Manchester United Banter Archive January 15 2019

15 Jan 2019 18:33:01
Over the last 5 league games we have picked up points on everybody. It most importantly right on, we’ve gained 10 points on Arsenal and 5 points on Chelsea, and Lloyd Lordy, they play each other this weekend.

Momentum is a funny thing, if the mood stays positive and we keep our focus then our next 2 games are very winnable which builds more pressure on the teams above is. Other than Arsenal and Liverpool, everyone looks catchable, including Spurs.

Ours goals scored has had a real boost and a couple of clean sheets has helped the goal difference. Long may this run continue.

15 Jan 2019 19:48:38
Can’t remember the last time there was such a buzz around the club tony. I am chomping at the bit for every game now. The week is dragging on for me as I can’t wait till the weekend to watch us play. We are the most in form team at the moment. It’s great to see. Take each game as it comes and you never know what will happen. It’s nice that we are no longer a laughing stock for rival fans. My friends who are Chelsea and spurs fans are definitely taking notice and are a bit concerned. Wouldn’t have said that over a month ago. As you said momentum is key. Football is a funny game.

15 Jan 2019 22:01:47
You can tell the buzz around the club is great. This page is like a ghost town lately and that's because there's nothing to moan about!

15 Jan 2019 22:31:51
What result would everyone want between Arsenal and Chelsea? A 1-0 Arsenal win and a 4-0 win for us would leave us 5th, 3 points behind Chelsea and us in front of Arsenal on goal difference.

16 Jan 2019 00:37:08
Presume you mean CITY and Liverpool look uncatchable Tony?!

Agree totally. All other teams, including us, have a degree of fragility to us. On our day we could win against anyone but also lose to anyone.

Preferred result is Chelsea to lose all 3 points. I am not at all worried about Arsenal. But Chelsea and Tottenham are serious challenges given the start we gave them.

16 Jan 2019 04:08:01
I think Chelsea will struggle for goals because they are over reliant on Hazard.

16 Jan 2019 08:42:17
arsenal win may keep us behind them but we would’ve closed on Chelsea which is the main thing, arsenal are so inconsistent that them winning is prob the best result, obvs a draw is welcome.
Just to touch on the buzz at the club, it’s great isn’t it, unreal in a few weeks we’ve gone from dread to excitement and Ole takes most credit, the players performing and playing the way united should, sure there’s a song in there ha.
If Ole continues in this vein, wether we lose games or not he’s out himself right in the fave position for the job for me.
The defence needs bolstering and cz of that we will lose but even Jose couldn’t sort that so given funds I am confident Ole will identify the right centre back and right bacj needed, with a stronger defence and with our attacking prowess it’s almost at the point if no brainer to give Ole the job. I said that about Poch and if not Ole he would be perfect for us but Ole knows United inside and out, how we should play and our values, it’s not always about the name, our history should tell us that.

16 Jan 2019 09:07:05
with Kane now out for 2 months I think we may see Spurs struggle to stay in the top 4 unless they get a new striker in.

16 Jan 2019 11:03:15
Even Son will be unavailable for a month for Spurs.

16 Jan 2019 12:57:49
I think City play Chelsea and Arsenal in the next few weeks too so they may both drop more points.

15 Jan 2019 12:56:47
Anybody catch the pitch side post match interview with Ole and Sheringham quizzing him?

Ole got a nice sly dig in at mourinho when asked what he had to change when coming in.

'Manchester United is about going forward, not stupid square balls and back passes'

15 Jan 2019 08:53:58
The virus is starting to look a decent player, starting to look like the player from juve and the one that won the wc.

15 Jan 2019 09:26:12
Yh absolutely if he is a virus then this team needs a strong dose of it.

15 Jan 2019 11:00:50
This is the Pogba we want to see consistently.
He was constantly shouting instructions in the Spurs match and very few can produce the inch perfect pass he gave to Rashford.

15 Jan 2019 11:07:07
Clearly Mourinho was the main issue, however, Pogba has not covered himself in glory either. His response to Mourinho getting sacked was at best classless at worst showing deep character flaws in him as a person that will hold him back professionally.

He doesn't want to be here and has had his agent activity looking for a new club. Our club is open to selling him and have also looked for a buyer.

I still feel his days are numbered, and although his form has been excellent since Ole took over I have concerns that our team seems entirely set up to play for and around him. That's a dangerous game long term as an injury or a drop in form of Pogba and the sides form will drop too. Especially as we have no one who can step in and play the way Pogba does.

I see his good form as win-win, we get good performances from a top player, if he stays then hopefully those performances continue, if he does leave then those performances should flush out a buyer and hopefully increase his value.

15 Jan 2019 11:51:30
Here’s a hypothetical. How would Ronaldo have behaved / played if his Manager was always having a dig or playing him in the ‘wrong’ position? I guess we’ll never know. Pogba hasn’t behaved great but let’s see if he can continue to pay well. Wothiughwoshing to be controversial, I don’t think he’s been brilliant. Much improved, more attacking, setting up goals, but still drifts for large parts of the game. However, you can really see the potential for him to be truly great now.

Ole talks about building a team around him so not sure how that sits with the looking to leave, willing to sell situaton. One final point on PP. I’m not a huge fan of the ainstagram, brand approach but I don’t think we can correlate that to his perfromances on the pitch. Lewis Hamilton jets all over the world doing music videos, fashion shoots, parties, and yet he delivers on the track. If PP can win us games consistently he can take as many stupid photos as he likes.

15 Jan 2019 11:53:36
Jred you clearly hate Mourinho as you always have to mention something to do with Mourinho just to prove your point.

15 Jan 2019 11:54:24
Pogba should still go because when things go bad he will throw his out toy out of the pram again.

15 Jan 2019 15:03:57
Pogba is playing well jose is history.
I agree with ajh he is still lacking in areas he can improve.
A team can be built around him if you have players that compliment his weaknesses and are prepared to do some of his defencive duties. But he is definitely trying harder and the key is he seems to be enjoying himself.
Everybody on this site critisised him and were quite correct in doing so. He has a different role in the team now one that he is benefiting from but if he had done his best to carry out the role the previous manager wanted him to do despite his personal reservations i would have admired him more personally.
There are lots of players playing better under ole than jose so its been the correct move by the board. Lots of positives so far and no real negatives so i'm very optimistic.

15 Jan 2019 17:37:32
I've been vocal about PP and I still stand my my opinion of him, but even his biggest critic cannot deny the upturn in form. He's been incredible recently.

The thing I was most impressed with on Sunday, he tracked back to the left corner flag to block a cross, and turned to have a go at Martial (who I think is the weak link in our pressing game) .

Agree with what Shappy said above. PP's values as a person are questionable at best. Personally I think he's petulant and the first sign of things not going his way he will revert to type. Mourinho clearly wasn't right for the club but the way PP behaved was not that of a leader.

I'm still of the opinion he should be sold, but if he keeps up current form for the remainder of the season he will have proved me wrong, which I only hope is the case.

15 Jan 2019 17:44:19
As a matter of fact, not all viruses are harmful. Some can be positively beneficial.