alexf

Crying out for it again today. We were figured out a long time ago. But every team that sits deep and gets men behind the ball against us we really struggle to break down. The only time we ever look dangerous is when things get chaotic and we can hit on the counter. Bruno is the only one that can feed a through pass. Our tragic lack of pace out of possession also means we don't take risks and are too cautious with our passing which makes us easy to defend also. Has happened so often this season and it's crying out for a creative player to play with Bruno. I thought Ramsey was gonna be that option but nothing so far.

Things can swing so easily from 5th to 14th. A couple of wins or losses can make a a big impact. We have some honking fixtures on the way, so could find ourselves bottom half again just as quickly as we shot up to 6th last week. Really hope fans can stay sensible if that happens. Unlikely . It's gonna be "Howe out" again presumably.

Have a horrible feeling about this game. But hoping that having one extra day compared to usual to recover should hopefully see us atleast get over the line in the same way we did Burnley. We can't be dropping points here realistically, especially with the run of games we have afterwards which is going to be very tough.

The only reason we dropped points at the start of the season was a lack of a striker. Was painfully obvious. But you got back to alot of those early games like the villa away and we were by far the better team and defensively sound just we couldn't score at all in the early games. Maybe still weren't pressing as aggressive but players were still building up sharpness after preseason as happens with most teams and bedding in new signings. Then the fixture pile up begins and wouldn't you know, we can't press as intensely as we did in the seasons we had no European football. Absolute mystery

Pretty obvious why we can't press like we used to however. Saw you earlier say "the tiredness excuse". I mean it's a fact though no? Just like what happened in 23/24. Our squad then and now, cannot cope fighting on 4 fronts. We have improved ever so slightly from that season in a sense that we are higher in the league than we were then, been abit better this go round in CL and still in both cups as it stands. But to see the week we had before the City first leg and say the "tiredness excuse" is a strange take. The players did well to be in the game as much as they were all things considered on Tuesday. With better finishing I think we still should have got more from the game. But physically they gave as much as they could.

To think they were down in like 16th last year aswell. Still were able to spend fortunes in the summer, snap up players we wanted and able to attract them ahead of us even though we won a cup and had Cl. Also them getting knocked out of all cups early whilst having no European football income aswell. Yet they will finish top 5 possibly now and everyone will just accept that Man U are "back" and they will spend another fortune in the summer like the last few years didn't happen.

Irrelevant. Have you seen our run of games before the second leg? Wouldn't be surprised if we have half a team of academy players needing to fill in by the time we get to the City game.

They will have signed Tino by then.

Yeah. Not a hope in hells chance we could have put the energy in that Man U have. They have had so much less football than us. Add in the little bit extra energy for it being a home derby game aswell and the old classic new manager bounce after a cloud has lifted from a previous manager. Plus City were far sharper and better with the ball on Tuesday than they have been here today. If we had a week to prepare and time in the training ground then we win that game Tuesday. Unfortunately what happened was we had played 120+ mins a few days earlier and even that was off the back of the tiring 104 mins we played a few days before that without the ability to rotate due to all the defensive injuries.

We could have beaten City if we weren't so fatigued. Been awful defensively. And passive in possession. Ugh can see Man U going in a run now til the end of the season. No excuses for them now. Side note* Sky commentary is a disgrace as usual. How we have gone so long having to listen to Gary Neville on every single Man u game they show is ridiculous. Was bad enough when they were shit and he was just moaning and groaning but now we have to hear him jizz himself.

Yeah was just thinking the same. Any manger by default of just playing to their strengths will see them improve. But the bonus of having only league games now means they have a major advantage over other teams going for top 5.

Well clearly he's injured but it's another one where we asked the player to play through it and now it's transpired it was more serious than they originally thought and had led to a long period on the sidelines. If he was fit to play then he would have been involved. Because we need the bodies and he was also a useful option off the bench before the injury and I think we have missed him. Which I never felt I would say on his early showings.

Will be plenty more games like that for us this next week's unfortunately as we are going to look leggy every game due to the schedule. Shame we couldn't really go for them properly but it is what it is. Their freshness and standard of the subs they could bring on was a ridiculous advantage. Fact Semenyo was the one to score was inevitable with all the talk pregame. Our strikers weren't at it today unfortunately, we needed to be clinical to have a hope and we were wasteful. Hall, big Joe tried hard. Barnes also looked a threat.

There is almost certainty that Botman ain't coming through these next two weeks without a problem. Likewise Hall and possibly Trippier if Miley is needed elsewhere. We need a CB and LB cover. Even if it was average prem fodder. Just to have players we could bring on after 70 mins etc. The minute Any of our current defense pick up a injury or dare say a red card or something we are down to Alex Murphy at CB or LB or possibly even Miley having to slot in there. That won't help us achieve what we want to achieve so they need to do something to provide cover. If it's someone like Targett returning for left back then so be it, he's not ideal but it's safer than throwing a youth team player in.

That first goal Barnes scored could happen far more often if he got chances in his best position. It's what he does and given the chance to replicate those movements he would get more goals than he would playing from the right It's been over a year since Gordon has scored a goal in a similar fashion from open play. Yes he is starting to play well and begining to contribute assists. But if it was a straight choice at the moment between them, then still for me it's Barnes starting over Gordon for left wing. With that in mind, if Murphy isnt fit or out of form then I'd want Gordon to play from the right and see how that goes. If it's terrible then by all means swap it back but the fact we won't try and keep shunting our proven goal threat over there instead is frustrating. Just because he's still scoring goals despite that at times doesn't prove that he's more effective at RW over LW.

He was sharp when he first came on and in some ways that sub role might even suit him better as his pace is even more evident against tired legs. But even then I was hoping he was gonna really get at that right back who was cramping up and on a yellow card. But for whatever reason he or we just didn't get on the ball enough, especially in extra time, when even the players that had came on suddenly looked as tired as those who played the whole game. Yes he scored another penalty and yes he got a good assist and then another although inadvertantly. But then you can add in the woeful miss and multiple times he gave away the ball dangerously in the first half of extra time for balance. He is one of our best players, especially from an ability and potential aspect. But I won't apologise for championing Harvey Barnes ahead of him at left wing because the last few games have only furthered that point.

I don't think anyone can take anything from today as any indication that he is done or finished. If it wasn't for the fact there were no other fit defenders available he wouldn't have likely started but definitely not played 120+ minutes of the back of 30+ mins a few days ago. His worst mistake came at 120mins. Go figure. I also don't blame him completely, Ramsdale didn't come for anything all day which makes the defense nervous. Neither did I think we protected him very well today considering we knew hew wasn't up to speed yet, we got done on turnovers often and left them exposed at times. Yes I agree he has been mostly poor since his first injury, his lack of mobility is a real issue when exposed. However... There was a period maybe two years ago when Dan Burn was returning from injury and looked shocking at times, exactly like Botman at times. But over time Burn got his confidence, his rhythm and sharpness by playing games and turned into the reliant beast he has been over the past 18 months. So it's not impossible for him to get back to some kind of form in future but he needs to stay healthy and play lots of games. It's been so long since he had a consistent run of games without breaking down.

He was fine first half but obviously tired 2nd half to be expected and went to sleep somewhat for the first but then so did Tonali and Botman also was suspect positionally so won't hold it against him too much. The positive was he was getting forward first half which he barely has done the past year or so when playing so we just need to pick him out when he does. Also he's a body and we're a little short of those at the back so it's good to have him back in some capacity.

Yeah this is one of those times where we need to consult the list of scouted players if we have one and then just go and grab what we need. Fee agreed, medical booked and done in 24-48 hours. We need the numbers. It's just going to be Matt Targett recalled isn't it? Then he will be missing anyway because his eczema will flair up

Best game so far I thought even without that final part. But was tidy in possession and was bravely receiving the ball in certain situations and doing well. Just want to see that something extra from him going forward as I thought we were getting an attacking midfielder who would give us creativity and goals. But we haven't seen anything in that regard yet, just nice close control.

Enjoy it because the next two weeks could be a tough watch. Hope the majority of fans appreciate the context if we struggle and don't go right back to whinging about Howe if we come out of it with alot of defeats.

Yeah it's happened too many times now. It's just poor technique and lacking striking instincts. It's why he will never be an effective striker and he and Howe need to realise that aswell. However I know he only plays there when we are desperate. He hasn't played badly last few games, was actually very sharp when he first came on and delivered a good cross for Barnes. It's just the points about effectiveness have been proven in the last few games that most have been droning on about. Barnes is the more effective player and therefore should be first choice LW.

Yeah any hamstring injury where it looks like it goes and the player hobbles off are usually quite serious. I do have sympathy for him. It feels like whenever he comes back from an injury we always end up having to throw him straight back in to too much football and he breaks again.

Did wonder if his first pen was abit of a fluke. I guess that probably answers it. Look great if they come off but there's a reason people don't go that high with pens often as the margins of error is tiny. Apart from that I thought he tried hard to say was still running hard even in extra time and that assist was perfect. Clearly suits that role more. Just have to see if we can adapt to it in the long term.