09 Nov 2025 04:24:12
Just saw a crazy stat.

So far this season we've conceded 20 goals, fifteen of which have come when Casemiro has not been on the pitch.

So I looked into the numbers a little more.

Cas has played 620 minutes out of a possible 1080. With him on the pitch, we're conceding a goal every 124 minutes. Without him, we're shipping a goal every half an hour (or 30.6667 minutes, if you want to be precise) .

I've mentioned a few times on the live chat how impressed I've been with him this season, but I hadn't quite realized just how important he's been for the team. The lad deserves tremendous credit, especially when you consider some of the criticism he was getting last season (some of which, I'm sad to say, was from me) .

1.) 09 Nov 2025
09 Nov 2025 10:15:26
Agreed Casemiros performance levels have been impressive considering he was being written off for the past 2 seasons.

But the fact even with 1 game a week, he can’t complete a full 90 is not sustainable and from that stat of conceding every 30 mins when he's not on the pitch, that doesn't look good for Ugarte who was supposed to be his replacement, who is subbing on for him every game.

Not talked about enough how bad a signing Ugarte has been, cost £50m and we had to sell Scott Mctominay to fund the transfer.

2.) 09 Nov 2025
09 Nov 2025 11:04:35
Casemiro had been phenomenal this season, especially for a players whose legs went last season.

The shift in tactics and team shape has really helped him, moving from a high press to more of a mid block, as well as the defence pushing up higher has meant he hasn't had to cover as much space as he did before. Which is definitely getting the best out of him.

The problem is that his performances start to dip after 60-70 minutes, and we need to be careful not to run him into the ground, so we do need to sub him off more and manage his minutes. The problem is that we don't have anyone else in our squad with the same profile as him. Meaning we have to play slightly differently when he's not on the pitch, which probably plays into us conceding more when he's not on the pitch just as much as the his absence affects us.

We desperately need to sign a natural replacement for him in January if we want to make the most of this season. In truth we need to sign two naturally defensive midfielders, one in January to rotate with Casemiro, and one in the summer to replace him as his contract is up.

The other issue with our midfield that is clear to see is that Bruno's performances are starting to trail off later in games. I can't remember exactly what the stat was but it was something like his defensive actions and distance covered are dropping by nearly two thirds after 60 minutes compared to before.

Bruno has played a lot of football, has hardly ever been injured, or missed a game for us. I think he's missed something like 17 games for us in nearly 6 years. There was even a couple of seasons where he played 96% of all the available minutes for us across the season for us in all competitions. That will start to catch up with him. While his new role playing deeper is also more physically demanding than he is used to when playing higher up.

The problem is clear, we lack depth in midfield, we play well when Casemiro and Bruno are fully fit and playing, but we drop off badly when they aren't playing or when they start to tire. Unfortunately Ugarte just doesn't seem suited to the EPL, he's got talent and skills, but he is a bit of a mad dog chasing wrappers in the wind. The transitional style in the current EPL leaves him chasing shadows, it requires someone who reads the game well and acts on where they know the ball will be rather than chasing where it currently is. While Mainoo needs to start being given more game time, I'm a little unhappy with his seeming desire to try and force getting game time, and his willingness to leave (even on loan) to get it. It doesn't show a real commitment to the club that have trained him and given him his chance. He's 20 years old, and probably wouldn't and shouldn't be a starter for a top club challenging for major honours. He still has parts of his game he needs to work on. That said I think we should be looking to introduce Mainoo in games around the 60 minute mark and even start him in a few games. Whether that is by giving Bruno a rest (which he will need) or by pushing Bruno higher up (where he can still be impactful even if he's starting to tire later in games) .

I think it's clear that Amorim would rather play Cunha as a false 9 over Zirkzee, so there can be times when we rest or sub Sesko where Cunha can be played through the middle creating a space for Bruno to play in that left side No.10 position making space for Mainoo in the No.8.

3.) 09 Nov 2025
09 Nov 2025 12:23:10
I don't know if you noticed but there is a world cup in the summer lol, pretty clear why mainoo wants game time.

He literally started the knockout games in the last euros when england made the final.

Should be allowed to leave in January on loan in my opinion.

4.) 09 Nov 2025
09 Nov 2025 12:43:06
You've hit the nail on the head shappy.
Casemiro going off at 60 mins leaves the team much weaker but it over looked that Bruno tires off around the same time.
i think a double sub of mainoo and ugarte coming on with casemiro coming off or Bruno pushing further up the pitch to make a 3 would be a big help.

5.) 09 Nov 2025
09 Nov 2025 12:51:48
This not about mainoo england chances, this is about the team. If you don’t take your chance when you come on you don’t deserve to start.

6.) 09 Nov 2025
09 Nov 2025 13:08:24
DSG, are you serious? You'll be happy going into the second half of the season with only 3 senior midfielders, two of which are over 30 and their performances start to drop after 60 minutes?

Amorim has said Mainoo needs to work on his endurance and mobility, that takes time. Months of training to build it up not weeks.

I fully expect to see Casemiro and Bruno tire more at the season wears on and as such their will be more game time available, it's down to Mainoo to prove himself when he gets a chance. Let's be honest, he hasn't played as well as either Casemiro or Bruno in the minutes he has had.

If a club wants to be successful then minutes have to be earned not given. Mainoo needs to step up when he gets his chances. So far this season he hasn't, that isn't on the manager that's on him.

He is very talented, and I understand his frustration. But he needs to develop the right mentality, running away from a challenge rather than rising to it is not the right mentality.

Wanting to leave on loan, what does it really say about him and where his head is at?

Effectively he's admitting he isn't good enough or he doesn't have the right mentality to earn the minutes at our club so he wants to go somewhere where it's easier.

If he wants to realise his potential he cannot afford to have that mentality. He needs to be a fighter, take the knock backs and use them as fuel to be better and to overcome those challenges.

Surely he's better placed to be successful here both in the short term and the long term. Surrounded by people who knows him, where he is comfortable and knows what he needs to do, where there is a plan for him. Moving to another club, even on loan brings as many challenges and potential pitfalls as it might minutes on the pitch.

What if his new manager sees him in trainings and decides he isn't right, or doesn't fancy him, what if that club changes manager and coaching staff, what if he doesn't settle at that club, in that new city or potentially new country, what if he picks up an injury.

He's a young player, a player who isn't the finished article, he shouldn't be focusing on short term aims such as getting into the England squad. He should be focusing on maximising his talent, and realising his potential. If he focuses on that then the short term things will fall into place.

From the rumours I've heard his agent seems to be the one poking the bear, trying to either get him a new big contract (which of course lines his pocket) or a big move (which again he will benefit from) .

Young footballers need to remember who they are listening to and what that persons motivations are. If he wants to be a great footballer he needs to listen to his coaches and manager, if he wants to earn more money then he needs to listen to his agent. It's that simple.

7.) 09 Nov 2025
09 Nov 2025 15:47:06
Shappy. While I agree to a certain degree, I do think that Mainoo has a right to be a little peeved. He’ll improve through general training, but the thing that he needs more than anything else right now is minutes, and 138 of them so far this season just isn’t enough (especially when you consider Ugarte has more than double that) .

In an ideal world, we’d be wrapping games up early so that we can bring Mainoo on when Bruno and Cas start to get tired, but I can’t remember the last time when a game felt like it was well and truly won before the full time whistle.

I have a feeling Mainoo will end up leaving in the summer if things don’t change soon, although if his departure allows us to bring in two new CDMs who are better suited to Amorim’s system, that may not be such a bad thing. I’d love to see him succeed with us, but I don’t think he’s a good fit for the type of football the manager wants to play and he doesn’t seem too keen to adapt his game.

8.) 09 Nov 2025
09 Nov 2025 17:15:54
Redseven, Ugarte has more minutes because he is more suited to replace Casemiro. Mainoo is better suited to replacing Bruno who tends to be able to last longer in games and is the captain.

It's unfortunate, but he will get minutes as the season wears on. He just needs to be patient, keep his head down and work hard with the coaches.

9.) 09 Nov 2025
09 Nov 2025 17:35:56
John Reese, do you not think a lot of the reason that Bruno's level drops after 60 mins is because of Cas going off.

10.) 09 Nov 2025
09 Nov 2025 18:45:42
Probably a bit banjoe.
Still think though he is just getting tired he's played a hell of a lot of football for us and isn't getting any younger either.

11.) 09 Nov 2025
09 Nov 2025 19:11:36
I replied above to Maze's 709th login, when we replace CAS, we need to move Bruno either to the bench or up the field, it really is that simple. Mainoo with Ugarte can close out games as required. Yes they'll make some mistakes, but until we have more suitable replacements, we cannot play Bruno with either of them as we start to go backwards.

12.) 12 Nov 2025
09 Nov 2025 19:22:24
Glad everyone caught up now and admit that Ugarte is not good enough, that took long enough though! I disagree that Bruno gets tired I would say he is one of the fittest in the team… have always said that Cass is best midfielder by a country mile, now everyone again caught up! Yippeeeee
We still need a decent experienced striker and wing backs like I said Dorgu is just not good enough.


But if RA is staying he needs to sort his in game management because it’s dreadful and getting no better…
Swapping out Rasmus for Sesko was not great business either…. Sesko is Raw as Rasmus, it’s flip of coin which one turns out better, but neither are what we need at the Mo.