Samid
He's no Bilal Ilyas Jhandir
Your wish was granted, he managed to zombify the team.When they left, I felt really really bad. And I hoped we could turn out to be a LVG-designed team...
Your wish was granted, he managed to zombify the team.When they left, I felt really really bad. And I hoped we could turn out to be a LVG-designed team...
Lingard's still zombying around ffs.Your wish was granted, he managed to zombify the team.
I agree ref Jones. It’s a shame he will be remembered as a meme. Like you say, he had everything to be a great CB, and I’ve not seen anyone at aged 19 (certainly not in the PL), who has been a better prospect since.Jones had everything required of a great centre back or defensive midfielder but he was very unlucky with injuries in his early days with us, but later he became accident prone on the pitch and made some horrendous mistakes, especially when paired with Smalling who, with other partners was very good. As for Moyes, I cant really believe Fergie let us be saddled with him....they must have been at the same Hogmannay party lol!
Matt Judge.Grtat news as he really wasnt good enough. Should have let Lingard go as well instead of extending. Periera and Jones need to be persuaded to go as well. Still cant get my head around who gave Jones a 5 year contract
Everyone on your Phase 1 needs to go. Disagree with your Phase 2. Dalot needs to go, and frankly should be phase one. If Milan or anyone else offered money for him in Jan he should be gone.Phase one
Romero
J. Pereira
Rojo
Jones
Fosu-Mensah
A.Pereira
Lingard
Ighalo
Phase two
Dalot
Williams
Mata?
It is crazy that he’s been here that long.And better than many of his signings. We still can’t get rid of Rojo, 7 years later.
It's only been a year that we've got cohesive squad without too much tinkering. We used to start Mata, Pereira and Lingard this time last year.Ole has done pretty well in building up the current squad, it's no doubt for me our best since Fergie retired and by far better than the squad that finished 2nd 3 years ago.
But it's now really the time this squad wins something. They are good enough to defeat big teams, challenge for the league and progress in the cups. The only thing remaining is them winning something big.
Well, definitely not a team of zombies, because it would at least frighten the opponents. It’s more like a team of the wood-made chess pieces. Some can only move one step forward each time. Some are only allowed to move in diagonal...Your wish was granted, he managed to zombify the team.
Isn't Andreas on loan to Lazio with obligation to buy?Phase one
Romero
J. Pereira
Rojo
Jones
Fosu-Mensah
A.Pereira
Lingard
Ighalo
Phase two
Dalot
Williams
Mata?
I honestly don't know what does "start all over" mean. Do people think that if say one manager leaves and the next arrives, he has to throw everything the previous one did out of the window before starting his job? I'm not saying Ole should leave (obviously not, he's done well at the moment and our comeback since the CL exit has been great) but I'm just talking in perspective. Things don't work like this in any club at all. The current squad should be built in a way that would work under any manager, the current or any upcoming one. That's the basis big clubs work on.It's only been a year that we've got cohesive squad without too much tinkering. We used to start Mata, Pereira and Lingard this time last year.
He's still ensembleing the squad and we're far from finished article. We have one of the youngest squads in the league and most of our oldest players are on their last legs. Lots of our players are still green and are expected to ripen in the next two years.
It is crucial that we stick with what we're doing now as we're changing for the better and we mustn't stop this and start all over as that would probably waste so much potential that this squad has.
If we try clear more of fringe players in the next couple of windows and if we manage to reinforce properly and our young players enter their prime that's our best chance of winning something and making a comeback as a club.
We have to stay patient with Ole and entourage.
Yeah, Ole can be the guy who gets us into a position to hire the next manager and there's no shame in that. Depends on who's available and if their tactics fit the squad. And Ole could get a job running things or leave if he likes, could always bring him back honestly I think if we say hired Nagelsmann this summer, Ole would get a decent but not top top job, like maybe what Newcastle or maybe Leicester if they lose Rodgers or a 5th-7th placed team in Germany or like Celtic?I honestly don't know what does "start all over" mean. Do people think that if say one manager leaves and the next arrives, he has to throw everything the previous one did out of the window before starting his job? I'm not saying Ole should leave (obviously not, he's done well at the moment and our comeback since the CL exit has been great) but I'm just talking in perspective. Things don't work like this in any club at all. The current squad should be built in a way that would work under any manager, the current or any upcoming one. That's the basis big clubs work on.
IMO we are pretty much finished article apart from one or two players. Most of the squad are either in their prime or pretty close to approach it. If you ask me what's the perfect time for these players to win something, I would say now and within the next 2 years max. They are showing it already, considering that we have reached a lot of semi finals and are currently on a possible title run. They are just missing one thing and that's taking one step forward to win it all.
I feel like some are afraid to say that we are finally good enough for a title challenge and are trying to control expectations so that they aren't disappointed if something went south. We absolutely are and are already showing it. The current squad is good enough to challenge for the big prizes.
That is a really really interesting idea. Some people question his tactics on the pitch but he seems to be helping to steer the club in a much healthier direction.Still think that OGS would make a good Director of Football.
There's an option to buy, not an obligation. And from what I've heard things haven't gone great for him there.Isn't Andreas on loan to Lazio with obligation to buy?
The issue here for me is still squad depth. We are one injury away (Bruno or Rashford) from having a team devoid of a spark or any creativity. How many of the goals this season have come through one of those two scoring or assisting? IMO we need to strengthen in the summer with a RW (if pellestri/Diallo don’t step up by then), a “jack grealish” type player and a proper DM to remove the dependency on two makeshift DMs, McT and Fred, in every game. Essentially replace Pogba with quality if he goes and get a proper replacement for Matic in the mould of Rodri, Busquets etcI honestly don't know what does "start all over" mean. Do people think that if say one manager leaves and the next arrives, he has to throw everything the previous one did out of the window before starting his job? I'm not saying Ole should leave (obviously not, he's done well at the moment and our comeback since the CL exit has been great) but I'm just talking in perspective. Things don't work like this in any club at all. The current squad should be built in a way that would work under any manager, the current or any upcoming one. That's the basis big clubs work on.
IMO we are pretty much finished article apart from one or two players. Most of the squad are either in their prime or pretty close to approach it. If you ask me what's the perfect time for these players to win something, I would say now and within the next 2 years max. They are showing it already, considering that we have reached a lot of semi finals and are currently on a possible title run. They are just missing one thing and that's taking one step forward to win it all.
I feel like some are afraid to say that we are finally good enough for a title challenge and are trying to control expectations so that they aren't disappointed if something went south. We absolutely are and are already showing it. The current squad is good enough to challenge for the big prizes.
He is and regardless of any question marks over his overall management Incan only say that in this respect he’s done and seems to be doing an exemplary job. We have a completely renovated team. Still a bit of work to do but so much better than the jumble of Moyes, LVG and Jose he inherited.He’s doing what Jose and LVG were too short term to attempt.
I’d argue phase one was Smalling, Lukaku, Sanchez, Young, Darmian, Valencia and Fellaini.Phase one
Romero
J. Pereira
Rojo
Jones
Fosu-Mensah
A.Pereira
Lingard
Ighalo
Phase two
Dalot
Williams
Mata?
Van Gaal got rid of loads of players - Rafael, Nani, Evans, Welbeck... Unfortunately he got rid of ones who were better than some of the ones he kept.
I wouldn’t class what Van Gaal did as the same as what Ole is doing. To me he just seemed like a mad bastard with a scatter gun approach to transfers. There was no cohesion or planning to it. He’d sign players we didn’t really need like Falcao and end up playing with a top heavy team just to fit him in. We used to have Di Maria, Rooney, Falcao and Van Persie all on the pitch at once. Don’t get me wrong, it was hilarious chaos and fun while it lasted, especially compared to the following year when he inexplicably decided he didn’t actually like attacking that much after all. But there’s no way it was good for the club long term.Maybe go Google who those managers removed. Your talking like they kept everyone. I mean LVG had a big clear out.
I agree with this. And this resulted in times with Fellaini up top, or DiMaria up top despite his best performances coming in midfield, then planning pre-season with a 352 and then changing it after one result. Or finally stumbling into a 433 which helped us secure CL to then start the next season going for a 4231 (which worked when he was rotating carrick and basty, then for some mad reason decided to play them both vs arsenal to press high).I wouldn’t class what Van Gaal did as the same as what Ole is doing. To me he just seemed like a mad bastard with a scatter gun approach to transfers. There was no cohesion or planning to it. He’d sign players we didn’t really need like Falcao and end up playing with a top heavy team just to fit him in. We used to have Di Maria, Rooney, Falcao and Van Persie all on the pitch at once. Don’t get me wrong, it was hilarious chaos and fun while it lasted, especially compared to the following year when he inexplicably decided he didn’t actually like attacking that much after all. But there’s no way it was good for the club long term.
LVG was a bit like Sven when he managed England - didn’t seem to know the players at all.I wouldn’t class what Van Gaal did as the same as what Ole is doing. To me he just seemed like a mad bastard with a scatter gun approach to transfers. There was no cohesion or planning to it. He’d sign players we didn’t really need like Falcao and end up playing with a top heavy team just to fit him in. We used to have Di Maria, Rooney, Falcao and Van Persie all on the pitch at once. Don’t get me wrong, it was hilarious chaos and fun while it lasted, especially compared to the following year when he inexplicably decided he didn’t actually like attacking that much after all. But there’s no way it was good for the club long term.
When you look at some of his signings they just appear a bit all over the place. Replacing Rafael with Darmian because he hates Brazilians, signing two goalkeepers only to fall out with one of them publicly and never play him, signing Rojo purely because he’s left footed...it was all just weird. Add to this the fact that he broke up the title winning team way too quickly, I mean I’ve covered Rafael, he also sold Evans, Kagawa, Nani, Hernandez, Welbeck, Fletcher and let Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra leave in the same summer. It was just mental that he didn’t even try to keep some cohesion.
Contrast this with Ole who won’t swap out more than 20% per summer, actually values the character of players he’s bringing in and wants to foster a squad that grows together and has chemistry, unlike just plonking 11 individuals on a pitch together and hoping for the best.
I’d say what Ole is doing is far healthier for the club long term than what LVG did, the effects of which Ole is still trying to fix right now.
No. There is no obligation to buy. Dont think he has been picked that many times either. Another waste of space given a new 4+1 year contract in 2019. Watch them also add on the other year.Isn't Andreas on loan to Lazio with obligation to buy?
I dont think we are close to the finished article. We are a one player team and if anything happened to Bruno we would be a 5-8th place team again. You only need to look at the West Ham game first half. Hes now tiring and not putting in the performances and this has shown over the last 3 games.I honestly don't know what does "start all over" mean. Do people think that if say one manager leaves and the next arrives, he has to throw everything the previous one did out of the window before starting his job? I'm not saying Ole should leave (obviously not, he's done well at the moment and our comeback since the CL exit has been great) but I'm just talking in perspective. Things don't work like this in any club at all. The current squad should be built in a way that would work under any manager, the current or any upcoming one. That's the basis big clubs work on.
IMO we are pretty much finished article apart from one or two players. Most of the squad are either in their prime or pretty close to approach it. If you ask me what's the perfect time for these players to win something, I would say now and within the next 2 years max. They are showing it already, considering that we have reached a lot of semi finals and are currently on a possible title run. They are just missing one thing and that's taking one step forward to win it all.
I feel like some are afraid to say that we are finally good enough for a title challenge and are trying to control expectations so that they aren't disappointed if something went south. We absolutely are and are already showing it. The current squad is good enough to challenge for the big prizes.
We’re far from a one player team. Bruno’s stats are great but the reality is a lot of his assists are square passes that aren’t even great chances, or a really good pass against Villa that Rashford chased after....but you wouldn’t expect it to lead to a goal. On top of that we get a lot of penalties so he has scored a lot of goals....but he isn’t putting players through one on one constantly or scoring winning goals from open play week on week. Rashford has had a big impact this season....McT had a massive impact in the Leeds game, Pogba had a big impact in the Villa game, Cavani in the Southampton game etc. Bruno is getting the headlines but in truth it’s a miriad of players who are helping us win games. Bruno would be the biggest loss though, but not the be all and end all as the last few games have shown. His overall performances this season haven’t been great over 90 mins.I dont think we are close to the finished article. We are a one player team and if anything happened to Bruno we would be a 5-8th place team again. You only need to look at the West Ham game first half. Hes now tiring and not putting in the performances and this has shown over the last 3 games.
We had a flukey win over Wanderers, a dubious penalty against the Villa and were put to bed by City.
We are better than this time last season as Ole said, but we still need a young striker as Martial is nowhere near good enough, still need a RW and were hoping Diallo or Pelestri will come good for that. Need a proper DM as neither Fred or McTom can play the role. RB and CB also need improving. We have a very good technical midfielder who will turn to shit as Ole doesnt play him.
We started to play a lot better after he arrived. You say a lot of his assists are square passes , but they aint. He has had a good mixture if you look overall. His goals without the pens are more than all the other midfielders put together. Watch the West Ham game and see the difference between first half and after he came on. It was if a light switch had been turned on. We can miss any other player and there wouldnt be much difference. We cant miss him.We’re far from a one player team. Bruno’s stats are great but the reality is a lot of his assists are square passes that aren’t even great chances, or a really good pass against Villa that Rashford chased after....but you wouldn’t expect it to lead to a goal. On top of that we get a lot of penalties so he has scored a lot of goals....but he isn’t putting players through one on one constantly or scoring winning goals from open play week on week. Rashford has had a big impact this season....McT had a massive impact in the Leeds game, Pogba had a big impact in the Villa game, Cavani in the Southampton game etc. Bruno is getting the headlines but in truth it’s a miriad of players who are helping us win games. Bruno would be the biggest loss though, but not the be all and end all as the last few games have shown. His overall performances this season haven’t been great over 90 mins.
Why are you crossing players off when nobody has left yet?Phase one
Romero
J. Pereira
Rojo
Jones
Fosu-Mensah
A.Pereira
Lingard
Ighalo
Phase two
Dalot
Williams
Mata?
Absolutely. And phase one was perfect. There is only an argument for Smalling to have stayed. The rest were/are average at best.I’d argue phase one was Smalling, Lukaku, Sanchez, Young, Darmian, Valencia and Fellaini.
He had a plan and was ruthless in what he wanted. I don’t see what was so mad about it. He wasn’t transparent either he explained every position... like having too many number 10’s.I wouldn’t class what Van Gaal did as the same as what Ole is doing. To me he just seemed like a mad bastard with a scatter gun approach to transfers. There was no cohesion or planning to it. He’d sign players we didn’t really need like Falcao and end up playing with a top heavy team just to fit him in. We used to have Di Maria, Rooney, Falcao and Van Persie all on the pitch at once. Don’t get me wrong, it was hilarious chaos and fun while it lasted, especially compared to the following year when he inexplicably decided he didn’t actually like attacking that much after all. But there’s no way it was good for the club long term.
When you look at some of his signings they just appear a bit all over the place. Replacing Rafael with Darmian because he hates Brazilians, signing two goalkeepers only to fall out with one of them publicly and never play him, signing Rojo purely because he’s left footed...it was all just weird. Add to this the fact that he broke up the title winning team way too quickly, I mean I’ve covered Rafael, he also sold Evans, Kagawa, Nani, Hernandez, Welbeck, Fletcher and let Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra leave in the same summer. It was just mental that he didn’t even try to keep some cohesion.
Contrast this with Ole who won’t swap out more than 20% per summer, actually values the character of players he’s bringing in and wants to foster a squad that grows together and has chemistry, unlike just plonking 11 individuals on a pitch together and hoping for the best.
I’d say what Ole is doing is far healthier for the club long term than what LVG did, the effects of which Ole is still trying to fix right now.
Don’t forget Fergie once claimed Dong Fangzhoo the next Batistuta!It really does beggar belief how Jones is still on our books, he was given a new contract about 18 months ago, why? Jones has never fulfilled the promise Fergie saw in him; I believe Fergie once claimed Jones could be our best player since Duncan Edwards! Usually Fergie was spot on with his player assessments, but he must have come out with that the morning after, probably the morning after Hogmannay!
I hear this a lot and really dont get. What skills has he shown that would make him suited to a DOF role?That is a really really interesting idea. Some people question his tactics on the pitch but he seems to be helping to steer the club in a much healthier direction.
AgreedLingard, Jones and Pereira still need to leave. Those three I want out the most
It just means clarity - we know they leave, confirmed by OleWhy are you crossing players off when nobody has left yet?
Brilliant post.I wouldn’t class what Van Gaal did as the same as what Ole is doing. To me he just seemed like a mad bastard with a scatter gun approach to transfers. There was no cohesion or planning to it. He’d sign players we didn’t really need like Falcao and end up playing with a top heavy team just to fit him in. We used to have Di Maria, Rooney, Falcao and Van Persie all on the pitch at once. Don’t get me wrong, it was hilarious chaos and fun while it lasted, especially compared to the following year when he inexplicably decided he didn’t actually like attacking that much after all. But there’s no way it was good for the club long term.
When you look at some of his signings they just appear a bit all over the place. Replacing Rafael with Darmian because he hates Brazilians, signing two goalkeepers only to fall out with one of them publicly and never play him, signing Rojo purely because he’s left footed...it was all just weird. Add to this the fact that he broke up the title winning team way too quickly, I mean I’ve covered Rafael, he also sold Evans, Kagawa, Nani, Hernandez, Welbeck, Fletcher and let Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra leave in the same summer. It was just mental that he didn’t even try to keep some cohesion.
Contrast this with Ole who won’t swap out more than 20% per summer, actually values the character of players he’s bringing in and wants to foster a squad that grows together and has chemistry, unlike just plonking 11 individuals on a pitch together and hoping for the best.
I’d say what Ole is doing is far healthier for the club long term than what LVG did, the effects of which Ole is still trying to fix right now.
He said it in the post-match interview after we clinched number 20 with the 3-0 win against Villa. It was odd even then, though Jones did play in that game and he was only 21 at the time.It really does beggar belief how Jones is still on our books, he was given a new contract about 18 months ago, why? Jones has never fulfilled the promise Fergie saw in him; I believe Fergie once claimed Jones could be our best player since Duncan Edwards! Usually Fergie was spot on with his player assessments, but he must have come out with that the morning after, probably the morning after Hogmannay!
He’s made a difference for sure, I mean he replaced Lingard or Perriera generally in the 10 position. He’s a class act but we’re no one man team. As for West Ham it’s one game and I think if we’d have brought Bruno or Rashford on on their own it wouldn’t have had the same affect. There’s many instances of other players coming on and impacting games anyway....Cavani, Greenwood, Pogba, Mata have all had impacts. I don’t think we’re as reliant on him as you think. His performances over 90 minutes aren’t always great.We started to play a lot better after he arrived. You say a lot of his assists are square passes , but they aint. He has had a good mixture if you look overall. His goals without the pens are more than all the other midfielders put together. Watch the West Ham game and see the difference between first half and after he came on. It was if a light switch had been turned on. We can miss any other player and there wouldnt be much difference. We cant miss him.