Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
Whether it’s Toney or not we desperately need someone else to take the pressure off Hojlund.
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 2 minutes ago
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Might be a bit of both.
We are definitely creating less chances per 90 now than last season. Bruno is still up there in the standings for chances created but Rashford's numbers have dropped and Antony....well the less said the better. I don't think he knows what a chance is.
Shaw usually helps out down the left too and he's been missing and our right backs are just not good enough.
Bit of a shambles really.
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 37 minutes ago
Regardless of the fact another CF would be very useful, Hojlund is not remotely the issue.
Rashford can’t score. Bruno can’t score. Antony can’t score. Garnacho is struggling & Martial hasn’t had any impact off the bench either.
Casemiro is our top scorer. McT & Hojlund next.
The problem isn’t individual players but the way we’re playing collectively. It’s not really up for debate - it couldn’t be more obvious. Having another CF would be nice but it will make zero difference whilst playing the way we are currently.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Exactly. Tony wouldn't do any better for us at the moment.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Toney is a better striker and would likely be far cleverer at making the runs the likes of Eriksen and Bruno would pick him out on. He’s already worked to some success with Eriksen.
Hojlund is a promising player but isn’t ready yet to start every week for us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't thibk his runs are any better or worse than Hojlund. We are just shocking at creating chances.
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 3 minutes ago
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To be fair we did have Martinez and Shaw in the side then and they're a massive miss at present. Shaw would deliver more for Hojlund and Martinez would be looking to break the lines with passes into his feet.
ETH has made mistakes but he's had to cope with missing two of his most progressive defenders and also seeing the form of his DM fall off a cliff.
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
It’s so bad goal-wise I’m almost at the point where I feel we should start Martial up top but I just know he’ll let us down again and walk off the pitch after 30 mins with an invisible groin injury and be out for 3 months
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 7 minutes ago
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Weghorst had 14 shots in the PL all season. Slightly hyperbolic
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I honestly think the issue at present is that he's unsure how to play it and that is muddling up his thinking somewhat.
For me with all the injuries in defence he should have decided to go solid in midfield with two sitting in. If we can't score at least make it difficult for the opposition to score.
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 3 minutes ago
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We’re not playing the same way as last season for starters and if Hojlund is the issue, then you need to account for why literally every other attacking player looks no closer to scoring. You also need to account for why the last two seasons have seen us tally pretty pathetic goals scored stats in the PL.
Your questions are focussing on the wrong event because you’ve decided you want to do a bit about Hojlund and are working backwards from that conclusion. He’s had the ball in the back of the net 5 times (twice ruled out) and has been a rare bright spark for us.
Let’s be honest, you know this…
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 5 minutes ago
Whether it’s Toney or not we desperately need someone else to take the pressure off Hojlund.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We have Martial. Who is actually a decent enough striker when fit. The issue isn't our strikers. It's our tactics, team selections and lack of an identifiable style of play.
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I honestly think the issue at present is that he's unsure how to play it and that is muddling up his thinking somewhat.
For me with all the injuries in defence he should have decided to go solid in midfield with two sitting in. If we can't score at least make it difficult for the opposition to score.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep. We are getting overrun in midfield
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 3 minutes ago
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We’re not playing the same way as last season for starters and if Hojlund is the issue, then you need to account for why literally every other attacking player looks no closer to scoring. You also need to account for why the last two seasons have seen us tally pretty pathetic goals scored stats in the PL.
Your questions are focussing on the wrong event because you’ve decided you want to do a bit about Hojlund and are working backwards from that conclusion. He’s had the ball in the back of the net 5 times (twice ruled out) and has been a rare bright spark for us.
Let’s be honest, you know this…
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You’re the one desperate enough to use disallowed goals to defend a players goal record. He’s scored 0 (zero) goals in 7 PL games and i severely doubt he’ll get 10 all season. Which is fine if he’s a young up and coming striker who comes off the bench at the beginning of his career but as a bonafide starter for a club the size of ours it’s not good enough. And it’s not even like he’s scored loads of goals at other clubs. He has no record to fall back upon to make us think he’s ever going to be the answer.
I’ve never once said that I don’t rate Hojlund as potential but logically speaking as a club right now we need better.
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 5 minutes ago
Whether it’s Toney or not we desperately need someone else to take the pressure off Hojlund.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We have Martial. Who is actually a decent enough striker when fit. The issue isn't our strikers. It's our tactics, team selections and lack of an identifiable style of play.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We do have an identifiable style of play though.
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's not on trend to blame the manager though. Right now the fanbase want to just blame everyone but him.
Ultimately though this is the 2nd year now and we still don't look a coherent attacking team. Even last year we weren't and as we know Rashford in the form of his life papered over gaping cracks.
He picks the team, tactics and dictates the training we do. I think he went into the job with the best intentions but it's just looking like another man out of his depth to me.
Spurs were as bad as we are now last season. They didn't even qualify for Europe and everyone wanted Levy out and new owners. Now they are top of the league and playing good football.
Time is running out for Erik. He needs to start winning games and quite frankly a Fulham win this weekend looks about a sure a bet as you will ever likely to get.
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 33 seconds ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I honestly think the issue at present is that he's unsure how to play it and that is muddling up his thinking somewhat.
For me with all the injuries in defence he should have decided to go solid in midfield with two sitting in. If we can't score at least make it difficult for the opposition to score.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep. We are getting overrun in midfield
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Our plans are definitely muddled. If we’re supposed to be playing more direct, I’m confused by the man for man system in midfield.
Usually to play more direct and find players with space to run into, you’ll sit in nice and compact, defend as a zonal unit and look to counter quickly.
We’re not doing that though. Our midfield set up is sort of like what Bielsa would do at Leeds, and we high press with only 4 players but keep the defensive line quite deep meaning once the press is beat (which it usually is!), the opposition have loads of space to carry & progress the ball. It’s like three different styles in one off the ball and no clear style when in possession.
It’s a far cry from what ETH was doing at Ajax and will be doomed to failure unless he changes things quickly.
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 5 minutes ago
Whether it’s Toney or not we desperately need someone else to take the pressure off Hojlund.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We have Martial. Who is actually a decent enough striker when fit. The issue isn't our strikers. It's our tactics, team selections and lack of an identifiable style of play.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We do have an identifiable style of play though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting pressed until we have to get the keeper to punt it forwards isn't what I'd call an identifiable style of play.
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 5 minutes ago
Whether it’s Toney or not we desperately need someone else to take the pressure off Hojlund.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We have Martial. Who is actually a decent enough striker when fit. The issue isn't our strikers. It's our tactics, team selections and lack of an identifiable style of play.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We do have an identifiable style of play though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting pressed until we have to get the keeper to punt it forwards isn't what I'd call an identifiable style of play.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tbf I don’t even think we have to be pressed for that to happen 😹
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 33 seconds ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I honestly think the issue at present is that he's unsure how to play it and that is muddling up his thinking somewhat.
For me with all the injuries in defence he should have decided to go solid in midfield with two sitting in. If we can't score at least make it difficult for the opposition to score.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep. We are getting overrun in midfield
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Our plans are definitely muddled. If we’re supposed to be playing more direct, I’m confused by the man for man system in midfield.
Usually to play more direct and find players with space to run into, you’ll sit in nice and compact, defend as a zonal unit and look to counter quickly.
We’re not doing that though. Our midfield set up is sort of like what Bielsa would do at Leeds, and we high press with only 4 players but keep the defensive line quite deep meaning once the press is beat (which it usually is!), the opposition have loads of space to carry & progress the ball. It’s like three different styles in one off the ball and no clear style when in possession.
It’s a far cry from what ETH was doing at Ajax and will be doomed to failure unless he changes things quickly.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's very muddled isn't it. I'm wondering if he's compromising on some things but being inflexible on others. Are we getting the whole Ten Hag?
For now though, if it were me, I'd concentrate on getting compact and go from there. It should be easier to coach getting into a defensive shape surely?
I'd also get players in their best positions too. Bruno in AM/10 and Rashford on the left. Sadly, those I wanted to see starting in midweek failed the audition. I'd be tempted to play Eriksen with Amrabat for tomorrow too but just tell them to patrol a certain space.
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 33 seconds ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I honestly think the issue at present is that he's unsure how to play it and that is muddling up his thinking somewhat.
For me with all the injuries in defence he should have decided to go solid in midfield with two sitting in. If we can't score at least make it difficult for the opposition to score.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep. We are getting overrun in midfield
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Our plans are definitely muddled. If we’re supposed to be playing more direct, I’m confused by the man for man system in midfield.
Usually to play more direct and find players with space to run into, you’ll sit in nice and compact, defend as a zonal unit and look to counter quickly.
We’re not doing that though. Our midfield set up is sort of like what Bielsa would do at Leeds, and we high press with only 4 players but keep the defensive line quite deep meaning once the press is beat (which it usually is!), the opposition have loads of space to carry & progress the ball. It’s like three different styles in one off the ball and no clear style when in possession.
It’s a far cry from what ETH was doing at Ajax and will be doomed to failure unless he changes things quickly.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep. Our tactics seem to be mix and match of a few different systems. And it doesn't work. I am scratching my head at signing a ball playing GK and then going more direct.
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 3 minutes ago
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We’re not playing the same way as last season for starters and if Hojlund is the issue, then you need to account for why literally every other attacking player looks no closer to scoring. You also need to account for why the last two seasons have seen us tally pretty pathetic goals scored stats in the PL.
Your questions are focussing on the wrong event because you’ve decided you want to do a bit about Hojlund and are working backwards from that conclusion. He’s had the ball in the back of the net 5 times (twice ruled out) and has been a rare bright spark for us.
Let’s be honest, you know this…
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You’re the one desperate enough to use disallowed goals to defend a players goal record. He’s scored 0 (zero) goals in 7 PL games and i severely doubt he’ll get 10 all season. Which is fine if he’s a young up and coming striker who comes off the bench at the beginning of his career but as a bonafide starter for a club the size of ours it’s not good enough. And it’s not even like he’s scored loads of goals at other clubs. He has no record to fall back upon to make us think he’s ever going to be the answer.
I’ve never once said that I don’t rate Hojlund as potential but logically speaking as a club right now we need better.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The point about the disallowed goals is that clearly when the service is there, he looks like he can finish. But the fact of the matter is we can’t create chances *for anyone* right now. Signing another striker is all well and good in terms of options but until we fix the issues on the pitch, it literally won’t matter. You seem unwilling to even acknowledge this obvious fact and I don’t know why. You’ve seen how we’re playing… you can surely see the tactical issues on and off the ball, right?
I’m fully in agreement that another striker should have been signed in the summer and even specified two players at the time: Gyokeres & Kudus (the matter because I felt we needed someone who could play both RW and CF for better depth options across the forward line).
But any player signed would struggle to score goals when we can’t attack with any pace or precision. Teams have figured out very easily how to nullify us.
I thought Ben Brereton Díaz may have been an interesting shout over the Summer too. He was available on a free and I believe he would have been classed as Homegrown too. He was a former United youth as well.
You seem unwilling to even acknowledge this obvious fact and I don’t know why. You’ve seen how we’re playing… you can surely see the tactical issues on and off the ball, right?
————-
I just perhaps have more faith in Bruno and Eriksen than perhaps you do and feel a striker with more nous gained from experience (Toney for example) would make better runs than Hojlund would. And that’s a logical assumption because surely you must accept that a player as young and raw as Hojlund wouldn’t be expected to have learnt those kind of runs I the standard an older and better player would.
I’ve seen Eriksen play some great balls to Toney at Brentford and I’ve seen enough of Bruno’s talent to know that style of play is irrelevant when it comes to him picking out players with his diagonal balls.
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 2 minutes ago
You seem unwilling to even acknowledge this obvious fact and I don’t know why. You’ve seen how we’re playing… you can surely see the tactical issues on and off the ball, right?
————-
I just perhaps have more faith in Bruno and Eriksen than perhaps you do and feel a striker with more nous gained from experience (Toney for example) would make better runs than Hojlund would. And that’s a logical assumption because surely you must accept that a player as young and raw as Hojlund wouldn’t be expected to have learnt those kind of runs I the standard an older and better player would.
I’ve seen Eriksen play some great balls to Toney at Brentford and I’ve seen enough of Bruno’s talent to know that style of play is irrelevant when it comes to him picking out players with his diagonal balls.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope Bruno is going to see the Dr soon with that physical abnormality!
Sign in if you want to comment
A new striker in January
Page 6 of 8
6 | 7 | 8
posted on 3/11/23
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
posted on 3/11/23
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
posted on 3/11/23
Whether it’s Toney or not we desperately need someone else to take the pressure off Hojlund.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 2 minutes ago
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Might be a bit of both.
We are definitely creating less chances per 90 now than last season. Bruno is still up there in the standings for chances created but Rashford's numbers have dropped and Antony....well the less said the better. I don't think he knows what a chance is.
Shaw usually helps out down the left too and he's been missing and our right backs are just not good enough.
Bit of a shambles really.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 37 minutes ago
Regardless of the fact another CF would be very useful, Hojlund is not remotely the issue.
Rashford can’t score. Bruno can’t score. Antony can’t score. Garnacho is struggling & Martial hasn’t had any impact off the bench either.
Casemiro is our top scorer. McT & Hojlund next.
The problem isn’t individual players but the way we’re playing collectively. It’s not really up for debate - it couldn’t be more obvious. Having another CF would be nice but it will make zero difference whilst playing the way we are currently.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Exactly. Tony wouldn't do any better for us at the moment.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Toney is a better striker and would likely be far cleverer at making the runs the likes of Eriksen and Bruno would pick him out on. He’s already worked to some success with Eriksen.
Hojlund is a promising player but isn’t ready yet to start every week for us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't thibk his runs are any better or worse than Hojlund. We are just shocking at creating chances.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 3 minutes ago
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To be fair we did have Martinez and Shaw in the side then and they're a massive miss at present. Shaw would deliver more for Hojlund and Martinez would be looking to break the lines with passes into his feet.
ETH has made mistakes but he's had to cope with missing two of his most progressive defenders and also seeing the form of his DM fall off a cliff.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
posted on 3/11/23
It’s so bad goal-wise I’m almost at the point where I feel we should start Martial up top but I just know he’ll let us down again and walk off the pitch after 30 mins with an invisible groin injury and be out for 3 months
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 7 minutes ago
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Weghorst had 14 shots in the PL all season. Slightly hyperbolic
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I honestly think the issue at present is that he's unsure how to play it and that is muddling up his thinking somewhat.
For me with all the injuries in defence he should have decided to go solid in midfield with two sitting in. If we can't score at least make it difficult for the opposition to score.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 3 minutes ago
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We’re not playing the same way as last season for starters and if Hojlund is the issue, then you need to account for why literally every other attacking player looks no closer to scoring. You also need to account for why the last two seasons have seen us tally pretty pathetic goals scored stats in the PL.
Your questions are focussing on the wrong event because you’ve decided you want to do a bit about Hojlund and are working backwards from that conclusion. He’s had the ball in the back of the net 5 times (twice ruled out) and has been a rare bright spark for us.
Let’s be honest, you know this…
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 5 minutes ago
Whether it’s Toney or not we desperately need someone else to take the pressure off Hojlund.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We have Martial. Who is actually a decent enough striker when fit. The issue isn't our strikers. It's our tactics, team selections and lack of an identifiable style of play.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I honestly think the issue at present is that he's unsure how to play it and that is muddling up his thinking somewhat.
For me with all the injuries in defence he should have decided to go solid in midfield with two sitting in. If we can't score at least make it difficult for the opposition to score.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep. We are getting overrun in midfield
posted on 3/11/23
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 3 minutes ago
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We’re not playing the same way as last season for starters and if Hojlund is the issue, then you need to account for why literally every other attacking player looks no closer to scoring. You also need to account for why the last two seasons have seen us tally pretty pathetic goals scored stats in the PL.
Your questions are focussing on the wrong event because you’ve decided you want to do a bit about Hojlund and are working backwards from that conclusion. He’s had the ball in the back of the net 5 times (twice ruled out) and has been a rare bright spark for us.
Let’s be honest, you know this…
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You’re the one desperate enough to use disallowed goals to defend a players goal record. He’s scored 0 (zero) goals in 7 PL games and i severely doubt he’ll get 10 all season. Which is fine if he’s a young up and coming striker who comes off the bench at the beginning of his career but as a bonafide starter for a club the size of ours it’s not good enough. And it’s not even like he’s scored loads of goals at other clubs. He has no record to fall back upon to make us think he’s ever going to be the answer.
I’ve never once said that I don’t rate Hojlund as potential but logically speaking as a club right now we need better.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 5 minutes ago
Whether it’s Toney or not we desperately need someone else to take the pressure off Hojlund.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We have Martial. Who is actually a decent enough striker when fit. The issue isn't our strikers. It's our tactics, team selections and lack of an identifiable style of play.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We do have an identifiable style of play though.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's not on trend to blame the manager though. Right now the fanbase want to just blame everyone but him.
Ultimately though this is the 2nd year now and we still don't look a coherent attacking team. Even last year we weren't and as we know Rashford in the form of his life papered over gaping cracks.
He picks the team, tactics and dictates the training we do. I think he went into the job with the best intentions but it's just looking like another man out of his depth to me.
Spurs were as bad as we are now last season. They didn't even qualify for Europe and everyone wanted Levy out and new owners. Now they are top of the league and playing good football.
Time is running out for Erik. He needs to start winning games and quite frankly a Fulham win this weekend looks about a sure a bet as you will ever likely to get.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 33 seconds ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I honestly think the issue at present is that he's unsure how to play it and that is muddling up his thinking somewhat.
For me with all the injuries in defence he should have decided to go solid in midfield with two sitting in. If we can't score at least make it difficult for the opposition to score.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep. We are getting overrun in midfield
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Our plans are definitely muddled. If we’re supposed to be playing more direct, I’m confused by the man for man system in midfield.
Usually to play more direct and find players with space to run into, you’ll sit in nice and compact, defend as a zonal unit and look to counter quickly.
We’re not doing that though. Our midfield set up is sort of like what Bielsa would do at Leeds, and we high press with only 4 players but keep the defensive line quite deep meaning once the press is beat (which it usually is!), the opposition have loads of space to carry & progress the ball. It’s like three different styles in one off the ball and no clear style when in possession.
It’s a far cry from what ETH was doing at Ajax and will be doomed to failure unless he changes things quickly.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 5 minutes ago
Whether it’s Toney or not we desperately need someone else to take the pressure off Hojlund.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We have Martial. Who is actually a decent enough striker when fit. The issue isn't our strikers. It's our tactics, team selections and lack of an identifiable style of play.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We do have an identifiable style of play though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting pressed until we have to get the keeper to punt it forwards isn't what I'd call an identifiable style of play.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 5 minutes ago
Whether it’s Toney or not we desperately need someone else to take the pressure off Hojlund.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We have Martial. Who is actually a decent enough striker when fit. The issue isn't our strikers. It's our tactics, team selections and lack of an identifiable style of play.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We do have an identifiable style of play though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting pressed until we have to get the keeper to punt it forwards isn't what I'd call an identifiable style of play.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tbf I don’t even think we have to be pressed for that to happen 😹
posted on 3/11/23
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 33 seconds ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I honestly think the issue at present is that he's unsure how to play it and that is muddling up his thinking somewhat.
For me with all the injuries in defence he should have decided to go solid in midfield with two sitting in. If we can't score at least make it difficult for the opposition to score.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep. We are getting overrun in midfield
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Our plans are definitely muddled. If we’re supposed to be playing more direct, I’m confused by the man for man system in midfield.
Usually to play more direct and find players with space to run into, you’ll sit in nice and compact, defend as a zonal unit and look to counter quickly.
We’re not doing that though. Our midfield set up is sort of like what Bielsa would do at Leeds, and we high press with only 4 players but keep the defensive line quite deep meaning once the press is beat (which it usually is!), the opposition have loads of space to carry & progress the ball. It’s like three different styles in one off the ball and no clear style when in possession.
It’s a far cry from what ETH was doing at Ajax and will be doomed to failure unless he changes things quickly.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's very muddled isn't it. I'm wondering if he's compromising on some things but being inflexible on others. Are we getting the whole Ten Hag?
For now though, if it were me, I'd concentrate on getting compact and go from there. It should be easier to coach getting into a defensive shape surely?
I'd also get players in their best positions too. Bruno in AM/10 and Rashford on the left. Sadly, those I wanted to see starting in midweek failed the audition. I'd be tempted to play Eriksen with Amrabat for tomorrow too but just tell them to patrol a certain space.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 33 seconds ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 (U2462)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 7 minutes ago
Inverted wingers with poor fullbacks is absolutely killing us. You'd think a 'world class' manager would be able to see this.
He's not even tried Antony on the left at all and Rashford on the right very much to create more natural width. Instead he insists on inverted wingers which makes the pitch narrow for us and congested in the middle.
People want to blame the players but I genuinely don't think the manager is helping himself tactically at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agreed. I've been really disappointed with ETH this season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I honestly think the issue at present is that he's unsure how to play it and that is muddling up his thinking somewhat.
For me with all the injuries in defence he should have decided to go solid in midfield with two sitting in. If we can't score at least make it difficult for the opposition to score.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep. We are getting overrun in midfield
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Our plans are definitely muddled. If we’re supposed to be playing more direct, I’m confused by the man for man system in midfield.
Usually to play more direct and find players with space to run into, you’ll sit in nice and compact, defend as a zonal unit and look to counter quickly.
We’re not doing that though. Our midfield set up is sort of like what Bielsa would do at Leeds, and we high press with only 4 players but keep the defensive line quite deep meaning once the press is beat (which it usually is!), the opposition have loads of space to carry & progress the ball. It’s like three different styles in one off the ball and no clear style when in possession.
It’s a far cry from what ETH was doing at Ajax and will be doomed to failure unless he changes things quickly.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep. Our tactics seem to be mix and match of a few different systems. And it doesn't work. I am scratching my head at signing a ball playing GK and then going more direct.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 3 minutes ago
I saw the same creative players last season lay up chance after chance for Weghorst to miss. Have they become any less creative or is Hojlund just not clever enough (yet) to work out where Bruno and co are putting it?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We’re not playing the same way as last season for starters and if Hojlund is the issue, then you need to account for why literally every other attacking player looks no closer to scoring. You also need to account for why the last two seasons have seen us tally pretty pathetic goals scored stats in the PL.
Your questions are focussing on the wrong event because you’ve decided you want to do a bit about Hojlund and are working backwards from that conclusion. He’s had the ball in the back of the net 5 times (twice ruled out) and has been a rare bright spark for us.
Let’s be honest, you know this…
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You’re the one desperate enough to use disallowed goals to defend a players goal record. He’s scored 0 (zero) goals in 7 PL games and i severely doubt he’ll get 10 all season. Which is fine if he’s a young up and coming striker who comes off the bench at the beginning of his career but as a bonafide starter for a club the size of ours it’s not good enough. And it’s not even like he’s scored loads of goals at other clubs. He has no record to fall back upon to make us think he’s ever going to be the answer.
I’ve never once said that I don’t rate Hojlund as potential but logically speaking as a club right now we need better.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The point about the disallowed goals is that clearly when the service is there, he looks like he can finish. But the fact of the matter is we can’t create chances *for anyone* right now. Signing another striker is all well and good in terms of options but until we fix the issues on the pitch, it literally won’t matter. You seem unwilling to even acknowledge this obvious fact and I don’t know why. You’ve seen how we’re playing… you can surely see the tactical issues on and off the ball, right?
I’m fully in agreement that another striker should have been signed in the summer and even specified two players at the time: Gyokeres & Kudus (the matter because I felt we needed someone who could play both RW and CF for better depth options across the forward line).
But any player signed would struggle to score goals when we can’t attack with any pace or precision. Teams have figured out very easily how to nullify us.
posted on 3/11/23
I thought Ben Brereton Díaz may have been an interesting shout over the Summer too. He was available on a free and I believe he would have been classed as Homegrown too. He was a former United youth as well.
posted on 3/11/23
You seem unwilling to even acknowledge this obvious fact and I don’t know why. You’ve seen how we’re playing… you can surely see the tactical issues on and off the ball, right?
————-
I just perhaps have more faith in Bruno and Eriksen than perhaps you do and feel a striker with more nous gained from experience (Toney for example) would make better runs than Hojlund would. And that’s a logical assumption because surely you must accept that a player as young and raw as Hojlund wouldn’t be expected to have learnt those kind of runs I the standard an older and better player would.
I’ve seen Eriksen play some great balls to Toney at Brentford and I’ve seen enough of Bruno’s talent to know that style of play is irrelevant when it comes to him picking out players with his diagonal balls.
posted on 3/11/23
comment by Robb - Under Neon Loneliness (U22716)
posted 2 minutes ago
You seem unwilling to even acknowledge this obvious fact and I don’t know why. You’ve seen how we’re playing… you can surely see the tactical issues on and off the ball, right?
————-
I just perhaps have more faith in Bruno and Eriksen than perhaps you do and feel a striker with more nous gained from experience (Toney for example) would make better runs than Hojlund would. And that’s a logical assumption because surely you must accept that a player as young and raw as Hojlund wouldn’t be expected to have learnt those kind of runs I the standard an older and better player would.
I’ve seen Eriksen play some great balls to Toney at Brentford and I’ve seen enough of Bruno’s talent to know that style of play is irrelevant when it comes to him picking out players with his diagonal balls.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope Bruno is going to see the Dr soon with that physical abnormality!
Page 6 of 8
6 | 7 | 8