The Kraken

He’s 20. 21 in December. We should also remember that he’d been playing German league football for 4 years when we signed him, making 4, 12 and 28 appearances in Bundesliga 2 before getting promoted then playing 22 games in the first division. 66 league games in all. So he’s slightly different to the likes of Livramento and Lavia who have come in with little to none first team appearances, ABK has a decent amount of experience to him already.

Based on yesterdays performance alone, which part has he got wrong? That seems a reasonably accurate assessment to me. The fact that, with some decent finishing, we’re all saying how Saints deserved to get at least something out of the game kind of backs him up.

I feel we’ve already got one in Mara.

I’d like to think from Ralph’s comments after the game that whatever we are doing is almost over the line. He seemed extremely certain he knew that we’ve got a certain someone.

It’s no wonder that season ticket sales are way down. Our record at SMS was around 23,000, this season I believe we’ve sold less than 18,000. But then it seems that’s what the club wants, more day trippers. The fact you can even get through the home turnstiles while wearing away team merch basically sums it up. Away fans can do what they like, but it’s the awfully scary lads in blocks 1-3 who get the treatment. No wonder loyal fans get fucked off with that, especially when pretty much every game is available to watch online or on tv.

Yes, commentary said they did a VAR check on it while play continued. Listening to Peter Walton continue to waffle on about why it wasn’t a penalty just makes me have no faith whatsoever in referees. No wonder zero English refs were selected for the VAR team at the World Cup, the euros showed us that our lot are completely useless compared to their European peers.

I did have that video! I couldn’t remember who got that one but it’s on YouTube, it was Tony Currie.

Yeah, I’d have gone Lavia second no doubt. Just such a cool head in tight positions. There was a bit towards the end where United looked like they might break away down our left, Lavia was over so quickly to get in front of the defender and cut the threat out to get us attacking again. Quality player.

I’d disagree with that, I think. I get what you’re saying, but I felt comfortable when Aribo got the ball up front. He’s strong so can keep hold of it up there, he more than often doesn’t give it away, and he also had the header today which was one of our best chances. I think I read that when he was at Rangers he was a bit hit and miss but I like the look of him.

This was the point that was made, the mods aren’t likely to be around during match day to close down threads and start new ones, so multiple threads are always going to end up as a mess.

Let’s kick this off again then.

Exactly. United were poor today, they lacked most of the intensity they showed against Liverpool last week. Saints did very well to nullify them, but United were there for the taking. They look vulnerable at the back, their midfield got bossed, and Rashford should have been made to pay for a ticket, he was a viewer all day.

Agree with that. But I wouldn’t say that Lavia puts JWP in the shade, I’d say Lavia is much more naturally the defensive midfielder which gives JWP to get around the pitch a bit more, particularly in wide areas to ping crosses in. Lavia is definitely quality though. Im hoping our formation against sides around us stays at the 4-2-3-1, but with Mara instead of Elmo. Against the better sides we may go for Romeu and Lavia with JWP slightly forward of them, though I get the feeling Romeu is totally out of favour, I just hope we don’t accept any of the supposed offer(s) for him. ABK is a beast. He didn’t look all that on the right of a 3, he’s definitely at home in a two, felt very comfortable with him back there.

The Martinez tackle? Certainly would have liked to see that one again, defender definitely played the ball but also took out Adams with it.

It’s incredible the lengths he’ll go to, just to back up the ref’s decision. He’s there to provide an independent referee’s decision, but he can’t bear the idea of critiquing his old mates so makes some utterly absurd arguments to back them up. Today, he said a pen wasn’t given because of the proximity of the ball from the arm. I think that’s the point, Pete.

No surprise that Peter Walton agrees with the VAR decision. Such an utterly pointless man.

Yeah, all Saints players (apart from Moi) did well but Armstrong stood out, looked very busy and set up Aribo’s header. Mara seems like a class act, hopefully he’s up to speed and able to start soon. McTominay is really not that good and got exposed for what he is today. To be fair, Lavia was excellent, such a cool head and so often in the right place. We are definitely missing a clinical striker. Adams does a job but today showed what he about, gets in good positions but not able to finish. I get the feeling our transfer business is done and we will end up being overly reliant on players like Aribo, Mara, and the Armstrongs for goals from behind a lone striker.

A game when we’ve looked really good defensively, really good going forward, but just not clinical enough to even get the ball on target. De Gea really hasn’t been made to work, despite us dominating large parts of the game.

Definitely one of those that if the ref had given the pen, VAR wouldn’t have overturned it.

Che Adams has got himself into some really good positions but made a Horlicks of it every time.

Hasn’t been a good second half at all, that goal,was coming. Need to freshen things up a bit, but not too many options on the bench.

Saints have done well but I feel like Man United haven’t yet got themselves out of first gear. Expecting a sterner test of it second half, hopefully our lads can pinch a goal and hold strong at the back.

To be fair to Djenepo, he’s so far had an excellent game. He’s defended well but has obviously been given instruction to not bomb forward too much. Armstrong has also looked quite lively. Moi has been anonymous again.

Wtf just happened?!?!

Concerned that we often look outnumbered when United are on the break. I do like the look of ABK though.