Manchester United Banter Archive January 19 2019

19 Jan 2019 22:46:44
Bit of a strange game. We dominated, had 20 shots but after their goal started to look a little nervous. I never thought I would say this but I hope Smalling is back soon, Jones makes me very nervous. Ole keeps picking the same team and they keep winning but an occasional change might freshen things up. Rashford can still be maddeningly inconsistent but what a talent the boy is, if he keeps his feet on the ground and keeps developing he will be some player in a couple of years.

I’m enjoying the games, we are playing well, but there is a casualness to our approach. A bit more pace and urgency would have seen us have that game closed down by half time. Hopefully Ole is seeing what needs to be done and gets on it, I’m being overly critical as compared to Grumpy Arse’s reign things are 1000% better.

The next 3 games are all very winnable which should put us right in the mix. Arsenal are inconsistent, Chelsea are starting to struggle, and Spurs don’t have a striker for a month.

20 Jan 2019 09:10:08
The arsenal result yesterday was best case scenario imo, I think them and Chelsea look bang average, add to that spurs injury troubles and I think 3rd is there for the taking.

20 Jan 2019 13:20:53
I’m going to watch the Spurs game today, I smell an upset.

19 Jan 2019 17:48:57
We appear to be holding on in the last 15mins lately, is it fitness or just players taking, the foot off the gas?

19 Jan 2019 18:36:24
Both.

19 Jan 2019 19:27:05
Perfect weekend so far. Top 4 is now well in reach, three points every week is getting the job done for us.

Performance wise we are still not where we need to be. We took our foot off the gas at 2 - 0 rather than injecting pace and purpose in attack and going for more goals. This has to change, both Chelsea and Arsenal have a better goal difference.

Pogba is still too happy to coast around the pitch and stand idolly by when the ball is lost. Martial also needs to be more energetic and decisive. He made a great off the ball run and was put clean through and nearly scored. We need more of that Tony!

We can all look at the defense and poor goals. But we know we are weak there. Until we sign a Alderwereld type signing we will continue to see poor goals conceded. But WITH THESE players we can get better in attack.

I was itching for the crowd to start chanting Attack attack attack!

19 Jan 2019 19:42:47
I think it's just the nature of the English game. It's very rare to go 90 minutes and dominate without the losing team getting a second wind. I think it's just something we would need to accept. Put the game to bed early or expect a flourish from the opposition in the last 15.

19 Jan 2019 20:03:24
I did have a slight worry about today's game. Often you see a good result against a top team followed by a bad result against a team you should be beating.

Is it a case of so much put in against Spurs that the team are tired, or do they just take the smaller team as not being as tough do they take their foot off the gas?

I don't know. But we wouldn't have been alone if we had lost today. Every top side in the EPL has lost a game against a team they should beat following a great result against a fellow top team.

However, we didn't lose. We won. We could have scored a couple more goals in the first half, and then the game would have been over. We didn't, Brighton fought back and we had to dig deep again at the end.

Part of me is annoyed by this while part of me is happy to see that as a team we have developed the mental strength and ability to hold on when under pressure. It's certainly a good trait to have.

Let's just enjoy another win.

19 Jan 2019 21:06:46
Once brighton got there deserved goal bac, it was always going to be a tough last 20 minutes. Ole said it best, we didn't keep the ball well enough in the second half when we could have killed the game. but first half some of our attacking play was very good.

19 Jan 2019 21:44:20
At least we seem to have learned how to hold out. Something that Jose espoused but could not teach.

19 Jan 2019 21:56:39
Momentum is with us. Chelsea are on the slide, and Arsenal are simply not as good as we are. Ole has got us in good shape for top 4. Amazing start and long May it continue.

20 Jan 2019 09:12:27
Always going to be a tough game you get what you earn against Brighton, and we earned 3 points.

19 Jan 2019 16:38:37
Underwhelming today. 2nd gear performance today mostly. its 77 min in and can't be sure if we are going to win today.

19 Jan 2019 17:24:29
I'll take underwhelming against a Brighton side who have beaten us the previous 2 games.

7 from 7. Well done boys.

19 Jan 2019 18:33:55
I was never really worried, they didn’t really have any chances in the last 10 minutes to make you think they might win. We were really good at times, Rashford’s goal was fantastic and he is in the form of his life, no mention of it though Shan?

19 Jan 2019 18:35:02
Convinient.

19 Jan 2019 19:16:03
We played well in the first half and withiut ever really causing us much concern brighton were the better team in the 2nd half.
Our midfield players matic pogba and herrera are playing nearly every min of every game and have looked tired in the last 20 mins of our last 3 league games.
We need fred to start offering a bit more other than that there is only fellaini to look forward to when he gets fit again when the window closes. We really are paper thin in the squad in midfield playing 3 in there.
Ole will have to get creative in rotating our defenders and midfielders as he is woefully short on quality behind his 1st choice.
Dalot showed again today that he is on the right track and improving all the time.
Rotating our front 3 appears easier on paper with rom sanchez and mata as second choices to jessie martial and rash.
7 out of 7. Is more than most even hoped for. Probably 3 points off top 4. Lots to be positive about. We have a monster month ahead of us in feb and the key for me is keeping our midfield and lindelof fresh. Its time for the likes of fred to step up and start making a positive contribution.

19 Jan 2019 19:25:14
Their goal (completely against the run of play) threw us and made it a nervy end. We could have been 3/ 4 up at the break and had chances second half. Not sure what was underwhelming?
Lindelof had another good game, rashfords goal was stunning.

19 Jan 2019 19:37:09
Caolan,

It’s a shame Rashford is leaving in the summer because he isn’t good enough 🤣 what’s convenient Shan?

19 Jan 2019 20:22:48
Shan still thinks rashford is rubbish.

20 Jan 2019 03:47:16
Yes lads Rashford's goal was brilliant yesterday and there were a few Rooneysque passes from him but did you think he fizzled in and out of the game? Its my opinion and none of you will be changing that unless i see what i want to from him. Consistency in front of goal. But having said that he has been excellent these last few games.

I don't have words for you guys because you are being pigeons by closing your eyes. The performance yesterday was so slow and lethargic. It was a performance similar to dianosaur's, the difference being that under him these world beaters didn't play and gave up and might have ended up drawing.

The club has given in to the player power and is no longer unique and different than any other club in the world. The United Way is done. Wonder what happened to "My way or the highway. " what could have been if the club had backed Beckham, Stam, van Nistelrooy instead of the manager of the time.

20 Jan 2019 04:45:03
Hasn't he scored 4 in 4 in pl now with 6 goals and 3 assists in last 10 games overall, most will call that consistency.

20 Jan 2019 05:43:58
Yes CSM, most will. I am not the crowd. Obviously there must be something about him that every manager has put him in the team, he just needs to do it in the game regularly. But as i said, he has been brilliant these past few games and i really hope he continues in this vain of form for long. That will be good for the lad and the club. I will be more than happy to put my hand up and say i was wrong about Rashford. I reserve my judgement. I hope that is fine buddy.

20 Jan 2019 07:23:32
I don't really mind shan just found the stats interesting given you wanted consistency from him, it's an opinion and rashford isn't a star player yet so everyone is allowed their's.

20 Jan 2019 09:15:16
One of the commentary team summed it up for me yesterday by saying that we won't need to buy a star striker for the next decade he's ours and I love him the kids going to be a superstar.

20 Jan 2019 13:12:18
He’s just turned 21. You can’t expect him to be consistent week in weekout yet as he’s still learning. He’s played some many roles, and hasn’t led the line in as many games for us since his debut season. Have some faith in him.

19 Jan 2019 08:31:01
Martial signed a new 5 year contract.

19 Jan 2019 21:40:58
Delighted that it looks we're keeping a hold of Martial. As daft as this sounds, I'm not bothered that we're keeping him just because he's a good player or might become a great player, I'm delighted because he's exciting to watch. He's one of those players who I just don't care if he is in brilliant form or not, every time he gets the ball and starts running at a defender there's a feeling of excitement in the stadium.

Some players have that and some don't but having grown up in the 90's/ 00's watching Giggs, Kanchelskis, Ronaldo etc, United need players like Martial who get fans off there seats and entertain.

19 Jan 2019 04:48:08
Ed001, following up on yesterday’s post about the quality of poch’s signings, I was hoping to get your opinion on which managers you think would be good appointments by the club, and why.

Apologies if you have answered this one already.

Thanks!

{Ed001's Note - it is difficult to be sure, but the ones I would suggest looking to are people like Osorio, Setien, Marcelino, Favre or Nagelsmann. Maybe even Pablo Machin. Someone who plays good football, as the fans need to be excited by what they are seeing at United. There are very few in and around the top flight in England that are worth considering and I don't think the backing would be there to take a chance on someone like the Cowley brothers. It would be better to stick with Ole if you are going to just take a wild punt, imo.}

19 Jan 2019 07:45:23
I would have loved to see Nagelsmann as I myself enjoy whatever little I see of Hoffenheim. He plays "good" football but more importantly is side play as a cohesive unit but unfortunately that ship has sailed for now. Also I think it might have been a year or 2 too soon for him.

19 Jan 2019 12:01:08
Seeing as you have namedropped them Ed what's your opinion on the Cowley brothers i live local to Lincoln and there rise under the Cowleys is nothing short of impressive but they would never enter my mind when it comes to a premier league job never mind United.

{Ed001's Note - excellent mate but they need to step up now and prove themselves at the next level.}

19 Jan 2019 12:39:35
I think we need to take a punt. We've tried established names that turned out to be yesterdays men. Take a chance and find the next big thing. The structure of the club needs sorting out more importantly.

19 Jan 2019 22:02:12
Do you mean someone like OGS?