Transcript
officialgspn: Hello everybody and welcome to Tactics Tuesday with me Kieran McGidley and I have the fantastic minister Ollie Pittham alongside me. Ollie, are you ready to deep dive into what we saw in the Fulham game?
OllieP: Yes, I'm more than ready to deep dive. I'm very excited about this.
officialgspn: Excellent.
OllieP: It's been ah it's been a wild weekend. It's been good.
officialgspn: Well, first off, three points in the bag. Get in.
OllieP: <unk>o yeah Come on.
officialgspn: We're off the mark. And what a way to open the first Premier League game of the season, by the way. um I mean, open it in a sense, but well we'll get into the deep dive later on.
OllieP: yeah
officialgspn: This first part, we're going to look at the players, who played well, who didn't play well. Obviously, shout out to Xerxes. First goal of the season.
OllieP: What a guy.
officialgspn: Yeah, I mean, he came on it, I was at the 61st minute he came on um and just, he really showed, yeah in his interview he said he plays as a nine and a half.
OllieP: Mmm.
officialgspn: We started started to see you know the first 30 minutes of that develop and I mean, he's going to be, if we can use that sort of, he he drops deep and invites people into play.
OllieP: Yeah.
OllieP: Mmm.
officialgspn: I mean, he he pretty much started the goal move. with that pass to Casimir, who then fed it to Garnaccio, ball comes in. And I mean, you call it a fluke, you call it whatever you like.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: Gary Neville said it deflected off him, I'm not so sure. I think it was a ah very good finish to get the foot in exactly the right place.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: That's ah that's a difficult finish for for your first Premier League goal.
OllieP: Yeah. He just stroked it. I thought it was McTominay at first. When I seen it, I was like, has that just come off McTominay? Has he been that impact player that he always is? Gets gets that goal, but yeah, it just looked like a really composed finish. He just stroked it in, didn't he? Looks like he, it definitely was intentional. It was, I'm not going to say it just clipped off his foot. and It was definitely intentional.
OllieP: It was just a composed finish.
officialgspn: Absolutely.
OllieP: He just looks like really relaxed, sort of chilled player. And that's what you need, isn't it? Someone just comes on and know they're going to make something happen. But um yeah, but yeah, i'm I'm really excited about this guy.
officialgspn: absolutely
OllieP: I really am. I was a bit worried because he obviously hadn't played much during the, uh, the auros, uh, getting above like Vootweg Coast, one of my, uh, lesser favorite players.
OllieP: But, um, I thought, yeah, he's, he, he looked really comfortable and his interview as well. It seems like a really chilled, laid back guy. You don't want someone who's too panicky, who's going to come on and just desperate for a goal.
OllieP: And he he just looked like he was composed. And I like his movement.
officialgspn: Hmm.
OllieP: His movement's really good. So I'm excited to see but more of this guy. See how he's going to wear play over the course of the season. But I did say to you before, like Anthony did score on his debut.
OllieP: So hopefully we're not going to get repeat of last time where we get a goal and then we get absolute droughtage for the rest of the season. But I think it's good things with this guy. I've got a good feeling.
officialgspn: Yeah, yeah, me too. I was a bit sort of, as you say, you were not quite sure what to expect heading into the first game of the season, especially was he fit, you know, the fact that he's coming on with half an hour to go means he's not fully fit.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: um But there we go, you know, for off the mark. And that's so every bit of confidence boost for any striker to be off the mark in your first game and just
OllieP: Oh, yeah yeah.
officialgspn: Brilliant, brilliant to see. I think Anana had a good game as well. He needed some he needed to make some saves. I actually want to give a shout out and I know the Fulham lads will absolutely praise me for this, but Neno had a good game.
officialgspn: I think he was the He had an amazing game.
OllieP: He had an and amazing game.
officialgspn: And look, when we when we talk about Fernandez's two chances here, um the Trevella he tried, which was you know saved by Leno, it was kind of straight at him, but it was either that or trying the inside of his foot to go past on the right -hand side, which was a narrow angle.
OllieP: yeah
OllieP: Hmm.
OllieP: Yeah. It was tight.
officialgspn: So I think, yeah, I think Fernandez chose the right shot. It's just the execution wasn't right.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: And then, yeah, the the second one, which just sort of canoned off, it was a bit, yeah.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: And the one from Mount as well, I don't really know how that, so it was just pinball there.
OllieP: yeah
officialgspn: You know, Mount gets the shot, comes off of Leno. I think it comes then back off of Mount and then back off a defender. It's like, what the, whoa, what's going on?
OllieP: There was a lot going on. It was like carnage inside the box.
officialgspn: Hmm.
OllieP: It really was. But leard he made himself big every time. And he was. He's he's a quality keeper. He really is. Because I think like defenders, they let him down a little bit in that game. um Which he gives the chances.
OllieP: But yeah, he stays a big keeper. Nice positioning. I really rate him. I've always re -rated him.
officialgspn: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, Xerxes they're getting that goal. and and It took a little bit something. Is it special? I don't know. But it took something out of the ordinary to beat Leno and that's exactly what Xerxes provided.
OllieP: Yeah. Yeah.
officialgspn: Garnaccio getting the assist. I suppose he gets the assist. We can forgive him for that miss. Is that how the rhyme goes?
OllieP: wait I'm going to forgive him anyway. He's one of my favorite players. He really is. I say Dalla was the most improved player last season, but Gennacho, he was my player of the season last season. He really was. He just, ah his work rate, he never seems to moan.
OllieP: He should be starting. He should be starting above Rashford. There's no doubt about it at all. His work rate, his attitude, and he got that goal against Man City in the community shield.
OllieP: So he really should be starting, but he just seems, he's just got a positive head on them all the time. I really like him. And I just feel bad that he's not getting picked at Rashford at the moment, but hopefully we shall see over the course of the season, which if you will be starting more games.
officialgspn: Yeah. Yeah.
officialgspn: Yeah, and I think it was good to see Diallo start. I think he had a bit of a quieter game than maybe we're used to.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: I think he was he got really involved in the Community Shield final. It was a bit quiet on Friday night, but I still think it's the right decision to start him. I think i think you're right.
OllieP: Yeah. 100%.
officialgspn: it's It starts to have to be Garnet show and Diallo.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: That's what it has to be.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: You know, Rashford just didn't have a good game. and
OllieP: No.
officialgspn: You know, we we feel like we say this every week and as much as I love Rashford, as much as I want to see him succeed, is it time for him to go to the bench in order to sort of, you know, regain that form?
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: i It's really difficult, this Rashford scenario. I really hope he hits the ground at some point this season. We've got Brighton coming up next. The question is, does he start, does he not? I'm sure we'll come into the previews of that and I'm sure when we speak to the Brighton guys, they'll be saying, please start Rashford.
OllieP: Yeah, of course, of course.
officialgspn: It's our best chance, but there we go.
OllieP: It's, it's execution where everything is technique. and We know, he we know what you can do. We've seen it before, but it's just, it effing, nothing seems to be coming off. You know, effing, he tries to do, we know he's got the skill, but he just seems to be giving the ball away every time it's, he's becoming a hindrance.
OllieP: He really isn't. It's like we're playing with 10 men. This guy's coming on, and he's trying to, I know he's trying to go past players. He wants to get that confidence back. We want to see, he wants to entertain as well, doesn't he? He knows he's an entertainer.
OllieP: He knows he's a quality player, but nothing's coming off. He's just seems to give him the ball away. He's finding himself in the right positions to score and he's just not executing.
officialgspn: Hmm.
OllieP: He's not finishing there. Every, nothing's going right. Nothing is going right.
officialgspn: No.
OllieP: But we've got that show. Everything does go right. He's going past players and he's scoring. He's taking his chances. So it's.
officialgspn: Just don't, just don't mention that miss then, Oli.
OllieP: Yeah, I'm not. Yeah, I didn't see that anyway. That's fine.
officialgspn: Yeah, didn't happen, didn't happen.
OllieP: Yeah, it never happened.
officialgspn: You can't prove it.
OllieP: I didn't see it. But yeah, i hopefully he's going to get more chances. gonna show ah but Like you said, Rashford, there's something mentally going on there. Maybe it's because he knows he's going to be starting because 10Hags put so much faith in him.
OllieP: Maybe he's thinking, I'm going to be starting anyway.
officialgspn: Yeah.
OllieP: It doesn't really matter that much. I'm going to be a head of gonad show. Maybe he needs that. Maybe needs to sit on the sidelines and just watch and be like, right, get that hunger back again. Cause something mentally isn't right at the moment.
officialgspn: Yeah.
OllieP: It's not working for him. And we want to see him back.
officialgspn: Yeah, and I do think on the wings it's time for... Garnaccio and Diallo to be starting.
OllieP: and percent
officialgspn: And it's as simple as that.
OllieP: 100%.
officialgspn: And I think Xerxes, you know, whether he's going to be fit for the next game, I'm not sure.
OllieP: Hmm.
officialgspn: We were already lied to by Tenharg about the lid. I see you, Eric.
OllieP: see Sleep.
officialgspn: I see you. well for I'm sure we'll we'll find out the reasons for that later on. And I'm sure well as we deep dive into the tactics and it's a little bit of a preview.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: I'm going to go against my other three co -hosts here about Casemiro.
OllieP: o
officialgspn: And you'll find out more after this.
officialgspn: The Global Sports Podcast Network and the Daily Manchester United Podcast is brought to you by Zencaster. Do you have a story that the world needs to hear? Have you struggled with reaching new audiences who are engaged with your story? Well, then it might be time for you to start a podcast like us here at the Daily Manchester United. Let me tell you about the platform we use here at the Global Sports Podcast Network. It's called Zencaster and it makes it really easy to start a high quality podcast built for growth from day one with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically remove the arms, arms, and your nose, and 22 other speech patterns, it makes it super easy to start a podcast that sounds great. So if you're ready to tell your story, then check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. And a big thank you to Zencaster for sponsoring us here at the Global Sports Podcast Network.
officialgspn: Deep dive into this now. Let's start first with Bruno Fernandes. Over one XG, that's very weird to say, but no goals.
OllieP: Hmm.
officialgspn: What's the sort of, as such a talismatic player, 10 goals last season for him, joint Premier League top goal scorer. We know he's got goals in him. Is there a way we can unlock that with the team that we had or did we just do the best we could with Bruno?
OllieP: ah A lot of his goals came late last season, didn't they? I'm sure they came late last season. He just seems to go on a little flurry of this goal scoring. I don't know, the spree at the time, but it is. he He can score from anywhere. He's probably the only player on the pitch. You just think he could score from 35 yards, score from a free kick.
OllieP: He's just got so much in his locker, he can just change the game, will turn the game on his head completely. But what is his best position? I'm thinking, is it there, higher up the pitch? Is it dropping back a little bit more, getting more involved? Because there seems to be this gap behind him. Always seems to be a little bit of a gap behind him, where he's not getting enough support. I don't know the main news there, main news, closing the gap, as it were. But I'm just thinking, how do we utilize him more? Because he is an incredible player. He is.
officialgspn: yes
OllieP: He's a linchpin basically, isn't he?
officialgspn: Yeah, it's that he's sort of in between the attacking midfielder and a second striker kind of ah kind of deal.
OllieP: you Yeah, I see it.
officialgspn: So it's it's trying to work out what works best or whether he you just sell him you know the middle of the park is yours, do what you want.
OllieP: Feel free. Yeah, give him free rein.
officialgspn: Yeah, do do you give him that creative freedom to just go forward? I mean, he got himself some really good positions. We know he can do that.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: So it's just a case of maybe it was just not the best day at the office. I did mention as well about Casamiro. I thought he had an OK game.
OllieP: yeah
officialgspn: I know you all think his legs have gone, but I'm sta i'm sticking with it.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: Casamiro is the best option we have right now because so between you and me, he might be the only option we have right now.
OllieP: Oh yeah. hundred percent wait There's no way we can get rid of him.
officialgspn: um
OllieP: No way.
officialgspn: no no no but you know we're in the market for Manuel Ugarte as well as Sander Berg so we'll see if if either of these of either of those deals happens it's very easy for me to say um but yeah I feel like it was one of those games as well
OllieP: Not at this point.
OllieP: Hmm.
officialgspn: on the Friday that we just started slowly, Fulham had quite a bit of the bull, they had quite a few of the attacks and you know there were quite some boos from Old Trafford because it was thought oh here we go again it's just the same old season.
OllieP: Hmm.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: I think we really, once we caught sort of past that half an hour mark we really took control and I think that needs to happen half an hour earlier. If City come up against us and their full -sized squad, if Liverpool come up against us, they're a team they're both teams that go out of the blocks straight away, go straight for the jugular from minute one.
OllieP: Yeah, I sleep a lot.
OllieP: Hmm.
officialgspn: And if and if we allow them to have the first half an hour, we're we're giving away half an hour worth of goals, assists, whatever.
OllieP: Yeah, 100 % is. We are very slow. It's like we'll either, we'll either be really slow off the mark or we'll score and then we'll sit back and then we'll just, I don't know, let just soak up the pressure for too long.
OllieP: And that's where it all goes wrong for us. We need to be going on the front foot straight away.
officialgspn: Hmm.
OllieP: One -touch football. Let's get that early goal and just keep it going. It's like we stopped trying to destroy teams.
officialgspn: Hmm.
OllieP: That thing that's just been lost, it really has. We should be going out there trying to destroy teams like, no disrespect to Fulham, but we should be going out there in and destroying these teams if we are the team we think we are. But no, we're paying them too much respect. We really are. And it it's um it's a hindrance for us. We're just ah allowing too much to come at us. And I don't think we haven't got the squad to to cope with it, especially a team like Man City.
OllieP: Man City and Liverpool, like you say, if they we are giving them too much respect. It's insane.
officialgspn: Yeah.
OllieP: It really is. We need to go out there. We need to destroy teams like we used to. We have to. We really do.
officialgspn: Yeah, and to mention the H word as as some sort of, you know, he who shall not be named kind of character.
OllieP: moon
officialgspn: But if we come up against Holland, he, you know, he's already scored within, I think it was 20 minutes, 25 minutes in the first game of the season.
OllieP: Yeah. Yeah. We'll get punished. yeah
officialgspn: Yeah, we will get punished. And he's a lethal striker. If we don't deal with that straight away, we will be punished. Anana then, obviously you said about him, he looked a little bit uncomfortable actually playing the ball, but the player he passed to it most was Martinez, Licher.
officialgspn: And Licher and Maguire had a good sort of partnership in terms of passing the past it to each other 27 times between each other in the game so yeah it's a kind of that they want to go sideways more than forward I think looking at it it was a good link up between Dallow and Martinez down that left hand side I do think Martinez um you know
OllieP: Yeah, I thought they did.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: once we get back up to full fitness we'll be a cracking player.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: Dallow as well, very good in sort of linking up with Diallo, 16 passes between them, sorry Masraui I should say, new signing, solid signing as well, had a good game, linking up already with Diallo.
OllieP: yeah
officialgspn: I just think, you know, we get to the middle of the park and You know, I think there was that.
OllieP: Someone gets lost.
officialgspn: Yeah, I mean, I did see that that little bit of great play. ah Was it the first half? Those little triangles that started to develop as well led to a missed opportunity.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: But that's more of what I want to see. And that seemed to happen once or twice. And then that was it. We sort of like to play on the wings, which there's nothing wrong with that.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: It's just if it only gets you one goal a game and you win one nil fight, we'll win the league with 38 goals scored and unconceded.
OllieP: Yeah.
OllieP: yeah
officialgspn: But that's not realistic. You know, you're going to have teams that come up against you and really attack you. I think once that first goal went in, I think Fulham sort of not fell apart, but it just, it started to, I was just about to say, started to fall apart. And that's not exactly what I wanted to say. Sorry, Fulham, but kind of not sorry.
OllieP: And it is, I think, yeah, there was there was some nice movement on that right -hand side, definitely, with Ahmad. I can never pronounce his name as a Rui. I really like him. I really like him.
OllieP: I thought that was a great debut. He came in, slighted in like he's been there been there for years. He really did look very comfortable.
officialgspn: i
OllieP: I was a bit worried thinking, and is this guy, it's it's it's one of the most difficult positions. You really have got to have an engine on you to play well in that position, but you look really comfortable defensively. He was putting in a few good challenges. um he He looked quality, he really did. um And I like him going forward as well. I hate to say, it's really bad to say, Bassaka, respect to you, you've been great. But he's such an upgrade. Technically, you can see it straight away. You just know this guy can get forward and he's comfortable making a pass.
OllieP: He's comfortable one with the one twos, but yeah, this, this guy could be the difference. But like, I feel bad on Dallow because Dallow did so well on that right hand side last season. and So it'd be good to see what Missouri can do on the left hand side.
OllieP: That'd be good. Unless we get Shaw back, which doesn't seem like a possibility at the moment.
officialgspn: Get back Shorberto Carlos, come on.
OllieP: seems like Yeah.
officialgspn: Prime Shorberto, that's what we need. i did I did actually say I had a look at the stats as well. I did say you're full and full apart at the last, but they actually had pretty much all of the control of that game.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: Sorry, Fulham. Also had the start of the second half as well.
OllieP: like by well Yeah.
officialgspn: Again, slow starting. Come on, Eric. We're slow to start these halves. If we do that against bigger teams and teams that will punish us, we will regret it.
OllieP: Yeah.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: And normally when we've fallen behind in a season, we're the comeback kings and then we can't actually come back anymore. so
OllieP: yeah
officialgspn: It's a little bit worrying, but look, let's let's ease the worries for now.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: We'll have a preview of Brighton coming up on Saturday, but before then we'll have another word from our sponsors.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: Yes, the Global Sports Podcast Network. The Daily Manchester United is past the great network. The only network, in fact, bringing you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's football and fantasy football. It's a unique listening experience that puts the fans first and bringing you the very latest breaking news from your team. So subscribe wherever you get your podcasts from and make sure you make us your first listen every day. That's the Global Sports Podcast Network. Every club.
officialgspn: every day.
officialgspn: So Brighton coming up on Saturday, obviously, yeah, yeah, we Brighton, I mean, you said, Ollie, the bogey team, like the other 18 bogey teams in the Premier League.
OllieP: Huge, huge game.
OllieP: 90, yeah. yeah
officialgspn: Yeah, other 19. Oh, yeah, other 19. Yeah, you're right. Yeah, I was ruling somebody out and I have no idea who, but there we go.
OllieP: No, they there's everyone's a bogey team, everybody is.
officialgspn: it
OllieP: They've increased over the years, haven't they? Because I remember four, like 10, 12 years ago maybe, like Everton sort of, I always thought they were our bogey team. They'd always like sneak a win, but now it's like every team.
OllieP: Even the ones that have come up, because you know they're gonna put in a performance against us. Everyone seems, especially Old Trafford as well, it seems to be Old Trafford, they really get, I don't know, just get a lift.
officialgspn: Hmm. Yeah.
OllieP: They kind of feel like we could win here. They're probably dreamt about it, the whole boyhood, lives growing up thinking we could win at Old Trafford really it's a possibility it's not there's no fear factor there is there that's it yeah always
officialgspn: It's annoying. Well, it's annoying because it's the fact that you'll have a player that scores, you know, maybe in League One, League Two in the FA Cup. And oh yeah, all of a sudden, yeah, they're from the Man United Academy.
officialgspn: Oh, way to pull that stat out of the record. But who is, who didn't play for Man United?
OllieP: not for revenge
officialgspn: Honestly, we are massive, we are massive. um Just a bit of injury news as well. We're expecting Shaw to be out, Lindelof out, Jorro out still. um Ferguson being out it might be a little bit of good news for us.
officialgspn: We know how good of a player he can be. The one thing we need to be watching out for is Metoma. Metoma is back and he is dangerous. So yeah we've got to watch out for Metoma, haven't we, Oli?
officialgspn: Because otherwise we're going to get punished.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: He really, he truly came back against Everton.
OllieP: What a player. What a player. He really is. Just high quality. High energy, quick, good feet, gets to the byline really easily. it just Yeah, he's kind of played what he needed really. Would have been great signing for us.
OllieP: But yeah, fortunately not.
officialgspn: And we've all got to watch out for Danny Welbeck. He's banging form.
OllieP: Yeah. he did he Did he score against us last season? I'm sure he did. He seems to always get a goal.
officialgspn: Ooh. I suppress that every any time that Danny Welbeck scores against us, I suppress it right to the back of my head.
OllieP: so
officialgspn: It never happened.
OllieP: I still love him though. You know, wait he's one of those players that you just can't dislike.
officialgspn: and
OllieP: Come through the youth.
officialgspn: No.
OllieP: wreck
officialgspn: No, he celebrated against us when he played for Arsenal. No.
OllieP: ah call yeah Was that from a broken heart though?
officialgspn: Get out of here. Get out of here, Danny. get
OllieP: You know, like a girlfriend breaks up with you and he gets rid of you and you kind of want to hurt them back.
officialgspn: No! No!
OllieP: Is, is that the case?
officialgspn: No!
OllieP: I feel bad for daddy.
officialgspn: No!
OllieP: Well, they keep wanting to stay.
officialgspn: I don't!
OllieP: You got a stone heart, my friend, a stone heart.
officialgspn: ah so I might, I might have done, all he needed to do Ollie was that.
OllieP: Yeah, yeah.
officialgspn: Against, that's all he needed to do.
OllieP: Head down.
officialgspn: But no.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: But no. Oh well, what can you do?
OllieP: We broke his heart, man. We broke it.
officialgspn: Yeah, and he broke ours, so now I don't feel sorry anymore.
OllieP: In two. Yeah, he did. He did.
officialgspn: Anyway, look, we we got slightly off topic there.
OllieP: Yeah. so Yeah.
officialgspn: I mean, let's face it, Brighton are a good side. And I think they slightly underperformed towards the end of last season. We can't sleep on them. They are a dangerous team.
OllieP: Hmm.
officialgspn: And so how do we go about it? I'm guessing we're going to stick with that 4 -2 -3 -1. It seems to be an Eric Tenharg system, that sort of 4 -2 -3 -1 with the two holding midfielders, one sort of deeper in the row, one progressing forward.
OllieP: Hmm.
OllieP: It's all moving forward, yeah.
officialgspn: so Yeah, those those roles suit Casimir as sort of that ball winner, deep lying, making sure you're sweeping up everything. And then you've got Coby Mainu, who then has the freedom to just maybe push forward a little bit, try and get those chances in.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: I'm hoping Xerxes, you know, gets closer to starting games, because I think with him on the pitch, it was a real positive change. It was it was a different style of play than all of our strikers.
OllieP: Yeah, definitely.
officialgspn: I've I've been a bit quizzing of this experiment that Tenhaga's been trying with starting Mountain Fernandez and sort of swapping their false nine roles and trying to bring each other into play.
OllieP: Yeah, they're almost like two forwards. Yeah, he's playing like two forwards, like Mount. I think Mount, the same thing that with Rashford at the moment when he comes on, he I don't know, he he was. He was going for that high press, you know, he's like chasing the defenders. I really like that. But I think when he's got the ball, is he in control of it? Like him and Rashford, I don't know what it is. There just seems to be like a lack of confidence between the two of them. You know, they're almost forcing something to happen and they're just forcing themselves to get back on track and just actually I don't know, make a goal and they they just look uncomfortable, both of them.
OllieP: They really do.
officialgspn: Yeah.
OllieP: I wouldn't start them out personally. um But it's it's good to see them get minutes. It really is. We paid like 60 million for him last season. But like you said, that formation, yeah, of ah Bruno and Mount sort of like playing off each other.
OllieP: Is it working? I'm not too sure. I would rather start Xerxes. I really would.
officialgspn: Yeah, the thing is, if he's fit, that's the only thing.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: And of course, obviously, the only person who's going to tell us that is Eric Tenharg. And we'll we'll have to wait and see.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: I mean, you know, we had, I'm just looking at up here, we had about 55 % possession against him. It didn't feel like that, I don't think, especially sort of the first 30 minutes and then this first part, the second half.
OllieP: No.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: But yeah we did apparently have 55 % of the ball compared to Everton.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: Now, bear in mind, that's going to be slightly inflated because Everton went down to 10 men. They had 62 % of the ball.
OllieP: Wow.
officialgspn: So they're very happy on the ball.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: you know They've got that new manager boost as well.
OllieP: Hmm.
officialgspn: There's always going to be a little bit scary. um But yeah I think, again, we've got every chance against Brighton. Metoma got himself 1 .12 XG.
officialgspn: Now, whether you're an XG Titan or not, that still means he was very dangerous. He created chances.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: And yeah, let's just say Danny Welbeck scored from 0 .2 XG. So he's banging form.
OllieP: yeah Yeah, he's one chance play -out.
officialgspn: He didn't get many chances in that game, but we all know on his day, Welbeck is so clinical and we have to be careful of that. We've got we yeah we've got to we've got to make sure that back four is well organized to pick out Welbeck and and to stop him in his tracks.
OllieP: He is.
OllieP: Yeah.
OllieP: Who do you think we're going to start with back for? Will he start with the lake to Will he go McGuire again? That's the, that's the big question.
officialgspn: I think Martinez is a guaranteed starter.
OllieP: Yeah, completely.
officialgspn: i just but But it was confusing because Tenharg said that Dalit was going to be starting in that game and then didn't start him.
OllieP: 100%. Hmm.
officialgspn: So I wonder if there's just like a little bit of an injury worry that might see Maguire get the nod ahead of Dalit at this point.
OllieP: Yeah. Yeah.
officialgspn: Look, Maguire's fantastic in the air and that's perhaps what we need in a game like this where, you know, Brighton might be zipping it across but Danny Welbeck's dangerous in the air. We know that. We've seen that in the past.
OllieP: Yeah, he's big. Yeah, he's a big guy.
officialgspn: ah but Metoma is dangerous dribbling. He's a fantastic technician and I'm hoping, you know, the likes of Dallow and Mazzraoui can read the game, get the tackles in and it's one of those games where you needed one Bassaka who could see where the ball was going and nick it off them just like that.
OllieP: Contain him.
OllieP: Yeah.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: So yeah, I think If we're not careful, Metoma will punish us. We have to basically stay on our feet in the penalty box if we've got any chances of fighting against Brighton.
OllieP: Yeah, 100%.
officialgspn: um Because Metoma is so quick, so agile, so such a technician that any miss and a contact with his foot.
OllieP: Yeah.
officialgspn: And that's that's one nil down, isn't it?
OllieP: Yeah, that's kind of it. Yeah, that's it. Yeah, it's going to be interesting really. I think he went off, didn't he? Maguire, I think him and Mazzro went off at the same time.
officialgspn: Hmm.
OllieP: So hopefully he's not picked up any sort of little knock. Um, but yeah, it'd be good. I would start with McGuire. I would definitely start with McGuire.
officialgspn: Yeah.
OllieP: Just, uh, a game like this, especially the licked, he needs to get up to speed. I'm guessing as well. Cause he's not been playing that much. He's not, he wasn't starting to buy Munich and he wasn't really playing during the euros as well.
OllieP: So I think for a game like this, I think McGuire and Martinez has to start Maserati. He seems like he's up to speed. He seems like he's, it seems like he's ready for a game like this. And I'm guessing he knows Mattoma quite well.
OllieP: He's going to be observing. a lot of videos about how we play. So hopefully we should be, should be all set and already, yeah, fingers crossed already to contain, to contain this Brighton team.
officialgspn: Fingers crossed. Fingers crossed.
OllieP: Cause like you said, there's a lot of quality in that team going through the middle and down the flanks as well. So hopefully we will be okay, but it's going to be exciting.
officialgspn: Hopefully so.
OllieP: and It's going to be a bigger test, much bigger test.
officialgspn: hopeless Hopefully Hopefully... Hopefully it's another three points on the board. We'll have to sit tight and wait until Saturday. Don't forget, you can catch the game at 12 .30 British summertime on TNT Sports.
OllieP: Yeah. Yeah.
officialgspn: But for myself, Kieran McGidley and Ollie Pitton will be maybe hiding behind the sofa on Saturday and hoping Metoma hoping metoma treats us nightly.
OllieP: Nail buyer. and now by
officialgspn: Make sure you tune in tomorrow for Wild Card Wednesday.
OllieP: and
officialgspn: But for myself, Kieran McGidley and Ollie Pitton alongside, have a very good rest of the day and we'll see you next time.
OllieP: Take care. Bye bye.
