[TheReligion]

McTominay has no place in our starting 11.

Given that he's not played for a week, I'd have given Matic 60 minutes and brought on VdB or McT for him. He'd have a whole week to recover for Norwich.

I am also surprised people are surprised Sancho got subbed. He played 90 minutes in three games in 10 days before today.

We've seen how Tuchel and Pep rotate and we need to get all our squad into the same rhythm, so when injuries occur, they're not coming in cold.

I'd have also given Lingard a game as a sub but not sure what's happening there with the transfer situation.

Lingard injured in training.

Fair point with matic although you can't blame Rangnick for sticking with the team that won given such short turnaround.

Don't think it's worth moaning about tbh. I'm confident Rangnick will drop people who aren't performing.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

He delivered on his idea to keep the game in the opposition half. The irrelevant fixture against young boys will come in handy for another 90 minute run out as well as an opportunity for him to test the squad ahead of a busy period. Otherwise, it should be good fixture run to put together a run.

 

[TheReligion]

Any post match quotes from Ralf?

"Dis ist gut ja?"

"Spekken de heavy metal"

 

[tjb]

He delivered on his idea to keep the game in the opposition half. The irrelevant fixture against young boys will come in handy for another 90 minute run out as well as an opportunity for him to test the squad ahead of a busy period. Otherwise, it should be good fixture run to put together a run.

That fixture could be really useful, if we use a youngsters like Mejbri and Amad some gametime, give Greenwood some time to get back into form, maybe get Varane some minutes and see how Shaw works with the new system.

 

[Paxi]

Its strange.

Rangnick himself said pre-match he couldn't just expect the players to become pressing monsters overnight. He specifically brought up the example of Klopp's first season when Liverpool got tonnes of muscle injuries, just because he was trying to switch to a pressing style midseason.

We can't yet expect our players to be able to do what they did first half for 90 minutes. They need time to get used to it. However, its impressive that with basically one training session they managed to execute the gameplan so well for so long. With how Rangnick trains forward play and decision making under pressure, I expect us to get better at capitalising on the moments when we have teams boxed in as time goes by.

I'm pleased by the start we've made and positive about where we might go from here.



Exactly. Barring one set piece Palace didn't get change out of us. Which is a HUGE difference from what we've seen this season, where any team has been able to drive a coach and horses through the middle of us at will.

Hear hear.

 

[The Boy]

The performance at Chelsea and Arsenal and the team today do suggest that Carrick was talking to Rangnick. All those matches looked so different from the Villarreal game.

Your pressing has jumped considerably and the closing down at Arsenal and Chelsea were a noticeable change. It would make sense as today looked like a natural succession from the last couple of games.

 

[Rightnr]

Lingard injured in training.

Fair point with matic although you can't blame Rangnick for sticking with the team that won given such short turnaround.

Don't think it's worth moaning about tbh. I'm confident Rangnick will drop people who aren't performing.

It's not so much 'moaning, as it is the fact we have to utilise the squad well over this festive period.

For me, it was all about the result and I won't really judge him much until the CL games begin.

 

[TheReligion]

It's not so much 'moaning, as it is the fact we have to utilise the squad well over this festive period.

For me, it was all about the result and I won't really judge him much until the CL games begin.

The fact we have essentially a free week now probably helped with his decision to be fair.

 

[90 + 5min]

I meant the fact you said he was 38.

Oh sorry. Didn't see that. I mean 36

 

[RedBanker]

 

[RedBanker]

If players adapt to his methods and hopefully we dont get too many injuries, even this season we could do really well.

 

[Pavl3n]

Style of play is a real thing and players can be coached very quickly and a new coach doesn't need 3 years and his own players to play a cohesive style and system. Who's have thunk it eh? It's almost like the coach makes all the difference.

I never would've thought it, until I saw it today.

 

[GaryLifo]

If that's true that's unreal

 

[Hester_manc]

Ronaldo, who stood in an offside position, almost blocked the view for the keeper, when Fred scored. Lucky.

 

[FullyCamelot]

I think that was the best I've ever seen Fred play. I dunno if that's gonna be sustainable honestly.

 

[Suv666]

Great match. Hoepfullt Ralf will get us top 4.

Crystal Palace were shockingly bad though

 

[Hammondo]

Er, it was pretty bloody good - especially that first half. It tailed off in the second, but we've had three different managers in charge in the space of 10 or so days. Palace barely had a sniff (that Ayew chance from a corner was guilt-edged, though) and it's the first cleansheet we've kept in 15 games or something? What more did you want!

What I wanted is a very different thing. This is what I expected, he hasn't had time to do any better.

But it was not a good performance, it was basically spamming half and quarter chances for 90 mins.

Easiest style to defend against.

 

[FullyCamelot]

Great match. Hoepfullt Ralf will get us top 4.

Crystal Palace were shockingly bad though

The sad part is that this is the best Palace side in years.

 

[caid]

First half was a decent improvement. We reverted to type a bit in the second but positive all the same.
Did a good job of protecting our defence and gave them a quiet game getting to spray the ball around a bit, that was the biggest positive for me. McTominay and Fred looked far more comfortable and in their element for the first time in a while.
Forwards and wingers didn't really click but our attacking play was a bit stilted in general really. Dalot looks more promising that wan bisakka to me.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

I only managed to watch the first half but I liked what I saw very much! For the first time we looked like the team that controls the game and isn't just waiting for a counter attack. Very excited can't wait to watch our next games.

 

[SAFMUTD]

Music to my ears

 

[McGrathsipan]

They had one chance of note.
That was refreshing

 

[caid]

The performance at Chelsea and Arsenal and the team today do suggest that Carrick was talking to Rangnick. All those matches looked so different from the Villarreal game.

Your pressing has jumped considerably and the closing down at Arsenal and Chelsea were a noticeable change. It would make sense as today looked like a natural succession from the last couple of games.

I think there was a few easy wins to make in terms of selections and positioning that contributed. We were playing a 424 or 415 most of the season. Carrick just put some players in midfield and thats all that was needed to get passable performances really.
I think theres enthusiasm for pressing from most of the players (Ronaldo looks like hes treating it as a fun challenge and was pretty good today imo) and they've known Rangnick was coming for a couple of games too. The whole wanting to impress the boss side of things will have helped.

 

[noodlehair]

Lingard injured in training.

Fair point with matic although you can't blame Rangnick for sticking with the team that won given such short turnaround.

Don't think it's worth moaning about tbh. I'm confident Rangnick will drop people who aren't performing.

Its not really a fair point with Matic at all I don't think. Rangnick is known for wanting to press and has repeatedly said since taking the job that we need to "transfer the game away from our own box"

I'm genuinely baffled what version of Matic people watch to think he fits into that at all. Matic is the master of forcing you to play the entire game on the edge of your own box. Of all the players in our squad I think he's by some way the least suited to how we'll be expected to play...well to be frank how any PL team should be expected to play. Honestly what do people see when Matic plays? Do they just ignore the fact he is 20 yards deeper than he should be all the time and takes 3x as long to do things as the opposition midfield?

McTominay does need to step up but he's not going to be getting dropped for Matic unless that latter's fitness level and sharpness/speed over go some kind of science defying upturn.

Sorry for the random rant but it genuinelyt astounds me people still want him in the team after literally years of him consistently and visibly playing like a crippled old man. Ole's failure to recognise obvious things like this was one of his biggest undoings.

 

[noodlehair]

First half hour was very good and the rest wasn't terrible either. Just thought we lacked any composure on the ball. Lost count of how many times the final pass just needed a bit more care or someone fluffed their lines at the vital moment in attack. What I did like was playing in a way where there was enough control on the game for it not to necessarily matter.

Stark contrast to, well, literally all of our other games this season, where we've just relied on the opposition fluffing their chances and our players scoring without even necessarily creating any.

Also, Dalot and Telles have looked decent enough the last two games that I'm not sure if Shaw or Bissaka should automatically get their places back.

Also, I really liked the subs, again, without wanting to sound like I'm dumping on Ole, this is exactly what we haven't been doing. We would never have subbed Rashford off for Elanga even if Rashford had 1 leg working and a broken back. CLearly to Rangnick if someone isn't having an effect on the game anymore he will just change them even if it means trying something new/untested.

 

[No Idea For Nickname]

 

[Still ill]

Ergo we have the best manager in the league. In your face, Klopper, Tuchel!

 

[TheReligion]

Its not really a fair point with Matic at all I don't think. Rangnick is known for wanting to press and has repeatedly said since taking the job that we need to "transfer the game away from our own box"

I'm genuinely baffled what version of Matic people watch to think he fits into that at all. Matic is the master of forcing you to play the entire game on the edge of your own box. Of all the players in our squad I think he's by some way the least suited to how we'll be expected to play...well to be frank how any PL team should be expected to play. Honestly what do people see when Matic plays? Do they just ignore the fact he is 20 yards deeper than he should be all the time and takes 3x as long to do things as the opposition midfield?

McTominay does need to step up but he's not going to be getting dropped for Matic unless that latter's fitness level and sharpness/speed over go some kind of science defying upturn.

Sorry for the random rant but it genuinelyt astounds me people still want him in the team after literally years of him consistently and visibly playing like a crippled old man. Ole's failure to recognise obvious things like this was one of his biggest undoings.

I don't disagree Noodle. I said it was fair enough as I asked him what he'd have done differently so his opinion and all.

I don't see Rangnick moving from Fred and Mctominay for the time being myself. VDB might get an opportunity and if he cant press and use the ball more effectively could potentially partner Fred.

Matic isn't someone I see Rangnick as getting a tune out of in that role though. He may, of course, adapt the system to accommodate him.

 

[Someone]

First time we managed to dominate a game completely in ages. The clean sheet is great too.

Felt our front 4 were a bit poor, specially Bruno. I don't know where has his killer pass gone, it's weird.

 

[Pscholes18]

 

[Ferguson’s Hairdryer]

A win is a win but what's with the sloppy passing? It's seriously bad. How is it acceptable at this level?

Did you watch the same match as everyone else? Passing was pretty good today, final 3rd was a let down

 

[Adebisi's Hat]

It was important to get 3 points today and the Ralfniks did their job. Will be interesting to see how they progress with a full week training and a glorified friendly with the Young Boys

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Wow. That’s kind of amazing.

 

[Water Melon]

So it is 4-2-2-2. Ralf sees Donny as one of the two 10s, which leaves us fairly short on 2 CDM positions. I can see us trying to get at least one in January. Likely to be a young, combative player with good passing skills and great stamina.

 

[Cantonagotmehere]

Telles and Dalot better that AWB and Shaw (post euros), that's for sure. Love Telles's attitude.

 

[UnitedSofa]

Telles and Dalot better that AWB and Shaw (post euros), that's for sure. Love Telles's attitude.

…& he could’ve scored 2 screamers today!

 

[NewGlory]

Loved the constant press, being in control of the game, clean sheet. Dalot and Telles played great, again. Loved the game time given to Elanga.

Didn't like: DvB not given meaningful amount of time. Also we should have scored more, esp with Ronaldo getting so many assists and zero goals. With the amount of attacking talent we have, not too worried about our ability to score, however and getting used to controlling games is much more important. Do want to see DvB flourish however. With the full team pressing up high, a dedicated defensive midfielder role is less important, in my opinion and Fred-DvB pairing should be much better than McFred. I don't think positioning DvB as a sub to Bruno is a great thing. Bruno will play most of the games, many of them 80+ minutes. There's a great player in DvB that we cannot afford to waste.

Overall: full 3 points and positive start. Onwards and upwards!

 

[CG1010]

Not really sure of the 4-2-2 tactics. We would get destroyed at the flanks once the opposition figures it out, especially as both Telles and Dalot aren't the best at defence. It all comes down to what the manager said himself, the two number 10s would have to be really good at the defensive side of things too.

 

[git_united]

BLUF: Defensive transition was solid!

This was a good performance after a tricky clash with Arsenal. Proper banana skin game if there ever was one. The orange card foul on Fred in the first half broke our momentum going forward and we never really recovered after that.

Things got nervy with all those set pieces they had near the end but it's been a long time since I've not been terrified of our defensive transition as a game's worn on. Except for a couple of silly runs down blind alleys by Rashford and Greenwood that led to dangerous positions on the other end we just always seemed so secure.

I thought the movement in the middle of the park was a lot better with this setup. It seemed as though there was always an option for players on the ball. Maguire and Lindelof were quite good at deciding when to drive into space and that helped create angles as well. It really was quite satisfying to see. And yes, there were misplaced passes particularly when we tired, and yes, we tried to go vertical even when the pass wasn't really on. But for sure we were much more in control. It's crazy that this is noteworthy against Crystal Palace but after what we've seen this season it's quite a relief.

We still relied on a moment of individual brilliance by Fred but given his performances over the last couple of games with those late runs and playing higher up the pitch, it wasn't really surprising that he made a difference. I look forward to finding out whether there will be patterns of play in the final third that result in better chance creation.

Decent start!

 

[RedBanker]

Wow. That’s kind of amazing.

I think we will see more such amazing stats as the season progresses. This is what we get when decisions are made keeping football in mind.