Well said.
So how come we look like a football team again?
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Finally dropping under performers and rewarding the ones playing well. Ole and staff study the big teams and sets up well against them. We had struggled against the lower placed sides but thankfully the Introduction of Bruno is helping us break them down!
We got rid of a lot of negativity within the squad in Lukaku, Smalling (leaks to press stopped after he left?), Sanchez and Pogba (through "injury"). Replaced them with some motivated, positive (in play and disposition) and hard working players. In our early games when we scored you could clearly see Maguire ousting Pogba as the main man in the team. Even before he was captain he started those huddles after every goal. Pogba was usually on the outside of those.
I believe thats why Maguire was worth whatever we had to pay for him (to Ole). We needed to have encouraging leaders on the pitch. Some one who raises the standards rather than bemoans standards. Bruno is also one of these players. Drags the team up, shouts and encourages. He has really found Martial's on switch through mutual appreciation of skill and style. Another one or two of those types and we are in business. Scott Mctominay seems to be in that mould also and is providing the goods too.
Bruno is a very sympathetic player of the ball. He always plays it how the receiving player wants it. For martial and James it's quick and in front of them. With Mata and Fred its neat one two's. He works to their strengths. Instead of making Mata run 50 yards, he's making him run 5 and with those little technical moments we can carve people open. He's almost been like signing 3 players due to how he brings the best out of the others.
Where as... Jesse and Andreas where always trying to make the difference alone. Bruno brings the other players in. He adheres to a system and that allows other players to be involved and for others to know that if they make runs someone will try and find them and they wont have just used a ton of energy to be caught out of position.
The whole Jose attitude of this isn't perfect therefore it can't work had infected the team and strangely alot of the fan base too. It's good to see guys coming in and trying. Trying to make it work, trying to improve. Believing in themselves. Ole has done really, really well on this front. The never say die attitude, the confidence that we will always win will come back soon too.
I believe thats why Maguire was worth whatever we had to pay for him (to Ole). We needed to have encouraging leaders on the pitch. Some one who raises the standards rather than bemoans standards. Bruno is also one of these players. Drags the team up, shouts and encourages. He has really found Martial's on switch through mutual appreciation of skill and style. Another one or two of those types and we are in business. Scott Mctominay seems to be in that mould also and is providing the goods too.
Bruno is a very sympathetic player of the ball. He always plays it how the receiving player wants it. For martial and James it's quick and in front of them. With Mata and Fred its neat one two's. He works to their strengths. Instead of making Mata run 50 yards, he's making him run 5 and with those little technical moments we can carve people open. He's almost been like signing 3 players due to how he brings the best out of the others.
Where as... Jesse and Andreas where always trying to make the difference alone. Bruno brings the other players in. He adheres to a system and that allows other players to be involved and for others to know that if they make runs someone will try and find them and they wont have just used a ton of energy to be caught out of position.
The whole Jose attitude of this isn't perfect therefore it can't work had infected the team and strangely alot of the fan base too. It's good to see guys coming in and trying. Trying to make it work, trying to improve. Believing in themselves. Ole has done really, really well on this front. The never say die attitude, the confidence that we will always win will come back soon too.
Excellent review and valid re management learning. One of the things I love about Ole (too many to actually list) is the fact that he refuses to throw anyone under the bus. Lingard, Pogba, Sanchez, Lukaku, even Martial have all been targets of ours at some time this season, but whenever he's asked by the media he defends them wholeheartedly. Unlike Mourinho. It might be different behind closed doors but that's how it should be.Well he didn't have to play them @Theo88 and @Wumminator . For a start he could and should have used Mata more over these two non PL standard footballers, he would 100% have provided more goals, assists and quality even if he's not at Bruno's level.
Ole literally started the season for the first 4 games before Pogba's injury with Matic and Tuanzebe benched (2 DM options there, and Mata benched) and played Pogba deep so that he could fit one of Lingard or Andreas in at AM. In game 5 he put Fred on the bench to start Andreas. When Pogba came back he benched Matic AND Fred so he could play both of them vs. Arsenal. In the following game we lost to Newcastle with Matic benched for Andreas again. By this point we're up to October 6th, we've an awful record in the league and the management team is still refusing to start a single game without either Andreas or Lingard in the starting line-up despite having much better options than them on the bench.
After October 6th, Matic is injured, Pogba is out for months and your point becomes "somewhat valid", until January the management had not much choice if they didn't wanna go with Mata or a youth product like say Gomes.
So let's be honest here, the management team clearly believed in the two of them at the start of the season. There's a strong chance we went purposely into this season not pursuing the Bruno option due to optimism that Andreas or Lingard would "step up".
Once again people, don't rewrite the past. It happened, the management have learnt from it and corrected it. That's good management to always learn and to continue to evolve. It may well be the pig-headedness that prevents Mourinho from ever being a top top manager again.
Agreed, much better man management. He's probably going mental at Lingard and Pereira behind closed doors but not killing them in the press.
This is why Mourinho will fail at Spurs yet again, they'll eventually get the hump and stop playing for him also.
Bruno is the reason, clear as day. Has been a great bright spot of creativity and attacking verve in our mostly uninspiring attack. Which in turn has given the team the confidence to worry more about winning than not losing. Hopefully United doesn't coach that spark out of him like we seem to do to every big-name, talented footballer that comes here.
Who could have predicted that the football would improve based on;
- replacing lazy mercenaries with hungry, younger footballers
- replacing bad players with good players
- replacing players 'doing a job' in positions with specialists
- not having a manager who publicly slates his players and destroys their confidence
Certainly not 50% of this forum who seemed oblivious to what has been going on over the last 12 months and the foundations that where being set!
- replacing lazy mercenaries with hungry, younger footballers
- replacing bad players with good players
- replacing players 'doing a job' in positions with specialists
- not having a manager who publicly slates his players and destroys their confidence
Certainly not 50% of this forum who seemed oblivious to what has been going on over the last 12 months and the foundations that where being set!
I think I deserve a special mention in this resurgence. I said the following were crap quite vociferously, and should not wear a red shirt again:-
McTominay
Shaw
Fred
Matic
Williams
I also thought Wan and Maguire were over expensive luxuries bought to try and placate us. I think I should just start hating anything new we buy or try to ensure our success.
I also sure that a certain winger was far too injury prone and weak to be a success and berated him often. 963 games later I am still yet to be convinced
McTominay
Shaw
Fred
Matic
Williams
I also thought Wan and Maguire were over expensive luxuries bought to try and placate us. I think I should just start hating anything new we buy or try to ensure our success.
I also sure that a certain winger was far too injury prone and weak to be a success and berated him often. 963 games later I am still yet to be convinced
I used to ridicule xg but after that run i did my digging and began taking it much more seriously. And yea our xg does look good this run we have been on.
Signings have improved us. Bissaka, Maguire, James all have had an impact.
McT and Fred have improved. And Bruno has given us a fresh feel.. Plus he is better than those around him, and that is very important. Rashford returning will be a v significant boost.
The Premier League is v average. Pool' are ridiculously way ahead of the rest and even they haven't been so great for a couple of months now.
It's a good time to have a few decent players.
But... But... I still worry. Yes, I say this despite Sunday and recent Chelsea result... We are still playing from a position where we are underdogs against better sides.
But some progress is being made.. But let's wait till season end.
McT and Fred have improved. And Bruno has given us a fresh feel.. Plus he is better than those around him, and that is very important. Rashford returning will be a v significant boost.
The Premier League is v average. Pool' are ridiculously way ahead of the rest and even they haven't been so great for a couple of months now.
It's a good time to have a few decent players.
But... But... I still worry. Yes, I say this despite Sunday and recent Chelsea result... We are still playing from a position where we are underdogs against better sides.
But some progress is being made.. But let's wait till season end.
We have always been a team, we signed players for 150m in the summer and 65m in January for god’s sake. Those players are vastly superior to most opposition teams and from time to time, we will go on streaks and beat even better teams like City, especially without their best player on the pitch. None of this is revolutionary of course, it is the least we can expect from the investments and players we have acquired.
This is measured over a season and so far we have underachieved based on quality available on day 1. Overreactions arrive when we manage to beat City and we act the same way as fans of Everton and Wolves would do. Not that the game wasn’t brilliant, we were top notch defensively against a side missing their can-opener, but you play what’s in front of you every time! With an amateur in charge of affairs, you aren’t able to sustain the same over 38 games, but that’s pretty obvious by now. With a professional in charge (plus players acquired that wanted to join said manager, not Daniel James as the only attacking signing), who knows where we would be right now when all other teams are bad.
This is measured over a season and so far we have underachieved based on quality available on day 1. Overreactions arrive when we manage to beat City and we act the same way as fans of Everton and Wolves would do. Not that the game wasn’t brilliant, we were top notch defensively against a side missing their can-opener, but you play what’s in front of you every time! With an amateur in charge of affairs, you aren’t able to sustain the same over 38 games, but that’s pretty obvious by now. With a professional in charge (plus players acquired that wanted to join said manager, not Daniel James as the only attacking signing), who knows where we would be right now when all other teams are bad.
I agree. Look at the obvious improvements of Fred and McTominay in the first half of the season - even though we weren’t picking up results.
The whole mood around the club is night and day compared to the previous regime and this is also down to Ole. He was always positive even when criticised for it and I’m sure this has reflected on the squad today.
maybe start ranting Ole won't win us the league and the CL in the next 2 years, just to try out your ceiling ..I think I deserve a special mention in this resurgence. I said the following were crap quite vociferously, and should not wear a red shirt again:-
McTominay
Shaw
Fred
Matic
Williams
I also thought Wan and Maguire were over expensive luxuries bought to try and placate us. I think I should just start hating anything new we buy or try to ensure our success.
I also sure that a certain winger was far too injury prone and weak to be a success and berated him often. 963 games later I am still yet to be convinced
Can't argue with that, tbh
I've seen enough to know what Ole wanted to do t, and commented to the effect it's taken this long, and Bruno's addition, to get the front line to understand that they're actually allowed to do it. This is not the kind of style implemented over the last several managers. Most of these players came in under them and that kind of play isn't going to derive from the defensive signings. Bruno is creative talent, pure and simple, and as a fresh voice, can lead by example how Ole wants the team to function. And week by week they're getting there.
All the criticisms of Ole's coaching ability tend to fall flat on their face when you look at the cohesion this bunch exudes. The improvement in players at almost every position has been pointed out repeatedly in this thread, so the coaching team knows more than a thing or three. I really believe that what we saw against City will become the norm from here on out. I can't imagine how impatient Rashford must be growing to get in with this bunch.
Also, Ole hasn't really wavered on wanting to bring Pogba back into the fold. With Maguire holding the armband and Bruno leading the midfield, Pogba can be Pogba. I think it will work and Ole seems to want to try.
After seeing Bruno play, train and prepare himself, Ole finally see Lingard is shit... and is keeping him away from playing (hopefully).
Seriously though surely team morale is affected when an underperforming player is given the ridiculous treatment privilege of always play (start and subs).
Seriously though surely team morale is affected when an underperforming player is given the ridiculous treatment privilege of always play (start and subs).
Bruno. New signings finally clicking properly. Shaking off long term injuries at a good time. Lots more desire on the pitch. Fred has been class and shaw is starting to come into his own. Martial and Rashford look great. The emergence of Greenwood.
morale looks good and I reckon we’ve an excellent chance of top 4 now.
morale looks good and I reckon we’ve an excellent chance of top 4 now.
So basically all we have to do is get you to rate us as shit and that Liverpool are brilliant?I think I deserve a special mention in this resurgence. I said the following were crap quite vociferously, and should not wear a red shirt again:-
McTominay
Shaw
Fred
Matic
Williams
I also thought Wan and Maguire were over expensive luxuries bought to try and placate us. I think I should just start hating anything new we buy or try to ensure our success.
I also sure that a certain winger was far too injury prone and weak to be a success and berated him often. 963 games later I am still yet to be convinced
What are you waiting for?
Not sure Sanchez was a negative influence? Shaw has done well under Ole, also Matic. On the other hand the hipster types like Lingard and Pogba less so. I think credit for organization and nous being put in place by the previous two managers. We beat city in a way Jose would have been proud of.
To some extent I agree with you: we always go overboard in here with praise and with negativity. But Ole deserves credit where credit is due. Bruno has been a revelation. So many players now playing to their potential.
Chong's new contract
I think Bruno has been a big part. How many times did we look like getting in an attacking position and then completely not knowing what to do next? Heaps. Happened everytime when Lingard or Peirera were playing CAM. With Bruno, he knows what needs to be the next pass before he has received the ball, the flicks and and the chips tell you that much. So now all of a sudden we look like we can attack.
In addition id like to put some praise on Ighalo too. Those flicks and chips are only great if the forward Martial or Ighalo read it and control it. It has been the case with Martial in the Prem and Ighalo in Europa.
And we have seen the re-emergence of Mata when Bruno plays. Mata has got someone who reads his runs and looks for him. So many times Mata would make a late run past the last line of defence only for the ball never to go to him. That has improved drastically since the arrival of Bruno.
I for one cant wait to see Pogba slot into the midfield and just having fred as a CDM against weaker sides. Against stronger sides just play a 2 man Pivot with Pogba and Fred. That could be a huge increase in midfield quality. As good as Mctominay has been, hes not one to elevate the skill level of the team. Pogba is. Granted, he has his head screwed on right and matches the effort shown by Mctominay. Get a proper Right winger and get Rashford back on the left wing and suddenly we look like a real top team again.
I was against Ole continuing about 3-4 months ago but ill be honest, he has got me back on board. If anything, he is bringing back the good atmosphere within the club and hopefully choosing to sign younger players around 19-27 years old as was the case with Sir Alex, its going to lead to a better future for us
In addition id like to put some praise on Ighalo too. Those flicks and chips are only great if the forward Martial or Ighalo read it and control it. It has been the case with Martial in the Prem and Ighalo in Europa.
And we have seen the re-emergence of Mata when Bruno plays. Mata has got someone who reads his runs and looks for him. So many times Mata would make a late run past the last line of defence only for the ball never to go to him. That has improved drastically since the arrival of Bruno.
I for one cant wait to see Pogba slot into the midfield and just having fred as a CDM against weaker sides. Against stronger sides just play a 2 man Pivot with Pogba and Fred. That could be a huge increase in midfield quality. As good as Mctominay has been, hes not one to elevate the skill level of the team. Pogba is. Granted, he has his head screwed on right and matches the effort shown by Mctominay. Get a proper Right winger and get Rashford back on the left wing and suddenly we look like a real top team again.
I was against Ole continuing about 3-4 months ago but ill be honest, he has got me back on board. If anything, he is bringing back the good atmosphere within the club and hopefully choosing to sign younger players around 19-27 years old as was the case with Sir Alex, its going to lead to a better future for us
Opposition players have to get into defensive positioning now when our midfield transits from defense to attack. Before this they knew lingard will side pass, pereira will fake a run and stop and back pass. With decent attack anything can happen, it puts oppo defense on the back foot. That translates into spaces and then we just ATTACK THE SPACE!
It's fairly obvious to me that the reason for Fernandes and Ighalo hitting the ground running is that the structure of the team and the mentality of the group was already in place. That's on the coaching team.
Not playing Lingard or Pereira has helped immensely with that.
One thing is that our off the ball movement has gotten much better. I don't know whether it's Bruno or the players have finally woken up (Shaw making overlapping runs) but we are moving fluidly and unlike before where it only happened against the worst defense like Norwich, the fluid movement is happening in most games now.
Bruno has had a huge impact too. Lingard and Pereira were our AMs and that position is pivotal to an attack yet those two couldn't do anything with the ball.
Bruno has had a huge impact too. Lingard and Pereira were our AMs and that position is pivotal to an attack yet those two couldn't do anything with the ball.
Finally, someone else sees the obvious.
Completely agree it reminds me of the situation afew years ago when Liverpool signed Salah, I said to all my friends that he was gonna fit that system like a glove (admittedly didn’t think he would reach these heights). I think it was clear that Fernandes or a player of that Ilk was given the perfect platform to excel in this system. It’s the same way I’m confident that Sancho would be a beast for us on the right wing, not just because of his individual quality, but also because the system is so ready for him.