This the lineup. As usual, I look at that and think it's a good lineup. Is it a team though, **** knows honestly? That midfield three has so much experience, in Europe they will surely be better.
Glad Hojlund is starting and Zirkzee is dropped. Glad Mainoo is rested, hope he doesn't get on the pitch. Will be keeping a beady eye on Rashford. Need more from him.
So, turns out Rashford wasn't injured. He rested him for Sunday ffs! Took him off, when Amad had barely had a kick. Made a pointless like for like change. That, and replacing two centre halves with two centre halves when we need a goal, are the actions of a man heading headlong towards the sack.
Sadly, that's all he ever does with his substitutions, always like for like, and retaining the same formation. Either he believes in what he is doing or he knows only one way of playing the game and has limited tactical ability, the latter is looking more the case as the weeks go by. Dead man walking in my opinion.
The last two games when Bruno has been sent off has cried our for a very simple three at the back, with Mazaroui and Dalot becoming wingback. We probably should look to do that anyway, but with ten on the field it just means you have one up front. Instead, he swaps the centre halves with, errr, centre halves. He's never done it, I don't know why. I just think it strengthens the back line, narrows the space that the full backs have to work in (both are regularly caught way out of position) and means the centre of midfield aren't 'protecting' two centre halves. It would mean we can't deploy our multiple misfiring wide players though and, despite the fact they currently give us very little, that seemingly can't be allowed to happen.
