Here we go then, pretty much a must win game if we are to progress in the CL. If we don't, we will find ourselves in an almost impossible position at the bottom of the group, plus we lose pots of money from TV, Adidas sponsorship and match day receipts, and the pressure on ETH will increase. Our remaining two fixtures in the group are away to Galatasary then home to the mighty Bayern Kane, neither of which is likely to be an easy game, especially as we will be without key players until near Christmas.
It's what he does in replacing those key players that will be key. Specifically, Casemiro as I assume that's who we're referring to. Is 4 3 3 too much of a risk? The midfield three would be Amrabat DCM and Mount right, Fernandes left. Does this 'protect' our centre halves the way a midfield duo is supposed to? To me, we go for it. This allows a front three of Garnacho, Hojlund and Antony. (with the usual Rashford, Pellistri and Martial as alts) The defence is cobbled together but surely Maguire and Varane would cope! Dalot would have to do at left back. Everytime I think about a formation and team from our squad I then think; surely that's decent, surely ffs!
Team news - Four of ETH's own signings benched - Antony, Mount, Regullion and Amrabat - Varane benched too. Interesting to see our formation tonight - Garnacho on the right or Rashford out of position yet again.
Well Arabat isn't playing so it ain't that. Cards have gone up on the air again. Eriksen and McTominay will not be good.
McTominay has actually been getting forward lately come to think about it. I think he has been effective the way that ETH is using him.
What has happened to Rashford? He went **** a couple of years ago but came good again. Now back to this.
Going down to 10 men (personally thought the red was ridiculous but **** happens) when you're 2-0 up is one thing. To then go on to concede 4 is inexcuseable. We lacked character and leadership.
i am perplexed at why anyone is still surprised by this aspect of this team? how many times in the past have they crumbled? conceding one or two immediately after losing a goal? awful.
I wonder whether Rashford's brother getting nicked in the states is having an effect. Elsewhere, I fancy Casimero and Varane have decided to jump ship, possibly to the Arab league. They probably thought they'd have one poor season here before they restored us to former glories and hit the good times again, but now they're in a fight for the long term, neither of them fancy it.
Varane this definitely applies to, not sure it does Casemiro. Supposed to be lining up the Todibo kid to replace Varane. It hard for me to 'blame' ten Hag for last night. We started and played well until player **** up's intervened. Rashford's looked accidental but was still a dangerous tackle. There was then the mental added time period that they equalised in, but after half time we were well in control and should have been able to see the game out to win, it was utterly dreadful defending that meant we didn't. Individually in Dalot's case for their third, collectively for their winner. Hopefully we can beat Galatasaray and at least get some consolation of EL, if we don't finish second. Last would not be a good thing for Ten Hag.
Definitely a catalogue of ****-ups rather than a collective failure for sure, Dalot and Varane the exception - Varane should have done better rather than shut his eyes when one of their goalbound sots came straight at him. Mount (yet again) was completely anonymous, up until the red card Rashford appeared to have some life in him and Hojlund was excellent, even without his goals, his effort and running was superb. It might be a blessing in disguise for this squad to drop to the EL, there is no way we will progress far in the knock-out stages and some heavy defeats might demoralise them further, whereas a good titlt at the EL might give some youngsters some good experience.
If we qualify for the last 16 we'll likely have a fully fit squad which will include Lisandro, Shaw, Malacia and Amad. Maybe even Sancho I'm just going to throw this out there, I think De Gea would've saved two of those goals. He's one of the best reflex stoppers I've seen and Onana unfortunately isn't.
