19 Jan 2021 11:29:04
Reading the posts it seems most are entrenched in their view one way or the other. What happened to objectivity and acceptance that maybe sometimes each of us may be wrong? I start reading posts and after 1 line I can guess who has written it.

I try and be objective. I’m not one of the Ole is a clown brigade but I posted yesterday about how unenjoyable I find most of our games right now. I love Rashford but right now he is playing like a drain. It’s ok not to be black or white, sometimes there are several shades of gray.

Fair play to ken, like me he is not enjoying it but as we’re top he’s not slagging the Manager off. GDS is unfailingly positive but he’s always happy to accept things weren’t great. It seems for some whatever happens their minds are made up, good or bad.

Here’s my view. Ole ha shown himself to be both tactically astute and stubborn sometimes in the same game. He has clearly improved the mood over the team and they all seem to be playing for each other. He’s loyal to his players, sometimes too loyal but not necessarily a bad thing. I think he is overplaying a few and needs to freshen things up. We go from a first team to a second string when perhaps adding DVB or Mata or Greenwood (or all) would give some a rest and not disrupt the whole team, whilst keeping some of the less used players fit and hungry.

However, the biggest issue for me is up front. In defence we are looking ok, Maguire is looking very solid, Shaw has been excellent, AWB gets some stick but he knows how to defend and we have tightened up a lot at the back. That should mean we are easily winning games but the forwards are all struggling. If Rashford or Martial was on fire, and if Bruno hadn’t gone off the boil then we would be steamrollering teams. Ultimately it is up to the Manager to fix it. I’d give Bruno and Rash a rest, bring in Greenwood and DVB or Mata, freshen it up and then bring them back ready to go again.

One other thing. The argument that everyone else has dropped points they wouldn’t have which is why we are top is misplaced. We had a dreadful start to the season, probably caused by the late finish last year and the lack of a pre-season so perhaps we have also dropped unexpected points.

We’re top, which has pushed expectations higher, but right now, us and City are the 2 form teams and despite my reservations, I’m really looking forward to how it unfolds. So great to see Klopp worrying about top 4, how delicious would that be?

We are making progress, it’s not a straight line up, it’s jagged, 2 steps up and 1 step back, but it’s still progress. Looks like we will have to wait until Summer and there’s no guarantee that Woody will get who the manager wants but a couple of top signings and we can push on again.

Come on entrenched people, prove me wrong.

1.) 19 Jan 2021
19 Jan 2021 12:29:05
The climb to the top of the ladder is never an easy one. I for one don't think OGS is a clown, yet like all if the previous managers at the club i have questioned there team selection and tactics from time to time.

Upon reflection, a draw at Anfield isn't too bad. We as fans always want to beat Liverpool.

As it stands we are doing very well in the league. Whether we can keep it up remains to be seen. Confidence is key, this can be seen on the pitch.

VdB, Greenwood and Mata could do with playing against Liverpool and get some much needed minutes. There may even be some minutes made available for Lingard. If he stays fit and the club choose not to sell him, then we will need to make sure our squad is sharp and ready to go.

2.) 19 Jan 2021
19 Jan 2021 12:32:53
Good post. I totally agree: progress is being made. Things do need freshening up, Bruno and Rashford definitely need a break. I'm really hoping Diallo can make a few appearances and shake it up a bit and make an impact. I suppose the FA cup tie is an opportunity for a few changes.
I'm a bit disappointed about Sunday's match though. Ole could of been a bit bolder in his team selection and tactics because Liverpool where there for the taking in my opinion.

3.) 19 Jan 2021
19 Jan 2021 12:34:02
When it comes to United AJH, I don't enjoy watching us draw. I certainly don't take the positives from a loss either like a few on here.

Iv read dozens of smug posts when we went top like "it's not so bad after all". Like overtaking a Liverpool side that are burnt out was some magnificent acheivement.

We've dropped points in 7 of our 18 league games. We were embarrassing in the Champions league and were yet again dumped out of another semi final.

We're a team that doesn't fair well when we try to defend. Fred and McTominay should never be a midfield pairing, it simply hasn't worked this season.

A point at Anfield is a good one but 60 minutes into that game, we should have smelt blood. As the season unfolds and we find ourselves top, look back at the list of games we've dropped points in. It would have been beneficial to actually have a go and try and win these games?

We have improved on last season. Our record against the lesser teams this year is very impressive. A lot of those games were won by 1 goal so that shows our ability to dig deep and grind out wins. My problem is though in the big games. This goes for the League, Champions League and the semi final.

I wonder will the penny drop for Ole? The league is there for the taking. He talks about United DNA and the United way. The only way he can silence his critics is by winning trophies. Well the big one is there in front of him if he wants it.

4.) 19 Jan 2021
19 Jan 2021 12:58:03
Mumbles

Fair points, we are consistently inconsistent. I would argue that in some games McFred has worked but it is the go to pairing for big games and that needs more flexibility.

As for Sunday, I think if the game had gone on another 10 minutes we would have won. But the shift from defending deep to creating chances, was that down to Ole or the players? He said he was disappointed so was that his tactics or the players not doing as asked, or Liverpool dominating the ball?

We have looked great, average, and atrocious this season. Hopefully we will see more of the great, less of the average, and none of the atrocious as the season progresses. As I said in my post, Pogba scores and it’s a masterclass, but he didn’t so it’s a poor show. Fine lines sometimes.

Interested to see how we respond tomorrow, it’s about time we rolled someone over again, the Leeds game was brilliant, just need to see more of that.

5.) 19 Jan 2021
19 Jan 2021 13:02:03
I am in agreement with Mumbles post. Yes things have improved but let's be honest they could not have been much worse.

That said for all our improvements when do we see Utd dominating games with really slick fast one touch football and especially against the better teams?

Defensively we are getting better but again let's be honest. if Mane Firmino and Salah had been in good form they would have scored three or four on Sunday.

Tactically Ole still lacks. Liverpool were there for the taking and he should have gone for the jugular on Sunday. With both Martaol and Rashford not scoring freely how is he changing things?

DVB can't get a look in and when he comes on as a sub it's for the final few minutes when he has no time to shine. Bruno looks a bit jaded and if he doesn't play well the whole team offensively misfires too. So after spending so much money on so many players it seems we depend on one. How can that be good management?

Both City and Liverpool have had significant injuries to their best players but have coped well. Imagine if we lost Bruno now for a month!

So being realistic and objective has Ole improved us? The answer is yes. But will he realistically get us back to where we were under Sir Alex. I seriously doubt it. I was very very lucky to watch some of the most brilliant exciting football Utd have ever played under Tommy Doherty and then Sir Alex. I want to see us go out to win and do it with style. We won't win every match bit I want to see us try to do it in style.

6.) 19 Jan 2021
19 Jan 2021 13:03:56
Mumbles

Of course we can look back at all our losses and say what ifs.

We should have won against Liverpool. Pogba and Fernandes has good chances. Pogbas was a proverbial sitter. Rashford made a poor choice and should have played cavani in.

You say why didn't we smell blood, but we did show up in the second half, and that was due to the midfield imposing itself of the game a bit more.

The first half Liverpool dominated the ball. Playing two cms at CB really worked for them, and they played like city or Barcelona. You speak as if Ole sent them out to get pushed back and surrender possession so easily. Did you consider that it was Liverpool who played well and forced us back?

Finally, the guys on the bench have not been setting the world alight when they come on. I agree greenwood could have come earlier, he could have come for rashford - but one of rash and Fernandes needed to come off, they looked shattered. He went with Fernandes. The DvdB calls are very loud, but he is also not a player to play that incisive killer breakaway pass when the game breaks down. Maybe mata would have been a shout for rashford - but then think if the loss of pace. It wasn't so crazy from the manager. We didn't take our chances in a hard fought game.

7.) 19 Jan 2021
19 Jan 2021 13:19:14
We conceded possession and sat deep hoping to hit them on the break. But the problem with playing Fred and McTominay is that they're not particularly good on the ball. Countless times they just goofed the ball up the pitch to no one.

If Ole was disappointed then he had the ability to change it. This squad now has a very good bench. Players that can change games. This habit of giving players 2 minutes at the end of games has to stop. We made 2 subs When in fact 4 or 5 deserved to be hooked off.

This team on their day can beat anyone. I'd just wish the manager was aware of this.

8.) 19 Jan 2021
19 Jan 2021 13:58:26
Doggy Banter. The side we played on Sunday were certainly not Barcelona.

9.) 19 Jan 2021
19 Jan 2021 14:18:26
Spare a thought for the Eds who have to read all of these posts before they appear 😂.

10.) 20 Jan 2021
20 Jan 2021 09:24:40
AJH I bet you have never guessed my posts :)