What are expectations for next season?

Leon Tallis

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80+ points and a trophy.

I don’t think reaching the level of success we had under Jose is too much to ask.
 

Abhinav

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1) Challenge for the PL (This will be the third year of Ole’s rebuild. Needs to establish us as a serious contender. Ideally would have said that he needs to win the PL but not confident we will get the deals done in the transfer market)
2) CL: At least reach the SF
3) FA Cup / League Cup: Don’t really care. Deep runs in the cups are actually harming our larger interests as we don’t have a good enough squad to challenge on all fronts. Moreover, a cup win is secondary to real progress in the 2 major competitions.
 

redrobed

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I an never an underdog - I always expect to win. That being said, realistically, we need a manager with the same mentality and a massive summer transfer window.
 

Forevergiggs1

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Top 2, CL QFs and a FA cup win or at a pinch a league cup so the players can get a taste of winning trophies again. Another trophyless season then it should be curtains on Oles managerial career with us.

If Pep, Klopp, Rodgers, Tuchel and even Arteta can win a trophy in the same time frame that Ole has been here then surely Ole winning 1 isn't asking for miracles?
 

hobbers

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Being in a title race until May. Not necessarily winning it, but being in it.

Winning a trophy. Or at the very least a vastly improved showing in the CL, like making it to the QFs and playing well.

Less than that, Ole out. No excuses.
 

Von Mistelroum

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Realistically I think we’ve been flattering to deceive this season and I’m not expecting much money to be spent this summer so I think expectations will be limited to a top 4 finish and hopefully a cup run.
 

Dorris

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80 points + in the league, and either a good run in the CL or he wins the FA/League cup. Anything else his job should be in serious jeopardy.*

*IF he’s backed this summer.
 

glazed

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With Chelsea on the upswing and Liverpool likely to get it together, we would be fighting for top 4 again. That's hardly a controversial statement. Does anyone in their right mind think Ole can get the best of Pep/Klopp or even Tuchel even with squads remaining the same for everyone?
Yes this is basically the long and short of it more likely than not. But football will always throw up surprises so it's unwise to deal in certainties.

Of course if we strengthen out squad in an unglazerish manner then more is possible.

If Ole transcends his limitations as a coach or is replaced by someone better then more is possible.

But there's no particular reason to think either of those things will happen. Remember the Glazers are fine with fourth.
 

Crashoutcassius

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Being in a title race until May. Not necessarily winning it, but being in it.

Winning a trophy. Or at the very least a vastly improved showing in the CL, like making it to the QFs and playing well.

Less than that, Ole out. No excuses.
so if we dont improve first team for 2 years straight ole needs to go if he can't get past the best ever english football team?
 

e.cantona

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Depending on transfers, which I expect to be ace, a title challenge, advance past groups in CL, maybe 1/4 or better. Domestic cups play as much youth and squad as possible.
 

SAFMUTD

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so if we dont improve first team for 2 years straight ole needs to go if he can't get past the best ever english football team?
Did you even read the post? He's mentioning challenging not even beating. You twisted it completely.
 

hobbers

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so if we dont improve first team for 2 years straight ole needs to go if he can't get past the best ever english football team?
Ole has to go if he cant keep us in a title fight until May.

That means when people were talking about us as having a chance to win the league when we were top of the table at Christmas, just like that but instead of Christmas it's May.
 

IAmAWinner

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Either Premier League or Champions League trophy. If not, then sack Ole.
 

Polar

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My expectations are:
1. Top 2 in PL
2. More points in PL than this year
3. CL-semi
4. One trophy
5. Better play in general

….. but probably satisfied if we do 3 of 5.

3 of 5 = progress:drool:
 

Crashoutcassius

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Ole has to go if he cant keep us in a title fight until May.

That means when people were talking about us as having a chance to win the league when we were top of the table at Christmas, just like that but instead of Christmas it's May.
people often make this distinction... is being within a couple of points with 34 games played really that different to being ahead by a point with 38 played. Very fine margin between being in a title fight til May and winning the title, much finer than one step down which is top 4, but I guess that is what it is
 

Wilt

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Depends on the next transfer window, one or two marquee signings....

I’d guess Utd will be behind City, Pool and Chelsea.... battling it out for 4th. With a decent domestic cup run and hopefully at least quarter finals of the CL.
 

RedStarUnited

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Let's wait until the end of the window shall we.

If Liverpool, Chelsea and City all strengthen more than us everyone's loft predictions go out the window.
Why should what Liverpool etc do change our expectations?

jesus what have United become!
 

motsjo

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Expectations? Well, let's see, I expect McFred as a midfield two, ridiculously late subs, a failure to make proactive adjustments during matches, and individual brilliance from the likes of Bruno and Greenwood.
 

bsCallout

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No.

No matter what Liverpool do, Pep and city will expect themselves to win the league. We should be the same.
So let me get this right, you think that if we don't strengthen but all the teams around us who are arguably already better do, we should still expect to finish 1st & win trophies etc?
 

simonhch

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Pretty interesting responses. I think the preparations for the season need to be two fold. The first is what efforts we can make to do better with what we already have:

- Intensive focus on set piece defending, possibly by adding to our coaching staff with a defensive specialist.
- Spend the summer physically preparing the young players that aren’t going to the Euros, to be more physically prepared for the PL. In this category I’d have Hannibal, Amad, Garner, and Elanga doing extensive gym work to add some muscle. A lot of plyos, explosive movements and resistance training.
- Increased integration of foreign players into the local community, culture, and club family, so they feel more at home, trusted, invested in, and have the best platform to succeed. The club should have an extensive support and integration program for overseas players.

Then it comes down to what we can do with the development of the squad:

- Move early and decisively for our main targets. Beyond Rashford, Greenwood, Martial and Cavani, we have little to offer up front that is going to change a game. James is squad fodder and useful, Lingard surplus to requirements, Mata is finished, Amad and Shoretire not ready. So we need to add at a minimum one player. Sancho for 80m ticks all the boxes. Move early.

- Centerback. We are one Maguire injury away from disaster. Ideally we need a quick high quality partner him. Varane, Kounde, and Torres all tick the boxes.

- CDM. We need a 6, plain and simple. Fred, McTominay and Pogba are all 8s, albeit of different styles. VdB is an 8/10. We need a 6. This will have a multiplying effect of the rest of the team. See Fernandinho for City or Fabinho for Liverpool. This is essential.

- RB. If Wan Bissaka is out we are fecked. Trippier or Aarons.

So expectations….

- If we fail to sign any primary targets, we will struggle to get top 4. We’ll be in a battle. In comparative terms to other clubs we will have gone backwards.

- If we just get a RW, I would say best case scenario is to compete for 2nd again, and get through to a cup final.

- If we get a RW and CB of primary target stature, I would expect a title challenge and a domestic cup.

- If we get all our targets, I would expect a title challenge, a trophy and a deep European run.
 

Neo_Mufc

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Personally for me last season was the time to get within <10 points of City and prove that we were going to fight for the title this year.

Now's the time to push for the league with a couple of new additions.
 

r0663664

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I don't expect us to finish top 2, I think Liverpool squad is overrated but they have fantastic manager. A successful for me:

- Less than 6 points away from the champion
- Reach at least the quarter final of CL
- More youngsters playing next season example Hannibal and Amad
- Beating who we are suppose the beat
- Having a better win/lose record against top 6

Failing to meet the above will be a failure. Ole will need to go.
 

Lebowski

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It honestly totally depends on the players brought in. Even just two starters (by most accounts a RW and CB are the priorities, though I'd prefer a DM to the latter) would see a much better Utd side and one that can push the big two much closer.

If those players aren't brought in however, then it will be the same slog for top 4.

He's not been perfect, but Ole has done really well to stabilise Utd and he deserves credit for pushing us into 2nd despite the myriad of issues we've faced and handling pandemic football in a way that a much superior manager in Klopp and the team who spent more than anyone last year (Chelsea) didn't. But he needs the funds to be fully released now. No excuses. He's done his side of the bargain twice in firstly cutting away the deadwood and secondly by achieving back to back top 4. Replenish the squad with quality first teamers and supplement it with the kids coming through, and then hopefully next season you'll see a real Utd side begin to emerge.

EDIT

In terms of targets (with the aforementioned players coming in):

c.85 points - push City all the way if possible
QF/SF CL
Would love us to pick up either or both of the domestic Cups
Continued progression of the likes of Greenwood, Rashford, McT and the kids from the u-23s and u-18s pushing through
Maybe one or both of Laird and Garner come into the first team squad proper if the funds aren't there for a DM and backup RB signing

If the players don't come in then I'd aim for c.75-80 points and QF in the CL and all the other targets remaining the same.
Great summary of our current situation, I agree with basically everything.
 

Garethw

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If we go into the season with the same manager and coaching staff, I don’t expect anything again next season.
 

Ali Dia

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Even if we only upgrade 2 starting positions we will be right there in a title challenge if our key players can stay fit. This is also contingent on Ole using the squad correctly. This year was very poor from that perspective. He ran his favourites into the ground instead of taking any risks and we looked too flat at times because of it.

Title challenge
Quarter final of the CL
Domestic cup

Keep building. We can’t afford to get it all done in the one summer. One or two smart biggish signings a year should keep us thereabouts until it hopefully all clicks again.
 
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snk123

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How can we even have this thread before the transfer window?
 

Morpheus 7

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It was a mad season and a lot of football was played in a short time. We were 8 points better off than the season before, slow progress. A massive drop up from everyone else. Ole's United were absolutely burned out again at the end of the season. Being beat by a poor side in the final was crap but for me too many questions remain under this manager and coaching staff.

1. He is yet to prove he can get us over the line and win a trophy. We can hope this and that for the transfer window and next season, it's not built on anything. Ole will never get a better chance to win a trophy than that, he blew it spectacularly. It's non sensical to chat about having the mental strength to win a prem or CL. We have choked too many times under this manager when it matters.

2. Setpieces, it's been said by others but my god we have let some poor goals in. The zonal market and lack of leadership and coaching is frightening. Can we finally fix this, no team gave away goals like us on crosses last year.

3. Lindelof, the man is a squad player at best. Slow, negative on the ball and lacks leadership and responsibility. I blame him for so much, you knew he would cost us a goal in the final at some point. He dictates the awful formation ie. Mc Fred. If that is not changed we are winning nothing.

3. Mc Fred, it needs to end. Ole shouldn't be allowed to continue if he gets these two to do the job of one next season. They are a knock-on defect from the ice man Lindelof. That soft cnt needs babysat because he hasn't got speed to play with Maguire.

3. Transfers, we all know what we need. Same things we needed for a few transfer windows. You can't have any hight expectations without proper additions. Cb, dm ,rw minimum.

6. Pogba and the keeping situation. Who's staying and going. We need a settled 11 that want to be here and playing regularly.

7. In game management, making subs in to 100th minute of Europa league final was unforgivable. Coaching and possible recruitment. We need to be proactive in games and not playing players in to the ground. Marcus Rashford looks like he couldn't run for the last 3 months. Are we going to rotate players and have tactical switches in games more?


Too many questions unfortunately, I feel another average summer and Ole is gone. I think the penny will finally drop with his most loyal fans, he's not the man to bring us back to the top. It's an awfully hard job with these owners. He's proven nothing for me, if the clubs ambition is too be an Arsenal and get 4th then he'll succeed. If we want to win the big trophies again I can't see it under Ole. He's changed a lot within the squad and has gutted a lot out. I hope we continue the cull this summer. At the very least make it a better platform to come in, he walked in to a mess.
 

lefty_jakobz

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I expect us to fight for a top 4 finish, Chelsea Liverpool and City will fight it out for the title.
Hopefully we get through the CL group and maybe progress beyond the semis of the cup competitions.

My expectations of us are pretty low tbf :(

We wont win anything next season.
Game and squad management are attrocious.
We bottle it anytime we look like we are going to take the next step.
Still cant believe they are extending his contract.
 
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Tyrion

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Being in a title race until May. Not necessarily winning it, but being in it.

Winning a trophy. Or at the very least a vastly improved showing in the CL, like making it to the QFs and playing well.

Less than that, Ole out. No excuses.
Agreed. An improvement on this season is whats needed and this puts it clearly.
 

Denis79

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About the same points tally and a trophy. Anything else would be a failute.
 

Schmeichel's Cartwheel

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Bare minimum of 80 points

Bare minimum QF in the CL

win a trophy

Stop being cowardly in big games (this is a huge issue)
 

led_scholes

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If our net spend is around 100 million, inability to challenge for the league and the CL should be the end for OGS. Does he need more time than 3.5 years and roughly 300 millions spent to bring something?
 

Jibbs

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Same as last year... hoping to finish top.4 and sneak in an FA cup or Europa if we are third time lucky.
I do not see United progressing under Ole.
 

RedRonaldo

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Top 4, and a trophy

City will still be strongest, Chelsea will challenge for the title after their success in CL, Liverpool will certainly come back strong again.
 

Jibbs

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I honestly think United will regress under Ole next year and struggle to finish in top 4
 

GBBQ

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1. 80+ points
2. QF of the CL
3. a league cup / fa cup win would be a nice addition but realistically the top 2 are the bare minimum
 

United Irishman

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Totally depends on how Ole is backed in the market. If he gets at least 3 first team players that he believes are starters, then the pressure will be on to start delivering trophies.

Realistically though, finishing above any of City, Liverpool and Chelsea will take some doing next season, never mind finishing above them all.

I genuinely think Ole has over achieved with the squad we have and he deserves to be backed this summer. Sadly, I can't see him being given enough to compete and think there is a good chance next season will be his last.

Overall I expect the team will be battling at the end of the season to finish in the top 4 unless we have a mega window...