Donatello

A year, only signed a two year deal. Incidentally, there was an article referenced on here earlier which said the club view the £2.5m offer for Martina as a great piece of business (for us) for a player who Puel doesn't think fits his system. I think the article was written by Adam Leitch - I can't recall, someone will. Ultimately, whilst Martina is a known entity, our backup RB is not worth stressing out over too much (not that I'm suggesting that you are). Edit: that'll learn me for not reading the post you were replying to, I.e. you're suggesting Martina's contract satisfies our requirement (an RB for a season only). D'oh.

I stand corrected You said he wasn't a viable option and that we should prepare for life without him since he has zero pace (hence the erroneous conclusion).

Adrian has written off Jay, fwiw.

Which begs the question, how many thumbs down do you think you'd get?

Set it up

Well, this place has exploded. Anyway, lots of nearly moments yesterday - it's a shame Austin couldn't keep onside/Davis couldn't play his passes fractionally earlier because there were two or three one on one with the goalkeeper situations which could've materialised. Didn't think we looked like losing either, but then Fonte had that horror moment. I'm going to remain patient with the diamond, but I do think it is a formation inherently suited to athleticism, something we lack, particularly in midfield. Davis/Rom/Hojbjerg certainly aren't the sprightliest, and shifting from left to right/right to left to protect the fullbacks isn't their forte. Davis in particular struggles defensively (personally think Clasie would be better suited, but then you do lose the incisive passing of Davis). Players like Schneiderlin would be perfect to flank the deeper lying DM, but since that's a no-go, we'll probably have to get used to teams dominating us with their width. Thought Romeo improved during the second half too. I'm certainly not going to write him off like many here are doing because of two games, but he does seem a tad lackadaisical. That'll go eventually though, and he'll be solid again. You can't replace players because they have a few poor games. Tadic competing with CBs for headers (from goal kicks/long balls) is never going to work, and I think he's generally playing too far forward. If anything, I'd rather the two forwards played even narrower and have Tadic drop further back towards the midfield three - the gap seems far too big at times. Shout out to Redmond for his cameo in AM where he really started influencing proceedings.

Jesus, I agree with you (for the most part)

Inter Milan! Awesome.

Absolutely. I see it as more of a teething issue than an ingrained problem...I just don't think it's a problem we can afford to carry given the width is almost exclusively provided by the fullbacks. Who knows, perhaps if Puel explicitly absolves him of any responsibility to defend against the counter-attack (because I don't think he has recovery pace to do both (which is what I meant by "isn't at all suited")), he'll grow into it eventually. Far simpler to switch Tadic and Long though ( until Bertrand is back). Anyway, I'm derailing the thread now.

Unfortunately Targett isn't at all suited to the diamond. He's definitely competent cover overall, but if Puel wanted better suited cover at RB (Pied), then it's not inconceivable he'd want the same at LB. That being said, I'm happy with Targett as back-up if we can protect him a little (Hojbjerg lost his call with him (against United) on at least one occasion because he wouldn't run in behind/make the angle for a pass behind Valencia. And that'd be a common theme, I reckon (an aversion to getting to the byline).

I stand corrected Slugger started a thread a few weeks ago and the title was 9-3, so I think a few assumed (inc. myself) he'd confused himself and entered the 9-3 username in the thread title field, thinking he was signing in. Whatever the reason, he stopped posting soon after (almost immediately).

To be fair, you did come back and gloat at a sour time, so *if* it was a joke/humour, it's easy to understand why so many missed it. Tarnished your own rep a bit (which would've been perfectly intact if you didn't). Edit: Oh, on second reading, I think you meant the Fonte comment was a joke, and in your defence that is pretty obvious. Ultimately, people are reacting to how you conducted yourself previously.

That wouldn't go down well on here Who were you thibking of anyway?

For real? Keeping Cuco Martina is a statement of intent? As good a signing as Cuco was for a flat mil, Cedric clearly has more potential. Why are you placing so much emphasis on our second choice rightback?

Look no further than St.Charlie/Yuki/Slugger/9-3. Some people are just that...'unique'.

Clive Tyldesley's near constant use of 'messrs'...messrs Lampard and Terry. Messrs Rooney and Ferdinand. Messrs corner and flag. I know it's puerile on my part, but I don't care. Edit: I've just noticed the word 'phrase'.

Clarkey says he does

I can personally see why they would. He isn't a superstar, admittedly, but £8-12m is peanuts for United, and an experienced PL ready 2nd/3rd choice CB is something they need. Shame, last of the L1 boys.

Haha, yeah, that's *genuinely* the first impression I was left with Consider my horizons broadened

Okay, thanks. May mosey on over there myself.

Genuinely (knows his stuff)? Have you seen what he's/she's said?

:)

Yeeeeeaaaah, I think you're quoting the wrong person.