Alright, let me try to write this out my way. I’m just thinking about the game coming up, you know? Saturday feels big here. Tottenham are coming to Old Trafford and I guess we’re all kind of seeing what happens. Mike Carrick’s having to deal with a few lads being hurt, which doesn’t help nobody.
The weather’s meant to be all grey and Manchester-like for the 12:30 kickoff. Makes the stadium look different, I always think. We really need the points, everyone says that. Being just ahead of Chelsea and a bit behind Villa makes everything feel tight. Like, every game starts to matter a whole lot now.
We’re definitely missing Mount, and Dorgu and de Ligt too. Mount was almost back, I heard, but then he wasn’t. Carrick said he’s not too far away the other day. But for right now, we don’t have him. De Ligt being gone changes the back, and without Dorgu out wide it’s different. Carrick’s got to figure it out.
I don’t think he’ll change much from the Fulham win, that was a wild one. Senne Lammens will probably keep goal, he’s been doing it. The defence might stay the same even with Maguire’s penalty thing last week that was a scare. He and Martinez, with Dalot and Shaw, they’ll likely go again.
In the middle, I like seeing Casemiro with young Mainoo. It just works somehow. Casemiro scored with his head last time, which was great. And Bruno, he’s just everywhere making chances. He’s got more assists than anyone, which says it all. Amad should be on the right, he runs at people which we need.
Over on the left, Matheus Cunha will probably play again for Dorgu. He’s been scoring lately, taking his chance like Carrick said. Up front, Bryan Mbeumo feels like he’ll start even if he was quiet. And Benjamin Sesko well, he won it at the end last week. Maybe he gets more time today, he’s made a case for himself.
Things feel a bit more steady lately, honestly. Four wins in a row is possible, which is mad after how things were. But Tottenham are really good, so our patched-up defence will be busy.
Games here between us are usually not boring. Goals happen. With the team we’ll put out, it’s about Bruno making things happen and the midfield keeping its balance. Control the middle, let the fast guys go on the wings.
When Carrick first took over, it was a proper mess. He’s calmed it down. This game is another test for him, a big one. The injuries aren’t great, but others are stepping up. Cunha and Sesko, they’ve shown that.
Tottenham might try to attack our left side, where Shaw goes forward. But we’ll be set up to stay solid, I’m sure. Who scores first could decide everything.
Right now, the players warming up, you just focus on who’s out there. We’ve got enough to win, I believe that. It’s a big rivalry and there’s pride in it. Three points would change the feeling, make that gap to Villa look smaller. Just got to go and do it.
