James

*our options

I found it frustrating we didn’t sign someone like that when we signed Elanga tbh. Ndiaye/Kudus both would have aided us in that respect. Doubling down on our winger style with Elanga limited out options. (I think he’ll get better, FWIW)

You and me both pal 🤝

I agree. I like him, but he owes us a big season.

Same. I think there’ll be the odd game where we go 4-2-3-1, like we did with Isak and Wilson on occasion.

When Woltemade doesn't score he still has massive impact on the game.

When Isak didn't score, you got nothing from him at all

Exactly. Frustrating!

It’s been said to death on here but our wide players are woefully unproductive at the moment. 3/4 wide options being horribly out of form is largely to blame IMO.

That’ll teach me.

The 0-0s against Villa and Leeds are starting to look really costly results now.

For some reason I’m calmly optimistic about NUFC’s chances at Brighton tomorrow. 1-2.

So a long term injury then 😩

Ramsey can’t return soon enough either. Joelinton’s untidiness with the ball has been really noticeable today.

Elanga has been absolutely woeful today. No idea why Murphy hasn’t come on yet.

This has been dross. Forest will nick this.

(I know a lot of NUFC fans don't like Football Weekly, but I do. Have listened to it since uni (2008/9ish), and like the variety of opinions. I enjoy hearing people criticise NUFC as I think it's healthy to consider negative/different perspectives. True Faith gives me my dose of the NUFC-first POV.)

I get the impression she tries too hard for an angle. She reminds me of Jonathan Liew. Sometimes he’s on the money with stuff, and other times he just seems sneering, disingenuous and attention-seeking. Part of the ‘modern media game’ I guess.

She is such a contrarian. Her USG match report - basically a blow-by-blow of their chances - read like they'd battered us all game, and that our goals were footnotes. If I hadn't watched the match I'd have thought we'd got lucky with four goals, not that we'd dominated a side away from home. Cringe.

Expect Tino to come back in the new year, too. You simply can’t trust a NUFC injury timeline.

Well colour me surprised.

I’m normally very pessimistic but I think our contrasting European fixtures will result in a positive result for us. Something is chronically bad there. We’ll smell blood.

Don’t have a great feeling about NUFC tomorrow*. I don’t like the fact that on current form - and even inclusive of our defensive solidity - it will take very little for Arsenal to outscore us.

*(caveat: when do I ever…)

I’d go:

Ramsdale

Trippier
Lascelles
A Murphy
Hall

Miley
Willock
Bruno 45 / Tonali 45

Elanga
Osula
Gordon

Try to win it early and then rotate further to keep legs fresh.

I agree, but for balance: Thiaw should have got a second yellow.

Marvellous result. Sounds like I didn’t miss much but I’m very happy to see United digging in these days. That was a tough gig after Barca. Win home games, get draws away, utilise the squad. A good way to approach things.

Please for the love of all that is holy, get Willock off this pitch.

We could easily lose at Bournemouth with a fit and fresh first XI, so I’m glad Howe is using the squad. As much as it’s heavily rotated, there should be few excuses for a bad performance; without wanting to sound too Roy Keane “that’s your job”. Come into the side and contribute.

I enjoyed that Barca game. Frustrating we didn't score early, but we played well and limited them. Thought Thiaw looked great. Elanga very effective. I think we'll kick on based on that performance (no Wissa for a few weeks might delay that a bit mind), and the back line is going to get better too.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a chance he turns it around. I just can’t see him getting the consistent minutes he needs to find form though. I guess the Ramsey injury is an opportunity.