21 Sep 2025 09:33:39
Not going to talk about the keeper situation, the defending on their goals or any of that. To my mind we still could have - in fact, should have - got something out of that game.

Football is a game of momentum. Maresca not only doesn't appreciate this, but actively desires to kill momentum in search of control. This is a fool's errand.

Last season against City we had scored early, and were completely dominant, looking for a second. City were ragged, their young CB on his debut an obvious point of weakness and looking like he was on the verge of a breakdown. All you have to do is keep attacking him. There was no reason, ten minutes in, when Palmer missed a good opportunity to make it two, to think we couldn't score two, three, four - who knows. Maresca on the sidelines clearly had other ideas - the camera showed him telling his team to take their foot off the gas. Within another ten minutes City were dominant. We ended up losing 3-1.

Yesterday, at the end of a nightmare first half, we were given a lifeline with Casemeiro's stupidity. 80 minutes into the game we finally made the jitters this gave Utd count for something. 2-1. 10 minutes of normal time and perhaps 4-7 of stoppage time left. At this point, you're looking at: a team that has played poorly for a season and a bit, a pressurised manager, a nervous stadium, a second-rate goalkeeper who is terrible at dealing with crosses (and perhaps shots) . The last season has shown that United buckle in these situations.

Grimsby (who we're playing next) were able to get through them. All you have to do is apply the pressure. We have one of the best crossers of the ball in the PL in Reece James, and a striker who's a decent headerer of the ball in Pedro. We have George, who has a long-range strike. Santos who can play incisive through-balls. So do we throw the sink at them? Sling in crosses? Get them back defending, all hands. Pepper their goal with shots? No. For the full next five minutes we patiently play it around at the back line. We don't get the ball anywhere near their box until the 88th. By this time United have regained their fragile poise. We don't create a good chance until the second minute of added time, and at this point it's too late - United players and fans know time is almost up, and this galvanises them.

This is Maresca's control. Momentum squandered. One half decent chance created in that whole 17 minutes until full time. Perhaps this also explains why the CWC final was such a great performance (why we've generally been better in knock-out games) - we saw the jugular and went for it. Until Maresca realises there's not just a place for chaos in football, but that risk in the pursuit of momentum is essential to win (cup mentality), we're going to continue throwing points away in the league.

1.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 09:49:32
Have a look at the Chelsea website and the Chelsea fixtures. We are not playing Grimsby next at all! Surely, as a fan of the club you should know this?

{Ed001's Note - what has that got to do with being a fan? I have no idea who Liverpool play next, never do nor do I really care who is next.}

2.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 10:10:50
We’re playing Lincoln next.

3.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 10:23:12
EdW, I enjoyed your post.

As I said earlier in the week I believed we would find it difficult to get a result at Old Trafford. My reasoning was based on our current form, our recent history at OT, playing in Munich midweek, them have a week off and Utd showing reaction after getting beaten by City. that's also why I believed we see more likely to get a result at Bayern rather than OT.

The Maresca debate will primarily be driven by results but also style of play. In my opinion the club under his management overachieved last season. I want the club to build on that success. I am not sure how our exertions in the CWC will affect our season but I do believe our club, as a minimum, will finish in a champions league spot.

Generally speaking I think EM has done well enough to warrant my continued support. Unlike some, I think he represents the club well.

Yesterday’s performance was poor but we will never know what might have been if Sanchez had been sent off after 4mins. Who knows what would have happened it we had been given a definite penalty but more worryingly was our performance when it was 10 v 10.

Caicedo in my opinion is our best player and I am a massive fan. His performance is crucial to the way we perform. He hasn’t played well in the last two games and we get beat in both games. His work rate covers gaps and he gives other players time and room to play.

4.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 10:30:28
Great post EdW, drums up Naresca's tactics in a nut shell, espically now that Arsenal and City are also using long balls as tactics.

5.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 10:49:11
Surely no one want to see a return to long ball tactics?

The odd long ball to get defenders dropping deep I understand but god forbid we ever become a sling forward team.

6.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 11:32:44
Tom

What City and Arsenal are doing is mixing up the play, perhaps Xmas, we can send maresca a video of how they do this.

Football evolves and even Pep is seeing this.

7.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 11:53:31
Bill, of course football evolves and as I said in my earlier post I have no issue hitting a long ball on occasions particularly if it means defenders drop a bit dealer but I never want to see Chelsea as long ball team.

I was critical last season about EM being to tactically rigid. Towards the end of last season he mixed things up and showed some pragmatism. In the CWC he constantly changed tactics and changed it all again for the first 45 mins of the final. He also changed our set up for the second half of the conference league final.

Midway through last season you wanted the manager sacked and you are starting down that track a tad earlier this season.

I am not sure we need take any lessons from anything Arsenal or Arteta does.

8.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 11:54:29
Greenaway, you're right. I appreciate the correction – got Lincoln and Grimsby mixed up in my head (about an hour away from each other in the car) . Thanks for engaging with what was obviously the core element of my post.

(and thanks Ed001 for the support there! )

Tom and Bill – I don't think this element of his management necessarily has to define Maresca's time as our manager, but it's frustrating when it seems like such an obvious blind spot. I'd be fascinated to know whether that dithering about after our goal is actually instruction, or whether our players weren't brave enough to really go for it.

And yes Tom, hopefully long ball tactics won't make a full return, but they worked well for us as a surprise in the CWC final (and arguably Sanchez has looked a much better keeper for not always having to find a short pass) .

9.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 12:41:02
Also enjoyed your post EdW though would just add that in outting Grimsby instead of Lincoln this is not predicting that what might happen to us on Tuesday n ight could be similar to United's fate against the Mariners.

In terms of EM decisons yesterday I would add that though I completely understood why he took off Palmer - to guard agains further aggravation of groin injury possibly aggravated again at end of Bayern game tghough this begs question of why CP risked at all v United - I could not understand simltaneous removal of both Estevao and Neto as we needed to retain some goal threat beyond Pedro or a set piece goal from a CB like TC. So remove the youngster Estevao perhaps but leave Neto on for rest of first half whle bring on Santos for Palmer and Tosin for Estevao is a matter of going to three at the back/ shoring up defense.

Point though too - though am repeating this one again and we're perhaps all getting tired of it - our transfer business this alst window was odd. Santos and Estevao both excellent additin but had been signed earlier. Pedro an excellent addition but seems to me to play much better alongside or behind a more conventional number nine striker like a Delap or Jackson and when trying to lead the line yesterday - and he produced moments of great skill and not a little bravery - there were times when he was perhaps too easily knocked off the ball by United CBs/ could not trouble them physically in the way a Delap can. If seeing Guiu as too inexperenced to eb given much game time this loaned to Sunderland and putting Jackson on the market then loaning him to Bayern we were effectively down to one conventional number nine in Delap who as bad luck would have it gets injured before window shuts and when Jackson physically and mentally already in Munich. In other words the mantra is only - or almost only - buy youth meant that Guiu was the only other option plus what happens if Pedro gets injured? George is surely not a good enough number 9 stand-in to lead our line ona regular basis? Perhaps emegha will be brought in come January but will have had no pre-season/ EPL experience.

So in the key areas of the team that have been identified by us on huge number of occasions already that is GK (we still need a worldy is we can find one. perhaps Penders may be that but. ), CB (esp. after LC injured), and striker: ok Pedro looks great but see points above and would add that a physcally robust number 9 essential in EPL imho so we probably needed two of those in case Delap imjured and if Guiu not trusted.

Finally there is the question of whether Hato or Gittens are ready yet to be starters or even subs in major games in EPL with Hato in particulat potentially a crucial decision in thsi respect as seen as primarily a rotational option for Cucurella or indeed at LCB. He looked vety insteady and gave the ball away several times in that first half versus Brentford. Both should and surely will play versus Lincoln that will give them some game time but if Cucurella gets injured any time soon then I'd expect Gusto to be preferred as replacement for him than Hato and then that rauses question of who cover for RJ at RB? Josh?

10.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 14:00:14
JBS, I think he took our natural wide players off because we went to three at the BACK and the attacking width was then the responsibility of James and Cucarella.

Palmer is class but I personally believe EM was right to pull him when we went to a “working” three in midfield. Given that Palmer supposedly didn’t train all week and required an injection in his troublesome groin it was definitely a risk starting him. I would rather he took a month off sooner rather than later.

God forbid both James and Cucarella get injured even worse at the same time. We are well covered at RB and we signed Hato to play and be cover for the LB position and left CB position. I’m sure Hato will start on Tuesday and that can only do him good. He looked a top class prospect to me and I haven’t changed my mind after one premiership game.

I would have brought Guiu on instead of George and I still convinced Gittens will prove himself a top signing, hopefully this season.

11.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 14:37:08
EdW, Sanchez and other are hitting the odd long ball and yes it can be in my opinion a useful tactic in the correct circumstances, particularly if used quickly. You site the CWC final but we also have to aware teams can use it against us as well. That happened yesterday. A quick long kick from there keeper caught our players half asleep.

EM has our players playing possession based style of football. For a period last season we got stuck in a sideways passing rut. We then started to me the ball forward more quickly but this season we seem to look knackered already and therefore slowing everything down.

12.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 16:25:29
Tom the point about leaving Neto on first half was that in bringing Tosin on for Estevao he has gone to THREE at the back with Reece and Cucurella moving to wing back positional outside the back three. So Neto could have stayed on as part of a three four two system and swapping leading attacking positions either laterally or horizontally with Pedro. I think he would have proved more of a test for United defenders than George though George or Garnacho could have been brought on at some stage in second half if ether Neto or Pedro looked to have tired.

13.) 21 Sep 2025
21 Sep 2025 17:01:15
JBS, having gone to a back five, in my opinion and I’m only guessing EM’s reasoning, we had to go with three mobile “central” midfielders with high work rate against there four in midfield. Effectively we went 531.
It’s the reason why I’m not a massive fan of five at the back because it can, but not always, mean no natural wide players.