19 Aug 2023 22:08:24
Trying not to be negative. but not a great deal to be positive about.
Go back to last year's blue print. Stop shoe horning players into the team. Coach the players available rather than bringing in players you have coached before.

1.) 19 Aug 2023
19 Aug 2023 23:19:31
Hopefully we do not fall into the rut that has blighted our last few seasons. Got to batten down the hatches and get a few results until the team starts to fully get into its stride.

I know it’s the same for all teams but a few dirty results can swing momentum. A penalty there and we would have possibly got a result and be sitting on 6 points.

Onwards and upwards!

2.) 19 Aug 2023
19 Aug 2023 23:32:49
Well, our biggest problem last season was putting the ball in the net. Guess what, we did nothing to fix it.

Rashford isn't CF, rather play Sancho there.

Garnacho still needs to be an impact sub, his time will come.

Basically the same changes I would have made in the Wolves game.

3.) 19 Aug 2023
19 Aug 2023 23:34:05
I know it's tough after a couple of substandard performances, but it's important not to fall into hyperbole.

We were better today against Spurs than we were against Wolves. Spurs are just a better team and to be honest we didn't get any luck what so ever.

We mostly made silly individual mistakes in defence which cost us and gave Spurs too many chances.

People are writing off our season when last season at this point we had lost the opening two games against Brighton and Brentford. This season we beat Wolves and lost away to Spurs (a team that will be challenging for European places) .

We are in a better position than we were this time last year. Have we really got the the point where we throw the towel in after one defeat in a season?

A lot of people seem to think we have bought badly, and that the tactics aren't working. I don't agree with that, Onana has been very good and will be excellent. Mount will prove to be a good signing come the end of the season and Højlund hasn't even had a kick yet. I expect we'll get a couple more through the door. There is also scope for players currently at the club to improve and step up this season and play a bigger role. Garnacho, Mainoo, Sancho, Antony, AWB, Dalot, Amad and Pellistri. If a few of these players step up and prove themselves this season they will be like new signings (sorry for the cliché) .

I also expect to see one or two more come through the door before the transfer window slams shut.

I have two real concerns about this season.

Firstly, this is the second season we have started slowly. Maybe the truncated season last year with a world cup sandwiched mid season, and a shortened break this summer has played a part. Either way EtH may need to look into if he can change his pre-season planning for next season so we aren't so slow out of the blocks.

The second issue is the injuries, we didn't have a great bench and that is in part due to few players being out injured. We don't have the strongest depth in our squad, especially in a few key areas. Injuries to key players at key times this season could well hold us back.

Tactically I think we will be fine, I think the performances so far are more a combination of a lack of fitness/ match sharpness and teething issues as new players settle in.

4.) 19 Aug 2023
19 Aug 2023 23:34:30
Not just the penalty keefy- swings and round abouts with that one. No pen last week, no pen this week. I'm okay with that.

But in the first half we were the better team for 35 mins, rashford and bruno missed sitters. Anthony should have scored, he has one danger to his game and he fluffed his lines.

We were well in the game. But the team are weak mentally and severely lacking match fitness. One our energy levels and competitiveness dropped, spurs took over the game.

EtH has to take a big slice of blame for failing to change the game. Not for the first time, second half we started like we'd fallen asleep at half time. But then he watched as the game went away from us. Very poor.

5.) 20 Aug 2023
20 Aug 2023 00:28:48
This team lacks hunger passion and desire and there is no energy whatsoever

A shocking window so far

The deadwood need shipping out quickly and a couple of signings asap or we will struggle big time to even finish in the top 6

This is not an over reaction to one defeat but I feared for us before a ball was even kicked this season

Our midfield lacks cohesion and is devoid of pace.

6.) 20 Aug 2023
20 Aug 2023 01:12:16
Dya want to know what the problem is?

And it doesn't take an essay to explain it. mount bruno and casemiro does not work. Simple as that. Mount undoubtedly has his uses, but not in our midfield. Yet again proof of English hype.

7.) 20 Aug 2023
20 Aug 2023 09:13:23
Yeh Rashford shouldn’t be number 9 but to think Sancho, someone who should be in the championship is the answer is laughable. I doubt the lad even needs a shower after the game doesn’t do anything and is useless.

8.) 20 Aug 2023
20 Aug 2023 10:33:57
Bit fatalist, can't see anyone 'writing off the season' :D. We've already got more points than this time last season and we finished a respectable third.
Pretty sure EtH will come good although I wish he'd expand his wishlist beyond players he knows or has worked with. The likes of Mitoma and Szoboszlai were available for so much less than Antony and Mount for example. Gravenberch could be another. Who next, Bergkamp? Give him the power to do what he wants but I think much of it has to fall at his door if he insists on using this template. For a third of the price of Antony, Brighton bought Estupian, Enciso and Mitoma. We need to eat more of what they're having.

9.) 20 Aug 2023
20 Aug 2023 13:36:02
Well, Sell Fred, yes, if it means moving Rashford to his position and making Garnacho an impact sub, yes, Sancho is an answer. And he is not as bad as you put him to be. I mean, why put him at the false 9 in preseason if you are not going to try it out when the season starts? At least while our main striker is out.