gibbs131
you've comically overestimated how seriously I'm taking your posts. They're nonsense. You're the only god damn person on the forum more or less that thinks our midfield was wonderful last season and can't be improved upon, and then you post a video of Soldado missing a shot and you think that shifts the blame? Our poor finishing is nothing new, it doesn't require explanation when I say that the midfield combination of Bentaleb and Mason was underwhelming last season. Two entirely different issues at play.
The disorganization of our midfield was a major contributing factor to how poorly our defense performed last season. Neither had a natural link or understanding with our central defense.
But what I don't understand is the purity test that you're trying to turn this into. Why do you
demand that I have to be either fully for or fully against Mason and Bentaleb? Why does it offend you so damn much when I say that I really like them as players, but playing them together as midfield partners leaves us unbalanced and exposed?
You said Bentaleb and Mason in the middle was our main issue last season? That's such an ignorant outlook on the season. They helped us get 5th. They were a positive. So much so everyone (that didnt go to sleep wearing Southamoton grass is greener pajamas) was clamoring to nail down Bentalebs contract.
It was Solddo missfiring, Townsend, Paulinho, Chiriches, Lamela, and earlier Lennon that were more to blame for our softness and misfiring season. .
We were 3 points from 4th because of them:
Paul Scholes on Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason’s midfield partnership
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has been singing the praises of Tottenham Hotspur duo Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason in
The Independent.
"Tottenham are currently sixth in the Premier League table with 50 points from 28 matches, just thee points behind fourth-placed United. Mauricio Pochettino’s side will take on
the Red Devils away from home in the league on Sunday."
You don't remember what happened. I do. Andros Townsend happened. Poch put him back in the team
BBC Sport - Manchester United 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
"The match was running away from Spurs at such a rate that coach Mauricio Pochettino made
a tactical change after only 30 minutes when Mousa Dembele was introduced at the expense of Andros Townsend."
Around that point of the season, Poch re intrroduced Townsend and all hell broke loose. We crashed out of the Europa, the race for 4th wasnt just him subbing Townsedn early against Utd, he also did the same with Townsend gifting Liverpool our right hand side. What else happened? Poch brought Towsend back for the cup final.
It was wet paper bags like Townsend and non events on the pitch like Soldado that fucked our season. It was all to play for. In the final stages of Europa, 3 points from 4th and in a cup final. That was the platform they gave us.
We fixed the issues, we got new wide men and the REAL issues you ignored are either playing for other teams or out of the starting 11. We didn't get new Masons and Bentalebs because they are not the reason we choked last season.