Lush Vlad

What a finish. WTF was Neuer doing

Looks like a recently freed prisoner of war.

Plus they played with a back 5 and then midfielders deep as fuck in front of them on the edge of their box. They had the 9 up top as the outlet who was very good as the traditional striker type. Then someone would occasionally look to support him from a second striker sort of position. Even when we did get a tiny bit of space wide for the full back. The wing back would often be in the vicinity still and would pass on the winger cutting inside to the CB or the CM. So he could still get tight to the full back on the overlap. The few times we did get in, we seemed reluctant to actually send in an early cross and cutback were getting blocked due to them having 7-8 players in the box! It was still painful to watch, mind and we didn't really have an answer. But then I think a lot of teams would have struggled, they were that deep and just playing for a 0-0 and then oddly, a 1-0 loss until the 92nd minute.

His passing does seem a lot better at CB. Even seems more inclined to try the big diagonal or clipped ball in behind. I guess you're in a different position on the pitch, more central, often deeper, more time on the ball etc. But watching him at left back, you would not think he has quite a decent pass on him. Like you've alluded to here Everything was safe and just passing for passing sake. Seemed like he wanted to just get rid of the ball sideways or backwards and let someone else sort it out.

Could struggle again, I think. Combination of us not being much cop away from home, them defending deep and the fact that Everton seem to regularly get a result against us at Goodison. I had that in my head anyway and it does seem to be the case. Last 10 is W-2 D-2 L-6. Not having a striker and our team playing with inverted wide men, who seem allergic to crossing at the best of times or at least under instruction not to. Just means I think we will struggle to create anything of note. As it isn't like our attacking play has been electric this season and I can't see us cutting through them with quick, incisive passing. Weirdly, I thought a draw at Fulham would be a bad result. But I feel like a point here wouldn't be the end of the world. Probably go with the same team that played against City.

Agree with this. I was in Club Wembley as it was the only way I could get a ticket. But it was in our end of the ground and the atmosphere was pretty tame. I think someone mentioned the other day that our crowd are very reactive these days. Needs to be something happening on the pitch to get the fans riled up, like a controversial decision, a horror tackle from the other team, a goal or a load of chances and pressure for us. I think the fact Man U scored two fairly quick goals and quite early in the game. Just totally killed any atmosphere from early on. I remember the first 10 minutes when we actually got forward being at least ok'ish. Pretty shit that it's like that but it does feel that way to me. I doubt it is exclusive to our fans, either.

Ah, that makes sense. Wasn't mad keen on the retro shirt, TBH. So an easy sell for me. The t-shirt and hoodie are top drawer. Bit of regret at not getting the tracksuit and all. But as great as it is. It does still look a bit Souness/Scousers off Harry Enfield.

Was it one signed by Cas or something? I thought they were £85 and most people had a discount code?

Tee and hoodie turned up today. Lovely bit of stuff.

Towards the end. He started to win his fair share. But seemed like he lost every header for the first 20-25 minutes of that second half. He looks quite physical and aggressive when the ball is on the deck. Which I like. He’s not afraid to get tight. But he does look questionable in the air. Certainly better on the ball at CB than he is at LB.

The new CL format still seems like utter shite, to me. No idea why they changed it. I mean, I do. But it’s still shit.

Insert Rainier Wolfcastle GIF here

Worth £55m plus £5m.

I might be mis-remembering. But I remembered his Bournemouth teams having far more competent ball players. Not big names by any means. Just players that were a bit more composed and creative on the ball.

Looked alright I thought. Very in and out of the game. But then so are Isak and Wilson when they play. We don’t get decent service into our striker at all. Decent pace and feet in tight areas. But his touch looked heavy at other times.

He passes it like you’d expect a pro keeper to and doesn’t have spoons for feet like Pope. That’s all you can take from tonight.

Not one for the ages. The build up was slow and ponderous. But not really anything new there. When we don’t have space to attack, it has been a feature of Howe’s time here. It is one of the few criticisms aimed at him that I agree with. All that said. We played in first gear all game. Got some players minutes and involved in the starting XI that probably needed it and they’ve had a sort of cross-come-shot-come-passback in the 95th minute and that’s it. No idea why they didn’t go for it a bit sooner. Odd strategy waiting until the 92nd-93rd minute to actually commit men forward. For all that it was dreadful to watch. Not sure I agree with comments like ‘pathetic’ and ‘shambles’. It was just boring, by the numbers game management.

Not sure where the idea came from that he might end up playing further forward and have some Bale’like transition into a winger. Looks utterly clueless in the final third tonight and even when played in so that he can cross it first time. He seems reluctant to do so.

They’re going to score with their only shot and win on pens, aren’t they?….

Longstaff really does take up some great positions. Then absolutely fucks the finish or final pass.

Fucking hell. I’ve hardly said he’s been brilliant. I literally just mentioned everything he did in that half Which was not a lot.

Not had much service. Showed good feet to get a shot off. Then curled it tamely over the bar. Showed a bit of pace and made good runs in behind a few times. Great bit of back to goal centre forward play near the end of the half to put Miggy in down the line. Definitely something about him. But hard to judge based on that. Rarely been involved because of how deep and well they’ve defended and how safe and slow we have been on the ball.

Problem is. We have a lot of players who are good off the ball or when they have the chance to drive into space. Nobody is getting their foot on the ball and our patterns of play seem to be slowly pass it from side to side. Hoping to draw their defenders out.

Think we could attempt a few more crosses. Can only remember 2-3 from near the byline and they’ve actually looked dangerous.

Enjoying us getting the ball in play quickly and how we are committing a lot of bodies forward. Not liking what we are attempting on the ball. Our build up is often ponderous when teams let us have it.