Recent content by Cerpin

If Jose is looking to ship out Phil Jones this summer I think Maguire would be an excellent replacement. Sure, it might be a bit of a gamble, but he's really been key Hull's superb recent run. As a lot have said in this thread, he's surprisingly fast and good on the ball for someone his...

I felt that the first half was extremely lackluster -- even a player like Herrera, who always seems tuned in, seemed a bit off. It was only towards the end that we really pressed them. And sure, we created enough chances to win but not that many chances against the last-placed team in the league...

If Ibra leaves I can see Mourinho trying to go for Cavani. Certainly fits the profile.

Sure, they're both a bit crap right now. But they're hard-working -- at least Deeney, anyway.

Watford are poor, but credit to Poch for playing three at the back today; they're having no problem playing around Ighalo and Deeney's pressing.

Absolute beast. Long may it last.

He's done the same in most of these matches. Put Rashford on the left towards the end and then subbed the other winger for a defensive player Fellaini/Schneiderlin (today Bailly). Rashford is clearly out of form at the moment, offering near to no threat going forward, so you have to question him...

No link, but he was yelling at him "Marcus! Marcus! Marcus!" and then "come on!" This was right after he got beaten by Walker (I think), quite easily, near the sideline. I honestly do not understand why he's brought on towards the end of a match like this, where his only job seems to be to...

He always seems to recover quicker than predicted.

Being dangerous on the counter is also a form of defence; if there is a threat on the break, the opponents will be more wary of pressing too high up. Plus, putting on either Martial or Rashford wouldn't make us incapable of keeping the ball.

Luke Shaw is a good defender, though. Sure, he struggled in the League Cup against Navas and against Fenerbache and Lens, but I would put that down to form (perhaps being out of shape/injured and low on confidence). But at his best he's a fantastic defender, imo. When we played City in the...

I don't know, if Barrow had done better with his opportunity we would have been in for a nervy end to the game. It just doesn't make sense to me to play with such a slow front-line when the opponents are desperate and pushing up.

Yeah, but I don't think it would have been a huge risk. Take Mata/Rooney and Zlatan off (with Pogba, Fellaini, Carrick, Jones we had plenty of height anyway) and replace them with Martial/Rashford/Lingard.

I just don't understand why, in a situation like this, we don't sub Martial and Rashford on and kill them on the counter.

I think it's fair to say that Martial's dip in form was evident before Mourinho arrived. Started during the Euros, which seemed to really have a bad effect on his confidence. Since then he's struggled with injuries and what not. A bit too early to say that Mourinho's had a bad influence on him...