With an impeccable league performance from a squad that is full of a few has-beens and lazy, overweight, footballers.This was his first big test. The first one where a major trophy was at stake. Where does this leave OGS?
Well quite. They're both shite options which say more about our lack of depth than they do about Ole. I don't believe for a second though that Lukaku would have done much else than bumble around aimlessly and give the ball away a lot. That's been his MO for a while now and it's difficult to see how that might have changed tonight.Lukaku should have come in for Lingard. Both are shite options, but I'd take Lukaku over Mata at right wing.
Even at the end Lukaku should have come in for Sanchez rather than Rashford.
FFS stop posting OGS match stats on the Title. If people wants to know the record, they'll google it.
Very much my opinion as well. Those two changes killed us; up until that point I feel like both sides were fairly well matched.The arguments that Ole was 'tactically outclassed' tonight are, frankly, absurd. The set up was fine, but he was fecked by an unfortunate double injury at half time and PSG took advantage before we'd got to grips with the change. The two options he bought on were, of course, not suited to doing what Lingard (in particular) had done, but he had no other options.
There's simply a gulf in quality between the two sides (even when PSG have two of their key players out injured) and they won the game because of a defensive mistake by us and a moment of quality. Both of those are areas we know we need to improve.
Mata at RW?I haven't read through the comments yet but I'd be baffled by any criticism of his selection, subs, tactics or whatever.
We were just not good enough.
I agree to a certain extent. Just wanted him to change the formation when he knew he couldnt replace the pace of Lingard and MartialVery much my opinion as well. Those two changes killed us; up until that point I feel like both sides were fairly well matched.
Essentially this.
Not good enough for the top levels - yet.
The united board should be ALL IN for Pochettino, who with these resources would excel I think.
A free with most of the post, but part of the weak bench issue down to OGS though. He keeps giving underperformers a chance and despite the non-existent performances of Mata on the right, he is the guaranteed to be the Plan B.Blimey! Some of the reaction tonight is unexpected.
A few factors caused today’s loss, but for me, OGS wasn’t one of them. We have a weak squad with expensive players that either aren’t that good or are in shocking form
We played a team used to playing in that way, with high quality almost everywhere you look
We were asleep for their first goal, not much OGS could have done about that.
The 2 injuries meant we had to rely on the weak bench
We have lost to worse teams before, and we will do again. What tonight was, was a reality check of the relatively poor transfer business we have conducted over the last few years. We have no real strength in depth. We have no like for like options to keep the momentum going. If we are hit with an injury we don’t just swap players, we need to swap formation and tactics.
It was frustrating to watch. I hope the board realise we need a proper strategy going forward re transfers as no matter who was in the box seat tonight, they would have still had the same players to choose from.
Mate are you actually saying OGS should have gone with Chong instead of Mata in the CL against PSG when he hasn't even proved himself at PL level yet? I agree Lukaku should have been brought on instead of Mata though.Mata at RW?
Was OGS expecting something different from the last 20+ times he has played there and done feck all?
I'm not putting tonight's loss on OGS, it was mainly a combination of bad luck*, a very good PSG 2nd half and the disruption of injuries. However, the 4th factor was a bad sub by OGS, it did nothing to enhance the team and he should have known better**
Stepping back from the game, OGS needs to be looking at his squad. He can't do anything about buying players currently, but the academy can effectively be a new signing. If he puts his money where his mouth is with youth, he could have had other attacking options for when Plan A dies not work, or you come across injury misfortune
I'm still happy giving OGS the job, but if he does the 'definition of insanity' thing another time with Mata, then I'm going to seriously question his credentials. Such decision making is not going to deliver sustained trophies
*Kimpbape Not being sent off twice then scoring
** Lukaku has done ok on the right
I dont think Lukaku for Mata would have made a difference.Mate are you actually saying OGS should have gone with Chong instead of Mata in the CL against PSG when he hasn't even proved himself at PL level yet? I agree Lukaku should have been brought on instead of Mata though.
Now the members of Redcafe are understanding my assessment of Ole. I saw this coming and if some of our fans actually watch games rather than score line, they would have notice this as well when we played Pochettino Spurs.
Ole has now been tactical outsmarted by Tuchel and Pochettino. Tuchel were playing without two of their best attacker and we barely troubled Buffon.
Many fans jumped the bandwagon, but I stated that it is good to wait and see. Ole has done well to dominate the smaller team, but he has not passed Amadaeus test on showing such dominance against a top team. It will be an uphill battle next leg without Pogba, but if Ole can come through that, then he will definitely earn a lot of praise.
It is unfortunate now. I really wanted us to go through as we would not look so desparate when we try and go after Pochettino. Regardless, if Ole doesn’t go through, the season is still long and he still has a chance to be my number 1 choice.
No.Mate are you actually saying OGS should have gone with Chong instead of Mata in the CL against PSG when he hasn't even proved himself at PL level yet? I agree Lukaku should have been brought on instead of Mata though.
Let's be honest. After them scoring, most of our plays went through right flank of Young/Herrera when we have Pogba on the left. Shaw was nowhere to be seen. It stands to reason that we got our tactics wrong when our game doesn't flow through our best player. I didn't see Pogba being marked that closely that we had to bypass him.Well quite. They're both shite options which say more about our lack of depth than they do about Ole. I don't believe for a second though that Lukaku would have done much else than bumble around aimlessly and give the ball away a lot. That's been his MO for a while now and it's difficult to see how that might have changed tonight.
Ole picked the harder working player who was most likely to be able to join in with keeping the ball and knitting together our attacks. If it was a mistake it was one made for the right reasons at least.
Why not? He's more direct, has more pace, would have brought a physical threat. Mata brought nothing whatsoever to the table. No speed, no goal threat, no physicality. Just neat (and sideways) passingI dont think Lukaku for Mata would have made a difference.
Poch would have started Chong and Pogba's kid.Youth deserve a chance. But not against PSG in CL tie.
"gamble on Ole". Ole is much less of a gamble than say Poch. Imagine if Poch comes in and we're 5th in October? There'd be mass riots and for good reason. Not hiring a manager thats doing well is way more of a gamble.I agree. The team obviously need investment but I don't think it's the right time to go with/gamble on Ole.
I feel like every poster on here should be made to read this. You're far too sensible, and we don't deserve you.He’s being judged game to game as if he’s a player. It’s very bizarre. As if every performance is a direct result of his actions, irrespective of result or context.
Well, this isn’t how it works. You make judgements based on a body of work over time. Like we judged Mourinho and Van Gaal for the worse. Or Ferguson for the better. We didn’t watch Ferguson’s team lose to a clearly superior Milan side and pick apart his minute-by-minute management of the team. We accepted the loss as a normal element of football; part and parcel of a season in which football matches are lost.
Some folk are even criticising his team talk. Talking about his Tuchel ‘done him over’ going into the second half. Like, where and when did this happen? And how?
It’s going to be a tedious end to the season if every match is going to be viewed in isolation like this. Bloody hell.