Recent content by 26andahalfyears

It's sad that people are so quick to lambaste Smalling. Wasn't he a great solid CB for us for the past two seasons? It would be very unfortunate if Smalling has really declined after a season break and a short injury.

If all of us football fans and self-claimed football analysts can see the problems (i.e Pogba is not being utilized properly with an effective partner in the midfield and Rooney is past his prime), I am sure someone as experienced as Jose can see them too. No?

We gave him too much space. Fellaini could not contain City's pacey midfielders and his main strength is always his strength, not his tactical ability to read the game. We need someone to back him up. Pogba is not a good partner in this game since he is not a natural deep-lying playmaker and he...

The Italians are the opposite I suppose.

Rubbish. Football is a hobby, a source of entertainment and a form of religion. You need all of those to help improve the longevity of your life.

Out of topic but, throwback to when Blind brutally broke Can's ancle:

It's just as what he said earlier, he's just back from holiday.

Mata's movement and passes were dangerous at times but he needed to help Valencia a bit there. Martial seemed to have not found his form yet. Pogba was super effective and very strong in the middle. Good luck for trying to steal the ball from him. Rooney was average and often slowed down the...

I would say the key to our win tonight was Bailly and Blind's partnership. They were rock solid at the back and always made important tackles and interceptions. They were not clueless at all with the ball and always knew exactly what they were going to do and where they wanted to move the ball...

Football is just a job at the end of the day for most, if not all the players. Their professional career as a footballer is very short-lived and the field of work that they can go to after retirement is very limited. Hence, these players want to make the most out of their short-lived career to...

It's called courtesy. It's like when your company suddenly takes your window seat and gives it to someone else and moves you to a windowless office. It's just a seat after all and you will still get paid at the end but you'd still be pissed wouldn't you? The number means a lot as a brand...

Sorry was referring to Costa. Yes both of your make absolutely fair points though whether Wilshere/Oscar/Fabregas would make a better CM/CAM than Rooney is still debatable. My point is we shouldn't sell him yet this summer. Keep him for another season. I don't mind seeing him benched at all as...

He can play behind Aguero and in between Silva (L) and De Bruyne (R) at City. He can also play behind Costa and in between Hazard (L) and Willian/Pedro (R) at Chelsea. He can substitute the injured Cazorla at Arsenal. Doesn't seem to be far fetched?

Nicely put. Can't agree more with you. Let's put this on every page.

I thought Rooney did well in the last couple of games where he was played in a deeper role? Especially in the last two FA cup games where he really played his heart out and did exceptionally well despite playing in his unnatural position and contributed greatly to our wins. He also had a run of...