TROVE

@NealGardner_ He gets comfortable throughout the game when it's time for him to try and make something happen.

No one can question that Rashford’s been a successful loan signing, but it’s also very obvious why we’re not keeping him on. I like him, I do, but he’s 28, with bloated wages, and still fundamentally hit or miss.

The league is won, but Balde still performed so bad, he had to be substituted for a 31 year old that we already ran to the ground. This is the best way to describe how poor he has been this season.

@LaLigaMichael I see that blue thing next to your time, welcome to the club, Michael.

I can’t decide what would anger me more about Flick this season. 1. Running Yamal into the ground and risking his World Cup availability. 2. Possibly saving Alaves’ season with this hangover XI. Send them down, Hansiii! 😡😡

@MesQueUnFan_ @NealGardner_ I admire your ability to say no to critical thinking.

@trovewho @NealGardner_ Cortes is 21, after 30 he will be established from developmental😂😂 these twitter pundits 😂

This might be why Flick hasn’t given Bastoni his yes…

@turf_dappa Bastoni was merely an example because he was left-footed. But I wish you sugarcoated your joke better so I could laugh.

@trovewho Bastoni is for you fans😂, the Club has other plans.

What exactly is Flick trying to swing at by debuting Alvaro Cortes tonight? Don't get me wrong, his development has been exceptional and was sure he'd do the preseason with the team. But a little surprised to see him on the lineup tonight. There's Tomas, Toni who desperately needs minutes, but Flick chooses Cortes. Maybe this is him attempting to come up with an alternative if Barca fail to sign a left-footed centre-back this summer. Maybe this is sign he doesn't prefer Bastoni for some reasons.

Only positive of the night was Cortes. At one point, it got so insufferable that I was about to switch off, then Pedri came on. The game got a bit of life. I understand the league is won, most of you are hungover, the WC is in a month. All fair observations. But most of our players had something to prove, and we were looking forward to it. Instead they decided they were gonna move like prime Hazard at Real Madrid. Round of applause for each and everyone of you.

@efya_999 Except Cortes, Pedri, Cancelo, Bernal, Cubarsi.

@trovewho Very awful play from the whole team today

Roony got subbed off, Rashford moved right. Kounde moved central, Espart came in. And somehow, our right flank instantly looked alive. As if there was no one on that side of the pitch until then.

@NealGardner_ If Cortes wasn't on the field tonight, I do not think I would've made it through the insufferable performances of everyone else.

BY FAR, the biggest positive of tonight. To make your debut in an atmosphere as intense as this, in a high line that takes ages to adjust to, and dominate like Cortes did tonight? Incredible. Close to a perfect debut.

@kevvwill Yes, I was waiting to see both of them in the preseason. But one already impressed.

@trovewho Would be an interesting ploy. The bummer is that Pacifico was injured. He looked very good as well the few times I saw him.

So uh, about this Cortes fella and all those rumors about spending big for a CB ... I have questions.

@marvymoore2x Direct way to say it, but accurate.

@trovewho they are played shit

The dream of 100 points ends here. Honestly, couldn't care less. But we didn't even put up a fight until Pedri & Cancelo stepped onto the pitch. Hansi Flick is a kind man.

@NealGardner_ Balde, Kounde, Casado. Wow! Jaw dropping, insufferable performance.

Couldn’t care less about the result, pretty much expected it when I saw the XI, but man, certain players definitely didn’t help their case tonight.

I have to say it, I've held myself back for a long time now, but Kounde is a deadwood. Exactly what caused this rapid decline in his form, I'll never know. The disconnection with the players around him is riling them up too, you can see it in the face of Olmo, Cubarsi, Roony. Balde was poor as well. But Kounde's insufferable performance was so loud that it made Balde look decent. There's no scenario in the future, next season, where we go into a game with them as our fullbacks.

@NealGardner_ Is that a question? Make it a statement.

Is Cancelo our most creative player bar Lamine?

@AntonyTendayi10 @NealGardner_ Even worse than he was at RB.

@NealGardner_ Kounde looking solid too in CB

@NealGardner_ Did you see that tackle? Damn

I want Cortes to start every game until the season’s done.

@NealGardner_ Flick is desperately trying his best to make use of the deadwood.

Kounde CB? Ok, ok. I’m interested. It’s been AGES.

@NealGardner_ I miss Xavi Espart (I even miss the ghost of Dani Alves now after watching Kounde play)

I miss Cancelo.