Good enough for top 4 next season?

[George The Best]

As things stand Ole will have done a remarkable job to get top 4 imo. We are really no further forward than last season so far, having lost Herrera but gained a specialist RB and a kid who could turn out to be quite useful. Coupled with that we have 2 very unsettled players who could still agitate for moves after our window closes, whilst demoralising the rest of the team.

Having gone with the choice of appointing Ole early, I was really expecting the club to give him a big hand in the transfer market. Maguire, Bruno and a DM would have given him a fighting chance, plus adequate replacements for Pogba and Lukaku if they leave. 29 days left in the window so things can still change - but as things stand currently it’s a very big ask.

 

[FerociousCorgis]

im just so confused, wasn't appointing Ole so early supposed to mean we would be able to identify targets and move quickly to get his signings. Thought i read a lot of talk about getting them all in before preseason. Heard so many people saying wont be worried til July 1st if not many signings by then. Is AWB and James really enough to cover the losses of herrera and pogba wanting out for sure and lukaku prob being the same? Think 4th is a possibility just because of what is happening at chelsea and arsenal

 

[Sp00ks11]

How far we have fallen, are we good enough for top 4?

I don't believe we will be, I think we will finish between 5-9th as I genuinely believe Wolves and Leicester are better than us. I also think given our current tradjectory this time next season we will be asking 'Good enough for top 6'.

 

[peridigm]

How far we have fallen, are we good enough for top 4?

I don't believe we will be, I think we will finish between 5-9th as I genuinely believe Wolves and Leicester are better than us. I also think given our current tradjectory this time next season we will be asking 'Good enough for top 6'.

Wolves took a lot of points off top 6 last season. All things considered I was surprised we clawed our way into 4th albeit for a week after the state we were in when Jose was sacked. That just makes it more frustrating the way we finished as we got a glimpse of what this squad was capable of. It did help that Spurs, Chelsea, and Arsenal had a dip around the time we were flying.

My prediction at the moment before the season starts based off nothing more than the way we finished last season and our ins/outs is a resounding no, we will not be good enough for top 4.

 

[Tarrou]

we're actually just ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal in the betting, at about even money

I'm not sure why

Wolves at 14/1 is better value for me

 

[McGrathsipan]

Chelsea lost Hazard and got transfer ban.
Arsenal will do nothing like always.
I dont really see a problem for us getting top 4.

Phil Jones and Ashley young. Theres two problems.

We won't even mention the other problems.

 

[Stookie]

No. For me we just aren’t good enough. We’ve got a smattering of good players who just aren’t gelling as solid unit. There’ll be moments where we think we’ve turned the corner but I fear it’ll be just like last season, a false dawn. I’m saying this as the only signing United have made are an unproven right winger with good prospects and a solid right back. That’s not enough to change the dynamics of this team IMO. If we make a couple more big signings then I could change my mind. And if we don’t I fear OLe may get the sack because it’s all about the sponsorship deals and our sponsors will want to see United in CL.

 

[Eric's Seagull]

Think the top 3 spots are already nailed on. Although we haven't had the best transfer window yet and lost Herrera I think we have a chance of top 4, although it will be hard. Chelsea's transfer ban is going to work in our favour, I think Arsenal's restricted budget could help us as well. Although it seems a bit gloomy at the moment, if we get in a few players: a new midfielder; preferably two, a new striker depending on the Lukaku situation and a decent centreback, still hoping for these signings as we still have a bit of time left in the transfer market, I think we will be ok. As long as everyone plays to the best of their ability in the coming season and the new signings should they materialise settle into the team well quickly, I think we should just have enough to get us into the top 4. If we don't sign some decent players in the positions I mentioned I think we will struggle to make the top 4 though.

 

[DRM]

No, we're an average side in attack.

 

[Houdini]

5.-6. place with current sqad. We need to buy...

 

[Oscar.Z.Acosta]

You never know, but we need another 4/5 very good first-team players to challenge for the title and at least 2/3 more to challenge Arsenal and Chelsea for 4th.

Unless we become far fitter and can run properly when needed, our team will be 5th or worse next season.

 

[Bwuk]

Top 3 will be City, Liverpool and Spurs.

Arsenal haven’t signed anyone, have lost Ramsey and zero good defenders.

Chelsea have lost their best player, and can’t replace him.

 

[Ish]

Depends on how shit Arsenal and Chelsea will be...maybe Leicester as well

 

[Crustanoid]

We’re not even good enough for top half of the table

 

[::sonny::]

How far we have fallen, are we good enough for top 4?

I don't believe we will be, I think we will finish between 5-9th as I genuinely believe Wolves and Leicester are better than us. I also think given our current tradjectory this time next season we will be asking 'Good enough for top 6'.

This

5th-9th

 

[Le Red]

I hate to be the jackass but I don't think this discussion belongs to the Transfer Forum...

 

[RedCurry]

For sure top 8.

 

[Nevilles.Wear.Prada]

Play like how we played pre Ole contract, we are good enough.

 

[DoomSlayer]

Play like how we played pre Ole contract, we are good enough.

We had PL winning form for a good 10-11 games, so yeah. Nobody knows yet what might happen, I really can't wait for the pre-season games to kick off and we see what the plan is for the upcoming season.

 

[Cnaiür urs Skiötha]

I am bit worried by what Ole has said in his press conference.
Too positive about our actual squad which would need a ruthless clear out.
Also with all respect due to the man I do not see him being able to match with Klopp, Pochettino and Guardiola. Those 3 are on a completely different level and have clear ideas about which players to get and how to set their teams up.
It seems more and more that the Glazers and Woody just went for a weak manager who will be just happy having got the chance and say whatever they want him to.

Our biggest hope is that Chelsea lost their best player and got a transfer ban. Lampard is also a huge gamble.
And Arsenal are just Arsenal.
Depending on what happens during the next weeks we might see the top 3 running away and a 4 or 5 teams fight (I can see Leicester and maybe even Everton having something to say) for the 4th place.

 

[RedRonaldo]

I know it's not over until it's over, but it seems were very strongly linked with some players and have signed other players. If rumours are to be believed we might start next season like this;

DDG
AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
Fernandes Longstaff Pogba
Lingard Rashford Martial​

Good enough for top 4? I'm not sure, would want a RW to replace Lingard and then would be confident we'd make it.

No idea if we are good enough for top 4.

DDG - uncertain whether he will renew his contract here

Maguire - we may not get him. If we do, we may have to spend majority of our budget this summer for him

AWB - good singing, he will improve our right side defense for sure

Longstaff - we can’t expect him to go straight into our first team can we? He has some potential, but with only 9 games experience, there no way to know whether he is consistent or not, or will his weakness be exposed and find out by opponents.

Fernandez - not premier league proven, in fact, not proven anywhere except in Portugal league, where he scored a lot and look impressive. He average around 4 goals per season in Serie A (for 4 years), and only score 1 goal for national team out of 14 games. It’s hard to know whether he is up it at the highest level.

Lingard - no, not him please

Rashford/Martial - if they repeat last season form, not sure if we have enough goals for top 4

Pogba - he wants out, not sure he will be here next season.

 

[Coxy]

Play like how we played pre Ole contract, we are good enough.

This.

We’ve only signed one player so far - a right back. No we’re not good enough for top 4 yet

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Considering how awful we were in the last few months of Jose and at the end of the season - we weren’t far off. If it wasn’t for the DDG mistake against Chelsea we would have had a bit of momentum and think we would have finished 4th.

The answer is yes we will be top 4.

 

[kirk buttercup]

It's a month today we kick off against Chelsea. At the moment I would say we should be good enough to compete for top four but I'm not over confident. Let's see what we do in this month surely we have to pick up a bit of speed soon

 

[redshaw]

Too early to tell with transfers not done and also last season's form was so erratic I wonder what the real Ole form is.

We could be comfortable fourth or third or scrapping with Leicester and Everton and Wolves. I fear the team belief and tactics under Ole will have us being a soft target. A new defender, midfielder and Lukaku replacement or Lukaku being leaner could really boost the team. New blood and players leading by example but if it's the same old players then they'll just do a bit then switch off and coast through the season.

 

[Eric's Seagull]

This.

We’ve only signed one player so far - a right back. No we’re not good enough for top 4 yet

What about Daniel James. Did you not mention him as you see him as one for the future who is not going to improve us now?

 

[Beagle]

Top 6 should be a minimum. Top 4 is slightly optimistic but not unattainable at all.

 

[Yidarmy]

From a Non Man Utd point of view I believe you will be Top 4, can't really see anyone for 7th downwards improving that much and Chelski with no new blood and loss of Hazard will struggle as he dragged them into top 4, Arsenal well they will be 5th/6th as no real ambition in transfer market under their regime.

 

[Coxy]

What about Daniel James. Did you not mention him as you see him as one for the future who is not going to improve us now?

Exactly - I don’t see him going into the first team

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Right now I can see us finishing anywhere from fourth down to eight. All depends how the teams around us perform, which isn't great.

 

[sun_tzu]

Right now I can see us finishing anywhere from fourth down to eight. All depends how the teams around us perform, which isn't great.

If we get 4th due to Arsenal and Chelsea being worse than us will that be seen as progress?

How long to be genuine league and CL contenders - 3 years? more??

 

[Eric's Seagull]

Exactly - I don’t see him going into the first team

Thanks for clarifying.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

If we get 4th due to Arsenal and Chelsea being worse than us will that be seen as progress?

How long to be genuine league and CL contenders - 3 years? more??

Who knows? The owners don't care anyway, do they?
If we do manage to be less shit than Chelsea and Arsenal, it is technically progress on last season but not enough.

 

[B20]

I still think Chelsea have a better squad than you, but I guess it remains to be seen how much hazard papered over the cracks and also what calibre of manager lampard is.

One of wolves, Leicester, Everton could compete for top four if the stars align.

Think at least one of the top 6 will not finish top 6 this season. Arsenal the most obvious candidate.

 

[UpWithRivers]

4th is for us is like Liverpool getting first. Everything has to go right - players play to their best, low injuries and teams around us don't have the best of seasons. 5th is second, 6th is 3rd. Likelihood we will come 5/6th. If we have a bad year 7/8th. Anything higher than 4th is like winning the Prem and the cup competitions. Thats where we are at. Even everyone at the club has said our ambition is top 4. 4th is our apex.

 

[Gandalf]

Cantona said we would win the league. Cantona = God so I am convinced.

On a more serious note I do think we are the 4th best team in the league today based on summer activity. Arsenal and Chelsea have taken a step back whilst we have at least sorted out our RB problem and might even have a decent winger if James delivers on his promise. There is another month for Arsenal to stop the bleeding but if the budget of 40m is true then they are the team I think is most likely to sink below Everton, Wolves and Leicester next season.

I will feel a lot more comfortable if we can get a quality CM and CB in before the window closes, I still have hope but the clock is seriously ticking now and the midfield specifically looks like being our achilles heal if we don't introduce some new blood.

 

[Sarni]

How far we have fallen, are we good enough for top 4?

I don't believe we will be, I think we will finish between 5-9th as I genuinely believe Wolves and Leicester are better than us. I also think given our current tradjectory this time next season we will be asking 'Good enough for top 6'.

Leicester aren’t better than us but Wolves could be. They form a much more cohesive unit. They did pick up a lot of points against top teams last year and dropped even more against bottom sides. Not sure how sustainable their form against top teams is but they should almost certainly do better against bottom teams.

 

[Halds]

Can't see anyone else but City, Liverpool and Spurs for the top spots. 4th spot is more difficult to predict right now.

Who is gonna score the goals for Chelsea? Giroud?!

Arsenal need good reinforcements if they want 4th spot. Not enough quality in defence and midfield, especially not after Ramsay is gone

Man United has the quality, but also the most uncertainties. The question is, which team will show up? The one who went on a great run when Solskjaer arrived, or the one who didn't look arsed at the end of the season? Are the players gonna trust the manager and fight for his ideas? And what about Pogba, de Gea and Lukaku? To many uncertainties for now to predict Man United.

Leicester is the dark horse for me.

 

[DSG]

I love the optimism in this thread!

Our goals against record was the worst ever for the club. If we can settle the defense, we have a really good shot at making the top 4. Just giving up 10 less goals would probably put us in the 75-80 pt range. We are halfway there and I believe a new CB is on the way. If Woodward cannot deliver in this transfer window, I believe he’ll be let go.

Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea have not done much to strengthen. I think Wolves will come back to earth a bit.

 

[romufc]

I love the optimism in this thread!

Our goals against record was the worst ever for the club. If we can settle the defense, we have a really good shot at making the top 4. Just giving up 10 less goals would probably put us in the 75-80 pt range. We are halfway there and I believe a new CB is on the way. If Woodward cannot deliver in this transfer window, I believe he’ll be let go.

Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea have not done much to strengthen. I think Wolves will come back to earth a bit.

Quite a lot of goals we conceded came from individual mistakes last year. I can remember goals v City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Barca at least that we gave possession in areas where opponents will counter.
How many goals did we concede when our CB's couldnt deal with a long ball?
I can remember 2 goals where De Gea passed it out to 1. Fred and 2. perreira and they lost it outside the box and boom goal.
How many times did our midfield give away possession in the middle, Pogba was one of the biggest culprits of that and not tracking back.

We need to cut out errors this season.

In respects of scoring goals, again we got to be clinical, rashford with his headers, Lingard, have to finish better.