Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

Friday round-up: Man Utd prep, Merino up top

March 7, 2025
in Football
0
Home Football
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

Real Madrid pay up to secure Trent’s early Liverpool exit; deal confirmed

Bruno Fernandes giving “serious consideration” to Saudi Arabia switch – The Athletic – Man United News And Transfer News

talkSPORT BET UCL Welcome Offer

Morning all.

A quick Friday blog for you, because today is the first golf day of the year. I haven’t played in a long time, so hopefully the weather is ok because that’s about as much as I can hope for this morning.

Mikel Arteta will meet the press around lunchtime as we prepare to face Man Utd at Old Trafford on Sunday. They were in Europa League action last night in Spain, drawing 1-1 with Real Sociedad in San Sebastian. On paper, that is pretty much the perfect result for us, as it leaves them with work to do in the second leg – and with just a couple of days to prepare for Sunday.

Who knows how it will play out though. Games don’t take place on paper, and with a few extra days to recover before that game, they can give 100% on Sunday. What’s not clear now is whether there might be some injury issues that mean Ruben Amorim has to prioritise the Europa League, or if the players’ focus is much more on the competition they can actually do something in.

What’s definitely clear is that Arteta will prepare his team as if none of that is part of the equation. In his press conference he’ll talk about United being a big club, with a good manager, and with some quality players, thus making it a difficult match where we have to be as good as we can possibly be if we want to take all three points. We’ll have all the stories from the presser on Arseblog News a bit later on.

Meanwhile, Mikel Merino reflects on life as a striker after his recent deployment in that position. He says:

It’s kind of crazy, to be honest. But at the same time, it’s about having the right mentality, the right approach of the game. If the coach tells you to play one position, all right, you have to take all your characteristics and put it on the table for the team.

I’m trying to adapt, I’m trying to do things the best way possible. Obviously, some days will be better, some days will be worse, but the work is there every day, the grind. I’m trying to improve every single day in my position, in my new position, I’m trying to help the team.

It stands to some kind of reason that the more often he plays there, the more comfortable he’ll get in the role. There will always be limitations because he’s not playing in his natural position, but I would say that if you’re in this kind of emergency situation and you need to repurpose a footballer, Merino is more or less the perfect kind of guy to have at your disposal.

By that, I don’t mean that he’s the perfect striker, but as a facsimile for 6’4 Kai Havertz, previously a left-footed left 8, a 6’2 Mikel Merino who is a left-footed left 8 fits the bill in that sense. Beyond that though, he seems like a really good character, a willing runner who will do those hard yards up front, and understands that when a team needs something, an experienced player needs to step up without complaint and do the best possible job he can for the team. Footballers can be precious, there is a lot of ego at this level, but you don’t get that from him.

At this stage there’s no point rehashing the whys and wherefores of us being in a situation where we need to play Merino as our centre-forward. We have been there, done that, worn the t-shirt, then donated the t-shirt to charity in one of those clothes bins they have beside the glass recycling. On Tuesday night, he got a goal and an assist, as well as being an asset defensively because of his height (he made 3 clearances, Saliba and Gabriel 5 each).

Hopefully after the Interlull we have more options available to us, but until then we need him to deliver. And, if he does, I think there will be least parts of games where even with players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli back, he’ll be deployed up top because the game-state demands it. So, let’s hope he has more good days than bad in his new role, ultimately that will benefit the team.

Right, I’m gonna leave it there. We’ll look ahead to the Man Utd game later this afternoon on our Patreon preview podcast. If you want to sign up, it’s just $6 per month for that and all the content we put on there, and you can do it at patreon.com/arseblog

For now, have a good one folks.



Source link

Tags: FridayManMerinoprepRoundupTopUtd
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

Real Madrid pay up to secure Trent’s early Liverpool exit; deal confirmed

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 30, 2025
0
Real Madrid pay up to secure Trent’s early Liverpool exit; deal confirmed

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool departure had already been announced, but the final twist in the tale has been confirmed – with Real Madrid parting with a substantial fee.As reported...

Read more

Bruno Fernandes giving “serious consideration” to Saudi Arabia switch – The Athletic – Man United News And Transfer News

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 30, 2025
0
Bruno Fernandes giving “serious consideration” to Saudi Arabia switch – The Athletic – Man United News And Transfer News

1 Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is giving “serious consideration” towards a blockbuster move to Saudi Arabia, according to a report. Fernandes, 30, has been subject to an...

Read more

talkSPORT BET UCL Welcome Offer

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 30, 2025
0
talkSPORT BET UCL Welcome Offer

Ahead of the 2025 Champions League Final, one of the UK’s biggest and best bookmakers, talkSPORT BET, is offering all new customers signing up for the first time...

Read more

Juventus wants to hijack Roma’s move for experienced Serie A manager

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 30, 2025
0
Juventus wants to hijack Roma’s move for experienced Serie A manager

Juventus have suffered a major setback in their managerial search after Antonio Conte decided to remain at Napoli. With that door now firmly closed, the Bianconeri have turned...

Read more

Lucas Chevalier transfer eyed by Man United and Aston Villa

by TODAY IN SPORTS
May 30, 2025
0
Lucas Chevalier transfer eyed by Man United and Aston Villa

Manchester United are understood to be interested in Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier as a potential replacement for Andre Onana this summer.Last Minute Tickets STILL Available for the Champions...

Read more
Next Post
Paul George Sits Loss Versus Celtics With Groin Soreness

Paul George Sits Loss Versus Celtics With Groin Soreness

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

How they prepare: Sarah Astin

How they prepare: Sarah Astin

December 26, 2024
Ex-UFC Star Nate Diaz Being Sued By ‘Not Logan Paul’ Over 2023 Brawl On Bourbon Avenue

Ex-UFC Star Nate Diaz Being Sued By ‘Not Logan Paul’ Over 2023 Brawl On Bourbon Avenue

April 19, 2024
How Rapidly Is Graham Barton Adjusting To Middle?

How Rapidly Is Graham Barton Adjusting To Middle?

August 4, 2024

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • Real Madrid pay up to secure Trent’s early Liverpool exit; deal confirmed
  • ‘This could be the final that shows everyone why Ousmane Dembele must win the Ballon d’Or. He just needs a coronation, a universal coronation if you like; he just needs the perfect night in a final like this’ Guillem Balague on the PSG superstar
  • Play-off spot out of Saracens’ hands
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.