23 Jul 2020 07:35:55
On Sunday we could finish anything from 3rd to 5th, probably a reflection on our totally inconsistent season. If we beat Leicester, it will be 3rd, it's a big if, but play it as a one off game, don't be negative, don't try alien FA Cup semi final tactics, we should get what we need, but with our defence it will be squeaky bum time if we go into the last 10 level.

Last night we didn't give a good account at all, Ole was tactically schooled by David Moyes, unbelievable really. Moyes of all people figured we would try to pass our way through the middle, so he let us have the ball but competed centrally, didn't give space for Bruno to hurt them, competed when Greenwood and Rashford cut inside as they do, he likely looked at our full backs and realised we had neither a winger or an attacking full back on either side. He was right, our players got eye to eye with their full backs and nearly every time went back and recycled the ball. Another bugbear was that Pogba was deep, passing the ball to Matic to do the creative work. I posted this on live chat time and again, why? Pogba is more dangerous further forward because he isn't great defensively, tactical madness.

I see the excuse players were shattered, yet there were opportunities to rotate in previous games where we won by three goals, however Ole chose the semi final against the toughest opponent to do it. I also don't get last night why any real change had to wait until 84 minutes. I don't think they were shattered at all, but if any were, did Ole really believe shattered players were better than those on the bench? They may have been shell shocked from the semi final, after all it was a tactical shambles, they may not have recovered their belief, that was more likely.

Ole spent £45m on AWB knowing he was a defensive full back, then reveals his master tactics that needs attacking full backs, then drops Pogba deep to feed Matic to create.

I think we will do enough on Sunday, squeaky bum time, yet no matter who we buy, where we finish these tactical situations and decisions are anomalies that we will continue to see and almost certainly mean the big prizes like the league and CL, allude us. Onwards to Sunday, where Leicester will fancy their chances, but I expect us to get what we need.

1.) 23 Jul 2020
23 Jul 2020 08:06:07
Redman,
That sums up everything about your point of view.

2.) 23 Jul 2020
23 Jul 2020 08:30:21
Red Man, Ole said before the match that AWB suffered a knock. So it's hardly a surprise he didn't start.

I do acknowledge that the last few performances have been turgid.
Right now it's all about results.
Who even dreamnt of finishing 3rd mid way in the season.

I also posted below that who from the bench improves the first X1? The answer is noone.

3.) 23 Jul 2020
23 Jul 2020 08:34:18
Red man I hardly think it was an excuse that players were shattered. Anyone who watched the game for more than two minutes could see how leggy we looked. The issue with Ole having chance to rotate earlier is the drop off in quality that is evident when we do rotate.

I'm disappointed we didn't win last night like the rest of us but If we had been given this scenario six months ago we would have taken it. Beat the Foxes and we are playing Champions league next season. We shouldn't be playing for a draw, we should go there to win the game. After this game players can be rested properly so I expect to see a better energy level.

Pogba should be pushed up the pitch higher and I am hoping Shaw is ok to play as we have really missed him down the left, Williams has potential but he has been found wanting the last few games.

4.) 23 Jul 2020
23 Jul 2020 09:19:02
You really are starting to sound bitter Redman. It's like almost like you enjoy the bashing you give the team and that everyone who backs the team or Ole are idiots.

The team is knackered. Your have to be blind to not see that. The tempo was much slower and lack of width hurt us tonight.

Awb and Shaw were not fit. Rashford hasn't played well since his return. We tried rotating and those players were not up to the job. What a he supposed to do? Keep in mind that the F. A Cup was not enough to save LVG's job either. Top 4 is priority. I know that hurts a few people on here who says we need to try and win every trophy but let's be realistic here. Winning FA Cups doesn't give us Champions League and it doesn't attract new signings.

Ole knows they need a rest. The staff have all the data you could possibly read. They know all stats and who is in the 'red zone. ' He sees them at training. He's not blind. He sees what we all see. I didn't see West Ham out tactic us. We had them penned back most of the game. The players just lacked that sharpness.

We know our first 11 still needs a CB, CM and RW at least. That's still 1/ 4 of the team that we all agree needs addressing. We know the answers are not found in this squad so when he does rotate, we know there will be a drop in standards.

I'm expecting a clear out over summer and a few youngsters will be given the chance to take those spots with 2 maybe 3 signings this summer. It's been a rough season. No Pogba. Martial out for 2 months. Rashford out for 2 months. Bruno not brought till January. Any team would struggle losing that quality. Fact of the matter is that top 4 is still in our own hands on the final day. We all would have taken that at the turn of the year. One last push and it's job done.

5.) 23 Jul 2020
23 Jul 2020 09:26:53
If we'd been given this situation in February we'd 100% have taken it. Even if it was we have to beat Leicester on the last day to scrape 4th on goal difference we would have taken it. So that's a big positive.

The sides behind the top 2 are so far behind them it's frightening though. We could finish 3rd with 66 points. You'd struggle to finish 5th with that in most seasons. So while it's impressive that we've managed to catch Leicester it's important to remember it's been during a big drop off in quality of the bigger sides.

6.) 23 Jul 2020
23 Jul 2020 10:18:39
ole got tactically out done?

i would love to know what game you was watching, plenty of times we went down the wings.

6 games in 18 days with our squad debt was always going to be a big ask, we can't rotate because we don't have a big enough squad that is full of quality players.


we are 3rd, go back to January the loss against burnley and we were miles away. we have give ourselves a chance and its on Leicester to attack, which will play perfectly into hands.

7.) 23 Jul 2020
23 Jul 2020 11:31:59
The naratives at play on here at the minute are comical gold. 2 weeks ago we were 2/ 3 players ready from competiting with liverpool. Now we have no one that's not in the first 11 that's good enough. Its a bloody brilliant read il give u all that 👌🏻. Enjoy sunday lads.

8.) 23 Jul 2020
23 Jul 2020 11:44:54
😂😂😂.

9.) 23 Jul 2020
23 Jul 2020 12:43:48
Totally agree with red man in regards to, pogba giving the ball to Matic to create. Matic and Maguire for me took too long on the ball.

They need to release it quicker to our playmakers (pogba and Bruno).

I also feel ole took to long in making changes, I felt Rashford and Bruno had bad games and should’ve been subbed off quicker.

10.) 23 Jul 2020
23 Jul 2020 14:29:56
Ole has no idea what to when things go wrong. Tactically he is a baby when it comes to in game changes . Should of backed Jose😀😀.