02 Mar 2019 18:20:23
Thought the result today was well fought. Southampton only had three shots on target one straight at DDG from 30 yards and the other two worldies into the top corners. That happens sometimes as annoying as that is.
From our perspective Pogba had a bad game, summed up by his poor penalty at the end. Rashford was off the pace, however i would say that I don't think he is 100% fit. Sanchez continued to have another poor game. Sadly I don't see it working out for him with us. Andreas Pereira had a very poor first half, but improved when he was pushed further forward in the second half with a goal and an assist. However, I struggle to see him having a long term future. Young had a strinker, his throwing that lead to Southampton's first goal was terrible. Then he gave away the free kick for their equaliser. I was surprised he stayed on for the full 90 minutes, every time we made a sub I expected Young's number to be called. I thought he was a liability.
However, again we showed fantastic fighting spirit with a depleted squad, Andreas and Lukaku stepped up when we needed it. McTominay was solid if unspectacular as was Lindelof and Shaw. I worried it might be one of those games early on when we created chances but couldn't get the ball over the line.
Glad we got the points, 3rd isn't beyond us this season with a little luck. Which would be phenomenal. Onwards and upwards.
02 Mar 2019 18:45:59
Pereira plays better when moved further forward. Shock, horror!
02 Mar 2019 18:54:18
The right hand side of our defence is a massive problem for us. Smalling is good in 1v1 physical battles but he is only a squad player in terms of ability and seems desperate to give away penalties for pulling shirts. As for Young, he isn't a full back so it's not all his fault but he is a liability defensively. His use of the ball is also poor. The amount of times in the last 4 or 5 games where he plays a pass too short, passes to the opposition or just knocks it aimlessly up the line/ out of play is astounding. Dalot is still young and in his few appearances for us has shown he is better going forward than he is defensively but he surely has to start ahead of Young going forward?
However, there is plenty to be positive about which is great. Lukaku has found some confidence, Shaw and Lindelof are in good form and players who are coming into the team are making a difference when we have a lot of injury problems. Dalot, Pereira and McTominay showed that today.
4 new players in the summer, RB, CB, CM and RW and I think we will be in a very good position to contend or perhaps even win the big competitions again.
02 Mar 2019 19:08:02
Disagree regarding Pereira, we need players like him in the squad when injuries hit like now.
I don't see him as a regular starter though.
02 Mar 2019 19:15:11
Smalling is poor on corners marking and one v one duels where the player is running for the ball or worh it
Why does he constantly pull their shirt when var comes into effect next season if he is playing we will get punished more than not.
02 Mar 2019 19:46:31
Didnt think pogba had that bad a game, sacrificed himself for the team by dropping back into the holding midfield role and improved our build up from the back.
This allowed pereira to move forward and effect the game much better.
02 Mar 2019 19:50:19
Lbad, Pereira might be a decent squad player, he could be good played as a No.10 when Pogba doesn't play as Pereira isn't good enough defensively and Pogba is lax at best in his defensive duties. Against a better side today our midfield would have been torn apart. As it was against PSG.
I feel we need a solid experienced RB but there are few out there and fewer available, in an ideal world I'd love us to sign Meunier. But that just isn't likely to happen.
Rj, I would have a RW far down the list of priorities, Dalot, Lingard, Rashford, Chong and Gomes can all play there well enough. And a few of them are young enough to step up and make that position their own.
02 Mar 2019 20:16:08
When I say RW, I'm meaning another player who can play from the right but is similar to Rashford / Martial who can play right across the front. This would give us plenty of attacking options.
As for RB, I think we need someone in their peak years to give Dalot time to adapt and gradually take over from them. Vrsaljko perhaps? Not sure how viable an option he is but I'm sure he is on loan at Inter so maybe a deal can be done?
02 Mar 2019 20:20:10
We won and yet you still find negatives to criticise a player. If you expect the team to play like peak barca, iniesta, Scholes and xavi then you are deluding yourself. We had injuries to key players and yet the other players are putting in good performances with win. You can't always win with fine margin all the time. Sometimes this are the kind of performances that gets teams over the line in winning championships. Kudos to the players. If you watch the game you would realise pogba was playing deeper and doing quite defensive work and also in build up play. If you going to judge him every game on his assist and goals then you should channel same energy to other midfielders in the Modric, kroos, Dr Bryune of this world. Pogba had a good game. Not perfect but he did the job for the team. Appreciate the team winning and stop finding negatives
Andh.
02 Mar 2019 20:36:07
I think right back and centre back are the highest priority along with 1-2 midfielders. i'd like another winger but as shappy says its not essential compared to the others. i'd also look at another striker. Martial for the moment is better wide. We only have rashford and lukaku.
02 Mar 2019 21:03:41
Pereira has had a few games and he’s been written off as a starter. Give the lad a little time, he’s stuck with the team when his chances were limited and proved himself with an assist and a brilliant goal, what’s to say he won’t continue to improve? I’m delighted for the lad, he embodies what’s good about our youth development and only helps other prospects to try hard and not give up.
02 Mar 2019 22:56:51
Andy, it's not a case of looking for negatives. In fact I would say on balance I tend to be one of the more positive posters. At least I always try and find the positives.
I'm just trying to give a balanced view without the rose tinted glasses on. I enjoyed the game, and I appreciated the fight and offensive vigour of the side. But we did make mistakes at home against a side who are battling relegation. Which meant we could have lost points in a game we shouldn't. Injuries have to be taken into account but it just highlights the lack of squad depth.
Penfold, Pereira is nearly 23. He had a so-so couple of years on loan in La Liga and he hasn't hit the heights with us yet. He was near hopeless bin the first half albeit he tried hard. In the second half Ole moved his position and he playeduch better. But this was hardly against the top level opposition. I really want him to succeed as I do with all the academy lads. But there comes a point where you have to say he isn't going to make it as a regular. The only thing he excels at is dead ball delivery/ long shots. His passing isn't incisive enough, he lasks pace and physicality, and he doesn't produce enough in the final third.
If he wants to stay next season and fight for a place then I hope he makes it. But my gut says he will want regular football and my brain says he is unlikely to get that here. So at some point he is likely to leave.
03 Mar 2019 08:52:56
Pereira is a talented lad, will be a good player in the right system. Not played much this season and people are allready on his back .
Average first half good second .
Look at lukaku, bit of a ruff run of form and people wanted rid .
Rash is the opposite, good run of form and he suddenly has to start every game . Just wait until his form starts to drop ( which it will) 1 or 2 average games people will want him gone .
Infact it was only a few week ago people were saying he wasnt good enough, didn't really have the potential .
03 Mar 2019 09:55:02
Jred, I'm not doubting Pereira's talent, just his ability to turn it into consistent high quality performances.
Nani was probably one of the most talented players we had during his time at the club. Yet for all that talent he so often drifted in and out of games. Often contributing very little in 4 out of every 5 games.
Pereira's best position is probably at No.10 as he hasn't got the pace to play out wide or the physical attributes or defensive awareness to play deeper. Yet we have Pogba, Mata and Lingard who are ahead of him in that role.
He has been pushed around in many different positions because he lacks something in every position to truly make it his own.
I hope he proves me wrong, in fact nothing would make me happier. I just don't see it.
There are three likely scenario's,
1, He leaves in the summer when his contact is up.
2, He signs an extension, hardly plays next season and leaves in the summer of 2020.
3, He signs an extension and makes a position his own and becomes a first team regular.
From everything I've seen of him I feel options 1 and 2 are most likely. However, I do hope option 3 is what we get.