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2024-25 Emirates FA Cup

123578

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,135 ✭✭✭✭8-10


    Haha yeah in fairness their form since last year is a lot more relevant than their result at Anfield I mentioned!

    Karius, Ovie Ejaria, Sheyi Ojo, Kevin Stewart, Ben Woodburn and a teenage Trent Alexander-Arnold started that game back in 2017

    Expect to see a "where are they now" article about that lineup in the lead up to the 4th round tie



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,244 ✭✭✭fyfe79


    As a Liverpool fan it's rare I'm happy about United winning even a raffle but today they deserved it. What the hell has Arteta done to Arsenal? - all I saw today was 3 minutes to take each set-piece and constant going to ground and trying to get the opposition booked/sent-off. You'd be raging if you saw Stoke City at it. Not a hope Arsenal win anything meaningful with this lad in charge, imo.

    Happy for the Utd keeper too, seems a decent skin based on his post-match interview and must've been wondering why he wasn't getting more game time the last 2 or so years.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,570 ✭✭✭✭SlickRic


    Arsenal look dominant, but at least 50% of it is a mirage.

    Yes, they've issues finishing. But part of having Havertz there is 'control'. If you've Osimhen or Isak, you get a finisher, but they won't give Arteta that 'control'. That's a conscious choice he's made on player profile.

    And for Arteta, control is passive possession. They are so slow. The reason it's 'controlled', is that progression up the pitch is so slow that it's easy for the team to never leave the structure that Arteta has instilled. Set pieces are slow. Throw ins are slow. Nobody drives through midfield to get the opposition off balance in their structure.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 245 ✭✭Krazy gang


    Don't know why zirkzee gets so much stick. Any time I've seen him his hold up play has been excellent. Hard worker and brings other players into it

    Don't see him scoring lot of goals though. Maguire was outstanding today like last week. And of course Bruno, what a goal and scores his penalty as usual. The haters will say he's a moaner. I'd have a moaner over a player who doesn't care.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,438 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    Haven't watched an Arsenal game in a while, they are so painful to watch.

    Amazing the amount of time they wasted, even throw-ins took ages.

    More diving than the Olympics.

    I'm partial to your abracadabra,
    I'm raptured by the joy of it all.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,024 ✭✭✭Caustic


    He has had some awful awful games for united this season kinda cumulating in the game when he got dragged off after 30 mins, what I've noticed so far is he seems to do better coming off the bench, not sure if that's a mental thing, or the game being slower when he comes on, or just random but maybe you are catching the sub performances.

    Even when he is having a better game though he can still make completely basic errors or have really poor touches, on the flip side he also has it in his locker to some absolutely brilliant stuff and I think that range of outcomes makes him extremely frustrating to watch as a fan.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,632 ✭✭✭Did you smash it


    Zirkzee isn’t very good, not at the level of a man United player and his stay playing at United is notlikely to stretch beyond this season.

    Bruno; great output as a player but isn’t captain material (3 red cards this season and another hissy fit today). Has little tactical discipline and isn’t quite good enough to get away with it. He’s United’s best player and still he is a problem for United.

    If United fans want to fool themselves that they played well today then that’s up to them. Dalot served Arsenal the game and Arsenal served it right back to United. A contest of incompetence.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,438 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    It's his finishing, he's missed a lot of good chances. Can't fault him otherwise, puts a shift in which is not a universal trait among this squad

    I'm partial to your abracadabra,
    I'm raptured by the joy of it all.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,515 ✭✭✭riddles


    the new manager has stopped the loses at United but having to go and play a bit on the front foot particularly against teams intent on doing to them what they did in the last two games! He has them organised and aggressive which is a step forward.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,632 ✭✭✭Did you smash it


    it’s an extremely difficult job and he will do well to succeed, especially since their internal organization of scouting and signing players looks as bad and uncertain as ever.

    Klopp at Liverpool was a good manager but without the internal football structure of player scouting and signing they’d have done nothing.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,024 ✭✭✭Caustic


    Shearer kept saying this on bbc and I'm not sure why but there was nothing much similar above how united played against Liverpool and against arsenal two completely different types of performances



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,135 ✭✭✭✭8-10


    He got to 2 cup finals before he signed anyone



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,632 ✭✭✭Did you smash it


    Think arteta won an fa cup without signing a player. Not much good to him now when he’s forced the club to sign Havertz, Zinchenko, Califiori, Merino, Jesus



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,438 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    You are counting a red card against him which was rescinded and should never have been awarded. This makes your bias obvious.

    Roy Keane got plenty of red cards in his time - I suppose he wasn't captain material either 🙄

    I'm partial to your abracadabra,
    I'm raptured by the joy of it all.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,438 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    It was telling that for both the Liverpool game and this one, Amorim had a full week with the squad with no midweek game, how can a new manager get his ideas in when there's a midweek game every week and barely time to train?

    I'm partial to your abracadabra,
    I'm raptured by the joy of it all.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,632 ✭✭✭Did you smash it


    I’m hardly biased if I don’t think Bruno is captain material. It’s something just rival fans are saying?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,539 ✭✭✭AidoEirE


    His hissy fit was in the right in fairness, h got clipped and UTD should of had a free kick out of it.

    Hes been outstanding the last few weeks and has acted as a captain throughout. Has picked his game up quite a bit.



  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 55,127 Mod ✭✭✭✭Necro


    Havertz had a very poor game yesterday but has generally been very good for Arsenal since signing. Calafiori and Merino only signed in the summer.

    I'm not sure why Zinchenko or Jesus are mentioned there either when they were both considered decent gets at the time for Arsenal. Perhaps they've outgrown them but I wouldn't consider either a 'bad' signing personally, given before they signed Arsenal were finishing 8th in the league twice and they went from there to 2nd.

    Does Arteta have what it takes to go that extra step and win trophies? I honestly don't know, this summer is pretty crucial to be honest. I've enjoyed his tenure mind you as it's made us competitive (and hated equally which is kinda funny when a couple years back nobody gave a crap about us) again.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,135 ✭✭✭✭8-10


    Havertz just isn't a number 9 or striker to me. I watched him a good bit at Leverkusen and he was running from midfield a lot kind of the same role Bellingham plays, not exactly a classic number 10 either but a "midfielder/forward hybrid" I'm not even sure what you call it but the FIFA kids probably have some fancy Italian name for it.

    Liverpool have been trying to do the same with Szoboszlai this year and physically and stylistically I think Szoboszlai and Havertz are very similar. In the FA Cup game on Saturday they even played Jota there when Szoboszlai came off leading to some pundits talking about how Slot is trying to make Jota into a midfielder - but I think that's simplistic. I think he's trying to use Jota as that same type of player between being an out and out number 10 and out and out number 9

    And that to me is where Havertz should be playing. He was unbelievable for Leverkusen in his final season there. If you get it right that position is unplayable. Is it a 9.5? A deep-lying forward?

    In any case there's no way I'd be having him lead the line, same way you would lose a lot if you played Szoboszlai or Bellingham as the target man.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,632 ✭✭✭Did you smash it


    I think you’re being quite kind to those players. None have really worked out. Havertz, Jesus and zinchenko require upgrades and arsenal fans will tell you that.


    Early days for califiori and merino but califiori is injured all the time with fresh injuries. Merino; not going great but it’s too early alright.

    My overall point was to do with man utd not arsenal. Man utd need a good manager and Almorim might be one but it’s not enough alone. You also need guys like Edwards at Liverpool. There’s no evidence man utd have their sh*t together for player identification and signings and contract management. They’ve already sacked the main guy they brought in to improve this areas. The club is a mess and Almorim has a huge job.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,135 ✭✭✭✭8-10


    It's Richard Hughes now at Liverpool btw for player identification and contracts

    He did a good job with the manager but yet to be seen how he can really do on signing players and (crucially this season) renewing contracts



  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 55,127 Mod ✭✭✭✭Necro


    I've already said the club has outgrown Jesus and Zinchenko - that does not make them bad signings - they were perfectly adequate signings at the time.

    I disagree completely on Havertz, yesterday's stinker aside. He's not a striker but due to whatever reason the club haven't bought one so he's had to play there. And his contributions aren't actually that bad, 20 PL goals and 9 assists since joining, there's a few strikers that would love to have that many goal contributions in 18 months.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,632 ✭✭✭Did you smash it


    They were grand signings at the time but they haven’t worked out long term so ….they haven’t worked out long term. I disagree on your takes on the players so we’ll leave it there.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,813 ✭✭✭IncognitoMan


    Not many strikers playing for clubs trying to win the PL and CL though. It's the obvious weak link in the Arsenal team.
    They have regressed in the last couple of months



  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 55,127 Mod ✭✭✭✭Necro


    Tends to happen when your best players get injured for lengthy periods. Odegaard first and now Saka. See City without Rodri as well.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,813 ✭✭✭IncognitoMan


    Arsneal had shown signs of regression before the Saka injury though. Even when Odegaard and Saka have been on the pitch it has gone down a level..

    It's very difficult to go season after season to be fair getting 90 points but there was a very obviousus weak spot in that Arsneal team that should have been addressed in the summer really.

    A top class striker would have them much closer to Pool and could have papered over some of the cracks when/if Saka and Odegaard are injuried

    Are Arsenal tight on PSR or something?



  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 55,127 Mod ✭✭✭✭Necro


    They were in the summer yeah, I think they're fine now again though. The money is there but getting the right player for a reasonable price is probably the bigger issue. That's why given the injuries I think this summer is a big one for Arteta because after that there can't really be many excuses.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,659 ✭✭✭✭Mr.Crinklewood




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,681 ✭✭✭✭citytillidie


    Third Round Results
    Southampton 3 V 0 Swansea City
    Millwall 3 V 0 Dagenham & Redbridge
    Leyton Orient 1 V 1 Derby County AET Leyton Orient win on pen 6-5
    Mansfield Town 0 V 2 Wigan Athletic
    Preston North End 2 V 1 Charlton Athletic

    Updated Fourth Round Draw
    Manchester United V Leicester City
    Leeds United V Millwall
    Brighton & Hove Albion V Chelsea
    Preston North End V Wycombe Wanderers
    Exeter City V Nottingham Forest
    Coventry City V Ipswich Town
    Blackburn Rovers V Wolverhampton Wanderers
    Wigan Athletic V Fulham
    Birmingham City V Newcastle United
    Plymouth Argyle V Liverpool
    Everton V AFC Bournemouth
    Aston Villa V Tottenham Hotspur
    Southampton V Burnley
    Leyton Orient V Manchester City
    Doncaster Rovers V Crystal Palace
    Stoke City V Cardiff City

    ******



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,681 ✭✭✭✭citytillidie


    Fourth Round
    Friday 7th February

    Manchester United V Leicester City - (20:00) - Live on ITV 1

    Saturday 8th February
    Leeds United V Millwall - (12:15)
    Leyton Orient V Manchester City - (12:15) - Live on BBC One
    Coventry City V Ipswich Town - (15:00)
    Everton V AFC Bournemouth - (15:00)
    Preston North End V Wycombe Wanderers - (15:00)
    Southampton V Burnley - (15:00)
    Stoke City V Cardiff City - (15:00)
    Wigan Athletic V Fulham - (15:00)
    Birmingham City V Newcastle United - (17:45) - Live on BBC One
    Brighton & Hove Albion V Chelsea - (20:00) - Live on ITV 4

    Sunday 9th February
    Blackburn Rovers V Wolverhampton Wanderers - (12:30) - Live on BBC iPlayer
    Plymouth Argyle V Liverpool - (15:00) - Live on ITV 1
    Aston Villa V Tottenham Hotspur - (17:35) - Live on BBC One

    Monday 10th February
    Doncaster Rovers V Crystal Palace - (19:45) - Live on BBC iPlayer

    Tuesday 11th February
    Exeter City V Nottingham Forest - (20:00) - Live on ITV 1

    ******



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,438 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    Another nothing game for "hot balls" 😝 MCFC but they're live on BBC again. Plenty of more interesting ties there they could be showing

    I'm partial to your abracadabra,
    I'm raptured by the joy of it all.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,878 ✭✭✭✭sligeach


    Leicester keeper almost scored a calamitous own goal all of his own doing.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,878 ✭✭✭✭sligeach


    Well that's a big shock. Leicester have taken the lead against Man United.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,878 ✭✭✭✭sligeach


    We've heard boos before at Old Trafford this season, but that was very loud and prominent at half-time.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 88 ✭✭Toranaga


    Wouldn't say big shock. Par for the course, especially at home recently. Amorim talks the talk but doesn't seem to be able to walk the walk as of yet.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,878 ✭✭✭✭sligeach


    That was great defending Leicester player to get back and clear the ball, via the crossbar, before it went over the line. I don't know if Garnacho's effort was deflected or if he lifted it over the keeper.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,878 ✭✭✭✭sligeach


    Man United have equalized, that was as fortunate in the end as Leicester's opening goal. Zirkzee couldn't miss when it deflected into his path. Man United have come more into the game in the last 10 minutes.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 295 ✭✭505_


    What’s more shocking than how awful Utd have been is that they were considering selling Garnacho. Only on at half time but basically changed the game. Their only attacking threat.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,878 ✭✭✭✭sligeach


    Irish international Kasey Mcateer on for Leicester.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 88 ✭✭Toranaga


    He's the only player left with a bit of direct pace and skill up front. Sad state of affairs. Amad good obviously but a more intricate player.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,878 ✭✭✭✭sligeach


    I was saying to myself, come out and claim that Leicester keeper. He didn't, and Maguire has put United through with a header. And dreadful marking by Leicester. No coming back from that 3 minutes into 3 minutes of added time.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 88 ✭✭Toranaga


    United completely poxxed in the FA cup



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,878 ✭✭✭✭sligeach


    And the biggest sickened for Leicester was that VAR would have ruled it out for offside. Coventry could have done with no VAR last year, when a last second apparent winner in extra time against Man United was ruled out for a toe being offside.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,149 ✭✭✭✭machiavellianme


    What was the linesman looking at? A whole bunch offside



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,519 ✭✭✭✭Osmosis Jones


    Lino shouldn't be missing that one even without VAR



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,878 ✭✭✭✭sligeach


    Keeper still should have come out and claimed it. The ball had plenty of hang time in the air.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,878 ✭✭✭✭sligeach


    Ya, it gets worse on further replay. 4 Man United players were offside. Even the free kick conceded for handball seemed harsh, but I'd need to see it again.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,632 ✭✭✭Did you smash it




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,475 ✭✭✭✭LuckyLloyd


    The absence of VAR is just another of the many ways this tournament lost its relevance over the years.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,966 ✭✭✭The Rooster


    Premier league linesmen are usually excellent imo. That was a real blooper, and much easier to make calls from a dead ball, but mistakes can happen



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