Manchester United Banter Archive November 05 2017

 

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05 Nov 2017 22:24:08
Well I think today first half we were decent. Started brightly, looked like we had good control of the game in the first 20 minutes or so. Can't help but think what would have happened if Rashford scores the header? Different game perhaps. I've got a few issues with the rest of the game, and of of them is Miki (yes I know I've brought this up many times) . I hate singling him out, but I counted at least 5 times in the first half fabregas burst past him, that's not acceptable. Everyone knows fabregas is a terrific player but you can't give him space, I really feel we should have started with McTominay over Miki. Yes he's a kid but at least he shows some heart and doesn't go missing.
Overall I'm not to worried about todays game, we tried to have a go. Clear to see we miss pogba, maybe when he's back Miki might start playing a bit better, who knows.
Caolán.

Believable0 Unbelievable3

05 Nov 2017 22:51:59
I wasn't as disappointed as I was a few weeks ago. Huddersfield and Liverpool bothered me more. We weren't awful, but there is confidence issues so I think this break came at the right time. I think Lukaku and Miki have been struggling for a few weeks now and need to get their mojo's back. Get Pogba, Rojo and Ibra back in the team and dressing room and find our feet again.

Anyway I'm shattered, so goodnight fellas. And ladies if there are any on here.

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05 Nov 2017 22:58:17
I think Jose felt the pressure of the criticism thrown at him after the Liverpool game combined with the memory of last year's abject defeat, and played a more open game than he would ordinarily. At least we gave it a go and had a few decent chances but, frankly, our combination plays are simply not good enough, nor is Lukaku's first touch, nor the quality from dead ball situations. It was only in the last 10 minutes, when the chips were down, we were able to mount continuous pressure. We really need Pogba back.

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06 Nov 2017 05:05:40
coalan i think it is time we stop criticizing mkhi and criticize the man who keeps keeping him while mkhi consistently delivers rubbish performances.

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06 Nov 2017 06:45:44
We get it Moyes. you have been in a bad mood ever since we sacked you. Move on.

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06 Nov 2017 12:01:09
Csm I’m sorry but there’s a lot of people out there who don’t dare criticise miki, yesterday was the first time I’d heard it by the press, so answer this for me. If Jose picked Lingard in that role to close down fabregas but also be that link to lukaku ( who no wonder he hasn’t scored he gets no service) would you have been happy? I suspect the answer is no. When pogba returns maybe we will see a better Miki, but his attitude looks ridiculous and he’s a flake. Get rid. We have had a lot of players with half the ability of that man and they’ve done much more in a red shirt.

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05 Nov 2017 22:03:56
2nd in the league not really sure why people are so convinced spurs Chelsea Liverpool are so much better than us all had ups and downs .

The big problem for us and everyone is pep and City how good can pep make city, can they continue this form can they get better?

The big question is can Jose match him.

Believable2 Unbelievable2

05 Nov 2017 22:16:51
Good point Jred, no need to panic just yet. If City maintain that form nobody will catch them we should just stick to what we're good at and see where we are come the New Year!

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05 Nov 2017 22:20:59
Chelsea are better than us, proved it today.
We are equal to Liverpool.
And better than Spurs.

No Jose can't match Pep. The way City are playing they are a real force. They are making the Chelseas and Arsenals look ordinary.
Utd just don't have that tier when it comes to playing the big sides that City have.

To me City are fearless, and Utd are very weak they have no killer instinct, we try not to lose before we go to win, top 4 is a good season. (not that I would enjoy saying that but its reality) .

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05 Nov 2017 22:39:45
FZZ,

Not quite how it works, are spurs better than Madrid because they beat them? Anyone can beat anyone on a given day, are Everton as good as city because they drew at the etihad?

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05 Nov 2017 22:45:35
When we are at full strength, only City are a better side in my opinion. However we aren't playing well and they are playing out of their skin, so we have room for improvement, loads of room. I cannot see them keeping this form up. We will see what happens, but I think 2nd and that's what I believe I put on AJH's predictions.

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05 Nov 2017 23:02:05
Its not GDS2, i'm just being daft.

But the point i'm trying to make is we are not really better than Chelsea are we? We were well beaten today.

I think Chelsea are better than Spurs and Pool so we probably lie in and around them 2 (spurs and pool)

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06 Nov 2017 05:38:55
Spurs and Chelsea will round up top 4 with the 2 manchester teams. These games always comes down to who has the best 11 available and a difference of a goal and who scores first. If city get injuries to Debruyne, silva or auger they will have their issues.

People need to calm down and we seem to be great or rubbish every week after a result. We always lose at Chelsea and its a very difficult away fixture for us for donkey's years.

Still believe we will finish second.

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06 Nov 2017 06:58:45
It simple really Chelsea were better than us on the day and they won.

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06 Nov 2017 07:07:05
X files.
Good post that.

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06 Nov 2017 07:53:16
Apparently we’ve won once in the league at the Bridge in the last 16 years.

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06 Nov 2017 09:08:06
Good post x. We will be fine.

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05 Nov 2017 20:28:52
Is it just me who feels incredibly depressed and disappointed. We were outfought and outclassed by a team that was thrashed by city and more recently, Roma.
Our play was utter tripe. Our passing is non existent. Our tactics were weird. Playing Jones as a midfielder shows how completely lacking we are.
We are no nearer the top as we were since Fergie retired. We were lumping balls up to lukaku and expecting him to control them, go past 4 defenders and score from 30 yards. The whole team looks like a complete joke.
I said it before the season started and I stand by my prediction, city will win the league by 12 points and we'll be fighting for top4.
A team playing football from 10 years ago. Something has to change.

Believable7 Unbelievable7

05 Nov 2017 20:41:41
Schmid, I understand where you're coming from but I don't thinkits quite that bad. As I have said further down the page the issue for me is CM where we are lacking energy and impact. Hi Weber, I do think Lukaku is a flat track bully and not the answer long term.

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05 Nov 2017 20:55:30
Pogba is a miss Tony. But this is becoming a familiar scene that we always play badly away against top teams. Honestly, we are light years away. Playing incredibly predictable football.
The balance of the team is so poor. You have to give pep credit, he came he learned and changed the structure of the team. They look a real force. They play football like we used to.
Mourinho is in cuckoo land if he thinks we can challenge.

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05 Nov 2017 21:06:08
Well guys, were you not entertained?

I was going to leave this post a few days to give me time to digest that result and performance but I'm that angry I feel compelled to get it off my chest!

That was the most un-Jose like performance I have ever seen! The players didn't seem to know their jobs, there was no plan or organisation, we let their best players have time and space on the ball, it was terrible, we got outclassed and are lucky to have only been beaten 1-0!

Ok it looked promising for 10 minutes, we committed men forward and created a good chance for Rashford, but equally they looked like scoring every time they came forward. It was only a matter of time before they scored with players like Hazard and Fabregas being given the freedom of Stamford Bridge.

I respect a well disciplined, organised, hardworking defensive performance. What I can't respect is the naive, sloppy, rubbish we served up today.

People won't like to read this but forget about City. It's almost impossible to live with their form of 10 wins from 11 games at the moment. We haven't come anywhere near close to winning the league since Fergi retired in 2013. In fact in the four seasons since he's retired we've only finished in the top 4 ONCE! To think we were going to win the league this season and bridge that gap was fanciful at best. It's obvious we're still a team in transition. Jose has made some great signings and we're moving in the right direction but it's plainly obviously we're still at least a couple of players short of being a truly competitive unit. That result has pulled us right back into the dog fight for top 4 never mind what it's done for our confidence.

I'm frustrated at all the moaning and criticism of Jose's style by both the media and even some of our own fans. Well we've fallen right into the trap and that was a result for the Jose haters as much as anybody else tonight. I never thought he'd feel pressured into playing a more expensive game but that's what we saw this afternoon. A team without a plan, a team lacking direction, a disorganised team where the players didn't appear to understand their role.

My message is be patient, wait for our main creative player to return, give Jose time to build his team. We won't play football like City but once Jose gets the right players our style will improve.

Style alone does not win trophies and don't be seduced by all the shiny new ornaments on display at the Council house across the road; we've been showcasing that stuff for decades. Yes it may have gone into storage but let's re build the roof and foundations first before it proudly go's back on display (yes I have gone mad) .

I think this was another case of Jose knows best!

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05 Nov 2017 21:18:02
Hi Schmid

The club has only got itself to blame for where it is. Lack of player investment over many years and particularly the last years of SAF, the Glazernomics, then failing to look at our own history of how not to manage a transition. Failing to look at what City were building, it seems arrogance thinking we were bigger than that. The club seemed to be so reliant on being told what to do by SAF they lost the ability to think and take decisive action. We have been like someone struggling to swim in deep water. How many times did I post on here about us ignoring what City were building, now we are seeing it. When appointing LVG the club had to have a plan for succession and as I said on here they should have had Pep lined up after lvg set it up, they didn’t.

People think it’s just the manager, it is not, after the botched transition of SAF the whole ethos of the club was diminished, the confidence of winning from any position destroyed by a lack of leadership of the new manager and higher than the manager. Some fancying buying is not going to fix it instantly. Even City who threw money at it didn’t have instant success
Time to be patient, we have had far worse situations as 1974 shows us, stop pinning everything on one result but realise where we are and we are up against a club like City who did have a plan, who didn’t say there was no value and are ultimately ambitious where nirvana isn’t financial success .

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05 Nov 2017 21:20:14
Danny
I would of took the spurs performance today .
Is Jose feeling a bit of pressure did he give into the fans and press today?
Is that old rivalry with pep taken it's toll, can Jose ego take the praise city are getting in the papers, is that what is behind his moaning at the fans media experts?
Is that why he decided to have a go at Chelsea today?

Many don't like Jose, I've always been a fan But has got that the same spark he had?

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05 Nov 2017 22:17:31
Jred - I like Jose, I wanted him to replace Fergi and sank into a deep depression when we appointed Moyes, that was only ending one way in my opinion and we're still suffering from the that mistake even now!

I think your right, maybe he's feeling a little sorry for himself at the moment. I don't think he feels he's got the credit he deserves for winning the Europa and League Cup. I don't think he can understand the criticism from the media and even some of his own fans regarding the style of play despite results being relatively good. This is made undoubtedly worse by Pep playing champagne football and the media going on like he's reinvented the game. Don't forget he's won nothing for City yet!

Maybe he has lost some of his old charm but he was like this at Chelsea as well.

I trust him and I think given time, patience and support he'll eventually win us the title. We'll never see the type of free flowing attacking football that some crave, he respects the defensive side of the game too much and that just not his style. I have no doubt that once he gets the right players into the team our style will undoubtedly improve.

I like most of his signings Pogba, Bailly and Matic in particular and I don't buy into the theory that his tactics are outdated or prehistoric and he's been left behind by more forward thinking managers. He's won the title, league cup twice and Europa league in the last three seasons. Yes he's spent money but so have City and Chelsea spending from a better position.

I just can't see a viable alternative at the moment and I think we should be careful what we wish for. I think we should get behind him and let him create that siege mentality which is difficult to achieve when his style and methods are being undermined by some of his his own fans.

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05 Nov 2017 21:49:39
Jred - I like Jose, I wanted him to replace Fergi and sank into a deep depression when we appointed Moyes, that was only ending one way in my opinion and we're still suffering from the that mistake even now!

I think your right, maybe he's feeling a little sorry for himself at the moment. I don't think he feels he's got the credit he deserves for winning the Europa and League Cup. I don't think he can understand the criticism from the media and even some of his own fans regarding the style of play despite results being relatively good. This is made undoubtedly worse by Pep playing champagne football and the media going on like he's reinvented the game. Don't forget he's won nothing for City yet!

Maybe he has lost some of his old charm but he was like this at Chelsea as well.

I trust him and I think given time, patience and support he'll eventually win us the title. We'll never see the type of free flowing attacking football that some crave, he respects the defensive side of the game too much and that just not his style. I have no doubt that once he gets the right players into the team our style will undoubtedly improve.

I like most of his signings Pogba, Bailly and Matic in particular and I don't buy into the theory that his tactics are outdated or prehistoric and he's been left behind by more forward thinking managers. He's won the title, league cup twice and Europa league in the last three seasons. Yes he's spent money but so have City and Chelsea spending from a better position.

I just can't see a viable alternative at the moment and I think we should be careful what we wish for. I think we should get behind him and let him create that siege mentality which is difficult to achieve when his style and methods are being undermined by some of his his own fans.

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05 Nov 2017 22:22:29
Danny, from what I know of José, he doesn't seem the type to suddenly forget all his managerial principles, built up over years of football management, just because the media are giving him a hard time.

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05 Nov 2017 22:45:19
Of course your right Noucamp but it's unusual to see a Jose team so disjointed and allowing the opposition time and space to play. I didn't expect that kind of performance at all!

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05 Nov 2017 23:04:09
Bad team performace today. Our midfield was over run and we offered nothing in attank from wide areas. Our 2 front men had to live off scraps. Nothing for them to attack. Pogba is obviously missed but without proper full backs over lapping and making runs creating space and time and options for the player on the ball or wide players putting crosses in our attack is easily nullified.
It was there earlier this season when everybody was fit and available but i still think our squad depth is very weak in certain areas and we don't have enough variation in the squad. Ie no proper full backs and not 1 out and out winger. Just like fellaini gives a different option an out and out winger is needed to give a different option and help give lukaku the service he thrives upon.
The sooner ibra is available the better.

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06 Nov 2017 05:50:32
I think you guys are reading way too much into this. Jose has the utmost confidence in his ability and set out a team that he believed was going to get a result. My only criticism of him was he should have pulled miki and rash at halftime and not waited for the inevitable to happen. Both were very very poor and Lukaku is getting stick but he hardly got any service but the odd awkward bouncing ball with 3 guys around him.

Mik was so so poor both offensively and defensively needs to be benched. The 2 week break should do us a big favor as long as the national team mangers are not idiots and don't play guys in useless meaningless games and we get more injuries. I am worried about Martinez at Belgium who is a donkey. Hope he plays de bruyne for 180 minutes :)

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06 Nov 2017 07:08:39
I think we got the set up in midfield all wrong today.
Chelsea where good we where bad move on.

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06 Nov 2017 08:20:56
Danny. I respect what you're saying, but two matches prior to this, we played equally erratically at Huddersfield and were outfought and that's not me saying it, both the manager and hererra said it.
Redman, I fully agree. I've been talking about City and their owners and the way the club has been transformed for 5 years. In fact, it's got to the point where our club has been shown to be run by complete idiots compared to the way city owners have planned and executed their game plan.
A winger, two fullbacks, two midfielders, a world class playmaker is not going to solve the problem, nor is it going to happen as these players are not easily available and will cost money. Frankly speaking, if I was a player looking to enjoy my football, tgen United will be 10th on my list.
The club has been and continues to be run solely as a business and until someone comes in with serious intentions of achieving football success, then we're stuck in this cycle.

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05 Nov 2017 20:27:35
The last few games probably paint an accurate picture of where we really are. I think we'll be 3rd this year. We need to strengthen at FB, a box to box midfielder and perhaps a winger. Iibra is not the answer, too slow and ponderous. We are better than last year but not good enough yet.

Believable4 Unbelievable2

05 Nov 2017 20:41:50
Is pogba a box to box midfielder.

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05 Nov 2017 20:42:22
Good post, agree with all of that.

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05 Nov 2017 20:44:10
Ibra gives us a different option.

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05 Nov 2017 20:56:26
Matic - Pogba -? .? .?

Jose is not a huge fan of Herrera.

I think Jose will add another CM. We're certainly looking at a few. Carrick and Fellaini going. McTominay getting a promotion too. We definitely need another box to box midfielder.

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05 Nov 2017 20:57:42
So basically after spending nearly £500m, we still need nearly half a team.

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05 Nov 2017 21:07:37
Has Jose spent £500m?

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05 Nov 2017 21:36:25
Lindelof - Bailly - Pogba - Matic - Lukaku - Mikhitaryan

I can't think of any other signings. This is what we've bought thus far under Jose, and still not finished.

I didn't add Ibra as he was more of a stop-gap.

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05 Nov 2017 21:48:00
Syd
How many of them played well today? About 300 mil there.

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05 Nov 2017 22:33:44
Well Matic was not bad, but that's about it.

Probably take £500m to complete rebuild.

Was Jose the right man to do it? We'll see.

I think they're all good signings though.

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05 Nov 2017 23:00:49
Syd, you can say it's a confidence issue, and I could understand if the team couldn't buy a win. But we had a very good start, scoring for fun, and a good win against a rival for top 4 only last week. We're second in the league. How can it be a confidence issue? Unless you use the way we set up against a Liverpool team with a brittle defence, as evidence that José still didn't think his team were good enough to compete against them, and that mindset has trickled down to the players.

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06 Nov 2017 06:02:45
Question so if Jose had spent 550 to 600 mill and bought 14 players and we were top of the league, would people say he is great.

City bought 8 players previous summer and six this summer having people like Augero, Debruyne, Silva already in that squad before pep came. Many would argue he had the best striker, midfielders in the league already even before buying 14 players. the other 8 players currently starting are all new purchases. Ottamendi was also a purchase just before pep came on and he was touted as top defender and no slouch.

Whether you like to hear it or not we are going to need to buy more players so when you lose a Pogba, we don't see a drop in our performance the way we have seen.

We will need to replace our fullback just like city did in the summer and buy some cover for midfield and a long standing need to sort out the right wing. Yes Jose has bought but still making use of many of the existing players we had before coming on, which is not something pep has done.

4 more players of a certain quality will turn this team into a great team.

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06 Nov 2017 07:29:46
X files
United will always buy more players but when you have cm options of pogba Mata Miki fellaini matic Herrera Carrick it's hard to make argument we need more cms .

Not many teams have the same options how did Chelsea do midweek with out kante?
How well is Harry winks doing at spurs after been given a chance?
I would add tripper as well .

City bought 2 fbs in the summer Mendy only played a couple of games delph has been playing there.
GK is the big difference apart from that it not a huge difference from last season .
Danilo has been playing who is nothing special but sterling sane kdb Silva stones are playing out there skins .
Not to mention fernadinho who suddenly looks the best cm

Do United need to buy some players yes have we got the ones we have playing to the top of there game no .

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{Ed001's Note - City bought 3 fullbacks mate - Walker, Mendy and Danilo.}

06 Nov 2017 08:11:42
Ed1
True, not a big fan of danilo to be honest .

What do you make of city .
Sterling and sane out wide both playing well
A cm 3 of Silva KDB fernadinho.
Back 4 (most the time ) with stones delph otamendi.

Will sound nuts this but I'm not 100% sure aguero is the right striker . great player but I can see pep changing him with some one like Sanchez, bit more pace and work rate.

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{Ed001's Note - City are ok but no one has tried to get at them other than Liverpool this season. Until the sending off they were wobbling badly at the back but the final result has skewed things in people's minds making them look unbeatable. They are very beatable and there will come a game when their forwards have an off day and De Bruyne doesn't rescue them. That is when we will find out what they are truly made of. Personally I think they showed against West Brom that they are still have the same problems defensively. Pep's teams always fade and Xmas will stretch them physically.

As for Aguero, I think he is right for any team, when you have someone like him you adapt to get the best out of him. Pep has other ideas and has been looking to push him out since the day he arrived. Big mistake if you ask me.}

06 Nov 2017 08:44:46
I like aguero great player, but got to say I think Sanchez could be a better fit with how city play .
Wouldn't be surprised to see that happen .
I don't think city look that beatable at the moment not compared to the other teams out there .
Hopefully there form drops off.

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06 Nov 2017 17:10:37
JRed

Mata is limited due to his lack of pace and defensively gets bullied against the bigger guys in big games with everyone now days having some serious big athletic guys in midfield. Carrick has been injured and also defensively lack the pace and can be exposed and miki as you saw struggles mightily against mobile midfields defensively.

In truth we have matic, pogba, herrera and fellaini. Pogba and fellaini have been out and for me you need better options to choose from as a manager if a pogba or Matic are injured. The alternatives fill the team sheet but too far off a drop in performance against top opposition.

I think Fellaini makes a huge difference given how we play and we were so much more dangerous the last 15 minutes and almost stole a point.

People like to see us compete with the likes of Barcelona and Madrid. if you want that you need some better options in midfield.

Every game we play poorly its our midfield that gets beaten up by the the other side. I think playing with 2 mids works when pogba/ matic and to some extend fellaini/ matic is there but otherwise the other guys are a compromised forced on the manager.

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05 Nov 2017 19:47:53
Poor performance today but credit to Chelsea awful midweek good today .
We suddenly need a new manager and 10 new players .

Role on the international break hopefully we come back the same team that went in to the last one .
Few Injuries and a bit of a slump it's time like this that the manager needs to earn his money and justify his reputation.

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05 Nov 2017 20:07:08
Just a confidence issue in my opinion, 3-4 positions strengthened between now and September.

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05 Nov 2017 20:10:31
Are we under performing now or were we over performing before? I really don't know the answer but recently we have stuttered and stuttered and flattered to deceive. Midfield seems to be the issue for me, we have a lot of talent up front and enough in defence but in the middle we are lacking. Pogba will help but I think we are a world class CM short of being a very good team. Everyone bangs on about full backs and a wide rIght player but I think the yawning gap is in the middle of midfield, we need another star in there and we will be fine.

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05 Nov 2017 20:16:35
Syd
So if we go out and buy a player he will come in and play great?
Who honestly played well today, some good players out there today had very poor games.

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05 Nov 2017 20:21:24
Obviously a lot depends on what Jose wants to do. But from what the editor has said we are looking at the position where most of us feel we need to strengthen. If we are adopting the 3 CB formation then we will likely need another CB, this ties in with what the editor says.

I don't need to mention the fullback positions as they are obviously areas we need to improve and areas Jose is looking to improve. Perisic is a player Jose really wanted, but screwed up by Woodward. Hence the tension. A box to box midfielder that will replace Fellaini in all likelihood.

So we don't need ten new players, but we did do when Jose took over. Anyway, let's get behind the team and hope our fortunes change.

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05 Nov 2017 20:22:56
Never a guarantee a signing will work out well Jred. But managers buy players to improve the team/ squad. So that's what Jose will do.

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05 Nov 2017 20:36:13
Syd
But he has bought players .
Buy a new cb? Lindelof can't even get in the squad.
We lack a creative 10? that why we bough Miki, Mata can't get in the squad .
Buy a wide player? are we getting the best out of either martial or Rasford?

United like all teams will buy players every summer but at some point you need to deliver.
Start of the season most people would of been happy with a midfield 3 of Miki Herrera matic there not bad players . Options of martial rash and lukaku up top .

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05 Nov 2017 20:51:04
Lindelof isn't deemed ready and from what I have seen have to agree with Jose. He was also a MU target prior to Jose taking over. So don't think he was a Mourinho signing per se. As the editor said Smalling and potentially Jones were available for sale during the summer, so I guess one or both still have a price. Also with playing three at the back, you need six as Jose likes two players for each position.

I guess you could say same for Miki, he doesn't really have someone pushing him in that position. I guess we can wait and see what Jose wants, but for me we need to strengthen 3-4 positions, maybe five in the squad.

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05 Nov 2017 21:07:25
Syd
Was lindelof really a United target before Jose come to the club he had only made 15 first team appearances?

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05 Nov 2017 21:22:49
Didn't we fail to sign him the season before? I'm probably wrong. Maybe he was a Jose choice? But certainly isn't ready yet anyhow. Mind you Vidic didn't start too well, but didn't turn out to shabby.

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05 Nov 2017 21:48:45
Looked at him at Xmas syd.

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05 Nov 2017 19:00:14
A few players have lost their mojo atm, hopefully Jose can get them playing well again. We need Pogba and Ibra back. Rojo looked good last season, he's even a decent LB. Obviously fullback positions need sorting, right forward and a decent hardworking box2box midfielder. We needed quite an overhaul, but couldn't do it all in two summers. I'm confident we'll complete build this summer and look a more balanced side, with a stronger bench.

Believable0 Unbelievable3

05 Nov 2017 19:20:39
I thought Rojo started to look good at CB but was usually pretty shocking at LB and I'm really not sure Ibra is the answer to any question, he is clearly talented and an icon but he is slow and ponderous. When we had Lukaku, Martial and Rashford on the pitch we looked dangerous but there was no link from the midfield. With what we have now I think 4-3-3 might be the way forward with Martial and Rash dropping back when needed to strengthen the middle. Matic, Pogba and Fellaini/ Herrera is a strong combination and with that pace up front we will worry anybody. I'm not sure why we need a specific number 10 when Pogba is back.

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05 Nov 2017 19:26:47
How many windows do you need to complete the project?

How many more 90 million duds do you need to buy?

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05 Nov 2017 19:32:26
Jose arrived last year Malaga.

How many does Wenger need?

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05 Nov 2017 19:55:50
Wow spanked by city malaga, really pal worry about your own house.

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05 Nov 2017 20:12:42
We played a midfield of Miki Herrera and matic, 2 of them players bought by Jose and the answer to improve them is buy more .
Them 3 are all good players, people where raving about Miki when we bought him, Herrera was everyone's favourite player matic just a few week ago was the reason Chelsea was struggling and we where winning .

How many of our players played well today? Maybe the answer is to get the players we have and the players Jose has bought playing well .
City are playing out of there skin but players like sterling otamendi delph stones have got dogs abuse on here .

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05 Nov 2017 20:25:49
Jred, you're wasting your breath mate, we need to spend million NHS and buy better players.

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05 Nov 2017 20:29:59
I think we need Milinkovic-Savic, Fabinho, the wb Martin and peirrera back. Goodbye to shaw, the wig and Herrera or mata.

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05 Nov 2017 20:35:45
Our players are certainly lacking confidence Jred, i've said that. It's clear Miki and Lukaku are having a dip in form. It's not permanent and doesn't mean they need replacing. But I think Jose is not a huge fan of Herrera and Fellaini looks on his way, so can see us buying a busy, hardworking box to box midfielder.

Pep has gotten the players playing well and their tails are certainly up at the moment for sure. Form and confidence plays a massive part and agree you don't just keep buying and selling when players lose form. But LB is a concern. RB is a concern. We needed another midfielder today so that is a concern. And I think right forward needs something.

What do you think we need? What would you do in the summer if you were manager?

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05 Nov 2017 20:59:04
Tony is fine at rb imo lb is a concern.
Jose went into the season with Carrick fellaini pogba Herrera and matic it's not a bad set of options .

But why are we talking about next season at the start of November?
What if we buy a new number 10 only 2 year after buying Miki and that doesn't work out?
When do you say we need to get the best out of this squad never mind about next year .
At the start of the season would people of been happy with a front 3 of lukaku rash martial with Miki at 10 pogba matic cm lindelof bailly ddg.

If city where not playing well now people would be saying they need to replace delph stones otamendi sterling but that team as much as I hate to say it is playing the best footy in Europe.

As well as city are playing they like every other team will buy again in the summer and next season is another season . the important thing is they are getting the best out of there players in the here and now.

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05 Nov 2017 21:17:55
Of course it's important we get the best out of the players we have now. That is what we pay Jose for. I couldn't agree more. But I'm simply saying what I think we need to do to complete the rebuild.

Fellaini and Carrick will likely be gone and I don't think Herrera is someone Jose trusts. So when we need a three man midfield, I don't think Jose is happy with Herrera, Matic and Pogba.

Valencia is getting old, he's a winger converted into a fullback. He's not a bad player at all. I like him, but we need to build for future and like I said he needs ice pack after every game.

This isn't a knee jerk reaction to our defeat, this is what I think we need to get us to the highest level. I said this before the season kicked off.

I genuinely believe we'll turn this around. I think we will look a different side over the winter schedule.

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05 Nov 2017 21:44:53
You don't complete a rebuild, next summer we will need to replace some players the following summer we will need to replace some and on and on and on .
Jose has been very vocal in his support for fellaini you seem to be leaving him out of our 3 man cm this year .
Jose has a cm of matic pogba fellaini Herrera and Carrick this year next year is another season .

Are we getting the best out of our players now? What's to say we will next year?
As a team you could be playing well but just need that extra player or that touch of quality but is this team actually playing well at the moment?

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05 Nov 2017 22:37:35
Fellaini could be gone January Jred, that's why I am taking about another midfielder.

I think I'm losing sight of your point. I completely agree with you about us not playing well. I've said it for weeks now.

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05 Nov 2017 23:00:56
Syd
My point is I'm more concerned with our manager getting the best out of our players this season than looking at next season .
It all sound like excuses if we lose we need to buy x y z. Sometimes you just need to play better.

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06 Nov 2017 08:14:26
Who's the £90m dud? Pogba is our best player, Malaga. Make no mistake about it he's instrumental to us and the no coincidence we've been poor since he's been injured.

AJH, rojo is decent at CB, by but woeful at LB. we need a top class specialist LB, asap. As for ibra I don't think we miss him one bit.

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05 Nov 2017 18:50:18
I think we'll try hard for Ozil.

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05 Nov 2017 19:21:02
I hope not, I watched Arsenal today and he was slow and lazy, I don't see what he would add.

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05 Nov 2017 19:33:36
Jose likes him, lots of talk Ozil will have an offer from us to consider.

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05 Nov 2017 20:11:55
I really hope not, I think he's an ass. He arrived with a great reputation and could have had the impact of Silva, or Sanchez, or Salah but he has been a passenger in an average Arsenal team. Really not what we neee.

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05 Nov 2017 20:17:02
Jose liked Miki.

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05 Nov 2017 20:26:56
Ozil has been here he many years? And what has he done, nothing.

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05 Nov 2017 20:27:37
Think he would strengthen us, in games more than miki that’s for sure.

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05 Nov 2017 20:37:34
I think we might move for ozil but he was just as bad as Miki today.

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05 Nov 2017 20:42:10
So he bought him. What's your point?

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05 Nov 2017 21:11:48
What your point syd? Ozil has been poor for arsenal so what if Jose likes him .
He liked Miki as well what's the difference.

If Miki is not the answer is ozil?

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05 Nov 2017 21:24:51
No, I merely stated that I believe Jose will go for him. That's all.

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05 Nov 2017 22:06:42
Fresh reports saying Ozil's reps are asking for a large signing on fee and salary. That was of course inevitable with him running his contract down.

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05 Nov 2017 21:50:18
Ah right, I have a feeling he might as well tend to agree with ajh not sure he has done much in the epl.

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05 Nov 2017 22:40:57
I don't think he's pulled up trees either. But I don't think he's been happy at Arsenal for sometime now. I guess it's Jose's call, if he wants him then we'll make him an offer.

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06 Nov 2017 06:12:33
if Milner got 12 mill to sign on for Liverpool I am sure Ozil will have his share of suiters and get a hefty sign on fee. I am undecided on him and not sure where we would play him. If we did buy him that's the end of herrera for me as i can't see how he gets any game time if we have no injuries. Mata too and can see both being sold in the summer.

I don't believe we will buy him btw.

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05 Nov 2017 18:39:55
Well i think that proves the point that GNEV made we don't have that special player to link midfield to attack especially when pogba out (fabregas much as I dislike him, silva, keg ect, maybe pierra could be the answer, if we don't find one soon we're going to carry on struggling against the top teams, we have the spoilers now add the creativity.

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05 Nov 2017 18:51:04
What worried me more was it was the 2nd time this season we've been outfought by a team who wanted it more. Yes we do lack creativity without pogba but we also seem to not pass to feet and hold onto the ball, it does'nt help that our fullbacks/ wingbacks lack quality for the position, mkhitarian is a passenger and herrera does'nt work with matic. I think we are still an average team that will fight for a top four position and maybe a cup again. City and Spurs are a better unit.

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05 Nov 2017 18:39:55
Well i think that proves the point that GNEV made we don't have that special player to link midfield to attack especially when pogba out (fabregas much as I dislike him, silva, keg ect, maybe pierra could be the answer, if we don't find one soon we're going to carry on struggling against the top teams, we have the spoilers now add the creativity.

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05 Nov 2017 18:09:46
out played, out fought, no Spark, no leaders, a very worrying performance.
I can't see were a goal is coming from.

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05 Nov 2017 18:30:40
Sorry didn’t you spend £90 million on Lukaku for that?

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05 Nov 2017 18:33:58
short and to the point red 1067 -and spot on with your opinion.

Miki is woeful, Herrera has regressed, no attacking full backs, lukaku going through a lean spell -

We look like a top 6 team, no more, no less. A good run will get us a top 4 spot, a good run might get us a cup but we are no better than that.

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05 Nov 2017 18:59:07
I feel a little sorry for lukaku as without service what is he supposed to do, a lot of what he had to deal with were passes to his head that he could only flick on. We lack width because our fullbacks are square pegs in round holes. Now your probably going to say valencia has done well in the position and he has to an extent but he's shocking offensively same for young. Mkhitarian for me is not good enough in this league and believe it or not i'd like him to do well. So no sevice from the flanks no intricate passing. Without pogba we are bang average.

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05 Nov 2017 19:36:24
Get proper defenders on both flanks and that helps for a start. Always build from the back. That allows the midfielders a platform to be attacking and creative. Pogba is a big miss but we also need someone who has that extra bit of magic and charisma to lift the team. We need a Messi esque player or a Cantona if you will. Ibra fulfilled that role last year to a large extent but it is unfair and unrealistic to ask him to do it again this year. Mikki is a top top player who is short on confidence. He relies on quick passing and players with vision like him to work with. In midfield we have Herrera who is playing too deep and Fellaini who just isn't that sort of player. Pogba is out and Lingard is not quite good enough. Mata is a a lovely guy and good player but he can get in the way of Mikki and frankly lacks a yard of pace and that's being kind. The 1999 team had two midfielders/ wingers in Beckham and Giggs playing with Keane and Scholes that's the blue print we should be looking at. They all complemented each other bit also were very very good individually. That's what City have now and are why they are doing so well. I would pay Arsenal 50million to get Sanchez. His work ethic is great and he would make more space for others sand definitely it Ely impact on games. In the meantime I can't wait to see Pogba back he will make a huge difference. All that being said we just have to face facts that right now City are a huge leap ahead of us and will win the league this year unless they implode which I cannot see happening.

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05 Nov 2017 15:49:14
So it looks like 5 at the back. In for a long night.

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05 Nov 2017 16:13:28
You didn't think it'd be 352?

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05 Nov 2017 16:18:22
Ball hasn't been kicked and you are already crying.

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05 Nov 2017 13:34:48
Just watching the spurs game and for all of tge poch fans on here, palace are more than holding their own.

Infact, zaha should have had 2 goals by now.

Really can't see spurs winning a trophy this season and where would that leave poch in terms of a manager?

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05 Nov 2017 13:46:18
Because they've been poor today he's a bad manager? Top class manager for me. He has considerably less resources than Jose, pep, etc. Once Jose has gone I'd be more than happy with Poch.

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05 Nov 2017 13:52:44
I agree on the one point stand I would be more than happy with poch after jose with the caveat that he wins something soon.

Spurs have not been good today if you were a palace fan you would be devastated to come from this game with nothing.

Also if lukaku had a game like kane had today he would be crucified by everyone.

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05 Nov 2017 14:03:25
No i'm not saying today makes him a bad manager. Todays game just highlights how they aren't necessarily playing as well as some think (for now)

What i meant was IF he wins nothing again this season, hypothetically of course - then where would that leave him? Would you guys want him at UTD?

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05 Nov 2017 14:46:22
Be happy with who we already have. Jose is a winner.

Until he goes support him and stop melting over what ifs.

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05 Nov 2017 14:49:59
👍 FZZ.

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05 Nov 2017 14:52:55
Good point FZZ. Fully agree.

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Kylian Mbappe

05 Nov 2017 13:28:54
{Ed's Note - we have posted a new player profile about, Kylian Mbappe

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Premier League Preview Sunday 5th November 2017

05 Nov 2017 05:04:18
{Ed's Note - we have posted a new article entitled, Premier League Preview Sunday 5th November 2017

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