Manchester United Banter Archive July 09 2018

09 Jul 2018 23:31:43
I know I posted this a few days back. But I want to make sure this gets saved for reference purposes. Not going after Ronaldo is an 11/10 as far as mistakes go, and all of you who disagree, please feel free to respond to this post. Will be nice to revisit next spring when we're 3rd in the PL and out of the CL while Juve are going after a double or treble. #RememberThis.

10 Jul 2018 00:12:33
So if utd don't win the EPL and juve win trophies in Italy you can come back and say I told you so? The odds seem pretty stacked in your favour. And no, it won't make you right.

10 Jul 2018 00:23:47
Would be happy if we signed him if we also sign a lb, rw and cb. But if we sign Ronaldo we won’t and those areas are more pressing. I would love him back and I’m sure most people do as well. But realistically it wouldn’t be best for player or club.

10 Jul 2018 05:03:39
Juve always wins local titles, the difference Ronaldo (if joins them) needs to make, would making the win champion league.

10 Jul 2018 23:17:34
Everyone's entitled to their opinion. But I will definitely be back on here reposting this stuff when he's got 30 goals by Xmas and on the way to another Ballon D'Or. while Sanchez, Mata and Lingard combine for 10 goals by years end. SMH. I'm clearly in the minority, but that just means most of you will be proven wrong! lol.

09 Jul 2018 17:01:55
United Addict asked a good question so I thought I would take the time to reply.
For me there is one very good reason behind the difference in how people feel about England performances and those of United. Expectation.

Now, I'm 31 years old and have no real memory of Italia 90 as I was three during the tournament. My first memories as an England fan come from Euro 96, and they are very fond memories. Since 96 there have only ever been a handful of times I have been excited watching England. Such as against the Argies in 98, Brazil in 02 and the 5-1 result against the Germans. Which means it's been over 15 years since I last truly enjoyed an England performance.

Are England playing great football? No, but they are playing better than they have in a generation. We also should appreciate the feeling around the team, Gareth Southgate has breathed fresh life into this England team, youth and an attempt to play football the right way. He has removed the tension and weight of expectation. We watch games with a level of joy and excitement, and the team thus far has delivered.
Have we played beautiful free flowing football? At times we have but it still looks a little disjointed and lacking real natural ability to unlock stubborn defences. However, we are at least attempting to play good football as opposed to the negative, defensive and dour football we have seen on the most part for the last 22 years.
That is why there is a lot of good feeling around the England team and their performances at the moment.

So how does that relate to Manchester United? Well you certainly don't have to go back to 96 to remember good performances. The simple question is: Are United playing the best football we have seen from them in the last 22 years?

For me and for a large proportion of United fans the answer is a clear no. I would go as far as saying that United aren't even playing the best football we have seen since Sir Alex retired.
The 4-2 and 5-0 games against Leverkusen under Moyes were far more entertaining than any game I have seen under Jose. Sure, we win more games and get better results, but the quality of the football on show? The entertainment value of parking the bus against away to any team in the top half of the EPL.

That's the state of things on the pitch, off it Jose has been hard to love. Constant whinging and snipping, at the Ref's, the opposition, the fans, the media and even his own players. Whereas, Southgate though great interaction with the media has built a happy positive atmosphere around the England team Jose has built a tense negative one around the United team. The only positive things Jose ever says is how great he is or was. I did this, or I achieved that. A man who is constantly looking backwards won't be moving forward for very long.

So, in short even though the quality of football might be similar the England team are achieving it while attempting to play positive football, they have a positive atmosphere around the team and they are playing at their best in 22 years. As opposed to United playing negative football, with a negative atmosphere around the team and playing some of their poorest football in 22 years.

{Ed025's Note - im with you all the way shappy, good realistic post without any bias so fair play to you mate..

09 Jul 2018 19:44:14
Shappy. That's nailed it. United Addict was perfectly right to write the post. But as i explained further down and you have done so succinctly, Southgate got a disjointed squad and turned them into a happy bunch who are determined and almost underachieving, while mourinho has a fantastic squad amd is insisting into souring the mood and mushandling the press.
And that's the difference.

09 Jul 2018 19:56:20
NoMid, that's the first time I've seen Shappy and succinct in the same sentence 😁.

09 Jul 2018 22:08:41
Jeeez, i am just surprised there are arguments even during the holidays.

United Addict does have a bit of a point about indifferent support for club and country but i get what Shappy is saying as well.

I guess you got to listen to both sides of the coin.

10 Jul 2018 00:30:35
Stevie, Shappy's posts are that long, he's bound to be succinct one time, by the law of averages! Only joking Shappy, excellent post.

09 Jul 2018 12:18:45
So a while back I posted about the possibility of Maguire being a player Utd might look at and the general consensus was he was not good enough. (I was unsure) ., Having seen him more I firmly believe he would be a very good addition to our team and would enable us to play 3 5 2 and allow our attackers to flourish. He seems a level headed person and is consistent. He can defend and under Mourinho would get better. He also can play out with the ball. Lastly he is a big threat at set pieces which increasingly matter in today's game.

09 Jul 2018 12:35:25
I was also in the unsure camp. I have been impressed with him so far but have to temper the level of the opponents with this. If we were in the market for a centre back of his age I would seriously consider him. But with Bailly and Lindelof (the latter has also impressed at the world cup) I think Jose is looking for a more experienced option.

09 Jul 2018 13:03:31
He's a good lad and a decent defender. He does have a tendency to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is definitely one of England's better defenders at the moment but he isn't anywhere near the level of Ferdinand, Terry, Campbell, Adams ect.

In short he is good but not world class. Alfie Mawson for me is a better all round defender, Maguire is just better in the air.

When I look at Tuanzebe I see a player who could be world class. He has excellent understanding and reading of the game, he has pace and a solid build, he has great technique and he is always talking and communicating with those around him.

I would rather play him than spend money on any other defender, but if we must sign a centre back to block his already over crowded path to the first team then they really have to be from the top drawer. Alderweireld or no one for me.

09 Jul 2018 14:09:37
I agree with Shappy. I like watching Maguire, my type of player, but up against a quality team he would often be a liability, day dreams a bit - has that British feel to the way he plays that none many of our lads have.

Happily swap him for Smalling and a bit of dosh, but what he brings in aerial threat and ability to bring out the ball, you lose with bad awareness. 90% of the time he would be only an asset, but that key 10% is what we need to make up on City across several positions - plus price will have doubled on account of world cup euphoria.

09 Jul 2018 14:56:58
Agree Shappy. i'd be more than happy to clear the path for Tuanzebe. Rojo and either Jones or Smalling should be departing. I think this season it won't happen and he'll go to a mid/ lower table side for this season. But in 12 months hopefully the way is a lot clearer for him to join the first team squad.

10 Jul 2018 00:35:14
I was in the no camp, but having seen him for England and his dominance at set pieces, I'll be delighted if we got rid of jones and rojo and bought McGuire and promoted Tunazebe.

10 Jul 2018 06:45:47
He’s great with the ball coming forward but I’m not sure he’s a particularly good defender. He loses possession in dangerous places and is often caught out of position.

09 Jul 2018 06:22:59
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 9th July 2018