Football (Soccer)

[BlackFox]

2-1 - Hojlund off the mark, we needed that boost. Early goal makes it interesting.

 

[BlackFox]

Pen to Bayern, well that didnt last long.

 

[Iceman]

Penalty to Bayern. The comeback could be over already. Also this could be Kane finally up.

 

[Iceman]

No way he was missing that. Kane scores on his CL debut for Bayern. 3-1.

 

[BlackFox]

3-1 Kane doesnt miss those very often. Hammer blow for us and seemed harsh decision. Not sure Eriksen had time to get out the way of it.

 

[Iceman]

Odegaard makes it 4-0 for Arsenal. Great night for them.

 

[Iceman]

Utd somehow get 1 back right near the end (Casemiro). Should just go for it now on the off chance.

 

[BlackFox]

3-2 Casemiro nicks one out of nothing.

 

[Iceman]

Oh well, 4-2. That's got to be final score now.

 

[BlackFox]

4-2 Game over. Bayern just step it up another level every time we do anything. So easy to create against our backline.

 

[BlackFox]

4-3 Casemiro gets a consolation at the death.

Mad game really.

 

[Iceman]

4-3 Casemiro gets a consolation at the death.

Mad game really.

Makes you think what could have been without that Onana effective own goal when Utd had started well. They had enough in them to get the ball over the line 3 times away at one of Europe’s big teams. Need to be more secure at the back.

 

[BlackFox]

Well we showed some signs of life and fight in the game but also were badly outclassed for large parts and Bayern could have had 6 or 7 save for the post and some poor finishing from Bayern.

We are shipping far far too many goals and chances to really achieve anything and giving ourselves mountains to climb every game. A lot of players look worryingly past their best or are well out of form or just not at the right level needed to compete. Losing to Bayern is not a total shock and we didnt learn anything we didnt already know tonight but ETH needs some wins quickly to turn this around otherwise he is going to be in trouble fast and fans will start to turn pretty quickly if this keeps up.

We have a run of kinder fixtures at least now but we really have to make the most of that other wise it will be a full blown crisis. The most worrying aspect is the backline and goalkeeper and a lot rests on Amrabat coming in and making a big impact otherwise Im not sure where we are headed....

 

[BlackFox]

Makes you think what could have been without that Onana effective own goal when Utd had started well. They had enough in them to get the ball over the line 3 times away at one of Europe’s big teams. Need to be more secure at the back.

Yeah we have to stop giving away such silly and easy goals, but the problem stems from not being able to retain the ball away from home and the opponents get lots of chances to create, against decent sides like Bayern they dont need asking twice.

I didnt think Bayern were all that great but we were so sloppy for long periods of time it just makes it tough especially away, if we had kept it 0-0 to halftime and scored first could have been really different but thats were the errors are killing us.

Still in the context of the group we avoided a drubbing which doesnt destroy our goal difference and is the hardest game we had, if we can improve, gets some players back and build some confidence then we are still in with a good shout but we need the win next time out, doenst matter how.

 

[B]

Justifiably lost, the last 30 minutes of normal time Bayern quite easily could have had another goal or two, Hojlund, Pellistri & Fernandes in particular all looked like they were running on fumes by the 60th minute or so. I'm amazed ten Hag took as long as he did to replace Hojlund & Pellistri, I'm also shocked he left Fernandes on as he was trying to close people down in slow motion he was that tired. Bringing on some fresh legs actually helped, in the end, too little to late though.. their 4th goal actually all came from a tired, lazy pass from Fernandes. McTominay replaced Erikson at the 70th minute & I honestly don't recall him touching the ball once. He had absolutely zero impact & was a contributing factor in our inability to get/keep hold of the ball, absolutely useless. I'd have rather seen Hannibal again.

Penalty was a little harsh, but as I've said before regarding those types of penalties, I have no problem if that thing is considered handball, so long as the decisions are consistent.. which they aren't. As it was very much a case of ball to hand, with him being that close he really didn't have any opportunity to move.

Also don't really understand, there was 2 goals scored in extra time + there was another minute wasted by VAR checking a phantom offside with Casimiro's header.. yet the referee I believe blew for full-time just before the clock had hit 96 minutes, which was just under 1 minute over the 5 announced minutes. So surely there should have been at least another 2 maybe 3 minutes to be played to account for that lost time?

In the end though, we didn't play that badly overall considering the opposition & our effectively forced selection due to injuries. We got lucky with Casimiro's 1st goal after he tripped over the ball that kind of kept the score respectable & gave us a glimmer. But Bayern deserved to win overall, but it wasn't a humiliation that I feared, if Onana wasn't smearing butter over his gloves could have been a different game.

 

[Iceman]

Yeah we have to stop giving away such silly and easy goals, but the problem stems from not being able to retain the ball away from home and the opponents get lots of chances to create, against decent sides like Bayern they dont need asking twice.

I didnt think Bayern were all that great but we were so sloppy for long periods of time it just makes it tough especially away, if we had kept it 0-0 to halftime and scored first could have been really different but thats were the errors are killing us.

Still in the context of the group we avoided a drubbing which doesnt destroy our goal difference and is the hardest game we had, if we can improve, gets some players back and build some confidence then we are still in with a good shout but we need the win next time out, doenst matter how.

Bayern weren't as intimidating as prior years. That this Utd team managed to get 3 goals against them shows they were there for the taking. Also the start by Utd suggested a result could be possible.

It seems like Onana took it really hard during the match and after and is also taking the blame for the result. Maybe it can result in a change if he is realising giving away unnecessary goals in big games outweighs good work throughout the rest of a match.

In the context of the group a loss to Bayern away isn't the end of the world and just need to give it all for the upcoming more winnable games, especially anything at home.

 

[Hunter Rider]

The 4-3 scoreline makes the game sound closer and more exciting than it was, this is not a great Bayern side and they were just the more composed and clinical of two pretty average looking teams.

I'm not going to beat about the Bush, the defence and attack aren't perfect but it's hard to really judge them when we need a whole new midfield, this one has no legs, can't keep the ball when pressed and has no composure in possession, it doesn't protect the back 4 and doesn't supply the attack, just look at the difference between Musiala and Bruno in linking the midfield to the attack as one example, or Kimmich tracking runners as opposed to Eriksen or McTominay watching them run past and not reacting.

It's on Ten Hag now to make some big calls, players like Amrabat, Mainoo and Hannibal will all be available soon and he's got to put them in, I'm not saying they'll be the answer but they deserve a chance to see if their attributes can help improve the overall team performance as we can't go on with this midfield. As for Mount, I think he should start over Bruno and see how that goes but my guess is he'll move one of them to RW for now.

 

[Zantera]

I didn't see the game (hard with week night games for me since I wake up at 4:45) but I did see some clips and one in particular of McTominay losing the ball and then jogging back just feels like it sums up the 'mentality' of some players. Casemiro and Eriksen are showing signs of lacking legs and someone like McTominay isn't even trying to fight for a spot.

Overall I do agree the midfield is our biggest point of concern. If we get a proper midfield going, our defense wont look as shaky and our attack will actually be supplied.

 

[Iceman]

Damn LASK beating Liverpool 1-0!

Villa also were 1-0 down to Legia Warsaw but pulled 1 back quickly.

 

[Iceman]

I didn't see the game (hard with week night games for me since I wake up at 4:45) but I did see some clips and one in particular of McTominay losing the ball and then jogging back just feels like it sums up the 'mentality' of some players. Casemiro and Eriksen are showing signs of lacking legs and someone like McTominay isn't even trying to fight for a spot.

Overall I do agree the midfield is our biggest point of concern. If we get a proper midfield going, our defense wont look as shaky and our attack will actually be supplied.

There are too many players at the club with an issue be it temperament, lack of desire/hunger, discipline, fitness, controversies, age etc. Ton of things to sort out. I think things will improve a bit as soon as Amrabat starts playing. You're crying out for that style of combative player in the middle to make your foundation more solid.

 

[Iceman]

Liverpool have turned it around and are now leading 2-1 but Villa are trailing Legia 3-2.

 

[Iceman]

Brighton lose at home to AEK Athens but West Ham come back from behind to win 3-1 in their tie.

In the earlier ties Liverpool won 3–1 in the end but Villa lost.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I didn't see the game (hard with week night games for me since I wake up at 4:45) but I did see some clips and one in particular of McTominay losing the ball and then jogging back just feels like it sums up the 'mentality' of some players. Casemiro and Eriksen are showing signs of lacking legs and someone like McTominay isn't even trying to fight for a spot.

Overall I do agree the midfield is our biggest point of concern. If we get a proper midfield going, our defense wont look as shaky and our attack will actually be supplied.

I think tomorrow Amrabat will be on the bench and I'd like to see Hannibal get a start alongside Casemiro to give us some legs in there, then Mainoo is due back in a week or two and we need to start phasing him in, there should be no more games for McTominay, his games should go to Mainoo and Hannibal and we need to start putting Eriksen or Mount in the #10 and stop making Bruno undroppable.

 

[Iceman]

I think tomorrow Amrabat will be on the bench and I'd like to see Hannibal get a start alongside Casemiro to give us some legs in there, then Mainoo is due back in a week or two and we need to start phasing him in, there should be no more games for McTominay, his games should go to Mainoo and Hannibal and we need to start putting Eriksen or Mount in the #10 and stop making Bruno undroppable.

What’s the exact positions of Hannibal/Mainoo? Or can they play multiple?

 

[Hunter Rider]

What’s the exact positions of Hannibal/Mainoo? Or can they play multiple?

Mainoo is still developing but he's a natural #6, he has uncanny composure and positional awareness for such a young player. Hannibal has played #8, #10 and LW but #8 is his best position as he covers a lot of ground and likes to drive the ball from deeper.