08 Dec 2019 18:40:06
I've watched the game twice now ( still undefeated when my daughter watches) . That first half was the best I've seen us play in years. Under Jose we played long ball every time against city to beat the press. Yesterday we played our way through it and our front 4 were rampant.

I think we are looking to build a system similar to what Liverpool have with their 3 up top. James was brilliant, second half he showed tremendous composure on the ball. Martial linked things beautifully. Lingard was industrious and was excellent imo. However, in Rashford we have a game winner. His record in the big games is superb, and every time he gets the ball now I'm almost expecting something from him, 10 league goals already this season. What a talent.

Wan bissaka is absolutely outstanding, defensively I can't remember us having a better full back for a long long time. I think 1v1 there isn't a better defender in the league. However for all the players I've mentioned, the one I thought was the best player on the pitch was Fred. I will hold my hands up and say I've given him some stick, and thought he was rubbish. This season beside McTominay he's been excellent. They compliment each other brilliantly. The work ethic, the desire and yesterday especially from Fred we saw some quality on the ball too. Very unlucky not to have a couple of assists.

Pogba due back soon, but I'm glad he wasn't there yesterday. That was a team performance, not one player played for themselves. The desire was there, the passion for the shirt and the fans was there. I hope we can put to bed the debate that Pogba is our best player, because to be quite honest he's got the ability, but ability alone doesn't win football matches. Those lads were united yesterday and it was bloody fantastic to see.

Finally just on Ole, I'm delighted for the man. So much criticism after Villa (myself included) but his record in these big games shows he's got something about him. He's clearly not tactically clueless, and most importantly, he's got those players at least united and playing for him. Let's back the man and give him a bit more time. We may never win anything with Ole, but just imagine the feeling if we do, because I was on cloud nine yesterday.

Caolán.


1.) 08 Dec 2019
08 Dec 2019 18:43:33
We need to sell pogba. pointless playing a player that doesn't want to be here.


2.) 08 Dec 2019
08 Dec 2019 18:55:37
I really wish we didn't have to bolger2, but I will happily let him leave.
Matic, Pogba, Mata and Jones need to be shown out.
I think a Bruno Fernandes would be twice the player for us than Pogba.


3.) 08 Dec 2019
08 Dec 2019 19:31:26
Bolger, he's a pointless player. Good riddance.


4.) 08 Dec 2019
08 Dec 2019 19:35:38
Caolan. Great post. You are not alone in the fred critisism. But he has played really well the last 2 games in particular. Mctom being alongside him has helped too he just keeps improving.
I lost patience with ole 2 weeks ago. But most importantly as you say the players didn't and havnt they are all playing for him and have now got the opportunity to get on a little run and get some real momentum going.
Some reinforcements are needed In midfield and attack asap. We can't expect rash martial james mctom to play every game and perform to a high level.
The next challenge for ole is to maintain the results on the occasions that the form dips or an injury occurs.
The squad is threadbare in some areas. I think we are really wull stocked for full backs and centre halves but glaringly weak in mid field and attack.
So yes i would sell pogba. Potentially getting a top player or 2 in exchange that want to accept the challenge of bringing these exciting youngsters with them and buy into the ethos that would be great.
Getting the right snr players in to help these younger lads is not easy. But they do need guidance especially when it gets tough.


5.) 08 Dec 2019
08 Dec 2019 20:38:27
I agree ken, I think January is crucial for Ole. There is a very good young squad here, its just crying out for some experience and another leader or two.


6.) 08 Dec 2019
08 Dec 2019 21:10:58
Was a long ball from DDG that led to Martial goal tbf but we also played some great counter attacking stuff and the front lads was great 1st half especially.


7.) 08 Dec 2019
08 Dec 2019 22:22:52
Hi Ken, not clear from your post whether you think you were wrong to drop your support in Ole?


8.) 08 Dec 2019
08 Dec 2019 22:40:57
I'll be happy to be proven wrong. Rosspique but it will take more than a couple of matches to do that.
Im still unsure that he can deliver the silverware but ill celebrate whenever we win that's for sure.


9.) 09 Dec 2019
09 Dec 2019 10:16:00
Sell any player only when you have a replacement lined up already. Don't want another Lukaku/ Sanchez situation in near future.


10.) 09 Dec 2019
09 Dec 2019 10:58:18
Becks, in principle that's a great idea. However, it often doesn't bare out in practice.

Would you rather keep a disruptive influence who is negatively effecting the team bringing down the overall performance, or would you want rid of that negative influence and create the space and environment for the others to flourish?

I'm not saying Pogba is a bad influence by the way, without being in the dressing room no one can say for sure what influence a player has. However, there have been a few stories leaking to the press that suggest Pogba isn't a great influence.

Looking at the form of BOTH Sanchez and Lukaku with us toward the back end of last season, I don't think there is any reason to believe they would have done any better than the players we have this season had they still been here. So regardless of how they are playing for their new clubs, we need players who want to be here and will give 100% effort while they are here. Especially if they are among the highest earners at the club.


11.) 09 Dec 2019
09 Dec 2019 11:50:30
I completely agree with you Shappy, however we have been struggling with depth from past 2 months. So i just hope we are ready with a plan to replace Pogba as well. His heart is already at Madrid it seems, i wouldn't mind having isco in a deal involving Pogba.

Having said that i hope we just go after player who are hungry and have to prove something, just like James and AWB. Will be more happy if we try to get average players with a lot of heart rather than a big money signing.


12.) 09 Dec 2019
09 Dec 2019 12:41:26
I still see him going to Paris rather than Madrid.


13.) 09 Dec 2019
09 Dec 2019 13:29:38
I agree Mort, or back to Juventus. I don't think there is much of a desire to bring in Pogba from anyone other than Zidane at Real Madrid, and his place there is far from certain.

PSG however, are likely to see a serious attempt from Real Madrid for Mbappe this summer. They may look to bring in another top French star name to appease fans.


14.) 09 Dec 2019
09 Dec 2019 14:41:44
Pogba is an interesting one. At the start of the season he would 100% have been in most peoples strongest 11. He probably would still be in most peoples now, yet there maybe more than just a slither of doubt about putting him in.

It appeared that the side was being built around Pogba, but the issue with that was firstly we didn't and still don't really have the players needed to mitigate Pogba's weaknesses while maximising his strengths. While we have also seen many other players show big improvements in their form without Pogba.

For me the difference now would be how/ where does Pogba fit in this side rather than how do you pick a side around Pogba.

Fred and McTominay have given as a more solid base in midfield than we ever had with Pogba playing that deep. So rather than playing Pogba deeper I would imagine most would play him in the No.10 role as no one else has been outstanding there. Yet, Pogba himself has other struggled in that role as he is better coming from deep and running with the ball than he is playing the intricate link man between the midfield and the forward line.

If we had a top quality No.10, say Maddison for example would Pogba even get in the side? Would you drop one of Fred or McTominay and weaken the solidity of the side for a talented player who only turns up every other game at best.

Personally if we could bring in a top quality DM and a world class or potentially world class No.10 then I think we could let Pogba go without replacing him.

McTominay, Fred, a new DM and Garner/ Levitt competing for two places. With a new No.10, Lingard, Pereria and Gomes potentially fighting it out for the No.10 role.

That gives us three potential starting options for midfield with space for a young player to make 10-15 appearances across the season.

It's vital with our young players that we get the balance right between having enough top quality players around them to not put too much pressure on them, while also not bloating the squad and depriving them of opportunities.

We shouldn't be buying a LB for example with Williams coming through.

We need to invest in midfield, but with a couple of specialist that give us more options, allowing space for Garner and Levitt to have a chance to grow into a first team role.