Last night's result was hard to take and we now face an uphill struggle to get through.
However, I didn't think we were all that terrible last night. If it wasn't for stupid individual errors we'd have won that game in pretty regulation fashion.
In theory it shouldn't be too hard to fix.
Onana has clearly been told to kick it longer.
The back four, if they're available, should be Lindelof, Varane, Maguire, Dalot until some players come back.
Amrabat and Casemiro just to shield in front of them.
Hojlund, the major positive from last night, should be allowed to continue to play the CF role whilst in the goals.
For the No10 position and wide players I'd simply go with the most hard working for now. Get back to basics. I didn't think Rashford was bad last night on the ball and looked dangerous. However, for me, he doesn't challenge or win nearly enough headers for someone his height. Bruno could possibly do with a kick up the backside too. It's not a lack of effort but he does lose all tactical awareness at times. Mount was tidy I thought and perhaps him, Garnacho and Antony could be the three behind Hojlund on Saturday.
I'm not ETH out by a long way but if he doesn't see the need to tighten things up then it could be curtains for him soon enough. The one thing he does have on his side is the injuries excuse. Even Klopp at Liverpool couldn't cope with a decimated back line back in early 2021 so it's no surprise we're struggling really.
We weren't terrible last night were we?
posted on 4/10/23
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 11 seconds ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 17 minutes ago
"I'd probably play Rashers on the right, while he works on his form... His assist showed that he is capable of affecting the game, and we should be able to interchange."
He was poor against Bayern but when he moved to the right he looked a lot better.
Tell him to get down the wing a put a ball ball in.
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I'd have Rashford on the right over Antony or Pellestri personally any day.
The cross he put in against Bayern for Garnacho from the right was better than anything I have seen Antony do in 12 months and again last night a decent assist.
Rashford simply has to play because the alternatives aren't very good.
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Yeah I agree, even last night he was frustratingly wasteful but still got the assist to take the lead.
Just wish he'd put a little more effort in off the ball. Had he not got the assist last night we'd be talking about another game he was dreadful.
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The incident where he messed up trying to find Bruno was clearly influenced by the stick he's been getting. Last season he hits that and probably scores too.
He clearly reads the comments and listens to the pundits saying he never passes.
We've conceded 22 goals in 10 games. That's not Rashford's fault. Last night when he was take off we were winning 2-1 and on top of them also so just proves our collapses aren't down to him lot tracking back. We just can't defend
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Yeah but Rashford has scored 2 in 15 himself.
It's a good point though Rashford aside. You can't have scored 5 goals in 2 CL games and have 0 points, it's criminal.
posted on 4/10/23
comment by Am-Robb-at (U22716)
posted 12 minutes ago
I did see somewhere that Ten Hag has said the game plan is to just go direct to Rashford.
Might be an instruction to Onana
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Something someone clearly made up.
He went long a few times in the first half and then pretty much every time once we were behind.
Rashers was already off by then.
posted on 4/10/23
comment by Vengeance of Kungfu Bao Bun (U23079)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Am-Robb-at (U22716)
posted 2 minutes ago
I did see somewhere that Ten Hag has said the game plan is to just go direct to Rashford.
Might be an instruction to Onana
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Then how is this true to Eth's ideology? It's another example of a clear deviation from what he believes in. His ideology is a mess, it looks a mess on the pitch and the players are not clear, they are also not good enough in certain areas.
Eth will be well advised to coach these players to love the ball, retain possession, be patient.
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You think he hasn't tried this?
He did last season, the players were not capable so he had to revert to a different style.
It seems that will need to happen this season too.
Until we have a midfielder capable of dictating the tempo and players comfortable and able to retain the ball he has no chance. Part of that is on him, he hasn't signed that midfielder yet.
Casemiro, Bruno, Rashford, Dalot, Verane are all first choice players incapable of playing this way. You can add Lindelof, AWB, McTominay to that list too.
posted on 4/10/23
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Vengeance of Kungfu Bao Bun (U23079)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Am-Robb-at (U22716)
posted 2 minutes ago
I did see somewhere that Ten Hag has said the game plan is to just go direct to Rashford.
Might be an instruction to Onana
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Then how is this true to Eth's ideology? It's another example of a clear deviation from what he believes in. His ideology is a mess, it looks a mess on the pitch and the players are not clear, they are also not good enough in certain areas.
Eth will be well advised to coach these players to love the ball, retain possession, be patient.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You think he hasn't tried this?
He did last season, the players were not capable so he had to revert to a different style.
It seems that will need to happen this season too.
Until we have a midfielder capable of dictating the tempo and players comfortable and able to retain the ball he has no chance. Part of that is on him, he hasn't signed that midfielder yet.
Casemiro, Bruno, Rashford, Dalot, Verane are all first choice players incapable of playing this way. You can add Lindelof, AWB, McTominay to that list too.
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Apart from the players he helped to recruit we need a new player in each position at this rate. Hojlund aside his signings have mostly underwhelmed.
He needs a quick solution, he needs results.
posted on 4/10/23
"Apart from the players he helped to recruit we need a new player in each position at this rate"
This is a result of going from manager to manager, style to style with no blueprint or forward thinking.
"He needs a quick solution, he needs results."
I agree, I'd start with playing the players who at least give us some physicality and energy and put their all in. Sure up the midfield and defence, taking Onana out of the firing line before the break.
---------------Bayindir
Lindelof Verane Maguire Dalot
----------Amrabat--Casi
--Bruno------Mount----Rashford
------------Hoijlund
I'd like to think that defence and midfield at least sure us up a little, even if we're underwhelming in some aspects.
posted on 4/10/23
comment by Am-Robb-at (U22716)
posted 55 minutes ago
I did see somewhere that Ten Hag has said the game plan is to just go direct to Rashford.
Might be an instruction to Onana
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Just rumour because Onana has found him going long a few times.
posted on 4/10/23
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 12 minutes ago
"Apart from the players he helped to recruit we need a new player in each position at this rate"
This is a result of going from manager to manager, style to style with no blueprint or forward thinking.
"He needs a quick solution, he needs results."
I agree, I'd start with playing the players who at least give us some physicality and energy and put their all in. Sure up the midfield and defence, taking Onana out of the firing line before the break.
---------------Bayindir
Lindelof Verane Maguire Dalot
----------Amrabat--Casi
--Bruno------Mount----Rashford
------------Hoijlund
I'd like to think that defence and midfield at least sure us up a little, even if we're underwhelming in some aspects.
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Could work, we'll get raided down the flanks very easily.
We also don't know how good Bayinder is
Casemiro has been effective offensively at times but defensively he's become a liability
posted on 4/10/23
comment by RB&W - Whiteside has done it again (U21434)
posted 4 hours, 3 minutes ago
In hindsight..... (l know)
Cass should have let Gala score rather bring the guy down. The momentum of the game was with United and the stadium was rocking. With 11 men we would have could have might have got a couple more and even won or drawn the game. With 10 men it was hopless.
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Agreed. The shot with the angle closing and under pressure from Casemiro was more missable than a penalty. I guess Casemiro was thinking he could nick the ball rather than trying to take one for the team.
Generally, I think Casemiro has been one of the weak points in the team this season. Defensively he's not anywhere near the level he was at, and while he has chipped in with some goals and can be an asset with switches of play, his passing isn't reliable enough in the first phase.
posted on 4/10/23
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 38 minutes ago
comment by RB&W - Whiteside has done it again (U21434)
posted 4 hours, 3 minutes ago
In hindsight..... (l know)
Cass should have let Gala score rather bring the guy down. The momentum of the game was with United and the stadium was rocking. With 11 men we would have could have might have got a couple more and even won or drawn the game. With 10 men it was hopless.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. The shot with the angle closing and under pressure from Casemiro was more missable than a penalty. I guess Casemiro was thinking he could nick the ball rather than trying to take one for the team.
Generally, I think Casemiro has been one of the weak points in the team this season. Defensively he's not anywhere near the level he was at, and while he has chipped in with some goals and can be an asset with switches of play, his passing isn't reliable enough in the first phase.
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Agree
posted on 4/10/23
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 59 minutes ago
comment by RB&W - Whiteside has done it again (U21434)
posted 4 hours, 3 minutes ago
In hindsight..... (l know)
Cass should have let Gala score rather bring the guy down. The momentum of the game was with United and the stadium was rocking. With 11 men we would have could have might have got a couple more and even won or drawn the game. With 10 men it was hopless.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. The shot with the angle closing and under pressure from Casemiro was more missable than a penalty. I guess Casemiro was thinking he could nick the ball rather than trying to take one for the team.
Generally, I think Casemiro has been one of the weak points in the team this season. Defensively he's not anywhere near the level he was at, and while he has chipped in with some goals and can be an asset with switches of play, his passing isn't reliable enough in the first phase.
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He's 32 in February, he's not going to get any better with age. 70m invested for one season's return.