15 Feb 2025 17:27:32
Diallo out for the season. Ugarte, collyer and mainoo all injured this week and out tomorrow. what is it with us and injuries. If that's the case and we have to play eriksen and Casemiro for an extended period then we are totally screwed. Thank god for that 12pt buffer.

1.) 15 Feb 2025
15 Feb 2025 18:08:14
Terrible news. You think things couldn’t get any worse. But maybe this is the moment for some new, enthusiastic kids to make a name for themselves. Amorim has shown he’s prepared to back them above senior pros so Moorhouse, Scanlon, Obi Martin, could they become cult hero’s? Maybe Zirkee will step up? Time to see what character this team really has. Once things for sure, I’d still opt for those young lads ahead of Rashford if he was still at the club.

2.) 15 Feb 2025
15 Feb 2025 20:22:35
We’ve achieved the impossible. A bloated and overpaid squad, woefully paper thin in any kind of quality or strength in depth.

I’d rather see the young lads get a chance too if deemed good enough.

3.) 15 Feb 2025
15 Feb 2025 22:54:30
Chuck them in, they might surprise a few on here that they are capable of stepping up. It may even make the summer easier.

4.) 16 Feb 2025
16 Feb 2025 10:21:33
Amad being out is a massive blow, he has been our best player this season.

Others will need to step up now.

With Dorgu now signed there would have been less need to play Amad at wingback. While Bruno, Garnacho, Zirkzee and Eriksen can all play in those roles either side of the striker. As could Mount if he can ever get fit. So we at least have options to cover for him, we just need a couple of them to step up.

The bigger issue this weekend is Ugarte, Mainoo and Collyer all being out.

Ugarte is the biggest miss of those three, he has become an ever present, and has quietly been excellent for us. While both Mainoo and Collyer have added energy to the middle which is lacking when Casemiro or Eriksen have to play in midfield.

Effectively we will be going into the Spurs game with absolutely no midfield. That could make it a crazy end to end game. With their very transitional style, and our inability to hold the ball in the middle (compounded by Martinez's injury in defence robbing us of our best ball playing CB), we might struggle to play out from the back into midfield and beyond, forcing us to have to play a more direct game. It would also be poetic if Obi-Martin got his chances against Spurs having spent pretty much his entire youth career at Arsenal. Him coming on and scoring the winner against Spurs would be blockbuster, and would definitely paper over a few of the cracks for now.

It's a real chance for some of the youngsters to step up. Ideally you want to be able to give these lads a few 10 minute cameos, then maybe half an hour, build up their exposure to first team football. Sending them on when the game is already won and under control, to reduce the pressure on them to perform. Give them chances when the other 10 players are able to carry them to an extent. Let them build up to starting games, rather than being thrown in at the deep end.

Yet diamonds are formed under pressure, some times these kids can really step up when thrown in. To be honest, we probably need one or two of them to do that. We need it both for the team on the pitch, and for the feel good factor it brings to the fans when we see a new young player step up and start performing in the first team.

How many managers have we seen hold on for a little bit longer due to the good faith brought about due to a young player they have given a chance to who is doing well.

Would Moyes have lasted as long as he did without Januzaj doing well?

Would LvG have lasted as long without Rashford?

Mourinho with McTominay.

Ole with Greenwood.

EtH with Mainoo and Garnacho.

The feel good factor when a young player steps up can help a manager during a difficult time. At the very least it buys them a little more time. Now I'm not saying Amorim is in danger of losing his job. But fans aren't happy with the team performance right now. It seems impossible that there is any sort of way the team could turn this season around to a point where it isn't considered a total bust. Even if they go undefeated for the rest of the season in the league and we finish 6th it'll still be considered a poor season. What the fans need is something to feel positive about, a new potential star is what we need. We had that in Amad this season, but with him now likely out until next season we need someone else to be able to get behind, someone else to excite us.

It does look like one or two might get a chance today. Maybe Moorhouse or Kone in midfield, or Obi-Martin coming on later in the game.

5.) 16 Feb 2025
16 Feb 2025 15:01:05
Obi Martin had 2 years at Arsenal ?.