Sibierski

Like this type of game with a Longstaff/Murphy right side is a killer. No on ball quality to unpick.

Have they? Apart from Gordon individual brilliance, we've done fuck all with the ball and gifted them the better chances by losing it.

How hard is it to kick a ball Pope?

We need a performance. Can't play like we've done first 4 games after pick that XI.

Tonali and Murphy starts IMO. Don't slap them in the graphics and not start.

If we've not signed a RW, Barnes and Gordon have to be starting. And if they aren't, it goes back to what the fuck the point of signing Barnes was? And Barnes will rightly be getting annoyed as he will still have England ambitions.

I just think he's been signed as a LB, which will make it a poor signing long term as he's a stupidly expensive wages back up LB.

Didn’t even look at the goal ffs

CHO such a bargain.

Man City will drop off post pep regardless, so rather have Man City win the case so we can close on the others. They don’t win, the gap to Liverpool / Arsenal / Man Utd financially remains huge and a gap that will continually be made more difficult to close.

Can’t believe we spent £20m on him, and not some random kid who may come good for championship and get some money. Guess club felt with him being an international, he could be flipped quick. Dread to think what wages he’s on. Probably £200k between him and Kelly for next 5 seasons

Feels unfair criticism on Neymar. Guy really did carry Brazil, especially at the home World Cup. Fell apart quite literally when he got injured. Like their 2014 team was so average, and it’s continued. They just don’t have the attacking qualities anymore, and then the ones that do, move abroad so early for the money they don’t develop. So many have moved on at an early age past 15 years and not developed.

Think if he’s output in youth team reaches a level where he’s not tested as much, a loan in new year may be needed. Even if it’s L1, get facing against some experienced pros. Because it then helps shape what needs further developing.

It’s the one part of his game he has to increase in quality this season, better care with the finishing. Since he’s joined, his decision making with and without the ball has improved loads, picks the right options so often now, but it’s the finishing that lets him down. Too often it’s tame efforts that are more often hit the target, rather than any conviction. He’s got Isak in training who’s the opposite, so you’d hope over season he works and works on that side and he improves. Because he can be 15+ wide man.

He’s bloody good. Perfect player in modern game possession teams. Would take him all day at Newcastle with Bruno moved more forward, but we don’t see to want to take that route atm with the squad.

So refreshing seeing a manager play to what these players are used to playing week in week out. I can see Gomes long term taking the role from Mainoo if he doesn’t improve with the ball in deep areas.

Gordon going to thrive for England under Carsley.

He won’t though will he? When Wilson is back, he’ll be on bench and be coming on ahead of Osula. A loan in January is probably needed if Wilson doesn’t leave on a permanent deal. Needs to play games to learn and improve.

Sums up why I feel Southgate called him and Eze up over Grealish / Rashford. The latter two would’ve confronted Southgate why they weren’t playing, whilst other two Gareth knew they wouldn’t so could persist with the team he decided and not deal with fall out.

February is just a logical time to come back. If we progress in FA Cup, 4th round game on 8th Feb feels a good date to earmark to not rush him back. Go out in 3rd Round, it’s the week before home to Fulham where we then have two weeks off. Don’t want to be here in January after he’s injured from coming back too early and being “Shock, none of us didn’t see this coming”.

By being at the top end of the table, where prize money is high, success maintained, TV revenue and exposure. Similar to quit a few business will have big debts (good debt) to help them grow etc. if TV deal collapsed etc. they would be fucked, as they would need to cover the debt repayments on top of everything else. FFP doesn’t really protect clubs. One can come up, spend £120m each season, then go down and be near going bust. Stayed within rules, but didn’t help protect them. They’re basically a halfway house in my view. Don’t really go far enough either end, and clubs like us and Villa who have ambition, are stuck in the middle, kept arms length from the established sides.

Does feel the quotes seem to edge if someone is to pay price for this summer, it’s Eales. Mentioning how things are poorly set up, past dealings etc. were all under Eales watch. High praise for Howe etc. Like Mitchell knows he’s better aligning with a respected coach who’s doing well then Eales. Get where Mitchell is coming from for paying top whack on players. Isak and Tino have been immense and key players moving forward, but that’s £100m. If we are to move forward in current situation, whilst it would be great to add one or two top players, the squad is reaching a point where we need to get 5-6 signings for that £100m, and rely on the scouting network to identify and the top coach in Howe to improve them. Whilst revenues grow sustainably.

Gomes is more alternative to Bruno. Which then releases Bruno further forward. He’s been so crucial and great under Carsley at taking ball of CBs and being press resistant. If people not seen him for u21s, he’ll blow peoples minds and show what you can do with a player if they’ve got the skill set and a good coach.

Then on flip side, people will be moaning we can’t make moves in the market because we’ve got a £120k pw cheerleader. Get he’s a leader, but with Schar, Bruno, Joelinton etc. you like to think there’s enough leaders in that dressing room to take club forward.

Thing with Man Utd, their defence, regardless who they sign, will always sieve chances under ETH because it just leaves spaces for teams to play through. How they could balance it out across the season, is having the moments in attack. Rashford turning in a 15+ goal season, Fernandes clutch moments and dictating all their play and choosing right balls. As soon as those two don’t do that, it’s a very average attack. Garnacho / Diallo / Hojlund / Zirkzee all young, all could develop, but all prone to off games and looking raw. Why ETH needs to change his approach, or it could be even worse this season in the league. Wouldn’t rule them out still making one of the three cup finals and him laud it as progression.