25 Aug 2025 22:54:34
When we had EtH in charge we played with a 4231, with Casemiro, Mainoo and Bruno being the three central midfielders/ No.10.

The problem was that they couldn't effectively control the game and teams ran right through the centre of our team. Our games were like basketball matches, end to end to end to end.

So let's not blame the 3421 formation for us being too open in the middle and unable to control the game. Because we are still playing Casemiro and Bruno in midfield, and even if we added another, such as Mainoo who everyone is crying out for, it wouldn't change a damn thing as we've been down that road before.

The problem isn't the formation, it's the players.

Bar the keeper, in defence we generally look better, and the stats support the eye test. MdL is fully fit, Yoro is developing nicely, and we bought Dorgu. We have also spent well to bring in a new forward line and surprise surprise we look better going forward.

Do you know where we haven't spent or improved the team? Midfield. Until we do we will continue to struggle to control games. It's not the tactics, it's the players.

1.) 25 Aug 2025
25 Aug 2025 23:16:11
Just play Mainoo there and pick one other to support. Preferably Collyer. oh he went on loan.
Next up Kone.
Grimsby I'd like to see Mainoo/ Kone pairing.

2.) 26 Aug 2025
26 Aug 2025 02:00:21
Kone eye socket means he will be out for a while.

3.) 26 Aug 2025
26 Aug 2025 06:48:23
Shappy

I agree, who was the last really top class central midfield player at the top of his game, recognised for it, that we bought? Keane? Hargreaves perhaps?

4.) 26 Aug 2025
26 Aug 2025 08:22:50
Sesko
Cunha Bruno Mbuemo

Mainoo Ugarte (? )

Dorgu yoro De ligt Maz


Whichever rubbish Gk.

5.) 26 Aug 2025
26 Aug 2025 08:34:48
That’s ridiculous of course systems make a difference, it’s not park football…. tying up 3 CBs none of who can play the way needed and also having 2 wing backs who are not great at it either, along with no legs in midfield only spells disaster, throw in dodgy keeper and it’s doomsday
We beat Fulham on 8 last outings in a row, now we didn’t so that’s not progress
With a back 4 that these players are better suited to means added player in midfield which covers our lack of mobility and moves Bruno further up the pitch where he is much better and our best player…oh wait RA spent 200 million there for 3 players who not scored yet and moved our only player who does score to somewhere he don’t score. same with Amad, let’s put him on the bench
This is terrible management whatever way you dress it up
But he talks the talk at the moment but certainly not walking the walk.
He will be gone by Christmas.

6.) 26 Aug 2025
26 Aug 2025 09:11:50
If you don't score goals, you bring on pressure. It's easy for teams, players, managers to come out and say they knew how to play against us when they get a positive result but it wasn't easy for the first 20 mins, the game could have and should have been out of sight. Fulham didn't find it that easy in those 20 mins. Winning is a a habit and currently we are not in that habit. Look at Liverpool, hardly looked great yet but they are scoring and getting over the line. As soon as we start hitting the back of the net, we'll see a difference imo. I really think it's that simple.

7.) 26 Aug 2025
26 Aug 2025 09:49:09
German, you’re embarrassing yourself with these takes. Amorim’s system isn’t new, it’s the one he built his career on and why United hired him. Acting like two games into a new season prove it’s doomed is reactionary nonsense.

Look at the Arsenal game: everyone said our midfield would get overrun, it didn’t. We controlled the tempo, pressed well, and dominated. Fulham was different, we started fast, but the rhythm dropped and Fulham exploited spaces. That’s normal early-season volatility, not systemic failure.

The stats don’t lie, we’ve had more shots than anyone else in the league over the last two games, are third for shots on target, and by some distance have created the most chances that have led to a shot. The only thing missing is a bit more clinical finishing, which I’m confident will come.

Almost every team is shaky over the first few weeks. Liverpool were completely outplayed by Newcastle last night, even when Newcastle were down to 10 men, should they sack Slot? City were outclassed by Spurs, is Pep past it and done? Chelsea created virtually nothing against Palace, a game they usually win, they must be in decline. Early-season turbulence is normal, and knee-jerk reactions are ridiculous.

8.) 26 Aug 2025
26 Aug 2025 10:10:29
German, logically if you don't think our CB's are good enough when there are three of them to defend, they why would they play better when there is only two of them and thus more is expected of them?

The wingbacks are granted a special-ist position, but I think Amad and Dorgu are both well suited to the role. If we switched to a back four and fullbacks would we really be any stronger in those positions?

Maybe at RB when Mazraoui is fit, but does Dalot at fullback offer more than Amad at wingback? while who do we play at LB? Shaw if fit? or do we train Dorgu for that role despite him probably being better suited to being a wingback?

As pointed out we don't have legs in midfield, that won't change unless we sign someone regardless of the formation or tactics. Same with the goalkeeper.

Amad long term might be a No.10, yet his best performances and most of his goals and assists last season came from wingback, he tended to have less of an impact from the No.10 position.

Overall we have played better this season, but clearly it will take time for the new additions to fully settle in and gel with the rest of the team.

We were unlucky against Arsenal, and we should have been 2 or 3 nil up against Fulham by halftime. A really good save from Leno and some poor finishing from Cunha and Bruno meant we weren't.

Its obvious that this team still carries some nerves from last season, when we miss chances or when the opposition score you can clearly see our confidence wobble. That gives opposition the chance to build momentum and we struggle to turn it around at that point. Which probably isn't helped by a lack of options from the bench and is probably a big factor in Amorim trying very hard to crowbar our captain and one of the few leaders we have into the line up.

Personally I feel like this team is a new midfield and some time growing together away from a very good side.

I also think the first time we score in the first 10 to 15 minutes of a game that we will go on to beat that team heavily with a 3, 4 or 5 nil type score line. When we have played well this season we have looked very dangerous, we also tend to start the games well and on the front foot. If we can take advantage of that and score early I think the confidence will start to flow and we will start to score more freely.

We have spent big on bringing in new forward players to address our troubles scoring last season. That is probably adding more pressure on those players to score, once they do and they get that monkey off their back I think they will go on score a lot of goals for us.

9.) 26 Aug 2025
26 Aug 2025 11:35:03
Football is a game of fine margins shappy and German doesn't seem to understand that.
Cunha against arsenal has a chance to score raya got his fingertips to it .
He should of scored 2 against Fulham hit the list and leno fingertips to one.
Bruno misses a penalty which is rare.
De ligt doesn't clear a ball and smith Rowe saunters through although Bruno didn't track the run.
Margins are how games are won and lost and we just aren't in the mindset to get them at the minute.
There was many games last season under amorim where same thing happened first half should of been 2 3 nil up weren't opposition score and we lose or draw the game.
wins will come once we start gaining confidence hopefully Grimsby and Burnley give us 2 wins to springboard off after the break.
And let's be optimistic and hope in the last few days of the window we might have changes made for the better.

10.) 26 Aug 2025
26 Aug 2025 12:05:06
We can be as optimistic as we like, but 1 or 2 more players is not going to change this…
Fine margins my A*** if if’s and hands were pots and pans.
Fine margins is Newcastle losing to Liverpool playing with 10 men still scored 2 goals and no striker on the pitch or in the building, that’s fine margins
Spending 200 million on strikers is not fine margins

We have now had 30 games and a preseason and we not lost against Fulham in last 8 meetings and we were lucky to get a draw, if you call that progress your clutching at straws.

You all keep calling for premiership experience why does that not extend to the manager.
Someone even had audacity to say RA built his career on this system. what career 1 club in poor league and only 4 years experience, that’s RA’s CV, let’s not kid ourselves this is a manager that’s done a lot….
There are some low expectations being set here.