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@nikstorey_

@sleepynik.bsky.social

Professional Football Analyst & Scout (ex Alty FC). United πŸ”΄ UEFA Refereeing

125 Followers  |  224 Following  |  165 Posts  |  Joined: 14.11.2024  |  1.7615

Latest posts by sleepynik.bsky.social on Bluesky

And finally, as I’ve said from the FA Cup Semi final last season onwards, you simply cannot start Hojlund in a match of this stature.

There isn’t a PL cfwd in there. He offers nothing. In and out of possession. Ruben has had an obsession with him.

Huge errors. Football is that simple.

#mufc

21.05.2025 21:56 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The Mount one was particularly obvious. He surely had to be the choice from the bench given how far off it he was vs Chelsea.

Garnacho has been the better attacker and defends space better.

He and Bruno won 5/6 previous Europa games when started at 10.

This was so simple to get right

21.05.2025 21:53 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Ugarte isn’t on his game at the moment but the corollary is Lindelof in and Amad to R10.

Interesting options!

But I’d go with the above and minimise risk against a high press

09.05.2025 20:38 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Amad was absolutely shattered after 30 mins. As we said in the preview, he should ONLY have started if 100% fit. Otherwise his impact from the bench is unique. Think Bilbao.

It is a terrible performance by him but it was *not* his fault.

21.05.2025 21:50 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Fernandes should have been nowhere near the centre of the park.

Mount should have been nowhere near the pitch.

These are easy decisions that a top class coach should recognise.

21.05.2025 21:49 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Rant incoming.

Postecoglou got the big decisions right and Ruben did not.

Udogie over Spence.

Richarlison over Son.

3 man centre to dominate Bruno/Cas (just as Chelsea and West Ham did)

21.05.2025 21:48 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Ugarte isn’t on his game at the moment but the corollary is Lindelof in and Amad to R10.

Interesting options!

But I’d go with the above and minimise risk against a high press

09.05.2025 20:38 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

That’s the team I’d play in Bilbao, given current dynamics.

#mufc

08.05.2025 22:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I’d have played Saka and Odegaard high and central in second half. Saka just ahead in something of a false 9. He’s been taken out of the game by Mendes

Merino back into midfield, Martinelli and Trossard flanking

Got to try and break the mold when playing such a tactical side

29.04.2025 21:15 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

That goal is squarely on Amorim.

Shaw should not be instructed to pass horizontally left in that scenario

And - I should say - Dorgu is making slow decisions on the ball *again*

27.04.2025 13:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Loved the β€˜calm down’ from Rice.

They drew 1-1 against a dominant United side who sit 14th and handed the title to Liverpool on a silver platter in February

09.03.2025 22:41 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Be blessed sir! It truly is a superpower …

27.02.2025 10:26 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Was better tonight but for their second goal sadly culpable. Cant make his mind up whether to keep back line high (as he was deepest with Delap); rallies as usual and lets Delap get half a yard on him

Onana doesn’t stand a chance. If he dives early to right and Delap scores to left he’d be shot

26.02.2025 23:48 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Etsi kai etsi gia mena!

26.02.2025 22:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

What is the consensus on #WhiteLotus so far?

24.02.2025 23:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

De Ligt looks like he’s had 12 rounds with Mike Tyson.

Crazy to see

22.02.2025 13:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

That second goal is incredibly bad from almost all areas of the park. Poor ball by Bruno, Casemiro too high for second ball, De Ligt’s positioning is legitimately terrible and allows the ball in behind.

Icing on the cake was Maguire lack of awareness πŸ™ƒ

#mufc

22.02.2025 13:21 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

De Ligt costing us again with his positional awareness, or lack thereof - which is his worst trait by a long stretch.

16.02.2025 17:29 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Casemiro needs to come off. So far off the pace.

Agree with Neville that Bruno right side OOP isn’t working. Need Zirkzee on the ball more and Dorgu/Dalot need to be more ambitious.

16.02.2025 17:28 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Followed up by a poor interview. VvD blaming Oliver. He played the correct amount of stoppage time and allowed similar challenges for both sides.

Wobble

12.02.2025 22:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Kudos to Moyes btw. Both Harrison and Iroegbunem impacted the game. Harrison won the majority of his duels, constantly probed, played some awesome balls in.

TI was very direct in his movement when he came on and crucially got the flick on for the assist. #everton

12.02.2025 21:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Slot sent off. He and van Dijk not stopped all game in the ear of the officials. Genuinely ridiculous.

12.02.2025 21:37 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Pickford rightly annoyed with himself. Stays stagnant for too long when Branthwaite clears in front of him. Cant get up and over in time. #eveliv

12.02.2025 21:10 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Really impressed with Zirkzee progression

His off the ball work better than we’ve had for some years from a front man

5 tackles tonight in just 22 mins. You can’t imagine how hard that actually is

#mufc

07.02.2025 22:09 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

That game hurt my brain.

Praying for an away tie next round

#united

07.02.2025 21:57 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

That was genuinely terrible from United. We’ve seen some poor first halves - Spurs and Forest come to mind - but there was nothing there. And in every zone.

#mufc

07.02.2025 20:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

If it didn’t escape Rio you know it must be a problem.

If we don’t sell Rasmus soon, the issue would not just impact our playing style and success on the field but could equate to huge financial loss, as there won’t be any realistic buyers.

Right now only Serie A could work

#mufc

26.01.2025 20:16 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

You see Amorim making fab progress each game (check the Mazraoui instruction tonight for eg) but you also see a major floor in his thinking every other game.

To start the Dane ahead of Zirkzee tonight where holding the ball up is more crucial than usual = bonkers

#FULMUN

26.01.2025 20:15 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Just mad she didn’t trust Frankie given the β€˜mothers’ exchange’ in the kitchen. That was real sad

24.01.2025 23:10 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Too much hype on Toby, sadly. He doesn’t receive the ball well, and too often behind advanced CM opponent. Doesn’t use half turn well and doesn’t check space around him well. Holds on too long, often running it too far. Doesn’t anticipate attacks and often late to the challenge. Passing is simple.

23.01.2025 22:32 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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