Manchester United banter 6

05 Apr 2024 14:18:04
Another great article from Laurie Whitwell, IMO, the one of the two best journalists on anything united, Andy Mitten the other.

Seems like the club want to stick with ETH. Delighted to hear that.

All you have to do is look over at Arsenal and admire how they stuck with a manager that finished 8th, 8th and 5th in his first 3 seasons. Losing 13, 13 and 10 games. He was under heavy heavy pressure but there was a plan and a willingness from the board to stick by their man.

I hope the same for ETH.

05 Apr 2024 14:27:52
I don't hope for the same Angel.
If they (ineos) are seeing something I'm not then he will be kept.
We have no other hope other than to trust their judgement.
Arteta is a good example of how things can develop positively.

05 Apr 2024 14:39:50
The difference is that you could see the steady improvement at Arsenal under Arteta as the seasons progressed, we can hardly say that about ETH can we.

05 Apr 2024 15:01:57
I can't think of a coach with a worse game management strategy than EtH.

05 Apr 2024 15:23:58
Really ken? I thought you were all for him ?

Arteta lost 36 league games in his first 3 seasons, finishing 8th, 8th and 5th. Many Arsenal fans wanted his head on a platter.

But I'm not sure Arteta had to deal with what ETH has had to deal both structurally at the club and injury wise.

ETH has been involved in all aspects of planning for next season, surely they wouldn't have him work that closely with them if he were to depart.

Arteta is definitely a good example.

05 Apr 2024 15:25:39
Simo, 8th, 8th and 5th, first 3 seasons, 36 games lost. What were you seeing? ?

The point I am trying to make is that they stuck by him, allowed him time to both recruit the right player and implement his style and currently it looks like it is paying off big time.

But go back 4 years ago, they wanted him gone. Thank god fan forums don't make the decisions. No one would last on here.

05 Apr 2024 15:26:52
Ken, I'll also add. What other options do they have? It's not the worst thing in the world to let him continue under the correct structure and with some new blood and give him till Xmas time or until a better option becomes available. All this providing that he doesn't turn it around next season.

05 Apr 2024 15:43:22
Southgate or Potter if ETH goes. Neither one fills me with any confidence. I’d rather stick with ETH for another year and give the new directorate time to identify the right person than bring in another new manager before they’re in place.

05 Apr 2024 15:44:42
Angel,
I don't know the options no more than you do.
The issue is everybody is a compromise on pep he is standout imo.
In my experience (not Football related) it best to be decisive when making management decisions and not let things drift in hope they will improve.
I don't think you can compare arteta to lvg as their situation is very different.
Arteta is a great example of what we are trying to achieve.
I don't think that eth is the man to achieve it for us. I see traits in his management style that are not conducive to success long term.

05 Apr 2024 16:01:28
People want him gone, people want him to stay. Its all just conjecture, no one knows the full picture of what's happening at United and no one will. People are just shouting louder about their opinion than others. But that's all it is - opinions.

Its just laughable that once again the posts since the game yesterday are focusing on ETH and managers, rather than talking about any of the players or the game itself. Might as well rename this the ErikTenHagrumours page.

05 Apr 2024 16:05:35
Eth is more compostable to lvg imo I meant to say.
Why did you want lvg fired ( if you can remember)

05 Apr 2024 16:51:47
Players fail for umpteen managers often before they excel for another. Teams can excel under a manager and fail under a different one. Happens all the time.
I've always said for every ying there is a yang.
Eth came in and I bought in 100%. He was not my 1st choice but I was 100% behind him and his strategy tbh anybody was going to be better than ole.
He had a very good 1st season the team showed significant improvement although it did subside a bit towards the back of the season.
This season with the exception of dalot garnacho and mainoo no player has played up the their ability.
Luton have scored more than us. 15 teams have scored more than us.
We have dis-improved considerably both individually and collectively.
Injuries have played a part but no more than at most clubs this season.
Our worst ever cl campaign and what's likely to be our worst epl campaign.
It's not all down to the players that keep throwing serial managers under the bus.
Onana Heaton bendyir, awb, maguire martinez, malacia, garnacho mainoo, Mount, casimero, vdb, rasmus Anthony amad pellistri, Bruno have all only played under ole and eth (excluding interim ralph) only Evans Shaw and rashford go back to lvg and Jose. And mctom lidelof and dalot go back as far as Jose.
Loads of our useless players have left and won titles again, darmian ibra blind, Armenian micky, sanchez Di Maria herrera. Cl latter rounds etc. Not useless players.
Where we right to sack those managers? Yes
Well none have won anything since except moyes.
Lots of the useless players have won since they left.
Eth came in on the back of the successful and good to watch ajax team he managed.
Lots of players excelled in that team.
De light sold twice for big money and couldn't get into either team at juve and now bayern on a regular basis.
Vdb well we all know how that's gone.
Zyiech. Bit part at Chelsea moved around a bit.
Fdj. Not lived up to expectations and won nothing at barca
Anthony from the next gen ajax team another we know about not lived up to expectations.
But when they were all together they looked great at ajax.
Sometimes circumstances are perfect for players and coaches to excel.
Some coaches get players playing above themselves as part of a collective unit. Fergie was the master of that imo and klopp also.
There are traits I recognise in eth that imo will not lead to long term sustainable success.
We have plenty of players I'd like to move on too as I think they have had plenty of chances too.

05 Apr 2024 17:07:49
I think ETH has 3 games, main one being the FA cup game if we lose that i can see him being shown the door.

05 Apr 2024 17:07:51
Arteta absolutely did not deal with all the issues facing ten Hag, it's as simple as that.

To some, the injury crisis lands as a convenient, if not lazy, excuse.
To others, the reality of it lends support for the notion of ten Hag having a mare.
I'm in the latter camp.

Arteta's never had a season with this combination - a new Keeper with a markedly different style, 5 out of the 6 senior CBs being on and off the treatment table all season missing 65 games collectively, one LB out for the season and the other missing 24 games due to his own injury gremlins, plus the 21 games missed by the only RB who hasn't frequently been required to cover at LB.

Away from the pitch, he's had the ownership/ investment saga, he's had the legal and commercial concerns regarding Greenwood, he's had Sancho being a prick.

I know some of the anti-Erik bods will overlook the above and that's fine, but their opinions remain ill-informed and, frankly, weak af if they don't consider the above to be contributing factors of the shambles we've witnessed.
Whatever level of failure you want to accuse a person of, there's not one single other manager in our club's history who's had to deal with some of the pressures faced by ten Hag.

I don't think ten Hag is anywhere close to a Pep, Klopp, or any other suppository-sounding mofo, but he's definitely had a rough ride.

From Whitwell's piece, I expect ten Hag to be given next season as the acid test.
The details and nuances concerning the direction that the club takes under the wily gaze of SJR and his team will be more tangibly apparent to ten Hag than to any of us and will subsequently decide his fate - sink or swim.

05 Apr 2024 17:24:26
You're right ken, neither of us know to be honest, probably best that we both stay quiet on it ?

If INEOS persist with him, will you say you were wrong?

05 Apr 2024 17:33:38
Ork, I'm not anti Eric and I think he has handled well a number of difficult issues.

Also, he has had a lot of on field problems to work around such as all the injuries and the useless tosspot called Rashford.

Having said that, I'm failing to see any real organisation or coaching or playing style or even basic motivation of the players. It's just a shambles.

It's impossible to endorse a manager whose team is so flaky and unpredictable.

05 Apr 2024 17:59:17
Angel of course I will. I've no issue being wrong i'm wrong about stuff everyday sometimes important stuff unlike an opinion on a situation I've no control over.
This is unimportant in life really.
I'll be disappointed in myself I have judged it wrong but in my life I get so much more wrong than right I'll get over it writhing a few mins I'm sure.
Being right more than wrong on important stuff is what matters to me and to us all.
I'll also be shocked if they stick with him as I believe they will see obvious things I'm seeing from a leadership perspective. Not withstanding I only see what you see and not anything behind the scenes.
I've said from the very outset I'll support whatever the ineos and new team decide they are our best hope for the future.
I'm sure you'll do the same.

05 Apr 2024 19:02:51
I've already admitted to being wrong I defended eth all they way up to end Jan. I admit that was a gross error of judgement.

05 Apr 2024 20:53:40
I think, ken, given ed002 saying potter or Southgate, we are much better off keeping ETH in charge.

Those 2 fill me with no confidence whatsoever, jesus.

06 Apr 2024 07:37:15
Simo1975

Not true and arsenal were a mess for arteta's first 2 years. Even in his third season they started with 3 straight league defeats and tons of noise he was getting sacked.

They got better after that and really turned the corner after the Christmas break and had one of the best records and followed that up with last years title challenge.

05 Apr 2024 09:29:29
Genuine question:

If INEOS came out and said that next season would all be about getting high earners off the wage bill, giving kids a try and having a year that looks great for FFP, ready to go for it the year after when all the back room team are finally in place, would you accept it?

Personally I'd rather a season of removing Bayindir, AWB, Varane, Eriksen, Casemiro, Rashford, Martial etc. and blooding the likes of Amass, Kambwala, Gore, Amad.

Give me an 8th place finish with kids who look like they actually want to run and be here over a 6th place finish with the multitude of mercenaries we have currently every day of the week.

The key would be communicating that fully to the fans. That next year is about saving money and trying youngsters, to see who could really be a United player the following year and longer. Then we go for it in 25/ 26.

05 Apr 2024 10:05:55
As long as the manager goes with the players you've mentioned I'd have no issue with that downsie.

05 Apr 2024 10:20:42
Think it has to be a mix of this and signing good young players. Take away the expectations of a title charge for the next couple of years but make it clear that the vision is building a squad of players who fit the system being implemented and that will grow together to make a real title winning team. No more 30 year olds, max age of 25 for signings unless it’s a great opportunity for example free signings or very good prices. Get rid of the old underperforming players and bring through a young core who want to play for each other.

05 Apr 2024 10:44:34
Downsie, that's a no brainer. I'd rather watch the ball boys/ girls playing.

05 Apr 2024 10:51:04
we would get relegated or fighting for survival. Never going to run a football club like that. Most of these kids people talk about are never going to be good enough or close to being ready.

Most team that is are good and competes at the highest level have a mix of very seasoned pros and yes they earn a lot of money and some young players. some of these kids you are mentioning are 2/ 3 years maybe more away even being physically ready to cope with the pl and good way to ruin them is sending them out there to get beat up.

Mainoo looks close to picking up an injury imo. watch that space.

05 Apr 2024 11:06:34
Mainoo looks close to picking up an injury? How does that even make sense.
I think he is being overplayed for his age right now but how you can say he like close to picking up an injury is bonkers.
Really and truly some peoples faux expertise is too much to take??.

05 Apr 2024 11:10:57
Expectations of a title charge? Have not had those for over a decade.

05 Apr 2024 11:33:08
Getting rid of many of these players and predominantly bringing youth is probably the best use of any transfer budget we may have.
Ten Hag? Not perfect, but who is.
I think he has suffered more than the fans as a result of this bag of moronic self serving gits.

05 Apr 2024 11:36:59
I think most would accept that right now, but I suspect most would also me moaning about it halfway through next season having watched inconsistent football and having had to endure a few humiliating defeats.

I said yesterday we need to be careful when making changes, evolution over revolution has always tended to be more successful in football.

Chelsea have tried to change too much too quickly, and as a result have dropped from a top four side to a mid-table side who still looks a season or so away from really being able to challenge for a UCL place.

I've said our first team squad is far too big, we need to reduce it from 36 players down to 26 players at most. So that's 10 players leaving without being replaced. There should be another 4-6 players leave with replacements brought in.

We need to be signing first 11 player quality, and shy away from signing squad players or good back up.

80% of our summer signings need to be better than the current first 11 and go straight into the team, with at most 20% of them being highly talented players with huge potential who maybe need a little developing to be first team players.

None should be "solid" back up players. There are positions where we need to strengthen where we probably have a good enough first choice option.

For example with Højlund, but we have no one else. We shouldn't be signing a solid back up player, we should be aiming for someone as good as Højlund or possibly better. That could be someone who has a proven track record or someone with the potential to be as good or better than the Dane.

We need to stop spending money on players who aren't good enough and who would only weaken the side of they played. If we are going to play a player who isn't good enough then I'd rather it be a kid from the academy who might actually be able to step up and show themselves as good enough. If they don't then it's someone we could then sell for a decent price to a club lower down the league.

Players like Elanga and Mengi have had very good season's at Forest and Luton. While ultimately I don't think either will be good enough to be first choice at United, I'd rather be giving lads like that a chance, and pushing up their value than spending 25-30m on someone who will never really be good enough, but patches a hole for a season or two.

We need better, but that will take time. 14-16 players out this summer, 5-6 players signed to replace them.

Get them settled, build them into the team with those who are good enough and start to give the team an identity.

Then the following summer it's a case of one in one out. Sell/ release a further 4-5 players, and bring in 4-5 players to replace them. Make sure the ones leaving are for the most part the 4-5 weakest players in the squad and replace them with top level talent who are or will soon be good enough to be first choice.

At that point we would be starting the 2025/ 26 season with 10-12 new players from our current squad, 17-18 of our current squad will be moved on by that point, those new players will be blended with the core of Onana, Martinez, Dalot, Mainoo, Mount, Garnacho and Højlund to give us a squad of 17-20 players who are good enough, hopefully with a few more academy lads who've stepped up and are in and around the first team squad by that time (maybe players like Harrison, Amass, Gore, the Fletcher twins, Lacey, Biancheri and McNeil) .

That's next season starting the rebuild (2024/ 25), the following season bringing most of that squad rebuild together (2025/ 26), then it'll probably be the season after when we can add the finishing touches, those few cherry on the top players or just improve on those who haven't kicked on as hoped to round out the squad. At that point we should be able to mount a serious title challenge (2026/ 27 season) .

It has to be a three year project, changing too much too soon will not shorten the length of time it will take, it will just mean we will have a bigger drop off initially and have a bigger gap to close.

We need to be able to balance this rebuild while still ideally qualifying for the Europa league at least each year. The European football is essential for several reasons. Firstly we need it for the revenue, rebuilds cost money and we need to make it to spend it. Secondly, for the prestige and the ability to attract the players we need, top players might be prepared to go to a top side playing in Europe's second tier competition, especially if they can see a plan and progress towards getting back to the top. But they will be less willing to join a side that has dropped off the map entirely. Finally, the squad needs it to help them develop. A new squad will only get better by playing games together, losing out on 8-12 games a season by not being in European football will slow that development down. Also players need to get into the rhythm of playing twice a week, keeping fitness levels up, staying match sharp etc. You often see a club have a great year and make it into a European competition, only to see them drop off the following season when they are having to get used to playing twice a week, international travel and the changes that makes to their training regime.

We need to make sure that we don't drop off too far as it just makes making up the ground again that much trickier.

That probably means that some of the players we know aren't good enough stick around next season to be replaced the season after. Players like AWB, Maguire, Lindelof, McTominay, Rashford, Bruno etc maybe they stay for another season. They do after all at least contribute to the side, even if they aren't ultimately good enough.

This summer we need to prioritise getting rid of those who add little to nothing to the side, players like Donny, Pellistri, Hannibal, Alvaro Fernandez, Williams, Sancho, Greenwood, Malacia, Shoretire and Martial. That's 10 players who have contributed literally nothing to this season, or last season.

Then we need to look at those who need upgrading due to decline/ injury players who are having a diminishing impact on the side. Players like Varane, Evans, Casemiro, Bayindir (if he wants to leave), Antony if we can find a buyer.

After those players have gone only then can we really look at moving on the likes of AWB, Lindelof, Maguire and McTominay. In truth they probably need to stay next season otherwise we'd be looking at moving on 19 players in total, which is just far too much.

Focus on the spine of the team, two CB's, at least on CM ideally two, a ST who can challenge Højlund, then a LB who can challenge Shaw.

We probably need to keep AWB as we won't be able to bring in full backs on both sides and as we have seen this season LB needs to be the priority. We probably won't be able to bring in a RW, especially if we can't shift Antony. While it's a position of need we do have Garnacho who is making the position his own this season, as well as Amad and potentially Mount who can play there. We need to focus on that spine, games are won and lost by the centre of defence and in midfield. We currently have one defender (Martinez) and one midfielder (Mainoo) who are good enough, they both need a partner AND top quality competition/ rotation option as neither can be expected to play 50 games next season due to age or fitness.

Maybe we can sign a player or two who if flexible enough to cover two positions, a first choice in one and a top quality back up in another. Maybe we sign a CB who can play LB, or a ST who can play RW. We might need to look at players like that in the short term until we can bring in improvements across the whole squad.

05 Apr 2024 11:53:08
Ken how can you argue that Mainoo doesn't look close to picking up an injury, then make a statement that you think he is overplayed? They are intrinsically linked.

Being overplayed in football significantly increases the likelihood of picking up an injury. There is an increased risk of immediate impact injuries but also a greater susceptibility to overuse injuries due to repeated stress on the body.

05 Apr 2024 12:18:53
Kurtis I think he is being overplayed because he is 18 and is getting used to the physical demands of the league.
It's impossible to ascertain if his body is going to get injured right now. Totally impossible. There is no way to judge that.
Bruno made his pro debut at 19 and has never once missed a match through injury. Yet Phil Jones spent his career in the treatment room as has Shaw.
Prevention is better than cure but there is no way of knowing if he is close to an injury by watching him it's just nonsense talk.

05 Apr 2024 12:22:08
I’d be playing the kids now tbh…seasons gone so what’s to lose. At least they’d show the application and desire this other lot miss.

04 Apr 2024 23:19:37
Asking the Eds - who do you see as manager next season and how many new signings? I know it’s theoretical but I’m interested in your opinion.

{Ed077's Note - Potter and 6 new signings. That's just my opinion, not any inside info. }

05 Apr 2024 08:24:08
Tend to agree Ed whether we like it or not. Potter is Ashworth’s man, they know how to work successfully together, and can build a squad suited to that style. Last night has to be the final nail in the coffin for ten Hag.

{Ed077's Note - didn't OGC Nice try to bring Potter in as manager last summer? So Ineos do seem to rate him.}

05 Apr 2024 09:46:41
We just have to wait and see.
I'm not fussed at all in who comes in.
There are a couple I'd rather it not be but I really don't care because even the ones I don't like that much are upgrades on eth imo.
It will be an interesting summer that's for sure.
Sad when the off season provides more interest than the on season.

05 Apr 2024 10:11:57
I thought Southgate was still the preferred candidate if it came to it. Welcome the Rashy love-in.

05 Apr 2024 17:46:17
Thanks Ed for replying

I’m hoping SJR is more impatient on signings and we get more - maybe a new team ?.

{Ed077's Note - youre welcome Jacko.

You can't try to do too much too soon, its going to take some time. Plus you have to remember money isn't infinite.}

04 Apr 2024 18:51:46
With all the talk about the training being too intense, it was nice to hear Keane and Rio on the overlap talking about the 5-a-side games in training being so competitive that they'd kick lumps out of each other. Young players v old players taking no prisoners, but still able to play at the highest level the next game.

04 Apr 2024 19:45:15
Built different Danny.

Too easy to cry off these days. Martial for example, suddenly gets an injury when we go 1-0 down. Pogba used to pull that stunt too.

Happy made a good point earlier, the number of injuries Liverpool had in Klopp's early years is a good comparison with where we are at now. Ole seemingly used to let them do what they want, ETH is making them work, and they don't like it.

05 Apr 2024 00:22:21
I think a few of the biggest injuries this session have been suffered by eth signings.
Malacia
Martinez
Mount
Ericksen
Casimero

Newcastle have had the worst injuries this season.
Then there are 6 clubs equal including Chelsea Palace spurs Liverpool and ourselves in terms of games lost to injuries. Some clubs have very few so it's hard to understand without knowing why city have so few.

05 Apr 2024 08:46:49
4 x CBs injured in two games! What's the defence looking like sunday? Maguire and Kambwala?

05 Apr 2024 08:57:49
Maybe it is because there is a lot of competition for places at City and the players are willing to play through pain/ niggles just to get a game?

04 Apr 2024 18:15:24
Ed033 just wondering if you could do a poll please.
Who has been a been success at Manchester United. Bruno Fernández or John o shea?

Some people seem to judge success by team and others by individual numbers so just curious.
Personally I feel that a player that plays well as an individual but the team have no success, has not been successful.
Appreciate it.

{Ed033's Note -


Bruno / O'Shea poll

04 Apr 2024 22:50:37
five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, two Football League Cups, four FA Community Shields, the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA champions league

Vs

One league Cup.

How is this even a question?

04 Apr 2024 23:11:02
No I get that manc man.
I don't think any player can consider himself a success at united unless they are part of a serial winning team.
It's a team game and as a result if the teams not winning or competing then no player is a success. Not necessarily a failure but individual stats are not a measure of a successful player for me.
Naming all the world class or top players that have never won a league or cl or at worst in there competing to win the big prizes is a fairly short list. I can't consider Bruno a success until he wins or improves us considerably as a team.

05 Apr 2024 02:28:41
It depends what you consider a success though? Successful transfer or what? Liverpool fans dislike Coutinho for his faking injuries to force a move, and they won the CL the year after he left. But prior to that they loved him. He also only cost €10m or around that and was sold for €150m roughly. He played well and was mostly instrumental to most of the good things for the years he was there. Didn’t win anything, but providing entertainment whilst he was there + providing a massive profit to fund moves for Alisson and VVD, is undoubtedly a success.

Think if Bruno was sold a year or so ago at his peak value, most would have considered him a success, regardless of trophy cabinet. He’d have provided goals + assists, provided a profit on him etc. I think he’s selfish + petulant and all that’s wrong with the game with his diving + whining constantly. He was bought for €55m + €25m add ons (which given there was no success, I doubt most of them were achieved) selling him for €100m at his peak value a year or 2 ago would have been considered a success imo.

05 Apr 2024 08:49:43
Depends which era of Bruno we're talking.
I get that there's a whiny petulant character in there that no-one likes but. we have literally only 2 or 3 players who can make something out of nothing and he's one.
I'm not a fan at present, and don't think he should be captain next season, but the player we signed was magic in that first season.

05 Apr 2024 10:18:10
Bit of a dumb and irrelevant question in my view. Opinions may vary.

05 Apr 2024 10:31:59
That's why I asked the question Fizz to understand how opinions vary.
A lot of younger fans look at individuals and not the team.
Bit of a dumb reply and irrelevant in my view as opinions should vary.

04 Apr 2024 11:42:09
Reckon tonite has a draw all over it personally.
There are similarities between Chelsea and Utd, two huge clubs who went on a new journey a few years ago even if it feels like Utd have ben on one for much longer.
However where it feels like Chelsea have spent 1bn to get their dream team with it looking anything but, I'd like to think our better signings are in the seasons ahead for us. Fair enough, we've also spent 1bn over a longer period with little to show for it. Love Poch, but I reckon he's up against it more than EtH.

04 Apr 2024 12:40:26
I think Chelsea tried to change too much too soon and should actually as a warning for ourselves if trying to do that.

They had a massive squad turn over, moving on the majority of the older, more experienced players with a big focus on signing younger up and coming players.

I'm also not convinced they hired the right manager in Pochettino (who I think is a very good manager), or at least they've made signings that don't quite fit how Pochettino has tended to play.

They've also had their fair share of injuries this season, which has also made it difficult for the new players to get any traction and build those workings relationships and start to come together as a team.

That's why it's important that we get this summer right, we need to move on several players and start to refresh the squad. But we shouldn't try and do all of that in one or even two windows.

We need a smaller squad as it's currently too big, there are players who hardly ever play and they need to move on. I'd expect to see 10-14 players leave this summer, although the majority of them will be fringe players like Donny or Hannibal. I'd then expect us to sign 5-6 players maximum.

We need to look at the examples set by Liverpool and Arsenal, two big clubs that had fallen behind. They got the right set up behind the scenes, found the right manager, then spent 3 seasons slowly rebuilding their squads, allowing them to come together and develop as a group. They had challenging times, both Klopp and Arteta were laughed at and questioned during their first couple of years. The problems in their squads were highlighted, and used as sticks to beat them and for the media to say they are failing. Yet their clubs stuck the course, kept faith with the plan and vision and it all came together in the end.

That's the sort of path we should be looking to walk over the next few years.

As for tonights game, I'm really not sure how it'll go. On one hand Chelsea struggle to finish their chances, on the other we tend to give teams far more chances than we should. I think we will score, it just depends on whether we'll concede. I'd expect a low scoring game, 0-0, 1-0, 1-1 or maybe a 2-1 to either team.

I don't think the football will be high quality, but I think there is a good chance the game could be entertaining. Both sides looking to press high, but struggle to defend well, so it could end up being an end to end basketball type game, won by whoever does the best at taking their chances.

04 Apr 2024 13:47:15
Shappy
There us a good chance it will be wet tonight if it rains if it doesn't rain it might be dry.
But it might be windy but if the wind doesn't blow it will be calm and if the flood lights are on it might be bright.
The score might be nill all 1 all or if its not a draw one of the teams might win.

04 Apr 2024 15:27:16
I think we will lose handsomely
Team full of blaggers and bluffers
Sick to death of em all
The only one who can hold his head high is an 18 year old.

04 Apr 2024 15:55:45
Indeed Blackpool Red, midfield will be interesting.
Ours went missing in a major way last time out - shocking. Mainoo's rise has been one of the only positive things I can remember about this team for a while (ok, plus Garnacho) .
Chelsea have one of the best midfields in the world on paper in Caicedo and Fernandez but you wouldn't know it based on this season, they've been underwhelming to say the least.
Shappy I'm not convinced Poch is the man for them either. Other than a brilliant season at Spurs where they should probably have pipped Leicester to the league I don't think he's done enough to be at a top club. I suspect he's a manager all the players and fans love but his trophy cabinet is pretty bare.

04 Apr 2024 16:48:04
Agree with Blackpool Red. I will be surprised by any other outcome.

04 Apr 2024 16:55:11
Wouldn't argue with any of that spenno.
I like poch but as you say he has not been great in terms of trophies.
I think every new manager at a top club should get 2 seasons to see how they are shaping up unless they are really screwing up.
If there is obvious sustainable progression then you are on right track.
I agree Chelsea have a very good midfield but are poor in defence and attack despite their spend.
Poch should be doing better with what he has at his disposal no doubt. He will be lucky to get another season imo.

04 Apr 2024 17:30:03
Class ken ?.

04 Apr 2024 17:56:54
£1bn spent and one out and out young raw CF each.

04 Apr 2024 17:57:42
I like Jackson tbf. Both he and Radmus have been put in tough spots.

04 Apr 2024 19:46:14
I see ETH has dropped his "favourite" Rashford.

04 Apr 2024 20:08:33
Shappy.

We are that dire at the moment we could change the whole playing staff and every other person in the club and it would not be immediately obvious that we had done so other than different names on the shirts.

That is how far we have sunk over the last 10 years or so.

04 Apr 2024 22:44:23
Pity he didn't drop him for the full game.

05 Apr 2024 06:00:53
Totally disagree Shappy. We’ve had the same dross far too long and they need shipping out now.

Back ETH and let’s build a new squad, or sack him now and announce a new coach in the summer. Enough is enough. Last night was a joke.

03 Apr 2024 07:39:10
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Concerns about Erik ten Hag at Manchester United

03 Apr 2024 08:05:51
Your opening statement is garbage. I have a Masters in Psychology. I’ve worked in sports and business in these very topics.

For starters attitude and motivation are completely different psychological constructs. Attitudes can and do change. Some daily. Ask Tory voters from 5 and 10-years ago if you’d like an example. Ask people about their diets and eating habits. Or smoking. An attitude can change immediately based on a life experience or a single well formed argument.

Motivation: it’s the role of the manager to find out what motivates each player individually. SAF was elite level at this. So was Jose in his prime. They could make players feel like they could run through walls. And of course they change. Each of us in our work and family lives experience peaks and troughs. We are motivated by internal and external rewards (and I assume you know what they are) . Finding the right reward for the right player is key. But, and this is a big but, so is knowing when and how to punish for poor work ethic. This is where ETH is floundering and stubborn.

Anyhow Dr. Shappy. By all means have an opinion. But don’t try and sound academic about it when you clearly haven’t got a clue. It weakens your entire premise and changes people’s attitudes towards you.

Did you see what I did there?

03 Apr 2024 10:26:06
Brd.
I couldn't agree more.
I've been posting about traits I don't like to see in any manager and eth has many.
Without being on the team you can't be exact but there are certain traits that are quite obvious from the outside and you hear bits on the outside too.

03 Apr 2024 11:33:16
What more motivation would you need than the reward of winning a game of football in front of thousands of people that worship the ground you walk on? Oh yeah, not to mention the £350k a week you're getting paid to do it. £350k a week, to turn up for 90 minutes and put effort in, or at least look like you are.

This is a group of overpaid, primadonnas who have allowed countless managers be held accountable for their performances. If this was any other line of work they would have had their P45s a long time ago.

ETH, love him or hate him has no doubt divided opinion, but I'm sick of seeing the focus be on him constantly whilst the players yet again get let off. Just look at the last 15 posts here and see how many are focused on ETH.

03 Apr 2024 12:33:37
Some players simply need to go. They either don't fit the way we want to play, or they have shown they only turn it on when they need a contract. The club needs to facilitate the required outs and find some ins that can pull the team out if this mire.

Wonder how many of the squad are demotivated by seeing rashford's performances week in week out yet he still is paid the most in the squad and picked and played everytime.

How many players are frustrated by bruno playing yet another stupid pass when a simple dangerous pass was the best option.

How many are frustrated watching bruno, anthony, rashford shooting from 30 yards through traffic rather than trying to create a chance for hoylund.

Unfortunately I don't see a big clear out in the summer. So we will be the same misfit squad next year. Some manager (eth or new one) will have a lofty expectation placed on their shoulders when the squad does not match that ambition.

It is a long way back to the top.

03 Apr 2024 12:57:22
Kurtis.
Nobody I've read is giving the players a pass. I think you are so steadfast in your loathing of some players that you give the manager a pass. If you think eth is blameless for our plight I'm surprised
Everybody needs motivation. The money has little to do with it in most cases.

03 Apr 2024 13:38:37
Kurtis, you're right about the players but ETH keeps picking them.

03 Apr 2024 13:48:04
Tumble - I think those that support EtH also accept he’s not perfect or blameless but several players have now consistently under performed for different managers and the same problems are still occurring.

I think EtH was on the right lines, he wanted to sell the likes of Maguire, Mctominay, Martial, AwB etc he has also dealt with Sancho but they all still remain at the Club. It’s hard to progress and succeed when you are forced to use players that don’t fit your system or the direction you want to take.

Whilst I don’t speak for all those that went to give EtH more time, my fear is that if another manager is appointed all these players will get yet another chance.

We know Maguire can’t play a high line, we know AWB is poor in possession, we know Mctominay is also poor is possession and can’t control the midfield. A new manager is not suddenly going to change this.

The new CEO does not start until the summer and the DoF has still not been appointed. Who is going to make the decision? EtH may ultimately lose his job, I accept he’s far from perfect but I’d like the footballing structure in place first and the experts to make the decision.

I fear appointing a new manager now may cause more harm than good. There are no obvious candidates and the thought of Southgate or Potter fill me with dread.

If we accept the rebuild may take some time why not get the experts in place first and let them review the situation and make the decisions. I think most people are only saying give him another year.

I fully accept all teams suffer from injury but we have a poor, unbalanced squad and have suffered long term injuries to key players. I’m convinced that without all the injuries we’d have finished in the top 4 again.

If the EtH outers have a replacement in mind, I’m all for listening to a reasonable and articulate argument, but without the footballing structure in place I don’t trust the Club to make the right decision.

03 Apr 2024 14:22:29
Agreed DLIB, he is far from perfect, no good manager is. A very balanced post again.

We must look beyond the manager and go to the core, to the structure, the players, and the injuries to top it all off have been atrocious.

Another good manager, that will unfortunately fall on a poorly ran clubs sword. Scratch that, a terrible club.

03 Apr 2024 14:40:34
Wow angel you were pro sacking ole Pro sacking Jose Pro sacking lvg.
Who was the good manager you supported moyes?
I understand he has done pretty much as well as eth since eth came to England but is moyes the guy you think should have been given more time? Is he the good manager your refer to?
You wanted the others fired so it can only be moyes.
If you think it's an awful club why bother?
Manchester United is not an terrible club its a great club.

03 Apr 2024 14:46:12
Plenty of studies have been done on the motivation of money. It’s the most short lived motivator there is. And can be very clearly seen in sqids such as ours. Very highly paid, underperforming jokers.

03 Apr 2024 16:37:24
Tumble - I don’t want to speak for Angelred, but maybe like me and some others he has learnt over the years that maybe the manager is not the problem.

Several players have consistently demonstrated poor or inconsistent form, a poor attitude and a lack of hunger, motivation and/ or desire. This despite the appointment of several different managers. There is nothing wrong with getting to the point when debating if sacking yet another manager whilst retaining many of the same underperforming players is the solution.

Fan opinion is often vilified, but like many others I have watched and absorbed every Utd game for the past 40 years. I watch any football that’s on the Tv. I read articles, forums, books, listen to podcasts. Whilst I don’t claim to be any kind of expert, I think many fan opinion and knowledge of the Club is often far more valid that some journalists or pundits that don’t watch Utd on a regular basis.

Reports suggest Utd now intend to keep a lot of players EtH was willing to let go last summer with the futures of Maguire, Mctominay, AWB, amongst others still undecided. The same reports also suggest that the Club have no intention of selling the likes of Bruno or even Rashford. There is talk of a new contract for Mctominay.

We’ve seen years of Rashford struggling against a low block, we’ve discussed at length his inconsistent form and seemingly poor attitude or body language. We’ve all seen Bruno continually surrender possession. We all know Maguire lacks pace and has mobility issues. Mctominay is not a dominant, ball playing midfielder. I could go on and on. A lot of these players are only suited to one brand of football. Sit deep and counter attack.

My question to Ineos or any Utd fan that’s wants to see the back of EtH, if all the same players are retained, EtH is sacked, how can we expect to progress and evolve the style of football no matter who the manager?

I think we now have enough evidence to suggest this is not a coaching issue and a lot of these players are simply not good enough or have the correct mentality for the Club to challenge for the top honours.

03 Apr 2024 16:49:06
Squids? Eric itz bad enough having players with 2 bad feet ??.

03 Apr 2024 17:57:05
Dlib who says all the players are being retained?
Where have you seen that? I'm confused as to why you think that's the plan?

03 Apr 2024 18:02:46
Dlib it very much is a coaching issue.
I'm not sure what evidence you have that says there is no coaching issue.
After 4 years of eth coaching Anthony is doing what exactly?
Now we have rashford and garnacho doing e a try what Anthony does.
What is Bruno's role?
Why is our midfield so open? Why do we concede so many shots?
Why do we score so few goals?
If that's nothing to do with coaching I'm not sure that you know what a coaches responsibilities are.

03 Apr 2024 18:41:29
Evidence Tumble, evidence. Whenever a new manager is appointed all the underperforming players have been given another chance, plus reports in the media suggesting players will be retained. Ok, if you don’t want head the lessons of the past let’s just see what happens if EtH is sacked, we’ll soon have the answer if that happens.

I don’t think you understand what coaching is? If managers could magically make players better then Pep or Klopp could win the premier league with a bunch of amateurs. They couldn’t even win the league with this bunch of Utd players.

Managers can have a massive impact on teams, I’m not diminishing their importance, they implement tactics, organise the team, provide inspiration and motivation but they don’t magically transfer average players into superstars.

Generally teams consistently improve by recruiting better players.

EtH hasn’t been able to consistently pick his best side. His most important players have been missing for most of the season. Look what happened to Liverpool when they had an injury crisis last year. If it was all down to coaching what happened to them?

My point remains several of these players have underperformed for different managers, we’ve had long term injuries to important first team players, a lot of the players are simply not good enough and that’s been proven over a number of years. Let’s move on now!

03 Apr 2024 22:52:04
Shappy. I want to pick up on something from your toilet paper gossip column worthy literature.
You wrote the following.

Some players are driven to success because they are chasing glory and sporting immortality. They want their names to be remembered. Other see it as a way out of poverty and their only chance to build a better life. You need the former to be successful, the latter will lose determination once they get their big contract, for them football is a job, and like the vast majority of people they will do just enough and no more.

Tell that to players such as Sadio Mane.

Sure there are a few out there who fall into this category, but 'the vast majority's is a bit wide of the mark.

04 Apr 2024 12:50:42
Jimbo, so are you suggesting that Saido Mane was only in it for the money and not for the glory?

Sure he used football as a way out of poverty, but his choices during his career suggest there was something other than pure money in his thinking.

He had other more lucrative offers when he chose to join Liverpool, but he wanted to go to a team he believed could win titles.

When he left Liverpool he had the option to go to Saudi and earn a ridiculous amount of money, but chose to join Bayern Munich instead for less money. Probably because he felt he had more time in his career and he wanted to stay at the top and try and win major titles.

To me that suggests that he has a drive to succeed and be the best he can be, to make a name for himself and play for glory.

Sure it's a bit more nuanced than the slightly more reductive glory/ money split I've suggested. But broadly speaking most players will fit predominantly into one of the two categories. They either became footballers for the glory, for their names to be held in the same company as the greatest players, to win titles and become immortal for the fans they represent. Or they want the footballers lifestyle, they want the money and the fame, maybe they want to get their family out of poverty, maybe they just want the big house, flash cars and young women.

I don't judge them, it's their life and what is important to them is their business. Just obviously as a Manchester United supporter I'd prefer the majority of the players in our squad are from the former category rather than the later.

04 Apr 2024 13:34:55
No need to be rude Jimbo.

04 Apr 2024 13:41:34
DLIB, I don't anyone expects ETH to turn average players into superstars but like you say we should at least to expect to see some evidence of tactics, organisation and motivation, plus maybe some improvement of some players.

As it is we see none of these things. The team is a disorganised mess with no obvious way of playing. Certain players are totally unmotivated and only a couple of players show any sign of improvement.

On top of all that ETH continually picks players who are obvious liabilities.

I'm not expecting mircles but I see zero signs of anything you would expect from a half decent coach.

04 Apr 2024 13:52:00
Dilb that's exactly what good managers do. Turn players into great posters.

04 Apr 2024 19:34:43
No shappy, you've stated one or the other. I'm saying Mane falls into both categories.
I used to think your ridiculously long posts were worthy of my time, however they are now becoming more nonsensical as the days run on.

02 Apr 2024 20:52:48
Rumours that Martinez has picked up a calf strain in training and out for a few weeks. If true, it's April, the season nearing the end, surely training should not be so intense. Questions must be asked how we are getting so many injuries in training.

02 Apr 2024 22:21:17
What are you taking about Redman? He's been out for months, he needs to be trading to get back up to speed. And when someone has had a long layoff like that, very common to get small strains as the body is readjusting.

Sick of reading about the training being too hard. Can only imagine it comes from players who don't want to do the work. City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston villa, Newcastle and many others in the league look a lot fitter than we are. We just played Brentford and got out run, out worked all over the pitch. Hard work is expected. That said, for all we know Martinez could have strained a calf doing the most innocuous jog, it happens to players recovering match fitness.

02 Apr 2024 22:21:28
When you have been out as long as he has, it's very easy to pick up another injury as some parts over compensate for other parts, maybe not being as healthy and fully recovered. Nothing to do with training and happens to plenty of players. He looks a lot heavier and bulkier than when he is fit.

02 Apr 2024 22:21:40
Being reported on Sky Sports.

02 Apr 2024 23:10:17
Listen to any top player under Fergie and they all say the training was intense. Train like you play, is a phase I’ve often heard a lot them use.

Martinez is unfortunately a crock. The bloke is never fit. If this was Varane everyone would be up in arms. He’s virtually missed the entire season now and the last 3 months of the previous one as well. Simply not good enough. A fit Martinez is a real asset, I love his aggression and ability on the ball but it’s no good if he’s never fit. Another problem to add to the long list.

03 Apr 2024 00:30:10
A little harsh to say he’s a crock, he broke his foot, that’s not exactly anything he can do much about, coming back from that he has hurt his knee in a challenge, it can happen, it’s not like he’s constantly out with a hamstring injury etc. Before he broke his foot he had missed around 10-15 games injured in his whole career, so he’s been unfortunate, not a crock.

03 Apr 2024 03:57:30
There is also something about our medical department rushing him back and he wasn't right and had a relapse. Our medical department has been terrible and hopefully ineos will put that right.

03 Apr 2024 04:56:33
Training not being intense enough is the reason why there are so many muscular injuries happening. Personally, I think that your players came into the season a bit undercooked and that you messed up the pre-season by going on tour too early. We made the same mistake last year and loads of our players were injured as well. The medical department definitely plays a part in rushing back players too quickly but for injury prevention, the fitness department needs a look as well.

03 Apr 2024 05:30:28
This latest setback is precisely why we need 2 CBs as priority signings - a younger rotational/ backup option for the left and a starter on the right.

The next best current option for us on the left side is Shaw who has also had his season curtailed by injury. Then what, Evans or Maguire.

We don't need to spaff £70+m on Branthwaite, we need to start boxing clever. Another interesting name is Calafiori of Bologna.

The options we'll inevitably look at for the right side are obvious - established and expensive.

Personally, I'd go for a LB over a RB this summer, the latter can be addressed next season.

03 Apr 2024 06:56:33
55 injuries Redman, I'd be more inclined to ask wtf is going on with the medical department.

Training being too intense, give us a break ?.

03 Apr 2024 09:39:37
Right training is all ok then, nothing to see . Players getting regular injuries in training at the end of a hard season all normal.

03 Apr 2024 10:10:41
Nothing to do with the medical dept I've heard it all now.
Score a few own goals with those deflections angel?.

03 Apr 2024 10:44:27
Redman in some parts of Ireland where angel is from if you get sick it's the doctors fault and if you need to go to the hospital it's the hospitals fault.
First thing they say when the walk into the doc is "look at what you've done to me" unbelievable Geoff ??.

03 Apr 2024 10:49:21
I read yesterday that Newcastle while looking to do a whole review at the end of season due to the about of injuries they have sustained this year.
There will be a reasons and changes to be made in prep work I'd guess.

03 Apr 2024 11:12:14
The Prem is the toughest league in the world, and it's getting tougher. There are more games than ever, and they'd like more.
Although Utd have had a crap hand this season all clubs have injuries, including the top ones. Clearly City and Liverpool at least have strong enough squads to cope and bring in quality when it happens to them, we don't have anything inspiring in reserve at all when I look at the bench.

03 Apr 2024 11:27:53
Red Man I think there are a few reasons why the players are getting injured. The whole league got record injuries this season, not just United, its through the whole league I have never seen Injuries this bad for almost all the 20 clubs in the league. The only difference I can see that changed in recent times is the world cup being played mid season, having a shorter recovery period in the summer and this is the result. You can blame ETH for a lot of things if that's how you are but I don't think this is one of them.

03 Apr 2024 13:05:53
Dio I would suggest that has had a huge impact.
As you say it's not just united. A lot of clubs have had a lot of injuries last 18 months.
Players are overplayed that's the problem.
You get dopes saying they should be able to play every day on 300k a week blah blah blah.
Athletic stars perform at most every couple of weeks.
Rugby stars never more than one a week
Race horses once a week.
Swimmers a major gala once a month
The list goes on.
The intensity at which the game is played means there are more injuries and that's compounded by their workload.
These guys are being flogged to death physically and their bodies can't cope.
I'll tell you for sure our medical team are not to blame for the injuries only a complete idiot would think that.

03 Apr 2024 13:14:23
Ten Hag blamed United's persistent injuries on an 'overload' of games and pointed out that other Premier League teams have suffered as well.

'You can't prevent it, it's not only us who've had this, ' he added. 'The standards of the Premier League from an intensity perspective are so high, the overload of the schedule, international football is so huge, and we have internationals in our squad. “

Intense training at the end of a long hard season is perfectly fine of course.

03 Apr 2024 17:02:47
I’m bemused by people complaining about intense training.

It is obvious in every game that the squad are incapable of playing high tempo/ high intensity football for more than twenty minutes a game. The ground covered per game by our squad is consistently one of the lowest in the league. Everything is pointing to the players being not in good enough physical condition to compete at the top level of the EPL.

Why are the team doing high intensity training toward the end of the season? Because they’re not in good enough shape to compete. People want the manager to push the players, but he can’t push them if they are unable to get to the required level of physical condition in strength and stamina to actually compete.

03 Apr 2024 17:07:26
RedMan - You’ve always struck me as a very considered and knowledgeable poster. I always enjoy reading your posts but for once I think I must respectfully disagree.

I don’t think we have any reliable evidence of the training sessions being too intense. I have read a few reports which seem to originate from sources allegedly close to some players.

I watched them against Brentford, witnessed their lack of application, motivation, energy, hunger, intensity or desire. This was not the first time we’ve seen this. I find it hard to believe that they are busting a gut in training and getting injured when they can’t even be bothered to work hard with the prerequisite effort and intensity in Premier League games. Of course this is just my opinion.

03 Apr 2024 17:39:25
Redman would blame eth for the standard of the bathrooms at OT if he could. The page is split between those who are looking to throw sh. t at him for every set back, results, injuries, players forms, selection etc etc and those who don't see it that way. Just look at how many players are injured with serious stuff across the league.
Some of ours were injury prone even before eth arrived so nothing new move on.


Its a pointless debate as neither side will change their view. Massive game tonight and a win will go a long way and we stay in it with a fighting chance.

03 Apr 2024 17:55:04
DLIB

Thank you, happy to discuss as always, differing opinions are what the site is about.

The evidence is the injuries in training, muscle injuries as well, then they look too tired to press or maintain intensity on match day. There have been consistent rumours the players are unhappy with the intensity of the training. Team players moan and often it is just they don’t like something but the evidence of a lack of intensity in games has to come from somewhere. At their age I could run quite a bit, they do not seem to, why? After Brentford last season ETH ran them the 13 Km they didn’t run in the game, they did better, next games but is he still trying to do that?

I recall previous discussions on training, including during SAF tenure, intense pre season and through the season but as the season goes on and certainly near the end when playing back to back matches the training was not as intense, to allow body recovery. Hell Giggs was on Yoga. (Not the local floosy) Are we doing lung busting running?

My original post was that it needs investigating, I didn’t directly blame ETH, but there have to be questions on why these training injuries are occurring. Who organises the training and flogs the players?
Something isn’t right when we are getting injuries at this level in training.

03 Apr 2024 18:04:22
Tonight?

03 Apr 2024 18:15:01
Danny I hear you and all very valid.
We are miles off the other teams in the speed of our play the speed we move the ball and get around the pitch.
That will not be fixed in April that needs doing pre season. We were not fit enough from day 1 this season it stands out like a sore thumb.
Who is to blame for that? Can't be eth he just needs more time to implement his process
Might be easier with 2 game a week next season??.

03 Apr 2024 19:01:40
Redman - I fully agree it needs investigating, I’m just not convinced the intensity of the training is the problem, of course I could be wrong.

Other managers have complained regarding a lack of fitness. Rangnick complained the players weren’t fit enough. His gengenpressing pressing lasted 45 minutes against Crystal Palace in his first game. It was probably the best football we saw all that season.

Ole also bemoaned a lack of fitness and work rate.

A lot of our players have consistently picked up injuries prior to EtH.

Martial, Varane, Shaw were always susceptible to injury, Maguire started to pick up the odd injury even under Ole, Mount was injured at Chelsea in his final season. Hoijlund arrived with a back injury.

It’s been a terrible season.

03 Apr 2024 20:23:33
muppetiers has a podcast today and interesting stuff about united injuries. don't agree with everything he says or don't know if its true but food for thought.

One interesting thing he mentioned is klop had 40 injuries by January in his first year at liverpool changing their style of play and getting them to be much more physical and a pressing style. Did not know that. He als0 mentioned klop got rid of a lot of players who could not physically do what he wanted. Interesting stuff on city and arsenal too.

03 Apr 2024 20:58:39
Ahmad - I think Klopp instilled a philosophy that Liverpool had to be fitter, faster and quicker than their opponents. He placed great value in the running power of his players theorising only then would their extra skill and ability make the difference.

One of the metrics used to recruit players was RSA or repeated sprint ability, the ability to perform continuous high intensity sprints. I think this was a metric players like Mane, Firminho and Salah excelled amongst others.

Every aspect of performance is measured and analysed at most top Clubs and also used in recruitment. It wouldn’t surprise me if Utd have been behind the curve again.

03 Apr 2024 22:26:44
DlIB

He basically says something along those lines and also says that's how eth wants to play. He says he benched those ideas in the first year as he realized the players we had can't do it and the pl is very tough league.

He also says this year they have tried to push ahead and get us to be more physically prepared but also mentions many in this squad can't cope playing that way and why he plays certain players every game when fit as they are the few that can do what he wants.

Finally said something along the lines that united have had this issue for years and previous managers have also faced this and our recruitment has not been like the likes of city have changed their recruitment over the years to cope same as arsenal, liverpool where they emphasize a certain type of physical output a player must have as requirement before buying them.

03 Apr 2024 22:51:49
Ahmad - All very interesting pal, cheers.

03 Apr 2024 22:53:25
Hold the press! Some of the posters forgot to wipe their bottoms this morning!

Blame Eth.

04 Apr 2024 11:36:13
So his signings of ericksen casimero Anthony amrabat mount and malacia do not fall into that profile of player. Laughable.

02 Apr 2024 20:38:15
I assume that ETH does not tell his players to go out and play with no passion and desire. I am sure that LVG and Jose also did not. All three managers did manage teams they built and who played good football and won trophies. Ultimately it's the players on the pitch who score or concede goals.

So it seems to me that there is a collective failure primarily of the players. The question is how to sort this out. I wonder if a sports psychologist is employed by Utd and if not why not.

02 Apr 2024 20:44:11
Good post Salford.

02 Apr 2024 21:19:11
Lindelof and Martinez out for a month. Starting to think maybe just let martinez sit out the rest of the season and get a healthy martinez back for the us tour and next year.

Martinez done his calf and I think one month is optimistic. they are very nasty and takes time.

02 Apr 2024 21:33:30
I’ve worked at a number of companies where I was part of a team brought in to turn a company around. Culture and attitude are everything, people with poor character can be dragged along by a very good culture. However, if you have a toxic culture with leaders that have poor attitudes you’ve got to clear the decks. You can see a mile off there are players in that squad who have poor attitudes by their body language. There are players still at the club the manager tried to move on. There are players at the club other managers tried to move on. There is a singular consistent, the dressing room removes the manager. We need to break the cycle and clear a lot of senior players out.

02 Apr 2024 21:42:23
Ralf Rangnick brought one in, I'm not sure if he's still here. But he was the first one the club have ever hired.

Which just shows how far the club is behind the curve.

02 Apr 2024 22:22:17
Nail on head Rewz.

02 Apr 2024 22:36:43
Martinez, if one of the only likeable players we have but he is far turning into Phil Jones. Little lad throws himself in at the deep end all the time and his body is suffering.

Rushed back again. Just poor. Not for the 1st time.
Eth has been critical of the medical team already this season. But they can't be blamed on this one it's an unrelated injury. Didn't happen in Argentina training maybe he should have stayed there a bit longer.

02 Apr 2024 15:46:44


Shappy has posted a new article entitled, Concerns about EtH at Man Utd

03 Apr 2024 01:37:26
I asked a psychologist and they said you were talking nonsense. Stopped reading after that.

03 Apr 2024 10:53:46
They'd have been right reseven absolute hogwash.
I've employed enough of them corporately and visited enough of them personally to know that there is hardly an element of truth in that article and it was written by somebody that doesn't understand the basic principles of psychology.