...::[The Footy Desk]::... (Part 2)

[Jason]

You know what, this new covid strain is very concerning and as a result I think the 2020/2021 domestic season should end now, with the current league standing being the final table.

[Laker23]

God I hate playing Burnley, absolute sh*thouse of a team.

 

Fantastic second half, Pogba was immense, Cavani's link up play and general hustle also fantastic, I feel so good when he's leading the line.

 

Will be a nice five days or so before Liverpool inevitably bring us back down to earth.

[Lonely-Martin]

If it ain't my Spurs, a United league win is the next best thing here, lol. Hopefully United give Liverpool a spanking at the weekend.

 

16 minutes ago, Jason said:

You know what, this new covid strain is very concerning and as a result I think the 2020/2021 domestic season should end now, with the current league standing being the final table.

 

Na, wait until tomorrow so we can try and do Fulham and be in top 4, cheers!

[Jason]

Yea you have to give credit to Pogba. Those types of games are the ones where he'd shy away from the fight but, as we saw in the end with him battered, bruised and bloody, he didn't shy away from any of the duels tonight. The dude was immense in the air and willingly doing that stuff which again is not something he typically does for us, I've only seen it really for France.

[Girish]

10 hours ago, Jason said:

You know what, this new covid strain is very concerning and as a result I think the 2020/2021 domestic season should end now, with the current league standing being the final table.

Yeah, I'd much rather have the season declared null and void at this point. Just restart the whole goddamn thing!

[Eutyphro]

14 hours ago, Jason said:

Yea you have to give credit to Pogba. Those types of games are the ones where he'd shy away from the fight but, as we saw in the end with him battered, bruised and bloody, he didn't shy away from any of the duels tonight. The dude was immense in the air and willingly doing that stuff which again is not something he typically does for us, I've only seen it really for France.

Pogba is immense, and I've always felt that a double pivot of him with McTominay should potentially be perfect. Pogba is an amazing playmaker, and Scott is great defensively. Now that United is competing for the top spots it seems Pogba is extra motivated, and he could make the difference.

 

My main issue currently is that Martial is a prolific misser of chances, and it would be better to have Rashford back on the left wing. I'd genuinely just play Dan James on the right. Martial is a good back up, but doesn't deserve a starting spot.

Apart from that, I still think United struggle with build up play from the back. Bailly has been great defensively, but top teams should control possession and build up from the back better than United do. United is still too weak at controlling games.

Edited January 13, 2021 by Eutyphro

[Jason]

Dan James is absolutely abysmal on the right, he had a half decent 2-3 games  there last year but his form has been absolutely dreary since then when playing on the right, he's only recently looked better since playing on the left, which is his natural side and where he plays for Wales. I do prefer Rashford on the left to Martial though, but I don't think we have any better options right now than Martial on the left and Rashford on the right until we buy a new right winger.

[Eutyphro]

He's still better on the right than Martial, or Greenwood, because it is a position that naturally fits him. Others look lost in it. I think Rashford looks decent there, but is wasted there, as it keeps him away from scoring opportunities. Rashford is United's most dangerous offensive player, so it's a waste using him as a runner to widen the play. I think Dan James would be alright for that.

[TheSantader25]

If Telles is available, I think United are better off using him on the left and Rashford on the right. Martial and Dan James have no business starting for a team that wants to win the league. Martial has been awful recently. 

[Jason]

The right doesn't naturally fit James, seriously, he produces absolutely nothing there. He plays on the left for Wales and was utter poo for us on the right until Ole started giving him some game time on the left recently where he looks like a completely different player. He wouldn't be an improvement over playing Rashford there which is who we're playing there lately and if Martial was to be dropped then I could see Mata or someone getting a start there but we spent all last season being burned by James on the right.

 

Greenwood's actually much more natural there as well but the issue he has is right now is that he doesn't get involved enough in games but he's far more natural when attacking from the right when he has the ball as he can dribble better, shoot better and is completely two footed, but he just doesn't get involved enough when he plays out there right now, he's still got a lot to learn.

 

We've also signed two kids who both play RW this season, but they're both still very young so I don't know if we'll see them this season.

[Eutyphro]

I think particularly Greenwood doesn't fit on the right at all, mainly because he's not even a winger. He's a kid that's only use is scoring ability and that is pretty much it.

[Jason]

Yea it's why he struggles to get involved a lot as he only really comes alive in the box, but he was a big part of our form in the second half of last season where he was scoring for fun while playing from the right.

[Lonely-Martin]

Nothing more than deserved for Fulham. We need to stop dropping off and go for the win sometimes. I'd be surprised if we get 4th based off how we like to bend over after scoring one. No ambition at all there. Lame.

[Jason]

2 minutes ago, Lonely-Martin said:

We need to stop dropping off and go for the win sometimes.

 

You will start doing that the moment you sack Jose Mourinho.

 

This is what he does, when his team isn't unbeatable, which they haven't been for yonks, he becomes absolutely terrified of losing to the point that he sets his teams up very defensively, even against bottom 3 teams. He'll start a season by trying to be positive but he'll lose one or two games through shocking defending and it'll be park the bus for the rest of the season.

[Lonely-Martin]

Just now, Jason said:

You will start doing that the moment you sack Jose Mourinho.

 

This is what he does, when his team isn't unbeatable, which they haven't been for yonks, he becomes absolutely terrified of losing to the point that he sets his teams up very defensively, even against bottom 3 teams. He'll start a season by trying to be positive but he'll lose one or two games through shocking defending and it'll be park the bus for the rest of the season.

 

The man needs to realise we've just not got the defence for it though, while we have got an attack that can punish anyone given the chances really. Dyer has done well to improve for sure, but Alderwierald is too slow and Sanchez seems like a very expensive mistake TBH.

 

We have to buy a centre back asap if we're to be strong in how Jose plays otherwise he's gotta allow us to play more freely (easier said than done seeing as many are keen on a centre back, lol). I'd accept it more if young Tanganga was on instead of Sanchez as he looks decent and I'd be more confident he'd learn from it too.

 

That said, the attack needs to take the chances too and Fulham's keeper did make a couple of class saves in the first half. It's hard to be critical of the likes of Kane and Sonny, but they do set the standards so high too. Sonny could have made it 2-0 prior to the equalizer when he hit the post and that would have taken much more pressure off the defence as well so it is a team effort.

 

There's been good improvements overall I feel to adjust, we just need that consistency to grow but it's frustrating to see us toss away good chances to step up is all. Hopefully we'll pull out an ace somewhere, lol.

[Jason]

1 minute ago, Lonely-Martin said:

The man needs to realise we've just not got the defence for it though

 

This is why he doubles down even more. It's the exact reason we become known for basically playing six at the back, the clips of players like Rashford and Martial pretty much playing wing back because they we defended so deep. 

 

He is an incredibly frustrating manager these days due to his methods, and it's why once the meltdown comes it inevitably ends in his sacking because he loses the dressing room and can't recover it.

[Laker23]

Fairplay to Fulham. Rewind a couple of months ago and it seemed obvious they were absolutely doomed, but Scott has got them well drilled with the defensive changes he's made since.

 

I seem to hope for this every year, and once again I hope Newcastle go down.

[Lonely-Martin]

Just now, Jason said:

 

This is why he doubles down even more. It's the exact reason we become known for basically playing six at the back, the clips of players like Rashford and Martial pretty much playing wing back because they we defended so deep. 

 

He is an incredibly frustrating manager these days due to his methods, and it's why once the meltdown comes it inevitably ends in his sacking because he loses the dressing room and can't recover it.

 

Tis why I hope Levy hasn't gone in blind on this, lol. Really hoping our chairman has it in him to pull any triggers early enough that it doesn't hurt the team too much unlike with Poch at the end and let it all go so sour that good players can't wait to get out of Spurs. Only time will tell on that though.

 

But we'll see where it all goes. It's such an exciting league this season and a couple of strong wins with others dropping a couple points can change things so much. I'd sooner be in form later in a season like this, just need to make sure we are still in with a shout come then. 

[TheSantader25]

Griezmann has to be the first player ever that has a higher chance of missing a penalty than scoring it. I think he has missed like 5 out of the past 6 penalties he has taken for Barca AND France. Ter Stegen saved our ass against the ref. Yeah f*ck the ref. f*ck the whole lot of them. Game should have been done before the 90th minute. 

Edited January 14, 2021 by TheSantader25

[Girish]

Wow, what a scrappy 1-0 win against a 10-man Fulham. This win was more important for Lampard than Chelsea because there's no way we're getting top 4 with these kind of dire performances. Gotta aim for that Europa League now.

 

Also, wtf Werner? His whole career at Leipzig is starting to look like a fluke. But I gotta place some blame on Lampard for playing him out of position long enough to have his confidence shot. It's all about his mentality now and if he can get out of the rut.

[Jason]

If your game is movement and pace then you need to have exceptional movement and/or exceptional work rate to be a success in the Premier League. Vardy's probably the best example and he easily could've played for a top side in recent years if he really wanted.

 

Werner from what I've seen has exceptional pace but... not much more. Chelsea look a lot better than Tammy or Giroud are starting for me, and you also have better wingers as well so I wouldn't put him out wide either. We've seen a lot of players struggle in their first season and this has been a difficult season cause of the pandemic but so far not so good for Werner - and Havertz.

 

Thiago Silva has been your best signing by a mile IMO.

[Girish]

We are not moving the ball quick enough though even after having a long spell of possession and sometimes, the players just look devoid of any ideas. Most of the times, it's just cross the ball and hope someone gets on to the end of it. What's worrying is I'm yet to see any change in tactics by Lampard when we're struggling to get through tighter defenses; it's just more of the same always even after the substitutions. Lamps will probably learn over time but I don't think we are a club that can afford to be a mid-table side for 2-3 years before everything starts coming together. Not sure how much patience Roman's gonna show but there were talks of bringing in Avram Grant to the backroom staff to help out FL, so at least they are trying?

 

Werner's strength is his pace and finishing and he's completely lost the latter. Now he just looks like a headless chicken running around in the final third. But again, I think it's a matter of mentality and only he can get himself out of it. As for Havertz, I can't recall one match-winning performance from him... he just looks... pedestrian at the moment. There's no way he starts ahead of Ziyech, Pulisic or CHO and for the money we spent on him, that's concerning. And that's the second problem - it's almost as if Lamps is forced to put these players on the field just because we have spent so much on them but it's players like Mount and CHO who are outperforming them right now.

 

I'm actually dreading facing Leicester in mid-week and this win has given me no hope either.

[TheSantader25]

Very important game tonight. Probably the most anticipated Liverpool - United game in a long time. 

 

 

Yeah so it's probably gonna end up being a 0-0 draw. 

[Eutyphro]

7 hours ago, TheSantader25 said:

Very important game tonight. Probably the most anticipated Liverpool - United game in a long time. 

 

 

Yeah so it's probably gonna end up being a 0-0 draw. 

Quoted for accuracy.

[TheSantader25]

10 minutes ago, Eutyphro said:

Quoted for accuracy.

If only I had used the same prediction in the other thread...

 

I usually have a hard time predicting draws because it's so f*cking boring so I always end up predicting something else against my better judgement. United could have won though. they had a couple of good chances.

[Laker23]

Fantastic defensive display, Shaw was immense and Lindelof looked great coming back into the side. Cavani's introduction really helped us in the final third. All in all a fair result and one I would have taken before the game.

 

City will win the league comfortably.

[Jason]

Good defensive performance, question marks over Martial again, don't think we should be starting him in the big games with Cavani back now.

 

I said to a friend I'd take a point a week before the match and I'm happy with it now. It's opened up a route for City to go top but there's a long way to go yet and us staying in contention is the most important thing for our continued progress.

[Lonely-Martin]

Cute goal from Ndombele today indeed.

 

Would say it's nice to still be in the mix, well it is, but with Liverpool up next after the cup for us, oof. They'll surely start scoring soon, lol. Though if we can dent their chances further, I'll be delighted. Doubt it though.

[Jason]

I am honestly a massive fan of Brendan Rodgers, the job he's done at Leicester since joining has been seriously under appreciated. If Roman's looking for a new manager after tonight, the one across from Frank pitchside today is by far away the best option around right now for me.

[Eutyphro]

I've missed the match up until now, but no wonder they're 2-0 behind, when they play with a midfield of Kova, Havertz and Mount. Way too attacking. It's pretty much suicide. Lampard has lost the plot. I think Tuchel is a good choice tbh.