SEVEN (games to decide the future of the multiverse)

wolvored

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Leicester: 3 points.
Atalanta: 3 points.
Liverpool: 0 points.
Spurs: 1 point.
Atalanta: 1 point.
City: 0 points.
Watford: 3 points.
Villarreal: 0 points.
Chelsea: 0 points.
Arsenal: 1 point.

So I'm expecting us to be on 22 points after 14 games and 7 points after 5 games in the CL.
Probably right.
 

Bilbo

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Too right.

Absolutely love the big games, and I'm sure our players do too.

You ain't a United player unless you relish the big games.
Its got something for everyone. We'll find out what this team is made of and also more than likely will decide whether our manager gets to keep his job
 

Longshanks

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We will beat Liverpool and City at home, then lose against Watford probably.

In all seriousness this is what its all about hopefully come back from the international break with a fully fit squad and we find our best form just when we need it.
 

McGrathsipan

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Leicester City vs Manchester United - Draw
Manchester United
vs Atalanta (CL) - Win
Manchester United vs Liverpool - defeat
Tottenham vs Manchester United - Draw
Atalanta vs Manchester United (CL) - Draw
Manchester United vs Manchester City Defeat
Watford vs Manchester United - Win
Villarreal vs Manchester United (CL) - Draw
Chelsea vs Manchester United - Defeat
Manchester United
vs Arsenal - Draw

I dont see alot of hapiness in this run of games- but in the past this run of games made it so feckin interesting - we could always compete.

Now I am just resigned to the fact that we are nowhere near the level of the top 3 and while we are hard to beat which is good we are also struggling to win games.
I see Chelsea, Lpool and City beating us comfortably - then alot of draws.

Will Ole be gone then?
 

romufc

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Leicester: 3 points.
Atalanta: 3 points.
Liverpool: 0 points.
Spurs: 1 point.
Atalanta: 1 point.
City: 0 points.
Watford: 3 points.
Villarreal: 0 points.
Chelsea: 0 points.
Arsenal: 1 point.

So I'm expecting us to be on 22 points after 14 games and 7 points after 5 games in the CL.
That seems quite reasonably to be fair.

Ole has no clue how to win games, the pressure is on and we are playing defensive crap football.
 

KingCavani

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I think the next 3 games are Ole’s last. Back Leicester to get something and Liverpool to beat us.

All the people pointing to us being 2 points from the top need to look at this thread. The return from that run of fixtures is nothing short of disgraceful and what’s worse is the results have been better than the performances.

He’s been exposed this season. Sad that it ever came to this.
 

MUFC OK

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Leicester City vs Manchester United - Draw
Manchester United vs Atalanta (CL) - Win
Manchester United vs Liverpool - Loss
Tottenham vs Manchester United - Draw
Atalanta vs Manchester United (CL) - Draw
Manchester United vs Manchester City - Draw
Watford vs Manchester United - Win
Villarreal vs Manchester United (CL) - Draw
Chelsea vs Manchester United - Loss
Manchester United vs Arsenal - Win

That would leave us on 11pts in the CL - almost certainly qualified
23pts in the league - I'd guess about 8-10 pts off the pace and title gone. A lot on here have us on circa 22-24pts after the Arsenal game

Chelsea under Lampard, anyone?
 

Offside

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In terms of November, we just need to be aiming for 7 points from the 3 CL games and ensure we we are no more than 5 points off the top come December and looking like we are capable of putting a run together.
 

Doracle

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Leicester: 3 points.
Atalanta: 3 points.
Liverpool: 0 points.
Spurs: 1 point.
Atalanta: 1 point.
City: 0 points.
Watford: 3 points.
Villarreal: 0 points.
Chelsea: 0 points.
Arsenal: 1 point.

So I'm expecting us to be on 22 points after 14 games and 7 points after 5 games in the CL.
That seems a little pessimistic. I think we’ll get 12 points (3 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss) in the league so on around 26 points at the end of this run. I don’t think we’ll lose to Villarreal away, so think we’ll end the CL group on 11 points.
 
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Red2001

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Enough is enough ! The last thing this club needs is another false dawn.
 

The Purley King

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I think the next 3 games are Ole’s last. Back Leicester to get something and Liverpool to beat us.

All the people pointing to us being 2 points from the top need to look at this thread. The return from that run of fixtures is nothing short of disgraceful and what’s worse is the results have been better than the performances.

He’s been exposed this season. Sad that it ever came to this.
Bolded bit is what many people are missing looking at the table.
We've played average or below average sides and we've served up a load of dogshit, got lucky on several occasions and eventually got found out vs Villa and Everton.
Gawd knows how bad things can get when we inevitably start getting unlucky........
 

MUFC OK

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We will beat Liverpool and City at home, then lose against Watford probably.

In all seriousness this is what its all about hopefully come back from the international break with a fully fit squad and we find our best form just when we need it.
Are you serious? You have to play well for 90 mins to beat them, we cannot do that currently.
That is exactly what's gonna happen.
The only guarantee is that we'll see negative football with McFred in midfield.

Not sure where this idea that we'll ground out results against teams that we scarcely beat last season comes from. If we had the ability to turn it on when the pressure is on then we wouldnt have just witnessed those 3 performances against Villa, Villarreal and Everton. We will get the results we deserve in our upcoming run.
 

Sylar

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We are 3 points below par where we should be. (2 points we should have got from the win vs Everton, and an extra point from VIlla at least - ideally we would win that but could have drawn West Ham)
So we should be on 17 at the very least, and right now sitting top a point ahead of Chelsea.

Games like that determine whether youre going to challenge or win the title. Our home form is letting us down and will be a big reason (amongst others) why we will miss out.
 

Sylar

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Are you serious? You have to play well for 90 mins to beat them, we cannot do that currently.
Whilst that would make sense, its not always true. Liverpool had a stinker of a 45 minutes against City last night, and could have beaten them (KDBs equalier was deflected away from Allison who ends up saving it)
Likewise we have beaten City before, with spells to get goals.
 

Doracle

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Bolded bit is what many people are missing looking at the table.
We've played average or below average sides and we've served up a load of dogshit, got lucky on several occasions and eventually got found out vs Villa and Everton.
Gawd knows how bad things can get when we inevitably start getting unlucky........
I’d say we got lucky against Wolves and were relatively unlucky against Southampton and Villa (both goals against us should have been ruled out). Leeds, West Ham and Newcastle we comprehensively outplayed and Everton we were well on top and cruising before the collective Fred led mess that led to their equaliser. Feels we are about where we should be taking “luck” into account.
 

MUFC OK

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Whilst that would make sense, its not always true. Liverpool had a stinker of a 45 minutes against City last night, and could have beaten them (KDBs equalier was deflected away from Allison who ends up saving it)
Likewise we have beaten City before, with spells to get goals.
No but in those games we at least defended well for close to the whole game to keep them out. Playing well for a couple of 10 min spells against City and Liverpool will almost certainly result in defeats.

We will try to keep it tight in both games and flood the centre of the park - sadly both teams can terrorise us on the flanks - our full backs are neither good enough defensively (positioning) or going forward. Our only hope is defending resolutely with counterattacking football (hopefully Rashford is back). Basically what Everton and Villa have done to us in recent weeks.
 

Sylar

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No but in those games we at least defended well for close to the whole game to keep them out. Playing well for a couple of 10 min spells against City and Liverpool will almost certainly result in defeats.

We will try to keep it tight in both games and flood the centre of the park - sadly both teams can terrorise us on the flanks - our full backs are neither good enough defensively (positioning) or going forward. Our only hope is defending resolutely with counterattacking football (hopefully Rashford is back). Basically what Everton and Villa have done to us in recent weeks.
I wont argue cos I agree with your point for the most part, against the top teams, you need to perform well for the majority of the time. But there are occasions here and there where a good spell can take the game away from your opposition, and then you can get lucky (oppositions poor finishing), etc.
City do look great except for the fact they lack a striker. Liverpool look outta ideas without Salah magic or TAA spamming the box from one side.

Were similar, where we seem to increase intensity and drive once we go a goal behind. I do think we need to use Cavani more, because his high press and movement is missed when hes not on the pitch. If were creating a lot, Ronaldo is great for that.

The balance will be important for these big games. We will almost certainly play Fred and McT for those games, and I think we need to rest them and play Matic for the surrounding games with an extra attacker.
 

MUFC OK

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I wont argue cos I agree with your point for the most part, against the top teams, you need to perform well for the majority of the time. But there are occasions here and there where a good spell can take the game away from your opposition, and then you can get lucky (oppositions poor finishing), etc.
City do look great except for the fact they lack a striker. Liverpool look outta ideas without Salah magic or TAA spamming the box from one side.

Were similar, where we seem to increase intensity and drive once we go a goal behind. I do think we need to use Cavani more, because his high press and movement is missed when hes not on the pitch. If were creating a lot, Ronaldo is great for that.

The balance will be important for these big games. We will almost certainly play Fred and McT for those games, and I think we need to rest them and play Matic for the surrounding games with an extra attacker.
Not just against top teams, against any opposition we should expect to perform well for the majority of the 90 mins (or 60 mins that the ball is in play but that's for another thread).

On the bolded part, we've had ample opportunity to do this in recent weeks, in games we should be winning 9 times out of 10 if we are serious about competing - but it hasn't happened. We know what Ole stands for now - back 4, Fred and Mctom behind the ball so we don't end up 2 or 3 goals behind and then Bruno, two wingers and a striker who are expected to go and score the goals.

In other words we don't play as a team, we're not compact enough and the attack and defence are separate entities. This is why we look so disjointed and rely on individual brilliance to bail us out. I think Ole's luck has run out with this gameplan.
 

Longshanks

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Are you serious? You have to play well for 90 mins to beat them, we cannot do that currently.

The only guarantee is that we'll see negative football with McFred in midfield.

Not sure where this idea that we'll ground out results against teams that we scarcely beat last season comes from. If we had the ability to turn it on when the pressure is on then we wouldnt have just witnessed those 3 performances against Villa, Villarreal and Everton. We will get the results we deserve in our upcoming run.
I wasn't being deadly serious no, more a quip on what has happened in the past under ole where we get a couple of good results then lose against someone poor.

I don't think we will see negative football, especially not in the Liverpool game, think we will see a repeat of the two games against them last season at Old Trafford.

Setting up with mcfred doesn't guarantee negative football it more depends on where we engage teams and weather we are brave enough to push a high line.
 

VinzentFTW

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Just watch Solskjaer doing the impossible and win most of those games, and then mess everything up again in the 7 games after that again :lol:
 

HailtotheKing

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Leicester City vs Manchester United - Draw
Manchester United
vs Atalanta (CL) - Win
Manchester United vs Liverpool - defeat
Tottenham vs Manchester United - Draw
Atalanta vs Manchester United (CL) - Draw
Manchester United vs Manchester City Defeat
Watford vs Manchester United - Win
Villarreal vs Manchester United (CL) - Draw
Chelsea vs Manchester United - Defeat
Manchester United
vs Arsenal - Draw

I dont see alot of hapiness in this run of games- but in the past this run of games made it so feckin interesting - we could always compete.

Now I am just resigned to the fact that we are nowhere near the level of the top 3 and while we are hard to beat which is good we are also struggling to win games.
I see Chelsea, Lpool and City beating us comfortably - then alot of draws.

Will Ole be gone then?
We were hard to beat last year. Not so sure this time. We give away a string of great chances every single game and right now teams aren't afraid to come at us. There seems to be a myth about the big games also. The season before last we did great. But last year was shite. In fact, head to head against the top 6 we came 5th!

5. Manchester Utd: 11 points
Played: 10
Won: 2
Drawn: 5
Lost: 3

Wolves should've beaten us, Newcastle could and should've scored against us, West Ham we were lucky to get a last-minute win, Young Boys was not great, Villarreal destroyed us in that first half and should've been 3 or 4-0 up before we even scored, Villa shoulda scored more. And Everton should've scored in the first-half and should've beaten us in the second but for squaring the ball.

We have been crap against midtable and we were crap against the top last season. So I'm really not expecting a sudden renaissance.

The only hope I cling to is that Ronaldo won't put up with this shit and will do something that will make us better. Whether that's better coaching, better team selection (not McFred every game- although ironically it's the big games where they've been more useful) or not settling for Ole. Because right now, stubborn Ole is in danger of costing us big time.
 
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HailtotheKing

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Not just against top teams, against any opposition we should expect to perform well for the majority of the 90 mins (or 60 mins that the ball is in play but that's for another thread).

On the bolded part, we've had ample opportunity to do this in recent weeks, in games we should be winning 9 times out of 10 if we are serious about competing - but it hasn't happened. We know what Ole stands for now - back 4, Fred and Mctom behind the ball so we don't end up 2 or 3 goals behind and then Bruno, two wingers and a striker who are expected to go and score the goals.

In other words we don't play as a team, we're not compact enough and the attack and defence are separate entities. This is why we look so disjointed and rely on individual brilliance to bail us out. I think Ole's luck has run out with this gameplan.
It's about time. I've neer seen a luckier manager than Ole. Even in recent games, our oppo has had their best players out and we've still contrived to balls it up. Not to mention, DDG has been on sensational form. Otherwise we'd really be in trouble right now instead of just heading there.
 

Sylar

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If we can get 14+ points from the Prem Matches listed, I think we are in the title race. It will be a boost for the players and their confidence.

Anything less, and I think its position 4.
 

Hughie77

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If we play like we have in the last 3 games , there is no chance of getting anything off City or Pool.
Villareal away is a toughie Atalanta is no gimme.
I can see imo a dreadful time and come xmas fixtures the board be looking to cut there losses and get a new guy in. Because Ronny is bigger then Olly and I realy don't think Olly had any input about Ronny coming back.
Ultimately his return and the poor form and poor match managment will get him gone after those fixtures.
 

dal

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Well based on the opening post we needed a minimum of 15 points and we are on 14. We play better against the better clubs and we have also introduced basically 3 first teamers to the first eleven.

Rashford and Maguire are coming back we are not that bad, let’s judge Ole at the end of the season he deserves that from us. It’s a long road.

I think we will see the playing style develop as the season goes on. I believe we will get there, we just need to gel a bit more.
 

McGrathsipan

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We were hard to beat last year. Not so sure this time. We give away a string of great chances every single game and right now teams aren't afraid to come at us. There seems to be a myth about the big games also. The season before last we did great. But last year was shite. In fact, head to head against the top 6 we came 5th!

5. Manchester Utd: 11 points
Played: 10
Won: 2
Drawn: 5
Lost: 3

Newcastle could and should've scored against us, West Ham we were lucky to get a last-minute win, Young Boys was not great, Villarreal destroyed us in that first half and should've been 3 or 4-0 up before we even scored. And Everton should've scored in the first-half and should've beaten us in the second but for squaring the ball.

We have been crap against midtable and we were crap against the top last season. So I'm really not expecting a sudden renaissance.

The only hope I cling to is that Ronaldo won't put up with this shit and will do something that will make us better. Whether that's better coaching, better team selection (not McFred every game- although ironically it's the big games where they've been more useful) or not settling for Ole. Because right now, stubborn Ole is in danger of costing us big time.
Agree - this next batch of results is make or break time.

His work is cut out.

If he doesnt get positive results then he should be gone
 

RUCK4444

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Well based on the opening post we needed a minimum of 15 points and we are on 14. We play better against the better clubs and we have also introduced basically 3 first teamers to the first eleven.

Rashford and Maguire are coming back we are not that bad, let’s judge Ole at the end of the season he deserves that from us. It’s a long road.

I think we will see the playing style develop as the season goes on. I believe we will get there, we just need to gel a bit more.
Agreed. Looking forward to having Rashford back in particular.

We haven’t seen anything of the best from Sancho yet either which will grow with time.

Let’s see how we gel over the course of the season. We need a solution in midfield especially with Rashford coming back as that limits the options for Pogba.
 

Drizzle

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let’s judge Ole at the end of the season he deserves that from us
Why does he deserve that?

Too much sentimentality. He's manager of Manchester United. He's been backed and had almost 4 years. If we're still in the title race and the CL after Christmas then let's see how the season progresses. If we're out of one or both by December then he deserves to go. We're not running a charity.
 

dal

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Why does he deserve that?

Too much sentimentality. He's manager of Manchester United. He's been backed and had almost 4 years. If we're still in the title race and the CL after Christmas then let's see how the season progresses. If we're out of one or both by December then he deserves to go. We're not running a charity.
There is zero sentimentality in what I am saying. I just don’t have a short memory.

18 months ago we had a starting front three of Lingard, Martial and Rashford, probably the worst front 3 in Europe’s top clubs. He has delivered two top 4 finishes in two seasons, no manager has done this since SAF left. He is a midfielder short of having his own starting 11.

I’ve seen improvements every year and I believe we will see an improvement this year. We will be in the champions league knockout rounds but I’m judging him on his league performance, he does now need to deliver and mount a title challenge however finishing in the top 3 is good enough this year.

I believe next year is the year he should be aiming to win the title. He will have built his team, he inherited an awful, awful squad and he has really transformed the club from the sorry state it was in two years ago.
 

USREDEVIL

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I'm expecting a grim October-November. :nervous:

Hopefully Rashford comes back on fire, we move Pogba to play with Matic and fairy dust is sprinkled on Old Trafford's pitch.
 

Houdini

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Leicester City - win
Atalanta - Win
Liverpool - draw
Tottenham - win
Atalanta - win
Manchester City - win
Watford - Win
Villarreal - Draw
Chelsea - draw
Arsenal - Win
 

I Am Zlatan

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Whenever Ole is under pressure, him and the players deliver, I expect this to be the case, also a win against one of the top 4 teams will buy him few months.. not that I’m complaining because I want us to win, but it’s always going to be up and down with Ole and most likely no trophies.