2019-20 UEFA Europa League

[hatterson]

Fred really bossing the game so far.

Some pinpoint passes to the sideline and to AZ players.

 

[YNWA14]

Still early but AZ look a decent bit better than United. Certainly better coached.

 

[hatterson]

Still early but AZ look a decent bit better than United. Certainly better coached.

7 corners to 0. Edge in possession. Scored on offside goal that was only barely offside (and the offside didn't really impact his ability to score), had another dangerous break down the left.

United haven't looked remotely dangerous once.

 

[hatterson]

Good block by the defender on the first chance United has. Looked kinda like Greenwood shot it at the keeper anyway, but still good of the defender to get a leg in there.

 

[les Habs]

I'd need to see another replay as to whether or not the ball crossed the line, but nice work by James there.

 

[hatterson]

I'd need to see another replay as to whether or not the ball crossed the line, but nice work by James there.

Yea, Dalot cooked the pass a bit, although I'm willing to blame that on the pitch since it's a lot faster and harder than they're used to.

 

[les Habs]

Yea, Dalot cooked the pass a bit, although I'm willing to blame that on the pitch since it's a lot faster and harder than they're used to.

James took a shot to the head too but kept playing.

 

[Jussi]

7 corners to 0. Edge in possession. Scored on offside goal that was only barely offside (and the offside didn't really impact his ability to score), had another dangerous break down the left.

United haven't looked remotely dangerous once.

OGS criticized the surface quite a lot. He's used to artificial turfs because there's lots of them in Norway and AZ's normal surface is much better than this. Flat out said it's the worst artificial surface he's seen and he wouldn't have played Pogba today even if he were fit.

 

[hatterson]

OGS criticized the surface quite a lot. He's used to artificial turfs because there's lots of them in Norway and AZ's normal surface is much better than this. Flat out said it's the worst artificial surface he's see and he wouldn't have played Pogba today even if he were fit.

I'd forgive pitch for some sloppiness and mishit passes. But United were just straight up being out played. Losing most 50/50 balls, not rotating in defense or attack well, etc.

They've come into it the last ~10 minutes or so, but still only mediocre instead of actually playing good.

Greenwood especially has looked poor whenever he's dropped deep to pick up the ball.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

OGS criticized the surface quite a lot. He's used to artificial turfs because there's lots of them in Norway and AZ's normal surface is much better than this. Flat out said it's the worst artificial surface he's see and he wouldn't have played Pogba today even if he were fit.

Ah probably related to Xavi then

 

[hatterson]

AZ is defending well and compact when they don't have the ball. That shouldn't really be a surprise to anyone.

The way you break that down is either fast switches of play to force them to either chase or play wider, or have overlapping runs that force they to move the back line around to deal with it.

United should have been drilling this and prepping for this with this squad basically all week since most of these players were irrelevant to the Arsenal squad. Instead it looks like tired old garbage where to cycle the ball to the other side it goes from the FB, back to a wide mid field, back to a CB, over to the other CB, up to the other wide mid, then to the fullback. The defenders have boatloads of time to shift across.

 

[maclean]

Roma

 

[Jussi]

AZ is defending well and compact when they don't have the ball. That shouldn't really be a surprise to anyone.

The way you break that down is either fast switches of play to force them to either chase or play wider, or have overlapping runs that force they to move the back line around to deal with it.

United should have been drilling this and prepping for this with this squad basically all week since most of these players were irrelevant to the Arsenal squad. Instead it looks like tired old garbage where to cycle the ball to the other side it goes from the FB, back to a wide mid field, back to a CB, over to the other CB, up to the other wide mid, then to the fullback. The defenders have boatloads of time to shift across.

A lot them recovered only early this week. Seems tonsolitis has been running rampant on the team since Greenwood had it a week or two ago and AWB has it now.

 

[Jussi]

McManananananaman commented how the ball is bouncing like ping pong ball for the players, no one seems to get a good hold of it.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Delightful through ball from Vargas

 

[Jussi]

AZ's going to get in trouble for that.

 

[hatterson]

AZ's going to get in trouble for that.

What happened? I'm on a call and only half paying attention.

 

[hatterson]

I am able to pay enough attention to know that United is not at all the better side.

 

[Live in the Now]

Morelos is really good. Oddly enough I heard that because of his hot headed behavior his big move might be to MLS and not a big league. He is definitely good enough to play for the vast majority of teams in big leagues.

 

[hatterson]

That's a stonewall penalty.

 

[Jussi]

What happened? I'm on a call and only half paying attention.

Someone threw a plastic mug with liquid at De Gea, landed right in front of him when he was giving a goal kick. Ref saw it when De Gea threw it out.

 

[Jussi]

That's a stonewall penalty.

That's a clear penalty. Why no VAR in EL?

 

[hatterson]

That's a clear penalty. Why no VAR in EL?

Because so many of the teams are small and don't have proper broadcast/camera setups.

Same reason the FA wasn't doing it in early rounds of the carabao/FA cups.

 

[gnr25]

So the Champions League has VAR from the group stage onwards.
While the Europa League has VAR from the round of 32 onwards (knock out stage).

 

[hatterson]

Lingard missed a chance. I am totally shocked!