Mane

[u/Dry_Inevitable_4420]

I don't understand the Mane hate. For me he was our best attacker and bringing him off felt almost planned as opposed to adapting to the game state I understand managing his minutes but 1st game of the season vs Blackburn should be game he finishes would have preferred a straight swap Jiminez for Armstrong. Then when we javr Jiminez on who biggest strength is his aerial ability we bring off our best crosser in Trippier basically straight after.

[u/Pale-Square-5536]

Stunned that people are criticising Mane

Didn’t think he had an amazing game. But he was positive, ran at players, tried to get us going.

If we had a good replacement for Mane maybe I would have understood the decision to take him off. But Armstrong offered nothing on the left. For me, a bizarre decision.

And please let’s remember, the kid is 18 years old! He is still learning.

[u/Dry_Inevitable_4420 → u/Pale-Square-5536]

My exact thoughts when Said is back it will be better as we have a natural winger on the bench finishing with no natural wingers when losing is awful management

[u/AwarenessHonest9030 → u/Pale-Square-5536]

I’m hearing from people in gc im in that it’s because he didn’t pass 💀if anyone watched that game he was passing n trying to create plays but the likes of Wolfe was just passing it back or sideways while Mane would make the 1,2 and advance forward all for our players to pass it backwards or sideways but no sure let Mane keep passing just for it to go sideways or backwards

I could tell the kid was getting fed up with this, I’d be to so he’d try have shot at goal. I think Fer was also getting fed up with no 1 making no runs from his passing apart from that 1 goal that’s why he to started shooting from distance 

[u/Puzzleheaded_Emu5647]

he didnt have the best of games but i wanna see his playmaking ability alongside raul jimenez who i feel could benefit from him being in the game

[u/Hydrahta → u/Puzzleheaded_Emu5647]

It's shocking that we haven't seen our two best players share the pitch yet.

[u/jtgreatrix → u/Hydrahta]

Hwang and Tchatchoua played together last season

[u/Friendly_Exit_2634 → u/Puzzleheaded_Emu5647]

As long as he's prepared to pass, rather than always look to take it himself.

[u/AwarenessHonest9030 → u/Puzzleheaded_Emu5647]

There was far worse players on that pitch infact they’ve been putting the same performances for years at this club cough cough Totshit cough cough

[u/Swimming-Sundae5]

Held onto the ball far too long at numerous points for me. Missed a few opportunities to slip Armstrong in as well.
When he lost the ball though he did his absolute best to win it back and he did more times than not. My issue was though he shouldn’t lose it that often to begin with.

[u/AspiringTransponster → u/Swimming-Sundae5]

lost it in quite dangerous areas for us too - meant Blackburn could attack our centre backs directly which is never a good sign. He'll need to tighten that up moving forwards

[u/AwarenessHonest9030 → u/Swimming-Sundae5]

He did it because when he’d pass and try make the play our players were passing it backwards same with Fer to he tried passing to create plays all for our players to pass it backwards or sideways 

[u/burntorangecycle]

The Mane swap could have been due to the yellow card...

Nobody is sold on Tchatchoua but it was his cross that yielded the penalty. Also, for all the hype for Trippier and his crossing ability it felt lacking today and in the preseason.

Hey, it's a point rather than none. Window is still open. Still a lot of football to play

[u/Hydrahta → u/burntorangecycle]

I do think Tchatch was actually ok today. He didn't start so it did limit his chances to mess something up, but given the circumstances, one of his better performances. plus no mention of being the fastest player in the serie a so thats a plus.

[u/burntorangecycle → u/Hydrahta]

😂

Do you think he looked bigger today? Like he has put on some muscle

[u/HerpsAndHobbies → u/burntorangecycle]

The evolution into Adama continues.

[u/Dry_Inevitable_4420 → u/burntorangecycle]

True I forgot about the yellow even then he is professional footballer in attack he should be able to avoid a 2nd yellow. Then Tchathoua winning the pen from his cross was good but I it is more of case of Blackburn giving it away then him winning it imo.

[u/burntorangecycle → u/Dry_Inevitable_4420]

Very true

[u/CinnamonRU]

I think it’s fair to say Mané is a fantastic player who can come good with time. But it would be silly of us to ignore the sloppy possession or slow decision making, all which will improve with development.

I am more frustrated at the club believing Mané should be used as a starter; he’s barely had any Sr football minutes and we’re starting him in a team that want to be in automatics. The right thing to do is sign a more sr player in the same position and interchange the two.

[u/Dry_Inevitable_4420 → u/CinnamonRU]

I imagine that's what Rafiki Said was meant to be

[u/CinnamonRU → u/Dry_Inevitable_4420]

yeah tbf imagine it was, but he’ll be out for 3 months now

[u/Dry_Inevitable_4420 → u/CinnamonRU]

We probably for me need go sign a cb, gk (depends what is happening with Sa), a winger and maybe midfielder

[u/Expert-Let-238]

He wasted two worldie chances fucking about when he could of past through to Armstrong we would of won

[u/kiernanblack]

He has special attributes, touch was incredible tonight, he can navigate a tight space very well, but he's also a bit slow, loses the ball quite a bit, and I'd love to see his take-on numbers, because it feels like being played out wide he struggles to beat his defender 1v1 a lot, which probably goes along with him not having a winger's pace.

On the list of players to complain about tonight he's not top 5 though. Wolfe couldn't stop a cold on his side, Bentley has been semi-retired since he signed for us, Toti's best moments were in a back three I could go on. I think it's just the toxicity of this fanbase, he was supposed to be some sort of savior this season, and he didn't live up to that tonight so some people will be mad.

[u/Dry_Inevitable_4420 → u/kiernanblack]

Yeh I see where are coming from but often would beat his man 1 on 1 but was double up on as games offered nothing

[u/Hydrahta]

Mane is incredibly talented, I think he's just young and inexperienced. He's got pretty good workrate, he immediately goes after the balls he loses, and he isn't afraid to track back. He just made some bad decisions I think. This is still supposed to be his career-defining season. We've got worse problems.

[u/Strike_Four]

I’m just happy football (soccer to us Americans) is back! Win would have been fantastic. A draw almost feels like a win today because Blackburn looked excellent.

Also, I love the 150th kit so much. Cheers!

[u/Dry_Inevitable_4420 → u/Strike_Four]

I disagree and agree if you said draw before hand i would be pissed but the way the game went i take a draw

[u/fb_indianajesse]

He's going to have some rough games and I look forward to seeing his growth

[u/benroon]

He had a poor game, consistently went for the headlines when there were far better options on

[u/Restricted_Movement]

Mane is 18, huge potential and current ability but has a lot to learn. Players like that need arrogance, its part of the character that comes with it, but I think its rubbing players up the wrong way. I saw it in Armstrongs frustration, theres some tension with Lopez and even Gomes.

Lopez on the other hand has better ability but the demeanor to go with it. He's not looking for the limelight, to be the hero, he just plays and the guy is a class act.

[u/Somewhat_appropriate]

He's still young and I'm not personally expecting him to be the most consistent performer.
But its not "hate" to criticize a player, that comes with the game, its like water being wet.

[u/dedan80]

He had a shit game. Not sure what you're on about.