And, we’re off.......2018/2019

[Orikoru]

Certainly could have gone either way on the penalty decision but what it did highlight was the danger of players believing their own publicity.

Reporters state Pickford is good with his feet and all of a sudden he tries being Johann Cruyff.

His overall performance was rather shaky and on another night that sort of error could be very costly.

Trouble is we aren't blessed with options.

Agree. Our keeper options at the moment are no more than adequate. He's only a half decent shot stopper, his only real strength is his long kicking, which is excellent and produced a few chances last night with long punts up to Kane (who still had work to do to make the most of them, mind). I would have had Pope number 1 by now if he hadn't have got injured. He was by far the best last season at actual goalkeeping, rather than kicking. And he's an absolute giant, very imposing, by contrast to Pickford who is a dwarf by goalkeeping standards. It would have been better if Butland had got a summer move also, if he was playing Premier League and in good form he'd be competing for the jersey, but he's never going to win it off of performances in the Championship.

 

[pendodave]

Agree. Our keeper options at the moment are no more than adequate. He's only a half decent shot stopper, his only real strength is his long kicking, which is excellent and produced a few chances last night with long punts up to Kane (who still had work to do to make the most of them, mind). I would have had Pope number 1 by now if he hadn't have got injured. He was by far the best last season at actual goalkeeping, rather than kicking. And he's an absolute giant, very imposing, by contrast to Pickford who is a dwarf by goalkeeping standards. It would have been better if Butland had got a summer move also, if he was playing Premier League and in good form he'd be competing for the jersey, but he's never going to win it off of performances in the Championship.

Yep. Pickford is like Bravo in the bad as well as the good. The question is, are a couple of goals scored via his distribution worth the dodgy keeping? He's better than Bravo in the equation atm, and I'm sure the stats team have calculated his xG contributions at both ends of the pitch. He's never going to get taller, but a bit less of the hot headedness would go a long way to improving him.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Yep. Pickford is like Bravo in the bad as well as the good. The question is, are a couple of goals scored via his distribution worth the dodgy keeping? He's better than Bravo in the equation atm, and I'm sure the stats team have calculated his xG contributions at both ends of the pitch. He's never going to get taller, but a bit less of the hot headedness would go a long way to improving him.

Above all else I would like to see the coaches working on the strength of the his wrists.

A couple of times again last night he stopped a shot but seemed to have no control over where the ball went after he parried it.

 

[clubchamp98]

Yep. Pickford is like Bravo in the bad as well as the good. The question is, are a couple of goals scored via his distribution worth the dodgy keeping? He's better than Bravo in the equation atm, and I'm sure the stats team have calculated his xG contributions at both ends of the pitch. He's never going to get taller, but a bit less of the hot headedness would go a long way to improving him.

Has row Z gone from the game?
I was always told if in dought row Z is the best option.
Now it’s all about ball retention that’s why they get in trouble as attackers know this!

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Has row Z gone from the game?
I was always told if in dought row Z is the best option.
Now it’s all about ball retention that’s why they get in trouble as attackers know this!

Exactly!

It may not be considered "sexy" football but if the keeper is being closed down lumping it into Row Z or long downfield allows the rest of the team to regain their shape.

Surely preferable to having to rush back and protect an exposed goal.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I would be interested to know what instructions Southgate gives Pickford. Presumably he will dictate whether ball retention is paramount or if row z is on the table. Pickford may be following instructions, as seems to be case at Arsenal this year, City as well I would guess.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

I would be interested to know what instructions Southgate gives Pickford. Presumably he will dictate whether ball retention is paramount or if row z is on the table. Pickford may be following instructions, as seems to be case at Arsenal this year, City as well I would guess.

Southgate would never ask a player to attempt things beyond his ability and that is exactly what Pickford attempted to do when he was caught out.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Emre is doing exactly that with Cech at Arsenal. Do we know for definite that Southgate isn't doing the same? Daft if he is though.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Emre is doing exactly that with Cech at Arsenal. Do we know for definite that Southgate isn't doing the same? Daft if he is though.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Southgate doesn't want Pickford playing it out from the back.

What he wouldn't want is to see his keeper taking stupid risks in his own box when he is in a one on one situation.

There's a reason why he is a goalkeeper and not a n outfield player.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I agree and hope you are right.

 

[clubchamp98]

You can’t pre empt a one on one situation like that !
Just take the danger out of the equasion / goal or throw in , no brainer!

 

[user2010]

Nice headline on the back page of the Mirror this morning.
Paul 'ginger monobrow' Scholes tell Moanrinho to 'Stop moaning and start coaching'

 

[Tashyboy]

He's still light years better than Henderson though.

I have a feeling that Pep has been grooming John Stones to play DM as cover for Fernadinho. If that comes off it would be interesting for England.

 

[Big_G]

Has row Z gone from the game?

Still alive and well, ask Riyad Mahrez

 

[Orikoru]

I would be interested to know what instructions Southgate gives Pickford. Presumably he will dictate whether ball retention is paramount or if row z is on the table. Pickford may be following instructions, as seems to be case at Arsenal this year, City as well I would guess.

The thing is, the goalkeeper has to apply common sense as well. I'm sure the manager is saying keep the ball by passing it short wherever possibly, but I doubt he's saying pass it short at all times no matter what, even if it's not on and costs us a goal. The keeper has to be intelligent enough to keep ball as much as possible, but sense when there's danger and hoof it upfield. Pickford did find Kane with some great long balls so he has that weapon in his locker too.

Cech is a different story. He's being asked to play that way but he simply isn't capable of it. He's still the old breed of keepers where they make saves and were not really asked to use their feet very much. So it's worked out pretty badly for him. I'm sure Leno is in the process of being phased in though, I thought he was brought in to perform this exact role for the new manager.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Totally agree. Common sense should come into it but when I see what is happening at Arsenal with Cech I am not sure it is happening there. Cech seems to be under instructions not to kick no matter what.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Firstly I must admit that l don't see enough of Man U to criticise so instead I will ask a question.

Was that first half performance by Lukaku typical?


His runs have been predictable and he has shown the first touch of a brick wall.

I just hope for United's sake that it is just a one-off.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Well that was prob the best result all round suspect Utd fans would feel the most disappointed dropping two points so late

Chelsea fans chanting at a manager who won them multiple trophies and prob their most successful manager - he responds in kind

After all his antics on the touchlines over the years you would have thought Maureen would be used to opponents celebrating too close - can see a few punishments coming up for a few

https://twitter.com/x/status/1053638514645045249

 

[Dan2501]

Firstly I must admit that l don't see enough of Man U to criticise so instead I will ask a question.

Was that first half performance by Lukaku typical?


His runs have been predictable and he has shown the first touch of a brick wall.

I just hope for United's sake that it is just a one-off.

How he's played for about 5 years against the top teams, so yeah, pretty typical.

City were bloody good today. Won 5-0 and hardly broke a sweat.

 

[Tashyboy]

How he's played for about 5 years against the top teams, so yeah, pretty typical.

City were bloody good today. Won 5-0 and hardly broke a sweat.

Did you go Dan. Be interesting to see the Kompany challenge again. Anyway i was impressed with Burnley when they had the ball. Went after 8 mins. Had a 3 and 5 yr old with me and missis T. Good to see KDB back. Saw Foden for 10 mins and he looks class.