Manchester United Banter Archive May 16 2018

 

Use our rumours form to send us manchester united transfer rumours.


16 May 2018 18:52:30
The luke shaw debate seems to be gaining momentum.
Pochettino, Hodgson, LVG and Mourinho have all been unhappy with his fitness etc.
He is our chunky left back. ( moves well for a big lad) .
That aside he's played well and has received some unfair criticism.
However we aren't privy to behind the scenes. His attitude has been repeatedly questioned.
I have no issues with how he's played this season. He's played better than a lot of the first team regulars.
He only has himself to blame. Maybe Mourinho thinks if he was a few kilos lighter, he would tighter to the opposing player etc.
Sometimes Mourinho just can't manage certain players.

Believable5 Unbelievable0

16 May 2018 19:11:59
If he’s playing well what’s the issue? I don’t think he looks unfit right now, when he gets a game he looks very good. I just wish he’d has a proper run. Jose praised him wildly then immediately dropped him, very odd behaviour.

Agree8 Disagree5

16 May 2018 19:50:02
I agree with AJH here. Shaw has looked good every time he has played and we have looked better as a team with a proper left back overlapping and providing much needed width. We don’t know what is going on behind the scenes but young has made several mistakes and doesn’t get pulled up on it. Yet shaw gets unfairly treated. This is a thing I believe Jose has got really wrong. If he does go I do expect him have a successful career provided he he can keep fit and is played regularly.

Agree7 Disagree1

16 May 2018 19:22:31
Played well this season imo I still think he will be a top player . Hope it's at United.

Agree5 Disagree4

16 May 2018 20:28:02
If he will be a top player it won't likely be anytime soon. Unless you can wait foe him another few years which i don't think we should.

He has attitude issues, he is another youngster who got high salary very quickly and has been spoilt because of that.

Agree5 Disagree9

16 May 2018 20:28:39
If we play Shaw we can play Young on the right where he is better.

Agree1 Disagree1

16 May 2018 21:13:17
He wouldn't have a chance at completing a full game against 1 of the top sides. He would be given the runaround. The guys overweight and can't defend, how is that playing well.

Agree8 Disagree8

16 May 2018 21:57:39
FZZ, you must have been watching different games to me.

Agree5 Disagree5

16 May 2018 22:37:37
Fzz is spot on. Shaw is overweight, has attitude problems and most importantly, cannot defend. His positioning is non existent. I can't believe how blinkered people are when it comes to him. He'll never be a top player. He's too thick to be one.
Look at g neville, irwin. They were proper players with an intelligent football mind. Are we seriously saying Shaw is in that category? Not in a million years.

Agree5 Disagree9

16 May 2018 22:46:16
Agreed FZZ.

Agree3 Disagree5

16 May 2018 23:02:07
Luke isn't alone, I could do with dropping a pound or 2 so I told the wife I was going to jog for 3 miles every day, that's great she said this time next week you will be 21 miles away 😀.

Agree6 Disagree0

16 May 2018 23:05:41
Including young there are 3 better left backs in the England squad than shaw.
Young for all his deficiencies is obviously impressing the coaches more than shaw has been.

When called upon he has not let himself or the team down but not done enough do displace young.

He had 1 good season at Southampton. Then became world most expensive teenager. He took a bad injury which set him back. He has lots of time on his side to get his career back on track but i'm not sure he will be offered a new contract at united.

Agree5 Disagree8

17 May 2018 07:58:09
Luke shaw will turn into another Jack Wilshere if he doesn't buck up his ideas very quickly.

Agree2 Disagree5

17 May 2018 14:53:51
Can't agree that he has been great. Often positionally poor, vulnerable to pass inside in particular.

I have to agree that he has probably deserved better on what we see but again we don't see everything. Jose is a guy who relies on trust with players more than any manager I know, and I can only assume that Luke has done something significant enough or often enough to lose that trust.

It really is that simple. It's not about how good you can be but how good you are consistently. Always judge a player by the admiring glances he gets from other teams, and based on past rumour mill its Everton and Newcastle. Kinda says it all really.

Agree0 Disagree2

17 May 2018 14:58:58
All these comments about his weight are unfair. Don’t you think he’s got enough on his plate?

Agree2 Disagree0

17 May 2018 17:31:13
Wazza 😂😂😂.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 18:01:24
If mourinho is staying for the foreseeable future then we need signings that fit his mentality of player. Toby sounds a good start, sandro maybe as he's got the juventus mentality! Not sure about bale in a mourinho team. Lots of rumours his attitude in Madrid isn't great. Pains me to say but i'd rather push for Willian with martial going the other way!

Believable1 Unbelievable4

16 May 2018 19:24:11
Willian is a quick hard working player who is about to turn 30 .
Sounds like a Jose player 😊.

Agree3 Disagree0

16 May 2018 19:59:56
Are Terry and Dortha available?

Agree1 Disagree0

16 May 2018 23:03:36
I like Willian, but for Martial?

Agree0 Disagree0

17 May 2018 08:23:50
Massive fan of Willian and would sort our right winger problems. But wouldn’t swap for martial. Either play martial or send him on loan.

Agree0 Disagree0

17 May 2018 09:52:47
Martial should have been on loan this year. His contract expires next summer. No point loaning him iit now unless he signs a new contract.

Agree1 Disagree2

16 May 2018 17:09:59
Top post Shappy, it does appear that a lot of us are entrenched in our views (including me) .

Your point about the Museum is very relevant. Our history makes us who we are and at the risk of sounding like KLOOT, it sometimes feel like some people need to familiarise themselves a little more with our history. Just saying.

Believable11 Unbelievable4

16 May 2018 18:00:05
So true - The manager is the first person that should take a walk through the museum. Remind him that he isn't managing Porto now and Man Utd stands for passion, energy, attacking spirit. He may talk the game, but he doesn't embody what the club stands for in the way he sets his teams up to play, nor how he handles himself more often than not.

Agree7 Disagree4

16 May 2018 18:07:05
AJH, I think 99.9% of the fans know about our history. Our history isn't going anywhere. No one is expecting Jose to get a testimonial here so don't worry about tarnishing the history books. My main point in keeping the faith with Mourinho is, what's the point in changing a manager when we're on the ascendancy?

Our history is littered with tales of triumph in the face of adversity. Of never giving up, heart and determination to keep going until the final whistle. The club is prided on local talent and entertaining the fans. I get that the brand of football is poor. I watch every game the same as everyone, I'm not deluded. But more than anything else, when you think Manchester United, you think winners!

Football is littered with teams that entertained but failed to deliver. Ask Newcastle fans in the 90s., would they rather be a bit more defensive and win the league. Or attack and blow it? Liverpool three years ago, an inch away from winning the league but their ego got the better of them. Atletico used to be based on attacking intent, players like Aguero, Torres, Falcao, Forlan and Simone came in and turned them into a horrible team to play against and they won La Liga.

Don't under estimate how important the first title win after Sir Alex is. Don't underestimate how difficult it's going to be.

We're the most decorated club in England. We're built around winning leagues and the smart option would be to let Jose get on with it and history says he'll deliver. And when he strolls off to PSG and has left a much better squad than what he inherited, the new manager can shape the future of United without having the ticking clock of our last title win hanging over him.

Agree4 Disagree5

{Ed0333's Note - good post mumbles it was an enjoyable read mate.

Your right Jose is not the long term solution, it wouldn’t surprise me if he rocks up in Paris in a couple of years. Your also right the guy is a serial winner wherever he goes he achieves success. Now the term ‘success’ is relative, winning the Uefa Cup and possibly winning the FA Cup in two seasons is a decent achievement in its own right but do Man Utd fans measure success differently? Personally I think he’s lost his touch and for me he’s a bit of a footballing dinasour but who knows with a few stellar signings in the summer he could be back to his irritating best? The only way you’ll find out is to give him one more season.

I’ll have to call you out on the bit about our ego getting in the way of us not winning the title under Rogers. Id say we were playing on fumes at the time, we had a good team but a weak bench which hampered us. Henderson getting sent off and his subsequent ban was a huge blow as he was one of the foundations of that run in and of course we didn’t have a plan B. So I would say it was more naivety more than ego that we didn’t win the title that season.

16 May 2018 18:49:40
Good post Mumboes, my beef was around a few comments in the last few days that suggested tradition doesn’t matter and that winning is everything. Not for me, never has been and never will be.

Ed, I’m with you re Jose but I’m repeating myself so I’ll move on.

Agree4 Disagree0

{Ed0333's Note - No worries AJH

16 May 2018 18:58:47
Ive lived near Newcastle for a few year mumbles I've never met a Geordie who regretted the way Keegans Newcastle played, I've met a fair few who thought the decline was under dalglish who was much more defensive . Dalglish also got Newcastle to runners up but nobody remembers his team and never heard anyone yearn for him back.
Lots of the people think the decline was when the attacking football stopped and they have a point it was.

Agree4 Disagree1

16 May 2018 19:07:43
It's all good AJH. I think we're all on the same page, just on a different paragraph. People don't like Jose, I 100% see why but another year is nothing in football and we have been improving.

Ed0333, I'll humbly disagree. That Chelsea game when you only needed a point was were you lost it. Jose set up with 11 men behind the ball. you didn't need to exert any energy. You could have sat back too knowing a point was enough and I guarantee you Chelsea wouldn't have even got out of their own half. Jose went there not to lose and Gerrard failing to control a 5 yard pass lost you the league.

We went to Blackburn needing a point to secure the title. Blackburn needed a point to stay up. They went 1-0 up. We got it back to 1-1 and for the last 25 minutes of that match, Blackburn didn't attack and neither did we. As a neutral I would have changed station. As an opposition fan I would have probably thrown a bottle at the TV. Sometimes the means totally justify the end.

Agree0 Disagree2

{Ed0333's Note - not controlling a 5 yard pass doesn’t win or lose a Premiership title over the course of a 38 game season.

16 May 2018 19:13:22
Newcastle were fantastic, their problem was knowing when to be sensible. Instead they were gung ho every single game. As G Nev said, even in our prime there were still ugly games where we ground out a result, fortunately they were few and far between.

Agree3 Disagree0

16 May 2018 19:20:38
Another very good post Mumbles I'm with you all the way.

Ed 333 - I'm not sure we can pack Jose off to the prehistoric era just yet. I hear the clamour for Pep and Kloop but their style of football is nothing new. Both have been showcasing their particular brand of football since 2008. They haven't reinvented the game or suddenly manufactured a new style of football. Both their styles are now well established in fact Klopp's last German title was back in 2012.

Since 2008 Jose has won a treble at Inter, league titles at both Madrid and Chelsea, a Europa League with Utd and that's not to mention the several cups I've omitted from the list. It's a pretty incredible catalog of achievements to be honest. His last league title was less than 3 years ago. Not bad for a dinosaur.

Ok I get the argument about style but in my opinion he's get unduly harsh criticism. It's a fallacy to suggest he's been over taken by younger, more forward thinking and modern managers, the facts simply don't back this up. There are no new kids on the block, there isn't a new revolutionary style of football, it's just good old fashioned football snobbery and a stick used to beat him with.

What brand of football you chose to watch is open to debate and preference but there is no right or wrong way to play the game. The only way Jose knows is the winning way which is evidenced by his incredible list of achievements.

Agree3 Disagree1

{Ed0333's Note - I never mentioned anything about Klopp this was a Jose centric answer. What’s this got to do with Klopp? Did you not read the bit about me saying Jose is a serial winner and still could be in the future or do you want to make this into a Liverpool v Man Utd bitch fight because that’s what it seems like to me with your random redonculous arguments and left field examples. You can dress it up how you want but you play the lowest demonination of football possible, your style is turgid and mundane to watch, your a more expensive Burnley. One thing I will concur with you about is that football hasn’t changed you still have to score more goals than the opposition to win a game but how you put the ball into the net is of paramount importance to most football lovers.

16 May 2018 19:24:55
That's how we see it ajh but put yourself in their shoes, they have had average or cautious teams for most of the last 50 year. The team that went for it was the closest they got, we may believe if they had been more cautious they would have won a few more points but they see it as they won as many as they did by having a go and attacking . Even yourself will remember little or nothing of the Newcastle team under dalglish but you'll probably always remember the Keegan one.

Agree2 Disagree0

16 May 2018 19:30:18
Of course not ed0333, but when you're leading the league table with 3 games to go, those other 35 games are irrelevant. A point wins you the league against a team that is more than happy to share the points with you and Rodgers and Co blew it.

Agree0 Disagree0

{Ed0333's Note - nobody’s saying we didn’t blow it but I don’t think it was ego that lost us the title like you say.

16 May 2018 20:21:12
I think you were a bit unlucky too ed0333
Great post mumbles.
Good post too beast. I don't agree with you but i understand your point of view.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 20:23:29
Sorry Ed no I didn't intend to pick an argument. I used Klopp and Pep just to illustrate a point about style. You referred to him as a footballing dinosaur the point I presumed you were making was that his style of play was outdated and no longer relevant. I was just trying to point out that Pep and Klopps style of football is nothing new and Jose has had sustained success over this period therefore I think it's premature to suggest he's lost touch and write his obituary just yet. I was just trying to add some context to your comment suggesting he may be past his best.

I apologise if my post came across as argumentative or hostile this was not my intention I was just trying to put some context to the old style over substance debate. Maybe I miss interpreted your comments for which I apologise.

What I will say is your comment about being an expensive Burnley is an example of the football snobbery I was talking about. I would imagine what's of paramount importance to most football lovers is seeing their team win. I certainly think Burnley fans will be ecstatic about the season they've just had.

Anyway it's all about opinions and I respect your point of view. I'm sorry if I started an argument that I didn't intend or caused any offence.

Agree2 Disagree0

{Ed0333's Note - No worries pal, let’s just put it behind us.

16 May 2018 20:27:20
Point taken mate. We'll bin ego and go with naivety then hahaha.

Agree0 Disagree0

{Ed0333's Note - I’d buried that friggin ‘slip’ until you lot bought it up again today lol.

16 May 2018 20:37:53
Delete my last post Ed I don't want to carry anything on maybe I misunderstood your comments and didn't take the time to read them properly nevertheless it was never my intention for the post to come across as anti Liverpool. I certainly don't want to cause any animosity or Ill feeling. I respect the job all the Ed's do on this site. I hope we can just move on.

Agree0 Disagree0

{Ed0333's Note - it’s all forgotten about mate.

16 May 2018 20:39:09
Mumbles, you say one more year won't hurt but that very much depends on what happens during that year.

If Jose sells Shaw, Martial, Rashford and Tuanzebe this summer and brings in Willian, Perisic, Alex Sandro and Bonucci all on high wages and long contracts would you say that he hasn't damaged the club?

Selling our future for a few aging stars because they have "consistency".

I'm not saying all those youngsters will leave, but Jose hasn't signed a player under the age of 22 then played them consistently since his Chelsea side signed Robben.

He doesn't give young players a chance, the average age of his signings during his career is 29.7, almost 30. When he leaves he leaves behind a squad often filled with players just past their best and under developed youngster because he doesn't play them.

I don't think the club will get rid of Mourinho this summer, but I do wonder if next summer they will regret that.

He isn't a good fit for us and in my opinion the longer you drive in the wrong direction the longer it takes to get back on track.

I don't see Mourinho as a manager to lay down foundations, so unless he is is the longer term plan I don't see the advantage in keeping him.

I guess we'll all see what happens next season.

Agree8 Disagree1

16 May 2018 21:08:15
Its an age old dispute ed does the how matter, it duz to me it's as important as the outcome but others see it different, I enjoy their posts as they make me consider am I correct .
I think this utd side will be erased from memory pretty quickly but that's me
I get we have some players, infact more than some who really aren't good enough for utd and I agree with people in most of their names . The problem I have is the managers guys are no worse or better than the last guys men .
To me this next season we need new fullbacks, although I'd like to see what their instructions are first, a CB, ours are all ok and smalling is a scapegoat, two midfielders, to replace Carrick and hopefully Fellini and a right sided attacker where the disparity between ourselves and others is huge and I have no idea why this is largely unmentioned.

Agree2 Disagree0

16 May 2018 21:51:39
Good point Shappy. I didn't know those stats. All i'll say in regards to the younger players, they're not doing it at the minute. Rashford and Martial if they stay need to push on and make themselves unsellable. Shaw is a lost cause and Tuanzebe is a long way off starting in the first team of a squad that has title aspirations.

Agree1 Disagree5

17 May 2018 08:50:54
Mumbles, how much of the struggle our young players are going through can be attributed to how the team is playing?

Very few youngsters make the breakthrough in pragmatic teams. The defend first attitude is not ideal for young players who will make mistakes. That for me is the biggest reason why Jose has struggled to nurture many young players during his career.

Martial and Rashford are offensive players trying to learn and perfect their craft while feeding off of scraps. Strikers have a habit of remembering their misses more than their goals. When your only going to have one or two shots a game though misses are likely to be playing on your mind for a long time. It's clear that Rashford especially has become greedy due to him needing a goal.

Shaw is an offensive full back who is being berated for attacking.

These lads are not being given the chance of the environment to succeed.

When Ronaldo first came to our club we had him and Rooney as young kids. They both have the ball away a dozen times per game, both made bad decisions. But they were afforded the time and opportunity to make those mistakes so they could learn from them. The worst thing you can do to a kid is drop him for several games after a mistake. How is he supposed to learn from it if he doesn't experience the same situation again to try something different.

I think we have some excellent young players who should be in the side more often.

Martial and Rashford are amount our top four players for goal contributions. Along with Lingard and Lukaku. So our top four players for creating and scoring goals are all 25 or younger. Sanchez and Mata are way behind having played a similar number of minutes or more.

Imagine where they could be if they weren't feeding of of scraps in a team that tried to score more than one goal a game.

Shaw hasn't let us down in any game this season. In fact when he had a run of 4-5 game by the 4th and 5th game he was putting in man of the match performances. Yet he was then dropped because he was showing Jose up. Tuanzebe completely marked Sanchez out of the game last season. He has also never made a mistake or let the side down when he has played. In fact on more than one occasion he covered for his more experienced team mates, clearing up their mistakes.

Those four along with Lingard would give us a core group of 5 young lads three of them local boys who we could build our future team out of. A team that could challenge for the top prizes and allow us to win the Manchester United way. Yet how many of them will still be here by the time Jose leaves remains a very real worry.

Agree6 Disagree0

17 May 2018 14:37:36
Shappy, I agree with much of what you are saying and we share the same aim of seeing Man Utd playing attacking expansive football with belief and passion.

Where we're differing is that I no longer beieve we are ready for that just yet. I think Mourinho might be a dose of medicine we need to clear out a lot of sub par players and try to instill a more winning mentality.

The last years of Fergie and then Moyes and LVG set the team back a long way. Jose could be the guy to have a purge. However, I share your concerns that he will bring in too many older players.

Agree0 Disagree3

16 May 2018 14:19:56
So Smalling done with England it won't be long before United show him the exit door aswell. Can't be trusted. Johnny Evans an all-round better defender and available for £3 mill 😆😆.

Believable2 Unbelievable7

16 May 2018 14:50:34
Bit of a strange way to show someone you don't want them, start them in every game possible even when you have 5 other options in his position as well as two players on loan as well.

All the signs indicate mourinho feels smalling is an integral part of the squad.

Agree8 Disagree1

16 May 2018 14:59:22
I am not a smalling fan but you cannot be seriously telling me that smalling isn't good enough for a team that has picked gary cahill. The sad thing for england is smalling when not asked to play actual football is england's best defender.

Agree5 Disagree1

16 May 2018 15:09:31
Problem with Southgate is he made his bed. Smalling (and i'm not a big fan) is better than all the CB's he's taking. I'd personally go Jones and Smalling for England CB's.
Stones? Laughable selection considering he hardly plays.

Agree3 Disagree2

16 May 2018 15:19:41
I think Smalling has been made a bit of a scapegoat to be honest. He's had a good season at Utd, has kept Lindelof out all year and will probably start the cup final as our first choice CB.

Ok he's not the greatest on the ball but he's a decent defender and I'm certainly not convinced Cahill, Maguire or even Jones are much better options.

Stones is comfortable on the ball but can be suspect positionally and sometimes he has a tendency to over play and he can become a liability.

I'm not clambering for Smalling to be on the plane but I think he can consider himself to be a little unlucky considering the other options.

Agree7 Disagree1

16 May 2018 15:19:47
Very poor defenders selected but Smalling just can not be trusted for club or country. When all our defenders are fit Smalling does not start . There are a lot of better defenders out there that should wear our famous shirt. At best he is a squad player 😆😆Sorry.

Agree3 Disagree8

16 May 2018 15:23:10
Dsg
It's a good point that people for some reason want to ignore.

Agree5 Disagree1

16 May 2018 15:59:47
BFRO,

All our defenders are fit for Saturday mate so I expect Smalling won't start then? Oh wait a minute, he will be one of the first on the team sheet as always.

This is the 3rd post now today saying Smalling will be going, the managed likes him and he is going nowhere IMO.

Agree5 Disagree1

16 May 2018 16:45:11
I'm not a fan of Smalling. I don't think he has the footballing brain to play at this level. When it comes down to one on one duals on the ground he's very good. Even a sprint over 10-15 yards he's very good but that's where the compliments stop.

He is a huge problem in the way we play. When he's on the ball he regularly humps it up the field to no one. This happens at least 6-8 times a game were we give the ball straight back to the opposition (in fairness there are a few more culprits of this) . You can see the nervousness when he's on the ball and there is always a mistake in him.

I have to watch most corners we concede through my hands when he's playing. I'm amazed he doesn't give away a penalty every game. He never even looks at the ball coming in, instead relying on trying to rip the shirt off the attacker.

He's done well for us but I feel we could easily improve on him. It's a shame Wenger has gone, Smallish would have been a Wenger deadline day signing.

Agree3 Disagree2

16 May 2018 17:00:02
Maybe they are giving him enough games so he is available for sale. We were told that both Smalling and Jones are up for sales and you don't put players up for sale if you intend on keeping them.

Agree1 Disagree6

16 May 2018 17:06:39
Jose is a born winner is he not? And he usually picks Smalling.

Agree5 Disagree1

16 May 2018 17:13:29
So Jose is playing smalling week after week risking our progressing in the league and cups to make him available for sale?

Shocking.

Agree7 Disagree1

16 May 2018 17:25:04
I think when you pick a team for a big important game that you'd pick the side you felt most likely to win it.

Agree4 Disagree0

16 May 2018 17:48:09
Its fair to say mourinho will address the back four. In all his title winning campaigns the back four was the same almost every game. He didn't trust smalling in the first half of the season n went jones n bailly but they've not been good since they were injured half way through the season which has opened the door for smalling but I dnt expect him to start next season!

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 18:23:43
Its only been the last 3 seasons or so that Smalling insists on doing that stupid holding/ grabbing at players, its almost 2nd nature now. Last week against West Ham he did it end of first half with Anoutavic, practically a bear hug - he has to cut that out pretty quick.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 18:27:25
No way do i see smalling being dropped nor do I think he should be. Himself valencia and young are certain starters if fit based on team selection for most of the season.
I think jones and blind are a lot more likely to leave than smalling in the summer.
Ed002 said losing both smalling and jones would cause us an issue with English born players unless we get another English one in.

Smalling has cost us very few goals this season that I can remember to be fair to him.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 18:51:31
If Smalling is the best CB we have then there is some serious rebuilding needed. The fact he gets picked every week tells us where we are, either that or Jose seriously rates him. But then he seems to rate Fellaini who, whilst apparently a top bloke, and clearly someone who gives 100%, shouldn’t be near our team.

Agree1 Disagree0

16 May 2018 19:35:03
Jose rates fellaini and he is an option gives you a plan b fits with how Jose plays . Not really my cup of T but neither is the way we play at the moment .
I think the criticism of smalling is harsh, how many pens etc has he give away?
Good 1 to 1 imo great in the air, needs a ball player next to him a bit like vidic did .
But Imo he is in the team for a reason.

Agree1 Disagree1

16 May 2018 20:25:18
Thwre is a reason a why we won't win a titls it is because of our defence. Players like Smalling who has no technical sense and Jones who is a second away from being injured.

You keep mediocre players and you will reap second place finishes at most.

Would any of premier leagues top teams or european teams go for Smalling?

Agree1 Disagree1

16 May 2018 20:27:49
Jred, he is good 1-1 and strong in the air, it he does like to grapple and his distribution is shocking. Early part of last year he looked class but that didn’t last. I think he’s made the best of his ability and done very well for himself all things considered.

Agree1 Disagree0

16 May 2018 20:44:23
Singh
"Thwre is a reason a why we won't win a titls it is because of our defence"
.
Really? Because one thing you can say about this United team is we don't let many in, 28 in 38 games is very very good .
Only city with 27 have done better .
Goals scored on the other hand
United 68
Scouse 84
City 106 .
But the reason we won't win titles is our defense. Even tho we are only playing smalling and co to sell them.

Agree4 Disagree2

16 May 2018 20:46:37
Well this has certainly divided us Smalling is an ok defender . When he arrived we all thought yes a Rio replacement but fact is he will never get anywhere near Rio . Some are fans of him and others like me cringe at every ball put near him . I still believe new defenders will arrive shortly and Mr Smalling will be gone 😆😆.

Agree2 Disagree1

16 May 2018 21:08:54
Jred
Those stats are great but remember the bloke between the sticks and how many games he has saved us. Fact is are defence is poor and if Smalling and Co are the best we have then no wonder we are 19 points from winning the league. 😆😆.

Agree3 Disagree2

16 May 2018 21:55:35
Any defender will look half good in a mouirnhonteam because he makes the olayers very discipline with defend first approach. What smalling lacks is a football brain and the trchnical ability to play out from the back.

He is awful with the ball at his feet and makes silly mistakes.

Agree1 Disagree3

16 May 2018 22:16:40
Bfro
So city don't have a good gk as well?
The fact is city have concede 1 goal less than United.
Every other team in the league more than us.
But city scored 38 more.
yer it's the defenders that the issue.

Agree2 Disagree0

16 May 2018 22:53:56
Does the fact he picks him nearly every time go straight over yr head.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 23:03:49
Singh are you for real you think we don't score enough is because smalling is CB, despite it being his job to stop teams scoring against us, which for years stats prove he has done ok, do u really believe we don't score enough because smalling is centre half, the mind boggles.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 23:21:56
Singh,
Hes picked him as much as any defender is he wrong, are all the other 6 or 7 combos wrong or do u think h just had that position wrong, Singh it looks far better to say I love mourinho but I think he's wrong about smalling than to speak utter nonsense about it.

Agree0 Disagree0

17 May 2018 08:03:39
No one said we don't score enough if smalling is in goal. I just said if incimpetence players like Smalling is in our defence and right now we have 3 out of 4 defenders who are incompetent ar the very top then we won't win the title.

Strikers win you matches but dedence winss you titles.

Agree0 Disagree0

17 May 2018 08:27:14
3 out of our 4 defenders are incompetent? I'd love to see our defensive stats with properly competent players, then, because I think at the minute we only sit behind City by one or two this season for goals conceded. And who is the one competent defender we have, then? Bailly? Who the manager hasn't picked for most of the last part of the season.

Agree1 Disagree0

17 May 2018 10:34:12
I would say based on potential Baily is our on only competent defender and based on performance it is Valencia, but valencia is not good at crosses and needs replacing but don't think we will this year based on our other areas of concern.

You guys need to forget about stats in reference to defence as Mourinhos tactic is defend first and also need to bare in mind the amount of goals conceded is down to Degea being in goal as he is the reason why a lot of times we havemt conceded 2 or 3 goals a match.

Agree0 Disagree2

17 May 2018 14:56:48
We only conceded 27 goals in 38 league games . End off.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 13:51:43
So we’ve moved on from bashing Jose, the manager who judges player selection on many things we do not see or know, with Martial and Rashford to Shaw.

Why not judge him by the players he will not drop ( De Gea, Matic, Lukaku and Young) for example and ask yourself why Shaw, Rashford and Martial are not in that list. Take away the excuses (he’s young, got potential) and see what is left. Simply not good enough. None of those would have been in the 1999 or 2008 starting line-ups. That’s the benchmark isn’t it?

Do we truly believe that if Martial and Rashford started every game we’d finished as high in the league? I for one don’t. Poor decision making and mental toughness. Argue about impact of Sanchez but he was bought for next year and has to start irrespective of form. Would SAF buying another centre midfielder have had the same impact on Keane, Scholes or Butt? No, they would have raised their game not dissolve like a snowflake in summer. Even Lukaku has to overcome Zlatan and did.

Let’s start stripping away the personal favouritism and emotion and judge team selections by the facts. Fact is Shaw has never been better than OK yet has been criticised by every manager he’s been managed by. However only Jose is wrong.

We’re treating Jose the same as SAF was during his first few years. Both are proven managers, ruthless and a winner. For christ’s sake give the guy a chance. Too many expect the proverbial silk purse from the pig’s ear. Jose is no Moyes or LVG and has earned the right to be given more time.

Jose, for all of his flaws, believes in the team over the individual. He believes in a system, and we have to acknowledge that that system has worked at every previous club - with periods of scintillating football at many of them. You do not lose that knowledge, coaching skill or ability.

Consider the fact that ‘coaching’ is a two-way relationship in any sport, with the ultimate responsibility for individual performance in the hands of the athlete. All Jose can do is judge that performance on a player-by-player basis, and if we assume that Jose isn’t purposely sabotaging performance, then assume that those that are dropped cannot be living up to his expectations.

Finally all this nonsense about Jose publicly outing the players, I say good, more of it. Any player that questions his ability or toughness to survive at Old Trafford under Jose will run a mile. We need players that want the biggest arena in front of the best supporters playing confident football. Time to trust Jose, trust his selections and his rants and trust his tactics are based on his level of trust in the players we have currently.

Roll on next year.

Believable5 Unbelievable9

16 May 2018 14:29:19
Timbo - the benchmark for player selection should be the squad and who else plays in your position within the squad. If you are performing better than other players in the squad then you should play - it seems that in recent years players who are big 'brands' play irrespective of form - gone are the days players are picked on form it seems.

I agree the overall quality of the squad is nowhere near what it was in years gone by, but it's the managers job to remedy that and he has a lot of money to do it.

I have no problem with a manager providing honest feedback after a game if he thinks it will help the players, I wouldn't do it if I were the manager though, but as a fan it's good to hear the feedback - that is if it were not slanted against easy targets or clearly showing one rule for some players and a different one for others. As our manager Jose will be backed irrespective by some people and slated by others - but he is not perfect and he is making a lot of obvious mistakes.

Jose has his way, I don't like it, but it is effective - it isn't effective enough anymore though as City have shown and Sevilla showed. Jose is reliable, but I don't want to be reliably behind the best and reliably boring to watch, with flamboyant risk/ taking players being sacrificed for steady eddies.

Most of us know what to expect next season. A few hundred million extra may make us get more points, but for that type of investment I'd expect much better football and a much tighter race for the title and CL.

Agree8 Disagree3

16 May 2018 14:40:57
I think pogba has been poor to honest defensively he is a liability.

Agree1 Disagree0

16 May 2018 14:45:07
Good post Timbo although I'm not convinced public criticism is the best approach. I understand your argument but I'm not sure that tactic could ever work with already fragile characters.

If some players don't have the required mentality or character to play for Utd or they can't accept or are unwilling to follow the managers instructions then sell them and buy players that can.

I understand football is a tough, ruthless and unforgiving sport, where managers need to make decisions and use every tool in the book in order to try and motivate players from all different backgrounds and nationalities but there is no reason why this can't be done with respect and humility.

I think we've held on to certain players for too long, letting them go stale and become demotivated when it would be best for all concerned to just go their separate ways and re build their career.

Agree4 Disagree0

16 May 2018 14:56:10
Timbo I’m a Liverpool fan so take this anyway you want. You’ve listed a lot of players who you say aren’t good enough for your 99/ 08 squads. I’ll go one further and say none of your players are good enough for the teams you mentioned with the exception of DDG and even that’s debatable. Would you really pick Matic over Keane or Young over Irwin/ Evra or Lukaku over Rooney. Players like Martial and Rashford aren’t improving because of Jose’s negative tactics. They seem to spend more time closer to their own goal than the opponents.

Agree6 Disagree2

16 May 2018 15:03:42
Beast, taking risks and being stupid are not the same. if you run at players when its plain to see that you won't succeed in getting through (that Mr Rashford and Mr Martial do) that's stupid not risky. What Pogba does is risky when he plays those long balls or through balls over the top for Lukaku.

Agree1 Disagree6

16 May 2018 16:03:19
UA how different is it when the 500k man does the exact same thing as 2 kids, atleast the 2 have an excuse what is Sanchez's excuse? Never heard him being called out in media.

Agree3 Disagree0

16 May 2018 16:57:22
Theres a difference because the 2 you are saying have been doing it for 3 years straight while the 500m man has been doing it for 3 months. there's the difference.

Agree0 Disagree1

16 May 2018 17:00:58
Pogba needs to fix up or he just needs to be shifted he is costing the club a lot of money which could be used elsewhere.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 18:52:04
When called on Shaw has played well this year, not sure why he then gets immediately dropped.

Agree1 Disagree1

16 May 2018 19:37:16
Ajh
He gets dropped because young has played well and probably has the shirt at the moment .
Truth is people go on about our problem lb position but both young and Shaw have done well.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 13:31:33
Mumbles, let me start by thanking you for writing an interesting and thought-provoking post in such an eloquent way. I enjoyed reading it. I was sadly far too busy yesterday to reply in a manner worthy of your post.

I'll start off with the biggest issue I have with your post. Football and romance are so entwined that they cannot and must not be separated.
Indulge me for one second and ask yourself why you watch football? Why you watch United? What memories come to mind?
I bet all of them are romantic either beautiful moments in our history or moments that brought a tear to your eye.

I watch football for the love of it, how does that have nothing to do with romance?

We want United to improve to bring back moments like Giggs's FA cup goal against Arsenal, like winning the UCL in the last moment against Bayern, like trashing Arsenal 8-2 or Roma 7-1. Rooney's overhead goal against City, or when we beat the Scousers.

If you take the love, passion and romance away from every fan then football loses all its worth.

If tradition and ethos mean nothing then let's rename Sir Matt Busby Way with a brand and receive some money, let's rename the stadium, let's rename the stands, let's stop remembering the flowers of Manchester, let's close the club museum and let us be rid of the academy.

For me there is no point in winning anything unless we win it the United way. Why support United if you don't support the very fabric which makes the club what it is?

Forget who did what I'll give you a choice of two scenarios and let's see honestly which one you would prefer.

Scenario 1, your team plays poor, boring football all season, you finish 2nd 19 points behind the winners having never challenged for the title. However, you have a FA cup final to look forward to.

Or

Scenario 2, your teams plays some fantastic fast free flowing football blowing many teams away. Real edge of your seat stuff, however, they are a poor in defence and concede a few silly goals meaning you finish 4th having never really challenged for the title. However, your offensive style has allowed you to blow everyone away in Europe and you have a UCL final to look forward to.

Forget who had which season can you honestly say you would prefer scenario 1?

At the end of the day one team out of 20 wins the league, the other 19 have only their teams performances to satisfy them.

Are you satisfied?

As for next season, I don't see many of our young players being given a chance. McTominay was only played by Jose to prove a point to Pogba. Let's wait and see how many games he starts next season, or if he even gets a cup final place. Shaw and Martial are likely to be gone next season. We are trying to tie Fellaini down to a new deal and are looking at signing at least one maybe two players who play in McTominay's position. Pereira, TFM, Mitchell and Tuanzebe are all likely to be loaned out or sold except for TFM who might get a role as third choice RB behind the 33-year-old Valencia and the 34-year-old Young. So, I don't see the youth being given a chance. Even when we have some excellent young players at the moment.

When we consider style, I find it completely bazar when people say we need to get the results before the performances. Since when did anyone play poorly to get the result?

You work on performances and as you improve your performances your results should improve. If your aim is to win the title and you do so playing poorly then what motivation is there to improve those performances?

Pep spent a whole season try to teach his players to play a certain way, over time they improved their performance and now they are smashing records.

Jose has now spent two years chasing results and we are still 19 points behind the league winners.

As for the some of the less favourable actions of Sir Alex, no one can really defend them. However, he did buy into the values of the club, he did give youth a chance, he did try and play in the right way, and more often than not he got it right. He also smiled and enjoyed being here.

Jose has been a great manager, but he just isn't the right fit for our club in my opinion. Others disagree and that's fine. Only time will tell how Jose will be remembered.


As for who should replace him, I'm not sure. There are good candidates out there, its about finding the right fit for the club. Which you aren't really going to know without meeting them.

Believable12 Unbelievable7

16 May 2018 14:08:26
Good post a happy.

Agree6 Disagree1

16 May 2018 14:13:11
Good stuff shappy. Top post and sums up my feelings perfectly. But I still don't want jose out, not until we have a well thought out replacement, and if that takes a year or 2 so be it.

I remember that roma game, was my first trip to old Trafford. Not one I'm likely to forget either. Had to pay £130 quid for my ticket off a tout and only got in 2 mins before kick off. Was sat about 15 yards alway from the roma supporters and the atmosphere was electric, although quietened down after that first 20 minutes. That's the kind of memories I have. That game, beckhams half way line goal and the champions league final comeback are exactly what football is about.

Agree6 Disagree2

16 May 2018 14:28:31
A good read and well thought out reply to Mumbles, Shappy. However, its all about perspective and how you look at things.

I started watching United in 2000-01 season and have been following them ever since. I have been what some people call the The Spoiled Ones who have only ever witnessed the football played under SAF where we were winning evertyhing and as you say blowing teams away. However, i will also add that i have read a lot of the history of United including how SAF had his team play for the first 5 years of his tenure. Correct me if i am wrong here but wasnt SAF almost sacked for the results and was only saved by an FA cup victory? My point here is that if the greatest of all time SAF took almost half a decade to get his team, to play his way, the United way, why is it so difficult to fathom that Jose might do the same in due course? Why can't we watch patiently on how this part of our history pans out? Sacking him now, wouldn't that do more harm than good.

You might remember that getting Jose through the doors was in some part our own doing. Remember what Ed002 said, its because of the TOXICS that the plan to let LVG complete his tenure and transition to Allegri was shelved? We did this damage (if you want to see it that way) and we would be going the same path again if we sack Jose now.

For what its worth, he has a team full of underachievers (some of which he bought) that have just finished the season only behind arguably the best team in PL history. I agree that the football that was played was painful for 60% of the games but we did have those 40% where we showed what we are actually capable of. You would also remember that Pogba started the season well but was first sent off and then got injured because of which he lost his momentum and so did the team. We all knew what we were getting when we hired Jose, how his teams play, how he sets up and how he handles the media and himself. Its really easy to point out his fallings if you don’t like him but he has also done some good stuff that won't be showed or talked about. If it were me in his position, I would be frustrated on how only negatives are highlighted and I would be doing the same thing that he is i.e fight the media and gloat about my positives. Now, that may not be the right thing to do but that’s the character of the man. He has his ego that is bigger than probably Mt. Everest but we can't question it because he has a CV that gives him the right to do it.

Now, you have given us scenarios of Liverpool and United for comparison- First off what if Liverpool don’t win the final, what do they show off? Will their fans be happy and content or will it be again “Next year would be our year”? They would have not won anything for all the fancy football and would have still finished a good 25 odd points behind the great City team.

As for us, we have a very good chance that we would be lifting the FA cup this weekend but again we might not win the FA cup and that would put a damper on our season for sure but we would still be above the most entertaining football teams in all of Europe.

Jose’s Inter team was probably the most boring team that I have watched but they did beat the great Barcelona and won the UCL that season along with the Serie A, didn’t they? Would any Inter fan come and tell me that they would prefer a free flowing game rather than the trophy. The answer would be NO.

I have said this before and I will repeat myself that trophies and entertainment are not mutually exclusive and can be and ideally should go hand in hand like City did but they did it with a complete team with perfect pieces falling into place. Are we on the same level for our team? Do we have a complete defense? Do we have proper wingers? Square pegs in round holes isn’t that we say?

Jose’s Chelsea played some wonderful football when they started winning things and so did his Real Madrid so for all we know he is capable of playing the way we all want to but we need to give him his tenure/ time to get his team together and if we are still here next season same time discussing the same things then he should be shown the door absolutely and nobody would question it.

As of now, I don’t think is the right time to sack him and he should be backed in the transfer market to the hilt even if he wants a 40 year old player that he thinks can fit his bill.

Agree5 Disagree7

16 May 2018 14:35:54
Great post shappy absolutely agree with everything.

Agree7 Disagree2

16 May 2018 14:55:45
UA so let me get this straight, you want jose to buy whatever he needs to win now and that includes a 40 year old and give example of inter, who by the way have won feck all since he left given all the oldies he bought and inter were stuck with once mourinho got his trophies. Would inter fans be happier if they didn't win the treble but then didn't dive into mediocrity?

You also say he needs to implement his own style and it is wonderful, it isn't by the way it never was. Except his madrid team which was more down to who he had and how that team functions rather than mourinho. But then also say that mourinho has a style and it isn't pretty but we all knew about it. So which is it? you can't have the cake and eat it too my friend.

You say he has a lot of under achieving players, he has spent 300mn and right now none of his signing can be called a unqualified success like pep can call with jesus or ederson or klopp with salah. Should we really be trusting him with more money.

Liverpool are going to finish below us this season yes, but if you look just at the league, 5 years down the line who would remember this season more fondly us or liverpool? neither won the league but atleast they played marvelous football and that is after selling their best player midfielder. Ours was at times bordering on LVG level football.

Agree7 Disagree2

16 May 2018 15:34:05
Good persuasive argument Shappy although I didn't think the scenario's were fair. I'd love Utd to be in the final of the Champions League it's the absolute pinnacle of the game and I'd watch pragmatic stuff all day long if it guaranteed us a place in the final.

Maybe a more appropriate comparison would be that of Spurs. They have a young hungry coach, they play high intensity, attacking football but haven't really achieved anything other than a top 4 finish. Would you swap our season with theirs?

Agree2 Disagree2

16 May 2018 15:44:15
OK CSM, so you don't agree with me. Fair enough. Who would you want to take over the helm at OT given that Jose is sacked today. And please be realistic and don't say Pep which won't happen. And also please guarantee me that we won't finish 7th next season with the new coach but absolute champagne football.

Agree0 Disagree2

16 May 2018 15:50:13
On his signings- Lukaku, Matic, Zlatan (last season), Bailly are all successes. If you don't see it then nobody can help you. You need to take off that Pep poster from your bedroom and put on some United posters to see our team.

Ederson is a success but yes to cover up you won't say that Claudio Bravo was a failure because that would make Pep look bad. We would talk about Sane but we won't mention Nolito. We would mention Bernardo Silva but we won't mention Zinchenko. Because Pep saint would look bad. Pep has bought an entire new team while you are crying out for 300M? How much did he spend on the new back 5?

Agree2 Disagree4

16 May 2018 16:00:57
Jardim would be my first choice actually won a trophy especially when competing with PSG and has shown that he can give kids a chance and play attacking football. The problem with mourinho is he right now gives me the cappello vibe great manager great history blah blah blah but football has evolved mourinho hasn't, something everyone wanting to compare fergie with mourinho forgets, it wasn't his tactical genius or his rigid adherence to a philosophy that made fergie last long and not end up like Wenger it was his ability to adapt mourinho doesn't have it.

There is no guarantee that Jardim succeeds but then what is the guarantee mourinho doesn't have his usual 3rd season meltdown as the list of players thrown under the bus gets too much and players revolt like they did at Chelsea his last job or madrid those before that.

Agree3 Disagree3

16 May 2018 16:12:08
Sorry CSM I'm not having that! Would Inter fans be happier if they didn't win the treble? Is this honestly a serious question?

A feat achieved by only a few select Clubs in the history of the game!

What evidence do you have that Mourinho left them with a squad full of geriatrics, a squad good enough to win the treble by the way.

Do you know exactly who he signed or the make up of their squad?

Some misconceptions of Mourinho really need to stop unless they can be backed up by hard facts and evidence.

The fact they've won nothing since only illustrates the pedigree of the man and the magnitude of their achievement.

Just for your info the main players he signed when at Inter were Lucio 31, Diego Malito 30, Samuel Eto 28, Mancini 28, Thiago Motta 27, Wesley Snijder 24, Ricardo Quaresma 24, Sulley Muntari 24 I think they were a couple more but a decent group of players and hardly ready for the nursing home pal.

Agree2 Disagree3

16 May 2018 16:14:13
Agree with that Shappy. I just wanted to add to those who moan about players not showing passion and joy in their play, that these things also come with style. Playing with style and knocking 4/ 5 goals past the opposing team breeds confidence, it breeds enjoyment and you can see this confidence and enjoyment in all great teams. I actually believe we were playing that way until Pogba got injured and we went into the Liverpool game with 10 men in front of goal.

It's also interesting to look at the results when Pogba came back 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle, 4-2 against Watford and the 3-1 beating of Arsenal at the Emirates. However sent off, suspended against City, lost to City and then it was just shutting up shop and hoping to score a goal or two in every match; nothing entertaining, bar the second half against City, since.

My point being that when the players have had confidence or licence to roam, the football wasn't that bad, and the results created a sense of anticipation of the next match in which that confidence took be transferred. When the tactics have been to stick to positions, to play it safe, that confidence was lost.

Agree3 Disagree1

16 May 2018 16:20:21
Ludwig
We played some good stuff at the start of the season .
City kept the pressure on tho and mourhino reverted to type.

Agree3 Disagree0

16 May 2018 16:21:38
DLIB, I chose the comparison with Liverpool as both teams haven't competed for the title and both have made it to a cup final.

If we lose the cup final and end the season trophyless would you then swap Spurs season for ours?

Agree4 Disagree0

16 May 2018 16:44:51
DLIB before mourinho arrived inter's worst finish was 5th in 2000-01 since mourinho their best finish is 2nd the next season after mourinho and since then they have finished in top 4 only twice, mourinho won them the CL and that was a great achivement but they were winning serie A and Coppa Italia before mourinho arrived. I am not blaming mourinho for their struggles just pointing out what happens when you trust him explicitly and let him sign whoever he wants unlike Chelsea or madrid where there was someone above him who made the decisions.

As you pointed out his signings, just look at their ages except for muntari, sniejder and that dud quaresma by the time he left most were in 30's and that hurt them badly. Mourinho has a history of selling young talent to get his win now toys, bonucci, lukaku, kdb and most likely martial will join the list.

Agree2 Disagree0

16 May 2018 17:00:43
Shappy - Sorry mate I wasn't been critical and understand your point.

Even in we lose the cup final I'd still take our season over Spurs pal.

Agree0 Disagree3

16 May 2018 17:10:30
2nd or 4th. Apart from a few extra quid, and some bragging rights over your mates, does it really matter that much nowadays?

Agree3 Disagree0

16 May 2018 17:15:52
CSM - Fair enough pal I don't know enough about Inter to get into a serious debate but I think his signings were pretty good to be honest.

Ok some of them were pushing 30 but most were good experienced internationals that could still give good service to the Club. I accept you might not get any money back on some of them.

It's all about opinions pal that's why I like reading this site everyday. Some really good stuff on here on both sides of the fence.

Agree0 Disagree2

16 May 2018 18:52:56
2 bald men arguing over a comb.

Agree1 Disagree0

16 May 2018 12:30:34
In regard to shaw, and i'm sure jose probably is already on board with this, include him in the deal for alderweireld, pochettino got the best out of him, and shaw talked up poch. in the past, so bob's your uncle there, and as for a player who could fill michael carricks' boots (if that's possible) why not go for jonjo shelvey, can pick a pass, is mobile and has an eye for goal-discipline wise, in the past he was left wanting, but under benitez he looks to have finally got it and is getting mentioned in reports for all the right reasons, i think he's underrated by many?

Believable0 Unbelievable2

16 May 2018 12:48:08
Shelley has had a couple of good games towards the end of season because he’s been given time on the ball. Rooney looked quality as a midfielder with time on the ball. He’s not good enough I’m afraid and is at his level with Newcastle.

Agree2 Disagree0

16 May 2018 13:22:20
*shelvey. Damn autocorrect.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 08:35:56
What are people's thoughts on the cup final.
Who will jose pick?
I would suggest based on team selections to date that ddg, young valencia smalling matic pogba sanchez lukaku will all start. Herrera Jessie and Bailly would be my picks to fill out that team.
But there have been suggestions that he might play 3 at the back.

Believable0 Unbelievable0

16 May 2018 09:21:45
After Jose picked Fellaini against Seville, I have given up trying to guess what side he would pick for a big match but if I was the gaffer I would opt for:
DDG
Valencia Jones Baily Young
Herrera Matic Pogba
Lingard Lukaku Sanchez

I think what may be interesting is whether Martial is in the squad? Not really looked into what happened with him so unsure of whether he is genuinely injured but I am unsure on this so I think if he is not in the squad that could be telling with regards to what is happening to him next year. Unless of course he is actually injured then I apologise!

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 09:45:48
I'd be surprised if he didn't play 3 at the back Ken with some special provision for Hazard.

I fully expect a tactical, cagey, affair which could easily go to penalties or I think the team that scores the first goal will win the game.

I wouldn't be surprised if Chelsea started Grioud and Morata up front together with Hazard in behind. If he gets man marked they may use their wing backs to put crosses into the box and make life difficult for our CB's.

This wouldn't be mine team but I think he'll play -

DDG

Lindelof Smalling Jones

Valencia Herrera Matic Pogba Young

Lingard Sanchez

I think Lukaku will start instead of Lingard if fit.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 11:00:03
Dlib. That would be my 3 at the back side except I think lukaku will start for sure.

Ports he has played smalling in every game pretty much this season so I don't expect him to be dropped nor should he be imo.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 11:55:26
Yay! Let's talk about football. I agree he will go three at the back. I'd like to think he'd go 3 4 3 but I think Jose's brain would malfunction with such an attacking line up.

My team would be

Lindelof, Bailly, Jones
Young Pogba Matic Shaw
Sanchez Lukaku Martial

I expect Jose will pick

Lindelof Smalling Jones
Valencia Pogba Matic Fellaini Young
Sanchez Lukaku.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 12:26:02
I really like that first team MancMan I would say that is our strongest team. However I think you are correct and he will go for the second one.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 13:22:18
No way fellaini will start ahead of herrera. He will hopefully have learnt from Seville at home.
Manc man no way will we see shaw start. I doubt he will make the bench. I think he should make the bench.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 13:41:33
Jose will name the oldest line up available to him on the day. Lol.

Agree0 Disagree1

16 May 2018 13:44:41
Like the positivity over lindelof, alas i feel the special one may not be willing to put his trust in him if the likes of giroud and moratta play together, but somehow i feel conte will mix it up and use a big target man, but go for a pacey player up top too, maybe pedro, which also begs the question, does jose trust bailly fully yet, or has leaving bailly out of the starting line up recently been another cunning plan to inspire bailly-my guess is jose and conte having a big smackdown WWE style on the sidelines, players getting involved and certain galic legend dropping his kronenburg 1664 pint and going all bruce lee on chavski's asses! -now that would be a carlsberg advert i'd love to see! (with mixed metaphors thrown in! -and you can keep your 'the only way is windsor' reality show on the other side too! )

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 08:15:58
Read about what GN commenting on us winning the title next season and it would be a bigger achievement than what Paldy has done with LightBlues.
I think I totally agree with him and it will be a very big achievement as far as Jose is concerned. But what I want to add is are the players up to it? Do they have the hunger? Do they have the passion?
Manager aside, I feel it is the players that has to prove themselves and that even if we have the best manager in the world if the players do not want or have any hunger then it'll be back to drawing board.
I love it that GN set this challenge and it should mean as many ch to the players as it is to Jose.
Season's more or less over and let's try to win the FA Cup and challenge the PL title next season.

Believable0 Unbelievable1

16 May 2018 10:24:42
This comment just sent me down a rabbit hole of YouTube interviews by both mourinho and guardiola with regard to tactics.

The first thing I noticed, guardiola is so much more humble, talking about the quality of his players and how he adapts his tactics to the qualities of the individuals he has, and also how great players are needed which is why his clubs spend so much, as its more about the quality of the players than him.

Switch to mourinho and its about how he can influence things and the effect he has. Quite the juxtaposition.

Secondly, Guardiola comes a cross as much nicer guy, way more approachable and endearing.

Finally, guardiola seems much more eloquent, engaging and self aware. Where Jose seems so arrogant and dogmatic.

I'm sure this isn't always the case. I know Jose can build strong relationships with players and is obviously far from tactically inept, plus it may well be that pep is happier to reveal his philosophy and techniques where as jose keeps his cards closer to his chest. But from watching the interviews, it's obvious who I'd prefer to have as our manager.

Agree2 Disagree1

16 May 2018 12:34:52
Depends how you look at it. I see it as a managers job to get the best out of his players. He needs to devise a system that gets the best out of what he has, he needs to work out how to motivate the players he has.

The whole point of a manager is having someone who can bring it all together. What is the point in hiring a manager who can only get the best out of a quarter of your squad forcing the club in to buying 18 new players who hopefully will suit what the manager wants to do.

However, that isn't always the case, just ask Mkhitaryan.

Agree1 Disagree0

16 May 2018 13:03:15
Old Plop at the blue rinse mob is no doubt a slightly above average manager, however, if he doesn't rate a player, then you'll know the side of him that he's careful not to show, he reminds me of a tv character with a split personality, or put another way, if he were a pet, he'd be a cat-when he gets what he wants, couldn't be nicer-but when he doesn't get his own way, out comes the dummy and off he saunters to whoever is the biggest club at the time--where as to me jose is like a dog, he has his good and bad side but least what you see is what you get, no pretence, you either like it or lump it-and one final point, in plop is this worldy of a manager, how come he's never had the nads to go to a club with a limited budget and build a team where being a good man manager trully counts, say what you like about jose but he's ticked that box in portugal, old plop has only ever been at a club or Gone to a club where previous managers have left him top, top players to work with, so does that mean he's arrogant enough to think that's his level, nothing else is worth his time, or simply he hasn't got a pair enough to prove himself with a less than stella squad, so as for being the best manager out there, for me that's a NON.

Agree2 Disagree1

16 May 2018 13:07:56
Haha Shappy been reading all your posts and can really feel your disdain for Jose 🤣🤣🤣
I am not the best supporter of Jose but neither want him out at least at this moment. I think he has improved us albeit still boring games but tactically strong. However I’m quite sure he was not hired to objectively play beautiful football without results. I am quite sure he was hired with objectives of top 4, silverware if possible, improve team and structure. He inherited players maybe not up to his standards and have started to change the team. Still I think we are a bit short at the back but I think this summer he should already have identified who he will get to boost the defense.
Having said all that my suggestion is just give him the next season and let’s see what he can achieve (no that you have a choice) haha. I am sure if the team doesn’t perform (even if not his fault) I am sure there will be plenty of people who will join you to call for his head 🤣. Afterall he is not known to stay long in a club but I do hope he will bring us to become champion again and become an attacking team.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 13:23:05
Ask pep shappy.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 07:41:11
Ed do you know why my post last night didn't go through. It was a reply to jred about traditions. Was it written in a bad way? .

Believable0 Unbelievable2

{Ed001's Note - probably because it was pure slander and could have easily gotten the site shut down.}

16 May 2018 08:04:15
Ok thanks ed. I will bare that in mind. 👊👊👊👊.

Agree0 Disagree2

Review Of The Day 16th May 2018

16 May 2018 07:24:43
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 16th May 2018

Believable0 Unbelievable0

16 May 2018 08:21:02
Oooo Ed I like the setup of the page. Very nice and easy on the eyes.
Thanks for the season’s efforts and also to all the Eds.
Sad there were some bad moments but I am sure everyone learns from from mistakes. Thanks to all Eds for patience and accommodation.
👍👏.

Agree0 Disagree0

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate we are glad you like it.}

16 May 2018 05:55:37
Fantastic to see David Silva’s little boy is finally going home after being born prematurely. As I stated last week football is just a game, there are far more important things in life to worry about, nice to see a happy ending to this one.

Believable8 Unbelievable0

16 May 2018 07:39:28
Well said Ajh. family comes first.

Agree1 Disagree0

16 May 2018 08:31:39
Here here ajh.
I'm delighted for Silva and his family.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 09:21:38
Good post pal great news for the Silva family.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 01:04:22
Just wanted to say although there has been differing opinions on the site the last few days, everybody has put their opinion down with respect and without any bitching. for the most part! At the end of the day we are all fans of this amazing club and we just want to see us back at the top of the tree again. Whether Jose does it or not remains to be seen but let’s get behind him and the boys and let’s trash Chelsea at the weekend. That way we can go into the summer in spirits high, and if we lose we can blame Jose for all the world problems till the new season starts 😂. I for one am buzzing for the FA cup and always love a glorious sunny day out at Wembley. With a few exciting additions I’m expecting Jose to get this team playing better. And if they don’t, I will happily admit I was wrong and we move on.

Believable2 Unbelievable0

16 May 2018 00:26:09
Fascinating MNF with G. Nev and Pep Guardiola absolutely loved getting an insight into the mind of our great adversary.

Forget the beautiful free flowing football or tactics the single most important factor I took away from that program was Pep said his players had to be humble and they had to run. They all play for each other and they all run. Nobody is good enough to think that the other players will do their work for them. If they don't run they don't play, they come and sit on the bench next to me.

I've always been a big advocate that the best teams always work the hardest. The best teams have desire and intensity to their game and understand that victory never comes without blood, sweat and tears. Pep used the word humble which I think is a brilliant word. If you can't even outwork the best teams then what chance do you have?

This is an area where I feel we've been sorely lacking since Fergi retired. We've lost our hunger, our desire, our commitment. How many times have we just let the game dangerously drift towards full time? How many times have we witnessed our team come sprinting out of the blocks, putting the opposition under pressure from minute one? Didn't we almost go a full season without scoring a first half goal under LVG?

We've become a team of entitled brats, players on inflated wages, unprofessional, hiding.

We all wanted the answer about how well Pogba, Martial or Shaw would perform in a Pep team well tonight I think we've got the answer. They'd all be sat next to him on the bench without a significant change in attitude.

This is why Sanchez plays ahead of Martial, why Pogba was dropped in favour of an inexperienced academy graduate and why Shaw can't displace a veteran converted winger from the team. This is why Miki was sold to Arsenal.

Match the opposition for effort and your quality will win the game. Sadly this wasn't the case against Huddersfield, Brighton, Newcastle, WBA to name but a few.

Jose is right there is an attitude problem at our Club and it's holding us back.

Believable7 Unbelievable0

16 May 2018 01:21:34
Great Post DLIB, some good points there. Do you think Mourinho can restore the necessary desire and work ethic?

Agree0 Disagree2

16 May 2018 01:44:55
DLIB great post 👍.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 03:52:00
Yes. Agree with everything you just said. I think Pogba can get there, but he needs to grow up, he could even be a future captain, but not with his current attitude. Or fitness level.

Martial and Shaw, like Miki will not get there.

And for everyone who is angered by that, just watch David Silva, Sterling, Sane, Sanchez, Giggs, Beckham etc etc they know/ knew they had to earn the right to play football. It is the minimum requirement.

Agree0 Disagree0

16 May 2018 05:33:25
DLIB - only one problem with your analysis about why Martial etc were dropped, Pogba has walked back into the team still showing no signs of working hard. Wait until Saturday and see if the hard working McTominay is playing or the 'name' Pogba who strolls through games plays.
Gary Nev summed Pogba up best when he said he plays as if the team is winning 3-0 when in fact the score is 0-0. José may well be right about the attitude at the club but his stellar signing Pogba is one of the worst offenders.
I get fed up with everything being the players fault, how many players have played to their capabilities this season, DeGea, Lukaku possibly. José is paid a vast amount of money to get the players to perform and the weekly dross that we have become accustomed to is as much his fault as the players.
Before we get the usual excuses for José about the poor squad he inherited, assess how all of his signings have performed, why are his players not performing.

Agree4 Disagree2