What's new

Let's All Laugh At... Let's all wonder what's going on at United?

UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2003
9,186
11,145
It was always going to be a poison chalice to take on.
Most people looked at Moyes going in (who was 'hand picked' by Fergie) and thought he'd do well, the signs had been there for two season though that they had an ageing squad that was on the decline and Moyes was on a hiding to nothing.
Van Gaal - good coach who got as much out of them as he could with the addition of a couple of players.
Jose - initial trophies followed by the usual car crash having spent the GDP of NZ in his time there.
They are no further forward now than when Fergie left, in fact they've probably regressed further than most would have anticipated.
No team can sustain being top dog for so long and the Fergie teams were a freak of nature.
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
It's odd Solskaer seems to have moved away from the 4-3-3 with Lingard - Rashford - Martial up top.

I think Lingard has been injured but was back for Man City game but Martial was on bench and they played 3-5-2 / 3-5-2 with Rahford and Lingard up top?

I don't think things are as bad as made out at Man U, if they can play 4-3-3 with three pacey players attacking players and a couple of hard workers alongside Pogba (as they did when Herrera and Matic were guarding him) they should start picking up again.

Only thing is it looks like Herrera could be not signing a new deal and I think is a freebie in summer so that will need to be urgently filled - Fred looks pretty crap this season unless he settles in and has better second season and jury still out on McTominay and Perrera (sp) as to whether they have same quality.

And up top personally I'd be looking to shed Lukuka, who although a good centre forward, for me isn't suited to them. Then they need to be looking at options that allow them to continue playing in vein they do when Rashford / Lingard / Martial start up top.
 

dirtyh

One Skin, two skin.....
Jun 24, 2011
8,629
25,082
solskjaer looks like a little boy in his interviews. really do think he's in over his head and they've made a huge mistake in hiring him.

ah well......:ROFLMAO:
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,884
62,540
It's odd Solskaer seems to have moved away from the 4-3-3 with Lingard - Rashford - Martial up top.

I think Lingard has been injured but was back for Man City game but Martial was on bench and they played 3-5-2 / 3-5-2 with Rahford and Lingard up top?

I don't think things are as bad as made out at Man U, if they can play 4-3-3 with three pacey players attacking players and a couple of hard workers alongside Pogba (as they did when Herrera and Matic were guarding him) they should start picking up again.

Only thing is it looks like Herrera could be not signing a new deal and I think is a freebie in summer so that will need to be urgently filled - Fred looks pretty crap this season unless he settles in and has better second season and jury still out on McTominay and Perrera (sp) as to whether they have same quality.

And up top personally I'd be looking to shed Lukuka, who although a good centre forward, for me isn't suited to them. Then they need to be looking at options that allow them to continue playing in vein they do when Rashford / Lingard / Martial start up top.
I think Herrera's injury has been the most damaging to them. None of the other midfielders have his sort of skillset and busybody ****ishness, and in that 4-3-3 he was absolutely vital. If he leaves in the summer and a player of a similar ilk doesn't come in Solskjær has a(nother) huge problem on his hands.
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
7,405
13,785
I think Herrera's injury has been the most damaging to them. None of the other midfielders have his sort of skillset and busybody ****ishness, and in that 4-3-3 he was absolutely vital. If he leaves in the summer and a player of a similar ilk doesn't come in Solskjær has a(nother) huge problem on his hands.

Agree. He's the one member of their squad who's got a bit of grit about him.
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
I think Herrera's injury has been the most damaging to them. None of the other midfielders have his sort of skillset and busybody ****ishness, and in that 4-3-3 he was absolutely vital. If he leaves in the summer and a player of a similar ilk doesn't come in Solskjær has a(nother) huge problem on his hands.

Yeah I've always rated him, couldn't understand when previous managers weren't playing him regularly.
 

SteveH

BSoDL candidate for SW London
Jul 21, 2003
8,642
9,313
No team can sustain being top dog for so long and the Fergie teams were a freak of nature

Like Liverpool in the 70s and 80s SAF United was far wealthier than its main competitors.
Now although still very wealthy they one amongst many.

They need to get Rafa Benitez in, he would be ideal and would a far better job imo.
 

rez9000

Any point?
Feb 8, 2007
11,942
21,098
Like Liverpool in the 70s and 80s SAF United was far wealthier than its main competitors.
Now although still very wealthy they one amongst many.

They need to get Rafa Benitez in, he would be ideal and would a far better job imo.
That, for me, is the nightmare scenario. I rate Benitez very highly as a manager. Man U would have similarities to his tenure at Newcastle and so I think he'd do a really good job. I wouldn't want that.
 

Styopa

Well-Known Member
Jan 19, 2014
5,136
14,177
Like Liverpool in the 70s and 80s SAF United was far wealthier than its main competitors.
Now although still very wealthy they one amongst many.

They need to get Rafa Benitez in, he would be ideal and would a far better job imo.

The increased TV revenue has also made it more difficult than ever to sign players from other Premier League clubs. United in their pomp were able to sign the likes of Cantona, Cole, Yorke, Ferdinand, Rooney, Carrick, Berbatov etc from Premier League rivals - not only did this strengthen United with proven Premier League players but it also weakened those clubs below them by taking away their star players. Now even many of the smaller clubs are prepared to dig their heels in and refuse to sell, or at least refuse to sell to an English club.
 

TheHoddleWaddle

Well-Known Member
Dec 13, 2013
11,289
20,289
Lukaku gobbing off about serie A according to social media. Hardly a great loss of he was shown the door. Save maybe to finances.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
That, for me, is the nightmare scenario. I rate Benitez very highly as a manager. Man U would have similarities to his tenure at Newcastle and so I think he'd do a really good job. I wouldn't want that.

I don't see Rafa doing much at a top 6 club anymore, doesn't have the character or personality to manage top players, plays unnatractive football as well.

Newcastle or a team outside the top 6 is about his level.
 

'O Zio

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2014
7,405
13,785
I don't see Rafa doing much at a top 6 club anymore, doesn't have the character or personality to manage top players, plays unnatractive football as well.

Newcastle or a team outside the top 6 is about his level.

Agree. I think he's better off being a big fish in a small pond, so to speak. Newcastle is a good compromise because they've got the illusion of being a big club because they've got a big stadium/lots of fans etc. but without the big names, egos, and pressures of a truly massive club like Utd. If Newcastle can get rid of Ashley eventually then under Benitez I can see them doing well and competing for 7th every year, maybe occasionaly breaking into the top 6 every once in a while too. I think they're quite a good fit if they could just get Ashley to fuck off.
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
It's odd Solskaer seems to have moved away from the 4-3-3 with Lingard - Rashford - Martial up top.

I think Lingard has been injured but was back for Man City game but Martial was on bench and they played 3-5-2 / 3-5-2 with Rahford and Lingard up top?

I don't think things are as bad as made out at Man U, if they can play 4-3-3 with three pacey players attacking players and a couple of hard workers alongside Pogba (as they did when Herrera and Matic were guarding him) they should start picking up again.

Only thing is it looks like Herrera could be not signing a new deal and I think is a freebie in summer so that will need to be urgently filled - Fred looks pretty crap this season unless he settles in and has better second season and jury still out on McTominay and Perrera (sp) as to whether they have same quality.

And up top personally I'd be looking to shed Lukuka, who although a good centre forward, for me isn't suited to them. Then they need to be looking at options that allow them to continue playing in vein they do when Rashford / Lingard / Martial start up top.

The rumours are that Martial has been dropped because of an attitude issue. Fitness seems to be a big issue at United. It will be interesting to see how OGS has them playing next season when he's had a chance to give them a pre-season to up their fitness levels and get them used to whatever system he wants to play.
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
The rumours are that Martial has been dropped because of an attitude issue. Fitness seems to be a big issue at United. It will be interesting to see how OGS has them playing next season when he's had a chance to give them a pre-season to up their fitness levels and get them used to whatever system he wants to play.

Interesting, as he was doing really well for them out on left and had always shown willing under Mouronho, just wasn’t given the chances so much.
 

rez9000

Any point?
Feb 8, 2007
11,942
21,098
I don't see Rafa doing much at a top 6 club anymore, doesn't have the character or personality to manage top players, plays unnatractive football as well.

Newcastle or a team outside the top 6 is about his level.
People said exactly the same before he went to Chelsea...
 

rez9000

Any point?
Feb 8, 2007
11,942
21,098
And eventually ended up at Real Madrid falling flat on his arse.
He had a 68% win rate at Real Madrid. He only lost three matches out of 25. He didn't leave because he failed. He was forced out because he was unpopular with the fans. Just like at Chelsea. Since managing Valencia, his win percentage has only ever fallen below 50% twice - at Inter and in his current job with Newcastle.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
He had a 68% win rate at Real Madrid. He only lost three matches out of 25. He didn't leave because he failed. He was forced out because he was unpopular with the fans. Just like at Chelsea. Since managing Valencia, his win percentage has only ever fallen below 50% twice - at Inter and in his current job with Newcastle.

And the players, he also fell out with Isco, James and Ronaldo

The fact that he had a high win percentage and got sacked for being unpopular just solidifies my point about him, his character doesn't really fit with modern day players at big clubs.
 
Top