please log in to view this image Late match day thread. Here goes! I've read many predictions that we will lose. I look at the line-up and I do not know why. But here we are...
Rough start so far with Traore stretching the team to the fullest. We have been under intense pressure in this first 11 minutes.
7 minutes in and Fred has given the ball away 3 times and is getting completely rag dolled by Traore. He literally couldn't keep up with the bloke and when he tried to foul him in a desperate attempt to stop his first shot on goal ended up face first on the ground
It's ok mate, Fred is protecting our back line THIS is why we need a proper defensive midfielder, not that ****.
The full team couldn't put passes together in that first ten minutes. I don't think Fred alone led to that fury first 11minutes. The team needs to settle in which I suspect they will going forward.
Nah they were passing the ball fine until he gave the ball away. But anyway, every one of their attacks in the first 10 mins was enabled because he was left for dead by Traore. You did see him face front in our box trying to grab Traore on the way down? The desperate **** couldn't given away a pen and got sent off the utter fcking prick.
I think what this game is showing is that Ole still struggles to come up with a plan to break down teams that set up to play counter attack against us. Exactly the same as last season. We get to the final third, then stop and look clueless. Give the ball away and let them start another counter which takes them right up in to our box. It's just so poor considering the players we have on the pitch.
Half time. Well that was fcking **** If they actually had someone who could shoot we'd be 2/3 nil down by down.
We looked nervy as hell. Hopefully the second half is far better than that first half. Tough match! I would bring in Martial for James on the left. He's not adding much to the match.
I wouldn't say we look nervy going forward. We just lack any gameplan which is why Pogba has resorted to 20 yard chips over the top every time he gets the ball. We do look nervy when they have the ball though, but that's because they all know there's nobody to shield our defence so as soon as they run at us, we're going to have to defend from the back. What I will say though, Varane has been excellent. Him and Maguire look great together Varane can pass as well
I like this change... Move Greenwood to the right and maybe Sancho to the left and Cavani slots right in...
Sancho lost the ball there and didn't track back to make amends. That almost led to a goal. He needs to do far better.