11 Nov 2023 19:41:34
Ey up, we're somehow still in contention for the top 4.
Yeah, we're having a mare - a proper Gove of a season, but remarkably, we're still in the mix.
Hopefully, this international break serves as handy respite for a squad so ravaged by injury and form issues.
Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Malacia and Evans are all suggested as possible returnees around the time we travel to Goodison.
If at least 2 can return and be up to speed by the time we visit Newcastle, we might be able to better deal with the horrors of our December schedule.
I do hope Hojlund's injury is minor, I'd hate to see us rely upon Martial again.
Please, please Hojlund's hammy, please don't be damaged too badly.
11 Nov 2023 21:35:11
Hoiland is not the most relevant guy in our line up and so far from finished product and so raw aka jackson at chlesea.
Licha, shaw and cas are most relevant players in our line up and most people will not get that. not on their own but together.
11 Nov 2023 22:26:12
Look at newcastle, missing a few players, drop points. Look at tottenham, missing a few players, drop points. Even city without Rodri, dropped some points. It has a huge impact. Not an excuse, and I haven't seen EtH use it as an excuse. He want to win every game. But when people start levelling style of play at them, I mean come on! What does everyone expect?
Our problems are mainly that our front line is misfiring. In fact rashford is misfiring (he has worst XG% in league). Even he is missing shaw, or at least consistent LCB and LB behind him.
It will start to click soon, and the play will improve. But we are scrapping and fighting until some serious overhaul of this squad.
11 Nov 2023 23:51:49
Hoijland is very relevant. The reason he currently appears irrelevant is the poor service he is getting. It is bordering on woeful. We don’t know how far from the finished product he is as it is based on playing in an underperforming front line. Rashford only has 1 goal!
If he had scored 10 goals by now with half decent service I wonder if you would be saying the same thing?
But to a certain extent I do see your point as far as returning players are concerned.
12 Nov 2023 00:48:55
Højlund I very important. The alternatives through the middle are Rashford or Martial (shudders)
I think most people do get that Shaw and Martinez are important. It’s not a secret.
12 Nov 2023 01:18:17
Ahmad H
Absolutely, but none of them are proper goalscorers. Hojlund has the potential to bag a few, but is just waiting for better supply and service.
Regarding Casemiro, most people don't really get that he looked best when paired with Fred. Casemiro's positional discipline allowed Fred to show his game. Fred's unrivalled energy allowed Casemiro to excel.
Sabitzer was also an energetic component with perhaps better ability than Fred.
Eriksen, before the injury, was like a Rolls with his passing game which allowed Casemiro to just keep things simple.
We no longer have Fred or Sabitzer and Eriksen has not provided a long-term solution in a league so quickly transitioning into one being driven by such greater impetus to athleticism and stamina.
Casemiro has simply been tasked with increasing his yardage significantly - thus reducing the quality of his output.
Yet, apparently, it's his legs that have gone.
Last season, when paired with Fred or Sabitzer, Casemiro could comfortably drop back to cover Martinez when the latter needed to cover for the marauding Shaw who was the instigating drive behind Rashford's remarkable form - most people don't get that.
Even Fernandes benefited greatly from the energy and discipline behind him. Now, we see the histrionics more often because the components aren't yet clicking in.
Last season, we also had the work ethic of Weghorst. People greatly underestimate the impact of his game. He was brought in because of his energy and was therefore a success - nothing fancy, but a productive team player.
Let's be fair, even Antony looked better. This season, he's just become a shambles.
Things just clicked and found a way to work last season. This time every cog seems to have a burr and there's such demand for each cog to be reinstalled without the abrasive finish that the return of friction brings further issues.
Eventually, things will click tidily again, we just need to wait.
12 Nov 2023 15:11:03
Having a mare? What are you talking about? We’re one of the league’s most in-form teams with four wins from our last five.
12 Nov 2023 17:02:40
always a good sign if you are winning games not playing your best and dealing with form and injuries. I saw the highlights having missed the second half and we are being wasteful and making it harder than it should be.
After the break the schedule is very tough and hope we are going to step up a couple of gears.
12 Nov 2023 17:47:51
Could have, rather should have been 4 yesterday.
12 Nov 2023 21:24:08
I miss Fred! He was the engine. Not the best player, but played every game like it was his last.
13 Nov 2023 06:23:14
Dodgy
I think the injuries and the extend of these injuries to so many, which is not just 3 or 4 weeks out but months and months has been a key contributing factor to our form. Having to pick teams with a line up which is not idea week in week out is a very tough way to manage in this league.
I watched Spurs against wolves and spurs were really poor, They were missing 3 of their defenders and Maddison. They created almost nothing and some people would question, why would missing defenders matter and affect their forward play and it must be Maddison not playing. Their whole set up looked different and just very sloppy and second best team all day and wolves were wasteful and made it more difficult than it should have been.
Missed the NC game they lost to a team that's in the relegation fight.
in my opinion if Saliba/ Gabriel or VVD/ Konate have long spells on the sidelines both Arsenal and Liverpool will lose games which on paper should be wins and drop points no matter what they have upfront.
Look at how many top defenders pep has bought and keeps buying. IMO we need to invest the bulk our investing next window in CB positions and more technical athletes in our midfield area. We have plenty of guys up front that will score, even if they are all shooting blanks atm.
Even the academy seems to produce a lot more high quality wingers and forward players comparative to CB's and looks like there are few attacking type players atm who could be special in a few years if they keep progressing.