I think you lot can count yourselves unlucky to not have won that game, because we were second best for 75 minutes of the match and only a decent ball from Ozil and a mistake by Lloris at the near post prevented you from taking all the points. I didn't expect us to perform so poorly, as we were getting some very basic things wrong, but equally, I never expected your lot to be as sharp as you were, considering this was your 3rd match in 6 days. So although you didn't win the match, there's certainly a lot of encouragement you can take from the display, especially when you consider some of your team's performances at our place over the years.
1) I'd have taken a draw before ko but it almost feels like a loss which says a lot about how far we have come under MP 2) our players looked a bit deflated coming off whereas they looked really pleased ... a complete reversal of last season...that shows a real change of mentality in the team. 3) 11 unbeaten is a fantastic run 4) the last 15 mins is a result of us playing Monday Thursday Sunday 5) we seem to have broken the EL hangover excuses
I think you have to look at Lloris more than Walker for the goal, Kyle had to watch the run of Giroud inside him but Lloris just messed up plain and simple. We'd looked a little unsteady in the box all game and I think it showed momentarily there. Anyway though I can't remember us so comprehensively outplaying Arsenal at all, let alone away from home, for so much of a game. They've got away with that one well and truly, and our lads go into the international break with their heads held high. I'm proud of the way they approached and played the game.
If United were to win the league it would be a travesty that a team that plays such boring football were champions
Fair play to you for being so magnanimous. Equally if giroud had his "heading" boots on you could easily have won it!
Super performance overall and at times we were excellent. Definitely feels Iike 2 Pts dropped but hopefully the positives will be the focus rather than the few negatives (weakness from crosses and Lloris' near post issues). Walker had one of his best games in years and he shouldn't take stick for the goal.
It wasn't walkers fault when you see the replay, he had no choice on where to position himself. Just such a crap goal to concede. Very unarsenal goal but they won't care.
"5) we seem to have broken the EL hangover excuses" It NEVER HAS BEEN an excuse. The problem has been reams of new signings in the summer, then having to juggle Europa and PL games to bed them in while ensuring we still get results.
We got away with that one. You guys should definitely get Top 4. Would like to see you in the CL again over Chelsea.
Not sure Chelsea are the alternative at the moment, to be honest! Wouldn't put it past them to somehow get back in it though, given some of the luck that they've had in the past.
I would not bet against Chelsky yet. Nor against Spurs finding ever more innovative ways of effing up a CL slot.
I totally agree. Arguably today was our strongest 11 (maybe you would swap Son for Lamela - although I wouldn't right now). There is no reason why we can't play Thursday and Sunday with this young team. Jurgen Klopp was totally correct when he said it's just snobbishness against the Europa league. It's no different from playing Wednesday and Saturday. I want us to play our best team in ALL the rest of our games this season, including qarabag away before the Chelsea match (obviously unless we have qualified for next round)
As much as I hate Chavski, I still see them finishing in the top 8. Whether that will be through Maureen's sacking or a change in mentality remains to be seen. They have too much quality to not finish that high.
"Jurgen Klopp was totally correct when he said it's just snobbishness against the Europa league. It's no different from playing Wednesday and Saturday." The difference is that you have to travel God knows where in the group stages if unlucky. This season we are fortunate that we only got Qarabag and not the group of 2013-14.
A great display from us. We dominated the game for 70+ minutes. Its gutting that we didn't see out a win but we have to be proud of the team, management and fans. No more easy points from this tie for the gooners with this set-up in place. They won't fancy the return at the Lane one little bit. Had we not lost unluckily on the opening day of the season then we'd be above United on goal difference in the top 4 having an unbeaten start of one third of a season. At the start of the season I'd have called anyone who predicted our current form and place delusional. We have a team to be proud of who are going to get better and better and are already giving the top teams terrible problems. Pochettino deserves great credit for his work to date and the players are really im[ressing the football world. Teams know what we're going to do them but they can't work out how to defeat it. Proud to be a Spur tonight.
Just got back from the game and also so proud of the effort and belief in this team. I think on the balance of it a draw is a fair result. Walker probably put in his best performance in 4 years and I'm delighted that he's coming good again as he is clearly crucial to the MP style of play. I think Hugo being unable to defend his near post is more at fault for their goal than Walker's positioning. Only a handful of negatives which need some work: 1) I'll get this one out the way quickly because I'm likely to get pilloried for it; but I thought that this was the first game that Alli looked slightly out of his depth. I know that the BBC awarded him MOTM but the fact that John Fartson makes the choice means that I'm not overawed by it. Yes, he looked full of confidence and was impossible for them to pick up, but I felt that his decision making at crucial points was found lacking. This isn't a criticism, more of an observation that putting him in a fast paced game against a quality side can and will expose him for what he is...a 19 year old who's just jumped 2 divisions. 2) The sheer panic that descended in our box every time a cross swung in. Giroud aside, none of their front 6 are particularly good in the air, yet time and again we seemed surprised by the quality of ball that players like Ozil and Sanchez are more than capable of playing in. On a better day Giroud would've scored 2 headers and we would've been staring at an undeserved defeat. We had the same issue in the two Anderlecht games and frankly, for a team with an abundance of players north of 6ft, we really shouldn't look so vulnerable in the air. 3) Son and Mason still look way off the pace. However, with a perfectly timed int'l break coming up, I'd hope they'll be fully fit by the Ham game. With Njie and Chadli out and Lamela suspended, we're probably looking at Son starting so he'd better be up to scratch. Other than that really pleased with the performance and team work, with players busting a gut all over the pitch to help eachother out. Every game we extend this unbeaten run, these youngsters receive another dose of confidence and self-belief. MOTM, contrary to the Rt. Hon. Mr Hartson's esteemed opinion, has to be Kyle Walker. Welcome back son.
