Manchester United Banter Archive December 09 2018

 

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09 Dec 2018 19:34:53
Did anyone watch Tuanzebe against West brom?
If this guy was playing in some Dutch or German league we would've been ready to pay over the odds to get him.
Defensively he was solid and so calm in bringing the ball out of defence. Reminded me a bit of young Ferdinand.
He should definitely get in the squad next year imo.

Believable14 Unbelievable0

09 Dec 2018 20:22:13
He is known as the Rochdale Rio. He should be in the squad next season maybe even january if we could clear one or two out.

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10 Dec 2018 08:32:23
Always rated the lad. Really hope he makes it at Utd.

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10 Dec 2018 09:39:38
I would be happy to let Smalling, Rojo and Jones leave, then bring on one new CB and promote Tuanzebe.

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10 Dec 2018 10:11:25
Agreed Shappy, if we can move those 3 on, promote Tuanzebe and sign one I'd be happy. I'd prefer a more experienced top class centre back aged between 27-31 to guide Tuanzebe, Bailly and Lindelof on rather than sign another 22-25 year old.

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10 Dec 2018 17:42:57
Agree Mort. Isn't that exactly what Jose wanted, before Woodward imposed his veto on buying 'more experienced' players?

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09 Dec 2018 18:38:05
Just a quick question for you all, I don't know how many (if any of you) read the review of the day news round up I do each day, but on a Monday I used to do an 'And Finally. ' section on the end with footballing anecdotes based around a theme. After chatting with a group of people on the Liverpool site, they have requested I turn that into a separate longer article that I do regularly.

Anyway, for those that are interested in reading it, what kind of anecdotes would you be interested in:

Would you like it to just stick to football only?

Would you be interested in any sports-based anecdotes?

Or would you want it to also include slightly unrelated anecdotes as well? As in just something funny (well I hope it would be funny anyway! ) that came to mind.

Believable2 Unbelievable0

09 Dec 2018 20:39:27
Yep, I read that.

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09 Dec 2018 23:13:39
I'd read it, I like a bit of funny.

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{Ed0333's Note - Ed’s 001 is more tragic than funny mate.

09 Dec 2018 19:56:16
Great idea ed, always enjoy your daily reviews. I would be interested in hearing any sport anecdotes you may have.

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{Ed001's Note - ok thanks mate. That makes it easier for me, as there are only so many football anecdotes!}

09 Dec 2018 20:01:17
Would be nice to detract away from football, given our current situation Ed.

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{Ed001's Note - fair point, and that will be the same for other teams from time to time as well, so probably a good idea.}

09 Dec 2018 20:23:48
Mainly football for me, but I wouldn't mind seeing other sports if you need to pad it out. Or anything funny.

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{Ed001's Note - ok mate. I am thinking I will have to pad them out after a few weeks at the most!}

09 Dec 2018 21:03:49
Doesn't have to be sports based for me 001
I read them 1st thing most mornings so something funny or something we can share with others that sets us up for day.

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{Ed001's Note - ok thank you mate.}

09 Dec 2018 22:02:51
Open it up ed001, nice to have more than just 'football'

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{Ed001's Note - thank you angel, that does make it easier.}

09 Dec 2018 22:28:37
I read that too Ed and i wouldn't mind just reading any type of anecdotes as they are all worth the read.

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{Ed001's Note - ok thank you mate.}

10 Dec 2018 09:20:21
I read it regularly, if it won't be too much trouble then general sports anecdotes.

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{Ed001's Note - ok mate, I am putting together a quick sample article of one that would not stick too closely to the topic of sport, just to show people. I realised after posting the question that it is kind of vague without a reference point of what an open article would be. It would still start off as football or sports but it would just then go where it goes.}

mbd              

Bournemouth v Liverpool - A Liverpool Perspective

09 Dec 2018 18:14:53
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Bournemouth v Liverpool - A Liverpool Perspective

Believable0 Unbelievable0

09 Dec 2018 17:45:38
Shappy. Shappy. Shappy. Shapppy. anyone seen Shappy after the weekend's game?

Believable2 Unbelievable12

09 Dec 2018 18:00:21
Wow. One win against the bottom team, and we're calling out other posters for their honestly held opinions. Is this how far we've dropped? I see the old, 'judging managers/ players on a game by game basis' syndrome has reared it's ugly head again.

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09 Dec 2018 18:10:58
Yes Stevie, we are falling low cz we like to call it fair and square on how we see it. When we are poor and losing we call it as bad as it is. But there are a few who just have an agenda against you know who and they push it on the others. Shappy used to be a really objective poster but these days he only sees the poor in you know who. Remember Maze and how he used to disappear from the page after a win and would grace the page after a poor performance.

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09 Dec 2018 18:40:27
United Addict, just a quick question who do we credit the win against Fulham to? Jose or the players?

For every one person like me who puts most of the blame on the manager there is at least two more who puts most of the blame on the players or the board or the owners or pretty much anyone but the manager.

So as one of those who blames everyone but Jose, why did we win on Saturday. Did the board do a better job this week, or the players? And why?

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09 Dec 2018 19:27:19
As a side note, I am really happy with the result, and pretty happy with the performance. There was some great individual performances from Herrera, Mata, Rashford and Dalot, and it was a promising performance.

As for doom and gloom, what does this mean for Pogba? And we need to consider that it was against the worst side in the league so far this season.

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09 Dec 2018 19:53:16
Where's your agenda against Rashford after saturday's match, United Addict?

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10 Dec 2018 00:43:27
I was delighted to see us win but please let's put it in the right context. It was against the club bottom of our league who lots of concede goals almost every game. Of we can score and perform to the same hight level against our next ten opponents then maybe we can start to have true confidence that we have turned the corner. Until then let's hold our horses and wait and see how we do.

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10 Dec 2018 01:35:05
I agree tbh - yes the performance was a million times better than the last few weeks/ months, however like people have said, it was against the bottom club.
Let’s see if we are having this same convo on Sunday night after we’ve played the team currently at the top of the table.

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09 Dec 2018 10:54:19
Really enjoyed yesterday’s game. Best first half in a while. Of course we were playing the basement club but we have made a dogs dinner out of most of our games against lowly opposition this season.

I’ll be honest I saw the team and I wasn’t particularly enthused. But surprisingly front he off we pressed and harried the opposition. Herrera really sets the tone for us. He plays with such heart and passion every time he steps onto the pitch. He’s should be the first name on the team sheet and he should be captain for me.

Matic put in a better display. He’s been very poor for me but he looked far more positive and more energetic. On form he is a very good player, almost Carrick esque in some respect. We played further up the pitch and looked to impose our game on the opposition. Positive play translated into a positive result. What are the odds eh?

Juan mata. My favourite player at the club. An absolute you magnificently talented player, and even better human being. His movement, vision and creativity behind the striker was great at times. I honestly think we are a far better side with him playing, but it has to be centrally. Whenever he plays he always has an impact, and even when he does not he is the consummate professional. A few could learn from him. The Spanish contingent of Herrera, mata and De Gea have really bought into the history and traditions of the club. All three are shoe ins for me in our best starting XI.

Rashford is really hitting some form. I don’t get why he receives a lot of stick here because he is going to be a very special player. He’s a game changer for us. Direct, powerful and explosive. That’s 4 assists in the last 5 games I believe. He’s our top assist maker in the league with 5. Finishing can improve but it will come with time. Very good game and long may it continue. To lukaku’s credit he never stopped working. Some nice touches here and there and worked his socks off. 2 goals in 2 now for him. Hope he keeps his head down and gets his scoring boots on because we need him now more than ever.

But the biggest bonus for me yesterday was the impact of our full backs. They were both brilliant yesterday. A lot of us have been clamouring for an improvement in our full back areas so we can provide more width up the pitch to stretch teams. Dalot was brilliant. For such a young lad he has a great physique to match with technical ability. And finally we have someone that can cross. Early days, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Still needs to improve positonally in defence but I want to see him as our first choice rb for the remainder of the season. Credit to young he was very good yesterday. Get shaw back in and we have an exciting full back pairing for years to come.

We look better without pogba. He doesn’t deserve to be in the starting XI. Personally, I’m done with him. I don’t like his attitude and for all his talents he has not lived up to his price tag. He doesn’t play the position properly. If he loses the ball he never tracks back. This is not a talent problem. This is an attitude and application problem. Any manager in the world would get frustrated at their star player not putting a shift in. There’s no guarantee if say Poch was to come in he would suddenly start working. Perhaps Fergie was right regarding his attitude problems. Fred was exciting when he came on. Glimpses of what he can do. I know he splits opinion on this site, but I like the look for him. You cannot judge him based on the game time he has played. I respect Ed001’s opinion on him but I would have to kindly disagree. Think there is a player there, but we need to find his best position. Wouldn’t mind seeing him next to Herrera and behind mata in a midfield 3.

We have a huge game against the scousers. They are high flying. We cannot lose this. This is more than just a game of football. It is pride. If there is any manager who can win any one off game it’s jose. I don’t care how we win it, just that we do.

Believable7 Unbelievable4

09 Dec 2018 11:55:51
This post is entirely delusional and only propped up by fantasy. We must cure ourselves of false prophets and their excesses. Herrera is OK but not much better than that. Mata is a likeable elf, but is not to be deployed in anger. Shaw is mechanical and creates nothing. Lukuku is a three-legged sack-race. Rashford is fast but reckless. Our hope likes in the classy Fred, rejuvenated Pogba, and Martial.

Our version of T. May, the hapless drone of a manager requires urgent defenestration.

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09 Dec 2018 12:27:45
Good post park.

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09 Dec 2018 16:58:52
Great post, Park.
Cheer up, Pliny.

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09 Dec 2018 17:24:33
Herrera is playing very well, he has always improved with game time. He, as you say should be our captain, not the worlds best midfielder, but very, very good with a world class attitude. So with this in mind I fully expect him to be dropped very soon.

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09 Dec 2018 20:45:20
Very good articulate post mate. I agree it was great to see the full backs more advanced and putting crosses into the box. Yesterday we played with genuine width and both full backs played liked wingers. If we can continue to put quality deliveries into the box this will benefit Lukaku and he'll become more of a goal threat once again.

As for Herrera we need him to bring energy and intensity to the midfield. Without him we are passive and pedestrian. He's not the most creative and is sometimes guilty of playing to many backwards and sideways passes but his role in the team is to put the opposition under pressure and try to win the ball back higher up the pitch. It's incumbent on the likes of Mata, Lingard, Martial, Sanchez and Rashford etc to be more creative and carry a goal threat. Having more advanced full backs providing the width and putting quality deliveries into the box for Lukaku will also help. We can only judge Herrera by the qualities to which he brings to the team and our expectations should be adjusted accordingly. I view Herrera as a facilitator, he provides a platform for the others to play and puts pressure on the opposition with his tenacity and energy. Liverpool's midfield is very workmanlike with the likes of Henderson, Milner and Wijnaldum none of which are any better than Herrera in my opinion. The key to our midfield is finding a balance which I think Jose is close to finding now. I think he's almost given up on Pogba and I expect him to persist with the Herrera/ Matic axis. I think Lingard's movement and energy is also important in the No10/ attacking midfielder role and Mata's quality on the ball links everything together nicely. With Dalot providing the width and pace on the right its no longer such an issue when Mata comes inside in search of the ball.

It is my belief that Pogba has provided Mourinho with perhaps his biggest challenge at Utd. I think he envisaged Pogba playing as part of a midfield 2 but his lack of positional discipline and his attitude to the game has surprised him. He's abandoned his favoured 4-2-3-1 in favour of a 4-3-3 to accommodate Pogba but an extra midfielder blunts our attack and Pogba's performances have been nowhere near consistent enough to justify a switch in formation. His influence in the dressing room has created a divide and their fractured relationship has had a detrimental effect on results as they have both postured for power. When Pogba was introduced against Arsenal the boos were audible and it would appear Jose is finally getting the upper hand in their battle. It's all such a terrible shame because they are both represent the most decorated employees at the Club and they should be pushing us towards the top and not away from it. In reality Pogba will eventually get his dream move and will recover because his talent is undeniable. As for Mourinho top 4 is looking incredibly difficult and I expect he will probably pay with his job. If Jose could somehow build on the Fulham performance, develop a recognised style of play with more energy and intensity in the team with attacking full backs providing the width and ammunition for Lukaku then with a string of good results behind him maybe he could save his job even without finishing in the top 4 if we can see progress. Sometimes we don't look that far away and with some consistency in formation and selection maybe we can look forward to a more productive New Year.

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09 Dec 2018 09:58:06
Interesting to read Rooney talk about the change at OT when SAF retired. Talked about no phones on in the dressing room, everyone was focused on the game ahead. Now l understand tech has moved on a lot since then but that was the rule and everyone obeyed. If someone new arrived they duly followed suit hence the attitude always continued, focus, fight and 100%. Can you imagine going against, Keane, Neville, Rio or Vidic etc. We need that attitude back and players to enforce it. SAF set the tone for everything but it was the players who pushed it on and off the pitch.

Believable1 Unbelievable0

Review Of The Day 9th December 2018

09 Dec 2018 07:29:01
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 9th December 2018

Believable0 Unbelievable0

09 Dec 2018 10:57:53
Disgusting by the Chelsea fan. Hard to believe it still goes on today. Fair play to sterling though, he's absolutely right about the media bias though, can't believe they still get away with it.

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09 Dec 2018 11:42:53
See the media are still after Sterling eh Ed? Get's slated by the media for no reason, done nothing wrong whatsoever!

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{Ed001's Note - the media are just as racist as that Chelsea fan.}

09 Dec 2018 13:17:51
Ed was my reply censored? 😉.

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{Ed001's Note - I don't know I didn't deal with it.}

09 Dec 2018 17:12:59
Np Ed. Great review anyway.
Hope all’s well with you.
Th as always 🙏.

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{Ed001's Note - cheers mate, yes good, though I will be missing one of the reviews this week, I will be stuck in the airport to pick up my parents. Will only have my phone with me, so no chance of doing the review.}

10 Dec 2018 03:34:42
I’m sure anyone will understand.
Just know it’s always appreciated. 👍🙏.

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{Ed001's Note - thanks mate.}

09 Dec 2018 05:16:18
Watching Chelsea beat City has made me reflect on how good or bad we are. We had the better of Chelsea, but for a last minute equaliser we would have taken the points, yet here they are beating City.

There’s many of us who have been critical of Jose or the players but I’ve found the last few weeks the most frustrating. The 2 draws against Palace and Southampton have hurt us. I know it’s silly to play the ‘what if’ game but those 2 games cost us 4 points and momentum. In any other season we would have won both games; it wouldn’t have moved us into the top 4 but we would be knocking in the door.

Jose may or may not be the right man, some players may or may not not be good enough, but we are not as bad as some are saying. A couple of tweaks and we are back in the top 4.

Believable5 Unbelievable11

09 Dec 2018 06:19:40
Tony, it does seem a few rotten tomatoes spoiling the whole dish. The chef obviously takes the blame because he keeps putting those in the recipe. Hopefull he has learnt the lesson and keeps Pogmato out for good.

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09 Dec 2018 07:43:50
Almost as if we didn't start the season on such a negative, defeatist tone we could have had an alright season.

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09 Dec 2018 08:31:27
I think you are right AJH. For me it is the negative mindset and formation the team have gone out with, some of that comes from the players and a lot from the manager. I hope we stick with Dalot and play Shaw when fit. For me this then gives the width to allow the midfield and forwards to be a threat. Also, stick with Harera and bring Fred in as this would give energy to our play.
No matter what happens with the manager down the line we can be performing better.

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09 Dec 2018 10:24:38
Good post Tony. We are just woefully inconsistent. And as UA has mentioned above, there are a few bad apples in the squad (namely pogba) . When we want to put in a decent performance we can compete with the likes of Chelsea, Juventus etc. But we can’t seem to get motivated in the smaller games. These are your bread and butter. We play the other top 6 teams for a total 10 games home and away. The other 18 games are against the smaller sides. To even be in contention of top 4 we have to be winning them and be aiming to win all our home games against our rivals. Then look to pick up points away from home. We’ve dropped far too many silly points. I don’t think we are as bad as the table reflects. But I do feel it’s a little too late to challenge the top 4.

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