11 Mar 2019 12:08:26
Sunday's game was in my opinion just one of those games. We tried hard, but the players looked slightly jaded. Matic was clearly a little rusty. I think the tactic's were quite right, and we might have got a little more from the game if we set up slightly differently. Maybe McTominay should have kept his place with Matic coming on in the second half maybe.
That said, if we are to lose I would rather lose like that than by parking the bus. We had 14 shots away to Arsenal when not playing particularly well. The problem was Leno only had to make 4 saves. We hit the post twice, and although the penalty was a penalty it was about as soft as you could get without it being incorrectly given.
There are positives to take from the game. Firstly and most importantly I think was the EPL debut of Mason Greenwood. He might not have had a huge amount of time to impress yet in that time he showed great maturity to not let the occasion get to him. He looked positive and not overawed at all. For me he is the mostly likely of the trio (Chong, Gomes and Greenwood) to make it at the club. Chong looks like he is a year or two away from really being able to push for a first team spot, I think he could do with a good loan next season. Gomes has the ability, he is just waiting for his body to mature enough to be physically able to push on. A bit like Scholes being clearly the most talented of the class of 92, yet he didn't get his chance until a little later than the others due to his small frame.
Also I thought Fred was quietly very good again. Covered lots of ground, made several important tackles, disrupted Arsenal's rhythm well. While also making a couple of good contributions going forward, hitting the post and creating a couple of goal scoring chances. I think his performances over the last couple of games gives confidence that he can really kick on next season.
The race for top four will as Ole has suggested really go down to the wire. Some people have tried to look at the fixture list and work out who has the easier run etc. Personally I don't think that matters as much as the confidence, mentality and the momentum each club has going in to the final stretch. That is why I am still confident that we can do it.
Spurs under Pochettino have yet to show the mental resilience to hack a real fight when the pressure builds. Both Emery and Sarri are new to the league and have shown naivety on occasion. Personally I think all three of them will lose or draw games they will be expected to win between now and the end of the season. Four teams for two places, yet even after yesterday's result we are still the in form team, with the momentum and the confidence. If Ole can bring the team back from losing 2-0 at home to PSG then I am confident he will get a response after losing 2-0 away to Arsenal.
11 Mar 2019 13:08:03
Scholes was playing, relatively regularly, for the first team the same season as Neville and Butt, and a year before Beckham. He was top class, so it didn’t matter about his small frame.
11 Mar 2019 14:12:57
Butt made his debut two years before Scholes. Scholes was often taken off early or used as a sub in his first season or two, plus he was played out of position for the first 3-4 years while he adjusted to the pace and power of the EPL. Often deployed in the No.10 or as a false 9 on occasions as it was thought the battle of midfield was too tough for him at that time.
However, it is clear his talent along with his fighting spirit won out and he was able to force his way into midfield.
Gomes makes Scholes look like a giant. Scholes is 5'7, whereas Gomes is still only 5'3. For comparison Messi (after his growth hormones) is 5'7.
Gomes height shouldn't hold him back too much, however, he will need to fill out before he can be thrown in to being tackled by players such as Maguire and van Dijk.
11 Mar 2019 14:26:10
Butt made three appearances before the 94-95 season when Scholes, Neville and Butt all became first team regulars. Scholes was primarily played as an understudy to Cantona because we were overstocked in midfield.
11 Mar 2019 23:36:14
Do you know Scholes scored in the League in 19 consecutive seasons, a record only beaten by Giggs who did it in 23 consecutive seasons.