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Post by matt on Oct 30, 2016 9:03:57 GMT
Hard not to be frustrated obviously, but I actually think that we're improving. Yersterday was good in every aspect except for our finishing. Part of our poor finishing was down to Burnley's resilience, especially their GK's, but the other part was down to us not having that very resilience in the striking area. Zlatan is an exceptionally talented player, but Yesterday I would have traded him for our former Little Pea who I am sure would have found the net if he had had Zlatan's chances. That imo is still the major issue we have with this team. We have spent millions on so many players over the last three seasons, yet without building a strong core, and identity, a true team spirit. So many players have come and gone, we have had 3 managers... This team is crying for stability, for cohesion , determination and spirit. Today, despite another frustrating outcome, I've actually enjoyed the game very much. Everything you could wish for, we did it. We only failed to score that one goal because Zlatan is never going to surpass himself for the team, never going to go those extra miles to win you the game like Little Pea would have done. What should change ? Nothing should change. We should simply show some patience, let the boys grow together and mostly stop buying those selfish big-name players anymore. When I look at all the players we have let go I can't help but laugh at our current conditions sometimes. Yes, Cleverley, Welbeck, Chicharito, Rafael, Drinkwater, Keane, and so many more were perhaps never going to become top players, but they had that United DNA and that spirit we're now lacking. So it's quite of a funny situation we're in: full of talent everywhere (on paper we look like the best and most complete team in the League) but with no cohesion and identity yet. Nothing but time and patience will solve this. But as I've said already, I believe we're on the right track. I've seen more progress in 4 months with Mou than in 3 years with Moyes & LVG. This season will be too soon for major honours, get over it
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Post by matt on Oct 23, 2016 18:34:32 GMT
I think that the loss is way too heavy. If wehadn't given them those two stupid goals, because that's what they were, espeically the first, the game would have been completely different. We were far from dominated, we only lacked that bit of class and quality upfront, which has been our problem for many seasons now. Lingard, Rashford, Martial, Pogba, Depay are all very young, and some of them will become excellent players, I've no doubt about it. But this team is crying out for leaders, for experience and that x-factor we have lacked for way too long.
We have or have had players able to bring it to us, but for some reasons something is going wrong on that front (ex. Di Maria, Depay, Mkhitaryan to name a few). What I know is that I have seen improvement since Mourinho came, we are fighting harder, we are becoming a more solid unit but the machine is not yet complete. Mourinho has already done some massive job, that may not be apprent to all, but I actually strongly believe he is going in the right direction.
Imo, what we need now is to accept that we won't become a major force overnight and that the next dynasty and stability we are all looking for will take time to adjust. Right now I think that the team is evolving in the right direction, sadly there are many (too many) players who do not fit Mourinho's requirements because they were brought in the last 3 dramatic years. But the players who fit his scheme and "philosophy" are doing extremely well (Herrera, Pogba, Valencia, Lingard, Rashford, Bailly, Smalling even Fellaini and Mata). I think that Mou could do with a couple of changes in January. But certainly no major signings. In fact I believe we need a couple of players like Valencia and Herrera attitude wise: willing to do what it takes to carry the team forward and release space and energy for our talent to get the best out of opportunities. Spending another 150M won't do any good. What we need now is experience and stability. The talent is there, we have to nurture it, but we lack players to surround all that talented new generation, while getting rid of the players who will not fit in with Mou's requirements and style.
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Post by matt on Oct 2, 2016 13:33:02 GMT
I think Mou has been doing some good job, taking all that BS from LVG's style away. We're once again having phases where we completely destroy teams, putting them under huge pressure and making the game impossible for them. I think right now it's all about being more clinical to kill games off early. I even see glimpses of the old SAF style sometimes, where we attack, attack, attack.
I see a lot of potential in this team, but this season will be too soon for greater achievements. As soon as we become more clinical and find the right balance (dropping Rooney was obviously a massive step forward imo) we will see what this team can truly do.
A bit disappointed by the result obviously, but we're getting there I think.
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Post by matt on Aug 15, 2016 11:45:06 GMT
As for Memphis, it's all up to him now I don't know if it's just me, but I think I've already spotted more aggressivity and desire in his play yesterday. Obviously we didn't get too much too see from him yesterday, but his runs were incisive, determined and he wasn't letting himself getting easily bullied. I am curious too see how it turns out for him. But I won't lose any sleep if he ends up being the next Quaresma because we have so much quality now with the addition of Pogba, Zlatan or Mkhitaryan, but also with the emergence of Lingard who imo is going to have a great season and a great career here. I've always liked what I saw of him, and it seems he has now reached yet another level, with more composure and "reliability" added to his game.
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Post by matt on Aug 15, 2016 11:39:21 GMT
Not surprised by Fellaini's resurgence under Mourinho. Well, it's too early to make proper judgments, but I was sure that Mourinho somehow would know how to use him. Fellaini is an engine, a tireless runner who will harass the opposition and bully them till the final whistle. He is not everyone's cup of tea, and rightly so, but in the right system and in the right role he can truly bring something to the side.
You can dislike him for being a bully, or giant tree, but you can't blame him for being misused under Moyes or LVG. Quite frankly, I think it would have been best for him to leave if LVG has stayed. But with Mourinho in, who likes aggressive, almost oppressive football, I think Fellaini hasn't said his last word.
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Post by matt on Aug 10, 2016 14:54:05 GMT
Football is back ! Not sure what Mou's line up is going to look like, but I believe there will be a couple of surprises because some of our star players are not fully fit and ready yet. The season has come a bit too soon for some players who were at the Euro. Valencia, Bailly, Blind and Shaw in defence obviously. Most probably Carrick in DM. Fellaini, despite his assist for Vardy, had an excellent game and looked in great shape so I expect him to start too. Zlatan upfront, Lingard on one flank if he has recovered, then comes the question of Rooney who didn't look ready for the season against Leicester, while Martial hasn't reached full fitness yet. Mkhitaryan hasn't been playing much lately, yet I believe he is one of best attacker. Could Mourinho have "spared" him Vs Leicester because he was already much fitter than the rest? Or to preserve him for the start of the season? Or is Mkhi simply not ready yet? It's probably gonna be too soon for Pogba although I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the bench if his fitness is good. This would be my personal line up: De Gea Valencia Bailly Blind Shaw Carrick Mkhitaryan Fellaini Herrera Lingard Zlatan
Same set up as against Leicester, but Herrera to take Rooney's role, and Mkhy to replace Martial.
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Post by matt on Jul 3, 2016 13:50:09 GMT
Wouldn't be surprised to see 3 or 4 of Young, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian, Mata, Blind, Fellaini leave. Just a simple question here, but why do so many people believe Valencia could be leaving? And why is everyone so sure Darmian will be our first choice RB ? From my perspective, Valencia will be Mourinho's favoured RB in BPL games, until age catches up on him as he loses his power and pace. But he has at the very least another 2 years left in him, hasn't he? Perhaps I am wrong and you guys see something I don't, but in all fairness Darmian does not impress me that much and I really believe that if one of Valencia or Darmian would be sold, Darmian would be shown the door, not Antonio. Moreover, Varela and TFM are excellent young back-ups that can be relied on imo.
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Post by matt on Jul 3, 2016 13:42:28 GMT
De Gea
Valencia - Bailly - Smalling - Shaw
Carrick - Rooney Pogba
Mkhitaryan - Zlatan - Martial
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Post by matt on Jun 22, 2016 18:50:49 GMT
Embolo strikes me as a young player full of power, strength and pace but his footballing intelligence, his touch and global technique leaves much to be desired. I haven't been impressed at all by him. Rashford imo will be much, much better because he is so much more than just pace or athleticism. I'd rather we give Rashford more game time, even on the right flank, than sign an unconvincing young player like Embolo.
I am so glad we aren't signing him. Besides we don't need another young player anyway. Lingard, Memphis, Rashford, Januzaj, Pereira among others are enough to work with. What we need now is a killer, a proven player from that right attacking position to balance our youthness properly in the side. Last year we were naive and unproductive upfront and I am sure Mourihno will demand a proper strikerforce with experience and maturity to guide the younger players.
Mhkitaryan just makes a lot more sense. I find him a very realistic and plausible option as his versatility would also give Mourinho many interesting alternatives.
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Post by matt on Jun 12, 2016 7:49:00 GMT
Yesterday night was the perfect example of how a manager loses the game all by himself. England were far better, and played really well for most of the time. I would go as far as saying that England have been the best team of the tournament so far. Russia had lost the game, they were beaten. And what does Woy do? He removes the only senior player, Rooney, who brought so much stability and experience to control the game, and then he removes Sterling for the old and almost dead Milner, ready to defend that one goal lead in our own half. That was a ridiculous decision. England shouldn't have had to defend. They should simply have controlled the game, kept attacking and push Russia in their own half, like they have for the most part of the game. Woy truly did a LVG yesterday: good preparation, good tactics, good spirit in the team. And then he exposes his managerial uncapabilities to the world
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Post by matt on May 31, 2016 18:21:33 GMT
To be honest, while I am not too keen on letting Mata and Blind go (especially Blind for the reason everyone has mentioned), I won't judge Mourinho until I see who comes in to replace them. For instance, if Blind and Mata leaving means we get Pogba and Stones, then I can live with that. We don't know what Mourinho's plans are, what type of players he wants, what style he wants to implement. Mata, though being an excellent player, has never been used at his best yet because he doesn't quite fit in completely with the way we play, does he? If Mourinho's plan do not match Blind's qualities, then doesn't it make "sense" to allow him to leave?
That being said, I don't see why Mourinho wouldn't keep Blind for now. Granted he may not be Mourinho's typical sort of player, but his versatility, intelligence and injury record makes him very interesting, especially in your first year in charge. Right now it all looks like BS to me. The only way Blind is leaving is if he has received an offer that interests him.
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Post by matt on May 27, 2016 12:30:07 GMT
In terms of position nothing's really changed: CB, CM, RW, ST. yeah, I agree. Here's basically who I think Mourinho may be interested in to suit his approach of football and what we currently lack : De Gea
Valencia - Stones - Smalling - Shaw + Marquinhos (able to play CB and RB - to replace Darmian)
Schneiderlin - Kante
Mane - Rooney - Martial
Ibrahimovic
I think he will keep Fellaini too. "Mane" I am not sure is the right name, but it's the very profile Mourinho is going to bring in : full of pace, power, aggressivity. I've read somewhere that Mou wanted to bring Willian in, he too would be an excellent fit for Mou's approach imo. But the very best fit remains Griezmann, who we probably won't get.
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Post by matt on May 23, 2016 19:34:57 GMT
LVG had to go. This was all too clear with the shit way we had been playing, even more so with so poor results despite massive investment.
That being said, not everything went wrong under LVG. Whether he had to or wanted to, he introduced many promising youngsters and deserves credits for having sticked to them afterwards.
He had my full support when he started, unfortunately it seems he never quite understood that his philosophy was no match to the intensity of this league. We have seen improvement in possession, composure, tactical awareness, but all that was useless because we never showed the intensity and spontaneity to kill games and teams, and that's how this league works as well. We were too cautious, too practical, too shy to ever threaten even the poorest sides of the English leagues. And that was massively exposed with our lack of senior, deadly strikers.
At the end of the day, he himself made the wrong decisions, and once again I believe his stubborness and refusal to adjust his methods cost him his job. I think the worst part is that we truly had a good nucleus of players, and imo he failed to get the best out of many individuals like Herrera, Schneiderlin, or Memphis among others. While we all know Mourinho's potential issues, I believe he will make a completely different use of the force in each individual, making us in fact a stronger team, more direct, more lethal, ready to jump at the throat of our opponents.
I don't know if I will have the same thoughts in a couple of years time, but right now I am looking forward to Manchester United under Mourinho, I am looking forward to finally have a winner back in charge. Not for silverware as such, but for the pleasure of watching my team fight harder each game, give it all on the pitch and show some grit. Wait! Has Mourinho been appointed yet?
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Post by matt on May 20, 2016 20:00:57 GMT
- Carrick's been our most consistent CM for years. - we can't get rid unless we sign a truly world class CM. - most of all, we CAN'T let him go to a BPL rival, FFS !!!! He is still a quality player, I'd rather keep him than Schweinsteiger.
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Post by matt on May 16, 2016 19:47:18 GMT
Would also indicate Mourinho would be on the way, would it not. Indeed, hence why they wait before announcing Zlatan is coming to OT. Makes sense. Otherwise, if Zlatan knows where he is going, why wouldn't he tell?
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