I feel just a bit gutted this morning. That was a real chance to reach a final last night and we couldn't quite do it. I've no real complaints about the general performance but lapses at both ends cost us severely. We had four one on ones last night and didn't take any of them and I'm sure we'd have taken given those chances before the match started.
I do see the shoots of recovery but it just feels a strange way to end a very strange season. For those we can remember that far back last night very much reminded me of the Dortmund semi-final in 1997 where we did everything but score.
Onwards and upwards though and I hope we get any new players in quickly now so that we can look forward to the new season with optimism. I don't think we're that far away but we need to get the recruitment bang on. Improving the first XI is crucial as that, in turn, will improve the squad depth.
Back in January we'd have taken 3rd place and three semi-finals so we've come a long way since then. We just need a little extra to get us over the line.
The Morning After
posted on 17/8/20
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by rosso - for your protection, we’ve installed this camera (U17054)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 2 minutes ago
Let's not go over all this again please? If someone thinks we need a CF then fair enough.
For what it's worth I'd rather build the side so that the goals are spread more along the forward line.
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Which is what we’ve done very well this season.
When the three have had a decent supply, they’ve delivered. Must be 60 or so between them. If we can push that up to 75 or so, we’ll really be in business.
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That's what I like about the front three. Much better having the goal threat from everywhere.
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I love that Greenwood is getting loads of minutes at the moment. Something he wouldnt do should we sign Sancho
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He could get them at CF. A position we're short in...
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What. Drop Martial?
I just think it's a huge risk and a lot of pressure on the lad if we ended up reliant on him for goals.
posted on 17/8/20
comment by Roy's Keane (U11635)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Roy's Keane (U11635)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by Roy's Keane (U11635)
posted 10 minutes ago
I'm saying wed be irresponsible going into the season relying on him to score the goals for a title challenge if we were without Martial for a prolonged period.
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So who do you want to sign that will fill in if martial is out for a prolonged period
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I'd like Ole to sign a top quality CF and pick who he wants.
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Surely you have some suggestions that will come in and fill the role if martial is out for a prolonged period
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Pointless me giving suggestions.
Doesnt change the fact we need better options at CF for Ole to choose from
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Not pointless at all
Its something that's exercised your mind for the past week you've must have come up with some names.
Given we dont have unlimited funds, have other positions that need addressing and not too mention we still have the muppet Ed handling our business ,
What names have sprung to your mind ?
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It is pointless as we have zero.influence.
Why don't you try and come up wiith some quality CF's we could get to compete with Martial for the starting spot?
posted on 17/8/20
comment by Clockwork Red (U4892)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Clockwork Red (U4892)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Clockwork Red (U4892)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Clockwork Red (U4892)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Clockwork Red (U4892)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 41 seconds ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 21 minutes ago
If Martial or Rashford could play RW well then I'd probably agree that CF would be a position worth prioritising. However, as it stands though we have plenty of players who can play wide left and through the middle but only Greenwood to really play effectively on the right. And, even then, he's been in and out of games from there.
For me a CB, DM and RW are the key positions to fill as a priority.
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How many players do we have who can play effectively at CF ? And by effectively I mean well.
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Rashford and Martial have both played there effectively in the past. Greenwood is also a CF IMO.
The way we play means there will always be more chance of a more versatile attacker being brought in than a pure CF.
We've had this debate before though on here recently so don't really want to go down this void again. You're more than welcome to your view we need a CF but, to make it truly worth buying, we'd need a top class one. Someone right at the top of the game.
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Plus, even if the perfect number 9 were out there and available, he might not fit our style. We don't really get crosses in, for instance. We like to play on the counter or, as some of our best post-lockdown goals have shown, nice quick interplay around the edge of the box. A fluid front three, with pace and movement and skill, is what we seem to be trying to build. Sancho, for instance, would enhance that while a classic goalscorer might not.
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We dont put crosses in and dont have a CF who deeds off crosses yet then priority is a winger. ??,
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I'm saying RW for shorthand - let's not get into that again
A wide forward with pace, who has goals and also creativity in his locker. If he can cross, great.
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Greenwood has.more goals than most from the right this season. And is rapid. And tricky.
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I know. Imagine how he might do in his natural position...
I've said I'd be happy to go with Greenwood, Martial and Rashford as first-choice front three if we don't get Sancho or similar. Greenwood is class. But getting Sancho or similar would make it easier for Greenwood to get games as CF as well as some on the right.
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Equally wouldnt signing a CF allow Greenwood to play 50-60 games on the Right?
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Yes, it would.
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Huge positive then
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Yes. Getting a top-class specialist wide player and allowing Greenwood to get a few games there while also deputising in his natural position might be an even greater one.
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Spending £100m to bench a brilliant young talent whilst having Ighalo as our no 2 CF is not a good idea.
posted on 17/8/20
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by rosso - for your protection, we’ve installed this camera (U17054)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 2 minutes ago
Let's not go over all this again please? If someone thinks we need a CF then fair enough.
For what it's worth I'd rather build the side so that the goals are spread more along the forward line.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Which is what we’ve done very well this season.
When the three have had a decent supply, they’ve delivered. Must be 60 or so between them. If we can push that up to 75 or so, we’ll really be in business.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That's what I like about the front three. Much better having the goal threat from everywhere.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I love that Greenwood is getting loads of minutes at the moment. Something he wouldnt do should we sign Sancho
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He could get them at CF. A position we're short in...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What. Drop Martial?
I just think it's a huge risk and a lot of pressure on the lad if we ended up reliant on him for goals.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I was thinking more rotation. Four top class options for three positions isn't really overkill.
Hopefully next season we'll play up to 60 games again. That's 180 games between 4 players which means they could get 45 each (I do accept that it won't be quite as balanced as that but you get the drift I hope)
posted on 17/8/20
Spending £100m to bench a brilliant young talent whilst having Ighalo as our no 2 CF is not a good idea.
____________
Sancho, Martial, Rashford, Greenwood, Igahlo, James
versus
Martial, Rashford, Greenwood, Ighalo, James, new CF
I just think the first set gives us better options across the front three as a whole. I've said a new CF would be nice, but I think we've got three players capable of playing there while only Greenwood has looked good on the right consistently (James has been far better on the left). The first set gives us 2-3 options in each position; the second still leaves us with only Greenwood on the right before we're struggling.
So I'd have a new CF... after I'd strengthened DM, CB and RW/RF.
posted on 17/8/20
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Roy's Keane (U11635)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Roy's Keane (U11635)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by Roy's Keane (U11635)
posted 10 minutes ago
I'm saying wed be irresponsible going into the season relying on him to score the goals for a title challenge if we were without Martial for a prolonged period.
----------
So who do you want to sign that will fill in if martial is out for a prolonged period
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd like Ole to sign a top quality CF and pick who he wants.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Surely you have some suggestions that will come in and fill the role if martial is out for a prolonged period
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pointless me giving suggestions.
Doesnt change the fact we need better options at CF for Ole to choose from
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not pointless at all
Its something that's exercised your mind for the past week you've must have come up with some names.
Given we dont have unlimited funds, have other positions that need addressing and not too mention we still have the muppet Ed handling our business ,
What names have sprung to your mind ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It is pointless as we have zero.influence.
Why don't you try and come up wiith some quality CF's we could get to compete with Martial for the starting spot?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Given I subscribe to the theory that one of our prioritys is the signing of a right sided attacker I'm prepared to go into the season with the cf coverage we have at present
You are the one with the problem so give us your names if you aren't happy with igalho et al
posted on 17/8/20
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 17/8/20
comment by Roy's Keane (U11635)
posted 5 hours, 43 minutes ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Roy's Keane (U11635)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Roy's Keane (U11635)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by Reddevilsdouble II (U22313)
posted 4 seconds ago
comment by Roy's Keane (U11635)
posted 10 minutes ago
I'm saying wed be irresponsible going into the season relying on him to score the goals for a title challenge if we were without Martial for a prolonged period.
----------
So who do you want to sign that will fill in if martial is out for a prolonged period
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd like Ole to sign a top quality CF and pick who he wants.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Surely you have some suggestions that will come in and fill the role if martial is out for a prolonged period
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pointless me giving suggestions.
Doesnt change the fact we need better options at CF for Ole to choose from
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not pointless at all
Its something that's exercised your mind for the past week you've must have come up with some names.
Given we dont have unlimited funds, have other positions that need addressing and not too mention we still have the muppet Ed handling our business ,
What names have sprung to your mind ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It is pointless as we have zero.influence.
Why don't you try and come up wiith some quality CF's we could get to compete with Martial for the starting spot?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Given I subscribe to the theory that one of our prioritys is the signing of a right sided attacker I'm prepared to go into the season with the cf coverage we have at present
You are the one with the problem so give us your names if you aren't happy with igalho et al
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The CF could be right sided
posted on 17/8/20
In fairness to RDD, two good strikers is not one too many. Cole, Teddy, York and Ole were more than one if I remember
.. But they had Becks feeding them, but we don't.
So RW first, and good striker second.
A good striker never goes amiss.
posted on 17/8/20
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 36 minutes ago
In fairness to RDD, two good strikers is not one too many. Cole, Teddy, York and Ole were more than one if I remember
.. But they had Becks feeding them, but we don't.
So RW first, and good striker second.
A good striker never goes amiss.
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No denying that 52 but it took fergie more than one season to assemble that squad of players.
Like you say we can never have too many quality players but at this time quality for our RW is the priority.