21 Oct 2014 10:47:12
So most of us on here would be happy with a 4th place finish this season I believe. We have a new set of lads who are trying to gel whilst playing together, our captain is suspended and we are struggling for a back 4 combination that can keep anything like a clean sheet, yet we are still doing OK.

This season we are going to have big ups and big downs, we do not need to get carried away and too excited by a big win, and we definitely do not need to get too depressed after a defeat or even a draw where we should have won.

The results aren't quite there, but anyone with a memory can see that we are playing a million times better than last season. We aren't the finished article, nobody is saying we are, almost everybody here admits we aren't good enough to win the league, but then goes crazy when we get a draw against a decent side who put their only 2 chances away with great finishing.

I appreciate the standard thing to do on this site is overreact to anything and everything, but I think the key word this season is 'patience'. The next 2 games are the big test, and we have big game players that we were lacking last season. I am thinking Carrick and Blind will sit behind Herrera and Di Maria in midfield, making us narrower and much harder to break down.

1.) 21 Oct 2014
I'd be happy with 4th and it's certainly achievable. City and Chelsea seem like they'll be fighting it out for the top 2 but nobody below that is beyond us.

Arsenal and Liverpool look equally inconsistent. As I said before, I don't expect much from the next 2 games but I'm also not concerned with that for now. It's how we rebound from that, if the worst happens. And I think we will.

If we had a genuine world-class CB alongside one of Rojo, Jones, Evans or Smalling (whichever made the best partner for said WC CB), we'd be a lot healthier.

Some posters have seemed concerned with Blind's inability to shield the back 4. Blind is a great signing, but he HIMSELF said long before joining Utd, he was unsure whether he could play as DM due to the physicality.

So it shouldn't be a surprise that he's struggling with aspects of the role.

But I totally agree, I enjoy every game we play at the moment, regardless of the result - we're playing exciting football for the most part. We just need to gel, soon.

2.) 21 Oct 2014
21 Oct 2014 17:08:18
RS,

Cant disagree with anything you said there mate, and I agree the gelling needs to be soon, imagine the overreaction on here the opposite way if we win on Sunday!

3.) 21 Oct 2014
GDS

We always butt heads during the season but I'm currently a lot more optimistic than usual, I just don't fancy us in the next 2.

If we beat Chelsea, the reaction would be huge but don't you understand why? When we're dropping points to Burnley, WBA, Sunderland, surely beating Chelsea would provoke a big reaction.

I know what you're getting at though. I always take your points on board, I'm guilty of over-reacting with games like WBA. I just wish we'd signed a worldy for CB and we'd be top 3 by now, IMO.

4.) 22 Oct 2014
22 Oct 2014 00:08:34
Once again mate, I agree fully, I wish we had signed a world class centre back, and I think we will in due course

I don't particularly fancy us in the next 2 and of course I will understand the overreaction if we beat Chelsea, but I still think there will be a few more games like last night and the odd game like leicester that we will need to come to terms with before it all starts to get better again, so trying not to overreact to wins or overreact to draws or defeats.

People need to remember fergie drew a few games over the years.