26 Jan 2026 16:29:55
Has anybody mentioned how well Dorgu contorted his body to avoid handling the ball before his fantastic strike? I bet 9 out of 10 players would not have managed to do that. Dorgu has come in for some criticism - to begin with he was running around like a chicken with his head cut off - but clearly is now beginning to show that he was an astute purchase in any system.
Maguire and Shaw, both much maligned, once again silencing the critics with assured mature performances.
The last two games have been great, but as many have pointed out, we need to start beating the nominally lesser teams. ECL qualification is now an expectation rather than an idle fancy. The difference to the club going forward will be immense in financial terms, allowing us extra funds, and making the us more appealing to top players.
Firing Amorim was a big and embarrassing reversal, but if we end up in the ECL, we'll look back on the decision as a really good and brave one.
26 Jan 2026 18:07:33
Ballon d’Orgu had a great game and is now showing his worth. I hope his injury is minor.
26 Jan 2026 18:33:07
Spot on, can't believe I am saying this but Harry Maguire was, by far, the best Centre Back on the pitch yesterday and to be fair his performances over recent month's have been of an impressive standard. The issue, of course, if you are playing a much higher defensive line he is going to be caught with his lack of mobility and pace.
This weekend for instance against Fulham, who I suspect will sit much deeper than City and Arsenal thus requiring us to adopt a much higher line could be problematic. Not sure MC will change anything but a good argument could be put forward for Ayden Heaven or Leny Yoro to come into the side to bring some of that needed pace. Would still be happy for HM to get a new deal (reduced terms) could still do a good job in the right games.
Agree about Shaw, he has been excellent all season, both as a Centre Back and Full Back. Obviously fitness will be the issue of concern for him.
What has pleased me over the last 2 games, possibly more than the results, has been the wins were no smash and grab jobs but we went toe to toe, face to face with them and beat them purely by playing better than them. This, is very encouraging going forward.
Don't know if you have seen the comments from Arsene Wenger following the game, but they seem pretty damning to me as to what he thinks of their tactics-
''I would say the goals scored on both sides illustrated a little bit the way the two teams played. Man United built up well and had good cohesion, and Arsenal's goals were decided more by power and fighting on the corner for the second, for example, and the first goal too — it was not clean play.
They gave everything, Arsenal, but they lacked a bit of patience and technical cohesion, which Man United had. I think there is something going on in this Man United team between the way they beat Man City and they beat Arsenal today. The way they played was very convincing.
When Arsenal came back to 2-2, usually it's the home team that wins the game. And they found the resources again to score the third goal and to win 3-2 away from home in a top level game.
So I must congratulate Carrick, he has created something. "
Wow, he praises us and makes clear he is fed up of Arteta ball and their fouling and manhandling of players and goalkeepers on corners which are meant to cause chaos and allow them to physically dominate and score a goal. Not sure that epitomises the style and philosophy of Wenger!
Finally, disappointed with Keane, his comments were clearly entirely personal and had no basis in football achievement or abilities, fancy him bearing a long term grudge! You should be better than that Keano.
{Ed025's Note - to be fair to Slab head IWOTB he has played well the last 2 games, you need to keep him in the side if only to keep the useless Yoro and Heaven out of it imo mate
26 Jan 2026 19:27:34
Yoro and Heaven are young, and they're probably both more suited to playing in a. back 4. Hopefully they will develop. Yoro doesn't have the speed or the physique to play in a back 3. Having him have to come out to contain fast wingers cost us dearly. I put that down to Amorim's intransigence. He was thrown to the wolves. It destroyed his confidence and his performances suffered.
Amorim simply refused to compensate for the injuries to Maguire and de Ligt by changing the system, which would have put less pressure on Casemiro (who played a whole game yesterday), and enabled him to push Bruno further forward as Carrick has done. But then Amorim didn't want Mainoo, and moving Bruno forward would have meant bringing Mainoo back into the picture.
26 Jan 2026 19:29:19
Not a fan then ed of two young lads?
I thought heaven has looked good but Amorims set up didn't favour either of them. Exposed them if anything. But they're very young in a poor performing united team.
{Ed025's Note - they are young so i wont write them off just yet Angel, but what i have seen of them they will have to improve greatly if they are to be considered good enough for a top team mate..
26 Jan 2026 21:30:39
Both going to be good players IMO. Heaven looks a bit ahead of Yoro for me, so calm on the ball. Yoro has got caught out a little with runners cutting in on him, but earlier in the season. - when he had De Ligt next to him - he looked better.
Difficult to look strong with Dalot or Amad playing wing back next to you and a constantly changing back line.
26 Jan 2026 21:33:16
Ed25
I actually think Heaven is far better than you are making out there.
{Ed025's Note - he is weak Red Man and positionally very green, mark my words mate he is poor...but young so has time to improve i suppose..
26 Jan 2026 23:10:32
Heaven has been really impressive to me, unsure about him being weak, hasn’t looked weak at all, and positionally in a 3 won’t really matter anymore as he will be playing in a back 4 so hopefully that’s ironed out. As said above, looks slightly ahead of Yoro but 2 very young lads who will improve.
27 Jan 2026 21:34:52
I think they have both done well in a difficult time and with a poor set up that was constantly changing. Heaven has looked really good for his age, Yoro looks to have lost some confidence but he looked really promising before in a back 4. I'm glad we have them both, they'll come good.