30 Aug 2026 20:30:22
Some thoughts from the game.
Mainoo was awesome, the oil that keeps us purring; he looked head and shoulders above others.
Bruno continues to be a game changer, probably the best player in the EPL today.
Rashford was patchy, but at least he looked interested and committed, lots of energy and effort. It's embarrassing I have felt the need to highlight that.
Martinez splits opinion, but his passing is head and shoulders above every other CB.
Shout out to Slab Head, not world class but a committed warrior, 100% effort whatever the circumstances.
We need another Lb, although fair play to Shaw who accepted his mistake and also called out Mainoo as MOTM.
It was great to see the character we showed, a horrible loss to Hull, and then we fall behind to Ipswich, but what a reply.
It does feel like we are getting up to speed. No excuse for not being ready last week but the World Cup years are always odd. We have Baleba to come in the, right now Baleba and Mainoo feel like best combination although I think we may also play a 3 sometimes.
I stand by my view that Arsenal will win the league. Let's see how close we can get.
30 Aug 2026 21:37:52
Good job. H isn't world class, he might have put that on target.
30 Aug 2026 21:54:41
We play so much better without Bruno in the team, and create so much more when he plays further back... Apparently. ??
30 Aug 2026 22:34:44
Agreed.
Mainoo played well today.
Rashford did well - liked some of his defensive work. It was refreshing to see.
100% need a LB, but not just someone on loan, someone who can challenge Shaw.
Some of our play and interchange was really good.
30 Aug 2026 23:00:34
We played a lot better today. We were a little passive off the ball. Few standouts, Bruno 9/10, and Mainoo was close behind him. Tielemans, Cunha, and Mbeumo were all much improved, and Rashford offered a threat and worked hard.
Defence was sloppy at times, slow and passive, lacking intensity.
Tough game next week away at Everton. We will need to be better again to win away; they will not lack intensity, so we need to match them.
31 Aug 2026 04:51:33
LOL is that a suggestion that we might challenge Arsenal for the league, is that tongue in cheek, right, or as usual OTT.
We could have been 3 down at half time against Ipswich at home, like I been saying for a season we need a CB desperately, plus what everyone knows, a LB and a Striker. Take Bruno out, this team is not very good at all.
So basically it's same as last year, all relies on Bruno. Tielemans and Santos are just added bodies, I can't believe anyone thinks they are good enough or add anything to this team at a level that's required.
I am hoping Baleba does add something, but that's a fingers crossed.
Mbeumo & Cunha not strikers, clearly Rashford don't want to play there, he never liked playing CF previously and probably told Carrick so.
I'm not convinced Carrick sold on Heaven or Yoro, de Ligt always injured, nothing new there, Martinez poor CB and now looks even worse after the injuries, that leaves Maguire as our best CB.
31 Aug 2026 11:03:24
CB is not a position teenagers play in very often, so he's right not to be sold on them there to play weekly.
Both will play their squad part for another year at least.
People calling for Heaven to play regularly ahead of Martinez are stupid for wanting that, imo.
Martinez is too small for this league, imo, and will get exposed for that regularly, but he is not a poor CB in any other aspect and is very good on the ball despite yesterday's gaffe.
When fit, Martinez is not our major concern, imo.
31 Aug 2026 12:48:25
You agree, too small for the EPL, then say not a bad CB. Well, he is trying to play in the EPL, and that means aerial threat is most of the game, so that makes him a poor CB for the EPL. He ain't playing in Spain, where it's all intricate, quick play, and in my view he is still poor, as was shown yesterday for their goal, where he was too slow to turn.
Add the rash challenges and then the injuries. More often than not, that in all makes him a poor CB and can't be relied upon.
31 Aug 2026 13:00:34
Subject matter experts that pick him all disagree. Being small does not make him poor, but it's a severe weakness, imo. He is a good defender, but small. He is good on the ball.