28 Feb 2021 20:22:10
Another draw against one of our rivals. A point at Stamford Bridge is a good one in recent years, but beside the rest of the results against our rivals it's another indictment that we're settling for mediocrity.

We are clearly set up to not lose these games. Home and away our manager plays work horse's in Fred and McTominay. Don't lose and try and Nick something on the break.

The problem comes when this won't be good enough. It will enough this year yo get us top 4 and Ole another season in charge. But what happens when a team have been getting a pat on the back for a 0-0 draw all season. How do you change that mindset that a draw isn't good enough?

We are looking over our shoulders at 5th place rather than looking ahead at City. This mediocrity seems ok for some fans but the manager won't win a single thing with this mindset.

1.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 20:34:53
We’ll never win anything with Ole in charge. We still have no clear style of play and rely on penalties and individual magic.

Getting quite bored of it.

2.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 20:42:58
Mumbles where did you expect us to be at the start of the season.
Whst was your personal expectation for the team?

3.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 21:24:22
Jred, I would have been happy getting closer to the league winners before a ball was kicked. I would also like to see us lift a trophy.

But it's an ever evolving situation. Liverpool have had a poor season so far in terms of their standards. Chelsea have sacked their manager. City had a really poor start.

We were top of the league at the end of January. It's now the end of February at we're 12 points behind City.

Finishing 2nd will keep Ole in a job and so it should. That does not mean fans shouldn't feel upset about a team who have chucked the league with over a third of the season left.

4.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 21:34:15
There's a long way to go in this season yet. But if we finish second could anyone genuinely say they would feel that the team underperformed their pre-season expectations?

5.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 21:43:36
Mumbles it's played over a full season.
We are doing far better than whst you have made out or what you expected . Your just moving the goal post like you did last year.

6.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 21:46:56
The lack of wins against traditional top 6 is now a pattern. I have to say, I think the team is right. First half we had good spells where McTom and even fred pushed up and played higher up the pitch. A little misleading, because leicester and Aston villa have broken up that group this season, but still it is an obvious stat that shows performance in big games.

The second half was crazy. Both Mct and Fred we push back and sat right on top of the CBs. This must in some way be due to fear. We we dominating this team at points, but then playing like a newly promoted side at others. Very strange.

To watch city. Now is like watching the great utd sides before. The 2 CBs are often left man v man at the back and trusted to deal with it. Clearly the coaches or the team, or both don't have that same confidence in this back 2.

7.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 21:47:29
Snappy I don’t feel that we’ve made strides of progress. Just colossal regression from Liverpool and Chelsea abs the rest not improving either. It’s not like we’re all of a sudden so much better is it.

8.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 21:52:06
Mumbles, I don't think we have "chucked" the league. I don't think this group of players currently were ever capable of truly challenging for it.

City have won 20 games in a row. They will likely break the 90 point mark and in my opinion be worthy champions.

This group of players on current ability would be lucky to break the 80 point mark.

I also warned earlier in the season of my concerns about burn out in the final stretch of the season. We saw last season with the final few games the performance levels dropped and players looked physically and mentally tired.

This season will likely be worse without a few month gap in the middle. Just 8 months of playing back to back to back games every 3 or 4 days. The travel, and training, international football. All while in the pressure cooker of a society we currently find ourselves in. None of the things the players would normally do to blow off a little steam or relax available to them.

I'm not expecting much sympathy for them, most people are unable to look beyond their wages. But the reality of the situation is that these young men are being pushed beyond anything they have done previously and without previous levels of support. It's not unreasonable to expect several of them to fail and fall short.

Yet fans still want players to play every game at 100mph, full energy, full commitment, great football, winning football and they want it in every competition, to try and win it all.

What fans want and what is realistic achievable are worlds apart, and the ones who'll ultimately bare the brunt of that is the fans when it all falls down.

9.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 21:55:56
It's all to be taken into context Shappy. 2nd is an improvement on 3rd place finish last year. But if we finish 20 odd points behind City and don't win a trophy, is that a "good" season?

10.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 21:56:35
Had Liverpool not had all the injuries we all know they would be above us. It’s not like we’re drastically improved is it. Anyone who think so is in denial. We still have a boring manager who plays 2 holding midfielders against everyone, and is content not to lose rather than try and win. Genuinely would much prefer B Rodgers or Bielsa with this squad, at least they’d give it a go.

11.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 22:15:47
Second is not a bad position ofcourse. The problem with us is that second or third place is our managers target.
You can attack trying to win the league and finish second to a better team, no problem with that.
But the problem is that we are half decent and we are trying really hard to win the-one horse-race for second or third place. We sawed it again today, we didn't see a team looking what's in front and trying to catch up but a team looking the teams below and settle for a draw.
Our coach knows he is safe with a top 4 finish and some awards like a calendar year award or undefeated record away for home etc so that's what he is trying. I have never sawed a United team settle for a draw in so many games. Its unbelievable.

12.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 22:21:23
I completely understand where people are coming from by saying "plays two holding mids against everyone"
However this game, who else did he have to choose from? Would you rather of saw Mata brought out the blue to play in the middle?

13.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 22:22:18
2nd is first loser, it’s not an achievement.

The question is, can this manager take this team one step further next year? I’m 100% certain that he doesn’t have the ability to do that.

14.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 22:29:49
Jred, you post that I moved the goalposts under ever post I make. I said top 4 last season was the bare minimum to keep Ole in the job. When we beat Leicester I came on to congratulate the manager and the team.

New season, I still think Ole should keep his job if we get top 4. What goalposts am I moving? I would say your smug posts when we went top of the league last month to now making excuses is moving the goalposts.

Shappy. Come off your soapbox. Man Utd v Chelsea 0-0 x2, Man Utd v Arsenal 0-0, 0-1. Man Utd v Liverpool 0-0. Man Utd v City 0-0.

I don't want 100mph every game. I want us to show some balls in these games. Even with 15 minutes to go, put on Diallo, take off a defensive midfielder for someone more creative. Have a go. Neville said with 5 minutes to go today "United players are happy with the draw, they're in no rush"

Keep making excuses for the players and keep letting them on the back when we draw games of football and we'll never win another league title again.

15.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 22:45:07
I’m in agreement with Mumbles. Shappy your posts are increasingly ‘political’. Full of excuses about how much effort the poor players have to put in - City are managing just fine and don’t play for goalless draws. It’s not enjoyable to watch, I went to cook dinner in the second half!

16.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 23:01:56
Crikey fellas. We’ve just drawn 0-0 away at a resurgent Chelsea under a new manager. Pretty good result no?

17.) 28 Feb 2021
28 Feb 2021 23:10:17
I hate all this 'underperforming' nonsense, like he's having to work on a shoestring budget. The squad is good enough to win the league if managed properly. We have, arguably, the strongest squad depth and we should have used that to our advantage this season.

I always wonder what someone like Dyche thinks when people think Ole has an average squad to deal with.

18.) 01 Mar 2021
28 Feb 2021 23:47:06
Overperforming, even.

19.) 01 Mar 2021
28 Feb 2021 23:52:52
Well said - you’re not telling me that Pep or another world class manager would be performing in this fashion?

20.) 01 Mar 2021
28 Feb 2021 23:53:42
I agree looks like to 4 is secure enough ole will keep his job and we will be threading water.
In the context of finishing top 4 a draw was a good result.
I thought leaving martial out was the correct call as we needed 11 players working hard.
Still have 2 good chances to win something. I don't think we will win either of the cups but there is a chance.
My expectations were clear plus 20 points get out of champions league group and win a cup.
We will fail the 1st 2 let's hope we win a cup even if its a cup we shouldn't be in.

21.) 01 Mar 2021
01 Mar 2021 08:04:19
The mindset is don’t lose, it really isn’t good enough. We have taken Arsenals mantle, top four is achieving.

On Thursday we defended a four away goal advantage at home, it was dire. Yesterday we ensured we didn’t lose, we didn’t look desperate to catch City, just to ensure we didn’t lose to a team who might challenge for top four. That is our mindset, that is the managers mindset.

{Ed077's Note - it seems Man Utd are more scared of finishing outside top 4 than they are trying to secure at least the 2nd place.}

22.) 01 Mar 2021
01 Mar 2021 08:22:08
Ed77

Yes We are looking over our shoulder instead of up. As per my post that went into the Discussion page, the headlines are Boring, Boring Man Utd. We and Ole set up not to concede and try to nick a goal. Fear of losing.

{Ed077's Note - I think some people only look at the results and don't care for the performance and the way the team approaches the game. I don't see many people saying Man Utd should be beating Chelsea. Most of the posts are criticizing the way OGS and the team approached the game.

I seem to recall there was a similar argument after the 0_0 draw at Anfield. People pointed out that it was "almost impossible"to beat Liverpool at Anfield even in their "poor" run of form and were happy to come back with a draw without troubling LFC much. And Liverpool have lost 3_4 games at home since. You don't win very often if you setup not to lose and are happy with a draw.}

23.) 01 Mar 2021
01 Mar 2021 08:52:10
90th minute, mctom plays a better ball across to rash who taps in at the far post .
Not 1 person on here would be complaining.
Ed077 your right people only look at the result.
We should maybe look at the table.

{Ed077's Note - so you think that a good performance last night?}

24.) 01 Mar 2021
01 Mar 2021 11:40:22
Ed077
It was an ok performance.
Whst I'm saying is your right people look at the result if mctom plays the ball etc people wouldn't be complaining.

25.) 01 Mar 2021
01 Mar 2021 08:52:10
90th minute, mctom plays a better ball across to rash who taps in at the far post .
Not 1 person on here would be complaining.
Ed077 your right people only look at the result.
We should maybe look at the table.

{Ed077's Note - seriously jred? You really think the performance last night and the approach to the game was good? I dont think it is acceptable. People still criticize Jose for finishing 19 points off Man City when he finished 2nd with Man Utd but OGS doesnt seem likely to fare much better this season either regardless of the final league position. And the football isnt any better despite having a better squad.