CM
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We're fecking mint aren't we
Yes, replacing Matić, Pogba or Fernandes at the moment upsets a balance we have found that is working very well. McTominay and Fred don't directly replace any of those players, so there is work to be done on either improving aspects of their game, or improving the team so that it can play more than one way (or ultimately replacing the players or enlarging the squad, which is already large). In that respect, City are well ahead of us. Liverpool are a more interesting case, as they don't obviously have the depth of talent on the bench that City have, but have outperformed City by such a large margin this season - partly because of weaknesses at City (who can score goals for fun but have lost games they would be expected to win) and the teams below them. I'm optimistic because I think this is recognised at the club, and Ole and the coaches know - from their days under SAF - that we need to be able to adapt the style of play to the strengths in the squad.I'm optimistic but wary. We have a first xi that can do a lot of good things already. What seperates City and Liverpool from us is that even when they rest their best players, they have others in reserve that can replicate those performances. If our goal is to be the best, we have to take that into consideration because we cannot play our first xi every game. We have a system ( even though there are people that will claim otherwise). In this system, one midfielder provides support to the defence by dropping into defence and becoming a 3, while the other provides an option( Bruno sometimes) to the Build up back 3 which makes it easy to get the ball into midfield. Both Pogba and Bruno provide good passing options for Matic Macguire and Lindelof because they have good positional awareness. Essentially it gives us a build up shape of 3313. The back 3 being Matic Lindelof and Macguire, the three after that being AWB Pogba and Shaw, the one being Bruno ( who sometimes swaps with Pogba) and the front 3.
When Mctominay plays as a DM, his lack of positional awareness means that he comes deep really late and hence forces Lindelof and Macguire to look for passing options in higher areas of the pitch ( which requires incisive passing) or move it out quickly to AWB or Shaw ( which also requires good passing from all 4). What tends to happen is that Pogba is then force in to fill that void, which prevents him from being in creative positions quick enough ( it's the same thing that happened when he played in a two with Herrera).
In the 8 position, he fails to provide the positional awareness and touch that Pogba or Fernandes can use to provide passing lanes for the build up back 3. Even though AWB and Shaw could shift to a more narrow position to provide that support, a. we ask them to provide width and attacking presence b. neither of them are creative enough to break opposition lines either. This is why our defenders look frustrated when looking for passing options, forcing them to take forever in moving the ball up the pitch or are forced to go back to De Gea who passes long.
These are the primary reasons why we have found it difficult to break down deep deep defences. My problem with this us now is that one injury to Pogba or Matic could lead to that happening again. Even if Mctominay could provide the very basics in regard to the build up, it would allow us to perform in a similar way to the way that we do now.
Perhaps Ole's first real test.I want Rashford to score a banger. He is playing well but a goal from open play will really boost his confidence. I think he has gone a little bit in his shell. Need his swagger back.
Spider Wan Bissaka not scoring that header annoyed me more than it should. Southampton will be a good test.
Have you actually watched the slow mo replay. Bruno touches ball back and follows through and boot straight into villa defenders leg.This is the first contact, Bruno boot on defenders leg.Anyone else think that was a clear pen? The defender sticks out his leg, misses the ball because Bruno was turning with the ball and he trips Bruno from behind. People on here were actually saying that it was a foul to the Villa defender
I find that amazing. Not that we managed it but that no team ever has done it before. Not this City team. Our 09 and 08 and 99 teams. Chelsea 05. Arsenal's invincibles. Weird quite frankly.We are a well oiled machine. 100 goals in all competitions. First team to win 4 consecutive by 3 goals in the PL. 17 games unbeaten.
It's looking alright, ain't it?
Haven't got much for their £140 million spend, have they? Flashes of quality but too many poor lapses as well.Fantastic stuff. It was a great feeling knowing that as soon as we scored the game was over. Havent had that in a while.
Cant see anyway out for Villa.
So the villa defender is standing upright and never extends his leg to challenge for the ball? I don’t think you watched the same game as me mate.Have you actually watched the slow mo replay. Bruno touches ball back and follows through and boot straight into villa defenders leg.This is the first contact, Bruno boot on defenders leg.
If anyone thinks that is a penalty then i have no words.
This.Yes, replacing Matić, Pogba or Fernandes at the moment upsets a balance we have found that is working very well. McTominay and Fred don't directly replace any of those players, so there is work to be done on either improving aspects of their game, or improving the team so that it can play more than one way (or ultimately replacing the players or enlarging the squad, which is already large). In that respect, City are well ahead of us. Liverpool are a more interesting case, as they don't obviously have the depth of talent on the bench that City have, but have outperformed City by such a large margin this season - partly because of weaknesses at City (who can score goals for fun but have lost games they would be expected to win) and the teams below them. I'm optimistic because I think this is recognised at the club, and Ole and the coaches know - from their days under SAF - that we need to be able to adapt the style of play to the strengths in the squad.
Exactly where my do we need mctominay and Fred thread came from. They are not suitable replacements for any of our starting midfield. Bigger issues with the squad but at present they do not fit.Yes, replacing Matić, Pogba or Fernandes at the moment upsets a balance we have found that is working very well. McTominay and Fred don't directly replace any of those players, so there is work to be done on either improving aspects of their game, or improving the team so that it can play more than one way (or ultimately replacing the players or enlarging the squad, which is already large). In that respect, City are well ahead of us. Liverpool are a more interesting case, as they don't obviously have the depth of talent on the bench that City have, but have outperformed City by such a large margin this season - partly because of weaknesses at City (who can score goals for fun but have lost games they would be expected to win) and the teams below them. I'm optimistic because I think this is recognised at the club, and Ole and the coaches know - from their days under SAF - that we need to be able to adapt the style of play to the strengths in the squad.
People are too quick to forget. McTominay & Fred kept Olé in the job with the run of games they played together before COVID-19.They were the catalyst and instrumental with anything good about united before the pause.Exactly where my do we need mctominay and Fred thread came from. They are not suitable replacements for any of our starting midfield. Bigger issues with the squad but at present they do not fit.
McTominay and Fred do fit in the squad. When Pogba was out, Fred was paired with Matic and he was in great form. Fred cannot pass like Pogba or create from deep, really only a few in world football can, but he's made himself a valuable part of the central midfield. McTominay needs to improve, but he's an orthodox central midfielder who is better as an 8 than just a 6.Exactly where my do we need mctominay and Fred thread came from. They are not suitable replacements for any of our starting midfield. Bigger issues with the squad but at present they do not fit.
Actually this is why VAR is hated. I am 100% convinced not a pen , and you the other way. I can’t post images but if you pause the video (on this thread)between 39-40 seconds it is clear for me. I cant see any point before Brunos foot lands on defenders calf that its a foul. Unless the defender sliding his leg in and Bruno’s foot landing on it is a Pen?So the villa defender is standing upright and never extends his leg to challenge for the ball? I don’t think you watched the same game as me mate.
He missed the ball and got Fernandes. That’s a penalty. It doesn’t matter if some commentator told you otherwise, what happened was a penalty.
Sign of a good team that. Winning games when we weren’t at our best. Today first half was prolly the worst since the restart. Couldn’t string two passes together. We definitely got lucky the opposition was Villa.Crazy how we can stroll through games and still score 3 goals and be unlucky not to score 5. In the past we would have conceded in the first 30 minutes and struggled for an equaliser all game.
I rewatch it like ten times and imo it's a penalty since the Villa player obstructed the movement of Bruno and made contact with Bruno's legs while the later was in control of the ball in the penalty box. And what's important here was the legs of the Villa player. His legs should not be that close, right into Bruno's position when Bruno turned. I think his legs were in for the ball but missed as Bruno didn't stop and hold the ball but did a 360 turn. Imo if he had kept a distance and Bruno run and made contact with him and fell there'd be no penalty. Problem is if he did so, Bruno would had a clear shooting chance right infront of the goal, in the penalty box.Have you actually watched the slow mo replay. Bruno touches ball back and follows through and boot straight into villa defenders leg.This is the first contact, Bruno boot on defenders leg.
If anyone thinks that is a penalty then i have no words.
Yeah, also the players who were on the pitch, most of them signed as young kids too. Players like De Gea, Martial, Dan James all were young players when we signed them.The thing I'd be most pleased about in that game is the amount of academy graduates you had on the pitch, I think it was 5 in all. Rashford, Greenwood, McT, Pogba and Williams.
Very few teams can claim that sort of success for their development teams.
What year did this quote come from?Anyone listened to Richard Keys after the game? Guy is an absolute donkey along with Andy Grey. How are them two still on TV?
They ran into an unstoppable force of nature called, our Front 5. Game over once they took overWhat happened to Villa 2nd half?
They were that good in the first.
Who’s RvG?I was unwell & went to bed after the first half. What I was wishing for the most, apart from the 3 points is that Matic wouldn't get a 2nd yellow. He seemed to be very put off after he was fouled and no free kick was given.
Bruno Fernandes is definitely a player you would hate if on the opposition team sheet. Cheeky fella who can produce magic and indulge in occasional play acting. It wasn't a penalty in my opinion but too bad for Villa. Pogba's passing was quite simply ridiculous. Is he really injured ? I missed that part. Not even going to start on RvG.
I know Toni Kroos is a very different player but he's the last guy i saw who could hit the ball with so much venom & accuracy with BOTH feet. Greenwood looks incredible. I didn't understand why the Villa defenders sat back on two occasions and allowed him to run at them. Scary young man.Just what he needed tonight, easy game but played some lovely stuff. Could've been 6 or 7
Greenwood is just ridiculous, the power and accuracy he strikes the ball, with both feet, is incredible.
Sorry mate, that was just a poor joke - Robin van Greenwood.Who’s RvG?
Jonathan Moss