Finishing 3rd, 33 points off PL winners, and no Trophy (yet) is utter rubbish and shouldn't be celebrated...

kafta

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Context is key. Considering the state we were in around December time, and points aside, what rubbish this team was serving up match after match, our final league position is as good as it possibly could've been.

There are so many positives that leave me optimistic for the fist time since our last title.

The forum is a happy place not because of what we have achieved, but because of the direction we seem to be headed in.
 

ivaldo

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Well aren't you a ray of sunshine.....

However it does need pointing out that we have finished on 66pts for 2 seasons running now. Only this year 66pts was enough for 3rd (thankfully) where last season it wasn't. Nearly £200m invested and we didn't earn a single more point. That's got to change next season. 75-80pts should be the minimum we will accept.
Comparing points between seasons isn't particularly productive if you ask me. There are so many variables in play that our finishing position is the only real yard stick we should be using.

This was clearly a transition season, so to improve upon last year, along with creating an incredibly exciting foundation to build upon is a cause for optimism.
 

cyberman

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We definitely did well to finish 3rd but I find the celebrations a bit baffling to be fair. We used to laugh at Arsenal and now look at us...
So you wont celebrate the day Sancho signs for us?
This is basically what the celebrations are for, it puts us in an amazing spot to strengthen while other clubs are feeling the pinch.
It was an opportunity not to be missed. Missing out on top 4 could have really set us back.
 

ThinkTank@Cafe

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I'm reading lots of posters essentially celebrating what has been one of the crappest seasons overall in years, and it's hypocritical imo as well as a little pathetic.

This has been a fecking crap season, dippers winning the PL, no trophies and with Utd closer in points to relegation zone than to the top of the PL.

I've seen multiple posters claim this is their favourite season post Fergie (!!??). Since Fergie retired we've...

Finished 2nd - 19 points off winning the PL

Won an FA Cup

Won the Europa League

Won the League Cup

How the feck is finishing 3rd, no trophy, 33 points off the top, 32 points off the relegation zone now something to be fecking celebrated?

Ole should no doubt keep the job after securing CL footy, but please, please don't put this manager's plight above that of Utd itself, because it's an easy slide into mediocrity.

There are plus points about this season - few decent signings, one really special signing, more goals - but there's nothing that any fan of Man Utd should be actively celebrating.

It was a crap season, and the attitude should be, 'must do better next time', not 'that'll do', and certainly not, 'yay, what an achievement!'.
I love my kids, my wife, my relatives, friends, and United. I don’t see United as some sort of factory which must produce a sense of satisfaction in my life. Loving is giving something Without asking for return in the first place. The lads, the manager, staff accomplished a lot in this season. No point in listing their achievements in this season here. great job done, incredible progress. And I’m so happy for them, for myself because I’m a part of the community. Don’t mind a little celebration. Some posters had a bottle of wine, sone of us shared emotions with family. Life is about these little happy moments.

Mentoring people on how, what and when they should celebrate...Who are you? Tired of you arrogant, depressive, toxic beings. Go support Liverpool if you want to be always a Winner fan.Next year, you’ll be back here knocking at the door.
 

MartinRed

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I'm reading lots of posters essentially celebrating what has been one of the crappest seasons overall in years, and it's hypocritical imo as well as a little pathetic.

This has been a fecking crap season, dippers winning the PL, no trophies and with Utd closer in points to relegation zone than to the top of the PL.

I've seen multiple posters claim this is their favourite season post Fergie (!!??). Since Fergie retired we've...

Finished 2nd - 19 points off winning the PL

Won an FA Cup

Won the Europa League

Won the League Cup

How the feck is finishing 3rd, no trophy, 33 points off the top, 32 points off the relegation zone now something to be fecking celebrated?

Ole should no doubt keep the job after securing CL footy, but please, please don't put this manager's plight above that of Utd itself, because it's an easy slide into mediocrity.

There are plus points about this season - few decent signings, one really special signing, more goals - but there's nothing that any fan of Man Utd should be actively celebrating.

It was a crap season, and the attitude should be, 'must do better next time', not 'that'll do', and certainly not, 'yay, what an achievement!'.
What we should put above?Mourinho by your opinion probably?
 

buckooo1978

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I think this season needs to be viewed in the context

Last Summer I felt Solskjaer should walk away from the job before a ball was kicked. He was going into the season with a really under-equipped squad and was under real pressure from the word go. I felt the Glazers/Woodward were taking advantage of the fans emotional attachment to Ole and throwing him under the bus when we got rid of so many players and went into a season with Rashford, Martial, James, 17 year old Greenwood as our attacking options - Pogba wanted to leave and our Number 10 options were Lingard/Pereira. And, as expected we were piss poor and inconsistent for months on end. I'm pretty sure we had a record breaking bad start to the season in terms of points didn't we.

Fernandes joined at the tail end of January and our football has improved drastically. We've seen real positivity around the team and the mood is completely changed. I think that signing gave us hope. To make up 18 points on a functionally very good Leicester side is a real achievement given how poor and disjointed we were in the first half of this season and under Jose beforehand. Getting top 4 has been a really important experience for our young squad who've had to play through the fatigue barrier, under the pressure of having to win every game. A great experience for a young United team who've been the best in the country post-lockdown.

We're now at a pivotal point where good smart investment could have us cement our top 4 position and move towards challenging Liverpool who, in truth are miles ahead of us. Their front 3 are at the tail end of their 20s and they've been very fortunate with injuries yet again. My aim next year would be to get much closer to them - not sure we are ready to properly challenge though. It really depends on transfers and on how this Liverpool side can maintain consistency and keep key players fit.

I didn't celebrate top 4 like a trophy but it is far more important than a league cup or FA cup in terms of getting back to competing. Under Glazernomics our budget is tightly allocated - CL will have us shopping for the best players rather than picking scraps or players more motivated by money than playing at the top level.

I'm delighted today but I wouldn't say I've seen anyone properly 'celebrating'. To get so triggered over United fans enjoying the achievement - and in context it is a real achievement - I'd say the OP is the one with the issue
 

Rhyme Animal

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Nonchalantly scoring the winner...
I love my kids, my wife, my relatives, friends, and United. I don’t see United as some sort of factory which must produce a sense of satisfaction in my life. Loving is giving something Without asking for return in the first place. The lads, the manager, staff accomplished a lot in this season. No point in listing their achievements in this season here. great job done, incredible progress. And I’m so happy for them, for myself because I’m a part of the community. Don’t mind a little celebration. Some posters had a bottle of wine, sone of us shared emotions with family. Life is about these little happy moments.

Mentoring people on how, what and when they should celebrate...Who are you? Tired of you arrogant, depressive, toxic beings. Go support Liverpool if you want to be always a Winner fan.Next year, you’ll be back here knocking at the door.
And yet... there you are, telling me what to celebrate. And also personally insulting me.

The irony.
 

mu4c_20le

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Top red. We need more fans like OP lest the standards start slipping again. From the looks of this place you'd think we're supporting bloody Arsenal at times.
 

charlenefan

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I'm reading lots of posters essentially celebrating what has been one of the crappest seasons overall in years, and it's hypocritical imo as well as a little pathetic.

This has been a fecking crap season, dippers winning the PL, no trophies and with Utd closer in points to relegation zone than to the top of the PL.

I've seen multiple posters claim this is their favourite season post Fergie (!!??). Since Fergie retired we've...

Finished 2nd - 19 points off winning the PL

Won an FA Cup

Won the Europa League

Won the League Cup

How the feck is finishing 3rd, no trophy, 33 points off the top, 32 points off the relegation zone now something to be fecking celebrated?

Ole should no doubt keep the job after securing CL footy, but please, please don't put this manager's plight above that of Utd itself, because it's an easy slide into mediocrity.

There are plus points about this season - few decent signings, one really special signing, more goals - but there's nothing that any fan of Man Utd should be actively celebrating.

It was a crap season, and the attitude should be, 'must do better next time', not 'that'll do', and certainly not, 'yay, what an achievement!'.
It bet you're the life and soul at parties
 

pcaming

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I'm not sure I've seen anyone really "celebrating". I've seen a few mug people off chelsea and arsenal supporters on social media a bit, but that's just bantz more than anything. No one as far as I can see is really celebrating, it's more just happy to have not stumbled at the finish line.
 

Damien

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Mostly on defence. We conceded 18 fewer goals this season, scored 1 more and that is with:
  • Pogba missing 22 league games through injury (39 in all competitions)
  • Rashford missing 7 league games through injury (14 in all competitions)
  • Martial missing 6 league games through injury (10+ in all competitions)
Look at the team we were forced to field in the 1:0 loss away to Newcastle, for example:

De Gea

Dalot Tuanzebe Maguire Young
McTominay Fred Pereira
Mata
James Rashford​

What has been highlighted this season is our lack of squad depth, and we did well to finish where we are with three of our most important players missing a significant chunk of the season.
Results in league games without both Pogba and Martial:
Man Utd 1:0 Leicester
West Ham 2:0 Man Utd
Newcastle 1:0 Man Utd

Man Utd 2:1 Spurs

Results in league games without both Pogba and Rashford:
Liverpool 2:0 Man Utd
Man Utd 0:2 Burnley

---- signed Bruno Fernandes here
Man Utd 0:0 Wolves
Chelsea 0:2 Man Utd
Man Utd 3:0 Watford

Everton 1:1 Man Utd
Man Utd 2:0 Man City

We lost eight games in the league in total, and four of them were without two of our best players.
 

ThinkTank@Cafe

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And yet... there you are, telling me what to celebrate. And also personally insulting me.

The irony.
You started The thread by calling celebrations pathetic and hypocritical. Isn’t it an insult. ”crappy season” - not your words? People Got job done MUCH better than yourself expected (as @ivaldo pointed out) for God sake. there is no logic in what you say, only toxicity, negative agenda.

That “post, not a poster” loophole you are using, that is pathetic.
 

Kostov

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I get your points, I still think we were steady and consistent compared to Leicester and Chelsea. They blew their leads over us. I'm not concerned that we were a bit shaky in our last couple of games, because all teams are when they're near their objective.
Feck Leicester and Chelsea mate, they were even worse than us, and we had Rashford and Pogba out with bad injuries on top of that. We should not look at them but Liverpool, which is the point of this thread. And that last sentence makes sense to be fair, but the manner in what we achieved 3rd was the most uncertain one.

It's relative to the season and teams around you.

That Mourinho points total would have finished where this year? Yeah, third, and still 18 points off winning the title.

I don't see much point in comparing other season's points totals and different things spur you on.

The only thing about points I'd bother discussing now is that you need 90 if you're gonna be anywhere near winning the title these days. It's clear that we aren't going to get that without 3-4 signings who are going to be the main ones starting games / being the most-used subs (even then it might not be enough IMO, as we need to improve significantly and still probably need Liverpool & City to drop off a bit at the same time).
I agree completely and I already explained that it's just for context, we were very bad at times this year.
 

BlueHaze

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Just so you know I basically agree with everything you said but the reason people are celebrating is because we were out for the counting when it came to CL qualification in December.

We were pretty much done for and most of the fanbase were already looking ahead to next season but then in January when Bruno came our turnaround in form was absolutely remarkable and so was Leicesters collapse tbf which was also a key to us finishing 3rd.

With these things considered it's completely natural majority of our supporters are satisfied and rightly so. Considering what could have happened we should be delighted this group qualified for CL because quite frankly they looked disastrous many times during the season.

Also in terms of revenue yesterdays result was massive and hopefully we are now a more attractive destination to top talents with us being able to offer CL footie. No excuses now, they need to bring in Sancho or I'll be pissed. This is just my take on it.
 

DRJosh

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Surely with everything that's going on in the world, one could be forgiven to cherish this modest but significant achievement?

This season was heavily disrupted and it would take a heart hearted rock of a soul to refrain from any celebration. So if we're closer to relegation than the top, then all 17 other teams below us are even closer.

Hard work takes time to pay dividends. Let that sink in. Enjoying the journey doesn't mean compromising on our standards. The sooner we move on from this sort of archaic thinking the better.
 

Red Company

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I'm reading lots of posters essentially celebrating what has been one of the crappest seasons overall in years, and it's hypocritical imo as well as a little pathetic.

This has been a fecking crap season, dippers winning the PL, no trophies and with Utd closer in points to relegation zone than to the top of the PL.

I've seen multiple posters claim this is their favourite season post Fergie (!!??). Since Fergie retired we've...

Finished 2nd - 19 points off winning the PL

Won an FA Cup

Won the Europa League

Won the League Cup

How the feck is finishing 3rd, no trophy, 33 points off the top, 32 points off the relegation zone now something to be fecking celebrated?

Ole should no doubt keep the job after securing CL footy, but please, please don't put this manager's plight above that of Utd itself, because it's an easy slide into mediocrity.

There are plus points about this season - few decent signings, one really special signing, more goals - but there's nothing that any fan of Man Utd should be actively celebrating.

It was a crap season, and the attitude should be, 'must do better next time', not 'that'll do', and certainly not, 'yay, what an achievement!'.
The timing of this post couldn’t be any worse! This is the time to be optimistic and positive about the future!

And why on earth would you assume all that? Our attitude is celebratory because of the journey. Obviously we all want to be back at the top. But if I asked you last December what was your expected finish for this season, you probably wouldn’t even say top 4, let alone 3rd
There are lots of posters on here discrediting that 2nd place finish under Mourinho and lambast him because we finished 19 points behind. With this same points tally we would have finished 6th that year.
Im one of those posters but you forgot to mention WHY we discredit that season & finish. The football being played was horrible.
Furthermore, you should look at what our points tally is was in December and what our projected season total was and then compare it to 66. You might be a tad bit surprised.

Also, if Mourinho had the squad that we had this season along with the injuries, and add to that his playing style, I doubt we’d even finish at 66 this season.

Context, and perspective, my friend. Try looking at situations with a non-biased approach.
I've enjoyed it more than the 2nd place mainly because:

1. Average age of 24
2. Did it with the best players unavailable big parts of the season (Rashford, Martial, Pogba and Bruno)
Exactly! Great post! This is what I meant by context and perspective.
Solksjaer said that almost immediately after the game.

Whats with this weird obsession of slating supporters for being happy about something? We had a terrible start to the season, to qualify for the Champions League from where we were at Christmas is miraculous and has come from us being the best team in the league over the final third of the season. The improvement since the end of January, both statistically and from actually using your eyes, is remarkable and Ole deserves a lot of credit for that.

No one is slating Chelsea fans for being buzzing about their season and they've actually gone backwards this season, less wins, more defeats, 6 less points, 3rd to 4th. We've jumped from 6th to 3rd in a season and done the double over the teams around us - City (2nd), Chelsea (4th), Leicester (5th). If we can carry the consistency we've built from February onwards and bring in 3/4 players to improve the team and squad then I see no reason why we can't look back on this season and be happy with the turnaround - ultimately finishing in that top 4 was imperative to bring in the players Ole might want so it is a good achievement.
Great post!
 

Irrational.

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I see what OP is saying.

Do we think City fans are celebrating second? Are they feck.

As a club we should have loftier ambitions than scraping into the CL.

The only positive is that the signs of progression are there, and had anyone offered us fourth, let alone third when we were losing to the likes of West Ham and Bournemouth, we'd have snapped their hand off.

So yes, it's looking promising but let's not get too giddy and become the next Arsenal. A lot more work to be done next season and hopefully we can continue to improve.
 

ThinkTank@Cafe

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I'm not sure I've seen anyone really "celebrating". I've seen a few mug people off chelsea and arsenal supporters on social media a bit, but that's just bantz more than anything. No one as far as I can see is really celebrating, it's more just happy to have not stumbled at the finish line.
There is a thread called “Celebrations” started by me. he doesn’t like it, I guess.
 

SuperiorXI

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I'm glad we're 3rd considering where we were. Not celebrating and not happy when looking at the bigger picture. Next season has to see massive improvement, we can't be so far away from our rivals.
 

Betson

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I agree with OP re the celebrating of finishing 4th, finishing 4th should be a relief not a celebration for a big club like Utd.

That was my feeling yesterday , I certainly was not jumping around the place , just relieved that we did not mess it up.

But it does show just how far we have free fallen in the last 7 years and how low our bar of expectation is right now.

In relative terms this is a better season than the last few and that has to be welcomed but we are coming for a very low base of achievement.

But you have to start climbing back from somewhere and hopefully that has started now , but it should never be acceptable or cause for celebration when you finish 30 odd pts off the top.
 

Devil may care

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I don't think most were celebrating, we were just relieved we got that 3rd spot done, meaning CL football and hopefully an easier road to recruitment in the window, nothing more than that.
 

Rhyme Animal

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Nonchalantly scoring the winner...
You started The thread by calling celebrations pathetic and hypocritical. Isn’t it an insult. ”crappy season” - not your words? People Got job done MUCH better than yourself expected (as @ivaldo pointed out) for God sake. there is no logic in what you say, only toxicity, negative agenda.

That “post, not a poster” loophole you are using, that is pathetic.
It's not a loophole, sweety, it's a rule.

Now it's safe to say OP is really pathetic. End of story.
Predicting that we wouldn't get Top 4 (which I didn't actually remember) doesn't change my opinion. I'm glad I was wrong, but many others also predicted that... it doesn't make them (or me) less of a fan of Utd, as you seem to be attempting to imply.

Predicting that doesn't alter my points in OP, and, indeed, there will be many who also predicted the same but are now 'celebrating' the Top 4 finish - that doesn't make them hypocrites.

I don't think Utd will ever lift a PL or CL under Woodward's guidance, but I'll gladly be wrong!
 

IAmAWinner

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Wasn't nervous at all yesterday. I mean, if we lose to a depleted Leicester side, then we don't deserve to go head to head against Barcelona or Bayern. And we bottled the FA cup massively. If we win the Europa though, I'd say it has been a decent enough season, which we can build on next year. Next season I expect a concrete title challenge.
 

ThinkTank@Cafe

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I see what OP is saying.

Do we think City fans are celebrating second? Are they feck.

As a club we should have loftier ambitions than scraping into the CL.

The only positive is that the signs of progression are there, and had anyone offered us fourth, let alone third when we were losing to the likes of West Ham and Bournemouth, we'd have snapped their hand off.

So yes, it's looking promising but let's not get too giddy and become the next Arsenal. A lot more work to be done next season and hopefully we can continue to improve.
I don’t see the logic of referring to Arsenal or Liverpool, or City. We are Manchester United, and we live our own life. Let them do whatever they do. We are not celebrating the 3rd place as you try to paint. We are happy for the team, we are celebrating the first season of the growing power, the progress, development. We will back on top in no time. I believed in that since my first post here. I could be wrong but so far I am not.
 

Zlatan 7

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Pathetic reply, as standard.

Bitterness? Yeah, I'm bitter about where this club has fallen to under Woodward, absolutely. I truly am.

Superiority Complex? United do have superior means to every club in the PL bar one. United fans should expect more than this.

200m was spent in the Summer and the club has finished 2 points more than Moyes season FFS. There's your context.



Attack the post, not the poster. I'm sure it makes you feel good, but it's a no no ;)
You’ve answered a few posts but I’m yet to see you answer where these celebrations are?
It was far from arsenal, The players just finished and shook hands and there a mass outpouring of relief from fans and some joy and optimism for the future.

when the players and fans genuinely start jumping around and celebrating getting top four, then I’d agree with you.
 

Rhyme Animal

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Nonchalantly scoring the winner...
I see what OP is saying.

Do we think City fans are celebrating second? Are they feck.

As a club we should have loftier ambitions than scraping into the CL.

The only positive is that the signs of progression are there, and had anyone offered us fourth, let alone third when we were losing to the likes of West Ham and Bournemouth, we'd have snapped their hand off.

So yes, it's looking promising but let's not get too giddy and become the next Arsenal. A lot more work to be done next season and hopefully we can continue to improve.
I agree with OP re the celebrating of finishing 4th, finishing 4th should be a relief not a celebration for a big club like Utd.

That was my feeling yesterday , I certainly was not jumping around the place , just relieved that we did not mess it up.

But it does show just how far we have free fallen in the last 7 years and how low our bar of expectation is right now.

In relative terms this is a better season than the last few and that has to be welcomed but we are coming for a very low base of achievement.

But you have to start climbing back from somewhere and hopefully that has started now , but it should never be acceptable or cause for celebration when you finish 30 odd pts off the top.
Yeah, absolute sense, thank you.

Now this... THIS IS FUNNY!
 

ThinkTank@Cafe

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It's not a loophole, sweety, it's a rule.



Predicting that we wouldn't get Top 4 (which I didn't actually remember) doesn't change my opinion. I'm glad I was wrong, but many others also predicted that... it doesn't make them (or me) less of a fan of Utd, as you seem to be attempting to imply.

Predicting that doesn't alter my points in OP, and, indeed, there will be many who also predicted the same but are now 'celebrating' the Top 4 finish - that doesn't make them hypocrites.

I don't think Utd will ever lift a PL or CL under Woodward's guidance, but I'll gladly be wrong!
OMG