08 Jan 2020 09:49:05
The worst thing about yesterday was that I was relieved and in some ways pleased we didn’t get smashed more than 3-1. That’s how far we’ve fallen. We’ve become a laughing stock on the world stage.

From top to bottom we are inept. Amateur board, scattergun transfer policy, disinterested owners, egomaniac CEO, a manager who is devoid of any tactical nous or ability, a supposed ‘star’ player who publicly undermines a club, a graveyard for talented players.

What has happened to this great club? It’s been destroyed in a matter of 6.5 years. We really are at an important cross road for our future. Keep someone who is so out of his depth as manager is potentially catastrophic for our future.

Already we are an unattractive proposition, but who wants to play for a manager and team that serves up that dross last night? Can’t deny I’ve never been this worried in my lifetime as a United fan.

The only positive last night was Brandon Williams for me. That kid has the heart of a lion. He never gave up, never let his head drop and was a match for Bernardo. He made some brilliant driving runs and showed real quality at times.

I’m not sure how long we can go on like this, but I hope our board can make a decision and fast. The past suggests they can’t even do that.

1.) 08 Jan 2020
08 Jan 2020 10:13:42
Top post.

2.) 08 Jan 2020
08 Jan 2020 11:13:59
The rot set in the day the Glazers bought the club saddling us with enormous debt and high interest payments making the timely replacement of like with like as players aged a thing of the past.

Only the will power, nous, and ability of Sir Alex, coupled with the marketing power of the EPL and the CEO's ability to capitalize on a United brand that someone else created for him, held it together for so long. The last six and half years are the fruit of the first 10 under the Glazers. Yes, they have spent money - lots of it since - but they have spent it unwisely because they haven't a clue what they're doing as far as football itself is concerned. Not a clue.

Ed 002 has blamed the toxic fans in the past, but nowadays he regularly talks about the incompetence of the club's management. In truth it has always been a failure of management that's at the root of the problems. (This is not the fault of the Board except insofar as they retain the services of a CEO and team who don't know how to inspire a football club)

I sometimes wonder, when the Glazers took over and our debt was £600m+ and revenues were £230m, what would have happened if all of a sudden the club started sputtering on the field as it's doing now. Would we have survived? Would we have gone the way of Leeds United? The Glazers have been very lucky. They leveraged the club and made a lot of money. But it could have been otherwise. It may yet be.

As far as Ole is concerned he is obviously out of his depth. I have not been a great fan of Pocchetino for the role, that is assuming he's even interested in the position, but I will give him this. He did a very good job working with a young Tottenham team, giving them an identity and style. He may not have won anything, but at this point in time winning things should not be the top priority.

We need to get back to basics. What we have are a number of very promising young players and not much else. Let him get rid of the dead wood, give him the budget he never had at Spurs, and perhaps, in 2-3 years, we will have a decent football team again. despite the incompetence of Woodward and his team.

3.) 08 Jan 2020
08 Jan 2020 11:19:13
Cheers Singh. And really good post Shaw. I agree with all of that. Although I do think Poch would do well here.

4.) 08 Jan 2020
08 Jan 2020 11:25:35
If we are to navigate ourselves out of this current malaise Man Utd must start acting like a big Club. Despite our recent appalling performances against Arsenal, Wolves and Man City a top 4 finish is still within reach but only if the Club acts decisively and invests in the squad this January.

Nobody was too disheartened when the likes of Lukaku, Sanchez, Fellaini and Herrera were allowed to leave the Club. Most were deemed not good enough to wear the shirt of our great Club and had become synonymous with the abject and mediocre performances we'd come to expect. Sanchez, Fellaini and even Lukaku had all become scapegoats for a Club basking in mediocrity yet paying a kings ransom for the privilege. The expectation was these overpaid charlatans would be replaced and upgraded by better models more deserving of the shirt; yet amidst the exodus came no fresh blood. No upgrades, no additional quality, nothing.

Instead the Club would choose to promote from within; ignoring the inconvenient truth that the charlatans were perhaps still better than what remained. Players like Lingard, Pereria, Fred, Mctominay, Rashford and Martial led by the enigmatic Paul Pogba would herald a new dawn, or so we were told. The fact that most of theses players had already been at the Club for a number of years and failed to deliver on any kind of consistent basis was seemingly dismissed and ignored.

OGS is now paying the price for a naive and complacent summer window. Lukaku and Herrera simply had to be replaced; not just replaced but upgraded and this was in addition to the business we'd already done.

If this season has taught us anything it's we don't have a recognised No10. Lingard, Pereria and Mata simply aren't good enough. We still don't have a RW and our midfield is none existent. Matic and Pogba will move on in the summer. Both will need replacing. Realistically we'll need at least three CM's, a No10, a RW and possibly a CF.

Bruno Fernandes is still available and would be a good place to start. Waiting for the inevitable is simply repeating the mistakes of the past.

5.) 08 Jan 2020
08 Jan 2020 12:06:47
Good post dlib, sorry to nitpick, but weren't you and shappy championing the club's vision and yourself dismissing and ignoring that what we had wasn't good enough? I remember, me and a lot of other posters complaining about the lack of depth and you both replying with essays about how pigs might fly.

6.) 08 Jan 2020
08 Jan 2020 12:59:09
CSM - ha ha ha ha, your right mate and I do love a good essay.

I thought the players we signed during the summer were promising however there was no doubt in my mind more investment was needed especially considering the players that had been allowed to leave.

I was livid when Lukaku was sold and not replaced. It was obvious there was a lack of goals in the squad and I was unhappy that we didn't get a RW or a replacement for Herrera.

I'm not a fan of 4-2-3-1 but to play this system effectively we needed a No10 and RW.

I believed in the likes of Rashford, Martial and Mctominay to step up but I wrongly calculated that Pogba would give us a decent farewell season with the Euro's in the summer to keep him honest.

Injuries have bitten hard and left the squad exposed and I must admit I've been very disappointed with the form of De Gea, Lindelof, Shaw, Lingard and of course Pogba who has been injured. I feel that these players in particular have let the manager down after he placed so much faith in them.

Had they performed to expectations I think Ole was entitled to think this team was capable of achieving a top 4 finish but it was also naive not to expect some injuries and loss of form and the depth of the squad was just not good enough.

Ole's great gamble will probably backfire but he didn't get the backing he needed. Another two key signings in the summer could have made all the difference.

Sadly it's looks like the Club are paralysed by indecision once again. They will probably not invest this January and leave Ole a dead man walking. A new manager beckons in the summer when Ole doesn't deliver Champions League football and the whole sorry circus will start again.

{Ed047's Note - you sure do! 😉

7.) 08 Jan 2020
08 Jan 2020 14:12:13
the problem as regards lack of goals in our team is not our forwards Rashford, Martial and Greenwood have scored a fair few between them .

The problem is the complete lack of goals and creativity from midfield and also from the full back areas .