Manchester United Banter Archive February 17 2019

 

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17 Feb 2019 21:27:03
Really hard to know which players ole will select tomorrow.
I suspect he will play sanchez rashford and lukaku as his front 3 . Possibly with sanchez central just behind rash and lukaku with a brief to harass jorginho .
The 3 midfielders will remain the same no doubt.
Ddg young shaw lindelof and 1 from bailly jones and smalling.
Personally i'd prefer to see dalot in for young but its unlikely.

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17 Feb 2019 23:05:27
I hope we see chong getting a go at some stage of the gane.

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18 Feb 2019 13:35:02
Agree Ken.
I hope Sánchez is asked to play the Lingard role as against Arsenal and Spurs. Down the middle and deeper and with freedom.
Chelsea’s left side of defence is the side to get at, Alonso (if he plays) and Luiz can’t defend properly so we need pace and power down that side to really hurt Chelsea.
That will probably be Lukaku with Rashford down the left channel.
Chong or Gomes on the bench.
Who will partner Lindelof at CB. Will it be Bailly for his pace!

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18 Feb 2019 16:14:05
We could go with Jones and Rojo for the laughs. Best comedy duo since the 2 Ronnies.

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18 Feb 2019 17:07:51
Chong needs to bulk up. He still gets knocked off the ball too easily.

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18 Feb 2019 17:19:21
He's only 19 Hendon. I'm sure he will. Rashford has come a long way since then.

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17 Feb 2019 15:28:15
Interesting to read in the papers that Lukaku is wanted in Italy and we could replace him with Dybala. That would certainly suit the way we are playing and would lend itself to a flexible front three of Dybala/ Lingard behind Rashford and Martial.

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17 Feb 2019 19:05:12
Im not so sure about Dybala in the EPL . Talented lad but his form is very up and down doesn't really command a spot for juve or the national team .
The EPL is lot more physical a lot quicker not sure it would be a good move for dybala .

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{Ed004's Note - I would be interested in a straight swap but I do think Dybala is over rated. Has had a very poor season at Juve. His best position seems to be as a striker and I feel that is where Rashford should be first choice}

17 Feb 2019 20:11:43
I'd just break the bank for mbappe.

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17 Feb 2019 20:49:43
Well if we were to be taken over by the sauds, i don't think there would be many transactions between us and psg leahy.

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17 Feb 2019 15:07:17
The big games are coming thick and fast, so given the fist game against PSG, l would rest some players for the second leg as this game is gone. Give some young lads a taste of the Champions league and have a look at them for the premier league.

Believable1 Unbelievable1

17 Feb 2019 15:26:39
That isn’t the attitude we need. Why not at least try to win the game. Professional footballers paid a fortune, time to earn your crust. I can’t just decide that I’ll go easy on a few sales pitches when I have numerous meetings.

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17 Feb 2019 15:45:17
I agree, there’s nothing like an away game in Europe against one of the favourites to find out what the youngsters are made of.

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17 Feb 2019 15:00:26
If they do sell at least l can see the club being allowed work with its own profits instead of spend a large chunk each year serving the debt which will be gone, these guys don't need the money and if the club if growing they will just sit back and let it look after its self. We generate plenty to look after our players and transfers if allowed to. The old few million investment would be a great help too.

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17 Feb 2019 15:45:46
As I have said before, if the Saudis take over I’m out.

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17 Feb 2019 16:56:17
👍👍 Hear hear.

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17 Feb 2019 17:22:32
True fan of the club, AJH. Love your spirit. let's see if the legends like SAF, Charlton et al think the same way.

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17 Feb 2019 21:09:59
A bit unfair DGS. Everybody has their own view and principles i wouldn't condemn any supporter for walking away i just wouldn't agree with them.

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17 Feb 2019 21:45:47
What is wrong with the Saudis Tony?

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17 Feb 2019 22:44:20
If you love your club and are passionate about them you can't just switch that on/ off based on who the owners are. I love my team no matter what, through thick and thin. Find it hard to understand how any die hard fan could be any different to be honest.

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18 Feb 2019 00:43:18
That’s the beauty of a democracy- unlike in Saudi we have freedom of speech. Not that it makes the slightest difference to me who owns the club.

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{Ed0333's Note - really? It doesn’t make any difference to you who owns you’re football club? Say for example president assad of Syria or Pierre nkurunzizza the ruler of Burundi bought you’re club you’d be ok with that?

18 Feb 2019 06:39:37
Same as AJH. If the Saudis take over I will stop supporting Man Utd. It will no longer be an organisation I will want anything to do with.

Yaz, I suggest you Google "what is wrong with the Saudis"

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18 Feb 2019 07:48:47
I will never stop supporting and loving my team. However, if the Saudis take over I will actively stop and avoid any activities that will directly go to fund the club and by extension that horrific regime.

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18 Feb 2019 12:38:15
Some of us stopped buying anything club related when the glazers took over so wouldn't be able to repeat that.

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18 Feb 2019 13:50:56
Its been reported that funding of 20Bn is now diverted to some country and deal with United is off.

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{Ed001's Note - they did do a deal with Pakistan but there was never a deal with United contingent on those funds, if there ever was a United deal.}

18 Feb 2019 19:02:22
Yaz,
Ever grasped the concept of "blood money"?

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17 Feb 2019 10:21:08
Reports are coming out that Ed has appointed OGS full time manager but no announcement until the end of the season.
Possibly paper talk, possibly not.
Nothing on the United website though.

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{Ed002's Note - Well if there is not going to be an announcement until the end of the season it should not surprise you there is nothing on the club web site.}

17 Feb 2019 13:57:50
LOL Ed

My penneth, “Reports” will likely be made up by journalists so they can ask the club to comment/ deny the rumours. Gives something to write about. Ole has had some good results but I really don’t think a decision should be made yet. Imagine losing our next two games and/ or having a bad run. The club have jumped into poor decisions previously and such a decision would demonstrate the paucity of our whole decision making structure. Why bother with a DOF if Woodward just makes snap decisions?

Wait would be my advice and judge later. I still think Pochettino with a DOF is the best bet at the moment but won’t rule Ole out if he does something spectacular. I appreciate there is an outpouring of affection for one of our own. I would add that if there is to be a change of owner a decision now would be foolish.

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17 Feb 2019 15:29:02
Ed002 😂.

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17 Feb 2019 15:31:07
Thanks ED, as always.

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18 Feb 2019 00:23:00
Agreed here, i reckon sentiment has a big say in opinions - i think Ole is a good lad ("about the place" as they say) and has picked up the mood. However on considered opinion, (i initially backed Ole btw) i think poch is the better choice to take forward. He has absolutely proven what we need - bring young/ unproven players along, blend home grown along with "right fit" purchases - not world record signings for show. We know who has to go and who our best players are - it seems obvious. As said by others above unless something utterly remarkable happens (ownership change, champs lge win ha) I think a DOF and Poch would be absolutely right. This time next year people may say "we should have got Ole at the time". don't worry, he'll be at Molde or Southampton or Stoke etc and ripe for a pay day at that time. His philosophy will likely be similar. maybe Paul Scholes/ Ryan Giggs could do a similar job by then who knows. Anyway, there's a rebuild as we really deep down all knew needed. I like Ole, he is a legend and i'd love to see him shove my opinion down my throat - really i would. However here we are struggling for 4th? Give me a proven builder to get us back to where we should rightfully be given the apparent "Brand" we now follow.

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18 Feb 2019 12:39:17
Most of pochs signings are wrong fit.

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18 Feb 2019 19:05:47
Bohzman,
Struggling for 4th is a terrific achievement in a very short time given how far adrift we were when OGS took over. Also do you not remember how many teams were on our shoulders threatening to turn us into a definite and mid table "also ran" team? How short memory is.
Ole did not start with a level playing field!

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18 Feb 2019 23:48:16
Theres a rebuild needed or have i missed something here? Given, Ole's a grand lad; even a mighty fourth place will placate some too evidently (the Glazers too one may suspect) . Lots out and some in/ promoted required to solve this huge mess - trust experience for this bit though. Nothing ruled in or out except seeing all options equally . Not a level playing field? Little was expected of him, remember?

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17 Feb 2019 03:28:59
As our thoughts turn to Chelsea it will be interesting to see how Ole adapts without Martial and Lingard.

In my opinion Lingard is the bigger loss. His work rate, pressing ability and movement off the ball is vital especially in the bigger games. Without his energy we become more pedestrian. It's harder for us to press and win the ball back higher up the pitch and we don't transition as quickly.

As we've seen at certain times under Ole and certainly under Jose without energy, pace and movement we become pedestrian and easy to play against.

In my opinion Ole's biggest challenge will be to pick a team without losing those key ingredients. Sanchez and Mata both want the ball to feet. They both want to be the conductors and prefer to play laterally rather than vertically. Both are happy to make runs across the pitch and exchange short passes but neither make penetrating runs. When Lukaku plays upfront he rarely threatens in behind or runs the channels. When all three play together we seriously lack penetration and the ability to press from the front.

Conversely this lack of penetration and movement hinders one of our most potent attacking threats in Pogba. He has become a master under Solskjear at playing balls over the top for willing runners then making late runs into the box where he is hard to pick up. This penetrating movement also stretches defences meaning Pogba can pick the ball up and drive us forward from midfield.

I think Solskjear can address these problems in a couple of ways. Firstly he could use Sanchez as a false 9 and play with split strikers; Rashford to the left and Lukaku on the right. Sanchez despite his diminutive frame is decent at holding the ball up and very adapt at wriggling out of tight situations. With Rashford and Lukaku he would have willing runners ahead of him giving him options on the ball. Pogba will still have forward options in midfield and if he could also make runs ahead of Sanchez as he inevitably drops deep into midfield to get on the ball like he did against City last season he'd be an extra threat. It's obvious from recent games that if you can stop Jorginho dictating play and shackle Hazard Chelsea become a relatively predictable outfit. Sanchez has the ability to press from the front and playing centrally he could drop onto Jorginho preventing him dictating play. My concern with this formation is it leaves our full backs isolated where Hazard could become a real threat.

Alternatively Ole could play 3-5-2. By retaining two strikers it means Pogba has forward options and we are still able to stretch the game. The wing backs are able to provide the width and the extra defender provides better solutions to deal with Hazard.

I think we might have to be flexible and maybe switch between the two depending on how the game progresses.

I don't think we can afford a repeat of what happened against PSG where we seriously lacked pace and penetration in the second half. If we line up in a 4-3-3 formation I think we'll struggle with the players we have available.

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17 Feb 2019 07:10:53
I’ve said it several times but Sanchez shouldn’t be in the team, he has been completely dire. Rashford has been on fore as CF so we shouldn’t move him. Lukaku can play on the right, I think he has also been dire but he did ok there. That leaves a replacement for Martial and right now I’d go with anyone other than Sanchez. Gomes, Young, Dalot, ABS (anyone but Sanchez! ) .

Your alternative of playing 3 at the back and pushing the full backs right up is a better idea, it which us to keep the midfield and play 2 up front, or 4 in midfield with Pogba pushing right up. Rashford has been the difference laltely, let’s not move him to accommodate someone else.

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17 Feb 2019 09:32:28
i had a dream last night we played fosu mensah on the right wing. it was only a team sheet so i didn’t dream about the game. But it got me thinking, wouldn’t this be the right time to play some of the academy lads, chong and greenwood could fight right in.

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17 Feb 2019 10:49:28
Hmm, a disagree, does someone think Sanchez hasn’t been dire? Anyone?

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17 Feb 2019 12:07:46
AJH - it wasn't me pal! I never hit that button if I don't agree with something I comment and give my reasons why. There is no right or wrong only opinions.

I can't argue about Sanchez he's been poor but I'm convinced if he's played through the middle we'll see a different player. Maybe I'm wrong and he's certainly approaching the last chance saloon.

I'm not convinced Ole will throw in Chong or Gomes especially after the PSG defeat one or both might make the bench though.

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17 Feb 2019 12:30:27
AJH don’t be sensitive.
Maybe a scousers troll hit it? 🤣.

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17 Feb 2019 13:26:59
I'd just like to welcome to the site Alexis Sanchez.

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17 Feb 2019 21:17:23
Sure he has been poor. But when martial was poor it was because he wasnt getting a run of games
When rash was poor it was because he didn't get a run of games
If sanchez playes 5 or 6 games in a row in this Attacking team then he might just show a lot of improvement too.
Id like to see him given a run while the others are out injured. If he doesn't cut it still then he has no excuse. He is a better player than he has shown and he is a better player than chong or greenwood.
Id love him to do well between now and the end of the season.
Its not looking that likely i'd have to admit😂😂 but if he does hit a bit of form it would be great.

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17 Feb 2019 02:05:48
Interesting times ahead with heavy schedules coupled with key players with injuries. We will get to see how Ole deals with the situation.
For me I feel it's a good time for Ole to experience this and make use of the opportunity to find out more his options of players and formations. I have no doubt he will be tapping on SAF's experiences and strategies. I only hope these injuries do not come back to bite our top 4 position. I hope we will win Chelsea given their mess. I still maintain that even if we lose our main focus should still be to hold the top 4 position in PL. I can accept a trophyless season but we should take opportunity to hold top 4 and already start planning which department to beef up and who to bring in in time for pre season.
Would be sad if Lukaku is sold but if only we can bring in strong and pacey attackers in to complement Rash and Martialelse we should stick with him. Although Lukaku is not world class I think he has good value add to the team as he is good attack option but may not be start choice.
All said and done, most importantly is to just win. I don't care by 1, 2 or 3 margin but just win and finish the season respectfully.
Thanks Eds for work on site. Have not contributed much lately but still reading loyally. 🙏.

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{Ed001's Note - good to see you are still about mate.}

17 Feb 2019 06:18:02
Thanks mate. Been a while since being active.
Long story but we will not talk about me. More importantly the club/ s we support. People come and people go but the clubs will always remain.
Hope all’s well with you and loved ones. I just happened to have a big change in the way I look at life 🙄. Too much hate in this world. But well that’s life 😉🙂.

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{Ed001's Note - life is definitely far too short for hate. Glad you are back about mate, everything is good this end.}

17 Feb 2019 07:15:41
Good post mate.

Ole has done really well but whoever comes in I think there is some surgery needed:

1. Sell Lukaku and Sanchez as well as moving on a few fringe players.
2. Sign a top class CB, CM, and possible a forward who can play across the line.
3. Promote 2 or 3 youngsters and see what they are made of.
4. Press and play with pace.

We have the bones of a great team and a good squad, the mood seems positive and players are improving. Today will be a sign Of how resilient we are, we’ve lost a game and lost 2 key players to injury, time to step up.

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17 Feb 2019 10:02:15
Id keep lukaku for next season but think about selling him in 2020, by then greenwood should be in the squad. There's a lot that needs to leave. We have 9 of a starting 11, but beyond that its painfully thin. Think of the match day 18 and almost half should be moved on.

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17 Feb 2019 10:18:05
AJH 👍.
Ole is definitely earning his salary. But whoever the next be it Ole, Poch, Allegri or Ince (haha) theybwill bring in their own team. Till then I’ll just support my club and hope they win as many games as possible.
My main concern now is the question of who the next owner is given the rumors 🙄🤦‍♂️🤣.

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