|
Post by matt on Apr 3, 2016 21:18:16 GMT
Hope that whoever is in charge next season they all continue to get a fair chance. Yeah me too. Many people keep saying that Mourinho doesn't give youngsters a chance but I am sure Mourinho will be the first to appreciate the spirit of those young players. If Mourinho is appointed, I am of course convinced he will bring in a couple of experienced players, but I have little doubt that Martial, Lingard, Rashford, Varela, Shaw, Fosu-Mensah, McNair, BJ etc. will all get their chance if they keep showing that spirit. On the contrary, someone like Januzaj is going to get sold asap if Mourinho takes over. We have some good young players coming through, but let's be honest we lack experienced leaders to guide them properly. They can no longer benefit from the guidance of the older players like Rio, Evra, Scholes, Giggs, Keane, Brown, O'Shea, Fletcher, etc. And that's where someone like Mourinho will be useful because he will balance the side better with a few strategic transfers. Most probably an experienced CB, CM and a striker. But that doesn't mean our young guns will no longer get a fair chance. The problem is that our current mature players are not being influential enough, and there are basically only Carrick and Rooney left from the old core, and while Carrick's influence is decreasing with age, Rooney has been in truly poor form for too long now and I suspect he could be on his way (at least that's a personal wish). Even Schweinsteiger hasn't really showed all his leadership. You look at Bayern, Juve or PSG for instance, they all have a solid core to assist their young talents and good mix of experience and youth. Regardless of who comes next, or even if LVG stays for another year, we will need to get some experience in this side, and be spot on in the market. We have enough young talents. What we don't have is a solid core around which those talents can gravitate and learn the trade. And as much as it will piss people to read that, Mourinho could be the best to build that short/mid-term core and establish a few leaders before our youngsters take over.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Apr 3, 2016 20:28:09 GMT
I think the writing is on the wall for LVG, the decision has been made and it will be Thank You but Goodbye. It will be final at the end of the Season 2016. United have more class than our neighbours City who chose to announce the departure of their manager mid-season. Who next ? Certainly not Giggsy even though we love him to bits. It is too soon and for his sake I hope the incoming manager brings in his own team. Ryan needs to go and earn his credentials in maybe the championship league for 2 to 3 years and then we will welcome him back with open arms. For me , Mourinho is the bet. Yeah I agree. For me, it's Mourinho or Simeone. As much as I respect LVG for many things he has done in his tenure so far, especially the introduction of so many youngsters or the excellent record against the big teams, we are not solid enough on a consistent basis and most of all we lack leaders and a real core in this team. I really think LVG's work will be very useful, but I don't know if he can take us much further. We need more aggressivity, more directness and a real manager who will have the lads die on the pitch for the cause. LVG is an amazing tactician imo, but he doesn't have what it takes to be a quality manager and inspire his men.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Apr 3, 2016 20:14:58 GMT
I don't know for Pereira, but Januzaj's got a serious attitude problem. He is becoming arrogant (which can be an essential asset for an attacker BTW), except he clearly stands on the wrong side of it. He really needs to grow up and mature or his career will go nowhere.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Apr 3, 2016 20:06:11 GMT
I thought this was a professional display. Both teams were a bit rusty, but I am glad with what I've seen in terms of commitment and seriousness. We didn't give them many chances, we pressed high and were aggressive for the whole 90 min.
Sure it wasn't a "great display", but a solid one nonetheless. I am most of all very pleased with the youngsters, who despite their flaws and lack of maturity at times, show the perfect spirit week in week out. They're battlers and going for it, always! The kind of spirit I really appreciate and that maybe we have lacked from our mature players. But today I was particularly impressed with Fosu-Mensah's display. Was excellent, strong, direct, precise, effective. More of him, please.
Good 3 points, never easy against the Toffees.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Mar 31, 2016 18:11:31 GMT
Wouldn't mind seeing him getting a try there. But only if top-4 is truly out of reach or if injuries leave us no choice. There is still plenty to win for us this season. As much as our season has been chaotic, getting into the top-4 would mean at least three of our direct rivals won't get CL football next season (Chelsea, Pool, Arsenal and/or City) as I don't see Spurs or Leicester failing to deliver.
And you never know how this could turn out. For all we know, West Ham and United could very well get the last 2 CL spot, leaving all of them four "giants" without CL football (now how ironic that would be after everyone wrote us off!). We can't really afford to take risks at this stage. So McNair will have to be patient for another few games.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Mar 26, 2016 15:15:17 GMT
It will very much depend on the next manager and what style he implements, and if he wants Lukaku.
In this very team, under LVG, I could see Lukaku flourishing because we lack athleticism, power and strength (although Rashford does have great potential). He has improved massively in the last few months/couple of years. I wonder if Mourinho, if he's appointed, would reconsider him (it would be a first proof of him dropping his ego for the greater good for instance)? Mourinho likes to have a beast upfront, someone to finish teams off, someone lethal and hard to play against (Drogba & Costa at Chelsea, Milito at Inter, and it's not wonder Benzema didn't fit in well under him, because he wasn't the typical profile Mourihno favours). Lukaku at this point looks like the typical Mourinho's striker, except he sometimes lacks that killing touch and can struggle for consistency (at least he has in the past). He used to lack a footballing brain, but he has improved on that as well. Perhaps not enough yet to be the elite striker someone like Mourinho would bring in for sure.
Lukaku imo is an interesting option. Not sure how realistic he is and if Mourinho would be really keen on him, but I really don't see him at Bayern. He doesn't fit their playing style. And I believe he would be mad to join a sub-club in Italy. England is perfect for him imo.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Mar 13, 2016 17:17:10 GMT
Yup, the only reasonable choice would be Mourinho. I think it will be between Mourinho, Blanc and Simeone. I have nothing against Giggs, don't get me wrong, but we can't seriously give him the reins at such a crucial time without any bits of experience. Being n°2 to Moyes and LVG has certainly taught him a few things, but he needs to make a name for himself first as a manager.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Mar 13, 2016 9:37:23 GMT
I agree with the comments that it's more the tactics which are affecting too many players than the players themselves. Me too. I think we must wait for the next manager to make solid conclusions regarding our CM. For instance, I am sure that Mourinho would make Schneiderlin/Herrera one of the best pairing in England. I believe that LVG is misusing many of our players. The only one I want to see out is Fellaini, and I wish we would replace him with an aggressive, mobile and quality n°10. That's imo the profile we're lacking.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Mar 13, 2016 9:25:59 GMT
The sooner he is out, the better. I haven't taken pleasure in watching this side for too long. I am not even talking about poor results, but mostly about poor displays, little aggressivity, little of that winning, attacking attitude. I am not saying everything about LVG is wrong, but his time is up, it clearly is, I've been saying this for a few months now.
There is not much point in changing manager now with just two months left basically, but I hope he is out as soon as the last game of the season is over.
I don't know who will replace him, but I just hope the board stop taking stupid risks because the next few seasons are vital if we want to position ourselves at the top. The competition will be even much harder than it already is: we need to become a solid winning side again. We can't afford to appoint Giggs and see how it goes.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Mar 13, 2016 9:14:27 GMT
Does Blanc utilize kids?? It is obvious he does not. Wrong choice. A bit unfair because you don't know the state of Paris's academy. The club and the first team have benefited from the arabs' money, but it doesn't mean that they have sorted their academy. it takes more than a few years to rebuild an academy. Besides, Blanc hasn't been afraid to play young players with Psg: Lucas, Verratti, Rabiot, Marquinhos... They play if they're good enough. On topic, I believe Blanc is an excellent manager. I just wonder if his managerial style is made for England.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Mar 8, 2016 21:30:55 GMT
Same old Van Gaal: genius when games are more tactical as shown against the top-teams. Useless when the game turns into a battle, as shown against so many lower sides.
I've been saying it all along: LVG has failed to balance the side properly last summer. We lack some leaders and some character in the team, some "bad" guys perhaps to lead the younger player and kick asses when it needs to be done.
Granted we had to make do with the injuries, and that hasn't helped us this season, and in all fairness we have coped well. But you can't blame a poor season on injuries, because we suffer more injuries than the other clubs, and that is becoming a trend as only Arsenal can rival us on that front: either we have an average medical staff or we like to buy injury prone players because our scouts are shit at checking injury records? I am sorry but I would say the latter.
LVG can still get something out of this season because he is excellent in those big games. But I want him out at the end of it, regardless of what he wins or doesn't win. I want a manager in who will turn us into a strong team again, with character, with leaders and that relentness spirit we have completely lost. LVG is an amazing tactician, but a poor manager.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Mar 4, 2016 19:15:56 GMT
Well, what is there to say? We took advantage of midweek's top-4 drama and we we can now potentially reduce the gap with Arsenal and the third spot to just one point (Arsneal are facing a very tough away game at the Lane)
I don't think much more needs to be said. We must win. Time to climb back and make Arsenal and City shaky. We're the dark horse, and I hope we have the spirit to grab the victories. Time to act like a proper top team once again.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Feb 29, 2016 20:08:22 GMT
The one thing I will always congratulate LVG for is how he has managed to implement youth. Did injuries force his hand? Perhaps. But still, the way all our young players are performing isn't down to our academy only (although we do seem to have a good generation cmoing up). Despite all his boring football, LVG is excellent at guiding young players. And Louis Van Gaal is excellent at beating big teams. No one can take that away from him. Arsenal just dicovered that, really.
I am not expecting too much from this season if I am honest, although we're only 3 points behind City who still have very complicated games ahead. But if missing out on top-4 because of injuries means we can see more of Varela, Rashford, Fosu-Mensah, etc. or see some players like Memphis finally finding their feet, this could be a blessing in disguise I am willing to accept. Because, as I said before, the real challenge starts next season, when Klopp, Guardiola, Wenger, Conte(?), Pochettino and Mourinho? will have/build teams capable of winning the league and more.
But the best would be to reach the top-4 with the kids. Now that would be the ultimate dream in my books.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Feb 12, 2016 21:38:19 GMT
Failing to get the point tomorrow would be disastrous, since the top-4 are playing each other.
Nothing else than a win is interesting for us. We should go all out and attack them fiercly, just like we've done in the past few games.
Top-4 spot is at stake tomorrow. Hope everyone realises it.
|
|
|
Post by matt on Feb 8, 2016 18:43:48 GMT
Anyway, the dust has settled and I'm still irritated but not pissed off yeah me neither. That's the kind of draw I have no problem with. The performance was good, everyone did their job, we're certainly on the right track. Hopefully we're not finding form too late. 6 points is not that big a gap, City still have to visit Anfield, the Bridge, face Spurs, face us, face Arsenal. Plenty of games where they will struggle if this year's stats are anything to go by. They've struggled against the better teams and they're not showing signs of improving. I am still confident we can take their spot in that top-4. But we must keep that "momentum".
|
|