Match Day Thread Man Utd v Saints Sunday 12th March 2pm

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Total free hit this. If you exclude the 9-0 we've actually done OK at Old Trafford in recent times. Obviously they'll be smarting after today but fortunately they do have a European game between now and next weekend.
 
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The first of three games in a week, and it's comfortably the most difficult of the three. I'd have absolutely no problem if Selles wanted to rest a handful of players.

If McCarthy recovers from his latest injury, then I would have him starting ahead of Bazunu. His confidence levels yesterday looked so low, and I fear what a drubbing at OT might do to him. Yes he kept a clean sheet yesterday, but he didn't have to make a single save to get that.

I'd agree with that. There were at least two absolute howlers that should have lost the game - the pass out to 'nacho and the missed flap at the end. There were others as well.
 
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I'd agree with that. There were at least two absolute howlers that should have lost the game - the pass out to 'nacho and the missed flap at the end. There were others as well.

He got a touch on the flap at the end which probably meant the header didn’t go in.
 
He got a touch on the flap at the end which probably meant the header didn’t go in.

Ooh, did he? Because I watched the game in slow motion and it looked clear to me that he was inches away from getting a finger on it. Could be the angle but I was convinced.

Yep just rewatched it and he was close but didn't get anything on the ball. Probably did enough to put
Souttar off but thats it.
 
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Ooh, did he? Because I watched the game in slow motion and it looked clear to me that he was inches away from getting a finger on it. Could be the angle but I was convinced.

The pundits said he did after the game, it was Jamie Redknapp so probably wrong. The only mistake he made yesterday was the scuffed clearance which led to Iheanacho shooting. I don’t think he’s been the complete disaster people say he has this season, he hasn’t be great by any means (who has?) but definitely not in the top 10 probably for worst performers this year for me.
 
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The pundits said he did after the game, it was Jamie Redknapp so probably wrong. The only mistake he made yesterday was the scuffed clearance which led to Iheanacho shooting. I don’t think he’s been the complete disaster people say he has this season, he hasn’t be great by any means (who has?) but definitely not in the top 10 probably for worst performers this year for me.

I'm not doubting his ability to be fair. I think he will be a good keeper but we have had 3 young keepers in Gazza, Gunn and now Bazunu and each of them has suffered from low confidence and ultimately not made it. Bazunu is making mistakes which cost us games - any keeper is going to struggle and I would pull him out rather than see him gifting chances that end up getting us relegated. I'd say the same about any player in any position.
 
I hope Selles spends some video time looking at how we press. Several times yesterday players rushed in and ended up going right past the ball carrier. Really basic stuff, just too aggressive closing down and losing their heads. As soon as that happens the whole press is stuffed because the cover and balance players have to leave position.
 
He also almost certainly put off Souttar as well. It looked bad, but actually was probably better than him staying on his line.

exactly this, stay on his line and souttar can watch the flight of the ball and he has a free header from a few yards out which he would have had little chance of stopping, but at least it would be a central defender getting the blame instead.

I’d rather a player try and influence the game.
kick out was piss poor, although not the greatest pass to him from KWP and we didn’t set ourselves up properly from the restart with Leicester being quite aggressive on the press after a drop ball.
 
ABK guilty of losing Iheanacho for one of his chances. From a set-piece too. Pretty poor.

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EDIT: Wrong thread. But kind of relevant still.
 

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He also almost certainly put off Souttar as well. It looked bad, but actually was probably better than him staying on his line.
Anytime a keeper fully commits to coming out to claim a ball and fails to do so, is a mistake. Without getting anything on the ball he has not cleared the delivery, but he has given the opponent a completely open goal. I get the argument about putting him off, but I'd rather a keeper still be in goal than a player maybe being put off.

A basic rule of being a keeper is that if you decide to claim the ball, you must win it, at the very least getting a flick on.
 
Anytime a keeper fully commits to coming out to claim a ball and fails to do so, is a mistake. Without getting anything on the ball he has not cleared the delivery, but he has given the opponent a completely open goal. I get the argument about putting him off, but I'd rather a keeper still be in goal than a player maybe being put off.

A basic rule of being a keeper is that if you decide to claim the ball, you must win it, at the very least getting a flick on.
I'm not saying it wasn't a mistake, but it would have been a bigger mistake to stay on his line. Souttar would have had a much better chance of scoring IMO with Bazunu on his line with a clear view of the ball onto his head. If he had come out and got a strong hand on it we would all be praising a great bit of keeping. As it was he did get lucky but I think it was definitely the right call to come for it. And TBF it was a great cross by Maddison.
 
Bazunu is statistically the worst keeper in the PL this season, and one of the worst of all time.

Obviously it’s not solely his fault, most of the team can share that burden. But I agree with the above, it’s been a huge mistake throwing such a young lad into a relegation battle and he should have been taken out of the firing line ages ago.
 
Bazunu is statistically the worst keeper in the PL this season, and one of the worst of all time.

Obviously it’s not solely his fault, most of the team can share that burden. But I agree with the above, it’s been a huge mistake throwing such a young lad into a relegation battle and he should have been taken out of the firing line ages ago.

I just can’t think of many goals that were his fault. Sure there were some where if he had pulled off a great save from time to time they wouldn’t have gone in but it’s not like he is dropping howlers every game any more than most keepers. He’s basically conceded from every shot that he probably should do and kept out everything he also should do. I also think he feels more commanding on crosses/dominating his area than McCarthy does

I agree that maybe it was a mistake to be relying on him so much, but McCarthy has been injured a lot so the plan was probably for him to play more if he wasn’t injured.
 
Bazunu is statistically the worst keeper in the PL this season, and one of the worst of all time.

Obviously it’s not solely his fault, most of the team can share that burden. But I agree with the above, it’s been a huge mistake throwing such a young lad into a relegation battle and he should have been taken out of the firing line ages ago.
Yeah but for who? McCarthy's been injured and Caballero is over 40. Now Alex is back I would probably put him back in but we haven't had any feasible alternatives for months.