To be fair to Poch, he wouldn’t be a good fit in a back four with a marauding James on the other side - which is an issue for Chilwell as well. As a wing back or as an attacking full back with a more defensive option on the right side he’d be really good. Keeping him around as a 10 or right winger was just nonsense though, but as I remember it Maatsen himself really wanted to stay at the time

3 hours ago, icecoolguy22 said:

We will probably never know how good he could be at Chelsea, the slight upside is we will make some money off him. I don't think German league is the best, and do flatters attackers. But if the guy is performing at CL knock out games, he's not a fluke and has something to offer. Again, why can't we use some of that?

Sancho was infuriating United fans last night as he was taking the piss out of Atletico's defence, whereas in the Prem he could barely beat a man. Confidence and the right set up brings out the best in players. 

Maatsen is a victim of circumstance. Was never convinced of him defensively but there's no denying his influence in the attacking end. Like Chilwell. As others alluded to its about balance and when we have two slow CBs starting the majority of matches (Silva/Disasi) with Gusto bombing forward on the right, it made Maatsen redundant. 

Annoying we are gifting Bayern another youth product though. 

 

We'll just have to squeeze every last possible Euro out of Bayern for young Ian.

2 minutes ago, Gonoir Beniashile said:

We'll just have to squeeze every last possible Euro out of Bayern for young Ian.

£35m release clause. 

The LB we do eventually bring in I hope is strong defensively more than anything. 

I think we should go for Hato at A**x. Sell cucurella and rotate him and chillwell.

 

15 minutes ago, Zeta said:

I think we should go for Hato at A**x. Sell cucurella and rotate him and chillwell.

 

Does that say 17 years old? Please tell me this youtube video is 8 years old or something.

2 hours ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

To be fair to Poch, he wouldn’t be a good fit in a back four with a marauding James on the other side - which is an issue for Chilwell as well. As a wing back or as an attacking full back with a more defensive option on the right side he’d be really good. Keeping him around as a 10 or right winger was just nonsense though, but as I remember it Maatsen himself really wanted to stay at the time

Isn't both fullbacks attacking how Poch ideally likes to play anyway? 

Also with how often James gets injured I don't think it would have been an issue in the long run.

21 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Does that say 17 years old? Please tell me this youtube video is 8 years old or something.

Just turned 18.

14 minutes ago, Remodez said:

Isn't both fullbacks attacking how Poch ideally likes to play anyway? 

Also with how often James gets injured I don't think it would have been an issue in the long run.

Tbf he had powerhouses in Dembele and Wanyama in the midfield and Alderweireld and Vertonghen who were 2 of the best CBs in the league at the time. Fast, tall, and defensively strong the 4 of them. We used to get bullied. 

With who we currently have Poch can't do that here. 

 

3 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Tbf he had powerhouses in Dembele and Wanyama in the midfield and Alderweireld and Vertonghen who were 2 of the best CBs in the league at the time. Fast, tall, and defensively strong the 4 of them. We used to get bullied. 

With who we currently have Poch can't do that here. 

 

In many games we've seen Gusto bombarding up on the right and Cucurella getting also up the pitch. This wouldn't have been a problem with Maatsen. I think that what decided was the 6 cm difference in height between Cucurella and Maatsen. 

7 minutes ago, RMH said:

In many games we've seen Gusto bombarding up on the right and Cucurella getting also up the pitch. This wouldn't have been a problem with Maatsen. I think that what decided was the 6 cm difference in height between Cucurella and Maatsen. 

Sure, but not as frequently. It’s about balance. Two attacking full backs with Silva in defence and a midfield that isn’t the strongest defensively is asking for trouble. 
 

Cucurella and Gusto(penis) heatmaps vs Everton. 
 

 

3 hours ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

To be fair to Poch, he wouldn’t be a good fit in a back four with a marauding James on the other side - which is an issue for Chilwell as well. As a wing back or as an attacking full back with a more defensive option on the right side he’d be really good. Keeping him around as a 10 or right winger was just nonsense though, but as I remember it Maatsen himself really wanted to stay at the time

Actually the plan this season is for Chilwell to go up and wide and Reece to stay back more which make sense. 

The problem with Maatsen is simple he is useless in the air. If your defender is useless in the air, teams will target him. 

That is fine if your other player are big and very good in 2nd ball. We are poor in both area. 

Edited April 17, 20242 yr by Bob stark

2 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Actually the plan this season is for Chilwell to go up and wide and Reece to stay back more which make sense. 

The problem with Maatsen is simple he is useless in the air. If your defender is useless in the air, teams will target him. 

That is fine if your other player are big and very good in 2nd ball. We are poor in both area. 

Was it? My memory might fail me, but didn’t we play Colwill at left back and Chilwell on the wing?

3 hours ago, Bob stark said:

The problem with Maatsen is simple he is useless in the air. If your defender is useless in the air, teams will target him. 

Ditto Cucurella. 

His goal last night reminded me a bit of the Wayne Bridge goal v Arsenal at Highbury in the CL .

Boy , those were the days !

7 hours ago, AndyDowsleftflank said:

Was it? My memory might fail me, but didn’t we play Colwill at left back and Chilwell on the wing?

Our expected starting lineup this season was Dortmund lineup which was just happened to be the game when Nkunku went down which change everything

 

11 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Sancho was infuriating United fans last night as he was taking the piss out of Atletico's defence, whereas in the Prem he could barely beat a man. Confidence and the right set up brings out the best in players. 

Maatsen is a victim of circumstance. Was never convinced of him defensively but there's no denying his influence in the attacking end. Like Chilwell. As others alluded to its about balance and when we have two slow CBs starting the majority of matches (Silva/Disasi) with Gusto bombing forward on the right, it made Maatsen redundant. 

Annoying we are gifting Bayern another youth product though. 

 

Yes, it is about Balance. Dortumoud doesn't have the fastest CBs either, and somehow they managed to accommodate Maatsen in the system, and playing in CL knockout games. With a bit of adjustment to the system and team selection, could have easily give him at least some games for the first half of the season. The fact we actually looking into another LB is a bit concerning to say the least, offload 2 potential LBs in Hall and Maatsen, and we are in the market again for either a more expensive option or ( more likely) some kid few very few heard of 

6 hours ago, just said:

Ditto Cucurella. 

60m fb 😂😂😂

16 minutes ago, icecoolguy22 said:

Yes, it is about Balance. Dortumoud doesn't have the fastest CBs either, and somehow they managed to accommodate Maatsen in the system, and playing in CL knockout games. With a bit of adjustment to the system and team selection, could have easily give him at least some games for the first half of the season. The fact we actually looking into another LB is a bit concerning to say the least, offload 2 potential LBs in Hall and Maatsen, and we are in the market again for either a more expensive option or ( more likely) some kid few very few heard of 

Schlotterbeck is fast, and he and Hummels have been the best defensive pairing in the Champions League this season. Dortmund also have five players in the XI over 6 feet and all strong in the air. 

16 hours ago, RMH said:

 I think that what decided was the 6 cm difference in height between Cucurella and Maatsen. 

And that 60cm is all in the hair. 

Whoever we bring in surely can't be worse than Cucurella.

2 hours ago, just said:

And that 60cm is all in the hair. 

Whoever we bring in surely can't be worse than Cucurella.

To be fair this applies equally to Chilwell.

10 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Our expected starting lineup this season was Dortmund lineup which was just happened to be the game when Nkunku went down which change everything

 

I guess its hard to know exactly what the plan was but fair enough, good point 👍

Scoring in the Champions league semi final....

....not good enough (apparently) to even get a look in with us in his preferred position.  So badly mismanaged!

58 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Scoring in the Champions league semi final....

....not good enough (apparently) to even get a look in with us in his preferred position.  So badly mismanaged!

The fact Poch didnt play him there once while Colwill was struggling and desperate for time out is a joke.

I think the fact that Poch went ahead and added height to the team only to still concede the same goal all season (set pieces/second ball) whilst also initially being against the idea of bringing in a set piece coach is a bigger joke.