16 Mar 2021 12:04:31
I have learnt something -

That the answer to every question or argument is that we sit second and to back it up is that we finished 3rd last season.

I tried teaching my kid that and i got a call from her teacher as to how is that the answer to the question on how many times does the earth rotate in one day.

#maybe things aren't as bad as some have you believe.

1.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 12:26:38
United Addict, maybe you should put shappy on the call then.

2.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 13:22:40
True LPU and i am sure jred will back up his argument well enough.

3.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 13:38:33
It's not the answer to everything, but the reality is football is a results business.

If Ole gets a second top 3 finish in a row then he will have officially been the best manager post Sir Alex.

That doesn't mean he is good enough, just that he has done the best of a bad bunch.

Ultimately the owners and the board have a minimum level of achievement, while Ole hits that he is succeeding in the eyes of the people who will decide his future he won't be sacked unless he gets 5th.

4.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 13:53:58
Best manager post SAF? How come Shappy?
He is yet to win a single trophy or take us to a final.
Next year will be his fourth season in charge if his contract is extended.

5.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 13:58:15
No he won't be has not won anything.

6.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 14:02:50
Shappy, let's put it this way. Forget the bloody owners for a moment if you are capable of that please. Are YOU happy with the performances as i remember you were head of the line when such turgid performances were being dished out under Moyes, LvG and Jose. You, as a fan of Manchester United and a fan of football, happy with this sleeping pills being given to us? I am certainly not.

And one more question to Shappy and a few others who have repeatedly said that Ole "may" not be the answer and "may" not take us any further, then why do you guys want him to be given extensions when clearly that's not his level.

He is learning on the job my ass. Next time you take a flight, imagine your pilot to be "learning" on the job and see how that pans out.

7.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 14:48:56
United Addict,

Am I happy with the performances? There isn't a straight forward answer.

Would I like to see swashbuckling attacking football? Of course. Are we any where near that? Of course not.

I remember many people under Jose saying performances and entertainment come second to results. Suddenly they feel very different about that.

Where I think we are as a team, both in terms of quality of players and in mentality I think we are about par for the course. Neither excelling or failing.

I think we still have a disjointed squad, there is no clear way of playing that would be playing to all of our players strengths.

We have a defence that is best suited to sitting deep, but a forward line that would be best suited to a high press and a quick release of the ball once won.
Our midfield has no clear identity. We have Matic on his last legs with no other natural holding player, we have McFred who are defensive minded box to box players, Bruno who is best suited to a quick tempo attacking game, Donny who is suited to a slower more methodical style, then Pogba who is on paper our most talented player but he doesn't want to be here and his performances are always hit and miss.

I look at our team and I can name 2 maybe 3 players at most who are suitable for high pressing attacking swashbuckling football style.

So how can I expect that style when so few players are suited to it?

Its about putting things in context, over the past 30 years we have been spoiled and the expectations is for that to continue. It won't and it can't even if there was a desire for it to from the owners.

Don't judge this side by the standards of the 99 side, its as stupid as comparing it to the 68 side.

Where we are currently is more akin to the side in the late 70's/ early 80's, so that is the standard we need to be comparing it to.

We are a fallen giant with a squad full of young players with potential, but the reality is that most of them are 3-4 years away from fully realising that potential.

The fact that we are second currently is probably an over achievement. I know many will scoff at that, but only once in the past 8 years has anyone other than Ole got us this high in the table. On paper there are at least 2 if not 3 better squads. We have the 4th/ 5th best team in the league and we are currently 2nd, and we finished 3rd last year.

So of course I would prefer to see better football, but that doesn't happen over night.

Does Ole deserve a new deal, that's a tough question. But seeing as he has the side getting good results he doesn't deserve the sack. You can't allow your manager to go into the last year of his contract as it causes uncertainty. Remember how we fell apart when Sir ALex first announced he would retire only to go back on that decision. So if even Sir Alex couldn't get results with that kind of uncertainty then the reality is no other manager could.

At the end of the day I think it doesn't make any difference. If Ole finishes 5th next season he'll be sacked whether he has 1 or 5 years left on his contract. We sacked Moyes with nearly 5 and a half years left on his deal.

The reality all fans will have to come to terms with at some point is that we don't have any say over how the club is run. The owners and the board consider top 4 a success and don't seem to have the ambition to push for titles. So whether it's Ole, Giggs, Southgate or Allerdyce in charge it will make little difference. If they get the side into the top four they will keep their job no matter how dier the football. We aren't a football club anymore, we are a trust fund for Malcolm's kids. Its all about keeping the club in the sweet spot to keep the money rolling in.

8.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 14:59:39
Shappy
That a good post imo .
But your missing the point I think, would you get on the plane or not?
🤦‍♂️.

9.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 14:59:39
Shappy
That a good post imo .
But your missing the point I think, would you get on the plane or not?
🤦‍♂️.

10.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 15:35:23
Jred, I find it funny that United Addict seems to think pilots learn via some Matrix style uploading, or they are born with the knowledge and skill.

I'd imagine just like learning to drive you need to actually step behind the wheel of the vehicle to learn.

So yeah I'd get on the plane. They mostly fly themselves, plus you'd have a co-pilot and the person teaching them along side them.

Having had a flying lesson and having been in control of the plane myself with no previous experience it can't be any more concerning than that.

11.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 16:22:11
Let me get this right, there is someone who believes getting third in two seasons running makes them the best manager since SAF? Only deluded Olesexuals can think that. One manager won two trophies in one season, another the FA Cuo, winning is what counts, silverware is what matters unless you see us as Arsenal.

12.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 17:40:58
Redman
I think this is the best team we have had since fergy left .

{Ed014's Note - that doesn’t say a lot because without Bruno you’d be as bad as you actually look most weeks.

I’d say it’s 100% the most over rated over hyped squad since Fergie left.

13.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 18:41:06
Stop kidding yourself, you wouldn't trade top 4 finish for FA cup.

Shappy is mostly right.

If the team was playing like Barcelona decade ago, and yet, lose every game, would you back Ole then?
Sure, there are some boring games, usually matches against top 4 (6), but there are also some pretty games as well.

You can't expect things changing over night. Ole came and took over a team which had no self confidence at all. He still has to bring in some players, so we could say "hey, we have a top team, the way we are playing isn't good enough". We barely have perfect starting 11, and you would like to compare to City, who has ~20 players who challenge for first team?

If there is something I blame Ole for, it is making no substitutions, or making them too late. For example, West Ham game was perfect for Diallo, but he kept both Rashford and James till the end, no matter how poor they were.

14.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 19:59:38
Top 4 finish? What are you Arsenal? And get top 4 for what. To make up the numbers in the group stages.

15.) 16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021 17:48:24
Ed14 the manager must be doing a great job then 👍.

{Ed014's Note - I’ve got everything crossed he gets that well deserved new contract you’re hoping for.