Do we have enough aggression, physicality and outright athleticism for the league?

[Idxomer]

I'm not sure to be honest. I think we have speed, but whether Sancho, Rashford and Elanga are going to compete in the challenge, win second balls etc - probably not. I would say there's enough competitiveness across the back line and midfield.

But I would say the biggest problem is when you knock it into these boys, Sancho aside it feels like you are going to lose it more often than not and he's always on his own. The ball just bounces off them, or they dribble down a blind alley, or take a poor decision and that goes for Bruno too.

I would say top teams can keep the ball in the final third much better. It seems more like technique to me than physicality. You can't really afford 3 or 4 where you toss a coin as to whether they treat the ball with care.

I think the lack of technique is definitely the bigger problem with Elanga but the other three suffer from the lack of physicality more.

 

[::sonny::]

Bruno lost every physical duel against ward-prowse

This guy has ever been to a gym at least once in his life?

 

[avgp_1]

I think we do when we pick a side like on Monday. But then we also lack quality against lower blocks, likes of Dalot, McT and Elanga aren't good enough and Malacia doesn't look the greatest going forward

 

[Adisa]

Nonsense, it's a physical league, unless you've got world class players who can open up teams, the physicality or lack of makes it so hard to score against teams who defend deep.

It's not about winning second balls, it's about the amount of times a move breaks down because front players are weak.

They lack technique

 

[Abraxas]

I think the lack of technique is definitely the bigger problem with Elanga but the other three suffer from the lack of physicality more.

Possibly. I've never been highly confident with Marcus's first couple of touches but maybe his later decision making is tainting my view.

I think the point is there are so many ways play breaks down for us. Whether it's Sancho ploughing a lone furrow with nobody within 30 yards. Elanga not trapping the ball. Bruno and Rashfords strange decision making. It feels as if you took a random draw from the probabilities when a ball is played into these guys, most of the outcomes are not good. Then you multiply that by a period of interplay and you get massive inconsistency. Capable of lovely moments but most of the time lacking.

Perhaps one of the reasons the manager likes Antony. Not only for balance but to inject some technique and quality.