For me, Martina does the instinctive stuff well enough. It's when he has time to think that he really let's himself down. I can't remember what game it was (maybe Sunderland) when he was called offside multiple times, when all he needed to do was just look down the line and check his run. The same happened today. Then there's the foul throws...two in a season is enough.
I love the way we play it out from the back at times. We can go from a difficult spot in defence to racing clear in 4 deft little passes. When are we going to rip someone apart? Boufal looks like one of those players who loves to bully wounded teams. Can't wait to see what he does when we're on the front foot.
Think we have to remember a few big teams will be getting knocked out of the cup this week. Beat Sunderland and we're in the quarters with possibly three Championship teams.
I certainly got the Puel appointment wrong, I wasn't as voracious as some fans but I was uneasy. Performances by this team have proved beyond a doubt that what little I know about football is in fact a lot smaller than I believed. It may well be invisible to the naked eye. Great point though. I would have been extremely happy with that before kick-off so I'm extremely happy with that now.
Have to say that move near the end where we were so tired, where Martina had it in the corner, 1-2s with hojbjerg and suddenly JWP is away, to then get it to boufal to flick it to McQueen, was sensational.
Normally I am all for the cups, and you a right that this year could be a decent opportunity. It's just I would love a good run in Europe and I think it's worth the risk.
Fonte was huge at the end there, but VVD was big for us before that. The whole back four + Romeu were quite good. Yeah, Martina made a couple boo-boos at the end but this Manchester City team is hugely talented and IMO should be winning PL at a trot. Easy to focus on the bad defensive plays in a game like this. But when you defend for 60 minutes against Man City, there will be some mistakes. They only scored once. That's excellent work.
This. I'd certainly let Virgil, Romeu, Austin & Tadic have a rest, along with Forster obviously. But this may be our best route back into Europe next year and 2 of Spurs, Liverpool, United & City are going out. I'd give Boufal his first start on Wednesday.
I still think the league cup is a massive competition for us. A cup final is the next natural step in our progression, in my view. Obviously we can't afford to put a first XI out. But the likes of Jay, JWP, Yoshida, Hojbjerg and Boufal should all be playing, maybe with a couple from today like Tadic and Fonte. I wouldn't then call that a complete reserve team, far from it.
I said it before the game and I'll say it again. Absolutely this. If you want to get a good game of mostly attacking and most likely confidence building, this is a game for him.
Europe is a lot sexier I agree. But we have 11 more games in the Europa if we want to make the final. It's only 3 games to the League Cup final if we win on Weds.
I'd give Tads a rest and play Boufal in the 10. PEH as well for Davis, and Long up top (with J-Rod wide). EDIT - Oh hold on, Long's injured isn't he?
