Liam

[Liam @the_12th_man__]

🚨5 Things We Learned as Aston Villa turn things around to beat Chelsea 2-1 at Villa Park!🚨

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[Liam @the_12th_man__]

Arguably the bleakest period in this club’s recent history and this is what our captain serves up…

[Liam @the_12th_man__]

What a player and what a captain Bruno Fernandes is btw.

It’s beyond me how much the decision to make him club captain was criticised, but it’s through times like these that you see what players are really made of.

His displays and the way he’s carried himself (considering the circus around him) over the past few months have made myself alongside many other United fans gain that extra bit of respect we didn’t know we had left for him.

Despite the absolute shambles this season has been, week in, week out he is the one constant that shows up, leads by example, drags himself through 90 minutes or so playing wherever he’s needed.

I don’t need to tell you about how technically gifted he is because we all know that already, but his character and willingness to step up and answer all questions asked of him makes him truly admirable.

“But he moans and dives around a lot!” Who cares? I hate the casual perception that his occasional antics with the referee make him not fit to be a captain, such a lazy take.

Currently at rock bottom for this football club but he is the one man we know we can rely on every single week to save our blushes. Whether that’s a perfectly placed long ball into the box, a rocket from distance or a 50 yard recovery challenge. Where would we be without him?

[Liam @the_12th_man__]

If you’ve made it his far, thank you very much for reading!

I will be aiming to get 1/2 of these out every week, whether it’s based Premier League, FA Cup or Champions League🧵🏆

[Liam @the_12th_man__]

🚨5 Things We Learned as Aston Villa turn things around to beat Chelsea 2-1 at Villa Park!🚨

🧵🪡THREAD:

[Liam @the_12th_man__]

Moises Caicedo imperious once again!

I think there is a very solid case to be made for Caicedo’s place in the Premier League Team of the Season come May, and even amongst a recent dip in form for his side, he remains the one constant performer.

The midfielder had a tough start to life in London last year, but we started to see signs of himself getting comfortable in the closing stages of the season. But the Ecuadorian has really kicked on this campaign, seeming back to and even above the Caicedo level of performances we saw at Brighton.

He just looks so assuring in that midfield, both on and off the ball, and this was evident once again today. He never seems panicked, even when faced up against a fairly intense Villa press, and used his body and intelligence to tune and play out so effortlessly.

As well as this, off the ball he is the complete package. Rarely ever beaten 1v1, he just gives this assurance to those watching on that when he is confronted by an attacker, they’re not getting past. Even his ground covering is excellent, offering having to make up space in transition for his pivot partner today Reece James, who of course isn’t a recognised midfielder.

No matter who he’s partnered by, Caicedo continues to shine and at only 23 years of age, you do wonder how high his ceiling really is.

[Liam @the_12th_man__]

In conclusion, the majority of the players listed above will likely not be at Old Trafford next summer, as the transfer market is an ever-changing spectacle. However, I must reinforce these are simply my opinions based on the football i’ve watched of the past few seasons and how I see fit.

A restricted budget will likely price us out of a lot of these moves, which there needs to be an emphasis on moving quick with departures. However, I believe none the signings recommended are completely out of reach, and although criticised, I do think that the newer board and transfer team have been more efficient when making moves for player.

A lot of the players I have listed are just personal favourites of mine, however there are plenty of other players out there capable of fulfilling these profiles. That’s what I believe is most important. The current squad is extremely unbalanced and lacks many extremely important attributes in the modern-game (ball-carrying, high IQ, physical presence, low age-bracket). If Amorim can start to fill his squad with more players that hold these qualities, we will start to see the side take shape and allow the Portuguese a reasonable platform to finally put his plans into practise.

Thank you very much for reading if you’ve made it this far!

A lot of research, planning and detail went into this thread so a like, follow or retweet would be much appreciated!🙏↪️

[Liam @the_12th_man__]

Manchester United 2024/25 Mid-Season Squad Assessment (Final Part)👹

The final thread regarding United’s current crop of players will provide an overall insight of departures, who stays and potential player profiles that could come in the summer!

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[Liam @the_12th_man__]

Cheaper alternative:

Liam Delap:

A striker with all the right attributes of a modern-day and old-school striker all rolled into one. His explosiveness and strength makes him a nightmare to contain, holding off defenders and creating space between the lines constantly. His physical profile, despite his age, meets all the criteria to become a successful Premier League striker.

As well as his size, his frightening pace makes him an asset in transition. This combined with the fact he’s a natural finisher, timing and use of his physique makes him a large threat aerially too.

He has already shown progression in his movement, decision-making and shot selection this season and will only get better and therefore more exposing over time.

The type of signing we’d be 2 years late to make a move for, and although i’d not be against it, we really require a polished, proven striker right now with the recent young investment we’ve made up top not quite working out, and with a lack of credit in the top flight up to now, this signing may be considered too much of a risk currently.