Match verdict by Hugh Southon
How you see a penalty saved – bad though it was – and go on to lose a game with around five minutes left beggars belief.
How you play as well as Craig Dawson had and then get sent off is almost beyond comprehension when it’s well known how Lukaku rolls players.
Why Declan was brought on when Nobes had been playing decent stuff in the middle of the park is puzzling.
And how the entirely inept Benrahma was ever bought for going on £30 million is another mystery we now have no way of solving or to which there appears to be a solution.
Arthur Masuaku at least threatened to make things happen whilst the former Brentford player failed with virtually every touch. Will he be sold this summer? Wouldn’t surprise me.
The Craig Dawson situation – now out for the Arsenal game although he’s okay for Europe – presents us with the most serious of problems because despite the cries for Aji Alese we really don’t know how good he is,
A bad game could murder him and it takes no working out that if he hasn’t been used by now it’s presumably because Moyes doesn’t rate him good enough.
That means – one assumes – that Declan will join his former under 23 colleague Ben Johnson at the heart of defence for the game.
Apparently Alex Kral can play there and has for his country but Moyes doesn’t like him so that’s that and it simply means we are limping towards the end of a season which remains alive on the Euro front but may have died in terms of top six.
We did ok with our B team today and it makes you wonder how we would have done with a similar line up against Brentford for example and one or two other games.
To lose four central defenders in a season is beyond bad luck, Let’s hope and pray fortune isn’t starting to hide all over again.
COYI
I just don’t get it Hugh. DM plays Masuaku and Benrahma, both not good enough. He just won’t play any U23 player – they get on the bench, but never one minute on the pitch. Nobody is good enough if you never try them. Whilst others proven not good enough are recycled again and again. But Rice and Johnson, introduced to the first team before Moyes came, he will meanwhile play in several positions – but not Alese at all? Would he have ever played Rice and Johnson from U23 level? Seriously – do any of our U23’s have any chance here?
Id love to agree but can’t really Pete. I think we have to trust Moyes. He knows, I honestly don’t know hows good or bad they are. A mate of mind inside the club told me when I asked they just aren’t ready .
Thanks for your reply Hugh and I appreciate your integrity. Interesting info on the ‘not ready’ – I will try to stop banging on like a broken record and just enjoy what we’ve got I think!!!! COYI
If the foul is outside the box it’s a red card and freekick.
If it’s inside the box it’s it’s a yellow card and a penalty not red card and penalty as it’s seen as a double punishment…….or is that just for goalkeepers?
Don’t write us off for nicking 6th place, Hugh. Man United are currently appalling!!