Did you see City’s bench last night? Unbelievable. Fully fit squad. Wouldn’t be surprised to see that second half be the catalyst for a 12-15 game winning run.
No real spark in this Chelsea Liverpool game. A bit like a pair of has-beens grappling.
#midtableobscurity
Well a 4-0 mauling on a cold, dry day in Stoke doesn't set us too well for the expected win at the theatre of dreams. Still I believe it's all a ruse.
You trying to lull us into a false ense of security?
Actually… it’d be just like us to beat Arsenal tomorrow, then lose to Reading
Former United players always get a good reception when they come back to OT. I’ve only ever seen one exception to this…. Paul Ince.
He got dogs abuse for 90 minutes. But then he did commit the cardinal sin
Yea, I get that. Would be a little like if Trevor Senior had joined Swindon instead of Watford. But I suppose with Ince the northern rivalry is lost on an east end bloke.
That was a cracking first half. Nobody is messing about. Don’t know if you can keep this pace up for another 45?
I wouldn’t fancy being a defender and having either Rashford or Saka running at you, the form they’re both on.
I wouldn’t fancy being a defender and having either Rashford or Saka running at you
Or shooting from distance, for that matter... 🙂
Indeed. Neither of them are too shabby at that either
We’ve got McFred on now. Always a worry
A cracking match this though
Good game, Arsenal were worthy of the win, but they had to prove they could fight for it, which will worry Man City, they look like they've got the ability, fight and a couple of new reinforcements and Jesus coming back.
ManU also showed they're up for the fight this season and next if they continue, probably just a couple of players away from competing throughout the season.
A winner in Fergie time, you love to see it.
The Arse are the real deal! Win win of those games against City and I can’t see them losing the league.
If Anthony is worth £86m (obviously he isn’t!), what would Saka and Rashford be!!?
Think Antony is a great player, but he's being played a little weird for me, and having that post WC slump, he's also got Wan-Bissaka on the right wing, so not much overlapping or dummy runs to help him, Wan-Bissaka is doing well defensively now, but he's never going to be the overlapping full back, i see him progressing to centre back at some point and doing well there.
We'll see what ManU do in the summer, could be a new owner, they have a fair few surplus who can be shipped out to free up funds as well to rejig that team a little more.
Have to say though, Saka is on a different level to other wingers just now, it's weird but there's few who take on and pass defenders, he does it for fun and has a good cross and shot, Martinelli has fallen away a little which shows how good Saka is and how reliable he's been.
Arsenal look like a genuine title-winning side.
They’ve got some great players. Saka is unplayable on this form. He just does what he likes and nobody seems to have an answer to him
We didn’t look too shabby but they had us pinned back for pretty much the whole second half. We’re heading in the right direction. The difference from the start of the season is huge. We’re a way off title challengers but looking good for a top 4 finish, which I wouldn’t have expected given the total shambles we were at the end of last season
We still need a clear out of players who were never up to it who we hugely overpaid for, so we’ll take a massive hit, but it’s looking like a proper United squad at least
Absolutely brilliant game though. I’ve missed the proper United Arsenal ding dongs 😃
I was there and it was a fantastic atmosphere, just like the old days. Can we keep it up…? I am still concerned that if it comes to forcing a late winner Man City have more options than us, but then Eddie came up with the goods in Fergie time today.
The bench is thin compared to City’s but everyone’s is. If they get lucky with injuries I think they can do it - good as well the first game v City is at home, a walloping away could affect momentum.
The good thing for Arsenal just now is the starting 11 pick themselves, and you have the likes of Smith-Rowe back now, Trossard signed and Jesus must only be a few games away from being back. The one area of concern would be the centre back position, but they're signing Kiwior, so there's cover coming in.
Man City have a scary squad, but they do have that problem of having to keep them all happy, there's a lot of experienced players on that bench who would walk into anyone else's team.
Anyway, Tottenham tonight, reports from Italy stating Conte is looking for the exit just now, i don't think it's anything sinister, but everyone knew he never really stayed in a job long and always yearned for life back in Italy when he was at Chelsea.
The bench is thin compared to City’s but everyone’s is. If they get lucky with injuries I think they can do it – good as well the first game v City is at home, a walloping away could affect momentum.
A lot of the city players were good when they came into the team, but have been improved to be great players by Pep. I think we can see the same thing happening at Arsenal now. I still think Xhaka's temperament is a weak link, spurs targeted him and he was close to the edge, his outbursts affected younger players and lead to Gabriel getting sent off losing the match for them against city last year. Rumours this morning that Rice now favours the gooners over Chelsea, if that happens they will be even more formidable.
I know that given it's FA cup this week it's practically end of Jan, but we're still only 19 or 20 games in. I'd rather be where Arsenal are than Man City but there are a lot of games left to play.
There are indeed. Although as a spurs fan I'm worried about arsenal form!
...but then Eddie came up with the goods in Fergie time today.
Nketiah scored in the 90th minute, Fergie Time starts at about 95+ minutes. 😉
Loving watching Saka through and post World Cup. Such a brilliant talent and incredible role model.
This… (from Jonathan Liew in Guardian)
Bukayo Saka had five shots in this game. Either Mikel Arteta has told him to be more direct or he has worked it out for himself. Defenders are standing off him. They’re terrified to commit. Simply by reputation, Saka has earned the extra yard of space that all wingers crave.
The thing about Saka is his confidence to entice defenders, you see him offering the chance for them to try and nick the ball, but they know if they miss he's past them with his pace and movement, he's the best at it right now, the thing about Arsenal is you see this in one side, you have Martinelli on one side who doesn't quite have that confidence, so can see just how good Saka is at the moment.
It does remind me, where is Jadon Sancho these days, he was like this a couple of years back, maybe not the same outright pace, but he could pass a player and get a good shot at goal, or spot a pass, ManU really messed this lad up, and he was full of potential.
Defenders are standing off him. They’re terrified to commit.
Luke Shaw doesn't normally need much of an invitation to go in hard on attackers, but he was backing off and backing off, scared to go in on him. And having played with him at England, thats probably on account of what he's done to him in training
It does remind me, where is Jadon Sancho these days, he was like this a couple of years back, maybe not the same outright pace, but he could pass a player and get a good shot at goal, or spot a pass, ManU really messed this lad up, and he was full of potential.
He's been injured for a lot of this season, but expected back soon. He's certainly another victim of the shambolic, scattergun transfer policy at Old Trafford over recent seasons, where players are bought by someone in the boardroom without any apparent communication with whoever the manager is this week, or consideration to where they fit into the team. Van De Beek is another one.
But Ten Hag has improved so many players over such a short period that hopefully we'll soon have Sancho back in the squad and looking like the player he was in Germany
Would like to see Sancho back, he has a level head about him in the game, think he's down as personal issues just now rather than injured, the knock back from the WC2022 squad and the dismal time he's had aren't helping, would've been a good candidate to get a loan until the end of season in Germany or Spain, anywhere but England.
Anyway, ManU need a proper forward now, if they are taken over i'd bet there'll be a glitzy one, a la Kane or the likes, just stop him going in reverse on the field and it'd certainly push ManU to be challengers 😂
With arsenal and united looking rejuvenated and Newcastle building, I think Chelsea and Liverpool will struggle to get back in the top 4 if they slip out for a season. Chelsea probably have the better chance with the squad they have, but Liverpool are going to struggle to attract the quality they need to rebuild their midfield without CL football.
It's shaping up to be a great season. I love it when clubs that haven't had much recent PL success are in the mix.
I love it when clubs that haven’t had much recent PL success are in the mix.
Before I get shot down, it's not a suggestion, and i don't even know how we could make anything like it work given we don't have the High school -> College -> Draft system, we do have issues of players wanting to play in European competition, etc. and not wanting to miss out on that in the prime of their careers, etc.
But the US system of salary caps and also that the 'worst' teams get first picks of the rising talent so that you don't get total dominance does have some attractions.
Somewhat predictably, Lampard is gone.
I wonder which mug will be daft enough to take on that particular basket case of a club?
Seriously... who on earth would want that job at the moment?
So looks ever likely now that Frank and StevieG will form the next dynamic double act. Like Gerard Houllier and Lee Evans. Or launch the Golden Generation Arms.
If I had their money I'd ride my bike all day in Andalusia and Ibiza.
Sean Dyche to the rescue! Lampard should stick to the TV studios I think.
I think Dyche could have laid a foundation if they had given the job to him when they appointed Lampard, but the whole club looks broken now, and I don't see him rescuing it.
I just can't see why anyone would take the job. Its absolutely staggering to look at the money they've spent, then look at their present squad. It just does not compute. Where the hell have they spent the thick end of half a billion quid?! 😳 They're a pub side! In the last 3 years the club has posted losses just shy of 400 million quid
The board are absolutely despised by the fans (with good reason by the looks of it) and the atmosphere at matches is completely toxic.
I'm sure the likes of Dyche must have had more tempting offers than that. Surely he wouldn't touch it with a barge pole?
New stadium is a shambles too. Yep, be a brave move to take the job, even though they are a ‘big club.’ Dyche is unfashionable though, so he may not get many other offers in the Premier League, at least.
They're saying that their number 1 target is Bielsa
They're going to end up with Steve Bruce, aren't they? 😂
Ken Bruce is available.
Big Sam might be available too.
They’re saying that their number 1 target is Bielsa
They can say what they want but god only takes on new jobs in the summer.
Everton have a better squad than their position suggests and Lampard is a terrible manager, a fraud. As long as they choose wisely I reckon they won't go down.
They need someone fast and someone available to fight this battle, Dyche is a great candidate, give him until the end of the season and work from there, Bielsa is a good manager, but that much tinkering with tactics for a side at the wrong end of the table, and with struggles across the park in terms of form and ability.
They're in a proper relegation battle against teams just as big as them, you have West Ham, Wolves, Leicester and Leeds down there just now, looks like there'll be a big scalp in the relegation zone by the end of the season.
The stadium announcers updates about the tubes into central London are actually more interesting than watching Spurs
All they do is fall over a lot and complain to the ref even more. It’s ****ing dire!
Apparently Kane has become their highest goalscorer. Does anybody actually care? There’s about the same chance of me winning owt as him
Kane's a great player, but an absolute muppet for trying to get opposition players in trouble or sent off, think he gives the ref more advice than his teammates during a game.
He's a diver. He may one day Shearer's record but he's not half the player.
How many of Kanes goals have come from dives to ‘win’ penalties?
And what is this thing with Spurs players not only diving when anyone comes anywhere near them, but then appealing for cards when there’s barely been any contact, if any at all? Refs need to start carding them for doing it
I was always meh about Spurs, mid-table side that they are, but I’m starting to really dislike them watching them carry on worse than Porto under Morhino. It’s anti-football and it’s bloody awful to watch
Yeah, Porto under Mourinho: they were awful against Celtic all those years ago.
Now they are going to start (or trial at least) the conversations between ref and var, it would also be good for the refs to be miked up to reveal the conversations between ref and players, revealing what whiney brats they are might shut some of them up.