Finally. Little Harvey Elliott. Do not accuse me of bias or negativity. The first thing he did yesterday got praise from me on this thread. He was one of the few bothered to run about and his positioning was decent but as a 10 you have to get on the ball and drive some play not recycle it constantly. He need to go play and get a full season somewhere. That's the only way he is going to improve. Same for quansah. He's come in cold there and did alright, but the mistakes are basic errors that imo wont happen if he's playing every week. These guys need more time and games than they are ever going to get. On the other hand Szoboszlai moved to 8 wasn't terrible, better than Jones tbh but it wasn't that great. At least he made one pass that opened up play. Tsimikas was very naughty, he was fairly average too. Bradley was good while he lasted, he's played a few so he was making less errors but still making a few that only playing will tidy up. Positional play was his weakness imo. Konate was all over the place for most of it. He ran out of position instead of handing off welbeck for their first. He wasn't communicating well there and wasn't telling Bradley to keep in tight. The second he was also lashing up the park then racing back and then lashed out of position again The third he did the same. Quansah gets the blame for the half clearance. Chiesa tried his best I suppose 25-30mins max and he was goosed. Not a forward but he tried to battle. Nunez was useless when he came on so it was like playing without a 9 all game or with 10 men. Salah missed 2 sitters. Diaz decided he would only cut in, take 20 touches before shooting. Dunno what was in his head Just poor stuff and they didn't look too bothered. You cannot switch on and off bothering but the very minimum is to earn your wages for the week and give the travelling fans some show.
I'm not suggesting that they didn't try. If anything, it's an indicator of how you have to be on top of your game to win in this league. They tried, but if anything had been at stake they would have tried a lot harder, I'm sure. I don't like to lose and even if it's a friendly I'm disappointed to do so and have to remind myself that it doesn't matter. These last games may not matter in terms of the league, but they do in many other ways. Personal and professional pride, emphasising our dominance, the final statistics (for those who care about them) and a number of other things. No doubt it will all be forgotten when the victory parade comes about, but for the moment, mediocre performances and results take the shine off the end of the season a bit - for me, and a few others judging by the comments.
Sorry you’re comparing us dropping off after the title is won as not an excuse but saying at least united being **** in the league for essentially 2nd half of the season is ok because they have the Europa to concentrate on?
We are playing as badly and dropping points cos we don't care much. Man utd players clearly don't care enough to give the home fans anything to cheer about.
Fun stuff coming out now. The sort of stuff you don't see much off. Tsimiaks going to collect Chinese takeaway thr night before Brighton. Now I'm not saying he ate any but it's the sort of stuff people start putting out there when the smell something is off.
Agreed. I think the players and coaching staff go on holiday and clearly not giving a **** about these pointless games is an additional kick in the teeth to our "rivals".
The titles won and they've earned the right to relax off a bit. They still tried against Brighton but, in reality, it means ****all. As long as they're back on it come next season, who gives a ****. I think it's funny, we're rubbing the opposition noses in our glory
Whats there to care about? You play 38 games in a season to win the title and we did it in 34. If the option was lfc forfeit the remaining 4 games and just don’t turn up and gift each opponent 3 points I’d be just as happy as well.
All I'm saying is that it was a good job we won the league without having to win any games in this tricky May. I think we may have got 2 or 3 more points had we needed to, but this side looked tired bar one or two games from before Easter, truth be told. But who gives a ****? We never won the title on 97 points, and also on 92 points; and that's more points in a season than all but a few teams in the Prem have ever got, including when they won it. So we're entitled and we're going to party.
I'd still rather win games, even the meaningless ones. Slot appears to be using these last few to give bench players minutes and to try a few new tactics. He can also see in a proper league game, as opposed to training sessions, whether the second string players are capable of more and confirm or otherwise his decisions about who stays and who goes. The travelling fans are certainly enjoying themselves regardless, having a party at every game.
And I'd rather he did that. Use these pointless games as friendlies, extended pre-season if you like. Obviously, we'd all rather win. But it really doesn't matter
Shades of the 82/83 season when we won the league with 7 games to go of which we lost 5, drew 2. We were also in the LC final that season - we beat utd 2-1. Almost a replica season
No amount of logic will take away my disappointment at seeing us lose a game. I even had to keep telling myself it doesn't matter during the dead rubber in the CL. You and I tend to have the same thoughts on most football things, but not this one. As for "rubbing their noses in it" - nothing would have done that better than blowing away the opposition in the last few games.
