18 Oct 2026 08:09:57
There appears to be more dissatisfaction after a hard earned win yesterday. We’re obviously not perfect at the moment, but I’m going to do something controversial and just focus on some positives:
We beat Brentford who were undefeated this season, and hasn’t lost at home in the last 10 months.
Isak has 5 prem goals in 6 appearances this season
Since the start of last season, Only Cherki has more open play assists than Florian Wirtz who has 11.
Andoni who is having to learn to manage workload with many more fixtures has managed to win his first 2 champs league games, and rotate the team.
Youth are getting an opportunity in Koumas, Rio and Trey, and they’re all paying it back quite nicely.
Rio in particular is starting to look way more effective than he ever has before.
Araujo has been really good and was someone who was met with a lot of scrutiny on these pages when signed.
Jacquet looks incredible and is only 21!
Iraola ball will take a while to fully click but is certainly starting to
Munoz is looking handy and has 2 scored 2 good and important goals for us this year.
I look forward to a doom monger coming to s*** all over this post
18 Oct 2026 08:23:53
I'll drink to that.
18 Oct 2026 08:28:54
Great post can't argue with any of that.
18 Oct 2026 08:31:37
We're picking up results whilst not playing well.
I think that's a good thing because we all know what happened last year. The players lost condition, we limped in to the champions league and we looked like we lacked direction.
Iraola didn't have most of his first team for pre-season as they were at the World Cup or resting following the World Cup.
I'd say most of our players have shown signs of improvement and our new signings look good - Jacquet, Munoz, Araujo. Barcola is still new to the squad but you can see the potential star when he settles.
In many respects this first half of the season is a fact-finding exercise for Iraola so to pick up results too is a welcome bonus.
November will tell us a lot ?.
18 Oct 2026 08:31:52
Outstanding post mate.
18 Oct 2026 08:37:23
Id go even more controversial and say Wirtz has been playing well!
{Ed025's Note - do Specsavers open on a Sunday?..
18 Oct 2026 09:03:56
Thank you for that. Some actual positivity for once. I know it is difficult but we just have to wait and let system and style sink in. And also players are getting fitter so let's see how and where we are in January.
18 Oct 2026 09:06:19
Good post full metal; I agree with all of it and I love the positivity.
However to 1988s comment on Wirtz, I was quite harsh on live chat on Wirtz because he missed a good few passes. But he did improve, his pass to Munoz was lovely for the goal too. he created a few chances to be fair to him. But at the moment the guy just gives away the ball way too easily- his miss passes or his inability to win any sort of duel make the team weaker. For me at the moment unfortunately the team is weak with him in it. I'm hoping he can turn it around but I worry.
18 Oct 2026 09:11:42
Great post. Keep the positivity coming!
18 Oct 2026 09:18:06
Honestly, I think we are improving. We started the game really well yesterday. Good control although forward areas still an issue.
We are still a little jittery when the other team gets a chance or two. Evidenced again when we went two one up and got jittery again. Need to build that mental toughness.
There's still a complete lack of what I call "go" in some of the forwards and there's still not the connections being made up top.
Pity Szobo got injured. That seemed to rock our plan.
I know it's not perfect but I too am seriously surprised to read so much criticism of a win away at Brentford.
18 Oct 2026 09:32:57
Nice one, Fullmetal!
18 Oct 2026 09:34:51
Rome was not built in one day, we are showing good signs of progress.
There will always be the haters who throw their toys out about one bad performance and demand we replace the whole squad immediately, but that has always been the case. Even in the Klopp years there were people moaning about how bad we were doing.
18 Oct 2026 10:54:26
I'm a well voiced Wirtz doubter but I thought he played well yesterday however our pressing was all over the shop and our midfield is as we all know way too soft. We were decent but the sending off of the Brentford guy helped us a lot in the second half. Regardless that's a good result against a good team. Keep her lit!
18 Oct 2026 11:16:22
Oh and hello Salah mate! Haven't heard from you in a while! Hope all is good with you and yours?!
18 Oct 2026 13:41:39
I like the the post, good stuff, mate. Keeping it positive.
Just thought I'd point out United fans would argue Fernandes is actually ahead of Wirtz with 13 open-play assists since the beginning of last season.
Opta logs an open play assist that derives from a set piece as a set piece assist. So if player A takes a free kick/corner, and it falls to player B before the ball goes out of play again, who in turn assists player C for the goal, Opta defines that as a set-piece phase goal and not open play. Just something I came across and found interesting.
18 Oct 2026 15:13:53
I'd love to see the most amount of assists Macca or Barnes got in a season for us. Weird stat for me. Plonk a corner on someone's head it's an assist. Pass a ball two yards to someone who beats three or four men and smacks one in from thirty yards it's an assist. Crazy.
18 Oct 2026 14:38:32
ED0025. No they aren't. But the pubs are! ?.
{Ed025's Note - i think you have had enough to drink with that comment 1988.. :)