Heron

Exactly this.

I think Forest are a very well drilled side but it's a side I wouldn't expect anything other than a draw or win against at home still.

Personally, I felt we got that game wrong entirely from a tactical and personnel perspective but moreso from midfield. I didn't think that when the game started but it was proven to be the case. Not too dissimilar to the Bournemouth game last week in some elements.

So... ...erm... The game... We won. We're mint. It should have been about 5 or 6 and we shouldn't have conceded. Need to watch the highlights back again but from their goal I initially felt that Burn shouldn't have been where he was but had to be as a result of no protection in front of Hall, Burn went out to help him out and as a result there was a gaping hole in the centre. Root cause was Gordon / Joelinton / other not providing protection to Hall. Once the ball is put in the box no one took responsibility for it or the initiative to mark. Poor communication and a poor goal to concede. Overall feel that whilst Gordon has some good stats he has blown a little hot and cold this season. Undoubtedly our most effective winger/wide forward though. Got to bag 3 points versus Fulham and get through the cup and then we're looking at very interesting times for the final third of the season.

This middle bit is all relative though too. If you cannot get better players in to replace these folk without spending money gambling on improving squad depth from the bottom end not the top then they may have seen that as risks not worth taking. Each and every one of those folk mentioned would have been model pro's and important to have around the club and at training and that's what is irreplaceable. To some degree they'd help other, better players settle in. I honestly think folk just go all in on every element of everything as soon as someone is doing good/bad and it goes from 0 to 100 in terms of opinion (not saying you here btw). Around 15 games ago folk on here and in public would have you believing Howe was a mid-table manager and had ran his course ans that none of the signings were his and all that nonsense. Honestly makes me laugh. Now Isak is comfortably better than Shearer as another example. All just a bit knee-jerk which is inevitable with such passion involved but howay

Shearer scored 51% of the time over 559 league games (18 years). That is an absolutely phenomenal record. Especially when he was only in one trophy winning side and had the injuries he had.

And yet folk in the Mitchell thread would have you think otherwise just cause we lost versus Brighton (or whoever)...

Can Barca even afford him?

Disagree. As an all round player, maybe but as a striker, no. The proof will be in the pudding if he can better Shearers record pro-rata and over a sustained period of time. Until he does that I won't believe it. Shearer had career threatening injuries and still scored 49% of the time when he returned.

Prize bell end this chap.

100% a red for me. I normally defend hard and physical tackles but this is clearly late and just above/ankle height when contact is made. Nowhere near the ball.

what?!

It's an Arteta thing. "The ball is too light." Just excuses and a desperate attempt to create a siege mentality that works with some of their fans (the online ones) and proper fans probably just look on thinking "WTF you on about mate". They need rid of Arteta if they wanna win things. He's done alreet, but he's ran his course there for me.

He seems such a moody kinda character but he's definitely got like a real leader sorta charismatic quality about him when you see how he plays and how he talks about his teammates, etc.

Well played.

Gimps

Been a real pro' for us like. Can think what you like about his ability but he's absolutely ran his fucking nuts off for us since day dot and had some absolutely outrageously good moments. Fulham (a) and PSG probably being the stand out ones.

It's because our own fans actively will the goal to be smaller so they can complain about him when he misses

good heavens.

And with two feet. Admirable. Yet folk still like to isolate him for criticism at the match.

Not really like

Howay Newcastle. Smash em.

Foundations aren't there for him to be stacked. Jokes aside, he's only calling the squad though, right? Not upwards? He basically has a load of scrounging, jobsworth, good for nowts freeloading an expensive salary. Granted it's not best form to do what he's doing, but I suspect the board aren't bothered by it. You'd think there'd be transfers swirling around Old Trafford though both in and out.

Not sure what to make of Amorim tbh. I don't really watch Man United all that much so maybe I'm not best placed to comment but I thought Ten Hag had the right idea when he stood up to Ronaldo and over time he just wasn't able to wean out all the bad eggs it seems. Now Amorim is asking his team to stand up and be counted and whilst he is absolutely correct I feel he's doing so whilst the season is still young and whilst that could have been a masterstroke and dragged them up the league the reality has fast become evident - that they don't have the right aspirations, desires, dedication or professional pride to actually work for their managers, themselves or their pay. I'd (mentally) even argue that he'd be better off chucking in a few kids or swap the whole lot for a game or two me to make absolute mugs of the first team squad. If nowt else, they'd at least be made twats of and fans might see the right level of application and desire from kids who wanna succeed and play for the right reasons. Players aren't bigger than clubs - that always has to be the attitude for a successful side. I cannot see anything working for this chap other than an overhaul and then financial limitations will potentially restrict that, and so his final chance will be relying on those youngsters.