Man Utd Thread:

[Maroon Manc]

All City have done since 2008 is spend huge money, they've a lot more expensive signings who've not worked out then United. City must have signed at least 10 players around what Fred would cost so thats a pathetic comment to make. City's best 16/17 players cost about £700m so lets not get carried away.

Pep would not be replicating what he's done at City with United. He inherited Sterling, Aguero, De Bruyne, Fernandinho & Silva. Thats 5 out of his first choice front 6 so he had a lot easier job than he'd have had at United. Then he went out and spent nearly £550m so about £200m more than Unitd have spent during that period.

Look at the state of that squad Mourinho inherited, it had one outfield player in Martial who'd be probably good enough to start in a Pep team.

[seafoid]

All City have done since 2008 is spend huge money, they've a lot more expensive signings who've not worked out then United. City must have signed at least 10 players around what Fred would cost so thats a pathetic comment to make. City's best 16/17 players cost about £700m so lets not get carried away.

Pep would not be replicating what he's done at City with United. He inherited Sterling, Aguero, De Bruyne, Fernandinho & Silva. Thats 5 out of his first choice front 6 so he had a lot easier job than he'd have had at United. Then he went out and spent nearly £550m so about £200m more than Unitd have spent during that period.

Look at the state of that squad Mourinho inherited, it had one outfield player in Martial who'd be probably good enough to start in a Pep team.

When the county gets hammered in Croke Park you know on the way home that more than a few players are not good enough and will have to be replaced even if there is currently nobody. It is a painful adjustment to GAA reality.   Man Utd are in a similar position. There is too much dead wood. And there is too much wood ward.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/nov/12/manchester-united-transfer-market-jose-mourinho

Of the centre-backs the defensively suspect Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones should be sold, and two new ones bought to compete with Victor Lindelöf and Eric Bailly
Nemanja Matic should become a squad option only, and the average Ander Herrera and Scott McTominay sold.
Alexis Sánchez was meant to be the answer but has scored once in nine league appearances this season and is thought to want to leave. Factor in him being a free transfer who earns at least £350,000 a week and United should offload him in January. Marcus Rashford again failed at centre-forward against City and appears lost so at 21 would benefit from a loan. Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard are merely squad players.

When City beat Fulham 2-0 in the Carabao Cup Guardiola made 10 changes to field a "second XI" that featured Brazil's No 9, Jesus, Vincent Kompany, the captain, England's World Cup player Fabian Delph, Sané, Danilo and Kevin De Bruyne, who when fit again may put Bernardo Silva back on the bench. Mourinho can only dream of these riches: his outfield replacements for the derby were Jones, Darmian, Fred, Sánchez and Lukaku – the latter still recovering from injury.

[Cunny Funt]

All City have done since 2008 is spend huge money, they've a lot more expensive signings who've not worked out then United. City must have signed at least 10 players around what Fred would cost so thats a pathetic comment to make. City's best 16/17 players cost about £700m so lets not get carried away.

Pep would not be replicating what he's done at City with United. He inherited Sterling, Aguero, De Bruyne, Fernandinho & Silva. Thats 5 out of his first choice front 6 so he had a lot easier job than he'd have had at United. Then he went out and spent nearly £550m so about £200m more than Unitd have spent during that period.

Look at the state of that squad Mourinho inherited, it had one outfield player in Martial who'd be probably good enough to start in a Pep team.

His form is one of the main reasons why Mourinho wasn't already sacked and Jose made a decent effort in trying to sell him last summer. As soon as Martial has a bad half he'll be dropped to the bench.

United are as close to Cardiff City in the table now as Man City so too much of a focus is put on the latter team while losing sight to where United currently are, only four teams in the league has conceded more goals than United this season, serious questions need to be asked why have United regressed so badly this season? This is year 3 with Mourinho and progress should be seen or at least consistency from last season.

[magpie seanie]

Surely the manager has to take some accountability over the signings though Seafoid.

He didn't buy very well, Walter , but the club is a mess.
There is no direction and that is not Mourinho's fault.

Man Utd last played in the Champions League Final in 2011 which is 8 seasons ago.
They were destroyed by a Guardiola team. 
Man Utd are currently failing and could easily fail for another decade.

If it was GAA they would be Down or maybe Meath.
You know when teams are not going anywhere, have no momentum or nothing to build on. It takes a long time to get out of that and become winners again.

Why are so many on here prepared to give José a bye ball? He has been given resources practically every other manager could only dream about, spent massively on players including a world record fee and he has absolutely failed to deliver. And on top of that he has acted like an arrogant bollox at every opportunity, blamed everyone but himself including throwing players under the bus and played awful football to boot.

All a manager can ask for is money for transfers and freedom to decide how the team play. Jose has got both of these. The man is a cancer

I've no idea. And expecting the quality to improve is just beyond belief. That's pure blind faith/wishful thinking. He's picking the team a bit better and dropping guys who are playing shite because he now wants to stay in the job (after he stopped doing his job and the players pulled the team back in the Newcastle game). Picking the best players in their best positions is a basic fundamental thing for a manager I'd have thought but there's always more to it with this guy.

We know what this guy is. To paraphrase that famous Dennis Green quote - He is who we thought he was.

[magpie seanie]

You've a one track mind when it comes to Mourinho Seanie, not everything is his fault.

I never said "everything" was his fault (I've had to repeat this multiple times) but I make no apologies for my position that he has no business at Manchester United. When I asked the question I was hoping you'd have some insight to the contrary like you've had on other players. In the absence of any I'll draw my own conclusions, which I'm clearly not alone about.

[brokencrossbar1]

Genuinely what is the difference in a team that last year conceded 28 goals in total in the league and this year has conceded 21?  Was De Gea just supersonic last year and this year isn't?  In comparison,  Liverpool and City have conceded 5 each and Chelsea 8.  Obviously we have made defensive signings.  Spurs haven't though and have only conceded 10.  Have the players regressed so badly in 12 months?  After 13 games last season United had a GD of +22 and had 29 points, this year GD is -1 and 20 points.  That's a huge swing.

[NAG1]

Genuinely what is the difference in a team that last year conceded 28 goals in total in the league and this year has conceded 21?  Was De Gea just supersonic last year and this year isn't?  In comparison,  Liverpool and City have conceded 5 each and Chelsea 8.  Obviously we have made defensive signings.  Spurs haven't though and have only conceded 10.  Have the players regressed so badly in 12 months?  After 13 games last season United had a GD of +22 and had 29 points, this year GD is -1 and 20 points.  That's a huge swing.

Don't think it is down to De Gea, but I would like to see a stat on the number of chances conceded in these games compared to last season. I'd wager it is up, so law of averages says thats going to result in more goals.

I also think JM played a bit of silly buggers with the defence in his petulance at not getting the centre half/s that he wanted over the summer. Now he has at least gone with a settled pairing which is something at least and he is getting more out of Lindelof because of it.

[magpie seanie]

Genuinely what is the difference in a team that last year conceded 28 goals in total in the league and this year has conceded 21?  Was De Gea just supersonic last year and this year isn't?  In comparison,  Liverpool and City have conceded 5 each and Chelsea 8.  Obviously we have made defensive signings.  Spurs haven't though and have only conceded 10.  Have the players regressed so badly in 12 months?  After 13 games last season United had a GD of +22 and had 29 points, this year GD is -1 and 20 points.  That's a huge swing.

Don't think it is down to De Gea, but I would like to see a stat on the number of chances conceded in these games compared to last season. I'd wager it is up, so law of averages says thats going to result in more goals.

I also think JM played a bit of silly buggers with the defence in his petulance at not getting the centre half/s that he wanted over the summer. Now he has at least gone with a settled pairing which is something at least and he is getting more out of Lindelof because of it.

I wonder how that made the centre halves that were already at the club feel, especially the ones he had signed in recent years? The whole thing with the manager is a pantomime and not a very good one.

On the additional goals conceded I think another contibutary factor is that the arse has fallen out of the midfield and the defence isn't getting the cover/protection they did this time last season. Lukaku being rubbish (yet continually played until the last few games) has also had an impact.

[seafoid]

https://www.rte.ie/gaeilge/2018/1112/1010344-mise-agus-manchester-united-an-gra-fuaraithe-eadrainn/

[Maroon Manc]

Genuinely what is the difference in a team that last year conceded 28 goals in total in the league and this year has conceded 21?  Was De Gea just supersonic last year and this year isn't?  In comparison,  Liverpool and City have conceded 5 each and Chelsea 8.  Obviously we have made defensive signings.  Spurs haven't though and have only conceded 10.  Have the players regressed so badly in 12 months?  After 13 games last season United had a GD of +22 and had 29 points, this year GD is -1 and 20 points.  That's a huge swing.

Don't think it is down to De Gea, but I would like to see a stat on the number of chances conceded in these games compared to last season. I'd wager it is up, so law of averages says thats going to result in more goals.

I also think JM played a bit of silly buggers with the defence in his petulance at not getting the centre half/s that he wanted over the summer. Now he has at least gone with a settled pairing which is something at least and he is getting more out of Lindelof because of it.

I missed the Brighton game so don't know what went on but with the Spurs, Wolves & West Ham as soon as United conceded the 1st goal the confidence completely went throughout the team. United just fell apart, played like a team that had given up. Set pieces continue to be a huge problem, 1st goal against Chelsea & Spurs were both from corners.

Its probably a combination of factors, against Bournemouth the midfield mainly Matic & Pogba just offered the defence nothing in terms of protection in that first half.

[OgraAnDun]

Genuinely what is the difference in a team that last year conceded 28 goals in total in the league and this year has conceded 21?  Was De Gea just supersonic last year and this year isn't?  In comparison,  Liverpool and City have conceded 5 each and Chelsea 8.  Obviously we have made defensive signings.  Spurs haven't though and have only conceded 10.  Have the players regressed so badly in 12 months?  After 13 games last season United had a GD of +22 and had 29 points, this year GD is -1 and 20 points.  That's a huge swing.

Don't think it is down to De Gea, but I would like to see a stat on the number of chances conceded in these games compared to last season. I'd wager it is up, so law of averages says thats going to result in more goals.

I also think JM played a bit of silly buggers with the defence in his petulance at not getting the centre half/s that he wanted over the summer. Now he has at least gone with a settled pairing which is something at least and he is getting more out of Lindelof because of it.

Last season De Gae had to make the second highest number of saves in the league. Our good defensive record was primarily down to him and not the defence.

[Cunny Funt]

Genuinely what is the difference in a team that last year conceded 28 goals in total in the league and this year has conceded 21?  Was De Gea just supersonic last year and this year isn't?  In comparison,  Liverpool and City have conceded 5 each and Chelsea 8.  Obviously we have made defensive signings.  Spurs haven't though and have only conceded 10.  Have the players regressed so badly in 12 months?  After 13 games last season United had a GD of +22 and had 29 points, this year GD is -1 and 20 points.  That's a huge swing.

Don't think it is down to De Gea, but I would like to see a stat on the number of chances conceded in these games compared to last season. I'd wager it is up, so law of averages says thats going to result in more goals.

I also think JM played a bit of silly buggers with the defence in his petulance at not getting the centre half/s that he wanted over the summer. Now he has at least gone with a settled pairing which is something at least and he is getting more out of Lindelof because of it.

I wonder how that made the centre halves that were already at the club feel, especially the ones he had signed in recent years? The whole thing with the manager is a pantomime and not a very good one.

On the additional goals conceded I think another contibutary factor is that the arse has fallen out of the midfield and the defence isn't getting the cover/protection they did this time last season. Lukaku being rubbish (yet continually played until the last few games) has also had an impact.

Low in confidence listening to that i can imagine. This season defenders are playing with fear and making loads of basic mistakes, the best centre back United have (Bailly) is no longer getting picked. Smalling and Young are squad players at best and not regular starters in a side that should be top 4 at the very least. Matic is meant to be the protection in front of the defence but is too slow and static to fulfill that role anymore and when the manager sees Fellaini as one of his most important players which includes using him in defence you know something is very wrong.

[Boycey]

The notion that keyboard warriors on the internet (any of us) know more than Mourinho is laughable. I'd also take issue with the notion that having a different opinion than the norm means operating on 'blind faith' I'll debate my opinion here with anyone. All to quickly on here the debate turns into Mourinho is shite and/or the players are shite.

[From the Bunker]

Mourinho inherited a seriously mixed up bunch of players. I presume that he thought at the beginning of his third year he'd have set free the driftwood. The panic set in pre-season as he realised he was still stuck with the same bunch that he has been dragging along to win third rate competitions like the League Cup and the Europa League as well as qualifying for the the Champions League. He has a lot of decent players but no (outfield) superstars. He can't be sacked as there won't be a queue of Top Managers wanting to take over this mess which starts at the top with the owners. That said one top drawer striker signing in January and everything changes.

[magpie seanie]

The notion that keyboard warriors on the internet (any of us) know more than Mourinho is laughable. I'd also take issue with the notion that having a different opinion than the norm means operating on 'blind faith' I'll debate my opinion here with anyone. All to quickly on here the debate turns into Mourinho is shite and/or the players are shite.

Do you need a hug? You seem very tense. Keyboard warriors - could you elaborate on what you mean by this and who you refer to? This is a discussion forum where we, errrr, discuss things. If you don't like things being discussed then it's kinda weird that you're here.

Making up things like this -

I'd also take issue with the notion that having a different opinion than the norm means operating on 'blind faith'

does you no favours. How you can take that out of any of the posts above is just incredible. What notion? Where was that said? Allow me to explain so - if you do the same thing over and over again and the results are the same over and over again - to expect anything different is blind faith at best. That's my point. Mourinho's teams have NEVER played attacking football (like even poor United sides have done) so to expect it to suddenly change is to me mind boggling. But of course MM is entitled to his opinion and he's right more than most....I only disagree with him on a few things TBH. I know I'm probably annoying him with my stance on Mourinho but to my mind it's a perfectly reasonable position and guess what - i'm entitled to my opinion as well.

Play the ball, not the man.