Manchester United Banter Archive December 23 2018

 

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23 Dec 2018 18:46:45
There really are no conclusions to be drawn from just one match but it was good to see players moving with pace instead of moving lethargically into spaces where they became isolated, cutting off all passing opportunities.

Under Mourinho the individual actions of the players had broken down into atomized parts and ceased to function within the structure of the team. When that happens the whole performs worse than the sum of the parts, discord grows within the team and obviously between the team and the manager and the fans. Clearly it was beyond fixing.

Ego is essential for success but it must express itself within the overall function of the team otherwise it becomes destructive. Staying at the top requires continual evolution of the ego to ever-changing functionalities. I think that's Mourinho's main weakness. His ego is stuck in the past, incapable of development, and thus, when things go wrong, out comes his arrogance, his temper, the insults, and the blaming of others. Thus the winner becomes the whiner.

Believable8 Unbelievable1

23 Dec 2018 21:50:33
The temptation is to blame JM, even more tempting because first game in we scored 5 goals. There is far more wring with our club than simply Jose.

The players downed tools. He did not have the full support of the board, and therefore was doomed to fail from the start. It was a marriage of inconvenience.

Let's show him the class that he has shown us and call it just something that didn't quite work.

The guy has won everything in football. He won us the one trophy we had never won in our illustrious history. I think to wave him off with a sneer and a shout of him being a dinosaur from the past is to show a classlessness that I would hope we could all rise above.

He will not be remembered as a united great, but he will be remembered as a premiership great and a great of this generation of football. I certainly wish the guy well.

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{Ed025's Note - i dont DB, he was a selfish egotistical maniac who thought he was better than man utd, good riddance i say mate..

23 Dec 2018 22:57:59
Dodgy, the support of the board argument is already looking hollow. He wanted centre backs despite buying Lindelof and Bailly. Lindelof looked great for Benfica, for Sweden at the World Cup and yesterday for United. The common denominator - playing for teams utilising a high line and pressing from the front.

It simply didn't suit him playing in a low block, yet it was all he ever endured under Mourinho. Bailly's the same and many regard him a better player and better prospect than Lindelof. They're both good centre backs who were mismanaged, played to their weaknesses not their strengths. Why would the board pay 60-70 million for Alderweireld when he could suffer the same fate. Can we be sure that he would have suited the low block defensive system?

The board were at fault, but not for not backing Jose, for not sacking him in the summer.

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23 Dec 2018 22:59:14
I can think of many managers who will be considered greater than Mourinho as far as the English game alone is concerned: Ferguson, Busby, Shankley, Paisley, Wenger and Clough for starters. No one can take away what he accomplished at Porto and Inter, but that's not the EPL.

For a brief time Mourinho shone. He was creature of his time who built a personal mystique that served him well. He combined it with Abramovic's money to maximum effect. But ultimately he was also more destructive than any of them. His time at United was a sad coda to the nature of his career.

In any event my post has nothing to do with the problems at our club which I agree have been far deeper than Mourinho. To say he wasn't supported is a little rich though. During his 2 1/ 2 years we bought Bailly, Lindelof, Pogba, Fred, Dalot, Lukaku, Mkhtaryan, Sanchez, Ibrahimovic, and Matic. Most of them went backwards, as did our younger existing players. I don't wish him ill, but it's self evident that his reign has been a failure despite the minor trophy successes.

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23 Dec 2018 23:49:55
He was utterley miserable, he made the players miserable and the fans miserable, his tactics where not that of a Man Utd manager they were that of a relegation team, he constantly put our players down knocking there confidence in public, anyone would think he had Burnley’s squad the way he went on, a black cloud has been lifted with him gone and I for one am delighted. He can take his low block and massive head to destinations new and fall out with another team.

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24 Dec 2018 00:32:46
Rui Faria used to prepare his teams for his tactics. Faria had gone and Carrick and McKenna could not offer the same type of coaching for his tactics. Alan Shearer mentioned united stopped running for Mourinho, but Mourinhos tactics were at fault for that not the players. But I don't agree with the narrative that Jose tactics are in the past and football has moved on. OGS will get the praise for the game but for me that was Carrick and McKenna's coaching.

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24 Dec 2018 08:12:33
classy Manchester United fans. Classy. Why would Poch want to come here when he knows that these are the fans that support the so called biggest club in the world. Riding on a wave of one good game. Just last week after a similar result/ game, everyone was like - its just Fulham. Now they are talking like its Barcelona.

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24 Dec 2018 09:41:41
That was the point of my post UA. If I was Poch I'd stay at Tottenham.

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24 Dec 2018 10:34:45
UA,

What are you on about? Are we supposed to have watched the game on Saturday and just ignore that we were a million miles better than in the previous games, even the majority of the Fulham game. If you didn't notice the difference I suggest you go watch the 2 games again, watch how many one touch quick passes we played against Fulham, it is like chalk and cheese.

Surely what Poch would see here are fans that support a manager who plays a style that suits his players strengths, we weren't asking for the moon, some people will argue they want style, others will argue they want results, that is fair enough. If the style is terrible and we are struggling to get results in almost every game then there isn't really anything to support.

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24 Dec 2018 11:21:40
Anyone think Jose downed tools?

I think sfrim summer he has been creating so much friction with the view of creating a back me or sack me situation.

I think the players deserve some criticism but things where very toxic in the end.

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24 Dec 2018 13:06:06
Jose was class and reamin class. It is just that he is a bit old school and players now a days are like barbie dolls.

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24 Dec 2018 14:49:52
Singh,

Class? Not a word I’ve ever heard Jose described as to be honest mate.

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{Ed025's Note - he must have meant...ASS GDS.. :)

24 Dec 2018 21:12:06
José is one of the most classless people that have ever been in the game. The Chelsea doctor, the eye-gouging in Madrid, his digs at Benitez and his wife, his barbs against Wenger. The list is endless. His behaviour has been an embarrassment over the years, but we forgot all that in our desire to hail him as our saviour.

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23 Dec 2018 14:17:59
Amazing game, Amazing performance.
Does not matter the opposition these are the games were we should perform the way we did.

Enjoyable game at last.

Believable11 Unbelievable1

23 Dec 2018 15:41:53
i would suggest a quick check on Cardiff results before going over the top.

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23 Dec 2018 16:16:50
Cardiff have won 4 out of 5 of their last home games. They lost to the amazing Man City team at home this season 5-0, where as we only beat them 5-1.

It's not that we beat a team that look like they will be in a relegation battle right up until May. It's the manner in which we beat them. That is something we haven't seen from a United side since Sir Alex retired.

The fact that rival fans feel the need to comment tells us everything about how our performance yesterday has made you sit up and take notice.

It's a long road, but it feels like we are on our way back. You guys looking over your shoulder helps confirm that.

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23 Dec 2018 16:20:16
Cardiff’s results at home aren’t that bad.

City beat them 5-0 earlier in the season. The rest are close games and they won their last 3 home games before yesterday.

No one as a Utd fan is getting carried away but there was a noticeable improvement in the way the team played yesterday and that’s the most goals Utd have scored in a PL game since 2013 which is far too long ago.

Prefer to enjoy the performance and result and be optimistic.

Glass is half full.

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23 Dec 2018 18:23:31
I didn't get to see the match but only the extended highlights. It was great to see the attacking intent. I don't think anyone is getting too cocky by beating a team at the lower half of the table. We are just happy that we are at least seeing our players attack. There were multiple times when I could see 5 or 6 of our players in and around the opposition box trying to make something happen which hasn't been the case in a long time.
People have been critical of the players for not trying enough so it is fair if we are praising them for their effort.
Matic has been getting a lot of flak for the past months. Can anyone tell how he performed against Cardiff? He has never been the fastest but if we play a high line and press then I think we can see much better performances from him.

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23 Dec 2018 18:59:06
Look over our shoulders sharppy. Come on, you don't really believe that. Cardiff are shocking and united players played with freedom but they will revert to type in a few games when the novelty wears off. if they wouldn't play for Jose what hope has Ole got. I for o e hope you improve massively so that Ole gets the job full time because I guarantee you will not challenge if he is the full time boss.

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23 Dec 2018 19:30:49
Fruitba,

You’re on here mate that tells us everything we need to know I’ll be honest.

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23 Dec 2018 20:00:33
Fruitba, GDS has hit the nail on the head. Your top of the league, playing well and in with your best chance of winning the title since Gerrard slipped.

Yet you find yourself on the United page after our best league performance and result in 5 years.

To be honest I feel a little sorry for you and your lot, if you do win the league this season will you truly enjoy it for the football and the glory, or will you just want to come on here and rub it in our faces? If it's the latter, then I feel a little sad for you as I think that takes away a lot of the joy of it if rubbing it in our faces is one of the most important things.

But that's me. Of course if you do win the league this season and you come to the United page just remember you'll still be one league title behind us.

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23 Dec 2018 21:25:10
Lads/ Shappy I grew up with United winning everything and us struggling and having so many false dawns. I check the United page every week no matter what the result. all my mates and most of my family are united supporters. I'm not here to rub amything into anyone's faces. we have won nothing yet. All I'm. saying that this united team is so far away from challenging it's not funny. And if u think Ole is the right man well it says more about how far you have fallen than anything. yes i want to keep united down because if they get it right well then they could dominate again for 20 yrs but be under no illusion I wasnt worried yesterday watching your match and decided to come into this page to see how you felt about it.

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23 Dec 2018 22:24:00
How can you say whether he is or isn't the right man for the job (putting aside the fact that it's an interim role)?

Unless you watched him and analysed his time at Molde or his brief spell at Cardiff, I don't think you can reasonably comment either way.

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23 Dec 2018 22:43:52
Fruitba, I don't think anyone think Ole is the right man long term. But he might just be the right man right now. He has a contract until the end of the season. If we win every game between now and then convincingly then maybe we should talk about Ole staying longer or being all that.

I think all United supporters are doing in enjoying a good performance, our best in 5 years.

The fact that fans from many other teams don't want to let us enjoy that or feel the need to try and burst our bubble tells us more about the mentality of those fans than it does about the next six months at our club.

The funny thing is over the last 5 years opposition fans have been coming on to the the Untied page less and less as we have declined and obviously those fans feel us less of a threat. To see those fans retiring after one good performance reasserts to us just how big of a club we are and just how much those opposition fans fear us coming back.

So thank you kindly for making us feel more positive about Saturdays performance than we already did.

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24 Dec 2018 00:42:29
Fruitba. Your words.

“yes i want to keep united down because if they get it right well then they could dominate again for 20 yrs. ”

. Fear.
Thanks for coming.

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24 Dec 2018 17:47:57
Fruit and nutba.

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23 Dec 2018 12:45:43
Since this are exciting times right now, I would like to ask the Eds about our search for a DoF.

Is there any progress being made?
Is this still in the focus right now or in the shadow of the search for a new manager?

Has the search dragged on so long because the hierarchy is unsure about the role and thus the appropriate candidate?
Or was it a struggle to agree upon a candidate with Jose?
Or is it a problem of struggling with the actual decision to hand over some power to a new recruit?

Or is it a case of the right candidate not being available and us waiting for the right time to pounce?

Thank you so much in advance

Have a happy holidays everyone.

Believable1 Unbelievable0

{Ed002's Note - Nothing has changed at all. It is simply a matter of finding the right person.}

23 Dec 2018 14:08:32
Hi Ed, what do you make to Schmeichels comments about applying if he had the skills required? Is it nothing or do you think he could be a serious contender?

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{Ed002's Note - I don't know what he has said but he is not what is needed as a Director of Football.}

23 Dec 2018 17:58:21
Kurtis,

What would he say on his application form? How well he did on strictly?

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24 Dec 2018 11:41:06
I'm not sure GDS you'd have to ask the man himself. I wouldn't have him back as a DOF, just interested to understand whether there is anything behind the comments.

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23 Dec 2018 13:30:23
Great result, even better performance. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but it does show that simply telling the players to enjoy themselves and play with attacking intent and energy, is often all that is needed.

There will be many hard games to come, but seeing the weight lifted from so many of the lads was nice to see.

I'm excited to watch the next game as I am expecting free-flowing attacking football, more expectation than hope for once!

Rival fans will be worried again already.

Believable11 Unbelievable2

23 Dec 2018 14:40:57
Mourinho's style seems to be to heap pressure on the players, this eventually seems to cause the players to reach a breaking point where the pressure, expectation and demands seems to crush them and they stop enjoying their football. That works at some clubs. However, our club has always been about expressing yourself, and playing exciting football. Jose's sort of style just doesn't sit well with our players, it doesn't sit well with our fans and it doesn't align with our history.

We are just a better team when we attack, we need to remember this and play to our strengths. It really is that simple.

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23 Dec 2018 15:10:42
“Rival fans will be worried again already”, mate I was literally Sh***ing myself after the Fulham game now I’m beyond terrified. 🙄😂.

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23 Dec 2018 15:35:45
Stoner you are obsessed with united mate 😂.

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23 Dec 2018 15:44:19
Obsessed, amused you mean Park, 5 years of comedy gold and counting. 😂😂.

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23 Dec 2018 16:15:41
Stoner my friend, remind me when you last won the League, or anything of note really. Good start under Emery but a long way to go. You can protest all you like but yesterday was a throwback to the real United. One game, but let’s see what happens next eh?

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23 Dec 2018 16:23:08
Stoner, Arsenal have won 3 FA cups since United last won the league, United have won 1 FA cup, 1 League cup and the Europa League. So pretty even on paper. Also considering it is 14 years and counting since Arsenal's last league title, I consider you laughing at us for 5 years to be rather amusing.

Also the fact you are on the United page the day after the best result and performance from a United side in 5 years proves the point that we have made you sit up and take notice, which is the first step to making you worry about us again. Proving Beasts point. Thanks for that. lol.

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23 Dec 2018 19:06:20
AJH,

It’s not about what we have or haven’t won, it’s not about whether Emery is going to be a good fit or work wonders it’s about the comedic posts on here after what is highly likely another false dawn.

Shappy you need to pop over to the Arsenal page, I give you pelters over there every week. It’s not what Arsenal may win or have won fella it’s all about what you’re not going to win and the the particular two teams most likely to win.

But thanks for the effort fella, CTR has clearly taught you well. 😂😂😂.

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23 Dec 2018 19:21:58
It's not about what we have or haven't won. That's convenient.

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23 Dec 2018 19:57:22
Noucamp, what can I say mate, it’s not my fault, if even as a cop, you don’t get it.

Your team is utter pants, it has been 5 long years in the making to get it that bad and thus you have become the gift that just keeps giving.

The added bonus is that if you finally try to turn the corner next season you will be taking the Spuds manager. 😂.

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23 Dec 2018 20:08:07
Oh silly me, I forgot I was dealing with an Arsenal fan. With Wenger over the last 10-12 years it's never been about winning trophies, is it playing style or enjoying your team? I don't remember now. But it certainly wasn't about winning.

Oh yeah, now I remember. It's about the Arsenal fan speciality. It's not about your team beating us to a title, it's about you glorifying in another team beating us to a title.

I forgot how far Arsenal had fallen, where they cheer on teams finishing higher than them as long as that team stops us from winning. I suppose that made more sense when half the Arsenal team played for the blue half of Manchester.

Emery has lifted your team, how far he can take them I'm not sure. But he has you competing for the forth place trophy again. So I can understand the excitement from you Gunners.

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23 Dec 2018 21:12:26
Shappy,

Seriously mate, try and get a grip, you have had 5 years of misery, it doesn’t matter if it’s an Arsenal, Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Spurs, Everton or a fan of any other team telling you.

You can cite what you like about who won what and when but because you were collectively such odious people when you were winning everyone is revelling in your failing.

How you treat others on the way up is how you get treated on the way down, suck it up mate and get over yourself. 🙄.

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23 Dec 2018 21:58:22
Stoner by name.

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23 Dec 2018 22:52:33
Stoner, you're hilarious if you expect us to swallow that.
Firstly if you truly felt that you should treat people a certain way on your way up then why be a hypocrite and while Arsenal are having a better season go to opposition fans and attempt to send them pelters? So either you don't believe that, your a damn fool, or more likely your trying to cover your exposed arse.

Secondly, if it is about "revelling" in our misery then where have you been all season? We have been miserable for 16+ games yet you could not be seen. Then bam, we have one good performance and your straight on here. Don't try and kid yourself, it has nothing to do with revelling in our misery. Your concerned that after just one good performance we could be on the road back. So to make yourself feel better you feel the need to come on here and try and burst our bubble.

The funny thing is, that the return of opposition fans on here is the first real sign that we might be on our way back. If Ole can worry you that much in one performance that shows how little faith you have in your team and how concerned you are about ours.

So cheers, your return has no doubt put even bigger smiles on the faces of my fellow United supporters. Thanks for that.

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24 Dec 2018 00:51:04
DB you beat me to it

Stoner by name. 🙄.

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24 Dec 2018 06:03:17
Shappy,

I’m the one kidding myself, hilarious. So this is the very first great result or performance or shall I say false dawn you’ve had in 5 whole years? Yeah right of course it is.

Like I said I’m literally kacking myself at how fabulous you’ve become, that as per usual Smalling, Jones, Valencia, Mata, Young, Darmian, Shaw, Fellaini, Herrera, Fred, Rojo, Lukaku, Lingard, Martial and the show pony are going to be winning titles and Champions league finals within the week.

Beasts comment was just to funny to simply pass by. So have a word with yourself fella. 😂😂😂.

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24 Dec 2018 10:37:57
Stoner, the first rule of losing an argument is change the argument.

Which you are doing with every new reply.

No one has said we are ready to win the league ect ect.

Just that for the first time in 5 years we witnessed a true United performance. Pace, passion and attacking intent. Was it perfect? No, but it was the best we have played in 5 years. Nearly everyone is saying let's wait and see.

But I promise you one thing, even with the clear deficiencies in our squad not a single United supporter would swap squads with Arsenal.

So I can understand your concern, we have a better squad, more money to invest further and have started to play close to our potential.

Spurs are doing well in Europe as well, I'm sure that hurts too. Lol.

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24 Dec 2018 11:53:58
Well said shappy. Stoner I sometimes pop on the arsenal page and all you do is talk about united. Obsessed much? 😂 granted we ain’t great at the moment but we will improve and get better. Merry Xmas to you mate and see you at the emirates next year 😉.

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24 Dec 2018 12:13:47
No Shappy, the first rule of losing an argument is to pretend you’ve won it. Nice try fella and I would have De Gea and Rashford from your squad and that’s it.

Park I say it how I see it, I don’t butter up any shizzle, including how good or bad Arsenal may be.

See you next year fella, looking forward to it as always.

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24 Dec 2018 13:28:18
Is that how you win your arguments?

That sounds more like delusion to me.

Each to their own. See you next year bud. Hopefully when your big enough to come on here and say well done after we beat your lot.

Remember, our poor squad who you wouldn't take anyone bar DDG and Rashford from finish above your team last year while we were playing poorly. I wonder where we would finish if we could get this squad playing well?

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25 Dec 2018 04:44:44
Stoner, put your money where your mouth is.
Tell us about Arsenal? How good are you right now?
When are you going to win the title? When are you going to win anything?

Worry about your own team and we’ll worry about United. That’s why we’re called supporters not detractors! I’ve never been to an Arsenal page because they are of no interest to me. I’m a Man United supporter.

Your old mate Merson has a nerve to say Man United should apologise. what about Arsenal’s last 14 years? Their best finish? Second. Once in 14 years.

We won the league 5 times in that period and runners up 4 times. And he thinks we should be apologising, comical.

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23 Dec 2018 13:15:05
Absolutely fantastic to watch United yesterday. Pace, movement, one and two touch passing at speed and that third goal was just sublime. Full backs much higher up I noticed and players playing with confidence, not afraid to play a risky forward pass. Incredible work rate aswell and Ole's comments each time he speaks has impressed me. He gets what our ethos should be and long may this continue. Tougher tests to come and we may still come unstuck but as long as we continue playing this way we will enjoy watching and pick up more points than we lose as quite obviously there is talent in these lads. I like the front 3 yday and I don't see how Lukaku comes back in tbh tho I'm sure he will get his chance to show how he will be effective with such movement around him. Well done boys!

Believable4 Unbelievable0

23 Dec 2018 14:43:15
Ole has set our players free, they no longer seemed cowed down an scared to play the exciting or risky ball. That has removed the pressure of never giving the ball away.

I read that Ole has told the player he is fine with them losing the ball if they are trying to attack as long as they work hard to get it back.

That seems to be exactly what they needed to hear.

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24 Dec 2018 08:25:37
Think that showed with Pogba. Early on he played a few loose passes - and he got encouragement from the Bench rather than the remonstrations that would have come under Jose.

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23 Dec 2018 13:13:52
With all the discussion about how Utd out ran cardiff and the accusations that Utd players downed the tools and were not putting in the effort.

A bit of googling tells me after about 33 games last season we were 20th in the league in distance traveled with 3672 kms covered. Unless.

Believable2 Unbelievable0

23 Dec 2018 13:20:33
Pressed the send button a bit too quickly. So folks unless people think players downed the tools last season as well, this whole players downed the tools and did not work hard enough narrative needs to stop.

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23 Dec 2018 15:40:07
I don't think players downed tools. I think they didn't believe or trust in the style of play that was being asked of them. It's hard. bordering on impossible to be 100% committed to anything you don't 100% believe in. That's not the same as saying I won't play for a manager, just that you don't trust in his way of playing.

Plus a counter attacking team, that sits deep, plays a low block and only plays passes into feet is never going to cover a huge amount of distance. That coupled with the prevailing style last season seemed to be to play a high press with balls being played into space not feet then the average distance covered would probably be higher than usual. Which would make our lower figures look worse than they were. Remember last season we finished 2nd with a very low distance covered statistic, which highlights the many different ways to skin a cat.

For me though that style that Jose wanted us to play just doesn't fit the DNA of our club. So was never going to be a long lasting style.

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23 Dec 2018 11:41:36
"One of the things I talked about is that a Manchester United team should never ever be outworked, " he said. "It doesn't matter what team you play: you should run more than them and then your skills will give you a chance of winning again.

"I said the same to these lads as I do back home in Molde: 'Just work harder than them, enjoy yourselves, pass it forward, run forward, if you lose the ball I don't mind as long as you work to win it back', and they did. "Ole.

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23 Dec 2018 12:07:20
Isn't that half the battle jred, work hard.

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23 Dec 2018 12:30:07
I saw that quote too. You’re right Leahy, but we haven’t been doing it.

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23 Dec 2018 12:33:20
Been saying this for weeks, playing at 100% we are a top 3 team, playing at less than that when worse teams are playing at their best to beat Manchester United we struggle, any other team at 100% is better than us at 70-80%, the difference between yesterday and the previous games was monumental.

I know people are saying ‘it’s only Cardiff’ but remember they won 4 of their last 5 home games, yesterday would not have been easy under Jose even if we had managed a win, let’s enjoy this ride, it’s certainly started well.

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Review Of The Day 23rd December 2018

23 Dec 2018 07:29:01
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 23rd December 2018

Believable0 Unbelievable0

23 Dec 2018 07:02:06
Well, what to make of that? Yesterday was the first time we have scored 5 in the league since SAF left. Energy, ambition, attacking intent, and a 90 minute performance. I thought Rashford used his shoulder but even conceding an equaliser didn’t faze us. We just went down the other end and restored the lead.

So many players looked completely different to what we have seen and this situation echoes what happened at Chelsea. There are reports leaking every day now about what was going on behind the scenes and it seems Jose made the same mistakes he made at Chelsea, ultimately losing the players. I work with someone who is friendly with a member of security at OT and he tells me that the staff were unimpressed with Jose’s general manner and approach, unfriendly, ordering on rude. He’s a narcissist so he wouldn’t listen but I’d tell him to take a break and learn some humility. He is clearly incredibly talented but culture and behaviour drive everything.

As for the players, Red Man was right that some haven’t been putting in a shift; Roy Keane summed it up saying they should be ashamed. It would be interesting to see the running stats for the game as usually we are out run: I’ll bet that wasn’t the case yesterday. The Chelsea players pretty much downed tools and then won the League the next year so things must have been really bad there. As has been said so many times, it was never properly explained and EW took a big risk after that debacle. We won 2 trophies but have regressed badly with the same outcome.

There will be those who simply couldn’t adapt to Jose’s requirements, and there will be those who couldn’t be bothered because of their dislike of the man. But I don’t believe any player decides to cause trouble, they want to pay well, they want to win, they don’t easily ‘switch off’ (and I’m not excusing it) . These are quality players, given the right environment and direction they will do much better than we have seen, the change yesterday was immense. ‘But this was only Cardiff’ I hear you say. Yep, but it was only Brighton, or Southampton, or Palace, and our performances were poor.

As for the future, I worry that the brilliant recruitment process that has been vaunted will be EW knee jerking into another poor decision. Rumours will swirl all year, let’s hope there is some rational clear thinking out how we address the structural failings whilst recruiting the right man. Remember what was said, we want someone who understands the traditions and requirements of being Manchester United Manager.

Anyway, it feels good this morning and with some winnable games ahead let’s hope we carry that performance into the next games. Clearly the appointment of Ole has got Chelsea and City worried as they both lost yesterday!

Believable13 Unbelievable2

23 Dec 2018 07:57:04
AJH they can hear out footsteps now 😁.

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23 Dec 2018 08:34:47
Tony, United out ran their opponents for only the second time this season. We out ran Fulham by 2k, however, we out ran Cardiff by 5k. We also made more high intensity sprints than Cardiff 119-99. That was only the third time this season we completed more than our opponents. However, it's the 27% more forward passes we made than any game this season that really highlights the difference.

As many have said over the last 18 months or so, these aren't poor players. In fact they are very good players. But for some reason they were just playing very poorly. Was that the tactics? Was that because they didn't like the manager and therefore didn't commit to those tactics? In the end it's irrelevant. It's all about getting the best out of the players you have. It's only one game but Solskjaer has already got more out of those players in 90 minutes than Jose has all season.

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23 Dec 2018 08:53:45
They can't hide behind the manager anymore. It's great. They are actually putting a shift in, amazing what can happen.

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23 Dec 2018 10:01:50
Shappy

OGS has got more out of the team than the last managers.

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23 Dec 2018 10:03:42
Decent players maybe a few can see it.

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23 Dec 2018 10:23:28
When you pass the ball into space, rather than to another player, players have to make runs. It's not rocket science. Different tactics and the shackles removed. Amazing what can happen.

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23 Dec 2018 11:12:36
Nou, amazing that they could actually put in a decent 10 yard pass. They stopped playing for Jose. They can now freely play for themselves.

We've a nice little run of fixtures, I hope they make every point count. Who knows where we will be come mid jan.

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23 Dec 2018 11:37:28
Angel
Is it really amazing?
Players like rash pogba martial etc can actually play footy?
What's amazing is that some think its amazing.
A thread on here only a week ago about rash not having that much natural talent. As a way of excusing the fact he wasn't ripping up trees under the special one .
And don't get me started on martial.

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23 Dec 2018 11:42:45
Shappy, great stats, where do you get them from, it’s something I’d like to look at.

Jred, you and I agree on this one. Runners up last year following 2 trophies the year before says we’re not awful. I think Liverpool and City and a step ahead of everyone but our squad is currently good enough to be third. It was only one game but what a change, let’s see if we ca put a little run together and who knows, play even better.

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23 Dec 2018 11:44:20
Did we concede an equaliser?

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23 Dec 2018 11:53:29
AJH, players are always going to appear more energetic and cover more ground when they are instructed to press and close down across the pitch, not just their penalty area.

What impressed me most about yesterday was they at several times there was no one but De Gea in our half of the pitch, that and Jones and Lindelof feeling they had the right to bomb forward and launch attacks. Those types of things truly show, Lindelof would cover more ground when he's given the chance to leave his penalty area. Pogba wasn't used as a DM, meaning he was able to move about and roam behind the forward three, which means covering more ground. Lingard had a free role and was everywhere up front and Martial was even switching sides, seeing as his goal came in from the right. Again, this makes things appear more energetic, and the players cover more ground. All these things are down to the tactical set-up, not motivation.

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23 Dec 2018 12:31:05
Great contrinution Timbo. I was cooking, and drinking, and trying to watch so I got befuddled.

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23 Dec 2018 12:32:20
Ludwig, completely agree, alth to ugh I think motivation also plays a part. It just felt like “you score 2, we’ll score 3” approach which I love.

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23 Dec 2018 14:53:06
Tony, I often get the stats from a few different sources, some of those came from Sly Spurts, so maybe not the best source. lol. I also use Whoscored. Although they tend to just have the basic stats, and I manipulate them to work out averages ect.

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23 Dec 2018 15:06:56
You okay jerd? Haven't seen you in a while.

Look up the word sarcasm. It might help you out when trying to understand posts.

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23 Dec 2018 15:22:35
Angel
Haven't been on as much wasn't finding a good read to be honest.
Nice to see the lads proving a few wrong yesterday tho.

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