5string

The main issue I wanted to raise was about clashes of heads, accidental or otherwise (headgear might reduce the pathetic 'nutting' by irate players). Nevertheless, I'm aware repeated heading of the ball has now been investigated as a cause of brain injuries: Cf. Astle, Nicholl & Shearer (and yes, it's an 'occupational hazard' - maybe all professional players should sign a disclaimer?! ). I hated heading those old leather bombs. Yes, this will be an issue - those Adidas Predator boots were controversial for similar reasons, weren't they? Hence laws of the game would need to incorporate performance limits. Excellent comment & idea. However, someone on another thread mentioned 'delayed concussion' (Hoedt may have got this), which would cause interesting medical discussions on the sideline - don't get Mourinho involved!

Not sure if this should go here or in a different part of the forum, but as it's topical (re Hoedt) I thought I'd start it here. Mods, feel free to move if deemed necessary. After Wesley Hoedt's head clash with Lukaku, with the latter being stretchered off & Hoedt now being sidelined with concussion, should football authorities be taking head injuries more seriously & doing something practical about it? For example, shin guards have to be worn to [allegedly] prevent serious leg injuries. It's football, played with feet, so that makes sense. However, it's also played with the head, so should head guards be introduced? Petr Cech wears one and he's 'just' a goalie - least likely player on the pitch to use the head directly. Should they even be a requirement? I can see a point in the future when they will be - why wait? As a former 'youth rugby' ref, I saw how seriously rugby authorities welcomed laws on concussion. Head guards are still optional in rugby, but the game is not officially played with the head, even if players' heads are crucially involved at times (eg. in scrums). Are there laws of the game requiring minimum time off when concussion is diagnosed, like in rugby? Football authorities are notoriously slow at introducing anything which might interfere with the 'purity' of the game, but surely.. SURELY, they should be moving forward with player safety?

My [decidedly amateur] thoughts: ----------Gabbiadini-------- ------------Boufal----------- ---Tadic---Lemina---Hojbjerg -----------Romeu------------ Bertrand--Yoshi--Stephens--Pied (no Hoedt??) -----------McCarthy----------- subs: Forster, McQueen, Targett, Davis, JWP, Redmond (I suppose), Long. I also wonder if Bednarek, Sims or Hesketh might find a space on the bench for this one? This assumes Bertrand & Lemina are fit. If not, then stick in McQueen & JWP (wide right, with Hoj central) respectively. Maybe put Yoshi on Zaha, man-marking job? He may not be our best defender, but he's quick enough to stay with him & be a nuisance. Or is man-marking a bit '1966'? Boufal/Gabbi front 2, with Boufal in the linking role. He & Tadic could also interchange, to confuse their defence.

Chris Nicholl returned as manager - does that count?

From the BBC Sport website: "Manchester United full-back Ashley Young has been banned for three matches after accepting a Football Association charge of violent conduct. Young, 32, appeared to strike Southampton's Dusan Tadic with an elbow in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. The incident was not spotted by referee Craig Pawson. Young accepted the charge on Sunday and his argument the three-game suspension was excessive was rejected by a regulatory commission." Umm, "appeared to strike"?? He rammed his elbow into Tadic's stomach! How about "struck..."?

And there might have been an FA inquiry into secret ManU transfers! Just kidding, we know you meant Kaka... no, Bakayoko?... wait, Efan Ekoku?... erm, JJ Okocha?... hang on, Lukaku?

Hoedt MoM on my stream

We normally play 'stick'.

Yep - probably to prevent the red card. He's been good today, though. Redmond. Hmmm...

Boufal fouls Young... again. One of them's gonna get a red, and it won't be Young! Ooh Pogba offside for that. Close!

Wooh, Gabbi & Lemina getting ready. But who for...? Romeu & Long? Bah! Boufal lazy.

I've changed my mind about the change. Gabbiadini on, but either JWP (or Romeu?) off instead of my original choice of Tadic, who's had a decent 2nd half.

Nice move, decent effort from Tadic. Boufal central to that attacking move.

Umm, Romeu won the ball... oh, he didn't. Free kick ManU, what 25+ yards out? Wide. Corner

Ashley Young elbowed Tadic in the stomach - FA should look at that, like they looked at Austin's kick recently.

McCarthy with a catch from a corner! Haven't seen that in about... ooh... not since I were a lad. I remember the days of Niemi, Jones, Flowers, Martin, Turner. Them were the days...

He did - credit for a good save, ultimately. Making chances is a good thing, though.

Wow that was close. A foot either way...

Yup. Gave it away.

Ok, overall a decent effort. Couple of chances for both teams. McCarthy done ok, Boufal looking good. Hoj getting in about about the ManU players, which they don't like. Long seems to be limping slightly. I'd only make 1 change: Tadic off, Gabbiadini on. 4-4-2

ManU getting nippy about supposed time wasting. 6 mins is up. Thank you, ref. HT 0-0

Em, why did Stephens get a yellow? Oh, "delaying the restart". Right. ???

Nearly a pen, but why did Lingard turn away when he still had the ball? Silly boy (though good for us). We seem to be keeping possession a little better than at Spurs. Oh, then Boufal loses it by trying to beat the same player 4 times!

Should've been a corner, not a free kick to ManU. Ok, ref's gonna be like that, is he? Ah well. And Lukaku just MISSED their first chance - could be our day....!

It's what they should all be bloody doing!