Manchester United banter 3

06 May 2024 22:26:12
Could EtH have picked a better team from those available? Could he have done anything tactical for that team to play better?
It’s a bloody mess but surely it all can’t be down to just the manager?
An eleven year low point - and no chance of top 7 now….

07 May 2024 07:44:41
Not often I would agree with Jamie Carragher but we appear to be one of the worst coached teams in the league. The first goal was a picture of how not to set up, how not to get behind the ball. How have we had so many training injuries? When we were getting training injuries and at a key point of the season our CB in tatters ETH doesn’t take care of them and we get more injuries. Accountability doesn’t go away.

06 May 2024 22:07:42
I know a number of posters on here want eth to stay on next year. It's not my choice as tactically I think he's limited and he's been found out massively in a bigger league. But never mind that, honestly how could ineos justify keeping him after this season? I predict we will lose all our remaining games and the cup final. Should that happen then surely it's a hard sell to the fans to persist with the manager? Also we are hardly an attractive proposition to new signings are we.

06 May 2024 22:34:35
Can't understand anyone's reasoning in keeping him.
Signings woeful
Set up woeful
No patterns of play
This is how he wants us to play. It's a joke.

06 May 2024 22:40:32
???.

07 May 2024 08:31:37
Said on the other page, his postion is now untenable. Every single player had that look on their face last night - they know it too, and a good 50% cannot wait to get out of there too.

07 May 2024 09:06:38
Let the door hit them on their arse on the way out.

06 May 2024 22:01:05
As bad as it gets, you can add Mount to list to go too, the only players who are trying are Garnacho, Mainoo and Dalot Ralf was so right when he said open heart surgery, the entire spine of the team needs replacing. Hopefully Sir Jim can help us.

06 May 2024 22:40:19
Yes, Jose, Ralf, EtH have all said the squad needs an overhaul, which is in the process of happening.
Finally the board are actioning the calls for the overhaul.

06 May 2024 23:14:32
What do you mean ralf was right. Eth brought 9 of those starting tonight into the teM.
Only t he 2 full backs were not eth players.
This is not a case of the same players throwing a manager under the bus these were all eth signing or players who came from our academy.

Stop this nonsense of its the same old players. Its not this was full of eths hand picks.

07 May 2024 06:51:47
That wasn't what I was referring to, but you go and jump in there champ.

They referred to the whole setup needing a change, just so that your next reply is aligned to actual topic.

07 May 2024 07:29:32
Ken do you think ETH’s first choice was Johnny Evans?

06 May 2024 21:35:22
Please get ten hag out of our club, he's awful, he's alienated sancho and rashford, if we sell rashford and he goes somewhere and finds form like sancho it will be unforgivable, too many players are injury prone, I hope sir Jim, sorts this mess out asap, as players we hope to sign will go elsewhere rather than join our mess, we need Ashworth in now, and a new manager in before the end of the season, to give a glimpse of how it could be, whether it's zidane, or tuchel. And stop buying players that are past it.
Rant over.

06 May 2024 22:39:04
Sancho hasn't found form. he's had one decent game, and even then Dortmund didn't put PSG game to bed.

06 May 2024 22:45:54
The same rashfird who’s been poor all season

Hardly runs back doesn’t make runs in behind

Same sancho he let have months off “to find himself”

The manager is far down the list of who should be gone.

06 May 2024 23:17:08
He is gone in the summer. He knows it we know it everybody knows it except for a few delusional people still buying eth's bull.
No way sjr and team are buying his rubbish.
There were a few that defended ole till the end too.
But we just have to sack it up until he is sent packing.
Can't wait.

07 May 2024 00:35:56
Rashford will never find his form. Might play well few games but that is it. He has been the same for last 8 9 years and that won't change.

Sancho TBH i wouldn't say has found his form. He played really well last week but that is it. He has been there for 5 months and has scored 3 goals with numerous below average performance.

Attitude wise as well, I would much rather see both of these players leave.

07 May 2024 06:56:34
Absolute plastic fans. That's what this club should get rid of, before even Casemiro! An absolute disgrace to call yourself fans.

To think anyone defending Sancho and using one game as a reason to attack the current sitting manager, can even attempt to call themself a fan is a national disgrace.

07 May 2024 10:39:58
That's right Jim. Your the tp man .

07 May 2024 10:47:47
A national disgrace?? jeepers someone call the police. Sorry MI 5.
It's of national importance???.

07 May 2024 12:12:38
Wow, I know there's insane amount of injuries but that was bad! Where do we go as a club from here. one good thing thou, the away support was fantastic. Those players simply don't deserve that support.

05 May 2024 18:15:33
Maguire out now for 3 weeks. Evans our only cb. Surely someone has to be looking at the training methods because this season has been beyond a joke.

05 May 2024 20:41:56
He was carrying an injury, but sacrificed himself last game because he was our only fit CB. I imagine his body has now broken down after playing with injury. This season we have been decimated with injury, no fit CB, one fit full back, it has had a huge impact.

06 May 2024 07:14:33
Louis Jackson might get his chance, it will be good to see some of the academy step up, see if they can be part of the squad for next year.

06 May 2024 09:03:06
Despite the fact I don’t rate Maguire one bit this is actually good news. Now it seems we are forced into playing youth. Given that Europe is all but gone which is bad news it allows us to see what’s on the table as far as acadamy players are concerned.

06 May 2024 11:48:14
I think there’s a big difference between giving youth a chance and chucking a young lad into a defence leaking goals alongside a midfielder who’s past it. Very hard for a young player in these circumstances.

06 May 2024 12:39:20
Yes Danny it's a tough call. It's a pretty daunting but a huge opportunity for a young player.
How unlucky is big willy. It was a great opportunity for him.
How we have nearly 50% more muscle injuries over the nearest other club for muscle injuries is beyond me.
It's simply not down to bad luck. It has to be down to something we are doing or not doing. It's crazy.

05 May 2024 18:09:30
So it's looking increasingly more like an 8th placed finish and no Europe next year. While that sounds like a disaster for a club like United it's a fair reflection of where we are and maybe isn't a bad thing. Yes it will make it harder to attract players, yes the accountants won't be happy but a smaller squad and more time on the training pitch might be beneficial. Let's face it we've been awful this year and our league position now reflects that, hopefully the ineos mantra will move us onwards and upwards from next season on. We can only live in hope.

05 May 2024 19:47:21
If the number of injuries in training continues at the same pace, more time on the training field will be a disaster, particularly with a smaller squad!

But, basically, I agree, a year without the extra games any European endeavor would require could be advantageous in the long term. It will also save me from having to pay for a year of streaming to watch us play a bunch of mediocre European teams in a meaningless competition relative to our past stature. a competition which has no upside since anything other than winning it would be an embarrassment.

05 May 2024 19:57:05
It might aid the club in offloading players in the summer aswell. There won't be the need to have such a large squad and hopefully a few spaces can be filled by promoting a few youth players.

05 May 2024 20:05:14
More time on the training pitch. We’ll get even more injuries!

05 May 2024 20:07:12
Why is that Tim? We haven’t played this weekend yet.

05 May 2024 22:42:46
I’m not confident wazza that’s why. I’m not sure we will win any of our last 4 games. Large volume of Injuries, poor form and the level of opponent aren’t giving me much hope.

06 May 2024 04:24:03
Past stature. Nailed it right there.

06 May 2024 23:26:07
Good post Tim I'd say your right 8th or 9th looks likely.
Good foresight from you but to be fair it didn't take genius to work it out? only a fool would not have suspected that result.

05 May 2024 18:04:17
Maguire has picked up a muscle injury.

Do we have any returning CB's or will we see McCas at the back?

05 May 2024 18:22:35
Isn’t mctominay injured too?

05 May 2024 20:07:35
Ah yes he went off didn’t he!

05 May 2024 10:11:01
I just want to congratulate former Manchester United coach Kieran McKenna for the phenomenal job he has done with Ipswich Town, back to back promotions from League One to the EPL in two years is a fantastic achievement.

A lot was said about the coaches at United, particularly McKenna and Carrick under Ole.

Yet both have shown they are excellent young coaches, particularly McKenna. He comes across really well in his interviews with the press, intelligent with a personality that is easy to like.

He is one to keep an eye on, he probably isn't ready for the United job, and if we are to go for someone inexperienced in top flight management then I think it'd need to be further down the line when all of the new structure is in place at the club to support the manager. Also I'd imagine McKenna would not be willing to leave Ipswich this summer after he's done so much work to get them to the EPL he deserves his chance to show what they can do in the biggest league in the world.

Well done Kieran, welcome back to the EPL and we look forward to welcoming you back to Old Trafford next season with Ipswich, although hopefully it's not a winning return.

05 May 2024 10:25:48
Fantastic story and a brilliant club. Happy to see them back in the big time.

05 May 2024 11:07:30
He’s done a fantastic job, two promotions on the bounce is an incredible achievement. There’s no reason for him to rush to a bigger club at just 37, he could have another 25 years ahead of him so we need to see how he fares in the Prem which is the biggest challenge of all, and if he does well he should think long and hard about his next move.

Carrick has shown great character this season, from having a really poor start to finishing just outside the playoffs. He can be proud that he managed to turn it around and well done to the club for sticking with him.

05 May 2024 11:12:05
Just goes to cement the fact that United are a mess when coaches can go elsewhere and shine.

Maybe Ole wasn’t that bad and was constrained like so many since SAF?

Hope for ETH yet?

05 May 2024 11:21:19
Amazing achievement.
He certainly did get a lot of stick at Utd and deservedly so, he always looked lost on the sidelines during games and said very little. Understandable perhaps given that he wasn't the manager and he's proved he did have something about him.
That aside, 'probably' not ready for the Utd job is an understatement. How many managers have looked imperious in the Championship, like Farke and Kompany, only to drop back down immediately. Let's see how he fares over the next few seasons.

05 May 2024 12:08:53
McKenna or Carrick would’ve done a better job than Ole.

05 May 2024 13:57:31
Agreed wazza.

05 May 2024 14:10:30
Back to back promotions is a great achievement.
Tough season ahead next season. I've a soft spot for Ipswich since the 70s and the Bobby Robson era there.
Nice to see them back up.

05 May 2024 14:23:49
Agree Shappy. Amazing achievement. Hope we can send some players on loan there next season. Fletcher, Amass, Wheatley, Ogunneye and maybe Forson (if he stays) are primed for a loan to a PL club. If Ipswich do well I wouldn’t be surprised if he is linked to the likes of Brighton, West Ham and etc. hope he is on the radar of INEOS.
He was never going to get a chance at United with the Primadonnas at the club. We need to build a squad of young, hungry players who are willing to change and learn if we are to get the most of a coach’s capabilities.

05 May 2024 20:02:03
A future United manager in the working. Once EtH has built it back up from the shambles Fergie started us on this road to.

06 May 2024 00:44:13
Glad to see a local lad doing well. Done a great job to finish only a point behind Leicester and ahead of the other relegated clubs.

05 May 2024 07:39:06
{Ed's Note - BlueNose1878! has posted a new article entitled, Sean Dyche is doing his job at Everton

04 May 2024 14:07:09
I was having a conversation with my son yesterday about refereeing. He is now at the stage where he feels that the standard of refereeing and the inconsistency is making a joke out of the game. VAR might be helping with offside decisions but on the down side it exposes, rather than resolves, the inconsistencies. If you're going to have VAR then surely it should be easier to be consistent on interpreting what is a hand ball or a trip justifying a penalty.

The problem starts with the ruling on the field taking precedence. We have had virtually identical hand ball situations in the last couple of games, one given against us and one not given for us. If the decision is to be reviewed by VAR anyway, it should be possible to increase consistency instead of expose it.

Today I'm watching Arsenal v Bournemouth. It's 100% clear that Havertz drags his foot intentionally over the goalkeeper's foot to win a penalty. The ref was quite reasonably fooled by the ruse, but VAR should be overturning it but failed to even ask him to review his decision.

Okay, so controversy is and always has been part of what makes the game what it is, but if the goal is to reduce or eliminate bad decisions, then the VAR officials have to have a bigger role in ensuring that the rules are applied consistently. It really shouldn't be that difficult: however, week after week the refereeing mistakes continue, only to be exacerbated by inadequate VAR application. You would think that PGMOL would want to improve the situation rather than continue on this path.

04 May 2024 14:58:37
VAR is like the Conservatives. Everyone wanted it at the start because it said it would improve things, but after a while people have realised it's not all it's cracked up to be, so now people want rid.

04 May 2024 15:26:59
Embarrassing dive, absolutely, but I see you forgot to mention the studs up challenge straight into sakas leg that somehow wasnt seemed a red card.

VAR is such a joke that I genuinely wonder if the refs are intentionally messing up to try and get it removed, a child could make better decisions!

04 May 2024 19:24:36
My latest bug bare with referees is the number of players who are blatantly diving for a penalty, the ref says no and plays on, but no booking is given.

That’s a minor point amongst the poor refereeing standards in England but it emphasises that the people making the decisions don’t know the rules, or are too scared to implement them.

The on-field refs have become bottle jobs, sometimes not giving a decision because they have VAR to check and fall back on. But the VARs are their mates who often back up the initial incorrect decision.

The way we use it and the weak mentality of those in charge is a big frustration.

Still the biggest example of our season is that handball by Romero. How that is not a penalty is beyond me. I’m not blaming the refs for our poor season because all clubs have to put up with the same refs, but you have to wonder which way the momentum may have swung if one or two decisions would’ve been given for, or against (Onana v Wolves for example) .

05 May 2024 01:42:22
I'd get rid of it. Referees are human and make mistakes. But sure what else would we have to moan about in the pub after? . Leave the mistakes to human error, suck it up and move on. It's got to the point where you can't even celebrate a goal until a few minutes after. Sucked all the spontaneity out of it. This unrealistic quest for perfection is killing the game.

05 May 2024 03:06:18
I agree noucamp, but I feel we have opened pandora's box now. can't see it ever being removed now. It us so sad when players now score and can't celebrate for 3 mins while we check a toenail.

05 May 2024 03:26:31
The laws of the game were not written to stand up to the level of scrutiny that they are now subjected to.
Imò var should not make any judgement on freeze frames or slow motion. It completely distorts the viewpoint. 2 looks in real time is enough to say if the error is clear and obvious.
The ref on the pitch needs to be in charge.

All the anger and resentment is being fuelled by the media.
Every game in every league in every country from the dog n duck to the epl there will be mistakes.
At the top level var should be there to ensure no blatant errors get through and no more.
Broadcaters need to stop focusing on every contentious decision.
Interviewer's need to stop asking managers about refs decisions.
In what other sport does this moaning and disrespect of the officials happen?
Never or very rarely coming out of a rugby match or gaa match or tennis match or cricket or aussie rules is the talk about the ref. Soccer fans are pathetic towards officials. But then again football fans are the only ones that can play better than the pros manage better than the managers, ref better than the refs Run clubs better than the directors. Again that happens rarely in other sports. Football is pretty unique in that.
For the most part every other sport focuses on the players the action, the tactical analysis the coaching the skills. But not the football media.
The officials need to get tough with the players.
Players need to respect each other, the rules, themselves, the fans and the game. Too few of them do. I think every single footballer would cheat in a heartbeat. Then cry like a baby when caught.
Can the same be said of golfers or snooker players or rugby players. ( they don't cry when caught)
I've never been to a rugby match where 20,000 people abuse the ref every 5 mins or a basketball or nfl?
Football is septic from the fans through to the players to the coaches. Refs are the least of footballs problems.

05 May 2024 06:54:32
Refs are one of the biggest problems.

They get all the power and basically never answer for anything.

Sure, players need to show respect, but when you get calls against your team all the time, don't you get to be angry? Same goes for the fans. And it is not just penalties or offsides, for example, they tend to let clubs like City make some "small" fauls and get away with it, while other clubs cant.

As for other sports, players argue with refs everywhere, just not as often. But it is not easy to regulate it. For example, basketball gives technical foul with 1 free throw, which is a good enough punishment when taking in account basketball rules. What could you implement in football? Orange card for arguing? 5 minutes off the pitch? Yellow card seems a bit too much at the moment tbh. Also, it is normal to have a reaction, they are human beings, not robots.

Not that I want to defend the players, I do think they became too soft, but refs are terrible and big part of the problem too.

05 May 2024 08:13:17
the refs on the pitch are a lot better than the guys sitting in that room in charge of Var. I think if you were going to rate them over a season from a 1-10 its a 2.

There is hardly a game they don't screw it up and then they roll out the pgmol guy mid week on sky to justify bs decisions. Complete rubbish.

There is no pressure and very little consequences when they screw things up and every once a while they don't referee the next weekend. Compare that to a bad tackle by a player and he is out 3 weeks or a manger if he says something afterwards and he is watching things from the stands next week.

Given the amount of money involved in the game and how it affects millions of fans positively or negatively, they are just no where near the standards that is needed.

05 May 2024 09:05:44
Ahmad

“the refs on the pitch are a lot better than the guys sitting in that room in charge of Var”

The refs on the pitch ARE the guys sat in that room in charge of VAR.

E. g. David Coote was the VAR at Luton on Friday night. He then refereed Arsenal v Bournemouth on Saturday lunch time.