23 Aug 2022 15:56:14
Rome wasn't built in a day and it's going to be a rollercoaster of a season. But last night the players executed the game plan correctly, they pressed effectively, played some great football and showed that they can play if they put their heads together.

The defence were great last night, Malacia had Salah in his pocket. Martinez was very aggressive. Varane was steady and assured and Dalot nullified Diaz.

I still was not happy seeing mctominays name on the teamsheet. Now Casemiro is in the house, hopefully we will see less of him. He didn't play bad yesterday but that's the first half decent game he's played in as long as I can remember.

Eriksen and Bruno weren't outstanding but effective in their passing and pressing.

The front three were very good last night, pace power and with a little more luck Elanga could have gotten on the scoresheet too.

It's clear to see we play better without Ronaldo but lack a little finishing instinct without him.

The problem when Ronaldo plays is everyone seems to want to play the ball into his feet and wait for the magic but he just isn't that type of player anymore.

That result will probably be the highlight of the season because we have not yet fully turned any corners. This is a huge work in progress, for the team and for EtH.

1.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 16:20:49
I am as happy as anyone for the result yesterday but don't want to get carried away. Liverpool have been just as bad as us this season and played into our hands. Their full backs pushed forward and left space in behind for our sprinters. With a little luck we could have put 4 or 5 past them. However, teams that will sit back with 2 layers of 4, our front 3 will be nullified and will be back to frustrating. That is where we need a genuine out and out striker, a goal poacher so to speak, a Ronaldo who can create space out of nothing and get a shot on goal.
Last night was a typical performance of the team under Ole where we were good against top teams who gave us space and went back to torture against teams who sat back.

2.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 17:25:47
RedWhiskey, I think the issue is when Ronaldo plays he demands the ball into his feet.

What made us dangerous in attack last night was that the ball could be played to anyone. Was it going to Rashford, or Sancho, or Elanga, or Martial.

When Ronaldo plays the ball is going to Ronaldo. We become predictable, one dimensional, ultimately easy to defend against.

It's no surprise that all of the attackers who were struggling last season with Ronaldo in the side are doing better this season without him.

Maguire is oddly the same, waltzing around the pitch trying to be the guy who makes the tackle/ block/ header and telling everyone else to cover him while he goes chasing the ball.

He'd be an infinitely better player if he just did his job and allowed others to do theirs.

{Ed077's Note - "It's no surprise that all of the attackers who were struggling last season with Ronaldo in the side are doing better this season without him."

Is this the same season where the attackers combined has 0 goals until last night?

3.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 17:39:17
Nothing like Shappy to over hype. Who has done better might i ask?

4.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 18:39:44
Quite agree. We're a better side without Ronaldo in it. The players seem to have more freedom and not the pressure of havin to play 2nd fiddle to Ronaldo. You've only got to look at Bruno's stats and performances both with and without Ronaldo. Same way the back line looks more assured without that donkey Maguire ploddin about.

5.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 18:59:45
Shappy

“Eriksen and Bruno weren't outstanding but effective in their passing and pressing. ”

I thought Eriksen was excellent and Bruno ran for everything, but needs to stop the histrionics.

“The front three were very good last night, pace power and with a little more luck Elanga could have gotten on the scoresheet too. ”

With more care and quality Elanga should have scored. In tight games must take chances and Elanga may just fall short in quality.

I still maintain we need a striker, goal scorer up front.

6.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 20:24:05
You can't press with Ronaldo, Ronaldo plays for his own glory, it qas a massive mistake bringing him back as it disrupted thw attacking g flow of the whole team.

Granted he will get chances and stick them away but there was a notable drop off in the performance of the team as a whole when we moved from Cavani to Ronaldo.

As for his replacement well it needs to be a goalscorer who is also a pressing forward. That's why we have scouts and a DoF to identity then sign this guy. I have faith that when we look at 806 strikers we will find one like we did with our RB.

We missed out on Jesus and Nunez both who would have done the job this summer already, not sure who is the right man here.

7.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 20:40:16
United's last decent season for goals from the 4 main attackers was 2019/ 20 - Martial, Rashford, Greenwood and Fernandes.
They scored, in all comps, 23, 22, 17 and 12 respectively, assists of 9, 9, 3 and 8.
Per 90, for G and A - 0.58/ 0.23, 0.57/ 0.23, 0.58/ 0.10 and 0.59/ 0.39.
That's 2.32 goals and 0.95 assists per 90 from the 4 main attackers.

Now, let's look at last season with Messrs Ronaldo, Rashford, Greenwood and Fernandes (I've included Greenwood because his stats were better than Sancho's) .
Goals - 24, 5, 6 and 10.
Assists- 3, 2, 2 and 14.
Per 90 for gls and ass - 0.68/ 0.08, 0.27/ 0.11, 0.32/ 0.11 and 0.23/ 0.33.
That's 1.5 goals and 0.63 assists per 90.

Which certainly adds merit to the suggestion that Ronaldo does not play to the strengths of his fellow attackers.
For an elite-level attacker who has lost his legs and can't put himself about as much as he needs to in the PL, 0.08 assists per 90 is a major problem.
Yes, he can hold the ball up, but 0.08 assists per 90 is garbage.
Yes, he scored 24, but he did next to nothing else.

The United team is far better off with him on the bench.

Why do people think Fernandes starts flapping his arms when Ronaldo's playing?
The movement ahead of him is clumsy because Captain Precious just stands there barking orders.

Ronaldo is a liability.
Not because he's no good, but because he expects the game to revolve around him at any expense to the team effort.

It is absolutely time for him to go.

8.) 23 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 22:25:40
Red Man - I completely agree with that mate. I thought Bruno worked his socks off and Eriksen definitely added more composure in midfield.

I’ve seen some posters compliment Fred’s cameo last night and whist I admire his industry in my opinion he still made some very basic errors in possession last night which handed the initiative to Liverpool as we sought to see out the game. In my opinion Fred is better utilised further forward to press the opposition and help us win the ball back higher up the pitch. He’s better in the final third where he’s decent at playing quick, short, passes and running off the ball. I think he’s a liability in the build up and he gives me palpitations especially when he’s on the ball in our own defensive third.

I don’t think we’ll sign another midfielder before the window slams shut next week but must admit I like the look of Casemiro at 6, Eriksen at 8 and Bruno at 10. I think Eriksen has the ability to dictate play from deeper positions, he’s creative with a good passing range and with Casemiro adding some steel and defensive nous alongside him it could provide a nice balance.

I fully agree we need another forward, probably two if Ronaldo leaves.

Call me cynical but whilst Casemiro and FdJ are different midfield players I think he was the alternative. Now we’ve finally won a game and there is some positively around the Club will the Glazers back the manager with more signings. We’ll now in about a week. I have my doubts.

9.) 24 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 22:43:45
Liverpool's fullbacks always bomb forward and their entire attacking play is designed around them playing very high up the pitch and creating havoc for opposing teams and opportunities for their front 3. even though I did not see the game I thought we should let them come forward and get behind them on the counter.

Real Madrid did that to them very effectively with vinicius, who has blistering pace and completely took them out of their comfort zone and game plan.

I do agree its a lot more difficult for us against teams that sit back as Shaw and Dalot are not great at going forward, getting past a man and putting a decent cross in. We need a number 9 who can bring others into play as we get little from the wings.

I think the PSV guy has the size and read he can play across the front 3 and maybe why eth is looking to bring him in
Finally Ronaldo has to go and should not play, he has made it clear he does not want to be here for whatever reason.

Part of changing the mentality and general attitude of this team is guys who have egos to the detriment of the team or lack the ability to put the work rate in need to be cleared out.

10.) 24 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 19:33:57
Ed077 and UA, at the start of the pre-season tour the forward players looked liberated and played well. With Martial catching the eye along with Sancho.

Then Ronaldo came back into the squad. We were poor against Brighton with Ronaldo coming on just after halftime. We were shocking against Brentford with Ronaldo starting.

Our best performance has come AFTER Ronaldo was dropped. I think that might be because the players feel out from under his shadow.

All of Rashford, Sancho, Elanga and Martial have played their best minutes of the season so far in last nights game with Ronaldo on the bench.

{Ed077's Note - friggin Pre-Season Shappy.

So how many goals did Utd score against Brighton before CR7 was subbed on then eh? Did Ronaldo tie up the players shoelaces intertwined stopping them from breaking a sweat against Brighton or Brentford? We were sh1te against both Brighton and Brentford, collectively. And did well against LFC as a unit (from what I have gathered; didn't watch the match)

By any chance do you think Andreas Pereira is the greatest footballer of all time?

11.) 24 Aug 2022
24 Aug 2022 07:00:17
I'm sorry it's plain as day to see Ronaldo has a huge effect on the team. you can see it from the stands. United scored more without him, will do again. On those wages and the fact he wants to go . it's bye bye time and the way he's behaved, must be nuts having that ego around.

12.) 24 Aug 2022
24 Aug 2022 08:29:43
Red Man, you seem to be replying to me for something RedWhiskey has said. Or at least you are quoting his OP.

Who was your post actually aimed at?

13.) 24 Aug 2022
24 Aug 2022 15:28:27
Since last 10 years different architects are trying to build Rome. No one is successful. City built winning team in how many seasons? How much investment? And Managerial Changes? How many trophies won since than? To many realistic questions.

14.) 24 Aug 2022
24 Aug 2022 08:33:45
Ed077, it's a small sample size to go on granted. But there was a clear difference in how the team played with and without Ronaldo.

As others have said above, as a team we have scored our fewest ever goals last season when Ronaldo was in the team.

The same thing happened at Juventus, they scored MORE goals AFTER Ronaldo left. It was also the same at Real Madrid.

Ronaldo demands the ball, he is a vacuum for a teams chances. He sulks when someone else scores a chance and he feels he should have been given the ball.

There is a clear pattern that when Ronaldo plays the team score less goals but Ronaldo scores them all.

{Ed077's Note - it's not small sample size, it's just 1 game.

Is it the same Real Madrid team that won 3 back to back UCL with CR7 "vacuuming" the ball? Juve had less points and scored about 20 goals fewer last season as compared to 2020/21 with CR7.

CTC might be detrimental to the team, he may not be, that I don't know for sure. What I do know is for most of the past 12 months, and more, not a single player, maybe barring DDG, has put in their 100% effort. And that for me is unacceptable and UNEXCUSABLE. They can't have no "reason" for that, in my eyes.

15.) 24 Aug 2022
24 Aug 2022 20:40:51
Whilst I agree that it’s time for Ronnie and us to move on and part ways. The criticism that’s been levelled at him (and it is criticism rest assured) is way off the mark. He is a narcissist and an egomaniac, BUT………. he’s the greatest player of his generation and has scored goals wherever he’s been. He deserves a bit more credit than to be labelled a scapegoat.

16.) 24 Aug 2022
23 Aug 2022 22:43:45
Liverpool's fullbacks always bomb forward and their entire attacking play is designed around them playing very high up the pitch and creating havoc for opposing teams and opportunities for their front 3. even though I did not see the game I thought we should let them come forward and get behind them on the counter.

Real Madrid did that to them very effectively with vinicius, who has blistering pace and completely took them out of their comfort zone and game plan.

I do agree its a lot more difficult for us against teams that sit back as Shaw and Dalot are not great at going forward, getting past a man and putting a decent cross in. We need a number 9 who can bring others into play as we get little from the wings.

I think the PSV guy has the size and read he can play across the front 3 and maybe why eth is looking to bring him in
Finally Ronaldo has to go and should not play, he has made it clear he does not want to be here for whatever reason.

Part of changing the mentality and general attitude of this team is guys who have egos to the detriment of the team or lack the ability to put the work rate in need to be cleared out.

17.) 25 Aug 2022
25 Aug 2022 13:36:45
Shappy

Not sure, just wanted to answer the points. The posts probably blurred into one long one and long posts are your domain… . Not all posts have to be aimed at anyone you know.