11 May 2018 11:55:48
Morning. Haven't posted for a while, try to only focus on 1 area when I do but a few things have come up on here and in the media which I'm going to throw my 2 pennies worth in to now!

1) Transfer targets - I'm seeing we need a LB, RB, CB, CM, LM. Last night showed we need a 2nd striker. For everyones comments that Rashford and Martial should get a chance through the middle, I simply cannot see past them as wide left players. They need to be in 1 v 1 situations with space behind the FB to run in to and use their pace. Or cutting in off the left to strike with their right foot, Henry esque (Not comparing them to Henry before people jump on that! ) Through the middle they don't dominate CB's physically, don't hold the ball up and quite simply, aren't intelligent to make runs in behind whilst staying on side. They are best coming in off the flanks and in behind the FB's. Sanchez drops to deep and that was hindering us last night. We need an out and out striker who can play as an understudy to Lukaku. Who? I'm not sure realistically there is but when Lukaku is not playing, we have a problem.

2) Sanchez got dug out by Neville last night for dropping to deep and his analysis was correct but I can't be over critical of Sanchez because for once it was refreshing to see a player wanting to get on the ball as much as he did rather than hiding. It's just a shame it caused us problems when he did or ball went wide as we had no one in the box which reiterates my point 1, the need for a CF.

3)Martial - Sell or keep? My issue with Martial is not his ability or potential but his desire. He has been given chances and shows flashes of what he can do but now in his 3rd? season, he has to be more consistent. I just don't believe he has the mentality and desire to knuckle down, show some grit and start dominating games. Ability is not in doubt but mentally came he cope with a club of Manchester United's size and the focus they are consistently under? Not sure? This leads on to number.

4)Jose selling Salah, De Bruyne and Lukaku. The worry for people is that these three were all sold by Jose and now look at them. However, Salah didn't leave and become and overnight success, he went to Italy for 3 seasons and done well in a lesser league, at smaller clubs which probably helped him develop, would he have developed like that at Chelsea? We will never know. De Bruyne, went to Germany, a lesser league, to lesser teams. Lukaku stayed in the Premier League but developed at lesser teams. Point being, sometimes players 't handle the pressure of being at a big club, being under constant scrutiny by fans, pundits and the media so a move away where there is less pressure and players can develop at there own pace is good for them. Look at Depay now. Players who weren't developed at big clubs but are brought in at a young age don't know the pressure, the expectations, the standards that massive and successful clubs have and therefore, essentially fail but being nurtured where there is not this pressure can help them. Maybe Martial needs this the same as the other 3 did?

5) Rashford - I think he has got the mentality and desire, but needs that chance and needs to bring some consistency. Personally, I think a loan could be good for him but I would like to see that loan to a club in Germany, Dortmund being ideal! Look and Jordan Sancho, best move that kid ever made. Think that could be good for Rashford for a season.

Anyway, that's might thoughts for what they are worth. 2nd place and potentially an FA Cup win. 2 FA Cups, a European Cup and a League cup in 3 years, some teams would beg for that! I know we should expect better but sometimes you need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. I certainly feel we are moving in the right direction.

1.) 11 May 2018
11 May 2018 12:23:34
Good see you post again Ports. I agree with all of that.

It is possible Rash could develop as understudy striker, but Lukaku has to be rested to do that. He really need to work on his hold up play to be the main central striker.

2.) 11 May 2018
11 May 2018 12:47:17
we need at least 2 centre midfielders

our squad dept is not good enough.

3.) 11 May 2018
11 May 2018 13:17:06
People need to get the facts about Salah and KDB. This is getting seriously tedious. Saying Jose sold Salah is like saying Sir Alex sold Pogba!

Move on.

4.) 11 May 2018
11 May 2018 15:28:09
The only way to know with martial is sell or my preference loan him. He needs to go somewhere to play consistently like he was before alexis’s arrival. If he doesn't do well then the club know to sell. But if he does and joses leaves he may still have a way back at the club. It also stops everyone from saying he could go on to be the next salah or kdb. Its obvious jose doesn't fancy certain players that us fans would like to keep.

5.) 11 May 2018
11 May 2018 17:24:25
One of the best posts i seen in a white Ports. Well done.