Kanj

Lack of brain in our team today. Inviting all the pressure.

Doesn’t look at all the commanding brute force he was last season.

Enzo Le Fee, Jesper Lindstrom

I'd call that player Paqueta, Julian Brandt, Gibbs-White, Olmo, Mount (Chelsea days), Cherki?

100% with you here mate. Ratcliffe's a smart guy so he'll of course say what he said, but he's been in business long enough to know why we'd take such a stance. It's not like a commercial director, Dan Ashworth is considered to be one of the best in the world, he's considered to be the best English-born sporting director right now in a job, he's employed to us, and he also knows every fine detail of our strategy. So yes, he's sitting out the length of his deal unless they pay what we feel he's worth to release him from his non-compete. So Jim, if you want world class, pay now or wait. Simple.

That's another one!

I don't even want to look at Solanke as I'd rather we went and sourced someone for 1/2 the price that can develop with us.

Diaby isn't really a creative player, no? Isn't he basically a direct wide forward who dribbles straight line and behind? My dream would be Raphina - he presses, he can score, he can dribble, he can create, he can take set pieces and he's done it in the PL.

Didn’t Solanke leave Liverpool sort of “failed” to live up? Only for time and maturity and proper attention given to him at Bournemouth now allowing him to develop? It’s just like Toney. Sometimes players need to actually find themselves at a club that will nurture them.

I was hoping, bro.

Play like we did v Villa. Composed pressing and then drop back and play disciplined counter attacking football. If we can win the first or second ball it’ll be a game made for us. You could see immediately at Villa that we had the game plan and the confidence. Arsenal often get frustrated and their fans will be silent as fuck if we can execute.

The athletic had an awesome article recently that I posted about the rebirth of the dribbler and their ability to break down deep blocks, drive teams forward etc. It wasn’t mentioned in the article but made me a little mad as we so seemingly got rid of ours (Maxi). IMHO I always felt Gordon was the perfect upgrade on Almiron, a workhorse direct wide forward who gets you goals, drives us up field with his dribbling and is direct in terms of what he wants to do. Sadly, Gordon isn’t perfect on the right. Wish he was! As I was hoping he’d play right and Barnes would play left and we’d effectly have a goal scoring left winger, a direct and sometimes creative but goal scoring right winger (with defensive workhorse) and then a CF like Isak who could create and score. Long way of saying this, but that’s not working out or probably happening. I’d like our right winger to be a dribbler and creator, a maverick who offers something totally different than our previous and current. A bit like Maxi but with better decision making in the final third, and most importantly someone who’s bloody fit and not in physio room.

I always felt with Man United it was a matter of when not if on their rebuild. It’s a tall tall order to clear out a squad of high earning older players and then have to refresh the squad at the same time. While Ten Hag may not be the guy long term, Man United will always have a draw for any and all talented player given the history and the wages they can pay. About time our fans took the blinders off. There’s every bit of a scenario where the PL’s top 7-8 clubs begin hoovering talent from all over Europe + South America, Asia and Africa when you factor in the analytics used today at clubs like Liverpool, Brighton and Brentford. When you consider Chelsea trying to replicate the Brighton model (likely in their own proprietary way) and then the ever changing shift that clubs like ours will also be doing as we start replicating and enhancing our scouting.

Stats are for losers; prefer to scout players via 1) if they are a good lad, 2) the level of their banter 3) how they do at cold, wet, rainy away days and 4) the power of which they deliver their reducer tackles

I, for one, look forward to seeing what ashworth is doing to plan for Man United’s rebirth in 2026 and beyond. When they inevitably sign a 17 year old wonder kid, it’ll be the likes of “TheKnowledge” telling anyone who will listen that Ashworth; whilst on gardening leave from NUFC, was paid £1.5m to scout a 15 year old kid and that the Saudi Mags lost out.

Yep with some type non compete / gardening leave built in etc. which is why the current situation is probably all part and parcel of it. @The College Dropout and @Kid Icarus I think you both are more or less saying the same thing about Bloom and Ashworth. Bloom’s company with the proprietary data needed to be implemented into the football world intelligently enough to get many many many people bought in, which is likely what Ashworth was good at. Even the most modern managers in Potter and De Zerbi also need to believe that the data and scouting can work in football. You don’t fluke the type of reputation he has in football relying on other people’s work and getting credit for it. He’s never ever said he’s a scouting or data genius, he’s always used that damn wheel analogy. What he’s literally the best Englishman in his field, at setting up the operations to implement the game plan across all levels.

Ashworth is a big picture, non scout, operations guy through and through. He’s about as much of a COO as you could imagine. Nickson and the scouting team run that side, Andy Howe makes sure first team is looked after and then Eddie has last say on transfers for the first team. (If I’m gathering that right). Ashworth negotiated all the deals though and was a liaison to the board. He set up what sounds like a real proper foundation for us to build upon going forward. would like that next DOF / sporting director to be more of a Campos type.

I’d go with a same tactic we did at Villa. But Tino has to be marking Saka. We need to be pressing high at times, reserving one CM to sitting. Break on the counter when possible. And try and keep it tight within a chance to bring in Isak, Willock off the bench.

Tbh I thought he looked quicker than he has in ages. Just so happens he’s chasing quicker players.

He did his knee ligaments and somehow has come back playing this season, I’d venture to say it’s gonna take some time.

FFP and injuries.

Willock in full flight also gets the crowd up like crazy.

lot of truth in that. I’m enjoying just enjoying football again but I’m looking forward to a break, the euros and new season.

if it’s Villa away I’d be happy

We’ve been all aware that since JL has been out for the season this was the midfield. Until willock is back this what we are going to have to live with. There’s no other option.