24 Aug 2026 08:16:02
Thought that was a positive performance tbh for the first game of the season. Always a tough place to go and they have a rapid forward line which will expose our present weaknesses.
Munoz looked promising, Gakpo looked more of a threat, Wirtz was unlucky not to score first half and just needs more intelligent runs in front of him. Hardest ground for Isak to play in too. The best thing though was the AI interview...Breath of fresh air from all the excuses last season.
Think we do need a CDM to protect our defence unless Gravenberch can go back to being a 6 as per title winning season.
We looked so much more attacking and that is the biggest positive post Slot borefest.
AI said he hopes more than one transfer will happen before deadline day so hopefully that will happen.
Hats off to both teams and fans for Keegan tribute...What a legend. RIP.
A final positive...The Utd scoreline. YNWA.
24 Aug 2026 08:26:54
Still not sure I understand the idea around the grave experiment. He offers little going forward and was decent the year he played cdm.
24 Aug 2026 08:52:14
I agree, DeanW. It can't be hard to just tell him to sit when the team is attacking. We should have enough going forwards to not need his input, and then he's there to help when the other team breaks.
24 Aug 2026 09:00:28
Gravenberch is a natural ball carrier. Why on earth should he sit back?
{Ed001's Note - because he can't pass and so always ends up giving it away if he gets forward.}
24 Aug 2026 09:03:08
I know I'm being selfish, but I'd really like a CDM who's 6ft+, relatively quick and can defend.
On paper, that should be Grav, but he's just not doing it.
Albeit, Iraola did say that he likes his double pivots to take turns going up the pitch, but maybe they just need more training?
24 Aug 2026 09:09:32
He was a ball carrier the year we won the title with Slot, too. The difference is he carried the ball through the lines from deep, sometimes between the two center halves who would split, and then passed it to another midfielder before staying put instead of hovering around the edge of the box or making late runs into the box and getting caught up field.
24 Aug 2026 09:13:02
Life, he is, but he is only effective turning away from his own 18 yard box into the middle. As soon as he does it further up the pitch, where he doesn't have the space or time he needs, he loses the plot.
The one great season he has had, he was disciplined in his role. He needs to go back to being that player for me.
24 Aug 2026 09:19:27
Someone needs to sit Grav down and show him the footage from the season he excelled. Then simply say "Do that again and the fans will love you, don't do it and Nyoni/someone takes your place sooner rather than later."
24 Aug 2026 09:37:46
We used to slaughter Slot for what Gravenberch is doing today. The fact is Macca is our best option to sit deeper says a lot.
24 Aug 2026 10:01:26
What StEtienne said.
24 Aug 2026 10:23:57
Surely Grav has been under instructions to play further forward by management?
24 Aug 2026 11:22:15
Old school maybe, but the two centre mids, you go, I stay. Couldn't be simpler. It looks to me a someone isn't doing what they should.
24 Aug 2026 11:23:01
He was last year by Slot Digger but this season he's just not listening. ?
24 Aug 2026 12:05:42
Grav really should have just shot the ball lol.
He'd get pelters, but we'd not be sitting here crying about their first goal if he just shot the ball and it landed in row Z hahaha.