12 Aug 2019 08:09:21
Good result yesterday and a really good second half performance. I worried for us first half, we were poor and Chelsea were the better side until the goal.

Defence looked much improved. Maguire and Bissaka looked like they had been here years, the back 5 looks settled for the first time in years. Shaws give from the best of the back line to probably the weak link overnight, although he's still decent. Lindelöf continues to impress me, think he can be top class, hopefully with a settled partnership he will fulfill his potential.

McTom is improving and worthy of his place at the mo, but what a shame we didn't add a coupe on midfield. Had we added a CM such as SMS and a creative mod like Eriksen we would have a side Capable of challenging. Frustrating.

My worry is the teams that sit 10 behind the ball. I think we'll be fine with teams that play high up the pitch and leave space for the pacy to run into, but the sides who sit in deep with everyone behind the ball ie when you need that creative magic that a player like Eriksen brings regularly. Pogba is more than capable but has to nant off days and wants out.

Anyway I haven't changed my prediction that we won't get top 4, but it was good to see and a good result.

1.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 08:28:40
Against teams sitting back is where Maguire gives us another dimension.
He will step into midfield thereby giving an extra body in attack.

2.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 09:11:11
I thought it was the first half tactics that made shaw look as poor as he did, he was constantly getting into 2v1 situations as rashford wasn't tracking azplicueta.

3.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 10:00:39
Shaw will look worse as teams will realise it is pretty pointless attacking down the right.

Greenwood will be important against teams that sit back I think, they are the games where he will start to get his goal tally up, he will add another dimension to an already very dynamic attack.

4.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 10:17:47
We are completely set up for the counter attack (hence us doing better after Chelsea had to find an equaliser) so solid defence will be crucial all season.

Trouble might be when we have to find a way through teams who park the bus (unless we coax them into attacking us so we can then get behind them) or teams realise we are one dimensional and play only one way - and plan to nullify this.

We will also struggle against superior midfields.

However, looks like we will take our chances and we’re still a work in progress. Still buzzing after yesterday and increasingly confident of reaching the top 4.

5.) 12 Aug 2019
12 Aug 2019 10:51:12
The teams that sit back might provide an opportunity for mata. He can play 10 in that instance and pull the strings from the edge of the box using his guile to unlock defences. We can Also try Gomes at 10 and let him weave some magic.