The Official Manchester United Thread [Vol 6]

[ORD]

Winning trophies is extremely important when it comes to building confidence in a team. I expect the Utd players feel a lot better for winning two cups than do Spurs players for almost making Chelsea work for the PL title.

As I have said, I think finishing 2nd in the PL is harder than winning the EL. But I would be desperate for trophies if I were a Spurs, Arsenal or Liverpool fan or player.

Given a choice, I bet almost every player would rather win the EL than finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the PL.

The bigger point is about trajectory. Utd have started winning things again and have some excellent players. The other big clubs (who have thrived in the gap we have left) are starting to worry that the giant is awakening.

[TEKNOPUG]

Alpinestars said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Alpinestars said:

TEKNOPUG said:

ORD said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Nope, all about priorities. Which was to qualify for the CL. If United had been top four since 1/1/17, then they wouldn't have won the EL either. The reality was that they hadn't been in the top four since they lost at home to City on 1/9/16. If you can only manage to finish 24 points off the top, it's no wonder you prioritise the EL - it's the only chance you have to secure CL.

Needs must and all that...

`
Desperate stuff. The bitterness is palpable. We won a trophy and got CL football. You failed to win a trophy and got CL football.

I would prefer to finish 2nd that win the EL, but that is because I have grown up used to winning much bigger trophies. Spurs never win a damn thing. In that context, choosing to fail to win the PL over winning the EL is cringe worthy.

My apologies.

Congratulations on winning the "CL Qualification for Second Rate Teams Cup". Or is it the "Succeeding Whilst Aiming Low Trophy"?

Or is that the new name for the League Cup?

I'm not bitter in the slightest. The Thursday Night Cup has always been a joke, no more so than on this forum and with United fans. It's only gained any semblance of relevance once it awarded a CL place and only with United fans once CL qualification via the league proved too hard.

What is desperate is certain people trying to convince everyone (or probably just themselves) that it is anything more that a CL place. If there wasn't a CL place, United would have made no attempt to win it. There is no prestige in a top club winning a second rate trophy. The fact your whole season hinged upon the outcome should be somewhat of an embarrassment and winning it relief, rather than joy.

We'd have concentrated on the league instead. Must be difficult having your best season in your living memory and not winning trophies like we have.

Another one trying to convince themselves that United winning the LC and ELC is a worthy achievement. How the times have changed.

When exactly did you decide to concentrate on the ELC rather than the EPL? Are you suggesting that Jose thought that you could finish in the top 4 but it's better to win a trophy?

I'm quite happy not winning the trophies that you have. I'll leave you to bask in the glory of your achievements.

At that stage he felt it was easier to win the EL and qualify for the CL, than to finish 4th.

So we're in agreement - it was purely a route to CL qualification. There was no desire to win a trophy. And without CL qualification United wouldn't have attempted to win it. Because it's only value is a CL place. Glad we have that sorted now.

Alpinestars said:

He won a trophy that you've never won.

Spurs have won the UEFA cup twice thanks. The very first one in fact. Mind you, it was a lot harder to win back then, what with many more top teams competing for it. I'm surprised it's taken you 45 years to finally succeed.

[lemmingjames]

ORD said:

Winning trophies is extremely important when it comes to building confidence in a team. I expect the Utd players feel a lot better for winning two cups than do Spurs players for almost making Chelsea work for the PL title.

As I have said, I think finishing 2nd in the PL is harder than winning the EL. But I would be desperate for trophies if I were a Spurs, Arsenal or Liverpool fan or player.

Given a choice, I bet almost every player would rather win the EL than finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the PL.

The bigger point is about trajectory. Utd have started winning things again and have some excellent players. The other big clubs (who have thrived in the gap we have left) are starting to worry that the giant is awakening.

I heard the giant just farted that woke it up and is going back to sleep now

Anyway, Spurs achievement = finishing above Arsenal and the cancelling of St.Totteringham day = trophy enough

[ORD]

TEKNOPUG said:

Spurs have won the UEFA cup twice thanks. The very first one in fact. Mind you, it was a lot harder to win back then, what with many more top teams competing for it. I'm surprised it's taken you 45 years to finally succeed.

Was that before or after the internet was invented?

You tell the players that winning a trophy means nothing. You could even tell your own players. It might stop the good ones leaving this summer.

[Driver101]

ORD said:

Was that before or after the internet was invented?

You tell the players that winning a trophy means nothing. You could even tell your own players. It might stop the good ones leaving this summer.

Aren't Utd at risk of losing their best two players?

De Gea will be hard to replace.

Edited by Driver101 on Thursday 25th May 14:39

[Trabi601]

Driver101 said:

Aren't Utd at risk of losing their best two players?

De Gea will be hard replace.

Romero is a more than adequate replacement.

I assume the other is Zlatan? - I'm sure Jose has his eyes on striking options even if Zlatan stays.

[Driver101]

Trabi601 said:

Romero is a more than adequate replacement.

I assume the other is Zlatan? - I'm sure Jose has his eyes on striking options even if Zlatan stays.

He's not even close to the same league as De Gea. That's not even open to debate. He was a free transfer, after being released by Sampdoria, and is only good enough as a back up keeper.

Zlatan is the other. Maybe his injury with deter other clubs signing him.

[Zoon]

Driver101 said:

He's not even close to the same league as De Gea. That's not even open to debate. He was a free transfer, after being released by Sampdoria, and is only good enough as a back up keeper.

He's done a great job in the last two games for a backup keeper.

[Yipper]

ManU won 3 trophies this season and are back in the CL next season.

Say what you like about Maureen and his balding head, he is a born winner.

[Adam B]

ORD said:

As I have said, I think finishing 2nd in the PL is harder than winning the EL. But I would be desperate for trophies if I were a Spurs, Arsenal or Liverpool fan or player.

Given a choice, I bet almost every player would rather win the EL than finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the PL.

Spot on although you missed City off that list. I would and I am a Liverpool fan. Some funny posts from SPurs fans here.

Spurs are a very good side and did really well this season but history books will show:

Spurs - CL qualification
Utd - CL qualification / League Cup / Europa Cup

I thoroughly enjoyed our Europa cup run, and it certainly wasn't easy beating Utd, Dortmund, Villareal to face Seville in the final (where admittedly we were poor)

Edited by Adam B on Thursday 25th May 14:57

[Alpinestars]

TEKNOPUG said:

Alpinestars said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Alpinestars said:

TEKNOPUG said:

ORD said:

TEKNOPUG said:

Nope, all about priorities. Which was to qualify for the CL. If United had been top four since 1/1/17, then they wouldn't have won the EL either. The reality was that they hadn't been in the top four since they lost at home to City on 1/9/16. If you can only manage to finish 24 points off the top, it's no wonder you prioritise the EL - it's the only chance you have to secure CL.

Needs must and all that...

`
Desperate stuff. The bitterness is palpable. We won a trophy and got CL football. You failed to win a trophy and got CL football.

I would prefer to finish 2nd that win the EL, but that is because I have grown up used to winning much bigger trophies. Spurs never win a damn thing. In that context, choosing to fail to win the PL over winning the EL is cringe worthy.

My apologies.

Congratulations on winning the "CL Qualification for Second Rate Teams Cup". Or is it the "Succeeding Whilst Aiming Low Trophy"?

Or is that the new name for the League Cup?

I'm not bitter in the slightest. The Thursday Night Cup has always been a joke, no more so than on this forum and with United fans. It's only gained any semblance of relevance once it awarded a CL place and only with United fans once CL qualification via the league proved too hard.

What is desperate is certain people trying to convince everyone (or probably just themselves) that it is anything more that a CL place. If there wasn't a CL place, United would have made no attempt to win it. There is no prestige in a top club winning a second rate trophy. The fact your whole season hinged upon the outcome should be somewhat of an embarrassment and winning it relief, rather than joy.

We'd have concentrated on the league instead. Must be difficult having your best season in your living memory and not winning trophies like we have.

Another one trying to convince themselves that United winning the LC and ELC is a worthy achievement. How the times have changed.

When exactly did you decide to concentrate on the ELC rather than the EPL? Are you suggesting that Jose thought that you could finish in the top 4 but it's better to win a trophy?

I'm quite happy not winning the trophies that you have. I'll leave you to bask in the glory of your achievements.

At that stage he felt it was easier to win the EL and qualify for the CL, than to finish 4th.

So we're in agreement - it was purely a route to CL qualification. There was no desire to win a trophy. And without CL qualification United wouldn't have attempted to win it. Because it's only value is a CL place. Glad we have that sorted now.

Alpinestars said:

He won a trophy that you've never won.

Spurs have won the UEFA cup twice thanks. The very first one in fact. Mind you, it was a lot harder to win back then, what with many more top teams competing for it. I'm surprised it's taken you 45 years to finally succeed.

You really are scraping the barrel. In those 45 years, we've won more trophies than there are WUMs on this thread. No mean feat.

[Alpinestars]

Adam B said:

ORD said:

As I have said, I think finishing 2nd in the PL is harder than winning the EL. But I would be desperate for trophies if I were a Spurs, Arsenal or Liverpool fan or player.

Given a choice, I bet almost every player would rather win the EL than finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the PL.

Spot on although you missed City off that list. I would and I am a Liverpool fan. Some funny posts from SPurs fans here.

Spurs are a very good side and did really well this season but history books will show:

Spurs - CL qualification
Utd - CL qualification / League Cup / Europa Cup

I thoroughly enjoyed our Europa cup run, and it certainly wasn't easy beating Utd, Dortmund, Villareal to face Seville in the final (where admittedly we were poor)

Edited by Adam B on Thursday 25th May 14:57

Some sense. And from a scouser

[ORD]

Adam B said:

Spot on although you missed City off that list. I would and I am a Liverpool fan. Some funny posts from SPurs fans here.

Spurs are a very good side and did really well this season but history books will show:

Spurs - CL qualification
Utd - CL qualification / League Cup / Europa Cup

I thoroughly enjoyed our Europa cup run, and it certainly wasn't easy beating Utd, Dortmund, Villareal to face Seville in the final (where admittedly we were poor)

Edited by Adam B on Thursday 25th May 14:57

As ever in football, it is the trophies that are remembered. It is slightly arbitrary (because cup trophies can be won or missed because of luck), but it is the same for all clubs. Liverpool definitely had a harder run last year than did Utd this year. Equally, Liverpool won most of their trophies back when all teams were bad and football was relatively amateur, so you can always take the shine off a trophy with that kind of thinking.

Any fan who hasnt seen his side win a trophy in years and years will look a bit silly turning his nose up at the EL or the League Cup. As a very spoiled Utd fan, I found it hard to get excited about a 2nd tier competition, but it is hard to believe that a Spurs fan would really rather do a good job of finishing runner up than win a trophy.

[uk66fastback]

ORD said:

Liverpool won most of their trophies back when all teams were bad and football was relatively amateur

[Frimley111R]

ORD said:

As ever in football, it is the trophies that are remembered.

Yep, no-one will care/remember who came 2,3,4,5,6, etc in the Prem, only who won. We've won competitions, people will remember that and in the same way no-one will remember who we beat in those competitions. It really is hero or zero.

[Black can man]

In all fairness I think the money for finishing 2nd in the premier league far outweighs what winning the EL league does,


We all know that United do not need the money but i'm sure Spurs as a club do especially with the stadium cost seemingly getting higher n higher.



We all know Prem teams prioritise the premier league over Thursday night football & usually throw their reserves into the EL early rounds.


As a fan I think i'd rather the Europa league but i'm sure the people at Spurs would take the runners up cheque rather that an attractive silver vase.

[mickk]

I'd take the silver vase thing please.

[Black can man]

And another thing winning two trophies is terrific for Utd & Mourinho


You poor fkers are faced with at least another two years of tedious turgid football .

[Gavia]

Black can man said:

In all fairness I think the money for finishing 2nd in the premier league far outweighs what winning the EL league does,


We all know that United do not need the money but i'm sure Spurs as a club do especially with the stadium cost seemingly getting higher n higher.



We all know Prem teams prioritise the premier league over Thursday night football & usually throw their reserves into the EL early rounds.


As a fan I think i'd rather the Europa league but i'm sure the people at Spurs would take the runners up cheque rather that an attractive silver vase.

Of course, Spurs are winning the money race again. There's nothing better as a fan than to watch the bank account and see those pennies increase

https://youtu.be/Ll3uipTO-4A

[Adam B]

Black can man said:

In all fairness I think the money for finishing 2nd in the premier league far outweighs what winning the EL league does,

it does but you have to compare coming 2nd vs coming 6th and winning Europa Cup

Manchester United pocketed €14.7m (£12.7m) in prize money after winning the Europa League with a 2-0 win over Ajax in the final. The Premier League giants secured the final winner's prize of €6.5m to add to the €8.2m they'd already earned from European football governing body Uefa. (source City AM)

Winner of EPL gets £40M, and it falls by £2M for each place below - so Spurs made £38M, United made £30M for 6th
http://www.totalsportek.com/money/premier-league-p...