20 Sep 2018 06:51:22
That was a very solid performance, an open game but 3 goals and a clean sheet. After a relatively slow start we picked it up, took control, and did exactly what was needed. Great team selection from Jose, Dalot looks a great prospect and far ahead of where I thought he would be; his and Shaw could form a great partnership for years.

Rashford and Martial scared the pants off the defenders with their pace and directness, such a shame Rashford hit the post as that would have been a great goal. Nice to see Martial score, I thought he looked a bit rusty but he also looked up for it and kept running to the end.

Pogba showed what Pogba can do, I’m a bit surprised to see him as Captain, I guess Jose is trying to demonstrate he has no issue at all with him but it does crate slightly.

If our final ball had been better I think we would have had a 🎩 full. Let’s remember it was only Young Boys! but it was away from home, on a plastic pitch, and that’s 3 away wins on the bounce.

1.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 09:08:15
The result was good but I was more pleased with an improved performance.

It was good to see two full backs who would get forward and be useful in the final third. It made us far more dangerous and less predictable.

I also thought we moved the ball quicker. Now was that due to having more width making more space and it easier to see and play passes. Was it the plastic pitch, or was it a directive from Jose.

I don't know, but we benefitted from it.

We do however, have to keep in mind that Young Boys aren't a great team. This was also their first ever appearance in the UCL group stages.

But the signs were good. Hopefully we can take momentum from the last few results, and hopefully expand on the good elements of this game when we play against a tricky Wolves side on Saturday.

Onward and upward.

2.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 09:16:24
I liked the team selection last night and that was a good win as any team dropping points to young boys in the group would find themselves in a struggle .
If we beat Valencia at home, qualification could become a fair bit easier than was suspected when the draw was made it would take us 6 points clear of Valencia with young boys at home still to come .
Lukaku, martial and rash can frustrate but I like seeing them all play as for all their flaws they are fast and skillfull and give opponents plenty to ponder if they find themselves too far forward or exposed one on one . I'd like to see that selection a little more and if we have matic and fellaini or Fred give the wide lads a liscence not to come to far back .

3.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 09:17:27
Morning AJH

Crucial win last night and it was good to keep the momentum going into the weekend.

I'd just like to get your thoughts on Fred? It's still early days but I'm not quite sure what kind of player he is yet or where he fits in? I like his energy, he's decent on the ball but he's flattered to deceive so far in my opinion. At the moment I don't see him as a ball winner and he's yet to provide any real kind of creative spark, he's looked tidy in possession at times but is yet to really influence a game in my opinion.

I thought he made a lot of forward runs ahead of the ball yesterday and with Pogba also operating in advanced positions it left us wide open to the counter attack especially in the opening 20 minutes or so. We looked much more vulnerable than in our last two games and against a better team we could easily have found ourselves behind. Like I said it's still early days but it will be interesting to see how he fits in moving forward.

On a positive note I agree it was a very encouraging debut for Dalot and refreshing to see Jose pick both Shaw and Dalot together in a tricky away fixture. Again it's early days but it we could get them both playing to anywhere near their potential, they can both stay clear from injury, then they should be able to add another attacking dimension to our team which we've lacked for a number of years now.

So after two successive defeats we've seen a very positive reaction. It's too early to get carried away but we have cause to be optimistic moving forward. Another tricky test awaits on Saturday let's hope we can keep the momentum going.

4.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 09:24:57
Yes Dalot was impressive and more importantly looks like we have more threat down his side going forward. If your good enough, your old enough, maybe it’s time we took a risk and started phasing out 33yr old full backs, Shaw seems to have cemented the left back slot which I’m happy about after coming such a long way.
I’ve been pogbas harshest critic but an impressive display and 2 goals to boot. Again the caveat will be ‘it’s only young boys, expected to win’ but Burnley, Watford and Young Boys away in a row and 3 wins, that’s impressive.

5.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 09:45:57
Good day mates!

We're surely better than we are/ were playing.
We need some consistency on the team selection and the players need a bit more freedom to express themselves on the pitch without losing the tactical discipline.

But it's really good to see us wining games after a slow start.

As for Dalot and Shaw, I hope Mourinho take risks and use them both. Very good prospects for LB/ RB positoins.

Keep the momentum.

6.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 09:58:53
Rashford was amazing? seriously?

7.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 10:22:29
Good result, we improved after looking very lethargic and frankly over-run by the Young Boys. Pogba's goal came at the right time. before he scored I was getting very irritated with Pogba slowing everything down as usual, trying to draw fouls and delaying a simple pass.

Matic for me is not up to snuff any longer, been going down hill almost since he signed, great first few months then drifting to nothingness. He can be effective as a body, but he is so slow and surprisingly pretyy unaware at times - not too sure what he brings over even Fellaini nowadays.

Wingers looked like they were a bit scared at times, but they don't have too much going on around them so it's a case of beat 2 men or be negative. Hard on plastic pitch as well tbf.

Good result though in the end, Young Boys obviously went for it first 20mins and burnt out which is why we may have looked more off the pace than we really were. Hope we continue to improve and we quicken up the midfield passing/ movement. Fair play to the defence as well, looked pretty good - Lukaku with a poor touch again, things breaking down all the time whenever he is involved in build up play.

8.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 10:41:40
The game was filled with lots of positives. The defence looked balanced with only a few slip ups in positioning mainly coming from losing possession and facing the counter. We also had more width down both sides and both fb were putting in dangerous balls, also couple of times dalot used his lightning fast pace to beat a man. The midfield seemed to get a bit congested as the game went on but otherwise really nice interchanging passing and movement.

Then there was the attack. All 3 were terrible in my opinion. Yes rashford was unlucky with his effort of the post, but even if all 3 had scored I would still be highly critical of their involvement. All had a terrible first touch, constantly played into trouble, were extremely static, and even when in good advanced positions they lacked the composure required. It must have been terribly annoying for the likes of Pogba and Fred who had done the hard work of winning the ball back, playing it through the midfield smartly only to see it bounce back 10m in the opposition half.

In conclusion it was a great result, as all away wins in Europe are, great progress as a team and the way we are playing, and most especially a hugely encouraging debut from Dalot.

9.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 12:38:31
Agree with you on matic beast, definitely need to bring somebody in for the holding role in Jan or the summer. He's the passenger lately. Who would you replace him with? No stand out DM I can think of who would be attainable.

10.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 13:29:31
DLIB, not sure what type of player Fred is or where we want him to play. He has bags of energy and huge potential, we just need to give him a clear rrolw I think.

Interesting points about Matic, but we won 3-0 so right now I’m chilled with him.

11.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 16:23:55
Maybe see how TFM does and if he's able to step up. Or see if the scouts can work their magic.

12.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 18:58:34
Thought the team didn't defend well as a whole in the first half. Lindlehof is shockingly bad.
Pogba's goal was excellent and we controlled matters after we scored.
Jury still out on Fred.
Martial and Rashford continue to frustrate with no real aggression to their game.
Shaw and Pogba were very good and the result was excellent.

13.) 20 Sep 2018
20 Sep 2018 22:35:37
Schmid, blunt but pretty fair and accurate.