[mitchmouse]

i wonder which sunday paper will link us to PIckford tomorrow

 

[red.knight]

We should be out of sight at halftime.

 

[AndySmith1990]

Bored if saying it but we so badly need a quality striker. We'd kill off so many games

 

[zaafi]

Antony has been poor, sancho good

How has Antony been poor? If you're talking about his finishing then yes, but he's been decent this game.

 

[Samoerai Jack]

Now this is looking like ETH's Ajax. There's such a nice balance here between all the positional duos: when Rashford moves to the wing, Sabitzer goes up to cover him, but when Rashford returns Sabitzer gets back to midfield to avoid clogging up the space. While Sancho keeps his place on the wing, Antony is free to help out in defence or in front of goal. Similarly for Mctominay who's free to roam around while Bruno stays available in midfield. Martinez can press up high with Maguire holding it down in the center and Bissaka can overlap on the wing or tighten up as an extra centerback while Malacia remains disciplined in position.

It really is a joy to behold, and allows both attack and defence to flow effortlessly. Only a fired up Pickford stands between United and a massive scoreline.

 

[ClassOf'99]

Despite our finishing being off, Pickford has been Friedal-esque

That happens when players shoot directly at a keeper

 

[Telsim]

Our dire need for a class striker laid bare. 2.61 xG in one half and only one goal. Terrible finishing. Other than that, everyone bar Malacia is playing very well. Complete domination. Sancho with probably his best game since joining.

 

[Kaos]

Good buildup, Everton terrible defensively. Finishing not great. At least we got the 1

Everton surely cant be that bad in the 2nd half

By the same token we surely can't be as wasteful with our chances in the second half too.

 

[Matt851]

Honestly im so impressed with Bruno, short passing good too.

He has been great but I can't imagine he will often get thus much time and space in the pl.

I really hope this doesn't end with us hanging on to a 1-0 lead

 

[mitchmouse]

Ronaldo would have been too lazy and petulant to get into some of the positions our forwards have missed from.

I hear Zlatan is available in the summer...

 

[calodo2003]

Sounds heartening! Thanks all!

 

[Rightnr]

We're unhappy with the finishing.

Mostly because most probably don't trust us to keep this up in the second half and fear a random Everton equaliser (me, for sure).

 

[HookedOnAPhelan]

The best half of football we've played in a very long time. Everyone has been good except for Malacia.

Antony has been great apart from his finishing. Constant threat, and brilliant defensively.

 

[Superunknown]

I do love it when players make a run from midfield and get on the end of a chance like McTominay did. Today, although they may not have scored, Rashford, Antony, Sabitzer, Scott (for his goal), and AWB have all been at the end of chances. Sancho has been doing some good work too in the build-up play and Bruno has been immense in his role. It's healthy that we have so many players willing to go for and try things, even if it doesn't always come off. The stat of us having 21 shots is insane. It shows though that the intentions are right, but we just have to be more ruthless with the finishing.

 

[Oranges038]

Despite our finishing being off, Pickford has been Friedal-esque

He's not even been made to work. Finishing has been poor rather than great goalkeeping.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I think your malacia rating is a little harsh. I'd give him a 6, great pass at end of half to find Antony again, defended well but some poor passes. I think he is a fantastic back up.

Edit: not your rating, Samuel's.

They are usually a bit on the negative side.

 

[Abraxas]

I would not say Antony has been poor. He's been breaking their lines which is very good, that's exactly what he needs - directness. Also went past someone on the outside which is a new string to his bow. He's threatening them which is good. He's not finishing or messing up the final action which is bad.

 

[Houdini]

We are winning at half-time so we are not gonna lose. Leicester are so bad that we could core a tons of goals for our GD. Performance was very good, finihing was a joke. Antony and Rashford were wastful and that AWB chance...

 

[Berbasbullet]

I just want to say Bruno is absolutely amazing. Like, ridiculously good.

49 passes, 5 key passes. Domination!

He's been our heart and soul, his tackle to stop a counter was great too. Cant praise him enough.

 

[The Hacker]

1-0
McTominay

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Liking the commentary!

 

[lex talionis]

Maguire has been solid, it must be acknowledged.

 

[Idxomer]

I just want to say Bruno is absolutely amazing. Like, ridiculously good.

49 passes, 5 key passes. Domination!

Yep, probably his best performance this season since the Spurs game.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

Good half, great in possession, but some poor finishing. I don't think Pickford has had a particularly difficult save to make, except maybe the one right at the end from Antony. The rest have been straight at him.

AWB, other than the point blank miss, has been excellent. His has he gone from looking allergic to a football to looking sharp in possession? His link up play has been great.

Malacia is still a little iffy defensively, but I like his tenacity. He is very good on the ball though, has played some great forward passes.


Everton have had a couple of clear chances too, so we definitely need another couple of goals, and make it a comfortable 2nd half. I really hope we're not still sitting on a 1-0 lead at 80 minutes.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Fewer passes than anyone in the team after Rashford and De Gea.

That means feck all to me. He had few passes the other day against Brentfod, too. Yet, in the last couple of games, where Bruno has played deeper, we've looked much more of a dominant side. McT, alongside him, or Cas, when he's back, will provide that defensive stability. Its a good balance!

 

[DomesticTadpole]

i wonder which sunday paper will link us to PIckford tomorrow

We have someone who can make saves.

 

[Garethw]

Bruno has been hitting those long balls from deep like Paul Scholes today. Best I’ve seen him play in absolutely ages.

 

[Natener]

21 shots in one half of football, game as a contest should be over already, Rashford, Antony especially wasteful making average keeper like Pickford look decent.

That's football. We could possibly make only 5 shots in the 2nd and end up scoring 2 more.

 

[Scottynaldinho]

Refreshing to see no player bashing in the match day thread.

 

[Berbasbullet]

He has been great but I can't imagine he will often get thus much time and space in the pl.

I really hope this doesn't end with us hanging on to a 1-0 lead

I think that's a fair caveat, Everton are trying to press though. The midfield setup has suited him too.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Yep, probably his best performance this season since the Spurs game.

Was he a number 10 against Spurs?

If so, as an 8, which he is today, I'm getting Paul Scholes vibes. Yes, he has been that good, in my opinion.

 

[paulscholes18]

That happens when players shoot directly at a keeper

That's what I'm thinking, not even had to make a half decent save, nothing been anywhere near the corners.

 

[Berbasbullet]

Refreshing to see no player bashing in the match day thread.

Scroll back to before the goal

 

[lex talionis]

i wonder which sunday paper will link us to PIckford tomorrow

Forget the Sunday papers. The wankfest over Pickford on the De Gea thread will be epic.

 

[PSV]

Ronaldo would have been too lazy and petulant to get into some of the positions our forwards have missed from.

Perhaps, but I also feel Ronaldo would have had a hattrick through cutback positioning alone.

 

[Sandikan]

Should be absolutely booting this lot, but at least we're leading.

Seems a good time to get Martial on soon. Rashy back left, and put this to bed.

 

[Idxomer]

Was he a number 10 against Spurs?

I think so, played alongside Fred that day.

 

[DJ_21]

21 shots first halve. Must be a record this season in any game. Reminds me of the game against spurs when we dominated that aswell. Need more goals though to show for it.

 

[Siorac]

Mostly because most probably don't trust us to keep this up in the second half and fear a random Everton equaliser (me, for sure).

Yep, same here. Though I had the same fear in the Spurs game back then and we kept it up in the second half, too.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Refreshing to see no player bashing in the match day thread.

Still time yet.

 

[Sassy Colin]

Our dire need for a class striker laid bare. 2.61 xG in one half and only one goal. Terrible finishing. Other than that, everyone bar Malacia is playing very well. Complete domination. Sancho with probably his best game since joining.

Yet again proving what a useless 'stat' xG is. We can all see it with our own eyes, we don't need some made up number to tell us the obvious.