02 Sep 2022 08:55:00
It feels like the team is slowly coming together, we seem to have clicked defensively. Going from conceding 6 in our first 2 games to only conceding once in our last 3 games. Even that was against Liverpool who are probably one of the most dangerous teams offensively in the league.

It doesn't feel like it's quite clicked yet in attack. Sancho has done okay, he looked much better on the left working with Malacia over lapping. Rashford is working harder and just needs a couple of goals to go in for his confidence to return. Elanga works hard, but lacks quality and consistency (to be expected as he is young and inexperienced) . Ronaldo hasn't really played much, will he remain an impact sub?

Bruno has been growing in influence in these last few games. He seems to relish being the main man, taking responsibility. When Ronaldo is on the pitch he seems to shirk a little.

Our passing is getting better and there was some nice combinations last night, especially in the first half. We needed a second goal in the first half to kill the game off. You need to score and put the game to bed when on top in this league as there will always be a spell in the game where the opposition have a good 10-20 minutes and every team in this league is capable of scoring against any other side.

While we still have Martial to come back, and the introduction of Antony to our side.

Our midfield looked good last night, McTominay probably played his best match in 6 months. He seems to have stepped up with the pressure of Casemiro now in the squad. While Eriksen just greases the wheels. He makes everything look so easy and really connects defence with attack. Really looking forward to him scoring his first goal for us, he's been close a few times.

Shoots of growth, emerging patterns of play, the building of relationship all over the pitch. All very promising stuff.

Three wins on the bounce and now we play the in form team in the league this weekend. It'll be a tough match, but I'm confident we can get a result against Arsenal.

The important thing to remember is win, lose or draw it doesn't undo the positive signs we are seeing. It's a journey and there will be bumps on the road. Onwards and upwards.

1.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 09:47:45
I missed the first half and only caught the last 30/ 35 minutes. I hope we play a lot better come Sunday. Whilst defensively we looked pretty good going forward we seemed to be quite wasteful in terms making the wrong pass, not passing when you need or mirubbishting the pass when maybe taking a touch first was the better option. There were gaps and lots of opportunities to score a second but we were wasteful.

OT will be Buzzing on Sunday and if we clean it up and be more surgical and get the crowd going we should beat Arsenal.

All in all going from bottom of the league with zero points to 5th, big turnaround.

2.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 09:52:02
Vardy usually terrorizes Maguire but yesterday the defense gave him absolutely no chance.
Lisandro looks a captain material. Shouting and organizing constantly.

Eriksen already looks a huge upgrade on Pogba.
The passing and movement at times were beautiful to watch.
However, we need to be much more clinical in front of goal.

Once Ronaldo and Martial are fully fit along with Antony, the strength in depth and quality in attack will immensely improve.

Gritty and hard fought win. The passion from players was amazing to see.
We look much more like a team with a proper manager.

3.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 10:08:53
The Arsenal game will be a tough game. I'd be happy if we got a point against them. I certainly won't be underestimating them, as they are top of the league and un beaten.

Hopefully it is a very entertaining game.

4.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 10:37:31
In reality last season our back four was AWB, Lindelof, Maguire and Shaw.

It's not that suprising to anyone who watched us last season than none of them make it into this season's back four (Dalot, Varane, Martinez and Malacia) .

While the addition of Casemiro should further solidify us defensively when he is ready to start games.

It's easier to coach defensive solidity than offensive expression. So it's not surprising that we have shored up the defence before we become more fluid in attack.

Antony will be a huge upgrade on Elanga, plus he knows how EtH wants the team to play. So he should, in theory, slot in fairly seemlessly.

While Ronaldo and Martial are better striker options through the middle than Rashford (who does seem to be improving, just lacking a little confidence) .

When the attack clicks we will be a much better team, it's now just a waiting game for the pieces to fall into place.

5.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 10:39:29
Although I ultimately believe he needs replacing, I think having Martial back will allow us to retain the ball better than Rashford does. Martial is pretty good at holding it up and keeping the ball. Hopefully we'll see a transition to Sancho-Martial-Antony in the coming weeks which will be a technical front 3 who I feel will hold the ball better so we can exert more control in games.

6.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 10:54:11
I want Rashfkrd to succeed but he needs to become a killer. Every attack last night broke down because he ran straight into a defender. There were multiple times as well he was quite deep when he should have been attacking the box. Hopefully some proper coaching he'll get there.

I see posts about the return of Martial as our saviour. i'd be very weary of him. A decent pre-season and a good cameo against Liverpool doesn't cleanse his reputation. But I think it's obvious that we need a proper striker.

Impressed with everyone yesterday. From the GK to the subs, everyone put in a decent shift. I thought McTominay, Dalot and Bruno were great and there's something about Eriksen that just makes me smile.

I think the Arsenal game might suit us being open but they've impressed me so far. Arteta has done a good job with them. They have some really good hound players I enjoy watching.

Has 4-4 written all over it or can we give them a taste of their own medicine and another 1-0 to United?

7.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 11:49:36
Not sure what game you watched but I saw not much improvement in mctominay. Eriksen had to muck in to help him out, he only looked more assured with Casemiro on the pitch.

Still shouldn't be starting.

8.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 12:28:35
I watched arsenal vs vilka. They terrorized them first 30 minutes. Villa were much better second half. I think up front and back 4 they are solid. Midfield a bit questionable. They do hsve pace with gsbriel and saliba so not as simple as getting behind them and running away from them.

I think we will win another tight game.

9.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 12:33:42
Scott played well last night (in my opinion mate, don’t want you getting narky), know you aren’t a fan of home grown players RW so might be clouding your judgements.

We actually conceded 6 in our first 1.5 games and 1 in the following 3.5 games so things are definitely looking up. Hopefully Antony and a fully fit Ronaldo can start to add a few goals in attack, adding younger players like Garnacho into a winning team is a lot easier than expecting them to be the saviour so fingers crossed he gets chances down the line as well.

Interesting season ahead and I for one am glad the window is closed so we can crack on with it.

10.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 12:35:59
Dalot got a lot is stick lately. Thought he played well last night.

11.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 12:41:28
I thought Mctominay was dreadful last night.
Passing was awful. He couldn't control the ball half the time, constantly fouling. I would sooner have Fred in any day of the week.
Rashford was frustrating to watch all game again, couldn't beat his man, ran into defenders loads of times and his passing (apart from the set up for Sancho which my 8 year old lad could have done) was awful.
Wasn't great to watch but a wins a win.
Passing and ball retention needs to be a lot better against Arsenal or we will get punished badly.

{Ed014's Note - to me it seemed they simply have McTominay in the side to win headers in your own box. Aside from that he did nothing.

12.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 12:56:08
Doesn't matter whether he is HG or not GDS. You call a spade a spade.

13.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 13:24:06
I have very little time for McTominay and have slated him many times on here but he played well. He's still negative on the ball but he put in a shift yesterday and deserves a pat on the back.

14.) 02 Sep 2022
02 Sep 2022 14:48:53
Nice patterns and movement, Eriksen is a good player.

My concern remains with our CF position, not just scoring goals but holdup play bringing other players in and buying breathing space. We brought pressure on ourselves because Rashford cannot do that. Loses it too easily.

In terms of McT, if we are going to play quick passing in between the players as we did, then he isn’t good enough. We paid £70m for Cas and can’t see him sitting on the bench on Sunday.