⚽ Football (Soccer)

[Zantera]

I'm pretty nervous for today, even more than against Arsenal. I feel in the past even during our weaker spells we have shown that we can step it up against a good team and have a fine performance. It was also a bit of a free pass because nobody realistically expected us to beat Arsenal and coming out of that game with a 1-0 defeat and a 'decent' performance was probably a best case scenario in a lot of people's minds.

But Fulham is the type of team that we really struggle against typically. A hard to beat well drilled mid table team with enough quality to beat a top team on their day but not enough depth to compete over a season. A team that we are expected to beat, even more so now that we are 3 points behind a lot of teams from week 1 (or more if those teams picked up points yesterday).

Hoping for a decent performance, a win and Sesko on the score sheet. Would be really happy if we got like a solid 2-0 or 3-0 but realistically I think it will be a hard fought battle and I'm worried we might not win.

 

[blue scholar]

I'm pretty nervous for today, even more than against Arsenal. I feel in the past even during our weaker spells we have shown that we can step it up against a good team and have a fine performance. It was also a bit of a free pass because nobody realistically expected us to beat Arsenal and coming out of that game with a 1-0 defeat and a 'decent' performance was probably a best case scenario in a lot of people's minds.

But Fulham is the type of team that we really struggle against typically. A hard to beat well drilled mid table team with enough quality to beat a top team on their day but not enough depth to compete over a season. A team that we are expected to beat, even more so now that we are 3 points behind a lot of teams from week 1 (or more if those teams picked up points yesterday).

Hoping for a decent performance, a win and Sesko on the score sheet. Would be really happy if we got like a solid 2-0 or 3-0 but realistically I think it will be a hard fought battle and I'm worried we might not win.

I feel like its going to be 2-1 in your favor. That Cunha-Mbuemo connection will be too much for Fulham to overcome. It all just really depends if your midfield shows up.

 

[Zantera]

First half 0-0 and it looks about what I expected. We look good at times, create nice chances at times but in between Fulham are in control for long stretches and every corner feels really worrying because Bayindir has 0 presence and isn't close to getting the ball. Bruno missing a penalty on top of it is just a headache.

 

[blue scholar]

First half 0-0 and it looks about what I expected. We look good at times, create nice chances at times but in between Fulham are in control for long stretches and every corner feels really worrying because Bayindir has 0 presence and isn't close to getting the ball. Bruno missing a penalty on top of it is just a headache.

Should have been 2-0. The save on Cunha's shot was fortunate.

Casemiro, Amad, and Bayindir have no place in your strongest 11.

Joshua King is a fun watch.

 

[B]

Fair result, we edged it in the first, they edged it in the second. Not much to say really, sort of a neutral performance, played alright at times & lacklustre in others.

Yoro's goal was perfectly fine I don't know why Sky Sports are trying to stoke the flames on it. Was similar to the goal we conceded last week, Mount was actually manhandled a lot more and the keeper was being bundled into, if that was a case of "the goalkeeper/defending player just needs to be stronger", then so is this. **** outta here with these contradictory, flip flap opinions acting like it was fine last week against us, but because it worked in our favour this week, it's controversial.

 

[BlackFox]

1-1 Started well but went down hill sharply and there were some worrying signs creeping already back into our game. After a bright 15 minutes we didnt take our chances and we seem to lose our way again, Bruno lost the plot with the penalty and we barely created anything in the second half. Our keeper looked a bag of nerves on any cross coming in our box but we held on to the draw.

Amorim really needs to figure this puzzle out quickly as its not quite clicking otherwise he could find himself in trouble very quickly.

 

[Zantera]

I feel like Bruno having a bad performance is problematic because he's almost become bigger than the club in a way. And the whole saga this summer of him turning down the Saudi offer because he wanted to stay only cemented that.

Now anyone can have a bad game but the difference is Bruno is not getting subbed off even if he has a stinker. He should have been swapped out at half time after those first 45 minutes and the shocking penalty and maybe him getting subbed would have made him reflect on his performance. But he got to play 90 minutes and he'll start the next game and there wont be any change.

I'm not blaming him for us dropping points today just to be clear, just feeling frustrated that we seemingly have 1 untouchable player who cant be subbed even if he's having a rough game. Seems Mainoo is on his way out because 0 minutes after 2 games...

 

[BlackFox]

Yeah it seems all the positivity from the pre-season and Arsenal game only took for the ref to walk behind Bruno lining up the pen and walking into him and we mentally lost the plot and all the negativity comes back. Instead of killing the game off after going 1-0 up we retracted and ended up inviting the equalizer to come. Worryingly our new signings cant seem to find a way to score either and missed some really good chances. At home next week against Burnley is a must win game already and they will be coming to OT with confidence after their win at the weekend. Amorim is facing a tough time ahead if that doesnt go his way.

 

[Zantera]

In isolation the results aren't the worst thing. Anyone can lose to Arsenal 1-0, anyone (even the big teams) can draw away to Fulham. The problem is it adds up. Burnley is already a massively important game to get 3 points from because after Burnley we play City away and Chelsea. We also have some tricky games during October/November like Liverpool away, Nottingham away and Spurs away. You need to get some wins and wind in the sails or you never gain any momentum. I was being negative to my dad yesterday when we were 1-0 up because even a 1-0 win doesn't really buy Amorim or the team much in the positive bank anyways. You need to get some solid 2-0 and 3-0 victories showing that you can control a game and get a perfect outcome. Scraping 1-0 victories when the other team has plenty of chances isn't enough to build momentum on. And then of course 1-1 happened.

Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to ring any alarm bells 2 games into the season but the games are coming in fast and hard and all 3 newcomer teams who are tipped for relegation have already managed to pick up a win. The discourse around last season was that we were already so far behind and everyone was lethargic because finishing 11th or 15th doesn't matter but we can't start going there in September already.

 

[BlackFox]

Liverpool win the "Isak derby" 3-2 against 10 men Newcastle in what is probably the best game of the season so far, very firey as expected. Liverpool always seem to find a way though at the moment in the league.

 

[Hunter Rider]

City looked good last weekend, and Chelsea were mediocre, then they switched places this weekend, City were woeful against Spurs and Chelsea tonked West Ham, I'd say Potter is odds on favourite for first manager sacked.

Arsenal swept Leeds aside quite easily, with their strong defence they look the most rounded of the title contenders.

United were basically in groundhog day against Fulham, first 15 minutes were positive, then Fulham simply pressed onto our crap midfield and dominated the rest of the game. Amorim's refusal to change the system will be his downfall, if he can't see that Bruno and Casemiro can't play as a midfield 2, he only has himself to blame, it's so blatantly obvious that Bruno isn't a CM and that Casemiro doesn't have the legs, we also don't have the wingbacks for it to work, at this rate I predict we'll be looking for a new manager by the November International break.

Liverpool win the "Isak derby" 3-2 against 10 men Newcastle in what is probably the best game of the season so far, very firey as expected. Liverpool always seem to find a way though at the moment in the league.

It was a cracking game and Newcastle were very unlucky, with 10 men and no striker they dominated the 2nd half, Bruno Guimeras was immense! But, Champions find that moment, and right at the end they made the man advantage pay, great moment for the kid.

 

[Hunter Rider]

This Kobbie story has been building momentum over the last few days and I hate it. When Amorim said he's competing with Bruno for a place that was a huge red flag, as no matter how out of position or crap Bruno is, he never even gets subbed off, let alone dropped.

Kobbie isn't the finished article and he's not mobile enough for a 2 man midfield, but Amorim hasnt shown anything as coach yet and it's a bad idea to sell a talented 20 year old for a manager who's system is one rarely used by any top team. When Kobbie played so well for England he had Rice and Bellingham with him, complimentary skill sets, and at United we had a pseudo 3 with Bruno dropping in on occassions alongside him and whomever he partnered.

Now I read this, Baleba was our only option for the box to box DM? And they were essentially looking at Wharton and Stiller as Kobbie replacements, when logically either of those 2 along with Baleba and Kobbie gives you a well balanced young midfield 3 for a 4-3-3, instead of persisting with a 31 year old erratic and petulant #10 maverick.

 

[B]

The biggest red flag & question mark with Amorim is Bruno. I've no problem with him playing CM in certain special circumstances, maybe you're chasing a game or maybe we've multiple injuries. That's fine.

But he shouldn't be first name on the team sheet to play in that position, the reality is the best pairing I think I've seen under Amorim in the position is Ugarte/Casemiro. Which shouldn't be shocking as while they both have negatives both individually & as a pairing, they are both naturally CM's & understand the position.

I would say Mainoo's a better choice as a CM also, even though he's not some physical specimen that covers ground quickly & often, he's a lot better at retaining possession & he able to link play between midfield & attackers better. Bruno is a lot more of a killshot passer, which is why is much more suited & being better at touching the ball in the final third. I realise I'm like a broken record on that but it's true.

Not to mention you've now signed a couple of players who have some proven quality in front of goal & creatively in both Cunha/Mbeumo, I'd have thought it would have made more sense playing him closer to them would help them link up better.

I don't think it's necessarily just the formation &/or system Amorim uses, more so personnel but if he wants to not only see the new year as manager, but if he wants to become a top manager. You need to have the flexibility to adapt when certain games & opposition demands it.

 

[Zantera]

I don't feel like Bruno is great in the #10 position in this system either. The way the system lines up our #10s are like half central half wingers and Bruno feels more like the old "Özil-10" who has his space behind the striker centrally with wingers on both sides making runs and 2 DMs behind him cleaning up everything.

I like both Cunha and Mbeumo but again you can look at things in isolation and you can look at them in the bigger picture. Do I like these signings? Yes. But do I also think we might have been better off only signing one of them, played Bruno in a #10 role and used the Cunha or Mbeumo money (whoever we didn't end up signing) on a really good CM? Probably. Should we have let Bruno go to Saudi? Probably. He's had great games for us and he's had great moments for us but it feels like we'll never have full control when he's out on the pitch. Too many random risky passes that might work 1 out of 5 times and the other times it gives the ball away.

Regarding Mainoo I feel similarly to the Garnacho saga where it's just a bummer. Now Mainoo hasn't shown the same attitude problems (that we know of) as Garnacho so there is a difference. But you have these 2 young talented players emerging and as a fan you would want to see those players integral to the rebuilt yet one has his foot out the door and the other one might follow. And you're looking around at what we have left and it makes no sense. The fact Mainoo can't get gametime in our worst midfield since the Fergie era feels insane.