07 Apr 2024 09:02:57
I keep reading this line of defence for ETH “What’s he supposed to do? ” given the injuries. Well:
1. Drop Rashford. We have cover. Why is he sticking with the most out of form seemingly couldn’t care less player in the entire league (not just the club. )
2. Stop playing McT as a holding midfielder. He’s just not capable. He wanted Amrabat. Guy’s never had a real chance. Play him. At least he understands the role.
3. Give Bruno clear guidelines on his role. The diving, whinging headless chicken act that continually gives the ball away is pointless.
4. Tell Casemiro or Amrabat whoever is DM to stay in his own half. Give Mainoo a bit of licence to roam.
5. Stop with the bloody inverted wingers and focus on getting service to Hojlund. May help Antony too.
6. Stop playing Lindelof at LB. If need be drop down to academy to get a proper LB. Either that or swap Dalot there and play AWB at RB where he should be.
7. Now Mount is fit, rotate him with Bruno at 10. Freshen things up. Rotate more. Trust the squad.
8. If the only available defenders are incapable of playing out from back (Lindelof at home to Man City made my eyes bleed) DON’T play out from the back.
9. Coach players (assuming ETH has the ability) on training ground some game management principles. Points lost at end of games has cost us top four.
10. Get the fans back inside. Season one we had a manager who was relatively open and honest. This year he’s treating us like idiots.
11. Fall out with some press. Ban Dickhurst or somebody. Create some siege-mentality. Us against the world. Unify the squad, drop players that aren’t trying, engage the supporters and demonstrate some sense of tactical nous.
We’re awful to watch and so predictably bad that even that is boring now. Do something different man.
If he can’t do any of those things - or preferably something better with the managerial and coaching skills he’s supposed to have then what’s the point.
Everybody should remember some of the teams SAF put out that won big games. On paper they looked weak. Smalling, Jones, Cleverley, Evans, Anderson and Wellbeck. All started in the 8-2 victory of Arsenal. None of them elite players. But they knew they had to put a shift in every time they put the shirt on. If they didn’t. Dropped.
Try that Eric. Don’t need to be a tactical genius. You just need to stop being a coward and exert yourself.
{Ed025's Note - some really good points there BRD, good honest post mate..
07 Apr 2024 09:48:12
I'd like to see mount as a 10 with mainoo and casemiro ( no one else ) as the 2 holding midfielders.
Completely agree about the wingers getting a yard and putting it in the box and also the whole lindelof, wan bisaka at lb back is just mind blowing. Dalot has been the surprise of the season with his good performances he is more than capable at playing left back.
Bruno is a strange situation. At times he's our best player but others he doesn't contribute and if anything weakens the team. His passing in atrocious, gives the ball away so many times. I do wonder if he's told to play so high up the pitch and to play the way he does. If not why hasn't the management done anything to stop it.
I think your point at 9 is my biggest concern of ten hag. 2 seasons in the players haven't improved, no patterns of play. He says he hasn't the players to play how he wants to. Yet his signings have been abysmal. The spurs manager did an interview around the same time ten hag came out and said he can't play how he did at ajax. Ange said one thing that winds him up is when coaches say they haven't got the player to implement their style. His words were just coach them. I don't think ten hag can.
07 Apr 2024 11:06:51
Thanks Ed025. I’ll retire while I’m ahead ?.
{Ed025's Note - dont you dare.. :)
07 Apr 2024 11:19:07
Bad Red Devil, brilliant post. I think that sums it up perfectly. Take a bow.
07 Apr 2024 11:25:29
Good post BRD, I agree with a lot of points and your closing summary, but just to play devils advocate here and encourage some healthy debate:
1. He dropped Rashford against Chelsea. So I don't understand this point. I would like to see consistency and drop him against Liverpool.
2. Same as above, he was dropped against Chelsea with Casemiro favoured. Again would like to see him dropped against Liverpool. Although I agree about Amrabat, he hasn't really performed when played.
3. Agreed with Bruno points.
4. I don't think the issue is the DM staying in their own half, we just aren't compact enough between the DM and Defence. Teams find it easy to play through us for this reason as there is so much space. Is this potentially Maguire naturally sitting deeper due to lack of pace? If so needs addressing.
5. I agree about service to Hojlund, but Antony arguably had his best game against Chelsea, and Garnacho was POTM until the 96th minute. We need to find balance with service and cutting in. Naturally this is easier with overlapping fullbacks. But with Shaw out we have no left footed LB.
6. I agree, but I don't think we know enough about the academy to know whether players are ready for the step up. i'm sure the academy coaches will be feeding in to ETH and recommending players that are ready.
7. Agreed with Mount, needs more minutes and has looked good. Maybe Bruno needs a rest. Appreciate he hasn't missed a game but might do him good.
8. I think we can play out from the back still. But don't play out through Lindelof and use Varane, Dalot. But yes, if the option isn't there, if in doubt, get it out.
9. Having played football for 20+ years I think its easier said than done in this scenario. There are so many external factors that contribute towards your mindset and game that things can be forgotten in the heat of the moment.
10. Agreed, his biggest ally in retaining his role will be fans perception.
11. Can't really comment as I don't have an opinion, but it seems the press has been bad for all teams. The quality of sport journalism from mainstream media outlets has been really poor.
07 Apr 2024 12:36:23
Spot on BRD.
Personally, I would add that he needs to take the armband away from Bruno.
On the pitch, the captain is expected to be the leader - leading by example and displaying the earnest application of someone who actually gives a hoot.
Instead, we have a petulant halfwit throwing limbs about in fits of histrionics when he should be grafting and chasing the fight.
Don't get me wrong - he's an incredibly gifted player, but he's nothing remotely like captain material because of the vibe he impresses upon a game that's not going our way.
07 Apr 2024 13:10:32
Good post BRD.
07 Apr 2024 13:41:42
Agree whole heartedly BRD. There’s a lot that Eth isn’t guilty of but there’s a lot that he is… you don’t fancy the role yourself mate? Seems like u have a handle on what we need? ?.
07 Apr 2024 14:03:55
Ork, he's a gifted player but not a very good one. Bit like Pogba.
07 Apr 2024 14:39:13
@Kurtis so Rashford back today!
07 Apr 2024 17:30:39
Yep, fully rescind my above point.