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I intended to start this preview with a discursion into how football was played under its first set of rules, published in 1858 by the original footballing occupants of the venue for our match on Sunday.

However, the wheels came perilously close to coming off our season this past week. In truth, the locknuts have looked loose more often than secure for much of the season. The abject performance against Liverpool last Saturday and the precarious, albeit not irretrievable, position in which the team finds itself after Thursday’s first leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Slavia Prague demand contemporary reflection.

We have eight league games, starting with Sunday’s against Sheffield United, and between one and four Europe League ties, to determine whether the club has made progress, retreated or just trodden water under our tyro manager.

Arteta is trying to get a team that is not yet an elite team to play like the one he (and we) want it to become. This, though, is what the club, and thus by default, we the fans, bought into when Arteta was appointed. We would gain little by changing horses in midstream.

This season was always going to be one of rebuilding and reshaping. It was also going to require patience on our part, a quality in limited supply in the Goonerverse at the best of times.

Arteta’s way of playing football bears — unsurprisingly — much resemblance to Pep Guardiola’s: the balanced, positional play, the build-up from the back even under pressure, the overloads in the centre while maintaining high width and depth, the long diagonal passes to exploit the space that creates; the pressing to regain possession quickly.

It is a game of fine margins that has to be played at pace, with precision, vision and perhaps most of all, confidence and consistency. It requires players with skill and speed (of which we have many) but also imagination, fleetness of mind, fluidity of movement and a ruthless commitment to the system (of which we have far fewer). 

The Liverpool defeat confirmed the lack of depth of quality in the squad necessary to play the way Arteta wants. The Slavia Prague draw pointed up two other inescapable lacunae: the intermittency of consistency and intensity, exacerbated by our persistent inability to convert chances into goals and lapses of autopedicide at the other end of the pitch.

The Manchester City Arteta came from has international-class plug-and-play replacements for every position. We are still short of having even one, and that at full strength. Take four key players out of the starting line-up that embody various qualities essential to Artetaball — Saka, ESR, David Luiz and KT3 — and we get brushed aside as against Liverpool. Take two of the leaders out, and we cannot manage out a game as Slavia Prague’s late equaliser underlined.

Further squad reconstruction has to wait until the summer. Tactical and psychological improvement via the training ground will be piecemeal given the schedule of games. Belief in the football the manager wants them to play, executing it with intensity and showing pride in the shirt are in the players’ hands now.

And so to Bramall Lane.

It has never been a happy hunting ground — 14 wins in 58 visits and 30 defeats, starting with an inauspicious 4-0 thumping three days after Christmas, 1904. The first victory at Bramall Lane would not come until 1912. The second would have to wait until 1927.

The record is as grim in modern times — thee wins in eleven visits going back to 1981, the last one in 1991. Last season’s trip added to the catalogue of woe, a 1-0 not to the Arsenal, chronicled by the Guv’nor in one of his last match reports https://goonerholic.com/2019/10/punchless-gunners-humiliated-again/ and in which he foreshadowed Unai Emery’s sacking. 

That loss also meant that we had made more Premiership visits to Bramall Lane without winning than any other ground. 

If our season has been faltering, United’s has been calamitous. The Blades have tumbled from mid-table respectability to the bottom of the Premiership to which they returned only last season. The Championship beckons. 

Chris Wilder, who took them from League One to the Premiership during his five years in charge, departed last month amid a public and bitter disagreement with owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud over strategy and recruitment. Paul Heckingbottom — the former Barnsley, Leeds and Hibs manager and a man with as proper a Yorkshire name as befits one Barnsley-born — has replaced him until the end of the season. 

Alexander Blessin, the 47-year-old German now turning around KV Oostende’s fortunes in Belgium, is the prince’s favoured permanent replacement. However, Blessin and his backroom team face employment qualification obstacles in post-Brexit Britain. In which case, United may turn to Slavisa Jokanovic, the former Watford and Fulham manager currently coaching in Qatar.

Our visit will be caretaker Heckingbottom’s fourth game in charge. Losses at Leicester and Leeds in the league were interspersed with another at the bus stop in Fulham in the FA Cup. Sunday’s match will be his first home game, not that home advantage means much this season — as we well know. Heckingbottom has threatened any players not giving 100% through to the season’s end with the axe. MA8, please, note.

The interim manager has stuck with but simplified the 3-5-2 formation favoured by his predecessor. That secured ninth-place last season, but this season has left United adrift at the bottom of the Premiership since match week eight. 

The defensive solidity that covered for a paucity of goals has gone. Injuries have repeatedly disrupted a previously settled defence. Lynchpin centre back Jack O’Connell has been out for the season. The extended absence of Sander Berge, the midfield pivot, has been felt, as has been the inability to deploy regularly Enda Stephens and George Baldock as wing-backs. They were vital in those positions last year to Wilder’s tactical plan.

After 30 games in 2019-20, the Blades had scored only 30 goals but conceded just 28 (only title-bound Liverpool had a more miserly defence). This term, the corresponding numbers are 17 and 52. That has translated into 24 defeats at this point versus eight, although 15 were by a single goal, suggesting we face a closely-fought game regardless.

We have an unhappy knack of helping lowly opponents break such runs of wretched form. We must avoid that this time not just to build self-confidence ahead of the trip to Prague, but also because, of our eight remaining league games, six are against teams currently below us in the table, Everton and the mob from the bus stop in Fulham being the exceptions. 

This is an opportune time to be flat-track bullies. Twenty points from those eight games are the minimum we should look for. That would put a gloss on the season, even if the absence of potential six-pointers in the run-in means that points might advance our league position only modestly unless others Spurz it up. 

Long-term knee injuries rule out David Luiz and Tierney for Sunday. Ødegaard’s ankle is not being risked, with the hope that the Norweigan can make the Prague trip. Arteta will probably start something close to his core team, as is his wont.

Leno

Bellerin – Holding – Gabriel – Cedric

Partey – Xhaka

Saka – Smith Rowe – Willian

Aubameyang

In his pre-match press conference, Arteta suggested that he saw those on the bench as impact players for the later stages of games. So I expect rotation to be limited, perhaps just to Auba and Laca swapping roles, possibly Mari giving Gabriel a break. Pepe and Martinelli would be the likely replacements for one or both of Saka or ESR should they be rested; a full 90 minutes was beyond either on Thursday. We shall need that from both next Thursday. Might we also see the newly re-signed Balogun on the bench?

The ‘holics’ pound
The bookies have us favourites to fly in the face of history and win. One- and two-nil to the Arsenal are available at around sixes, the more likely, to my mind, 2-1 at eights, None are overly attractive odds. A 3-1 away win at 15s looks more enticing. But that would mean we would have to put the ball in the net!

I will save for a diversionary summer read the tale of football’s mid-Victorian transformation from handling and scrimmaging to kicking and passing and the disappearance of the rouge in the process. The order of the day for Sunday is no red-faces and the start of a winning run through to the end of the season.

Enjoy the match, ‘holics. 

Coming soon on Goonerholics Forever….

109 Drinks to “And So to Bramall Lane”

  1. 1
    Countryman100 says:

    A splendid return to main piece blogging Ned. Let’s hope we can turn chances into goals more efficiently than we did in the Europa. If we do we should put the Blades away with ease.

  2. 2
    Doctor Faustus says:

    As fine a preview as I have ever read Ned. Please write more whenever you can. Looking forward to your piece about the rule changes.

    We only have a very few matches left, and I think playing youngsters more and playing a simpler, progressive (focusing on what we do more than what the opposition is going to do) football with more commitment to the basics of the game across the entire squad will serve us better.

    Score some goals Arsenal!

  3. 3
    TTG says:

    Ned,
    What a splendid debut on Goonerholics Forever ! Your analysis of the gap between how Arteta intends to play and how it tends to work out in reality is most instructive and I think , accurate . You encapsulate the major problem which is we don’t have enough outstanding players of character and pace . Luiz, Tierney and Ødegaard will be joined on the sidelines by ESR who has a sprained ankle . If Willian and Xhaka start in midfield we will play at a funereal pace but we have few options. Thursday is of overriding importance and although I think we can win seven of our last eight games it might be too late to get us in contention for Europe and if this very weak set of players lose their mojo we could let the season dribble away instead of mounting a late charge .
    I will be hugely disappointed if we don’t win but not altogether surprised . But I think we might scale a 2-1 win

  4. 4
    Bathgooner says:

    Great piece, Ned. Thought-provoking and informative in equal measure.

    I think a starting eleven that rests our critical players for Prague would be a smart move even if some of them have to come off the bench to salvage something from this match.

    A win would be nice as would a good performance.

  5. 5
    Bathgooner says:

    Auba out with flu?

  6. 6
    TTG says:

    Auba is indeed out with flu ( I’m sure he has had a negative Covid test)
    I’m thinking we may see
    Leno
    Bellerin Holding Mari Cedric
    Partey Xhaka
    Saka Willian Pepe
    Lacazette

    I’d like the front four to be Pepe Saka Martinelli
    Balogun
    No chance

  7. 7
    North Bank Ned says:

    Thank you, gentlemen, for your kind words.

    I did wonder if there might be wholesale rotation for Sunday. In the end, I thought Arteta believes he will get the team playing more consistently the way he wants by fielding as much of his core team as possible for every match, so they get used to playing that way together. His press conference comments on using substitutes, which I had not heard him express before, only confirmed that to me. For the same reason, I doubt that there will be much by way of blooding young players for the rest of the season unless injury forces it upon him or all hope of a league position offering European football next season has gone. He will also want to do better than last season’s eighth-placed finish on 56 points.

  8. 8
    Steve T says:

    Cheers Ned. Good stuff.

    No Auba because of flu. I’m also reading that ESR has ankle problems.

    Sunday is simply a must win. End of. If equal importance is the performance. I have no idea what 11 will start, or what mood they will start in. I hope that the manager sends them out with a plan and with everyone singing from the same song sheet. I have asked the question several times with regards to how Arteta is sending the players out? I have questioned the tactics and suggested more than once that the 11 seem to be playing like strangers. If this report is to believed then it would appear that there is some dressing room unrest around the same subject? Who knows what the truth is, but it certainly does not seem to be all harmonious at the moment.

    Want it, play with pace, manage the game and come back with 3 points. Anything less and the boss could have real problems.

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/14611191/arsenal-stars-turn-on-mikel-arteta-players/

  9. 9
    BtM says:

    Great to see the constant excellence of your drinks contributions being carried forth onto the front page, Ned. That’s one of the best previews there will be for this match. Period.

    Is autopedicide something I should be considering for treatment of my hydrangeas this season? If so, do I need to use a Brazilian concoction?

  10. 10
    ksn says:

    Thanks for a fine preview, NBN of what is essentially a dead rubber with SW definitely getting relegated and us having very only a mathematical but not a realistic chance of qualifying for Europe. We have not done well there as you pointed out but they are a depleted side and the team you suggested ( with Auba and ESR replaced by Martinelli and Pepe) has enough quality to win. COYG.

  11. 11
    Trev says:

    Superb, Ned !

    My way out of dark corners seems to default to humour – maybe too often of the gallows variety – but your calm and thorough analysis of our present situation is informative and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

    If Mikel Arteta – and I would absolutely love to see him succeed – is relying on his older players until all hope of European qualification is gone, then I would suggest he looks to the youngsters now. Our perceived “more solid defence” looks extremely vulnerable to any pacy assault, and the inability of anyone up front to hit the back of the net – or even to bust a gut trying – is alarming. Even the brilliant Saka is spurning good chances – a sure sign that fatigue is causing his technique to break down under pressure.

    Pepe has come in for a lot of criticism since he joined, but is now showing much more consistency and is proving to be a game changer. Could we not see our game changed from the kick off, of is that not deemed to be giving the opposition a fair chance ? Martinelli also showed more pace and desire – and a very decent effort on the turn – in his minutes on Thursday than we saw from “some others” on the pitch all evening.

    I hoped, when the manager was appointed, that a younger man with a real feel for the club would stand by the Arsenal tradition of bringing the young players through. If we were to undergo a period of transition and major structural change, then could we do it with “proper” Arsenal players that we could all get behind, even if the desired results took a while to come ? Balogun, Martinelli, Azeez, the hard working Nelson – how much worse could they be ?

    Doubtless hope will surge again as we prepare for kick off this evening. That’s what’s been killing us so far. Be brave, Mikel, throw them in ……. what was that about hope ?

  12. 12
    Noosa Gooner says:

    Good stuff NBN
    3-0 no probllama.
    UTA

  13. 13
    Uplympian says:

    Top notch preview Ned – full of history and hopes. If the team selected turn up and put in a performance to match the undoubted physical effort the blades will show, then a 2-0 win to the good guys will be the outcome. COYR

  14. 14
    North Bank Ned says:

    BtM@9: I would think there would be preferable alternatives to autopedicide for fertilising your hydrangeas with blood and bone meal.

    Trev@11: Long may you have superior gallows to the rest of us.

  15. 15
    North Bank Ned says:

    On the age of the players that Arteta picks and assuming his first XI is

    Leno
    Bellerin — David Luiz — Gabriel — Tierney
    Partey — Xhaka
    Saka — Ødegaard — ESR
    Aubameyang

    then the age profile is

    29
    26 — 31– 23– 23
    27 — 28
    19 — 22 — 20
    31

  16. 16
    Trev says:

    Aye, it looks better without Willian and Lacazette – who might have been my “some others” 😉

  17. 17
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Excellent debut Ned! The monks have done some cracking research and you have augmented it with some very astute analysis. I thoroughly enjoyed reading that.

    Today – just win. The Blades have been shite all season so let’s not give them points like we love to do for struggling teams. Apart from that I’d like to see the youngsters but I won’t hold my breath.

    Imagine a relatively straightforward win that allows us to move on Thursday smoothly… It’ll never happen!

  18. 18
    TTG says:

    It appears the new Balogun contract will be announced on Wednesday . He is apparently not in contention for tonight but the U23s on Monday who have a relegation battle on their hands .

  19. 19
    bt8 says:

    Excellent preview Ned, and how we need three points to right the ship. 2-1 is just what the doctor ordered. COYG

  20. 20
    Bathgooner says:

    Martinelli starts!

    👏👏👏

  21. 21
    North Bank Ned says:

    Look like a 4-3-3-

    Leno
    Chambers — Holding — Mari — Saka
    Ceballos — Xhaka — Partey
    Pepe — Lacazette — Martinelli

  22. 22
    TTG says:

    And Willian doesn’t !

  23. 23
    North Bank Ned says:

    Bench: Ryan, Bellerin, Cédric Soares, Gabriel, Elneny, Azeez, Willian, Nelson, Nketiah

  24. 24
    North Bank Ned says:

    So much for my second-guessing Arteta’s selection!

  25. 25
    Countryman100 says:

    Yeah! Gabi goal starts!

  26. 26
    Bathgooner says:

    and justice being done at WHL. Lovely goals by Cavani.

  27. 27
    TTG says:

    Azeez is on the bench which is interesting

  28. 28
    Countryman100 says:

    Spurs beaten at home after being ahead again. If they don’t beat City in two weeks time to win the Milk Cup, Maureen’s got the tin tack and Kane’s off.

    Now let’s do the business tonight.

  29. 29
    North Bank Ned says:

    Arteta started with a 4-3-3 in the home game against the Blades. He did it the following week against Man City but not since. Azeez fits naturally onto the right side of a middle three, playing a bit of the Ødegaard role of late. It would be nice to see Azeez getting a few minutes. I doubt Partey, who I suspect will start on the right with Dani in the middle and Xhaka on the left, will go the full 90.

  30. 30
    North Bank Ned says:

    TV suggesting we are going 3-5-2. I just hope the players know what formation they are meant to be playing.

  31. 31
    ksn says:

    Saka hits the side netting.

  32. 32
    Countryman100 says:

    Xhaka at left back. Dani and Partey in midfield.

  33. 33
    Countryman100 says:

    Saka and Pepe both on the right?

  34. 34
    Countryman100 says:

    But now he’s on the left. Yours confused of Cambs

  35. 35
    ksn says:

    Close shave as Goldrick just misses.

  36. 36
    Countryman100 says:

    Looking sharp up front.

  37. 37
    Countryman100 says:

    20 minutes gone. We’re the better team but haven’t forced any real chances yet.

  38. 38
    Countryman100 says:

    Lovely flowing move from The Arsenal.

  39. 39
    Countryman100 says:

    Fabulous ball from Martinelli – no one there to tap it in! Looking good

  40. 40
    Countryman100 says:

    Goool!

  41. 41
    ksn says:

    Laca!!!!

  42. 42
    Bathgooner says:

    That’s the Arsenal we love. Absolutely fuckin’ beautiful.

  43. 43
    Countryman100 says:

    What a superb Wenger ball walk it in goal!

  44. 44
    ksn says:

    That was lovely, one touch, football. Why can’t we do it more often?

  45. 45
    ATG says:

    Definitely Wenger ball, what a beautiful goal 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

    Now let’s get a couple more

  46. 46
    Steve T says:

    Great goal. Artetaball is born.

    We look so much better when we play with a bit of pace and actually seem to want it. M

    No keep this shit up..

  47. 47
    Countryman100 says:

    Buzzing over that goal. Can you imagine Martinelli, KT3, ESR , Saka and Odegaard all in the same team?

  48. 48
    ATG says:

    Why didn’t we play like this on Thursday?

  49. 49
    ksn says:

    We are so poor defensively at times, it is unbelievable. Mari gives the ball away when there is no pressure and we are under the cosh in our own penalty box.

  50. 50
    ksn says:

    We were by far the better team and should have been two or three goals ahead; anyway, we go into the second half a goal ahead.

  51. 51
    Bathgooner says:

    A somewhat surprising line up. Played well. A good half. A deserved lead. Deserved another really. Hope we can get it in the second half. Keep it up lads! More of the same, Please.

  52. 52
    Steve T says:

    A much better first half performance. Just need to turn the opportunities into goals. Remember, this is The Arsenal. One nil ain’t like the old days.

  53. 53
    ksn says:

    C 100@47 – Except Martinelli everyone you mentioned started against Pool and we were shit. Need someone to get them to gel. United is allowing us to play whereas Pool didn’t give us a minute on the ball and we had the worst game of the season.

  54. 54
    Countryman100 says:

    Fair comment ksn but they are all young and will grow and develop. Give them time.

  55. 55
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    We were good. And I enjoyed watching us play that half. Please keep it up, knock a couple more in. Get Azeez on for a few minutes. Goal for Martinelli please. And one for Pepe. And Saka. And Partey to get a first. And Chambers.

    So, err, 6-0, please lads.

  56. 56
    Countryman100 says:

    Good chance for Laca. Complete mid mishit.

  57. 57
    ksn says:

    Would be very happy to see our young guns take us to the top, C100, playing some fantastic football on the way.
    We could save of those goals for Sunday, GSD as we will need them.

  58. 58
    Countryman100 says:

    As I’m sure you agree ksn, there is nothing more exciting than seeing a young team come through the ranks and become league winners. Think mid 80s with Adams, Rocky etc.

  59. 59
    ksn says:

    Gabi is down and looks in pain.

  60. 60
    Bathgooner says:

    FFS

    Hope Gabi is OK.

  61. 61
    ATG says:

    We are dropping like flies

  62. 62
    Bathgooner says:

    Oh NO!

    Hope Saka is OK too!

    He’s had a fantastic match.

  63. 63
    ATG says:

    and guess what Willian will be coming on

  64. 64
    ksn says:

    Agree totally, C100. With Azeem, Balogun, Nelson, Willock, Mavropanos (he is having a very good season), Saliba, Ballard, AMN, Osei Tutu etc., we have the making of a good young team.

  65. 65
    Bathgooner says:

    NOT looking good. Quad ?

  66. 66
    Steve T says:

    Fuck me. Is there a sniper in the stands????

  67. 67
    Countryman100 says:

    Could just be a dead leg Bath. Let’s hope so.

  68. 68
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Willian to score his first for us. Come on that man!

  69. 69
    Countryman100 says:

    Gabi scores!

  70. 70
    ksn says:

    Saka injured and out and is replaced by Willian.
    Nothing serious, I hope. Lots of ice on his thigh.
    Martinelli!!!!

  71. 71
    Bathgooner says:

    GABIGOAL!

  72. 72
    ATG says:

    Get in Martinelli that’s more like it

  73. 73
    Countryman100 says:

    Gabi
    Oh Martinelli
    He comes from São Paulo!
    And he plays for Arsenal
    One, Two Three Four!
    Gabi

  74. 74
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Assist for Pepe. His numbers are getting better and better.

  75. 75
    ksn says:

    GSD’s wish fulfilled as Gabi gets on the sheet.
    Pepe kicked but recovers.

  76. 76
    Steve T says:

    Makes such a difference when you have more than one running into the box?

    Excellent stuff.

    Im with GDD. I want 6.

  77. 77
    ksn says:

    Brilliant run by Martinelli and Pepe almost finds him. Need more of that forward movement and through balls.

  78. 78
    Countryman100 says:

    Well played Gabi! Let’s hope he starts Thursday.

  79. 79
    ksn says:

    Gabi off, Elneny on. Good sub.

  80. 80
    Bathgooner says:

    SWEEEEEEEEEET

  81. 81
    ksn says:

    Laca!!!! Brilliant ball from Partey.

  82. 82
    ATG says:

    Great pass and a great finish by Laca

  83. 83
    Countryman100 says:

    Beautiful goal from Laca and a different quality ball from Thomas.

  84. 84
    ksn says:

    Hope we turn up and play like this against Slavia.

  85. 85
    Countryman100 says:

    The way Thomas rolled his man in the centre circle was total class.

  86. 86
    Steve T says:

    Another great finish from Laca. If only he had done that on Thursday night.

    Great turn and through ball from Partey.

  87. 87
    ksn says:

    Laca off for Nketiah.

  88. 88
    Countryman100 says:

    Good night for Laca. Well played mate.

  89. 89
    Bathgooner says:

    Carved open rather easily there though. A better striker would have buried that.

  90. 90
    ksn says:

    Pepe tries to help Nketiah and misses a great chance to make it 4-0.

  91. 91
    Countryman100 says:

    Well played The Arsenal. Quality stuff.

  92. 92
    Bathgooner says:

    Much, much better. Some excellent performancs and well taken goals. The first was a thing of beauty. A clean sheet to boot. Good stuff, Gunners.

  93. 93
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    What is this?

    Do my eyes deceive me?

    Our bed appears to have none of our own incontinent shit in it.

    Our sheet appears to be clean!

  94. 94
    ksn says:

    We had a really good game but Saka is still limping a bit.
    Will start Gabi over Auba on Sunday.
    Ceballos had a good game too but he plays a bit dangerously with flicks and back heels which can be dangerous against good teams. Not a day to complain today, as everyone turned up and played well. More of the same, please.

  95. 95
    Steve T says:

    A good win and a decent performance. Far more pace, energy snd drive. We still look vulnerable at the back.

    Great to see Martinelli start. He looked sharp all game. Ceballos had his best performance in ages. Partey also showed glimpses of the player we all hoped we had.

    Saka is the only real worry. I hope it’s just a dead leg and nothing more.

    Onwards and upwards.

  96. 96
    Uplympian says:

    Well played Arsenal – everyone turned up tonight and put in an energetic performance. Opposition were very limited but they still had to be beaten. Great to see the drive of Gabigoal, special mentions also to Xakha & Ceballos who both played excellent games. This should put us in a good frame of mind for the Slavia game on thursday.

  97. 97
    Bathgooner says:

    What a relief it is to have seen a motivated and confident Arsenal performance again.

    There IS a team in there.

  98. 98
    Countryman100 says:

    We need patience now as fans. I truly believe this team will come through, but it might be two steps forward and one step back. Let’s cut these young players and our young manager some slack.

  99. 99
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Sunday evening assist…

  100. 100
    Countryman100 says:

    So after a good 3-0 win, it’s time for to square it to ….

  101. 101
    Countryman100 says:

    Me! Nice assist GSD. Parteyesque.

  102. 102
    Bathgooner says:

    Well in for the ton C100. Well assisted GSD. Arsenalesque.

  103. 103
    TTG says:

    C100@98
    Well said , while we mustn’t go overboard today this was exactly how you need to handle games like this . We played some wonderful football . One point not often discussed here is that most of our best performances come away from home . I was interested to see Granit at left back . He did well there and his left foot was very useful. Ceballos also did well and spent most of the second half in a left wing role which was a new one. Partey had his best game for a while and I like the energy and drive Martinelli provides . He is the antithesis of Willian who always looks to pass . Gabi always looks to shoot .
    Interesting we were linked with Lingard today. The way he is currently playing would give us real cutting edge

  104. 104
    Osakamatt says:

    Great preview, fine win and the
    3-0 called by Noosa👍👍

  105. 105
    Gunnersaurus Stunt Double says:

    Well in Countryman. Your run was even better timed than you realised!

  106. 106
    North Bank Ned says:

    Three points, three goals and a clean sheet with a bit of vim and vigour in the performance. Nothing to complain of there. Cunning move by Laca to start aiming for the net rather than the woodwork, but it paid off.

  107. 107
    Uplympian says:

    Ned, maybe it was reverse psychology and he was aiming for the woodwork 😉

  108. 108
    North Bank Ned says:

    Doubly cunning in that case, Uply.

  109. 109
    scruzgooner says:

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>