Manchester United Banter Archive February 26 2018

 

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26 Feb 2018 22:08:37
I think a lot of our rubbish performances stem from that Jose doesn't trust most of our defenders. Bailly is good was rushed back and Lindelof is still settling. Beyond them Jones is good but struggles to manage a dozen games. Smalling is ok but always looks to have a mistake in him. Rojo is a combination of both Smalling and Jones. Full back is even worse. Young an Valencia are competent for 90% of games. Shaw I think Jose still isn't 100% sold on. This causes the midfield to have to play defensively. Look at Jose's Porto, Inter, Chelsea an Real teams an the fullbacks an centre backs he had. There's a lack of top quality centre backs and I'd like to see Bailly and Lindelof make a partnership. Move Smalling on this summer and either Rojo or Jones next year. Full backs though are definitely needed. A midfielder is a given seeing as Carrick, Fellaini an Blind will all be off.

Believable3 Unbelievable3

27 Feb 2018 02:21:10
Mort

I posted a couple of weeks ago that if midfield are looking over their shoulders at a shaky central defence they naturally try to cover, limiting them, make them a little deeper than they should be. If you played central defence with a shaky keeper it unnerved you and same in central midfield. Trust the central defence and you look forward not back. SAF teams were built on a strong centre back pairing and he relied on them dealing with forwards whilst the team went forward.

I remain of the belief as I posted several weeks ago we need a top quality CD and CM in the next window. We also need to settle the full backs, Valencia is on the cusp and Young is a stop gap at best. Hopefully it can be TFM and Shaw but Jose treatment of Shaw is puzzling unless there is something we don’t know.

Sort and settle the defence and CM then we have the makings of a real challenging team next season.

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27 Feb 2018 06:32:18
That’s spooky Red Man, I’ve just replied to Park up the page about Shaw’s treatment. It does seem very odd.

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27 Feb 2018 06:43:58
AJH

Shaw is a natural left back and better than Young so I don’t get it, unless, as I said, there is something we don’t know that is affecting the player. There were rumours in the past about his lifestyle and they apparently improved but has something changed again. Hard to understand.

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27 Feb 2018 10:12:03
Really? Mourinho has over the past 15 years in management proven himself to be a pragmatist, a manager who looks to stifle his opponents rather than blow them away. There is nothing wrong with that, after all it has brought him huge success.

However, I don’t think we should be blaming Mourinho’s pragmatic approach on our limited defence. After all that has been his approach for 15 years.

I have already said on here last week that I would look to play to a teams strengths rather than its weaknesses. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

Against Sevilla we sat back and invited pressure on what most people consider to be the weakest area of our team. That resulted in Sevilla increasing their average shots per game up from 13 to 29. It was only a combination of poor finishing and world class goalkeeping from DDG that kept the score at 0-0. Where as if we pressed Sevilla higher up the pitch, and played to our teams strengths then maybe we would have got a result much like Atletico Madrid did against them at the weekend (in case you missed it they beat them 5-2 in Seville) .


I think Mourinho plays this defend first, attack maybe approach because that is how he wants to play. We will probably sign a few defenders this summer, and it might make us better at defending (although we already have one of the best defensive records), but I highly doubt it will make Jose have an epiphany and suddenly make him start playing the buccaneering, cavalier football that we all crave.

Let's stop pretending Jose is something he isn’t, it only sets us up for a fall. I’m not saying sack him, just accept we are unlikely to see the kind of football we want until after he leaves.

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27 Feb 2018 11:10:59
Jose is just doing what Jose does .

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26 Feb 2018 21:16:35
Have you noticed all the rubbish about Pogba and Jose beef has vanished since he started and played well yesterday. Shows how much bullscrap flys about.

Believable9 Unbelievable0

26 Feb 2018 21:23:28
It’s funny how one result can change this FZZ. I jut saw in the express now a report saying the Man Utd board regret signing Sanchez. Talk about using united to sell copies.

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26 Feb 2018 21:29:52
Yeh, and we all know that's nonsense as well, as just the other day reports came out that Ed Woodward was purring over how many shirts Sanchez had sold. Anything just to like you say sell papers or get clicks.

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26 Feb 2018 21:31:32
I sqw the same report Park3lung and it just makes you laugh and realise how much bs there is in the media.

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26 Feb 2018 21:48:33
Whatever gets them clicks they will post. Funny how we haven’t heard anything about pep wearing his yellow ribbon. I know he got charged but he still went on and wore it. Personally I think the rule against wearing political slogans is a bit silly but rules are the rules. But obviously there is one rule for pep and another for the others.

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26 Feb 2018 23:21:25
To be fair, I've read numerous stories on Pep and his ribbon, today in the press. And I don't think there's one rule for him, Park - he's accepted that fines/ bans might be coming his way, and he's prepared to face that. Wonder what the City hierarchy might have to say on the matter, tho, if the team never has a manager on the touchline, because he's being constantly banned. No doubt, a subtle backtracking will be in order somewhere down the line.

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{Ed001's Note - actually there is one rule for him, no other manager has been warned repeatedly before the punishment. They normally are charged immediately. He has been spoken to, then warned twice.}

26 Feb 2018 23:29:07
You should read or see the post match interview Pep gave, he was on about freedoms of the Catalonians, then a reporter asked him about the freedom of people in monsours country and he basically said it was fine, just reeks of hypocrisy.

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27 Feb 2018 10:11:16
Yeh I saw that FZZ the hypocrisy is astounding. I’m afraid I agreed with ed on this one Nou if this was any other manager they would have been reprimanded.

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27 Feb 2018 10:26:59
Ed001, I don't know if there is one rule for him only because I can't actually recall any other manager displaying overtly political symbols in England to be able to compare him too. That said, I'm old and my memory is shot, so I'm sure people will remind me.

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{Ed001's Note - I don't see the relevance of what it is about, any manager breaching FA laws of any kind has never been given the kind of leeway Pep has been given. Just as any manager who acts the way he has acted this season would have been sitting in the stands most of the season.}

27 Feb 2018 10:54:28
Fair enough. I was only referring to the political symbol issue. Unfortunately, Ed001, this is the problem that arises when the FA opened up a can of worms with their rules on poppies. Am I right in thinking UEFA have different rules on political symbols? ie. As long as they're not considered offensive.

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{Ed001's Note - they have now, but UEFA was the same. Be interesting to see what would happen if Man City faced Madrid, as the yellow ribbon would be considered offensive to them!}

26 Feb 2018 13:27:39
For all of us looking on hindsight we know we are here because we did not start preparing replacements to players either retiring or leaving the club since a few seasons back.
It doesn't matter this happened as this is already in the past. We are now in the process of rebuilding and we should pay heed to the experience and what we have suffered. Hence it is the time now for the manager to do this so that even if the manager leaves the club the process continues.
We have a few aging players namely Carrick, Valencia, Young and they are key roles which we should have put somebody to pick up when they leave or in the process of buying or promoting internally.
We are wanting our team to win but we lose sight of the fact that if we do not get the key players in place we will continue to suffer in the next 5-7 seasons and I sincerely don't want that to happen. We need to realize it is a continuous process and constantly need to get a "next in line" player to play due to either injuries or club leaving.
I feel we need Jose to put all these in place before his contract finishes. It will continue to bite us even if we sack Jose and get Pep or Poch or Ancelotti or even SAF to come back. It takes time to fix and no player will come in and just fit in. There is always a "run-in" period.
I feel we should let him spend and rebuild as long as the owners as willing to support him. Remember if we challenge and win the next PL we will be a even more attractive club to come to. I cannot stand Manchester being even tinge blue so we need to let the process set in.
I urge some patience to let the manager rebuild this club to be the club we want to be for a long time. He may not be what want in the short term but I am quite comfortable he has the expertise to build a strong platform to win for a long time. He is not my favorite but he has the necessary skills and conviction since he lives on being successful and that's mutual for the club and fans.
Sorry for the long post.

Believable10 Unbelievable4

26 Feb 2018 14:13:53
Great post 666.
You are bang on. Jose has bought 8 in reality he neeeded 12 or 13 but it couldn't be done so quickly. He took over an awful squad desoite what moyes and lvg spent. Won us a couple of trophies and we have limped through this season dedpite the fact he has awful choices for full back and wide players.
But he will get it right if backed i'm sure about that.

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26 Feb 2018 14:46:44
Top post 666. We need to build the infrastructure of the club so that if a manager leaves a new one can come in and we are still able to compete. We relied so heavily on Sir Alex that when he left it was as if the club left with him. let's hope we have learnt from our mistakes as we did not seem to do so when Sir Matt Busby left the club. I doubt we will likely see a manager stay at united for longer than 7 years such is the demand for immediate success. I hope we have a succession plan in place for when jose leaves.

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26 Feb 2018 11:08:03
I've been thinking about all the talk about our demise and how we have declined since Sir Alex retired. However, I like many others agree that the decline happened before SIr Alex retired and I think I have pinpointed where and why we had started to decline and why we haven't as yet bounced back.

I think the decline in our ability matches up exactly with the decline in Paul Scholes. Scholes was a once in a generation player who somehow was never fully appreciated until later in his career/ when he retired. He was shunted around by England rather than building the team around him as typical England doesn't appreciate technical ability and likes to focus on pace, power and work rate.

There are very few games can I say I have watched us totally control a game since Scholes was at his peak. Carrick was vital in glossing over our loss, but in truth as good as he was he was never in the same bracket as Scholes.

You can trace all of our poor performances to a lack of control of a game, we just don't dictate them anymore. Against Chelsea yesterday was a prime example. We got an excellent result, but anyone watching the game would have thought Chelsea was the home side. This Chelsea team also isn't anywhere as good as previous ones. I read one reporter refer to us and Chelsea this season as "United having a excellent squad performing averagely, and Chelsea having an average squad performing excellently", and I kind of agree with that.

What I think we lack is that player who controls the tempo of a game, many have said watching United this season it looks like we are playing with the handbrake on. I have spent the last 18 months waiting for the team to move up a gear and yet we never manage it. I think this is because we don't have a player to shift us into the higher gear.

Or in fact slow us down. When we are in front in the final 15 minutes we don't have that player who can slow things down and allow us to keep hold of the ball and take the sting out of the game. Instead its backs against the wall while we get hit with wave after wave of attack from the opposition.

We seem to always have to play at the pace the opposition dictate we play at. Lukaku said something in his post match interview that stuck a cord. He said they need to move the ball quicker between the lines to open up chances for themselves. Which is so true, how often have we seen this season forwards make good runs only for the ball to be played a second too late or sometimes not at all.

I think the player we are looking for is a genuine replacement for Paul Scholes.

Believable14 Unbelievable6

26 Feb 2018 11:35:51
There is no one point in time that you can pin this to. The decline of the team was down to an inability to replace key players with the same quality, Scholes was one for sure but there was also the failure to replace what was a fantastic back four (Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra) I don't think any of those guys have properly been replaced.

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26 Feb 2018 11:43:26
The French were always vocal in that they were confused about why England didn't consider Scholes the greatest play in generations. They had a lot of respect for him and still talk off him in the same way they do Zidane.

As for the current state of the team. I think Mourinho is a lot to blame. The players seem constrained by his orders and restrictions. I think it has to do with us having a subpar defence and Mourinho relying on his midfield and attackers to support them a lot. I think with a stronger defence, he could just handle defensive duties to Matic and let the others roam and do their thing.

Lee Dixon pointed out that no one was making runs yesterday, that seems more tactical than the players skill, Martial definitely is one who enjoys making runs and running at defences, yesterday he wasn't. I think the players can only take so much blame, and if Pogba did question Mourinho's tactics, I think he has every right to do so.

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26 Feb 2018 11:53:16
I made a post about this the other day shappy. I think it will be next to impossible to replace him, there’s nothing similar coming out of any academies in England, and the only player similar in Europe is Kroos (who I’m not sure if we still hold an interest in) . I feel like if Scholes played in a midfield 3 with Matic and pogba we would have strolled through that game yesterday, but he was something else. One of the best I’ve ever seen.

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26 Feb 2018 12:27:32
TOT66, I kind of agree that there is more than just one thing wrong atm. But I think losing that midfielder who could control a game and never replacing them has cost us more than any other.

Yes the defence needs sorting out, but will a new defence allow us to control the tempo of the game? No. All the top teams win via controlling the game, Pep has been very clever in creating a system where the tempo is primarily controlled by the system and not reliant on individual players. Sure they don't look as dangerous without De Bruyne, but they are able to control the game no matter who they have in their line up.

Ludwig, I agree yesterday the players looked more restrained than usual, and that needs to lighten up. I do feel that if we could control the tempo better then we wouldn't have to be so rigid in our play. Scholes was a classic example of the very British notion of not appreciating what you have until its gone.

Caolan, If our team had Scholes in his prime now, I think we would be pushing City for the title. I don't think we will see another English youngster come through with Scholes ability for a long time, academies are continuing to put physicality over technicality. Remember Scholes made his debut as a striker then gradually moved back as they were concerned if a player his size could handle the midfield battle in England. I think to look for that sort of player we need to look abroad for now, Verratti, Weigl, Jorginho or Leandro Paredes could fulfil that role for us.

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26 Feb 2018 12:29:18
There were, verrati, Iniesta and xavi, none of which would come here. Schweinsteiger and kroos were/ are poorer imitations in their prime. Just my opinion in a replacement for scholes.

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26 Feb 2018 13:10:15
I agree shappy.
We desperate need 2 good full backs and that tempo setting midfielder. Kroos veratti jorghino all would fit the bill.
Full backs playing well and properly make a huge difference in any side. They provide balance width and shape to the team we are sorely lacking without proper full backs.

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26 Feb 2018 13:13:04
Couldn't agree more shappy we rarely have control of midfield in big games, matic solid, pogba athletic but I'd love to see someone dictate tempo, keep possession or take the sting out of opponent's by making them chase the ball . Scholes was my fav utd player and him and xavi of Barcelona were difficult opponent's for anyone, there have been many more skillfull players individually but these guys made there whole team tick . My knowledge of tempo setting players around the world isn't as good as yours but the guy who wins most things that can be won is kroos. I know he's played for teams that will normally be successful but he has an impressive medal collection of the biggest prizes, I have no idea what kind of man he is tho or what motivates him just a footballer I find good at what he does on the pitch.

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26 Feb 2018 13:25:59
agree shappy when was the last time we completely dominated the midfield and dictated the tempo of the game against a big side? you can argue we did it in the second half yesterday but not to the level we used to with scholes in the side. I like paredes he looks a very good player and I think Ed002 said Real were interested in signing him in the summer. Price doesn't seem to steep either. Veratti is a very good player but near on impossible to sign. For me jorginho is the player who could be that missing link. Very classy and technically sound with a very good passing range. I feel we just need that player to get us ticking and can unleash the attacking talent we have. That will allow pogba to get right up into the attacking third and showcase those attacking talents that we have seen fair too rarely for my liking. I think Jose knows this and will sort this out in the summer.

Oh what i would do to have scholes in him pomp. The greatest midfielder this league has ever seen and perhaps right up there with the best ever. Was a pleasure to have had the opportunity to watch him in his prime.

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26 Feb 2018 13:32:04
Kroos is clearly a talented player, but for me the issue he has is he is lazy and not interested if things aren't going his way.
Also for me Modric is far more important in how that Real Madrid side play. If Modric wasn't on the move making triangles and creating passing options then Kroos wouldn't look like half the player.

In Matic we already have one static midfielder, I don't think a midfield of Matic and Kroos would work unless they had someone buzzing about and doing the job Modric does in making passing options to move the ball quickly and efficiently.

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26 Feb 2018 13:42:42
Pogba at is best is a good Scholes type player and then Alexis can do the job. Both have been brought in as Rooney replacements (number 10). I hate to say it but De Brunye is the Scholes replacement everyone wants. 😆😆.

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26 Feb 2018 13:59:30
Shappy
I understand modric is important, but modric didn't play for Bayern and he duznt play for Germany and kroos was and is still excellent at controling tempo . If wherever he goes and whoever he plays with he still looks good it's harsh to say but it's because of his midfield partner why he looks good . He plays with good players around him but Germany, Bayern and Madrid have all reaped huge rewards having him.

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26 Feb 2018 14:18:44
Spot on slate. Kroos is the best in the world at what he does.
Shappy no point modric buzzing around if he doesn't have someone like kroos to keep feeding him.
Shappy i reckon that kane fella is lazy its just eriskson making him look good by setting him up over and over again . that's how ridiculas your rationale is above😂😂.

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26 Feb 2018 14:24:44
I am just completely shocked about the amount of sloppy passes we give away. Even just simple 5-10 yard passes forward, backwards and to the side seem to get intercepted by the opposition. This is one of my big gripes this year, we just don't take enough care of the football when we get it back.

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26 Feb 2018 14:26:17
Slate, no doubt Kroos is an very very good player. Playing alongside great players as also helped him immensely. I think against 95% of teams he would be great. But against certain sides unless he has a couple of mobile midfield partners he will struggle to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Real Madrid are happy to let him go in the summer, and Bayern didn't fight all that hard to keep him. That tells you something too.

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26 Feb 2018 14:33:17
Interesting points shappy but Bayern were champs league winners, Germany are world champions and Madrid have dominated the champs league recently he's the common denominator that should tell u something to .

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{Ed001's Note - such as he is lucky to be a part of great teams?}

26 Feb 2018 14:41:26
Odd someone says de bruyne, Silva would be more like scholes imo but not as good. i'd say he's more like Beckham. Modric was a good shout and we had several meetings to sign him but needed him to push for a move and he wasnt that type of person.

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26 Feb 2018 14:47:48
Spot on Shappy. Didn't we go 6 or 7 years and not buy a midfielder? This was when Fergie was there and he gave us the "no value in the market" rubbish when David Silva was being bought by City for £20m! I actually think we need two midfielders, a player like Kroos and a midfielder i the Naingollan mold who can drive us on.

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26 Feb 2018 15:24:16
I agree AAA. we most definitely need two more midfielders in the summer. Savic from Lazio would be my first pick.

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26 Feb 2018 16:01:51
I'm not sure we need two. Yeah two will leave in Fellaini and Carrick, but one of those has hardly played this season.

We have Matic, Pogba, Herrera, McTominay, TFM and Andreas Pereira, that's 6 players for what will most likely continue to be 2 positions for most games. I expect Mourinho to stick to 4231 on the most part, he has Martial, Sanchez, Rashford, Lingard and Mata to keep happy. I see us using a three man midfield against certain teams but not every week.
So to sign 2 more midfielders taking our roster up to 8 for predominately 2 positions seems excessive, even for those who feel Pereira may be sold or TFM won't get games in midfield.

For me a choice of say Matic, Pogba, Herrera, McTominay and say Verratti or Jorginho would be excellent.

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26 Feb 2018 16:08:38
Exactly ed1 I don't get the love in with Kronos, I get he is really good with the ball but that is only half of the game. He is terrible without the ball. The CL he won at Bayern he wasn't a vital cog in that machine and Bayern didn't even fight to keep him there. And Germany are strong team with or without him no matter. Real compensate his zero defensive contribution by playing Casemiro.
The trophies he has won have mostly been inspite of his not due to him I'm my opinion. But this is all just that, PERSONAL OPINION.

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{Ed001's Note - I am not a big fan, he was supposed to replace Xabi Alonso but he is not even half the player Xabi was. Actually even now I would rather have a retired Alonso than Kroos, he has a lot more mobility on a pundit's chair than Kroos shows on the pitch!}

26 Feb 2018 16:19:28
Kroos is a half-arsed midfielder who needs other players to do his running for him. He'd be a liability in our team.

Good passer, good at tempo setting. But like has been said above, got away with it by the teams he was in.

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26 Feb 2018 20:30:45
I don't even know where to start with that deependra . Kroos and the team he plays for have been in 5 of the last 6 champions league finals . He was in the FIFA team of the 2014 world cup and the 2016 euro championships, Germany didn't win the world cup despite him, he was the leading assist maker in the whole world cup and I'm not privy to knowing how hard Bayern tried to keep him but keeping real at bay isn't easy as we have found out with Ronaldo, Beckham and ruud . Casimiro plays irrespective of whether kroos is in the real team not just because he plays . For all that it is always about opinions you can think Germany Bayern and Madrid would have or could have without him but what we know is no ifs or buts they did with him .

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26 Feb 2018 21:03:16
Slate, how often have you watched him? He is very lazy and seriously lacks mobility. There is a very real chance he would struggle in the EPL. He makes Pogba look like Kante. He moves around the pitch like RMS Titanic.

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26 Feb 2018 21:18:19
Shappy
You can't post saying u want a great playmaker then dismiss the most successful one in world football . I've heard an awful lot about how he creates an unbalanced midfield and yet whoever he plays for dominates possession and wins things . We all start competitions equal but how often is his team the last one standing, anyone can have a lucky tourney but if the same man wins the same big prizes time and time again perhaps it's not a fluke or his teammates.

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26 Feb 2018 21:19:52
The only way you could play Kroos in our midfield is if you replaced matic with someone like Kante. Kroos’ passing range is fantastic but we lack serious energy in our midfield and with him and matic together we would lack dynamism. I feel we need someone who has the passing ability but is also agile and energetic. Matic although reads the game brilliantly, lacks serious legs in midfield which is why him and Kante together was a great blend. Chelsea effectively miss a matic in midfield and we lack a Kante. Vidal would provide that in midfield as would Paredes and Jorginho. Even seri would be a decent signing. If we didn’t have matic I would be all for signing Kroos but with our play already slow and ponderous I’m not not he would be the best fit for us. Would do wonders at a spurs or city though.

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27 Feb 2018 02:08:43
Great discussion

I think we mostly agree a central midfielder is needed as some have said for a while. Everyone says a Scholes replacement but Kroos would not do for me. I understand this Savic may be the target, haven’t seen enough but heard he is very good. One name I didn’t see up there is Erickson from Spurs, maybe plays too far forward but seems to impress.

Add a central defender Alderweireld and perhaps Savic to our spine and it will make a big difference.

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27 Feb 2018 02:41:21
Our midfield is crying out for a player like Kante.

We need a sly little fox in the mid field centre of 4-3-3 controlling the play with the quick triangle passes and then running at pace when required such as Modric, Veratti changing the game.

That single guy will solve half of our team's problem imho.
Pretty sure there are multiple available talents we can sign.

Regards.

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27 Feb 2018 09:51:15
Keylor Navas has been in the last four of five CL finals too Slate but that doesn't change my opinion about him being barely above average. And the fact Kroos made the 2014 WC team just means nothing concrete because that same tournament Messi won the Golden Ball having not scored in the latter stages not even been that great. James Rodriguez also made that same team still it doesn't make him great.
I just don't think Kroos is well rounded enough. He is great with the ball I agree but his defensive contribution is nearly zero.

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27 Feb 2018 10:33:49
I was sort of hoping Herrera would be that type of player for us, surz, but it would seem Jose doesn't fancy him.

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27 Feb 2018 14:48:48
Nou

Perhaps Herrera has been affected by off field issues?

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26 Feb 2018 09:12:41
Have been looking forward to seeing how VAR compared with WengerVision. Well var said city's second goal was ok whereas wenger said it was offside. In this case I am on the side of VAR.

Believable2 Unbelievable0

26 Feb 2018 08:31:43
Great article about United in today’s Independent newspaper by Jonathan Liew.

Believable2 Unbelievable0

26 Feb 2018 12:34:23
Just read it thanks for sharing mate.

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26 Feb 2018 13:43:16
Was a great article. Interesting that he states united have a great squad playing averagely and chelsea an average squad playing great/ above its potential. Can't really disagree with that if i am honest.

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26 Feb 2018 08:11:51
Well, what a result. Defeated a good Chelsea side, who, I think many believed to be he favourites.

I think it was a slightly nervy start to the game, Chelsea were quick to move the ball around and were getting men forward, Hazard was trying to dictate the game and even Willian was always willing to take on a man. Morata had a great chance to put Chelsea one up and I think, had that gone it, it would have changed the mood at OT.

Sanchez could have and should have taken that chance and buried it, he didn't need to take an extra touch, I think once he took a second touch, the chance was gone. I don't know why he took the touch, confidence issues, maybe?

Moving on, I think Pogba played well today. Didn't let Kante or Drinkwater take him out of the game and was always keen on taking a man on. Him and Matic looked solid today and Mctominay added some much needed grip in the midfield. While Chelsea's passing looked quick and crisp at times, whenever United got hold of the ball, they reduced the tempo of the game and i think that went well. That mean we were looking to play the ball and not just hoof it up field and make Lukaku run for them.

Smalling sort of raised his game little and did a good job on Morata and other Chelsea attackers, which was good. Lindelof had a terrific game as well, he needs more game time and he can possibly form a good partnership with Bailly.

Martial, I think had a strange game and I think Lingard offered more movement and fluidity in play when he came on.

Lukaku's start was not the greatest, I think a couple of touch went here and there, but the strength he showed for the goal was tremendous and even the ball he played for Lingard was insane. *On a side note, why can't other players cross the ball like that for him? He'll thrive if he gets such a service. * I was hoping he'd be able to finish the galloping run he took in the second half, he just glided past the Chelsea defence as if they weren't there.

All in all, I guess Mou will be happy with a performance like this, I know I am.

Believable1 Unbelievable1

26 Feb 2018 11:55:43
It’s that old cliché that strikers are better crossers because they know where they want the ball!

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26 Feb 2018 12:29:12
is that true Caolan? If it was then we should have scored bucket loads with two strikers in Martial and Rashford on the wings. lol.

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26 Feb 2018 06:39:24
Just a thought, a leader is needed in defence for me, it would be great if they were world class and from these isles too, so what do you fellas think about lascelles from the bar codes?2 out of 3 ain't bad, puts himself about, seems to be the
leader in their back line and has got better season upon season while at forest and then at newcastle, maybe offer them maybe smalling and some sheckles, worth a
punt?

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26 Feb 2018 07:15:46
CO82

I agree on the leader in CD and suggested Harry Maguire as an option about a week ago and he is English. However it gained many disagrees so that rules him out.

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{Ed001's Note - he is terrible RM. Positionally awful, on his best days, is just a big, strong lump who throws himself into last ditch tackles he should never have needed to make, but people don't notice the ball watching he was doing prior to that when he could otherwise have easily got in position to see out the danger without needing the tackle. Oh and those runs forward, 99 times out of 100 he just gives the ball away on those charges and leaves a huge gaping hole at the back by doing so. No leader either as he is so busy ball watching he does not command the backline at all. Leicester have been wide open defensively since the day he joined and it is not a coincidence. Hull were woeful as well and he was a big part of that. If he wasn't English I doubt any commentator would big him up as they would be too busy pointing out his numerous errors a game.

I watched one game and he gave the ball away 8 times and not once did the commentator say his name. Then he made one easy 10 yard pass and the commentator was salivating over his ability on the ball! The very next time he got the ball and dallied on it, getting robbed by the forward and the commentator said, and I quote, "that was very unlike Maguire to make a mistake". I turned the sound off after that!}

26 Feb 2018 07:40:12
Ed001 LMAO 🤣🤣🤣
Ok with the original post but thoroughly enjoyed you response. Classic 👍👏.

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{Ed001's Note - thanks mate, he is one of those players that annoys me, along with Wilshere is another one. They get so many plaudits yet never do anything constructive for their team to earn them. It is very true what they say about English players being overrated.}

26 Feb 2018 07:52:21
Ed001 we all know there are such in almost every teams. It’s just more or less obvious 🤣 but yeah I know that feeling 🤣.

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{Ed001's Note - true, good point.}

26 Feb 2018 08:11:09
Harry McGuire cannot distribute the ball and these days, thus us a prerequisite for a world class full back. If you want someone to hoof it up there every time the ball comes near him, then McGuire is that person. But I'm hoping we actually transform our team to a footballing side sometime soon, some TA from spurs will be my choice and he's a leader.

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{Ed001's Note - now Alderweireld is a player! Not just a top class defender but he can play as well. A proper ball playing centre half that lad.}

26 Feb 2018 08:43:20
Alderweireld would be my first chocie as well think is best CB in league.

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26 Feb 2018 08:51:58
I don’t get this fascination with signing more centre backs, are our centre backs world class? No, but then again who is?

Seriously this is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, where have all the great centre backs gone?

We have the old guard, players such as Chiellini, Bonucci, Godin, Pepe and Thiago Silva who were at some point considered world class.
Then you have those that are still considered world class such as Ramos, Koscielny, Vertonghen, Hummels and Alderweireld some of which I would consider questionable. Certainly I don’t think any of them will be making the list of all time great centre backs.
After that you have a choice between players who have occasionally hit world class form without the consistency to be considered world class such as Glik, Garay, Toprak and Evans. Or talented youngsters who are supposedly the next big thing such as Laporte, Skriniar, Marquinhos, Upamecano ect. But for every one of them who make that jump you have 3, 4 or 5 such as Jones, Ginter or Kjaer who never lived up to the billing.

So with few if any genuine world class players available our options are decent also rans or young players with potential who may or may not make it.
We have Bailly and Lindelof who fit the category of young players with bags of potential, we have Jones and Rojo who fit the bill of decent also rans. We also have young Axel Tuanzebe who I feel has massive potential. So with three young players with potential it seems pointless adding another one in that category, why waste time and money on buying another solid player who doesn’t really improve us when we have Jones and Rojo. We should only be making a signing at centre back if we can sign a world class player, as I’ve said very few actually fit that bracket, maybe only Toby Alderweireld who might actually be available this summer. So for me it should be Alderweireld or no one this summer.

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26 Feb 2018 09:38:27
Shappy,

Alderweireld is on a different level to Smalling, him and Bailly could be our first choice partnership for years, that is why people are 'fascinated' with buying a centre half.

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26 Feb 2018 10:51:11
GDS, I agree that Alderweireld would be an improvement IF we could get him. However, my point was that I don't see many if any other centre backs who could significantly improve us. All I see is good young players with potential, and as I've pointed out we have three of them. I would rather give them a chance than spend time and money chasing players who would't really improve us.

I feel we need a central midfielder who can control a game and competition/ added quality at full back. That's it.

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26 Feb 2018 11:01:29
My thoughts are that Lindelof is starting to come into his own and Rojo, Jones and Smalling can do a job but a back two out of these three always looks a bit dodgy. Each of them need someone to 'steady the ship' when they are being rash or caught out of position.
We all can see how good Baily is when he gets the chance but i'm concerned about his injury record so far, he hasn't had a decent number of months to see how good he can be. I just hope he isn't our 'Ledley King'. But having said all that the defence although not earth shattering, have the chance to be solid if the combination is kept right but reckon it will always be a fluent one rather than a strong double act. I don't think spending more will solve much because the ones who might make a difference such as Picque, Varane and Ramos are unattainable so we may expect a frustrating few years of defensive uncertainty but it will still be enough to help us get results and hopefully trophies.

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26 Feb 2018 11:10:41
Couldn’t agree more with ed on Maguire. Don’t understand the fascination with him. I would much rather we trusted Lindelof then go and spend £50m on Maguire. He is only getting praise because he is English. He always gives the ball away and is caught out positionally. If we were to sign a cb, and there was a chance we could, then I would break the bank for Alderweireld who is the best cb in the league. Otherwise I would go with a pairing of bailly and Lindelof with Rojo, tuanzebe and Jones as back ups. Invest heavily in 2 new full backs and a top cm who can dictate the tempo of play and pick a pass and we have the makings of a very good side.

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26 Feb 2018 11:18:05
Is Bailly injury prone?

I can't remember him suffering many if any injuries last season? He went to the Afcon so we missed him for a few weeks then, but my memory is he played nearly every week.

He suffered his first real injury this season, he was out for a while, we rushed him back and he had a recurrence of the same injury which has kept him out until now.

RvN had a serious injury before we signed him, yet it never really caused an issue during his time with us. Every player suffers injury from time to time, but I don't think Bailly is injury prone. I think people have that view because Phil Jones does tend to be, Smalling and Rojo have picked up a few over the last couple of years but how much of that is due to them being rushed back and not being fully fit when being thrown back in due to us being in an "injury crisis"?

Like I said, I have high hopes for Tuanzebe and feel he should be getting several games next season. We have Bailly who is clearly first choice, Lindelof has shown signs of starting to get to grips with the EPL. We also have Jones who has been one of our best CB's when fit under Mourinho and Rojo who has rarely let us down when he has been called upon at CB. So that's five players for what is likely two positions.

If Alderwiereld is available then we should maybe have a look as he is one of the few who would improve us, but I don't think we should be signing someone for the sake of it or someone with "potential" we have many of those.

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26 Feb 2018 12:38:57
I don't think Bailly is injury prone as well As happy. For me injury prone means getting injured regularly and Bailly has had a long injury lay off but due to just one.
I also see people saying Alderweireld is injury prone in some places and I don't agree there either. Getting a longer layoff due to single injury doesn't make you injury prone but regularly getting injured means injury prone be it niggling injuries or mid to long term ones.

What do you make of Lascelles Esq?
Also on point of defenders it seems to be an issue everywhere not just England, the general level of defenders/ defending has gone down everywhere I think. There are only about half a dozen or maybe less CBs I would consider proper WorldClass where as just the PL had that much (maybe more) a decade or so ago.

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26 Feb 2018 11:55:29
Hi Ed001

Thanks interesting thoughts on Maguire. I like most would prefer Alderweireld but I wonder if he is playing to get the pay rise he wants plus Spurs are notorious to deal with.

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{Ed001's Note - playing? Spurs won't give him the pay rise he wants because they would then have the rest of the team demanding similar deals, as United are finding since giving Zlatan obscene money it raises the bar for every player. If Alderweireld will not lower his demands they will get rid in the summer.}

26 Feb 2018 12:54:47
There's not many good full backs around either.

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26 Feb 2018 13:02:13
Ed001

Thank you

I do think we have to improve central defence but dealing with Levy is not easy.

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{Ed001's Note - this would be a sale he is choosing to make though, so it should be a bit easier than usual.}

26 Feb 2018 13:20:41
Thank you Ed

Encouraging indeed.

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{Ed001's Note - welcome.}

26 Feb 2018 13:28:25
Ed001

Do you think if spurs sell Alderweireld will come back to haunt them? Vertonghen is a very good player but never been convinced by Davinson Sanchez who i think relies on his pace too much as he makes too many mistakes and positional errors. Dier is not great as a cb either.

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{Ed001's Note - Sanchez is awful, he has no defensive mindset. They would not want to lose him, they know he is the best of the lot but they know if he doesn't sign a contract they will lose him on a free the following summer. Better to get what you can rather than risk a player who might not be at his best.}

26 Feb 2018 13:44:53
I totally agree ed I thought Sanchez was terrible against us when playing for Ajax in the Europa League final last year. If you had to put money on it where do you think Alderweireld will end up next season?

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26 Feb 2018 13:52:54
Deependra, I think Lascelles is very middle of the road. Decent, solid, but lacking the ability to step it up in my opinion. I wonder if any of these decent defenders would look as good in a different time when we had many top class defenders. Not that long ago we were blessed with players such as Nesta, Maldini, Cannavaro, Hierro, Puyol, Stam, Thuram, Lucio, Samuel, Ferdinand, Vidic, Terry, Campbell, Carvalho, Ayala and Desailly all had their careers overlap in the past 20 years. It's not like I'm harking back to Bobby Moore or Beckenbauer.

I think the reason we are struggling to create world class centre backs now is in part to how the game has changed, and what is expected of a centre back now. I don't think the training has kept pace with the speed the game has changed. 10 years ago we seemed to just decide all centre backs need to be playmakers as well. It was such a shift in expectations that the kids coming through had no chance of adapting.

I think that's starting to change, and my hope is more of these young lads coming through will have been trained in and taught how to thrive in modern football, and will be able to step up to that world class bracket. However, until we see more and more achieve that too class young centre backs will cost a premium.

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26 Feb 2018 14:51:55
Love you ed1. Giving us hope Alderweireld might be a possible signing but still there will be tough competition for him that I am sure of. Although not the proper page could you share who Spurs might turn to if he leaves? I think they might go to De Vrij on a free if Alderweireld leaves. Would be a Spurs and Levy kind of move. Make more profit.

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{Ed001's Note - I think you might well be miles off, though he is a Levy kind of signing, he is not a Poch-type of player. He is slower than a week of Mondays and injury prone. Poch likes strong, fast players and I expect him to look for one, such as a Varane type.}

26 Feb 2018 14:56:23
I don't think Lascelles has warranted a move to a team with hopes of challenging for the league and CL yet. I am not sure about him. I think Ben Mee of Burnley has performed more regularly than any other guy in the lower teams but even he I don't think has done enough to warrant a move to a top side. What is your opinion on Mee ed1 I think he is their best defender but his partners always get
The media attention.

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{Ed001's Note - Mee has been outstanding, carries the Burnley team at times but he is not young mate. I think he is 29 or will be soon. However I did say throughout the summer Everton were making a huge mistake signing the utterly average Keane when they should have moved heaven and earth to get Mee.}

26 Feb 2018 15:31:27
Yes ed1 he will be 29 in September according to his Wiki page (did do a quick Google search) i think he would be a perfect fit for an Everton or a Leicester but I don't think he will be completely out of his depth even at Liverpool. But maybe he doesn't need to leave Burnley they are looking likely to finish 7/ 8 this season.

On a side note ed1 any CBS caught your eye recently that isn't mentioned much in Europe not just england.

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{Ed001's Note - I don't know who isn't mentioned much to be honest, I don't have time to read transfer links etc. Jose Giminez is the obvious name I can think of as a decent young defender. Skriniar is highly rated but he did not impress me on the 2 occasions I got to see him. Other obvious ones are Tah, Upamecano, Lucas Hernandez. One I think could be worth a look is the young Atalanta lad, Caldara, he impressed me in the Europa League and I have seen him a couple of times in Serie A this season he looked good. Murillo looks like he could make the grade at a top club as well. There are a couple of young defenders in France I have been told to keep an eye out for as well, one is at Nice, I forget where the other is at, Malang Sarr and Issa Diop. Not seen them play though so they might not be as good as I am told.}

26 Feb 2018 15:33:54
Would Varane be offloaded and would he go to Spurs where he probably will have to take a pay cut?

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{Ed001's Note - I doubt Varane would but I was just meaning that is the kind of players Poch wants, athletes like Davinson Sanchez, rather than defenders like De Vrij who are painfully slow.}

26 Feb 2018 16:18:41
Caldara impressed me as well on the very few occasions I have seen Atalanta (last season mostly) but he is owned by Juventus I think or something like that. Issa Diop is (at least was) at Toulouse if I am not mistaken and from my memory is a huge monster. Also De Ligt gets good reviews but most importantly seems to have a good head, putting playing time ahead of sitting on the bench for Top team. Lemons (recently joined Sassuolo) was someone good for Las Palma's (last season he was this year I didn't watch them) he is a bit like VVD though in his build and all.

Also Ed how has Tah been doing this season? Built like a freak and impressed me few years ago. He is barely into his 20s yet seems to have been around for ages.

Finally Romagnoli seems to be developing well enough at Milan but not seen him much this year.

Basically I haven't been able to watch much football this season.

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Review Of The Day 26th February 2018

26 Feb 2018 06:12:27
{Ed's Note - Tris Burke has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 26th February 2018

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26 Feb 2018 07:50:38
Nice review.
I am very perturbed that nothing is being done about Pep and his ribbon. FA should decide if as a rule he can wear or not. If yes then announce it. If not, then punish him. Rules are rules unless the FA changes the rules. Don’t just shut up and pop the head under the sand. Useless.
Poch defending Divey Alli (name new to me) is just dumb. I agree that Alli is a good player and draws people to foul him. He is getting to be very unlikeable.

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{Ed025's Note - "pint of bitter for 666".. :)

26 Feb 2018 07:50:38
Nice review.
I am very perturbed that nothing is being done about Pep and his ribbon. FA should decide if as a rule he can wear or not. If yes then announce it. If not, then punish him. Rules are rules unless the FA changes the rules. Don’t just shut up and pop the head under the sand. Useless.
Poch defending Divey Alli (name new to me) is just dumb. I agree that Alli is a good player and draws people to foul him. He is getting to be very unlikeable.

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{Ed025's Note - "pint of bitter for 666".. :)

26 Feb 2018 07:59:15
Ed025 slurp and cheers 🍻 🥂🍻🍺🤣.

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{Ed025's Note - enjoy mate..

26 Feb 2018 08:12:35
You tell'm 666. Btw, totally agree on Dele.

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26 Feb 2018 08:29:59
AAA I will say my peace but I ain’t going to test the parameters and get myself red carded. Eds are a bunch of nice and rational people (I hope) and I sure would like to have the opportunity to buy each a beer if I know them better.
Life’s more than just football you know? Here then and never know gone tomorrow. Why be nasty when you can be good to one another? 🍻🍺🍻🥂
Damn I’m getting old 🤣.

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{Ed001's Note - nice and rational? I don't think any football fan finds it easy to be rational at times, including us eds. It can be difficult.}