23 Aug 2022 07:07:36
Ed001 if you’re around mate.

1. Are we simply not playing well due to injuries? I understand of course that this is still early in the season but it’s uncharacteristic that we are so slow to get to the second balls, yesterday and the Fulham game too. Palace was better i thought.

2. It seems like the players are quite lackadaisical in their whole approach. Our play has not been as effervescent and just lacks urgency/ spark? I’m not sure if I’m not seeing things properly but seems like our players are not making over/ underlapping runs or our passes are not reaching these guys.

{Ed001's Note - is it that uncharacteristic? Teams always start slow, that is why there are always freak results in the early weeks of the season. Match sharpness takes time, though the disruption of injuries won't be helping.

We look low in confidence to me, Virgil has not looked the same player since his injury and that shakiness seems to be spreading. It is still early days though and the team will improve, but I am worried about Virgil, he needs to snap out of it quickly, he is key.}

1.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 07:28:51
Probably mate. I’m thinking more along the fact that we are normally very quick to the second balls, but as you say it’s early season and all.

Also yea, Virg doesn’t seem to want to engage an opponent. Playing well within himself, which is weird since I thought he recovered well last season.

We also look like we’re not pressing, or pressing well?

What’s the fix Ed? Just get a run at games first?

{Ed001's Note - I thought he was struggling last season as well, but no one was putting him under enough pressure for it to show. The few times it did happen he looked shaky. You can't press if the defence is not standing up high enough as there are too many spaces.

First things first, we need to stop conceding soft goals.}

2.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 07:36:26
Why is a 37 year old Milner starting 2 games in a row for us? Milner used to be a back up fullback for us when Klopp came and a decent one but he has never been a good centre midfielder. Always been a headless chicken. He's no Modric that has a balon dor and has a wand of a foot and a top football brain. This is just an old James Milner. Scary.
Virgils head looks shot and instead of trying harder and fighting he's gone more casual hoping someone one else will save his blushes. Trent still playing so high up the pitch despite the fact we're not controlling the game and doesn't seem to be able to adapt his position or game to how the match is going. Its like they're on auto pilot despite the plane being broken.
It was telling how much better we played with 10 men last week. Our mentality monsters look broken atm.

3.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 07:44:40
Ed001 I’m with you on the Vvd bit mate, he looks panicked and way below the standards he’s set in the past. But so do the rest of the players. I’m normally a stern defender or Trent but last night he didn’t seem bothered. Gomez looked extremely rusty (but expected) Robbo was jogging back from forward positions which is so unlike him. I have no comment on Bobby, Hendo and Milner. Elliot for me was the only one that seemed to be trying and putting a shift in. Which realistically is the bare minimum that we should expect. And add to that Carvalho when he came on he tried his best to create intensity.

4.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 08:23:17
we can put one of our strongest carabao cup line-ups using the players we have out to injury and suspension at the mo lol. We should definitely have got more out of the first three games, but I don’t it should be lost that we missing half of the players who would be in contention for the match day squad.

5.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 08:52:03
VVD playing better doesn’t solve the issues of Opposition running more than us. Milner and Hendo in midfield and Firmino in front it’s like a pensioners outing. Old Trafford is a big pitch those 3 and others got outworked. VVD was often on the halfway line he couldn’t get higher. No pressure on the ball is the main issue of which there are many.

6.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 10:52:37
Ed001 is it mental or pysical for virg? I'm thinking he's afraid to go in with his leg/ knee hence why he just backs of players allowing them to cross or shoot.

{Ed001's Note - mental, entirely mental. There is nothing physically wrong with him.}

7.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 11:11:03
Edd001 how does he get past it because its costing us dearly?

{Ed001's Note - he needs to be involved in some physical tussles to gain confidence in his leg and probably could do with working with a specialist pyschologist. Time is the only real healer though but it might never come back. Some players never recover.}

8.) 24 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 11:25:11
I don’t agree on VVD, he’s had a slow start to this season but his performances last season were exceptional. I’m surprised there’s not more critique of Robbo, the guy looks like a headless chicken at points and his play in and around the box has declined.

The team is slow and devoid of ideas. Without Thiago there’s not a penetrative pass within that midfield. Elliot has work to do in that area. We need quality players in the midfield, which we’re lacking in.