[Mullet_Man]

Rangnick was a terrible choice for caretaker manager.

Some people have very short memories, the games against Liverpool and City under Ole, Leicester away too were shocking. Rangnick is a stop gap until another manager, he was picked because i think he has a modern approach to football management e.g. something that Tuchel and Klopp both learned from him. This in mind means the next manager can hopefully have a platform to build on.

As Ralf has said this team hasn't done any pressing so it's not going to click overnight and we become Man City levels at winning and keeping the ball. If I remember correctly Pep finished 4th in his first season at City and had to spend like a billion quid on getting some decent center backs, Ralf hasn't bought any new players in so is working with what mishmash of players we had from over failed managers.

In my opinion we are playing OK we are not losing heavily like the last games of Ole and we are showing some signs of controlling games better, we just need to do it for longer and score more goals.

New players will help in the summer, and hopefully selling some too.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

But he stepped into midfield. Which is what Maguire did the other night, which if I remember correctly is what you were adamant that he should have done. Varane u like Maguire just doesn't dive in, but he's also just not tight enough.

The problem once again is Shaw, he is not holding with the line even before Varane steps up, same as against Burnley, he kept everyone onside. You could have drawn a diagonal line across the back 4 to the corner flag, that's unacceptable at any level.

Maguire did not step into midfield. He stepped into a striker. Varane stepped up to a midfielder and left a striker behind him. If you don't see the difference than you should really just stop talking all together

 

[Jamie Shawcross]

Same shit, different day. Its a sad state of affairs when our best player on the pitch is only putting the effort in to impress whoever it is who gets him his escape from this mess in the summer. Why do we keep finding ourselves back at square one after spending loads on signings? Club is rotten from top to bottom. I have no idea how we turn this around, but its going to take years and thats IF the club give enough of a toss to want to do something about it. At board level, we simply don't care enough to actually force change that would see us compete again on the pitch. We all know this. Thats my worry, there is no intention or plan to turn it around. All about the figures, not results. Wake me up when we are selling up

 

[Ace Krampus]

Aside from Ronaldo's heroics in UCL, and maybe Pogba's first 2/3 games where he registered 7 assists, no player in this squad this season had any star player like performance.

I'll also accept if you say neither Ronaldo nor Pogba had star player like performances this season.

Same story for years at this point, moments of individual brilliance here or there papering over the cracks

 

[Sultan]

Stuart Attwell making it so obvious he's biased against United.

Middlesborough handball: VAR duty

Burnley: VAR duty

 

[copen1945]

Marcus and Jadon looked good. Front two of these and a solid defensive structure should get United to the fourth spot. At the moment, just a tiny little bit in the fine margins, as famously stated, looks enough against the competitions.

 

[arthurka]

Yes it's just something... but it IS something, it's actually trying to win a game then just hoping the XI on the pitch randomly sort it out. You say Mata isn't an option anymore... but he's on the bench, so he should be an option. Certainly ahead of bloody Lingard anyway. Hell he came on against Boro and actually made more of an impact then either Elanga or Fred, yet isn't in contention, despite the fact that he can still control and pass a ball (skills we often lack) even if he can't move all that much (but then neither can our bloody number 9)

Fergie had often had some bang average players (sometimes less then bang average) but he would enthuse them with confidence and belief and trust them to go change a game...and if not them he'd trust a random youngster to do it... because he appreciated that you very often need to change games to win games.

I can't believe we are talking about a guy who stayed here for 26 years and won endless trophies and comparing to a manager that has been here for two months and took over a squad managed by a man who clearly didn't know how to coach. But I just don't see where these players are that could make that difference. I like Mata and agree with his cameo Vs Boro, but there isn't much more there. Lingard isn't the answer and sadly Mata isn't either. This club is in tatters after years of mismanagement and bad decisions that won't be fixed with a Interim and Fecking Lingard. And it was certain that a 37 year Ronaldo wouldn't be the solution either.

 

[Oranges038]

Maguire did not step into midfield. He stepped into a striker. Varane stepped up to a midfielder and left a striker behind him. If you don't see the difference than you should really just stop talking all together

Yeah, look, there's really not much difference between the two goals at all. In both the centre half steps out ot try and win the ball, misses it and Luke Shaw is having a nap and playing everyone onside.

But anyway, you are the expert so. I'll leave it at that.

 

[OrcaFat]

I wish people wouldn’t quote Hassenhuttl as though he’s some kind of insightful genius. Yes, yes, we’re not fit and we don’t track back. We lose our shape when we concede. I remember him smugly saying AWB is not that comfortable on the ball, and that’s how Hassenhuttl knew they could beat us, which was a bit cnutish.

That 9-0 was the sweetest smashing we gave anybody, as far as I’m concerned. And AWB or any of our guys didn’t come out and call Hassenhuttl out for being a crybaby (and a bang average manager).

 

[Buster15]

Some people have very short memories, the games against Liverpool and City under Ole, Leicester away too were shocking. Rangnick is a stop gap until another manager, he was picked because i think he has a modern approach to football management e.g. something that Tuchel and Klopp both learned from him. This in mind means the next manager can hopefully have a platform to build on.

As Ralf has said this team hasn't done any pressing so it's not going to click overnight and we become Man City levels at winning and keeping the ball. If I remember correctly Pep finished 4th in his first season at City and had to spend like a billion quid on getting some decent center backs, Ralf hasn't bought any new players in so is working with what mishmash of players we had from over failed managers.

In my opinion we are playing OK we are not losing heavily like the last games of Ole and we are showing some signs of controlling games better, we just need to do it for longer and score more goals.

New players will help in the summer, and hopefully selling some too.

Spot on.

 

[UnitedSofa]

Jeez get some bloody standards FFS

So you don’t think we’ve improved?

 

[Mockney]

The thing that annoyed me most was loads of our players spending a good 2 minutes arguing about Pogba’s yellow card when there was literally about 6 minutes left and we needed to score and everyone knows the Ref isn’t going to account for that… just a complete waste of 2 minutes purely to bitch and moan over a decision that wasn’t going to be overturned… sums us up at present

 

[Kopral Jono]

Some people have very short memories, the games against Liverpool and City under Ole, Leicester away too were shocking. Rangnick is a stop gap until another manager, he was picked because i think he has a modern approach to football management e.g. something that Tuchel and Klopp both learned from him. This in mind means the next manager can hopefully have a platform to build on.

As Ralf has said this team hasn't done any pressing so it's not going to click overnight and we become Man City levels at winning and keeping the ball. If I remember correctly Pep finished 4th in his first season at City and had to spend like a billion quid on getting some decent center backs, Ralf hasn't bought any new players in so is working with what mishmash of players we had from over failed managers.

In my opinion we are playing OK we are not losing heavily like the last games of Ole and we are showing some signs of controlling games better, we just need to do it for longer and score more goals.

New players will help in the summer, and hopefully selling some too.

Thank you.

 

[julianfr]

1-1 FC

Sounded like a lot of boos at full time or did I misinterpret that?

It’s just not been good enough. Everything over the last two months can be summed up by that. It’s simply not been good enough in any way or form.

That was the Southampton fans booing their players for not winning against a crap Man Utd team.

 

[Bondi77]

Sancho and Pogba were tidy and the rest were fecking useless!
Rashford plays like a kid on the playground trying tricks for the first time and nothing works, his general play is disgraceful!

 

[Twisted Nerve]

Those players should donate their wages to us. We deserve it more for having to suffer this crap every week.

 

[croadyman]

So you don’t think we’ve improved?

Yeah but not being able to play for more than a half is a massive issue nor defend a lead

 

[simonhch]

I guess I’m the only one who’s not too bothered. Yeah I’d like CL footie, who wouldn’t, but you can see the reeducation of the players. Everything about our play, except our finishing and our ability to maintain shape for 90 mins, is vastly improved. We are evolving a style, gaining more control. You really don’t want to do a transition like this mid season, but here we are. I like the direction we are heading in. Feels like we have a real football man in Rangnick.

I appreciate this won’t be a popular opinion, but I’ve seen too many false dawns to get excited by one now. I prefer the slow methodical development. It feels like it has substance to it.

 

[Plant0x84]

We’ve made it to 40pts so we are safe from the drop. Good to know. Now we just need to avoid EL and ECL and we can call it a successful season!

 

[Sandikan]

Some people have very short memories, the games against Liverpool and City under Ole, Leicester away too were shocking. Rangnick is a stop gap until another manager, he was picked because i think he has a modern approach to football management e.g. something that Tuchel and Klopp both learned from him. This in mind means the next manager can hopefully have a platform to build on.

As Ralf has said this team hasn't done any pressing so it's not going to click overnight and we become Man City levels at winning and keeping the ball. If I remember correctly Pep finished 4th in his first season at City and had to spend like a billion quid on getting some decent center backs, Ralf hasn't bought any new players in so is working with what mishmash of players we had from over failed managers.

In my opinion we are playing OK we are not losing heavily like the last games of Ole and we are showing some signs of controlling games better, we just need to do it for longer and score more goals.

New players will help in the summer, and hopefully selling some too.

This is true, but then you realise we're playing the likes of Norwich, Burnley, Boro and Southampton , Newcastle, Young Boys etc and we've probably won ONE of those games.

 

[Wing Attack Plan R]

None of our players have the engine to play Ralf-ball for 90 minutes. In the first half, when we still have energy, the high pressing works and we look good. 2nd half, everyone is gassed and we revert to trying to be a counter-attacking team.

Sancho was good today. Pogba had some sublime passes, when he is in the mood he is a joy to watch. Dalot was good too, has to work on crossing, but he offers a lot more in attack than AWB ever did.

The problems were multifold. Our left sided attack was muted because Shaw never overlapped, not sure he got to the byeline even once. Shaw gets the ball, stops, then plays it back to Maguire.

Maguire either needs to play in a 3 CB system, or we need to not play a high line. It's fecking ridiculous how easy it is to beat him. He plays like he has a lower back strain: he can't turn, he's slow off the blocks, moves completely stiffly, like rotating his hips hurts him. Maguire is like a 3rd of 4th choice player in a functioning team. He should not be a starter.

With available personnel, I would have made subs earlier, given Hannibal the cameo that Lingard got, brought Lingard on 10 minutes sooner.

 

[RoyH1]

That second half was really poor. We really have a hard time doing proper 90 minutes of well balanced football. Rangnick's concepts are just not reaching this group of players.

 

[OrcaFat]

I guess I’m the only one who’s not too bothered. Yeah I’d like CL footie, who wouldn’t, but you can see the reeducation of the players. Everything about our play, except our finishing and our ability to maintain shape for 90 mins, is vastly improved. We are evolving a style, gaining more control. You really don’t want to do a transition like this mid season, but here we are. I like the direction we are heading in. Feels like we have a real football man in Rangnick.

I appreciate this won’t be a popular opinion, but I’ve seen too many false dawns to get excited by one now. I prefer the slow methodical development. It feels like it has substance to it.

This is quite persuasive.

If it’s going to lead to us winning then I’m happy to be patient. On the other hand we don’t know if results are going to be all that much better. So far it doesn’t look great.

The team as a whole does look a bit more cohesive but certain players look happy and others don’t. It probably means that there will be quite a turnover of players in the summer. This could be positive but given our limited budgets the risk is a Van Gaal style assemblage of players who fit the system but aren’t actually any good.

 

[Herschel Krustofsky]

We just need to be able to drop Ronaldo
He is not doing anything right now to the detriment of the team

Thought he looked frail today, pains me to say it

 

[sparx99]

Some people have very short memories, the games against Liverpool and City under Ole, Leicester away too were shocking. Rangnick is a stop gap until another manager, he was picked because i think he has a modern approach to football management e.g. something that Tuchel and Klopp both learned from him. This in mind means the next manager can hopefully have a platform to build on.

As Ralf has said this team hasn't done any pressing so it's not going to click overnight and we become Man City levels at winning and keeping the ball. If I remember correctly Pep finished 4th in his first season at City and had to spend like a billion quid on getting some decent center backs, Ralf hasn't bought any new players in so is working with what mishmash of players we had from over failed managers.

In my opinion we are playing OK we are not losing heavily like the last games of Ole and we are showing some signs of controlling games better, we just need to do it for longer and score more goals.

New players will help in the summer, and hopefully selling some too.

We were playing worse and getting better results in Ralfs first 10 games. Sometimes you just have to accept football doesn’t make sense.

The eye test says we are more but vibrant in attack and certainly better to watch. Yet our results have been worse since the attack ‘improved’. It’s actually weird; almost like we’ve gone from being efficient with our chances to inefficient in a huge a swing overnight.

 

[VidaRed]

- missing open goals
- couple of goals being disallowed
- ref being a abu knob
- forwards can't hit a barn door
- shaw playing everyone onside leading to conceding a jammy goal
- maguire getting skinned alive
- players not being fit enough to press more than one half

Yup same and boro and burnley.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

Yeah, look, there's really not much difference between the two goals at all. In both the centre half steps out ot try and win the ball, misses it and Luke Shaw is having a nap and playing everyone onside.

But anyway, you are the expert so. I'll leave it at that.

There is a huge difference in those goals. For the Burnley goal Maguire stepped up on their player that was his man to mark and their number 9. On the goal today Varane stepped up on a midfielder and left his man behind him completely unmarked. That midfielder wasn't his man to step up to. But it's Varane and he can't do no wrong...

 

[Deery]

There is a huge difference in those goals. For the Burnley goal Maguire stepped up on their player that was his man to mark and their number 9. On the goal today Varane stepped up on a midfielder and left his man behind him completely unmarked. That midfielder wasn't his man to step up to. But it's Varane and he can't do no wrong...

There were free men all over the shop for the Southampton goal, there was nothing Varane could do but go into no man’s land to cut out an attack, totally different to the Maguire situation were everything was under control until he committed himself.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

There were free men all over the shop for the Southampton goal, there was nothing Varane could do but go into no man’s land to cut out an attack, totally different to the Maguire situation were everything was under control until he committed himself.

So you think it was the right decision to leave his man and go to a guy who wasn't a threat? Give your head a shake. If that was Maguire people would be going nuts

 

[Deery]

So you think it was the right decision to leave his man and go to a guy who wasn't a threat? Give your head a shake. If that was Maguire people would be going nuts

Shaw was the one playing him onside

 

[tjb]

How many new players do we actually need ?

Need? 4
Want? A bit more.

The key at the end of the day is getting midfielders, if we can progress the ball up the pitch quickly, even if we have Elanga/Amad/ Hannibal in one of the attacking positions, like Chelsea have shown, we can still do really well. I do feel Rangnick has been a bit tough on our full backs, I don't think we NEED anyone in those roles, particularly as Dalot has stepped up.

Maguire's poor form and Varane's injury record makes me think we should get a centre back aswell. Finally, after seeing him in the last few weeks, I think Rashford needs to be moved up the pitch to the striker role, however, we should also sign another striker who can frequently rotate with ala Gudjohnsen and Drogba or Cole/Solksjaer.

So in all.

2 midfielders ( Kessie and another playing that can pass and bring the ball out)
1 cb ( that has pace)
1 striker ( maybe more of a target man to give us something different)

We should also bring back Amad and Pellistri to compete with Elanga. Give them a chance to take one of our attacking roles.

we will likely sell henderson, martial, vdb. we will also let go of cr7,cavani, pogba, greenwood and lingard. So in terms of salaries and transfer fees, we should have enough for 4 transfers

 

[sparx99]

I guess I’m the only one who’s not too bothered. Yeah I’d like CL footie, who wouldn’t, but you can see the reeducation of the players. Everything about our play, except our finishing and our ability to maintain shape for 90 mins, is vastly improved. We are evolving a style, gaining more control. You really don’t want to do a transition like this mid season, but here we are. I like the direction we are heading in. Feels like we have a real football man in Rangnick.

I appreciate this won’t be a popular opinion, but I’ve seen too many false dawns to get excited by one now. I prefer the slow methodical development. It feels like it has substance to it.

I don’t care about CL if we can’t realistically win it.

BUT - if it means we can’t sign the players we need to compete to get back to the top then you CL qualification becomes paramount.

The best example I can think of is Hazard going to Chelsea after they won the CL. We were meant to get him but in the end he could choose Chelsea because they got the CL qualification by winning the trophy.

 

[Oranges038]

There is a huge difference in those goals. For the Burnley goal Maguire stepped up on their player that was his man to mark and their number 9. On the goal today Varane stepped up on a midfielder and left his man behind him completely unmarked. That midfielder wasn't his man to step up to. But it's Varane and he can't do no wrong...

Not really. In both they stepped out to try and win the ball and in both Shaw played everybody on and it resulted in a goal.

You'd almost think that teams know they can draw one of them out and get in behind.

 

[RedIke]

So much to say.... That I can't find the words.

Rough winter. That's all I got.

 

[Matthew1972]

I watched City play today because I missed watching good football.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

Shaw was the one playing him onside

Still doesn't mean you leave your man. Just like on Tuesday when Varane left Rodriguez. He was too busy ball watching and ball chasing. But he's not part of the agenda right now so nobody bothers. Bottom line, look at the unbiased stats. Whoscored had Maguire above Varane today. Don't get me wrong. I like Varane and think he's good. I just don't think Maguire is anywhere near as bad as people are making him out to be, and with a little support, I think he could be a lot better. But as a fan base, when a player is lacking confidence rather than trying to lift them, we keep trying to knock them down even further...

Harry Maguire Match Statistics (whoscored.com)

Raphaël Varane Match Statistics (whoscored.com)

 

[SadlerMUFC]

Not really. In both they stepped out to try and win the ball and in both Shaw played everybody on and it resulted in a goal.

You'd almost think that teams know they can draw one of them out and get in behind.

Especially if Varane keeps ball watching rather than marking his man

 

[Matthew1972]

Still doesn't mean you leave your man. Just like on Tuesday when Varane left Rodriguez. He was too busy ball watching and ball chasing. But he's not part of the agenda right now so nobody bothers. Bottom line, look at the unbiased stats. Whoscored had Maguire above Varane today. Don't get me wrong. I like Varane and think he's good. I just don't think Maguire is anywhere near as bad as people are making him out to be, and with a little support, I think he could be a lot better. But as a fan base, when a player is lacking confidence rather than trying to lift them, we keep trying to knock them down even further...

Harry Maguire Match Statistics (whoscored.com)

Raphaël Varane Match Statistics (whoscored.com)

Everything you say may be true but it is Maguire with the smoking gun most times something goes bad.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

Everything you say may be true but it is Maguire with the smoking gun most times something goes bad.

"Most times"...More like sometimes. Most times it was Maguire getting scapegoated. I'm surprised he didn't get blamed for the goal today. Mind you, when he was out for the month of January and everyone said Lindelof played great, De Gea had to make more saves than any other keeper in the league and won EPL player of the month. In fact, the only game where De Gea didn't have to save us was against West Ham where he only had to make one save. That also happened to be the only game Maguire played 90 minutes all month. But that doesn't suit the agenda does it?

 

[Shunty]

Will someone just get these glazers out of this once magnificent football club, it starts and ends with these people. Rotten from the top down, I don’t blame the players I blame the board who are in turn work for the owners that leads into the staff coaches and players. Get out of our club parasites