First game of the season against a top 6 team – can we make it?
Manchester United, although in an existential crisis, have managed to win their last 3 games including against Liverpool. Erik Ten Hag seems to have found his playing XI who can play his aggressive pressing game and have motivated them enough to win games. Will it going to be easy for us to visit Old Trafford and grab a win? NO. Is it possible? Yes, of course.
We have our own winning streak running where we have managed 5 wins in as many games, some of which were hard fought. We have been brilliant in pressing, our new signings have improved our game by some margin and we have seen some brilliant individual performances by Odegaard, Jesus and Martinelli in attack.
We are oozing with confidence! Anyone complaining that it was against the bottom half teams should consider the fact that Liverpool dropped points against Palace, City against Villa and Liverpool again against Fulham, and we managed to beat all three of them. Premier league is a hard fought league and it doesn’t matter if you are the best team in the world if you are playing away from home against a motivated team. Anything can happen on a given day, we have avoided that till now.
Things that worries me are the injuries. Partey is out, who has been immense for us and his deputy in Elneny picked up an injury too. This leave us with a midfield of Sambi and Xhaka, it would be some challenge for a young Sambi to deliver Partey-esque level performance in the midfield.
Alex is out too, but we have a decent enough cover in Tierney at LB. He certainly improves our game overall, and our left side is lethal with him and Martinelli operating there. Tierney lacks that instinct but I believe he will do a decent job. Can he do without regular game time recently and coming after an injury? We will get to know today.
I’m sure it will be a physical game similar to Villa. Can we keep our composure and not give away an easy goal? Hopefully.
Both Ramsdale and Odegaard picked up injuries against Villa and will be accessed before the game today. This is a big blow, I’m not sure how much Matt Ryan can do what Ramsdale is doing in terms of distribution and playing from the back. I am also not sure ESR/Vieira can replicate Odegaard’s form?
But then, it’s a chance for whoever make it to playing XI to build their own legacy.
Right, that’s all for today. I am hoping for a narrow 0-1 win for us. Don’t forget to guess your playing XI and with how many goals we are winning today. See you in the comments.
Note – I have been trying to get LiR into Google News (hence the logo change at the top – apparently it’s mandatory). It’s a marathon, might take months to get into, with multiple changes to site’s layout and design to suit their criteria.
Regardless, I’m really grateful to your time at LiR and just wanted to appreciate your contributions on this small blog. Onwards and Upwards!
Second goal by Eddie, but a superb accurate cross from Marquinhos. De Bruyne class of accuracy
depressing paint drying watch, minus Marq’s first contribution with the first team…until we find a Xhaka replacement, to provide some cutting edge and directness to our attack, and/or bring in a steely DM, so that we can devote more men in the box, we will continue to struggle for goals against big clubs and/or those who park the proverbial bus…we’ve seen this sideways/backwards passing snorefest far too often since MA’s arrival, which has led to some rather mixed results…we should have laid a beating on this presently bottom of the table Swiss club, especially after the United affair
Turner growing into the game. Good on aerial balls
Finally 2-1, and we got slightly worse after the full first team brought back
That game was closer than it ought to have been.
TRVL
I agree. It wasn’t what I was expecting. It reminded me of too many underwhelming away euro performances under Tets, UE and chihuahua head. We looked complacent, hesitant and short of quality. Marquinhos’s goal and assist were fucking magical though. And his reaction – I loved it.
Hoopah
Fair point about Turner. I was ready to have a massive runarrsonian rant about him in the first half.
Not a penalty for me either but Utd being screwed by Var at Old Trafford, priceless. Top of Group A and the Table makes for a good weekend without football, possibly.
Watch this space here our dynamic management duo bringing in a winger in the Jan TW despite what Marquinhos showed today, instead of a much needed DM, now where have I seen this before was it not the last Jan TW? Come on Edu get it together lay the ground works now.
Killroy
Hi mate. The huge irony in all of this is that Arteta and Edu were defensive midfielders in the playing career. TP is making progress apparently and could return ahead of schedule but their stance on bolstering CM is pure stubbornness and stupidity. Last night’s game was rather fevered at times so the cupboard is bare. I suspect all games this weekend – not just Friday ones – will be suspended.
A genuine question. It’s not some veiled comment about what has happened.
Why are some mass spectator sports in the UK resuming tomorrow (e.g. Cricket, Rugby, Golf, Horse Racing (not a sport but classified as one) and football isn’t? Can anyone shed any light because it appears to be partial treatment.