He doesn't _have _ to play them though. Ever. As important as Bruno is, seeing far less of these has been absolutely massive. It's like buying 3 Bruno's, not just one.
So how come we look like a football team again?
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Better players (Bruno) and more options (less injuries) as had been obvious all season.
But people expected Ole to 'coach' Lingard and Pereira into Messi.
But people expected Ole to 'coach' Lingard and Pereira into Messi.
Just shows that Pereira and Lingard are truly terrible players and we were hamstrung by a lack of options before we bought in January.
Bruno has been utterly incredible if we're being honest. Instantly imprinted himself on the entire squad.
The defence has had a marked upturn in form too, especially the full backs.
Ighalo has done nicely up front and Martial finally has people around him to help him carry the load when Rashford is out.
But the main thing is the massive difference in mentality.
This time last year we had a bunch of players that couldn't be arsed and it showed. Now they fight for everything.
I can forgive them inconsistency and lack of quality if they'd die for the shirt and they will. Ole did that to them whether you're #OleIn or #OleOut.
Right now they remind me of the team from 2005/06, especially at the end of the season. We had a really good run of form before losing to Chelsea when they won the league and you could see the seeds of a good team being planted. Rooting out the stuff we needed to get rid of and getting in what we needed. Ronaldo and Rooney took off the year after and never stopped. Perhaps Martial and Rashford, backed by Bruno and the rest are gonna drive us to the top? Not saying it will happen of course but it could.
Bruno has been utterly incredible if we're being honest. Instantly imprinted himself on the entire squad.
The defence has had a marked upturn in form too, especially the full backs.
Ighalo has done nicely up front and Martial finally has people around him to help him carry the load when Rashford is out.
But the main thing is the massive difference in mentality.
This time last year we had a bunch of players that couldn't be arsed and it showed. Now they fight for everything.
I can forgive them inconsistency and lack of quality if they'd die for the shirt and they will. Ole did that to them whether you're #OleIn or #OleOut.
Right now they remind me of the team from 2005/06, especially at the end of the season. We had a really good run of form before losing to Chelsea when they won the league and you could see the seeds of a good team being planted. Rooting out the stuff we needed to get rid of and getting in what we needed. Ronaldo and Rooney took off the year after and never stopped. Perhaps Martial and Rashford, backed by Bruno and the rest are gonna drive us to the top? Not saying it will happen of course but it could.
We've stopped playing Lingard and Pereria, who are not premier league footballers.
Bruno Fernandes has been one hell of a signing.
We look fitter.
Fred, along with almost all the others have been improved by the coaching staff.
Good form from our forwards.
Most notably, we've gone from having no midfield to having a midfield. Our defence has been immense as well. When you stop conceding goals you give yourself a big chance of winning games.
Bruno Fernandes has been one hell of a signing.
We look fitter.
Fred, along with almost all the others have been improved by the coaching staff.
Good form from our forwards.
Most notably, we've gone from having no midfield to having a midfield. Our defence has been immense as well. When you stop conceding goals you give yourself a big chance of winning games.
Just Delighted that Andreas and Jesse were not even in the squad today. I think Ole has had enough and they will definitely be moved on in the Summer or let to rot in the reserves. Has to be done. I like Mata but his legs are clearly gone and should be moved on as well.
Bruno has been unbelievable but we need cover if he gets injured.
If we managed to just get Jordan Sancho and Grealish in the summer I would be actually be delighted with that.
Attacking options: Sancho, Grealish, Rashford, Martial, Greenwood, James.
Midfield options: Grealish, Pogba, Bruno, Fred, Matic, Scott,
Now that's a squad that can battle for the title.
Bruno has been unbelievable but we need cover if he gets injured.
If we managed to just get Jordan Sancho and Grealish in the summer I would be actually be delighted with that.
Attacking options: Sancho, Grealish, Rashford, Martial, Greenwood, James.
Midfield options: Grealish, Pogba, Bruno, Fred, Matic, Scott,
Now that's a squad that can battle for the title.
I suppose there's a bit of truth in that - the "if we are gonna fail we might as well fail with one of ours" stuff only really works if your manager shows at least SOME talent.
Better to not fail at all though like today. Couldn't be happier for Ole and the boys, bet they all feel ten feet tall all week
This! Well said Rel!
Yeah agreed, and it's a massive lift for the run-in.
The psychology of beating Citeh - however it was won - is huge, and I'm confident of Utd finishing top 5 now.
Think Wolves will fall away and with all due respect, Sheffield United are over-achieving.
Sanchez is still a United player and been a bit harsh on Dalot there. He's only 20. Dalot has all the potential in the world.
Who knows Sanchez could be success at United next season with Bruno in the number 10 role. He's going to be a hard player to get rid of. If we pay half his wages like we are doing this season maybe someone will take him.
Sanchez will be loaned out again. No way he'll remain in the squad.
I wouldn't be surprised, Inter are not going to keep due to been injured most of the season. If we loan him out to a crapper team we are going to pay 75% of his wages. May as well have him in the squad until he can be sold. He's not going anywhere on the money he's on.
He didn't have options.
I don't think there's a sane manager out there who could pick any of those 3 over a quality 10.
This has a lot to do with it. If we were playing with Shelvey and Ward-Prowse (for example) we would be getting the same performances and could expect the same sort of inconsistent results.
You swap James our for Sancho and we score another goal or two today.
I think Ole will be keen to keep him away from the squad. May even do a deal with him to pay a percentage of his contract off, and give him the opportunity to sign for a team on a free.
Of course Bruno has had a massive impact, but that only brings me back to what I've been banging on about since Pogba got injured. We've lacked the capacity to make goal scoring chances in the final third, and now we are of a goal threat teams aren't as confident to attack us as they once had been. The sheer vitriol thrown at Ole and the team was also done without acknowledging this very simple point. Could we have brought in creative reinforcements in the summer? Yes. Would that have come at the expense of improving our defence? Most likely. Ole had to make a choice; he had to either leave our defensive short or leave the team short on creativity. We simply had shit luck with injuries.
We've somewhat hit the reset button this season. It was always going to be difficult. We had an amalgamation of players signing by 5 different managers, all with distinctly different playing styles. He's removed the players that simply were not good enough or didn't fit in and replaced them with significant upgrades when those upgrades were available. We haven't rush to add players for the sake of it, or signed quality players, that may not fit in to what we were trying to do, just because they became available. It's been a considered approach and the result of that is beginning to be seen.
Perhaps most importantly, Ole has given the players the space and time to fully develop into what he knew they could be. We've added Greenwood and Williams from the youth system, Shaw is looking like the player we signed from Southampton, Fred has turned into one of the best midfielders in the league, Martial is working harder and has his confidence back, and McTominay has grown into one of the most important players in the squad.
Belief has returned. There is a good atmosphere around the place again. There's a long way to go but we finally have a clear path back to the top.
We've somewhat hit the reset button this season. It was always going to be difficult. We had an amalgamation of players signing by 5 different managers, all with distinctly different playing styles. He's removed the players that simply were not good enough or didn't fit in and replaced them with significant upgrades when those upgrades were available. We haven't rush to add players for the sake of it, or signed quality players, that may not fit in to what we were trying to do, just because they became available. It's been a considered approach and the result of that is beginning to be seen.
Perhaps most importantly, Ole has given the players the space and time to fully develop into what he knew they could be. We've added Greenwood and Williams from the youth system, Shaw is looking like the player we signed from Southampton, Fred has turned into one of the best midfielders in the league, Martial is working harder and has his confidence back, and McTominay has grown into one of the most important players in the squad.
Belief has returned. There is a good atmosphere around the place again. There's a long way to go but we finally have a clear path back to the top.
This whole thing has been, and still is, a process. You put the building blocks in place piece by piece, and slowly things start to get better. It's not unique to this situation.
People are going to point to Bruno and say that's what this is, and to a certain extent it obviously is, but buying him is a part of this process, and focusing on that alone would be doing a disservice to everything else that has been happening leading up to that.
Ole deserves genuine credit for this progress. He is only a cog in the machine, but is also the catalyst for what is happening here. The change in culture, the culling of certain squad members & the addition of the right type of person into the squad. It doesnt happen overnight.
People are going to point to Bruno and say that's what this is, and to a certain extent it obviously is, but buying him is a part of this process, and focusing on that alone would be doing a disservice to everything else that has been happening leading up to that.
Ole deserves genuine credit for this progress. He is only a cog in the machine, but is also the catalyst for what is happening here. The change in culture, the culling of certain squad members & the addition of the right type of person into the squad. It doesnt happen overnight.
Agreed with the above - yes there was Poch as an option, but you couldn't help looking at the side and thinking would they do better with what we have?
Poch was a strange one, was he somewhat overrated by us? Won just as much as Ole pretty much, yet he was heralded as the second coming. In reality though, hes the guy who just got sacked by Spurs, and the guy who we sacked was apparently a better option for them than Poch!
I didn't really care about league position this season, in some ways I still don't. I just wanted a 'likeable' team again, not some cobbled together group of 11 individuals that didn't pull their finger out most games. We actually seem to have that now.
Poch was a strange one, was he somewhat overrated by us? Won just as much as Ole pretty much, yet he was heralded as the second coming. In reality though, hes the guy who just got sacked by Spurs, and the guy who we sacked was apparently a better option for them than Poch!
I didn't really care about league position this season, in some ways I still don't. I just wanted a 'likeable' team again, not some cobbled together group of 11 individuals that didn't pull their finger out most games. We actually seem to have that now.
Sanchez we’re giving him away... unlike Pogba. That’s Ole choices as far as I can see.
Agree, I would also add that Bruno has replaced our weakest link (Pereira) and has become one of our strongest. That makes a big difference.
Solid defence and a functioning midfield both clicking at the same time.
The answer is Ole. He’s putting players in the first team who are mentally strong and smart footballers. Tactics are generally good. He’s building a really good team here, we need to back him.
It's pretty obvious....
A manager and coaches that knows the club.
A good transfer policy.
A squad that plays for each other not a couple of egos.
We're still a way off, but it feels good.
A manager and coaches that knows the club.
A good transfer policy.
A squad that plays for each other not a couple of egos.
We're still a way off, but it feels good.
When you have players that an hurt the opposition, teams tend to stay a bit further back and take less risks against you. Bruno has introduced this element into our team and in turn because teams have to cover for his dangerous passes and runs, they focus less on attacking us and indirectly making the opposing teams less of a threat to our goal.
Without Bruno, our only attacking threat was from counters and crosses into the box. Now we can create chances even when the play is slow and when teams are very compact.
Without Bruno, our only attacking threat was from counters and crosses into the box. Now we can create chances even when the play is slow and when teams are very compact.
Fighting spirit is back
Bruno was that creative spark in midfield that we have missed since Scholes.
Ole for instilling confidence to players and developing team chemistry.
McTominay rising up as a great midfielder. Fred gaining confidence and keeping it simple.
Harry bringing leadership from the back and solid in defense
Add Rashford up top, and a pacy wide player with better decision making than James and things will be so much better. Lanes will open up through the middle for Bruno,
Above all Confidence!
Ole for instilling confidence to players and developing team chemistry.
McTominay rising up as a great midfielder. Fred gaining confidence and keeping it simple.
Harry bringing leadership from the back and solid in defense
Add Rashford up top, and a pacy wide player with better decision making than James and things will be so much better. Lanes will open up through the middle for Bruno,
Above all Confidence!
Rashford injury forced our hand for Bruno. So yeah good point blessing in disguise.
Giving enough time to Ole to allow him to mould the team
Also we finally have a top class creative player that is not a pure luxury that the entire team needs to accommodate for.
Also we finally have a top class creative player that is not a pure luxury that the entire team needs to accommodate for.
It's all the parts coming together. We have some excellent players. The change in attitude is really shining through. We've made good signings. The is also a clear vision as to what Ole wants this team to be.
No one has said that.
What people have said that they believe he might be the manager we need at this moment.
Brunos arrival coincides with the improvement ! He is replacing the likes of Pereria and lingard In the team. His creative ability, endeavour and spirit has lifted Everyone.
The work Ole is doing at improving players over this season (with the coaches) has been immense. That and some key decisions
Shaw - improved
Fred - greatly improved
McT - continued his trajectory
Rashford - more clinical, better on the left
Martial - better upfront, more goals and assists
Maguire - Made Captain.
Matic - brought back in and is motivated
Ighalo - shrewd signing
Young, Rom, Darmian, Rojo, Smalling, Sanchez - gone
Lingard and Pereira - out of squads
Greenwood - 10 goals, handled brilliantly
Williams - plucked from the reserves.Talent.
Bruno Fecking Fernandez
when you put it all in writing like that, seems like he’s doing a great job to me!
Shaw - improved
Fred - greatly improved
McT - continued his trajectory
Rashford - more clinical, better on the left
Martial - better upfront, more goals and assists
Maguire - Made Captain.
Matic - brought back in and is motivated
Ighalo - shrewd signing
Young, Rom, Darmian, Rojo, Smalling, Sanchez - gone
Lingard and Pereira - out of squads
Greenwood - 10 goals, handled brilliantly
Williams - plucked from the reserves.Talent.
Bruno Fecking Fernandez
when you put it all in writing like that, seems like he’s doing a great job to me!
Ole’s methods are beginning to show. He wants his full backs to play high, he wants to press, he wants to play with inside forwards. His dealings in the transfer window have been nothing short of excellent.
He’s also been excellent this last month or so managing his squad. He’s rotating excellently since the mid season break. With Pogba and Rashford to come back things are looking good again - neither of them 2 should walk back in. I honestly think we’re one or 2 short of challenging next season.
GKs: DDG, Henderson, Romero
RBs: AWB, Dalot
LBs: Shaw, Williams
CBs: Maguire, Lindelof, Bailly, Tuanzebe
CMs: Scott, Fred, Pogba, Matic, Garner
AMs: Bruno, Grealish, Mata, Gomes
Wide Forwards: Rashford, Sancho, James
Centre Forwards: Martial, Greenwood, Ighalo
Sancho, Grealish & Ighalo (permanent) gives us a great squad to work with.
Ship out Pereira, Lingard, Jones
He’s also been excellent this last month or so managing his squad. He’s rotating excellently since the mid season break. With Pogba and Rashford to come back things are looking good again - neither of them 2 should walk back in. I honestly think we’re one or 2 short of challenging next season.
GKs: DDG, Henderson, Romero
RBs: AWB, Dalot
LBs: Shaw, Williams
CBs: Maguire, Lindelof, Bailly, Tuanzebe
CMs: Scott, Fred, Pogba, Matic, Garner
AMs: Bruno, Grealish, Mata, Gomes
Wide Forwards: Rashford, Sancho, James
Centre Forwards: Martial, Greenwood, Ighalo
Sancho, Grealish & Ighalo (permanent) gives us a great squad to work with.
Ship out Pereira, Lingard, Jones
Nemanja Matic having himself somewhat of a renaissance lately. Gone from awful to maestro the last few games.
Apparently Ole is a terrible coach.
We had no midfield. Then Fred and Matic started playing top class, and we got Bruno. Suddenly we have great midfield and that obviously matters
Case in point: today Matic saved us from at least couple clear goals, one following Maguire's horrible mistake. Also when City threw everybody at Bruno, Fred rose to the occasion and started thrashing them so eventually they had to back off Bruno
And yes - Ole is managing all of it so - great job. He is improving whole bunch of players, too. AWB was amazing in the attack today
He did literally have to play them.
I can only second this. Of course Bruno was the catalyst for the resurgence, but look at all the other players. And the signs were already there the first half of the season. To me, the main sign of a good coach is that he improves players (or makes it look that players improve), and Ole has done that. Let's also keep in mind that he had to deal with the same managment as the coaches before and still managed to do so. So Ole all the way!
Until we play a few bad games and everyone is calling again for his head...
Ole has been brilliant with the players, brilliant in the transfer market, and generally very good tactically. I think he's the most exciting manager we've had post-Fergie and is showing a clear vision for the club's future (chose the words "most exciting" very carefully as I know he still hasn't shown enough proof to say he's the unequivocal best)
His big game management also bodes well for us winning a CL under him too
His big game management also bodes well for us winning a CL under him too
Composure at the back since we got Maguire.
Players a lot fitter and improving.
Increase in confidence = belief!
The signing of Fernandes
Ole learning his trade and becoming a more experienced manager
Players a lot fitter and improving.
Increase in confidence = belief!
The signing of Fernandes
Ole learning his trade and becoming a more experienced manager
Anyone else just absolutely delighted that Andreas and Jesse were not in the squad today along with the win?
Things are looking up for United.
Things are looking up for United.