12 Apr 2021 13:39:24
So it looks like another season finishing in the top 4 beckons.

While our manager conceded any title challenge with 45 points left to play for, that surely can't be on the menu next season.

If we manage to finish 2nd, a title challenge next season is the minimum for a manager who will be in his 4th year in charge.

So the tough calls that need to be made to get us to the next level.

Do we sign a centre back?
Is the central midfield good enough as it is?
Can the manager find a way to play without two DMs?
What to do with Martial?
Do we sign a RW and impede Greenwood?
Cavani or a replacement?

Once the fans return, the manager will not get away the turgid football we play under him. This team needs to evolve if we want to improve.

Ole has his favourites but some of them will have to be improved upon.

Where do we go from here?


1.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 13:50:53
Although he conceded the challenge he also referenced how we caught up and overtook Leicester last season to finish 3rd.


2.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 13:51:13
I worry about getting another CB, will that not stop Jones reaching his potential with lack of game time?


3.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 14:13:50
We have to be looking at a title challenge next season if progression is to continue to be made. I wanted a 10-15 point improvement to show a bit of progression at the start of the season and it appears that is likely to be delivered.

I appreciate many think winning a trophy is an important sign of progression but I don't think winning a Carabao or FA cup shows we're a good side when compared to picking up a significantly higher number of points in the league does.

In terms of where we go, I think we are still 5 or 6 players away from having a properly balanced squad and as it stands our squad is too big and still has a number of players who aren't going to add much (Lingard, Jones, Grant, Romero, Dalot, Pereira etc) . We also have Cavani, Pogba, VDB, Mata, De Gea and Bailly who have been involved in the squad but have uncertain futures at the club.

Despite this I think we need to prioritise signing a CB, DM and ST. Particularly CB and ST. If we take our best / strongest 11 right now that usually involves Lindelof, Fred and Martial. If we could upgrade all 3 of those players there is no reason in terms of the first 11 we'd have to not be challenging for the league.

As for Ole, I still don't think he's the coach we should have and I still struggle to see a style of play that isn't mainly based on counter attacking. However, based on what I said above, I'd be a hypocrite to call for his sacking as he's delivering an improvement in points during a very strange season. He has his flaws tactically but he's clearly helped the likes of Shaw, Greenwood, Rashford and Martial who have all performed pretty well since his appointment.

There have been so many insipid performances this season, sometimes for parts of games and sometimes for the whole 90 mins. We've been able to turn several of those games around but you can't keep doing that and expect results. Ole has to find a way to make us play like the 2nd half yesterday much more often.

So overall, there's some improvements, there are some things to be positive about but next season is make or break for Ole and there are still several concerns that need to be ironed out.


4.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 14:21:19
Martial is still hit and miss. He is a player who should be moved on. This season he hasn't shown much promise or justified being selected for the first team.


5.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 15:19:05
I think yesterday’s second half shows what we are capable of. My worry is how much investment is needed. We all know we have positions that need to be strengthened, if Cavani and Pogba goes that’s another 2 to address as well. I can see us challenging next year, I can also see us going backwards depending on what investment is made.

We could well see DDG, Lingard, Cavani, Pogba all leave which might generate some funds. Hendo replaced DDG, Lingard hasn’t been near the first team for some time, the other 2 will need addressing.

There seems to be a move to integrate youngsters but I don’t think any of them are going to have a huge immediate impact.


6.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 15:26:49
Stability is the key. Ole has his favourites, never throw them under the bus, protect them and we are a happy place. We have a Britain core who are happy to be here and their mind is not at Madrid or Paris etc so we have stability. He is trying to copy SAFs methods and as a leader of the team until now he is doing a decent job. He is not a good coach but he is a better manager.


7.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 15:44:01
I think Amad Diallo would surprise a few of us, with a little pre season and some game time.
His run for that goal was something our forwards don't do often, he attacked the space.

I would also add Dan James to the list of outgoings, he's not the quality we should be aiming for, and having him in the squad means ole can setup even more defensively.

If we can use him as a bargain to get a raphinha or someone who adds more flair, I would do it in a second.


8.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 15:47:18
I liked yesterdays performance and result but i think yesterdays second half shows (mostly) what Spurs are capable of. They are capable of playing like a relegation side in Championship and its not the first time they score first and the opponent totally dominate them. With Wolves it was the same, with West Ham it was something similar, Brighton totally dominated them, Liverpool totally dominated them, at Newcastle yet again they lost 2 points from a winning position, at Arsenal they were dominated and lost 3 points from a winning position and that's only 6 games comes in my mind.
So is it what Brighton Arsenal Wolves United etc capable of or what Spurs capable of?


9.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 16:16:41
If you look at injury-free Liverpool side, they have

Best GK in world

Best CB

Two of best attacking full backs

One of best DM (two, if include Henderson)

Some of best attackers

The spine - and more - of their team is world class, Liverpool only started winning things when they got the quality players into key positions.

Same for Man City: Ederson - Dias - Fabhino - De Bryce etc

For us to get that quality, we need works class CB, DM, RW plus striker. I think we’re all happy with GK, LB, RB, CM and LW. Thus ideally get Torres, Rice, Sancho/ Sarr/ Raphina plus Kane (lol! )

OR bring in the youngsters to blood so they can do the Fledglings thing in a few years? (Garner, Mengi, Amad, Hannibal, McNeil, Hugill)


10.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 16:16:41
If you look at injury-free Liverpool side, they have

Best GK in world

Best CB

Two of best attacking full backs

One of best DM (two, if include Henderson)

Some of best attackers

The spine - and more - of their team is world class, Liverpool only started winning things when they got the quality players into key positions.

Same for Man City: Ederson - Dias - Fabhino - De Bryce etc

For us to get that quality, we need works class CB, DM, RW plus striker. I think we’re all happy with GK, LB, RB, CM and LW. Thus ideally get Torres, Rice, Sancho/ Sarr/ Raphina plus Kane (lol! )

OR bring in the youngsters to blood so they can do the Fledglings thing in a few years? (Garner, Mengi, Amad, Hannibal, McNeil, Hugill)


11.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 16:22:36
Herrera, that's a good point. Spurs do set up to sit back once they have the lead. That can embolden the opposition and gives them the chance to play their way back into the game.

That tactic might work if Spurs had any good defenders, but they don't. Shutting up shop and inviting pressure onto the weakest part of your side is just plain stupid. Jose was doing it in his final season with us, inviting pressure on our weak defence then wondering why we concede. Clearly he hasn't learned a bloody thing.


12.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 17:14:13
Allisson best gk in the world? Grow up.


13.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 17:55:29
I'm not sure he is the best goal keeper at Liverpool.


14.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 18:05:22
Yes Shappy but i don't believe the instructions from Mourinho are to sit so deep. Not any more. He said a lot of times in interviews that he did tell them to go forward more often but his players just couldn't. I totally believe him in this.
I think the problem with Mourinho is that he is a reactive coach. He is afraid to press high and his team's can't defend from upfront. Additionally can't have more possesion and more time with the ball. So they leave the ball at opponents, his opponents aren't pressed and comes easily until the opposition's half and then the pressure goes at defence. So I don't think that staying at low block is an instruction, it is the only option for a group of players that don't know how to press upfront and can't keep the ball a lot of time (keeping the ball is the best part of the defencive job at City) .


15.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 18:48:55
Herrera, I just don't believe that at all. Pochettino was a high pressing manager, he demanded his team press from the front.

The team Jose took over was full of players who could press from the front. Kane, Son, Lamela, Sisoko, Lo Celso, Alli, and Moura are all players who can press in the attacking areas.

While they have plenty of hard working midfielders who can do so as well.

If they aren't pressing high it's because they are coached not to.


16.) 12 Apr 2021
12 Apr 2021 20:07:23
But that's what i said Shappy (or at least i tried to say) . Mourinho is afraid to press high. He is afraid that when an opponent break the press it could be a disaster. And i am sure he doesn't coach his team to press as a unit. He is reactive and pathetic.


17.) 13 Apr 2021
13 Apr 2021 09:29:34
Utd's spine is woeful. Henderson, Maguire, McTominay (open to debate but Pogba isn't playing centrally), Cavani.
Only Cavani is world class out of that lot, and chances are he's on his way, with Martial coming back in. Of course Bruno would count but his position isn't really part of a traditional spine, ie one player from each position. An overhaul is an understatement!


18.) 14 Apr 2021
14 Apr 2021 09:28:53
spineless.


19.) 14 Apr 2021
14 Apr 2021 10:20:05
It's clear we have at best an average team that needs major work right through the spine. It's why I'm so surprised that everyone thinks the team is under performing currently.

Those two statements seem completely at odds with each other.

People think we have a team with no spine that needs at least another 4 or 5 first choice players, but at the same time expects us with half a team to challenge for the title against two of the best sides in EPL history.