alexf

I have seen it written on the official website and on sky as man u Vs Newcastle. Does that mean we might end up playing in the white and green kit again like we did in the league? Really home not, mainly cus I want us in our black and white for the final but also cus I don't think we have won a game in the white yet have we?

Think if Gordon starts ahead of ASM then that is a massive message. However anything is up in the air due to the Bruno absence. Eddie is going to need to come up with something new it seems and hopefully it works.

I wouldn't put any blame on the individual's that came on necessarily. I think they all showed effort but the team were in, hold what we've got mode, and it was a really difficult match for the subs to get to grips with. Southampton and Lavia in particular were in the ascendency. However they only really made the one Armstrong chance. So understandable why we tried to keep things tight. The starting boys did look leggy though by 60 which is a little concerning as there is still a long way to go this season.

Christ I swear some people see a different game or haven't played themselves. He clearly turned his foot at ball height to try to block the ball and win possession. The lad turned his foot at the last second and got it Infront of the ball by being too fast for Bruno. Watch it at full speed and not super slomo and you will get a better understanding. It is clearly in no way a malicious tackle it's just a unfortunate mistime. 9/10 the player doesn't get his foot Infront at that angle and Bruno blocks the ball.

Yeah just hope the occasion doesn't get to any of the lads and we play to our best. If we play our best game and still lose I think it would be easier to stomach. I also think if we play our best and you have big Joe and everyone pressing and ragdolling players like we did in that first 20 mins last night, not even Man U would be able to deal with it. But we would need to sustain it for the full 90. There superior players are Varane, Casemiro, Bruno (if allowed space) and ofcourse Rashford who is in the form of his life. The first two I mentioned mainly because they have been there and done it so many times in big finals that they will have that winning and calm mentality that our boys haven't experienced. Also De Gea on his day can make big saves. But play our best and we'll give them a hell of a game.

To be fair. I can imagine if we do win it, that's exactly what the "top 6" / media reaction will be. Can already picture Merson or some other gobshite going on SSN claiming it's only the league cup and we haven't won anything "proper" yet etc. Not that we'll care, we'll still be partying as we'd have finally won a fucking trophy again ?

I do think the wheels are coming off ever so slightly with this thin squad and it's going to get more and more noticeable. Despite the injuries to forward players I think we have still been lucky with injuries so far this season, especially the midfield and defence when you compare to some other teams. Last night was also our first red card of the season. These things happen over the course of a long season and that's why you need depth to compete at the top. Fingers crossed we can adapt and find ways to win without Bruno etc but for the first time I can see signs of us having a wobble. Still, were in a final ☺️

The link up play from Joelinton and Willock for the second was fantastic. One of the best team goals we have scored for a long time.

Wondering too.

Picked a good time to finally keep his shots hard and low. Well done lad.

Same

Have to say, no idea why they don't start that Lavia. Looked class when he came on.

Lack of game for 3 weeks will be a kicker for match sharpness aswell. Assume he can play in behind closed doors games for fitness maybe.

So chuffed to be in the final. We seemed to get really nervy as soon as we conceded a goal. Must be a shock for this team to lose a goal and then 2nd half we never got going. Bit worrying if the nerves get to the lads in the final. Some of that Man U team have got alot of finals experience. The Bruno thing put abit of a dampener on it, first of all cus I thought he was out of the final but then that he is missing 3 league games, which I would probably still take over him missing the final but still a kick to the nads. Well done though boys. Fingers crossed for the final.

"Straight red cards for dissent will result in a two-match ban, while dangerous tackles or violent conduct will result in a three-match ban which can be raised to four or more games in extreme cases"

Missing 3 games is fucking tragic. However it's not as bad as I was thinking he was out of the final. But fuck man, he is the one player we just can't afford to lose. Gutted. 3 games for a slight mistimed tackle seems incredibly harsh. You could see the lad turned his foot at the last second which caused the contact.

I was thinking Isak to start but then in the presser Howe said this week is the first time Wilson has trained as normal since the world cup so perhaps he will want to stick with him.

Yeah none of the other midfielders at the club are suited to the deepest of the 3 role and picking it up off the centerbacks. So a injury to Bruno means a complete formation/system change, and considering the current system has served us so well, it has to be considered not ideal to be forced to move away from it. Not to mention, lack of options also means less subs when wanting to rest people like Bruno when we are ahead in games etc

Ergh was hoping Man U weren't going to have time to get a Eriksen replacement ?

I think he's on loan there this year aswell right? Loan with option/obligation.

Confident of the win but the way we have been infront of goal lately it could get nervy if we struggle to score. Hoping for ASM or Isak, or both in from the start. Other concern is injuries/red cards. That CB that we ripped the piss out of is back and may wana plant one on Bruno for revenge or whatever. I'm also a massive worst case scenario worrier. So disregard the above ?

say the line Romano...

My concern is that, other than Bruno, there is no one at the club that can play the deepest of the 3 mids in our current formation. Longstaff has before but the only time he looks of any use is further forward in his new high press position he has done this year. Each time he played deep in the cups he looked awful I thought. So I was convinced a DM was going to be number 1 priority this window. The fact we are letting Shelvey go just before he returns from injury seems like we are tempting fate. I know the club have their policy it seems but I wouldn't mind a stop gap body just to boost the numbers through til the summer. A loan would be ideal if we could land someone half decent.

What is the punishment for breaching ffp anyways, transfer ban? My theory was there was a pot of dodgy money involved in this takeover and let's say they had 12 months to spend a billion. I could imagine they would happily take the the hit of a 1 or 2 year transfer ban if it meant hoovering up most of Europe's top talent like they seem to be. Only surprise is that they didn't get a name striker in this window but they have Nkunku coming in the summer.

I mean De Bruyne and Salah were Chelsea cast offs technically. Sometimes there's gems to be found in chaotic clubs letting talent slip through the cracks.