OneMoSalah

People can say what they want but some of our best performances in recent times were under Tuchel, particularly big games. Granted some bad results in smaller games but there was more about the group then than there is now in terms of personality, mentality and intensity. And whats changed? Yes Rudi and Christensen left then in January Jorginho but the managers a big influence in that also. I think most would rather us being a tad more boring and effective than this team which is more leaning towards being a style but no substance team. The way it looks with Potter is that we are more likely to end up a lot more like Wenger’s Arsenal teams towards the end, you know the old they will be good in 3 or 4 years if they keep their players together. Or the ones with Sanchez and Ozil who would be capable of guttering small relegation teams with ease then get beasted by proper teams in matches that matter. Lets see how we will fair v Real under Potter compared to the last 2 seasons under Tuchel. Be a big difference, wait and see. Some peoples opinions regarding Tuchel seem to have been warped severely, particularly the comparisons about how we’re attacking this season and how we did last season. Yes the attacking play wasn’t fantastic last season but has it actually been any better this season? No, not really. Its still got a heavy emphasis on Reece James and Ben Chilwell playing well out wide and other than Joao Felix maybe providing a spark at times, it is still unbelievably predictable and unbelievably bad to watch most weeks. I mean it nearly took us nearly 3 months of fixtures to score 2 goals in a single game this calendar year - so I would say there is a lot of short memories on here. In fact, the narrative this season has usually been the attacking issues (which are basically the same issues we had with Tuchel) are ‘frustrating’ under Graham Potter but they weren’t under Tuchel, instead they were his fault? And his fault alone but weren’t Potters months ago? How does that work… 🤡

Boehly and co will probably go and hire someone who specialises in maintaining an ice hockey rink now. To go alongside Dave Grohl’s personal physio. I mean when was the last time there were ever any complaints about our pitch? Is it changes for the sake of changes? Also is he going to change the manager any time fucking soon? Or what?

Can sign him permanently but, regardless of who we sign, we are not going to make any real progress with GP as manager. Pereira would be a ridiculously bad signing also. Joao Palhinha for me is the only player we should be looking at from Fulham as his style of play/profile is what we need.

Is it any wonder? When we got tanked 4-0 by Arsenal in pre-season alarm bells were ringing in my head. Something was completely off which he called out, saying the team wasn’t good enough and it completely transpired into the start of the season. Granted Arsenal are now looking like title winners but to lose in that manner was ridiculous. Based on how this seasons gone with both Tuchel and now so, Potter, it is clear to see that some of the players needed upgraded upon/moved on to revitalise certain areas of the team. And now, having done that, it is also abundantly clear the coach is as big an issue as players. If not bigger.

The fact he’s upset with Kai’s celebration sums him up perfectly. Far too nice. No personality. Honestly not even sure what to make of the performance again. Its almost April, thank fuck this season is near the end. What a shambles its been. If he’s still here come next season we are doomed. That clip of Boehly saying shit fucking game or whatever as well, it’s ridiculous, I mean what else does he expect with this soft cunt as our manager? He’s out of his depth and Boehly’s been credited with being the main person responsible for hiring him. So this season is on him as much as anybody else.

De Paul caught my eye because he was very aggressive, got round the pitch, did the dirty side of the game with Enzo pretty well but also was a cool head on the ball. His mould is much more closer to what we need for MF than another more attack minded MFer. I think Mac Allister only scored the once and got one assist there at the WC. But played a lot. For me, he didn’t really strike me as one of their more prominent players. Granted he wasn’t poor but he just didn’t really stick out. He has definitely done more at Brighton this season than what he did at the WC if I am honest. I mean if people fancied him as a player of his Brighton performances I could see it more, but suppose game of opinions and everyones entitled to having one. I think he isn’t really the profile we should be prioritising either way. More need to prioritise someone in the mould of Declan Rice or similar as we need to find someone to step into what would be Kante’s role eventually.

Honestly, for Brighton he’s impressed (but their whole team has this season) but I don’t think he was that impressive at the World Cup in all honesty. I think Rodrigo de Paul in particular played better than him in most of the games when he featured. He did play well in the final granted but didn’t really stand out in the other games. Plus he’s much more of an attacking midfielder. If we play 4231 with Nkunku and Felix perhaps keeping Mount, whats the point? I don’t see him playing for us in a 2 man MF. There has to be better suited MF options out there - unless he wants to be in and out the team/on the bench.

I’m a bit annoyed seeing the constant links to Robert Sanchez and Alexis Mac Allister, whilst they are good players for the positions they play they are not good enough for what we need IMO. Really neither of the pair of them are any better than anything we currently have.

But the way Mudryk played at Shakhtar he often came in off the left after starting there, cutting in and ended up centrally more often than not so its not as if he’s an out and out winger who would get wide and stay there. I get the point with Felix & Havertz being more as 10s or second strikers but Havertz is often playing centrally as what is supposed to be the 9. Maybe suits them more as the front 3 is a bit narrower but can’t just say that it wont suit Mudryk. He’s definitely someone who’s strengths are coming inside as opposed to being out wide the whole game. Could give us nice variation as he can go both ways but he’s not looked very effective outside hugging the touchline and keeping the width for us when we have played a back 4, its more when he gets inside and closer to in and around the box. But even then hes still got a lot to prove. I think he was a buy that wasn’t necessarily needed.

Benfica would be most favourable draw on paper really, although there is some bad blood after the Enzo pursuit and signing so that could be extra incentive for them. Inter or AC Milan next after them but would honestly want to avoid all of the other teams. Suppose in all likelihood though we will get one of Bayern, Real, City or Napoli, not Benfica or either Milan club - wouldn’t be surprised.

True but still seems like its being made into an exhibition/showcase competition to sell tickets as opposed to one earned on merit, which people will find prestigious like the Club World Cup already is (well… to a degree). I mean winning the CL in 2021 and that getting us selection in a 4 yearly tournament seems daft. Does it not? I mean when will it stop? It will sell more tickets in whichever continent they host it and most clubs owners will be up for it for the money and exposure it could bring the club when in reality, its just going along the lines of being a much much much smaller rip off version of what the European Super League was touted to be but with South American/Asian teams involved also as well as all teams remaining in their domestic leagues and competitions. Just seems like bullshit. And as you’ve said, the CL is also getting expanded. But UEFA & FIFA don’t care as long as they get richer. Ultimately the majority of the club owners wont either as it means more £££ for them and the teams.

What? 5 goals in one game for one player is impressive regardless. I mean when has it never been? and i see we have a pissing contest going on above over who mentioned Haaland on the forum first, good god, grow up 😂embarrassing

Another rejig of a competition that will pointlessly add more fixtures to an already packed fixture list. Great. Not exactly sitting at the big table going to the Club World Cup when your not the CL winners in the previous season, is it? Is it going to end up like a shittier UEFA super league?

Have to he honest, completely disagree re the pressing. In terms of G/A yeah their better, better than most teams in Europe and many top teams who have won titles before but that could be down to a multitude of things. Maybe KK has lost a yard of pace as he has aged but do you not remember how high and aggressively Napoli pressed and had their defensive line under Sarri for 3 seasons? Where he was an ever present? They were one of the most effective high pressing possession based sides in Europe in that 3 year period.. On Napoli - I think Kim is a pretty good player and they are an outstanding team to watch but whether or not they follow it up next year is another question. I mean look at AC Milan and Inter after winning Serie A. Spalletti always been an intriguing coach, who has always tried to play decent offensive football and it just seems to be working at Napoli for him.

Need more consistency in performances and results now. 3 games is 3 games, Everton & Villa next another 2 winnable games. Then Liverpool squashed in after them before we play Wolves & Brighton, who again, we should be looking to beat. If we can build up some momentum and promising performances people, including myself, may be a bit more optimistic about next season but again, the managers nowhere near out of the woods yet for me - needs to finish strongly this season. Still been a very poor season collectively and I don’t think how he’s handled things has been entirely convincing.

Not sure why we would need to sign him now. Granted he could play with Enzo a bit higher but I don’t think his profile is the correct type for us now. Particularly if we continue with a back 3 as well because we’ve still got Kovacic and Kante. Plus Mount if he isn’t sold if we revert to a 3 man MF. He seems to be the opposite of what we need in MF. Also no more attacking midfielders please… focus on CDM/CM, CF and look for a top top GK if possible. Even then, 27, still playing in Brazil, that screams red flag to me instantly. Brazil cap or not - surely he would be in Europe by now if he was that good (as ignorant as it may sound).

Fofana and Enzo great. Mudryk much better - international break now though utter shite. Leicester still created some big chances but wins a win.

😂 Hmm why would he include road tripped across the Scottish highlands of all things. Like it gives him credibility… As somebody from there, wouldn’t exactly be shouting from the rooftops about road tripping it on a football website, so many other interesting places to go - although it is nice in the summer (on the odd chance when it doesn’t piss of rain in May/June/July). Certainly hope he wasnt watching any football up this way for sure be enough to scare him off and so much better places to go see football 😂😂

Never heard that. At all. But who knows - hard to speculate now because its just been said to be about his private life so could mean anything.

Is he really that good? I mean for the £40-50m which he is apparently going to cost if Southampton stay up? I get that against us he looked decent but who didn’t for Southampton that day. I know there was a bid for him in the summer too after Southampton signed him (which I didn’t understand considering they got him for £14m at the beginning of the window - why did we not just go for him then?). Not seen a huge amount of him but I am a bit dubious, was even dubious after the 35m bid (IIRC was that or 40) in the summer. Also would be surprised if City go for him considering they have Rodri and Kalvin Phillips who are more defensively minded. I would much rather we went for Declan Rice or even Bruno Guimaraes out of the names I’ve seen that we’ve been linked to for MF players recently. Players with a bit more experience and who are proven but still young enough and can still improve to be a long term part of the team. Rice in particular is at a point where he’s pretty decent in a lot of facets of his game and I think he could progress a level or two here. Granted his performances for West Ham have been mixed and he has still got issues to iron out in his game but I think he’s ready to play here or at a United or at a City or at a Liverpool etc.

Ultimately we still have to win games. Unless people think focusing on finishing in and around 10th place when theres still what 10 or 11 games to go is ok and would be beneficial as long as we play the new signings….. Yes technically their might not be much to play for like trophies or CL spots as I think thats out of our grasp but the manager isn’t out of the woods yet and the team needs more than 2 wins in succession. I mean ideally, he should probably stick with the majority of the team which have featured in the last 2 games. The performances haven’t been fantastic but you cannot tell me chopping and changing now after going periods without getting any results, with the injuries we’ve had, the change in system and clear signs of some players getting more confident, would be a good thing to do? The last 2 matches Mudryk or Madueke haven’t played from the start so why shoehorn them into a winning team ahead of the others ie Raheem, Havertz and Joao Felix? I mean if Raheems injured ok take him out but no point rejigging the whole front 3. I mean ultimately we’ve not seen enough consistency from any of the front 3 regardless of personnel but Havertz scored and played his best game in a while, Sterling scored and for sure Felix has shown much more than Mudryk or Madueke so not sure what the insistence, particularly for Mudryk (it seems to be every prematch on here - his price tag shouldn’t dictate he starts and I can’t remember the last time he started and wasn’t subbed of for playing poorly), on putting them in the team unnecessarily is. Theres only 8 points between us and Liverpool. Its not impossible to close the gap and we should be prioritising trying to leapfrog some of the likes of Brentford, Brighton, Fulham and Newcastle in the table at the very least.

Tbf the links to City and United are interesting, United more so because I can actually see him playing there. Then obviously, the big ones, Liverpool and Klopp, makes sense. Bruno Fernandes has played a lot of big games this season on the right with Weghourst dropping more in the 10 role, Rashford playing upfront and Sancho on the left. Perhaps Mount could feature there centrally as a 10 and Fernandes could also play on the right still? Then allows chance that EtH uses Rashford as an actual 9? Or there is possibly every opportunity that Mount could feature in tandem in that sort of wider right or wider left role like Fernandes has done with another attacking midfielder. I do think he would definitely play a lot for United as opposed to at City but again, particularly think he will play most weeks at Liverpool under Klopp if they were ro sign him. The United links actually make sense as they haven’t got particularly great squad depth and Mason is definitely someone who if he gets back to how he was playing last season, will be more than a valuable player who can start a lot of games. Could be dangerous actually as Ten Hag could potentially push him on, I mean look at the output and improvements he’s got from players such as Rashford, Sancho, Luke Shaw, even Wan-Bissaka looks like he resembles an alright footballer now. City - I don’t see it entirely but if Bernardo Silva were to leave as well as Ilkay Gundogan, if Mason were available for a reasonable price in their eyes, who knows? Although I’d expect them and Liverpool to be wanting Bellingham first and foremost before prioritising any other players. And really? Tielemans and Rabiot? I’d be pretty confident in saying either won’t be going to big clubs either - or definitely not City, Liverpool or United. Not a chance. Maybe they’ll get a team in the bracket below the top 4 teams in the PL but doubtful. I think in particular United could of signed Tielemans to cover for Eriksen after his injury but instead went for Sabitzer on loan - so for me, that speaks volumes. Sabitzer not a bad player but wouldn’t say he’s a great one. And no chance we will sell Kovacic this sunmer, surely. Would be a dumb dumb move but after selling Jorginho to Arsenal who knows. Could have easily kept Jorginho to the summer for depth instead of relying on/using Loftus-Cheek in games.

Interesting. Wonder what it is. I mean if its about his private life though then it also begs the question, how bad is it to have been a hugely deciding factor that caused the club to sack him? I mean its not as if we haven’t had scandals before regarding private lives. For example, the Terry-Bridge situation and that was a pretty intense event at the time due to media coverage of it so it would have to be vastly catastrophic you’d of thought. Even the whole Abramovich-Putin links and sanction talks after that nerve agent attack however many years ago and then Russia-Ukraine more recently. Was a lot of noise and ultimately led to Boehly & co taking over. Eventually. Theres talk that at this hearing in Munich, there is a lot of doubt about how true his ex-wife’s claims are. She had apparently put them in an email and sent it to him (to blackmail him maybe?) but I suppose we will see how it unfolds. Maybe she was jealous because he’s moved on as I think its been heavily journalised in most British papers since his divorce? Or maybe she does have something that Thomas did that is truly despicable, who knows? I suppose either way the injunction could be a form of damage control because even if these things are untrue, people may think what if he did? Maybe damage his reputation and affect him getting future employment? That last season was hugely uncomfortable for him. The Lukaku interview, his marriage falling apart & divorce, the Russia-Ukraine questions, sanctions questions, ownership questions, will the club seize to exist etc all in the space of say 2 or 3 months so I think whatever the reasons, these things maybe contributed and wound him up. But until we know what the reasons are 100%, its only speculation.

Every Benfica player will be expensive. Particularly someone who has a goal a game basically at his age. Not to mention he was productive at the WC too.

I think he could have a similar relationship with somebody like Rashford although granted Son is borderline world class (or for me at least). Not only that, he would have Fernandes who would take the creative burden off him he has at Spurs and allow him to perhaps just focus more on goals. But is pushing Spurs out of the top 4 worth it if means it further strengthens United? Who are nailed on for top 4 already and will probably reinvest again? Spurs much less of a concern than United IMO because they will never invest the same or attract the level of players. Perhaps but they will get 2 or 3 very good seasons out of Kane at least. Depending how he looks after himself maybe a fourth. Ultimately its hard to tell for sure but I can see him going strong to 33 or 34 minimum because he’s never really been about pace or even physicality although he can offer it.