02 Aug 2017 22:58:52
Ah balls to it, I'm just going to say it.

Im feeling it. I love the squad. I love the options. I love the pace. I love the mix of youth and experience. I love how when we all talk first 11 we don't think of gems of players like Mata on the bench.

Yes there are a few upgrades to be had but the core is there. We are moving forward. Jose is turning us into a force once again with a squad to be envied. I genuinely can't wait for this season. We're not far off really. Not far at all.

1.) 02 Aug 2017
02 Aug 2017 23:27:59
I am feeling it too, James.

2.) 03 Aug 2017
03 Aug 2017 02:33:43
Yes yes yes!

As a squad Jose has lots of options. He really can play so many different ways with this team.

Peresic would be the cherry on top. But you can see why he would be happy to go forward with this group.

Roll on the start of the season!

3.) 03 Aug 2017
03 Aug 2017 06:13:42
I think most of us are james a new era for our great club 😊.

4.) 03 Aug 2017
03 Aug 2017 07:06:26
Well that was refreshing to read, well said James.

5.) 03 Aug 2017
03 Aug 2017 08:15:06
Sorry to rain on your parade but we are still miles away from where we should be. We still don't have a team anywhere near as good as the 1999 or 2008 ones. Those teams had top players in every position. Let's be realistic and say who out of our best eleven are really world class. De Gea Pogba and that's it. We have lots of good players but we should aspire to being and having the best. For sure the team is in much better shape than it has been for years but let's look at things without getting carried away.

6.) 03 Aug 2017
03 Aug 2017 08:43:22
Nice post James. A winger and maybe a full back to come in (are there no youth candidates ready to step up? ) and we are in with a good shout.

7.) 03 Aug 2017
03 Aug 2017 09:53:49
@Hendonred

In both of those years you mentioned we had awesome teams, yes.
But name me players in those who were better than any other in the world in their positions?

It's not about building a team of World 11's its about building a cohesive squad who will battle for each other, no in-fighting. Who work hard and look out for each other, were those squads better? Yeah, probably, but that desn't diminish the work Jose and Ed Woodward have done to turn around our first team squad over the last few years.

We do have a very strong squad, we will be hard to beat and we will play exciting football.

Will we put Barcelona? Real to the sword? No, Probably not, but what they will do is put the foundations there to build on.

Be positive not negative, times have moved on drastically from the 90's. Oasis split up too btw :-)

Gaz.

8.) 03 Aug 2017
03 Aug 2017 12:13:40
Anyone who thinks those teams put Bayern, Barcelona or Real "to the sword" is kidding themselves. Hell, we couldn't put Arsenal to the sword (except one very memorable Monday evening 8-2 if memory has not completely failed me)

Big European games were often cagey, with Ronny casting a loan figure upfront against 4 defenders whilst Rooney played left back.

Loving the optimistic thread :)

9.) 03 Aug 2017
03 Aug 2017 15:58:23
Gazpat Schmeichel Stam Scholes Giggs Keane Beckham Van de Saar?
Ronaldo immediately spring to mind. I am positive in that Jose is definitely improving us but this current team have a long way to go yet to get to the levels of the 1999 and 2008 teams.

10.) 03 Aug 2017
03 Aug 2017 16:13:53
@Hendonred

I'd have Buffon before Van Der Sar, I'd have Buffon before Schmeichel, I'd just as much had Pirlo or Zidane as Scholes (Although I love him, Like proper man crush haha) I'd equally have other players ahead of the rest of the players you mentioned, they were your favourite players in them positions but there were equally as good players out there.

I am not saying they weren't up there as they clearly where, give this squad 1 maybe two more years and you will be able to put at least 4-5 players up there with the best in the world, I guarantee it.

And yes again I agree they have a bit to go, but both of those squads were built over years by the same manager and ceo / director.

We now have had 3/ 4 managers in 4/ 5 years. Jose will leave us in an absolutely remarkably better place then when he came.

But basing this squad on years gone past for me is like comparing apples to oranges. The game has moved on so much from even 08.