**** but we're in a comfortable position - My thoughts on the Atromitos game

Well, It wasn't a great performance, but apart from the moments that lead to their goal, we controlled the game.

Impressed with Bigi and Anita. Amal showed flair and promise. Two CB's solid, Raylor another Immense goal. Love him! Raylor!!!!

Ratings -

Harper - 6 - Didn't have to do much, couldn't have done anything about the goal really.

Tav - 5 - Very shakey start, and poor marking of his man lead to the goal. He picked up after that thought. Decent after that, but he got raped too many times in the first 20 mins or so.

Perch - 7 - Solid enough. Played well despite him starting twice in a matter of days.

Willo - 7 - **** in attack, but can't complain about his defending. Like Perch, Solid enough.

Raylor - 8 - Solid in defence, fantastic goal, some very threatening deliveries. He was ready to create the moments to win us the game, and he threatened them the most.

Anita - 7 - Nothing orgasmic, but played well with Bigi. Some good passing, movement and defending.

Bigi - 7 - Mini Cheick, like Anita, didn't nowt special, but good performance. He looks very promising.

Gosling - 2 - Did **** all.

Marv - 5 - Disappointed with him, didn't do enough, not his usual self at all.

Obertan - 3.5 - Dreadful first half. Not much better 2nd half. A few good passes, a couple of decent crosses, one of which Cisse might of scored from. Better than Gosling though!

Cisse - 5 - Some bits of skill, came close, but another disappointing, quiet game. Must be recovering from Ramadan, but to be fair, our attacking performances haven't been very good in the first two games.

Amal - N/A - Looks very promising. He's excited me a lot since he came. A CAM with skill and a good pass on him.

Campbell - N/A - Glad he got his first game. Looks nippy and energetic.

Jonas - N/A - Helped close the game out.

MOTM - Has to be Raylor.

Overall - Disappointing, but I remember most of us saying we'd take scraping through the qualifiers, and It looks like we're gonna close it comfortably enough.

 

We are looking good.
Gotta sat though, Tav was our weakest link.
Adam Campbell is our long term futurefor sure.

 

Gosling really did look lost out there tonight, is he unfit or something?

 

Campbell's only 17, he's still got a lot of improvement in him.

 

This is what the Everton fans were joking about when we first signed him. They found it amusing that some Toon fans were excited at getting him for free.
They said he's slow, unfit and overrated.

 

Actually, they were buzzing about him when he was with them, then when he left, they took the piss.

He did look good pre-season. Our team performance wasn't very good tonight, unfair to pick on certain players, however Tav did look alarmingly vulnerable.

 

Love it Tash.

I was just stating what they said about Gosling. I've not seen much to make me think otherwise to be fair.

 

We were in total control but never threatening. Willo in the opposing penalty area is a liability. Constantly fouling and getting blown up for it. Please can we try something different at corners or long throws as every one was aimed at Willo.
Positives for me Bigi is going to be a great asset, Anita, Amalfitano too and young Campbell looks lively and one for the future.
Negatives. Gosling, waste of time as was Obertan.

 

This!

 

You guys think you've got it bad, wait till you hear what the Dutch did:

Anzhi - AZ 1-0
Molde FK - SC Heerenveen 2-0
Bursaspor - FC Twente 3-1

And still underway Feyenoord - Sparta Prague 1-2

Only PSV is 0-1 up against some team from Montenegro

Safe to say that only PSV and Ajax will play in Europe this season, which in any way the most appalling result already in the past 6 years considering 7 Dutch teams started...

 

It's that ****ty set play we always try. Curling it to the far side of the box, for either Willo or Saylor to head back across goal. It never works.

I say let Willo and Saylor have some freedom from set plays. Saylor is great when allowed to work his magic, and Willo isn't bad either. Remember when he had a bit of freedom vs Liverpool at home? He almost scored twice!

Just pile the biguns in the box, and let them work their own magic.

 

FC Twente

 

3.5 is a bit harsh on Obertan, he looked better than he usually does tonight, and was unlucky not to get an assist on the one Cisse back-flicked through to Amalfitano, not to mention his deflected volley. Speaking of Amalfitano, he looked good along with Cambell when he came on.

I don't think the heat helped, and it did show throughout the game. The squad was young but did well against what I understand was a first team Greek side. Tav looked better going forward, but hopefully it was a good learning experience for him defensively.

 

Uff, Feyenoord managed to squeeze out a 2-2 in the 93d minute just before the ref blew the whistle...
3 losses 1 draw 1 win for the Dutchies, I'm gonna cry somewhere y'all can't see me....

 

Have to say I missed the 1st half and the last 20 of the second so only saw about 25 mins of which Gosling played 15 and i thought he was woeful. Didn't look interested or like he wanted the ball. Think he wants to play a little deeper but tonight was his chance to go out there and impress and he let it slip.

Also missed Campbell coming on but from the sounds of things he had a good little run out. Did he manage any shots or runs with the ball of note?

Think we will play a similar team at home maybe a stronger defensive team but see how the Chelsea game goes first I guess.

 

There was a debut start for Gael Bigirimana while Romain Amalfitano and Adam Campbell made their debuts from the bench, Campbell becoming United's youngest ever European player.

 

I hate that setpiece too..And also the long throw by Raylor setpiece...Both these setpieces If you put Saylor there at least there's a chance for something, but you put Willo there, that guy can't direct his header for nuts. All his headers are either lobbed grenades or wide off the target with no power or direction in them..

As for Bigi, I would like to add that he seems to have this lack of focus issue. I think you guys can remember he carelessly gave the ball away a number of times that led to opponent counterattacks... If you compare that to Cheick, Cheick has more or less gotten that out of his game..
The problem is that for those few mistakes, Bigi would have had a simple ball to control but he took his eye off the ball or something and miskicked it to an opponent... When he is able to fix this he should become a better DM for us

 

Its not over yet...AZ know all about doing enough in the 2nd leg (I'm not bitter...honest...) And Twente have an away goal, their home games should be a bit better!

 

I thought we did quite well last night considering the whoelsale changes etc. Bigismalls really impressed me up until that stray pass! Anita was very quiet but tidy. Raylor was easily MOTM. Not just the goal, his all round play was fantastic. Gonna be useful this season again. Obertan and Gosling are write offs for me. I'm normally pretty patient but these two are never going to make the grade here. Obertan just doesn't have a brain. He produces the odd moment with his pace but there is nothing at all up top. Gosling is just out of his depth and goes missing for long periods.

Amalfitano did well to get himself involved and he might well improve. Marveaux was hugely disappointing and I don't really know what to make of the lad now. Cisse was very quiet and looks clearly off the pace at present. Willo did well defenisvely but I wish he wouldn't even go up for dead balls. He just fouls all of the time. Perch was quality again. Young Tav struggled a little to be honest and was not at his best.

Overall though we did the job we needed to with Chelsea in mind.

 

Saylor is good in the air, but all you need to do to stop him, is but two biguns on him, and the set piece fails!