When the lineup was announced last night, many fans were quick to question Howe’s team selection.
In particular, how Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon, as a false nine, were given the nod over new signing Nick Woltemade and the ever-reliable Jacob Murphy.
Of course, the gaffer will have been playing with one eye partially on Sunday’s trip to the South Coast, and with Gordon suspended for that game, this may have forced his hand tonight regarding who would start at striker.
On this, Howe said: “Any player would want to start the game but I have to make decisions and make sure players stay fit. It was a hard decision but one I felt I had to make.”
The boss also made an interesting comment on the pre-match fitness of Murphy, which perhaps explains why he wasn’t in from the off, saying: “It is the same with Jacob Murphy who is nursing a bit of an achilles problem.”
Woltemade dropping to the bench was a slight surprise given his superb debut last Saturday and early substitution to save him, but Howe hinted that his was another decision made for the benefit of protecting the player:
“I have to make decisions for the benefit of the player sometimes. That was a really difficult one for Nick. Any player would have to start any game but I’ve got to try and manage him into the team and try and make sure he stays fit.
“That was always at the heart of this decision. Of course, knowing we have Anthony suspended as well for the next game.”
Elsewhere, Fabian Schar took a ferocious shot to the head from Rashford mere moments before the Englishman’s opener, meanwhile Kieran Trippier himself looked to be struggling with a late knock.
But Howe hasn’t been able to provide us an official update on either man’s fitness as of yet, commenting:
“I’ve got no information really, I was in the hands of the doctors at that moment. The only message I got was that he was okay to continue. I don’t really know anything beyond that, or how he is now.”
“It’s the same with Kieran. I’ve not had chance to speak to anybody yet so we’ll have to see how he is.”
We suspect Malick Thiaw will come into the side at Bournemouth on Sunday, with Trippier – 35 today – almost certainly set to be rested after two starts in six days.
I have no issues with the starting 11 – our squad is strong enough for that now.
Gordon would obviously be fresh having missed games through suspension.
Ultimately we created good chances in the first half and Gordon & Barnes should have put their chances away – that’s not Howes fault.
What I do think was a mistake was leaving Schar on when he was clearly dazed when he was getting treatment.
They have brought in a new rule that allows the player to be replaced without it counting as one of your subs – not good enough!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)