Manchester United Teamtalk/Transfer/Gossip 23/24 - [New Thread Available]

Context: I'm an Ole fan and a Pogba fan who thinks a lot of people get hysterical fast.

Last night was the low point for me in my support of Ole. The 1st team choice excited me; I wanted to see if Ole could impress a system on his players, specifically Pogba that would see us disciplined in the middle of the park, allow our attacking talent show their value and see if our FB's could provide competition for the incumbents.

No to all that. It's not clear what tactical training is really being done between matches but the vaccuum in the middle of the park which McT alone couldn't deal with, the indiscipline of Dalot (which is a shame, I really think there's a player there) and the congestion up top as a result of Pogba's spatial drifting was infuriating. Our CB's were exposed so often and so easily. I feel sorry for them.

Credit to Ole here: he made changes that affected the game and turned it our way, which is something you can rarely say. Matic showed why we need a good DM on the pitch at all times. Fred showed the value of a player understanding his role and committing to it, even if it's not his "natural" game (John O'Shea would have been proud). Cavani showed why he is still world class. Lingard showed how important hard work is.

I feel sorry for VDB. I think he'd have done well yesterday with McT. Them as a pair I think could work, provided they stick to their detail. As talented as he is, Pogba's never going to do anything other than what he always does. When he plays on the left, great. Play him as a 10 occasionally: super. Play him as a CM with holding responsibilities and watch the gaps open up.

I love Ole and think he's one so much good for the club but the coaching of this squad is abysmal. The same problems recur and nothing seems to be done about them. I've previously given Ole the benefit of the doubt and questioned what Phelan, Carrick et al do but f**k that now: he's in charge. He might not be responsible for developing the tactical detail or giving it to the players but he's responsible for those who are and he hasn't done anything about it for too long. Move him to DOF if that's what his strengths are.

I think it may be the best assist of 2021. Sure Bruno/Pogba have had some great defence splitting balls but the speed at which Lingard made those 3 or 4 decisions to set up Ronaldo was amazing.

Yeah I think that's it - similar as to what happened at the weekend with Watkins. Both goals stood in the end, which is probably the right decision for me. Sometimes those technicalities can be too particular or anal, for want of a better word. If the player is directly in the line of the goalkeepers sight and directly affecting the keeper's vision, or an action such as a dummy or the ball going under the attackers legs leaving the keeper blindsided, then the goal should be ruled out fair enough. But just having any part of the attackers body in front of any part of the goalkeepers body is not the same thing and the goal should stand.

Ole complained about the Watkins one, but ignored this one when they were very similar. Both keepers were not directly having their vision blocked, while there was some 'interference' from a player in an offside position, technically. Can't have it both ways!

Scott is the weak-link in the McFred portmanteau, especially since it's Fred who is scape-goated . I think Matic alongside Fred would be a lot better balanced as it would combine the energy levels of Fred with the nous of Matic. It looks a lot less likely to happen, but DVB could be an replacement for the former if they want more control, and the latter if he/when he gets tired. Hiding in plain sight.

I actually agree that Fred is a better asset to the team than Scott but Matic and Fred has been tried and it has failed anytime it has been tried tbh, it puts Fred on the right side of the centre mid as Matic can't go there and he's just horrific there. Its like when Lindelor has to play left sided centre back, it just doesn't work unfortunately.

Maybe if we had a younger Matic, who knows. I actually liked Matic & Donny together. I think Donny would also make a good partner for either of the two mainstays but not sure we will ever get to see it in anything other than flashes.

That's not what happened at all actually.

Id suggest watching it again, a few times I suppose.

Even just head to around the 2 minute 30 mark of that video. What you said is completely wrong.

See, what happened was - Lingard impeded the goalkeeper by diving into him and making sure he wouldn't be able to save the shot at all, he went out of his way to dive in front of the keeper so that the keeper had to alter his positioning, not cause he was beaten by Lingards assist of course, but because Jesse launched himself like a torpedo at him.

Lingard should probably be suspended for a couple of games and United docked the 3 points.

Or, same as the weekend the goal was fine. Not sure.

In reality the keeper doesn't actually alter his positioning because of Lingards body, he does try to adjust of course because Lingards touch went right to Ronaldo who was about to shoot so being a goalkeeper he tried to adjust to make a save.

...