Geordie Ahmed

1 minute ago, Kid Icarus said:

0-0 feels like the best possible result in Liverpool v Wolves. Wolves are neat and tidy but nothing up top.

Liverpool take the lead

And that's that cos Wolves aren't scoring 

1 minute ago, Paullow said:

No, decided on the night.

Got it

Man-U will definitely win this, West Ham are done for

Just now, Paullow said:

I'm quite pleased Man Utd are level, but would prefer no extra time - normally it would be OK for them to use up more energy, but they play Liverpool on Sunday, and I'd prefer them to win, certainly more than Liverpool anyway.

Is it not a replay?

How bloody jammy are Man-U, we try a billion corners and struggle to score and they get that 

Equaliser was inevitable, West Ham only have themselves to blame 

Where have we seen this Casemiro scoring from a header before?

Though, should be disallowed 

Antonio ruined Martinez there but then selfishly went for goal 

Just now, dorty said:

West Ham getting chances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are, playing well but Man-U have a goal in them so West Ham will need a second goal 

There's the first Casemiro foul, wonder how many he'll manage without getting booked 

Just now, OoOGazOoO said:

That looked out 

Similar to the Japan one in the World Cup, probably looked out but wasn't 

Just now, NE27 said:

That ball looked out to me?

Think from a birds eye view it would be in (though can't say that for certain)

West Ham lead but VAR will probably disallow the goal

The new system (the one used at the WC and in the CL) that will be used from next season looks much better as it isn't reliance on a bloke with a mouse, who can move the lines to benefit to determine the outcome they want 

Good to see others recognised how good he is, seen the odd stuff from our fans saying he wasn't all that, clearly I watched a different game 

The midfield wasn't an issue yesterday, it was the defence in key moments and the attack

I shared the stat in the match thread but Bruno completed more passes than Casemiro, Fred, Sabitzer and McTominay combined

As things stand there is no spare squad spot for next season is there? Since Gordon/Ashby will take the spot of Shelvey/Wood

Ritchie is out of contract so that frees up 1, Krafth isn't in the squad is he? So that is that spot

Then after that it will be people leaving 

32 minutes ago, Abacus said:

Not much he could have done about either goal. You could argue about the second, but I think that's a wonder-save if he reacts to that late deflection and keeps it out.

 

A couple of excellent saves as well - particularly one against Weghorst.

 

Think he's done enough there to have a proper run at the No2 GK slot. Good on him, didn't let us down.

I agree, though I do think Pope saves that 2nd goal but that's cos he's taller and arguably gets a better hand to it, not Karius fault that he's shorter than him and he was rightly set to expect the shot to go low and across him, just unlucky

He's younger than Dubravka so I'd happily have him as No2

3 hours ago, Stifler said:

They are nothing special. They are in a false position in the league mainly down to the fact that everyone seems to be having an average at best season.

This run of form they are jacking themselves about isn't that impressive. Watch the games they play in, they are losing large spells of games where they are 2nd best. Heck if Leeds didn’t have that drop off towards the end of games that teams at the bottom have, they would have taken 4 points off them in the last month.

They didn’t even win their group in the Europa League.

They look bang fucking average with 1 really good player, and another having the form of his life that he’s never shown before, and will probably not show again once this season is over.

If the referee didn’t practically score their 1st goal for them yesterday, the only way they would have won is on penalties.

Next season you would expect Chelsea, Liverpool, and Spurs to be stronger. The fight will be harder for them to reach the top.

They will be nicely distracted by a takeover which if it does happen, will end up being leveraged as fuck, further limiting their ability to invest. On top of that in the coming years they are pretty much going to have to rebuild Old Trafford, again this will limit spending.

 

It’s alright though, because they keep raving about a manager who did well at a club who only have to turn up to win their league, and sacked off 1 of the best Premier League defenders this season for someone who was found at this level, fucking genius isn’t he?

 

 

 

Who can blame them, he's done a very good job

Most people didn't have them for top 4 and here they are in a title race

I do agree the football isn't necessarily pretty but it's effective and his in game management is spot on, throughout the season he often makes changes that work out

I'd love for them to collapse as I can't stand them but they are in safe hands and I think they'll win the league with him in charge 

Just now, aussiemag said:

Is it just me, or has our press lost the ferocity that it had earlier in the season? Is it due to the quality of opposition? 

I think we've stopped pressing like we were earlier in the season but also I've noticed teams aren't playing out from the back as much as they used to

Certainly, in the case of Man-U they were going long quite a bit, which is demonstrated in Bruno completing more passes than Casemiro, Fred, Sabitzer and McTominay combined

1 minute ago, 80 said:

Ordinarily, I agree with you, but I also think we're at risk of dreaming our season away. Our response to setbacks literally can't keep being to do what we do even harder. Almiron can't track back more, Joelinton can't simultaneously play even more positions on the pitch, Trippier to Burn isn't going to turn into a ten goal a season combo. So we need new approaches.

I don't disagree with any of that, was more the treating games as cup finals I was disagreeing with but reading it back I guess you were referring to it tactically as opposed to psychologically, so my bad on that one

On the tactics side of it, we know what formation we are going to play and can mostly predict the players too, so it's obvious the opposition will know too so mixing it up has to be considered 

I'd like us to play a 4-2-3-1 at some stage, Bruno and Joelinton are more than capable of playing as a two and it then gets more attacking players closer to the striker 

Be surprised if we get anything from this but Brentford and Everton have shown it's possible

We'll have to probably mirror the way they did it, though difficult to replicate Brentford as their style is reliant on Toney and we don't have anyone that can play like him

But defend deep and make sure we have pace on the counter, they've shown defensive vulnerability and maybe we can grab something 

8 minutes ago, Dr Jinx said:

Bad bout of Covid, it might have been the second time he had it within a few months as well. Surely that takes it’s toll on energy levels and fitness.

 

Can’t be pissed off at him, he’s still obviously trying, but something definitely missing.

 

If I was Howe I’d consider letting him leave in the summer, 12-15m would be good business.

I do hope the contract extension news from earlier in the season wasn't true 

He's 31, injury prone and has looked poor for quite a period of time now

56 minutes ago, 80 said:

As I said another thread, every match from here on out should be treated as a cup final. All actions and thoughts should be based on the match we're playing, not loyalty or tactical continuity where they contraindicate the 3 points.

After today's outcome not sure we should be treating it as a cup final

I think a more relaxed approach is needed, if we enjoy these 15 games I think we'll fare better than properly building each game up

On the ball Bruno is better than Casemiro but off it is where Casemiro is better

They are different players so comparing them is a bit of a pointless task

1 minute ago, Yorkie said:

 

Yes, you're correct. 7th in the PL gets it.

 

Not particularly surprising that I've lost touch with that particular rule change.

 

Still, it widens the door. Would b be a catastrophe if we finished below Brighton and Fulham, particularly having done the double over the latter.

Aye, from this position 7th needs to be the minimum we get

2 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

 

Ah. Assumed we'd get the place given Man Utd will inevitably qualify for Europe through the league. 

Just now, SUPERTOON said:

Oh you may be right, I wasn’t aware that was a thing tbh.

If the Carabao Cup winners finish top 4 (as Man-U will) then it goes to the highest placed team in the league, not the runners up

I think 7th in the league will get Europa Conference assuming one of the top 5 wins the FA Cup (will cheer City on to win it)

5 minutes ago, toon25 said:

Pope

Trippier

Botman

Bruno

Maxi

Isak

 

Should be the spine of the team. Build the rest around them.

I'd add Joelinton to that