After losing to Man City first in the Carabao Cup finals, and against Southampton in the FA Cup Quarter Finals, Mikel has come to his senses it seems. We started a Cup final with Kepa in the goalkeeping department who was responsible for the first Man City goal, Martinelli wasn’t introduced before 82′ minute mark, Saka was shite for most part of the game yet Madueke, a 55m player, didn’t get a chance till we were 2-0 down. Against Southampton, we played the worst team we could have picked from the 25 players and we lost. Raya, Saliba, Gyokeres, Zubimendi, Calafiori, Madueke were used as substitute when it was too late.
I don’t give a fuck if you say we have injury problems. I can name 2/3 players in each position and if the manager is stubborn to rotate when it matters less, don’t expect MLS to come and play a superb game in the quarter finals.
After the two cup exits, either Mikel has come to his senses or the board reminded him of the Champions League money, because we are playing the strongest team today against Sporting in the first leg of Champions League Quarter Finals.
Raya is back. Kepa shouldn’t start a game that matters, ever again. Timber is out with injury so White gets to play. We are back to the Rice-Zubi-Ode midfield and Madueke starts ahead of Saka probably because of an injury as Saka is not even on bench. I didn’t read the website, nor watched the press conference because I am still angry with what has happened in last 2 games.
There’s a path of redemption, in fact 2 for Mikel. Win Premier League / Champions League and you get to keep playing your shite, boring, bollocks way of football for few more year. It’s been 22 years since we last won Premier League and as someone pointed out on Reddit the other way, you were there for 7 years of that 22 year period. Anyone saying Mikel still needs more time is dump enough to guess that it’s almost 1/3rd of the time since we last won the league.
Right, 2 minutes to go. I don’t have much hope since Madrid/Bayern, Barcelona/Atletico, PSG/Liverpool are also in the mix and if you can’t beat Southampton, you won’t get pass through any of these 6. I do believe that we can win the league, it would be a different level of fuck up if we don’t.
So, yeah – I am still positive for a title this season. After 22 years, if we do, I can bear this crap pass-till-eternity football for couple of more years. Else, you can guess.
Game time.
it still astounds me that no one has employed the PSG strategy on corners…if they did there’s no way Raya could be so aggressive as a sweeper, which would mean thatc we couldn’t commit so many players in the box
Marc—I like what you did there
TRVL
The corner strategy – it’s almost too obvious.
I used to suggest doing the same when we had Walcott in the team – he was no use in defending a corner but stick him around the centre spot and the opposition have got to drop 2 players back, they drop 2 back push another forward.
Rice is now playing the old Xhaka LB role so that Zubi and Cala can get further forward…now imagine instead of that plan we had another real AM on the pitch
Great finish by Zubi
That should be disallowed for offside.
I would taken some heat for my earlier comment if that had counted…that said, no top side would never rely on a strategy that required Zubi to score from distance
You all were guessing Mikel got Zubimendi so he can play Rice in a more advanced role?
Zubi is on field and Rice is playing a s LB.
Rrplacing your first favorite with the second one.
We have grown into a narrow-minded traditionalists. Every player has been fed some instructions and he is on that pitch to follow those instructions.
It seems like everyone’s trying something and that something is surely not to score a goal.
Amabrish–it’s more nuanced than that, especially when Cala is being pushed forward…to start the season Rice was primarily in the more advanced role, then in more recent times Zubi has been pushed forward, especially against the bus sitters, in the hopes that he can sneak into empty-spaces unmarked
there’s no reason why any manager would talk to his subs like that unless they wanted to get more screen time
Half time talk was – guys, do not lose the fucking ball. Bore them with countless passes between yourselves. You don’t need to go forward with the ball, you can all pass between yourself and keep on doing it. Guys, we can fucking win this if you keep doing what i am telling you.
Now there’s the bin the corner. Make sure to drop your brain before you set foot on the ground for second half.
Marts, don’t you fucking forget that fucking side line. Treat it as your wife.
How many of you have the confidence of going to Madrid and scoring the first two goals in first 46 minutes?
Bayern is doing it to them.
these subs could work unless Sporting can make us nervous at the back
Madrid are a far more beatable side than Bayern right now, regardless of the location
We can’t score against either of them.
it’s kind of mind-boggling that Sporting continues to play out from the back every single time…we need to punish them for that tactical mistake
Beautiful goal. Martinelli…fucking magic.
Great assist by Martinelli and good finish by Havertz.