I didn't agree with you here until we beat Villa.
Looks a really good opportunity now.
Can't see City fancying this one too much either when they've got the Carabao final to come and have just dropped 7 points back in the league.
Tough balance as if we get past City, the FA cup arguably becomes the best chance of European qualification.
Would be interesting to see Nick up front with Osula on the right though
Either of the Brazilian midfielders would be decentcover for us. Hugo Bueno reliable back up for Hall and Rodrigo Gomes who scored a couple recently, looked decent at St James' as a rwb. Mane is the gem but will have his pick of the big teams.
He's got a big role to play in coming games. I can see that front two with Gordon being the way we go away to Barcelona, with Botman adding to the defence.
We've seen that identical goal 2 or 3 times (or maybe he's hit post with it). He has absolutely no right to be as good as he is at this specific trick of cutting onto his weak foot with a step over and spanking it into the far corner. Great trick to have nailed down.
If you can get a decent price for someone in the last year of their contract or something, great. Otherwise that extra 50% above the fee of their continental equivalent is basically never going to be worth it.
My assessment might have been swayed by Mbeumo being even worse on the night, and wondering who we actually could have signed this summer to do a decent job on that wing. So much money wasted on that position - Kudus, Madueke, and the three shit wingers Forest signed for 100m to replace Elanga.
Fair point about his crosses for sure, which he's normally better with. Thought he played a bit smarter than usual on the whole, but his best contributions arguably lucky bounces.
Was thinking this earlier in the season when he had a bit of form. Elanga did well tonight but never looks as dangerous as Osula can in flashes
A word for Brentford's summer business! £125mil in the bank for the worst player on the pitch and one who couldn't get onto it. #nufc
What a win! Was so worried we'd get embarrassed against a resurgent Man U, but we took the game to them and outplayed them even with 10. Brilliant moment for Osula too, who definitely has that specific goal in his locker despite looking lost most the time. Get in! #nufc
Penalties count though. 20 goals and assists this season shouldnt be easily dismissed.
There's no way we can find a replacement anywhere close to his ability unfortunately
Can't really argue with Howe picking our strongest available 433.
It's the only way we know how to win at home I guess, so let's just hope we can find a reserve of energy to bring the intensity needed.
As much as it would be nice to use the home crowd and get stuck right into them, this Man U's strength is on the counter and we could so easily get pulled apart.
On the other hand, with majority possession they were struggling against Palace until a red card and a pen in their favour.
Would like to see a lineup for #nufc tonight that treats Man U as the danger they are in current form.
As with City, Chelsea and Barca x2, right now it's fixing our tendency to concede soft goals that needs to be the priority.
With that in mind, I'd be more relaxed if we used a back five.
Don't remember the game too well, but can only think we must have had a decent game to beat City at home in the league. That's all I've got! Otherwise best spells were definitely 45 minutes tops (Chelsea, Qarabag most extreme)
Wolves are the only team currently in form, but they're surely too far back. It's not impossible, but I don't think the teams below are putting as much pressure as they might. Spurs are 7 points back and also look in a worse state than us. I think we only need to buy one win, let's hope it's tonight
Oh God! Szoboszlai has done an Andy Carroll.
I wonder if we go to a back five because you'd think we'll use it in some of the upcoming games, particularly Chelsea and Barca away
Luckily that's the game Miley is targeting for a comeback!
Yeah, he was looking really good for a few games in a row. Nice finish against Spurs, goal against PSG and his pace helped us overwhelm Qarabag away. I think there's just very specific scenarios where his qualities outweigh the negatives. On the wing away against big teams is maybe one.
Still haven't seen Woltemade spend a majority of any game in a no. 10 possession where a slightly hopeful flick of a pass from under pressure might get us in behind. Where attracting the DM and a Cb by holding on 'too long' might just work
Yeah, Elanga and Murphy just don't compete for 50/50s at all. Willock better with that but makes worse decisions on the ball.
So, without having looked back at team selections this season to test the theory, I feel like we'll be a better side for limiting it to maximum of two of these guys on the pitch at once.
Even when he's not being jostled into losing it straight away, Woltemade needs four touches to get his head up and gets tackled or rushes off a hopeless pass. Just hasn't shown any sign of adapting to the speed at which he'll be pressured in this league.
Elanga gives it away or just wins throws in attack, but when he drops deep wants to play blind first-time passes round the corner that are beyond his technical level.
Murphy, even in brilliant form as a creator of goals last season, has been a liability throughout when in possession in our own half. And I don't think he can do rb or rwb shifts to help Trippier for this reason.
Willock having to replace Ramsey as a deeper centre midfielder on Saturday was a horror show. The technical level just isn't there. Wild passes and nearly sent off with cynical fouls out of frustration.
For me four main culprits stand out, who seem to concede possession about 50% of the time: Willock, Murphy, Elanga and Woltemade. And the deeper they play the more dangerous it gets.
