14 May 2021 13:14:11
Yesterday was a poor game for us. No more, no less. Is it disappointing to lose to Liverpool? Of course it is. Is that rivalry between players for Manchester United and Liverpool what it used to be? No it's not. It just doesn't mean that much to them anymore unfortunately so you just don't get that extra 10% you'd expect in these games. Liverpool didn't even get a booking during the game! We saw the same after the City game earlier in the season. It's a shame but that is modern day football.

It should also be a little bit expected from United considering, our league season is pretty much sorted, won't finish any lower then 3rd and with a cup final round the corner, players will be wanting to make sure they get through the next few games unscathed, especially after seeing what happened to Maguire in the week. For United, this was a bit of a dead rubber match, like it or not.

We did learn a few things though which needs addressing and that is clear for everyone, we need a dominant CM in the summer that will allow Ole to play Pogba in next to him which will allow Rashford to play on the left. And a CB to partner Maguire that will allow us when needed to rest either one and partner them with either Lindelof or Bailly.

As for Solskjaer, personally, I still back him. He has changed the atmosphere at the club and the players mentality IMO, look at Shaw and Pogba and that Cavani wants to stay another year. He's had 2 Summer transfer windows and 2 January windows with probably only Maguire and Wan-Bissaka being brought for the starting 11 with Fernandes in the January one. Was VDB a signing from his wish list? I'm unsure. So if he is backed this summer and gets a CB and solves the CM problem and with a good preseason under our belts then I'd be expecting to be even closer next season with a good Champions League campaign and a good FA Cup run. If that doesn't happen, then I'd fully expect alternative options to be explored to take United forward. HOWEVER, if this does happen, who ever takes over the team will be taking over a team that is in a much better and stronger position than what Ole took over from Mourinho, from what Mourinho took over from Van Gaal, from what Van Gaal took over from Moyes and it pains me to say, what Moyes took over from SAF and that has to be seen as significant progress.

1.) 14 May 2021
14 May 2021 14:10:34
Good post Ports, agree with most of that except the last bit of what Moyes took over from SAF. Moyes was handed on a plate a team that had won the EPL 4 times in 5 seasons. OK the team was getting old but they certainly had not hit the wall over the space of a few of months.

Last night Utd did have pride to play for and to me that is a lot but we never quite had the edge that Liverpool had, they also had to play for pride but also the fact, if they had lost then they would not be getting their hands on the best three losers cup.

Last night also pointed out to me just how important Harry is to us, if just him alone makes THAT defence half decent, then he must be some player. Interesting summer transfer market coming up imo.

2.) 14 May 2021
14 May 2021 14:51:09
@Ports very well-balanced and a good-to-read post except for the Moyes part like Jrred said, Moyes was the architect of his own demise and that of ours.

3.) 14 May 2021
14 May 2021 21:14:59
Good post ports. I think we're readying ourselves for the el. To win something could spark us into a winning mentality, #inoleitrust.

4.) 15 May 2021
15 May 2021 01:16:15
ports I understand where your coming from but I don't agree.
You rightly point out some positives but you can't ignore the negatives.
Away form club record home form worst for 45 years.
El final but dumped out of CL from A1 position after 2 games.
2nd place but miles behind
Good results boring football
Happy camp i'm Not so sure there are too many happy players there. If there is there bloody well shouldn't be.

5.) 15 May 2021
15 May 2021 09:56:58
I’m not sure anyone is ignoring the negatives Ken but to keep harping on about it quite frankly is tiresome. If anyone thinks we are worse of now then the previous 7/ 8 years and that because we are Manchester United we should just command instant success then we fall into the Liverpool fan mentality from the previous 30 years that we used to hammer them for.

The facts are at the start of the season, Solskjaer was tipped to be the first manager to be sacked, Lampard and Arteta were the next big thing in Management and and the expectations of the team were low. So all the expert pundits on tv, the experts on here all predicted failure for Solskjaer and the team. Well I reckon Mr Klopp and Mr Arteta would bite our hands off to be in our position. And as for City and the £600million pound plus they spent on defence alone alongside the “greatest manager ever” then they should be expecting to win the title by a decent margin. So I reckon judge Solskjaer at the end of next season. Oh, at just a reminder, Solskjaer has had to deal wiith Raiola and the Pogba situation and most recently the ESL nonsense and protests (which I support FYI) and ownership which is not supportive of developing consistent success in a world now that has teams like Chelsea and City with a bottomless pit of money to throw at transfers.

6.) 15 May 2021
15 May 2021 10:14:07
So Ports essentially everything is at fault besides Ole. He wasnt a "cheque book manager" i thought but now everyone wants him to use a billion on players. Why hasn't Williams improved or Axel? Is that down to ESL or Mino/ Pogba situation. Lindelof, Fred, McT Rashford have all stagnated or gone backwards this year. The second place that is being shown as some sort of trophy is all Bruno effect and not Ole.

Lampard wasnt doing well and he was sacked and see where Chelsea are now. that's what a great manager does. Our great one got us out of the CL. Ole is always to be judged at the end of next season. We are one Bruno injury from being out of all European places. Just look at Liverpool, they have played the entire season without any CB.

And you mention Liverpool fan mentality which is fair but if we don't crave for excellence and being the best and just satisfied with top 4 or EL as success after being dumped out of CL then aren't we falling into Arsenal mentality?

7.) 15 May 2021
15 May 2021 13:02:49
So Rashford in Solskjaers first season got 22 goals all comps, this season, 21 goals all comps, season before these 2? 13. Assists last season, 13. Assists this season, 15. The season before these? 10. This is stagnating? Mane has 9 goals this season after scoring 18 and 22 previously. Has Shaw improved? Has Wan-Bissaka improved? Are we seeing the best Pogba since we’ve had him? Has he not managed Greenwood well? Does he not deserve some credit for Fernandes breaking lampards goal scoring record or is that purely all Fernandes?

No one is saying things are what we want them to be but to completely dismiss Solskjaer and what he has done is rather silly IMO because we can all find stats to support our points.

8.) 15 May 2021
15 May 2021 14:14:49
Ports exactly we can. No awb has not improved rashford has lost his place to pogba despite the great stats you give which imo is ludicrous. No this is far from the best pogba we've seen look at the stats. Bruno is saving ole ole is not improving bruno again imo.
Has vdb improved has degea has henderson has bailly has lindelof has fred has mctom has pogba? Tuanzebe? Martial? James? Are these guys showing great improvement? I don't see it. Most that have left him have done well dalot young lukaku smalling jesse.
So for every positive there is a negative.
People have their opinions if you find that tiresome that's OK but others will find your opinion tiresome.
Ole will be here next season will we still be ahead of chelsea and Liverpool and be much closer to city this time next year? Only time will tell. But I have zero faith in him. Zero. I think all 3 of those sides will show a greater rate of improvement than we will next season under ole. We will be in the scrap for top 4 at best and that will show zero improvement after nearly 4 years in charge.
Yes we have done better than Chelsea and Liverpool in the league this season but with little or no entertainment imo. 7 nil all draws.
6 home defeats. Falling behind in a lot of games. Slogging our way through games. Good away form in empty stadia.
Sure there have been a few highlight games but the ratio is poor.
Negative football. From the most boring uninspiring set of coaches since dave sexton in the 70s imo.
You choose to see the cup half full and that's your perogative and honest opinion. I respect that but you should not be surprised when others have a different opinion or see things very differently.
Personally my cup with ole in charge is empty in fact its broken. His team don't represent me as a manchester united supporter. He plays and sets us up and coaches in a manner that's not in keeping with the traditions and ethos of the club imo. Its a shame but that's just how I see it. Its the same as it was under jose or lvg but he's not being as successful as them yet in terms of trophies despite being here longer than both. So I'm afraid we will have to agree to disagree.
But make no mistake the conversation will continue.
You will change your mind if the others pass us out again and I'll change mine if we pass out city and stay ahead of the rest. Opinions are fluid in football as they generally change with the team or players form.
That said I won't be moved on martial🤣. I wouldn't like him if he scored a hat trick in the el final he is just not my cup of tea. I have a bias against him for sure.

9.) 15 May 2021
15 May 2021 14:37:18
Well Ken, we can agree on Martial. I’d like to see him moved on and I think him plus cash for Sancho would be a good move for all parties.

Happy for people to have opinions and I guess it’s like brexit now, you’re in or your out and no in between 😆

But my final question is this, what were your expectations this season after Liverpool won the league, City splashed the cash, Chelsea splashed the cash, Tottenham had Mourinno, no real pre season. Genuine question, not looking for an argument.

10.) 15 May 2021
15 May 2021 15:03:59
I posted them ports no sweat at all mate.
20 plus points on last season
Reach a domestic cup final
Get out of group stage and cl quarter final.
None to un realistic but none achieved never mind all.
Looks like plus 8 points maybe.
No domestic final and dumped unceremoniously out of cl.
We are in a final if a cup that we didn't enter so I'll take that.
Imo the only way he has earnt the right to stay on for another try is if he wins that trophy. i'm resigned to the fact he will be here regardless but I'll be calling for him to leave just as loudly as other folk want the owners to leave because I'm he is not good for the club.

11.) 15 May 2021
15 May 2021 15:05:47
Ports BD won't pay martial 250k a week. No club in their right mind would. Sadly I feel we have another phil Jones on our hands with him. Except Phil is better looking and a much nicer chap🤣.