The Official Manchester United Thread [Vol 6]
Discussion
NRS said:
Spurs never were in a position to choke last season though? They were playing catch up the whole time? I might be wrong, but were they ever closer than around 6-7 points to Chelsea?
I'd say it's a bit early to comment on improving. Last season we'd have "improved" loads if you looked at the table around December, yet at the end of the season it was a different picture. Spurs are in the same number of points as last season, and they have done much better in the CL despite it being a much harder group (harder than any of the other PL clubs). Also surely improvement is the long term trend, since you were all mentioning 2nd is only good if you improve on it later. That's what Spurs have done each season in the last 4. It's not what you have done recently in a consistent way. The same with us.
They had opportunities by playing first to close the gap several times, but didn’t take advantage of it. I'd say it's a bit early to comment on improving. Last season we'd have "improved" loads if you looked at the table around December, yet at the end of the season it was a different picture. Spurs are in the same number of points as last season, and they have done much better in the CL despite it being a much harder group (harder than any of the other PL clubs). Also surely improvement is the long term trend, since you were all mentioning 2nd is only good if you improve on it later. That's what Spurs have done each season in the last 4. It's not what you have done recently in a consistent way. The same with us.
We are definitely improving. We’re scoring more, and conceding less, winning games instead of drawing 1-1 and all this while topping our CL group (which we weren’t even in last year). We’re progressing.
I have never claimed that we have progressed in any previous season. We’ve had three managers in four years and zero squad stability. We’ve been poor for quite a while. I have been clear that I’m not a big Mourinho fan, but pragmatic enough to know that we need his winning mentality at the club to get us back where we were. Without him, the black hole that you fell into after Dalglish quit beckons. The comparisons are quite startling, but we thankfully have picked a winning manager, rather than relying on Roy Evans and the boot room, as you did around this time of your downward spiral.
You won’t want to see any of that and little point in discussing it. I rarely discuss football with mates who support other teams, as their and my bias in entrenched, I need to avoid it with complete strangers.
Alpinestars said:
Looks like we have a new Spud barometer. Hardest champions league group ever.
They’ve won it though. Open top bus parade will be arranged soon, although it’ll be on the streets of Wembley, so a good chance other teams will turn up with a better parade, as it’s their cup final too. Gavia said:
They had opportunities by playing first to close the gap several times, but didn’t take advantage of it.
We are definitely improving. We’re scoring more, and conceding less, winning games instead of drawing 1-1 and all this while topping our CL group (which we weren’t even in last year). We’re progressing.
I have never claimed that we have progressed in any previous season. We’ve had three managers in four years and zero squad stability. We’ve been poor for quite a while. I have been clear that I’m not a big Mourinho fan, but pragmatic enough to know that we need his winning mentality at the club to get us back where we were. Without him, the black hole that you fell into after Dalglish quit beckons. The comparisons are quite startling, but we thankfully have picked a winning manager, rather than relying on Roy Evans and the boot room, as you did around this time of your downward spiral.
You won’t want to see any of that and little point in discussing it. I rarely discuss football with mates who support other teams, as their and my bias in entrenched, I need to avoid it with complete strangers.
That's fair enough, and I agree with a lot of your post. You have improved this season, it was more to those saying 2nd is fine if it is building towards something more and that spurs are effectively wasting it all. The spuds have been improving each season so far, so they are getting closer to it. Both you and us have had some good periods, but currently it's a bit more up and down from where we have been. Maybe you will build on it, but IMO it's a bit early to say. Just look at Klopp. Promising start, and some good signs, taking us to 2nd in the League at Christmas last year. But he got worked out for a while and we're waiting to see if he sorts out some of the obvious issues we still have. Jose might have fixed a lot now. Or he might just have had a good start like we did last year and drop off. That's why I am talking about the longer term trend, as the shorter trend is harder to judge on. It's why for the most part we didn't talk about the League at Christmas last year, despite our position. That was "lucky" considering what happened afterwards.We are definitely improving. We’re scoring more, and conceding less, winning games instead of drawing 1-1 and all this while topping our CL group (which we weren’t even in last year). We’re progressing.
I have never claimed that we have progressed in any previous season. We’ve had three managers in four years and zero squad stability. We’ve been poor for quite a while. I have been clear that I’m not a big Mourinho fan, but pragmatic enough to know that we need his winning mentality at the club to get us back where we were. Without him, the black hole that you fell into after Dalglish quit beckons. The comparisons are quite startling, but we thankfully have picked a winning manager, rather than relying on Roy Evans and the boot room, as you did around this time of your downward spiral.
You won’t want to see any of that and little point in discussing it. I rarely discuss football with mates who support other teams, as their and my bias in entrenched, I need to avoid it with complete strangers.
NRS said:
That's fair enough, and I agree with a lot of your post. You have improved this season, it was more to those saying 2nd is fine if it is building towards something more and that spurs are effectively wasting it all. The spuds have been improving each season so far, so they are getting closer to it. Both you and us have had some good periods, but currently it's a bit more up and down from where we have been. Maybe you will build on it, but IMO it's a bit early to say. Just look at Klopp. Promising start, and some good signs, taking us to 2nd in the League at Christmas last year. But he got worked out for a while and we're waiting to see if he sorts out some of the obvious issues we still have. Jose might have fixed a lot now. Or he might just have had a good start like we did last year and drop off. That's why I am talking about the longer term trend, as the shorter trend is harder to judge on. It's why for the most part we didn't talk about the League at Christmas last year, despite our position. That was "lucky" considering what happened afterwards.
I don’t really care about other teams, if I’m honest. As a kid I had to put up with you lot being very dominant and it’s hard to survive on the odd FA Cup win, so I live and breathe the United /Liverpool rivalry, City to some extent too, but they were always an irrelevance in my youth, bar the odd fluke result, so find it hard to get too wound up by them. I have never shown any interest in Spurs at all, so whether they progress or not matters little to me. However, this football forum seems to have Spurs fans popping in and out of every thread acting like 5 year olds, then running off home to tell their other mates. Their performance this season hasn’t shown progression in the PL, ditto a few other clubs. It is hilarious though that none of them have any faith in their team to progress either and that shows their lack of ambition. I just enjoy pointing out their flaws and leaving them to it.
ORD said:
I think this is semantics now.
2nd would be a good result for Utd this season. I would be pleased with it.
I wouldnt call it "success", though, because (at least to Utd fans), success comes with trophies attached. It may be different for fans of sides that win nothing.
Absolutely this. 2nd would be a good result for Utd this season. I would be pleased with it.
I wouldnt call it "success", though, because (at least to Utd fans), success comes with trophies attached. It may be different for fans of sides that win nothing.
2nd in the league, decent run in the champions league, FA Cup victory would be a good season.
1st in the league, decent run in the champions league, would be a great season!
1st in the league, 1st in the champions league, FA cup victory would be just like the other treble we won!!
.m3sye said:
crazy how that was not seen as a ban - but like the others have said, Ibra probably better option against the better teams so its not to much of a punishment
What a shame that would be having to bring in Ibra instead of Lukaku. It's a bit like bringing Sturridge in for Firminho.....oh wait 
That kind of stuff goes on in every game.
Gone a bit AMG said:
Match day down at an inform Watford.
I’d like to see a a 3 man midfield of Matic, Fellaini and Pogba in a slightly advanced role.
With Rash, Lukaku and Martial upfront to make up for Saturdays shower.
De GeaI’d like to see a a 3 man midfield of Matic, Fellaini and Pogba in a slightly advanced role.
With Rash, Lukaku and Martial upfront to make up for Saturdays shower.
Valencia
Lindelhof
Smalling
Young
Matic
Pogba
Lingard
Mikhy
Martial
Lukaku
I think Watford will have a go at us and I think Mikhy's best when coming from a deeper midfield position, running with the ball. If we can get Lingard and Martial running off him, feeding Lukaku we could have some success.
If it's a midfield 3 then for me it would be Herrera/Matic/Pogba.
ORD said:
Booo hooooo. Maybe they should have ruled that he play at Wembley for a while? That is a real punishment.
WTF? it was a question 
Ive not even seen the incident so no idea whether it was or wasn't just read in the paper that a ban was imminent so when AMG named his team thought it was a bit odd.
Jesus Christ some of you really need to calm down
m3sye said:
Ascayman said:
Did lukaku not get banned?
crazy how that was not seen as a ban - but like the others have said, Ibra probably better option against the better teams so its not to much of a punishment 
anniesdad said:
De Gea
Valencia
Lindelhof
Smalling
Young
Matic
Pogba
Lingard
Mikhy
Martial
Lukaku
I think Watford will have a go at us and I think Mikhy's best when coming from a deeper midfield position, running with the ball. If we can get Lingard and Martial running off him, feeding Lukaku we could have some success.
If it's a midfield 3 then for me it would be Herrera/Matic/Pogba.
I agree but Mikhy hasn’t travelled! Valencia
Lindelhof
Smalling
Young
Matic
Pogba
Lingard
Mikhy
Martial
Lukaku
I think Watford will have a go at us and I think Mikhy's best when coming from a deeper midfield position, running with the ball. If we can get Lingard and Martial running off him, feeding Lukaku we could have some success.
If it's a midfield 3 then for me it would be Herrera/Matic/Pogba.
If the Ozil rumours are true then he might be off in Jan.
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