreas Christensen was the last young guy from the academy to play over 15-20 times for us and that was only last season. Before that who was the last? Maybe Chalobah the year before who was then told he'd be loaned out again because we signed the incredible flop that was Bakayoko? Then Ryan Bertrand, who was dumped by Mourinho, before him Josh McEachran maybe 7 years ago? If not Josh then probably John Terry after that. People are still surprised about our youth record but if you dig into it you'll see it's so poor and that we shouldn't expect anything to change in the short term.

Out of that list Insigne and Hamsik are the only two players who are better than what we have perhaps in our positions though, Pedro and Willian aren't inferior players to Callejon or Mertens by any means (although Mertens goal record was impressive for a winger who never really had half as productive a season or two in his whole career), you could argue with fine tuning Kovacic is better than Hamsik (other than goals and tactical experience from playing for so many years in so many different positions dont think Hamsik does much more or better than Kova) and Insigne wouldn't take Edens place but could defos play in our team the guys a top class player. It's not just about the individual qualities of these players though, Napoli played this system ten or twenty times better because they adjusted to it over a longer period, anyone expecting us to be like Napoli were in 20 games and 1 transfer window sorry but its not happening. Napoli took a full season really to evolve into the team that coaches, players and fans watched with interest. There was a huge difference in Napoli in season 1, season 2 and season 3 under Sarri, a big evolution from Benitez' pragmatic approach. Still need to sort some things and improve, the defence, pressing, 1 and 2 touch combinations in and around the box can be a lot better, scoring more goals etc... the style has been a nice change but it's only 30-40% of where we should be trying to get to perhaps. I think this season if we get top 4 (achievable 100%) then we really can push on next season, no world cup disrupting pre-season, hopefully another few players come in (maybe 1 or 2 come in January too?) the summer to shape Sarri's squad more in what he wants. Sarri needs time 100% yes but solutions though. Fast. Because results are the way this club runs the management and if the coach isn't getting them, well, he's no use regardless of style he wants to implenent because we know how the hierarchy operate. It's quite alarming that the last wee while we seem to not have progressed as much compared to Arsenal who initially struggled but have now come into a real rich vein of form in terms of results and despite playing poorly are able to grind out wins.

The guy Wan-Bissaka at full back for Palace looks a really really decent prospect. Athletic, strong in the tackle, raw pace... Watched some of that game and was terrible for United though, how they didn't score fuck knows lol.

Was alwags gonna have it tough at Real. Ex Atletico player, replaced a thorough fan favourite who had excellent games in CL runs (Navas) and when his signing was discussed last season apparently caused a Zidane-Perez fallout because he didn't want to replace an area of the field he already thought was pretty strong (even pulled plug on Real going after Kepa before he renewed his contract with Bilbao). Grass isn't always greener.

At least the club's looking at alternative plans opposed to fannying about regarding last minute replacements like we've seen in the past. If Hazard goes, like the other great players we've had, then the team will move on. Let's be realisitic. Like when there was talk of Lampard, Drogba etc going to Inter years ago when Jose went, it would of been a huge loss but we'd have worked something out. You can't afford to lose someone that good without some sort of planning, if we are aspiring to be PL champions and can't keep Hazard but can't find some solutions in terms of replacements if itz either directly or strengthening in various places on the field, we are fucked. Obviously I'd prefer to keep him here and strengthen still but if he goes, he goes, as long as we improve the team somehow, positions like CB, LB, CM, RW, CF. Personally I dont think he will end up at Real. Barca or Bayern would hugely benefit more and have more structure in the way their run. Also would maybe suit him much more because he'd be playing with guys like Messi, Suarez, Busquets, Dembele.. or at Bayern replacing Ribery who is ageing, playing with Thiago, Lewandowski, Muller etc (although can see the fee being a stumbling block for them).

Would rather a defender who enhances your team by being solid defensively at the very least. If your going to concede 2 or 3 big chances a match taking the game to the opposition at least have 2 CBs who arent going to be a liabality. Rudiger is fine for me, his passing is more than good enough. He needs a partner. This passing excuse has been mentioned how the last god knows however many years regarding Luiz. For instance regarding the passing through the lines etc excuse he gets, Fabregas can play passes between the lines from infront of the penalty box or from 40 yards up the pitch does that mean he should play as a CB in our team? Or Jorginho? No... Defenders get exposed unfortunately in modern day football but these guys in the big teams, Real, Barca, Bayern, Juve can all defend 1 v 1 or read the game very very well so they are there to cover. Luiz does none of them things very well. There's a reason his most productive spell prior to being sold off was as a CM/CDM next to a more disciplined player like Mikel or Matic and then afterwards in a system where he had 2 CBs each side of him and Kante/Matic infront.

So Kante the only midfielder with any sort of defensive instinct covering that whole area of that pitch himself and playing without any fullbacks at all? Great... might as well have AVBs 433 which was more or less 3 7 1 when we lost the ball 😂 Anyway Sarri still needs time, he said one year we will be able to compete. Has it been a year yet? We've had a good start but yet to see Sarriball in its full because he needs more time to fine tune the squad. Results have been good apart from that but look at the footage of the games its been comibg. Defence has been an issue whenever we've tried to play properly open offensive football for years. Sarri sorts that we have a solid platform at least to go off.

Let's be honest, against a top team this was going to happen. We've conceded too many big chances this season, probably the most of out the top 6 teams in the PL. Sarri said it would take a year and anyone who followed Napoli will know that it took him half a season to get something started. We've had some good results, good performances and some bad results and performances. Realistically we have the experience to compete for the title, the best PL player and a manager who has changed everything in comparison to his predecessor but top 4 was always the goal, even if Morata or Giroud scored 30 goals this season (we'd have to cross much more often for any chances of 15 yet alone 30 goals) we'd finish in the top 4 and not as winners still. Lack of fire power is an excuse that is mentioned a lot in comparision to the real problem which is the defence (or so I would say), David Luiz plays every game this season and we concede a huge amount of chances, is it any surprise? Conte tightened up a average back line with his system using Kante and Matic as shields as well while putting Azpi and Cahill to the right and left of Luiz (all 3 excelled in the first season particularly and impressed me with how they adapted to that change). Sarri has to find defensive solutions quick because we've a lot of matches coming up in the next 5 or 6 weeks and we've seen in the past winter time isn't always the best time for the team. This isn't new either, Jorginho for all he does when we have the ball has struggled off it at times too, which he's maybe due a grace period because the tempo in Italy is slower to it is here but still that can only last so long. We've conceded big chances in other games and been lucky, some point the run was due to come unstuck. Lots of positives still from Sarri's start dont get me wrong but teams with a solid defence always have a chance, we don't have one and I think Luiz and Alonso (although not anywhere near as big a Culprit as Luiz) find themselves struggling too much for my liking. Every team that we've won titles with has had one thing in common, a solid defence to build upon. You defend as a team and that sure but we've seen Christensen make huge individual errors last season and Luiz putting in poor pefromances this season. Nothing new either before anybody starts with passing out from the back bullshit please do me a favour and save it. Means fuck all if your a liability defensively.

Exactly. He's never been the most adventurous or offensive RB or even at LB when he played there. It seems some fans seem to have really short term memories though and think that transfers are as easy as on FIFA. Also playing in a back 3 for 2 seasons it was obvious he would need time to get going again. For me, the guys arguably been our most consistent player for 4 years or so. 99 games out of 100 he produces 7/10 without a doubt, you can count on one hand the amount of mistakes he's made and hes 100% deserving of his role and the vice captaincy based on his spell here. He played as a LB for 2 years and was making more tackles, blocks, interceptions per game than any other fullback, keeping Filipe Luis on the bench then as well in his unnatural position. The guy is top class and deserves a lot more respect than what hes gotten at times on social media this season and with continous talk of him struggling etc... don't know many teams who wouldn't take him. Also talk of his offensive play being poor, his crossing is dangerous, the last 3 seasons he's probably got more assists than anyone else in full back/defensive positions in the PL. A lot of talk of Hysaj, he's good yeah and knows Sarri but I doubt he would be playing every week here. Not immediately, Azpi has plenty more in the tank.