Lotus

Is FIFA or UEFA open to the idea of recognising the proposed ESL? Because if they actively opposed it and banned its playing staff from competing in their sponsored competitions like the WC I’m sure it would look a lot less attractive.

I kind of wondered if the ‘cartel’ clubs wanted to make the PL so unpalatable with them in it that the league would welcome them breaking away and joining the proposed Super League. Whether all this accelerates their desire to do so or seriously impedes it, I have no idea.

Was that Hughes for the ‘defending’?…….awful. The header just looks like he misjudged the bounce.

Tino’s attacking threat is mostly with his ball carrying.

I thought was a decent player tbh but not suited to our league. Think it knocked his confidence thereafter. Reckon if he’d have stayed in Portugal for another year or two and then went to Spain or Italy he would’ve had a decent career.

Tonali has always been a player who tries high reward/high risk passes so he’s numbers have never looked anything special if completion rate is the only metric you’re using.

After 10 starts I expect to see him settled and performing well. He moves very well to create space for our other midfielders. Would like to see JL and Bruno do the same. Opens up the pitch for the player who ends up getting it.

It’s a tough one with him. He's our most talented and creative midfielder but we play him furthest away from the oppo box as is possible in our normal set up. He’s also probably the most press resistant midfielder so that makes him 1st choice to get the ball off of the defenders. Ideally I’d like another player to be collecting the ball from the back and Bruno to be a link further forward.

He was ok and looked better just by the virtue of not giving it away (much). I say this as someone who likes him but tbh he didn’t do anything I wouldn’t have expected Jeff Hendrick to have done.

If it’s any help, I’ve thought the same thing about Targett (when he was out for a while) and Hall (last season). It turned out when they played they were clearly not good enough/ready/match fit and that’s why they hadn’t been getting any starts.

Was amazed they didn’t score either tbh. They had a great chance at the end there. I kind of felt, if that penalty that AG got (was it last season?) when he kicked a defender’s leg as he was about to strike the ball, then that should have been one for DCL as well. Would like to see us defend well for a full 90.

He looked very useful when he cut inside from deep. Was looking for line breaking passes through the middle.

Better today.

I think this season he’s looked better once we past the 65-70 minute mark.

Looked like there might be a possibility of him playing a 10 style role for us if we ever use a formation where we employ one.

Manu still have one of the best squads in Europe, they have a team more than capable of winning the league and the manager is still one of the best of all time. They have the perfect blend to win everything this year. They just need to correct a couple of minor mistakes and they need a bit of luck.

Miggy’s strike was exceptional. Perfect placement and power.

Gordon hasn’t played well there since he moved. Or before, according to them…

I’ve been very slow to understand EH’s philosophy with the midfield but I think I’m starting to see idea with 3 players who can all do a bit of 6 & 8. It really requires CBs who are good at getting super tight when we’re without the ball. Burn is a mile away from that (though he’s good at other things). I still feel we could use a midfielder who can read the game and whose 1st instinct is to protect. If we’re gelling well and our CBs are right up the arses of the oppo forwards then this 6ish CM can go and press higher with the other 2.

Isak can’t and won’t press like Gordon. Certainly not for 90 minutes. I doubt he could do it with that intensity for 45 mins tbh. With Isak being less of a press fiend it would require our CBs to be much tighter to the forwards they’re marking. Burns can’t/won't and Schar isn’t as an effective at it without Botman. I think the obvious way to go without Botman but with Isak is a lower block. Otherwise I think teams will just play through the middle of us without much interference.

Have to be honest and say I’ve had doubts about JL for a long time. Even during his v. good period. He has had me out of my seat (in a good way) though. But I think the surprise factor has worn off. For the opposition too, they’ve realised where he’s a little bit weak in his game and I think they try and stay well clear of the areas in which he’s clearly a monster. Anyway, hope he kicks on a bit and develops that little bit more positional awareness and becomes more secure with the ball in key defensive areas/times. I’d much rather he just got even better than buy someone else.

Great attitude and application. We all know what he can’t do but I really appreciate him for always giving his best.

I can forgive the miss, it was the weak pass to a Man City player on the edge of our box that infuriated me

Great proactive defending.

Didn’t have a massive f**k up with the ball so that’s progress. Went missing once when Lewis pinged a great first time ball into the acres of space Hall had vacated. Would also like to see him a better at closing down crosses. He’s getting better though. That’s very important. Some excellent passing. He’s got vision and the technique to execute.