What kind of celebrations are you referring to exactly?
Finishing 3rd, 33 points off PL winners, and no Trophy (yet) is utter rubbish and shouldn't be celebrated...
- Thread starter Rhyme Animal
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Let's just point out that half way through the season we were somewhere 7-9th and at one point battling for 5th because we thought that this would be the last champions league spot. Closed a 14 point gap on Leicester to finish 3rd. Winning the FA cup would have been a pretty good achievement, losing to Chelsea in the manner we did was awful, however we still have the Europa.
I think 3rd and a Europa league win would make it the best season, solely down to some of the football we played over the last few months, showing a definite change in direction. Some much needed leadership with Harry & Bruno, Pogba looking happy and playing some solid football, Martial looking actually world class and Greenwood making a giant leap forward.
There are some definite building blocks for next season, but we definitely need to build on it, not just stand still and accept 3rd. Our first team looks solid, but take 1 player out and we look a bit part of that team.
Take Shaw out and we have no width from the left, take Matic out and we don't have that player to break up and dictate in midfield, take out Greenwood and we have Dan James to come in (Lingard is 10x the player and that shows where we are...).
I think 3rd and a Europa league win would make it the best season, solely down to some of the football we played over the last few months, showing a definite change in direction. Some much needed leadership with Harry & Bruno, Pogba looking happy and playing some solid football, Martial looking actually world class and Greenwood making a giant leap forward.
There are some definite building blocks for next season, but we definitely need to build on it, not just stand still and accept 3rd. Our first team looks solid, but take 1 player out and we look a bit part of that team.
Take Shaw out and we have no width from the left, take Matic out and we don't have that player to break up and dictate in midfield, take out Greenwood and we have Dan James to come in (Lingard is 10x the player and that shows where we are...).
I don't think people are celebrating 3rd place, it's more people being optimistic and glad of the fact we got champions league football and how that will positively effect our transfers and help us continue to improve (mainly the Sancho deal). If we only just scrape a Champions league spot again next year I'm pretty certain people will be calling for Ole to be sacked and not "celebrating" like this time round.
Exactly my thoughts
I personally think we’ve got third despite having Solskjaer as manager, and he won’t take us any further than we are now.
But I can’t deny since the lockdown we’ve looked good 90% of the time.
But I can’t deny since the lockdown we’ve looked good 90% of the time.
context matters. We were 9th after 14 games, and we were 14 points behind Leicester after 21 games. In that context, finishing 3rd is a great achievement, and I kind of pity fans who can't appreciate that. We have a young squad that is trending up, and finishing 3rd (especially after that poor first half of the season) is a nice stepping stone in that regard.
I'm wondering that too.
Players didn't celebrate, after the game it was all handshakes just after every other game, Ole wasn't celebrating it specially either. And I didnt' see any kind of big celebrations here either. People were happy we finished 3rd and got that CL spot after all what was happening during the season. I guess we can be at least a bit happy, is that allowed.
I agree with OP. It's important to keep our eyes on the long term vision. Frank Lampard put it best when he said that clubs must be careful celebrating top 4. Case in point is Arsenal who went from winning the league to challenging to comfortably finishing top 4 to just about making top 4 (and celebrating) to finally being regularly out.
Though, it's also equally valid to celebrate the small victories that we have. This was a massive comeback from the low of 2-0 Burnley defeat at OT. We got 32 points in our last 14 games which roughly translates to 87 points a season. People aren't just celebrating 3rd but also that we've finally shown progress and the 3rd position is a tangible proof of that.
When we won the EL under Jose and reached the CL, we were all ecstatic. But no one was celebrating finishing second and having another CL qualification the following season. If we just about finish in the top 4 next season with no tangible progress, questions might be raised.
Though, it's also equally valid to celebrate the small victories that we have. This was a massive comeback from the low of 2-0 Burnley defeat at OT. We got 32 points in our last 14 games which roughly translates to 87 points a season. People aren't just celebrating 3rd but also that we've finally shown progress and the 3rd position is a tangible proof of that.
When we won the EL under Jose and reached the CL, we were all ecstatic. But no one was celebrating finishing second and having another CL qualification the following season. If we just about finish in the top 4 next season with no tangible progress, questions might be raised.
You're right. The season was very poor overall with a few bright points and is not to be celebrated. The unlikely event of finishing in the top 4 after the position we were in at Christmas is I assume what people are celebrating.
This top 4 finish was vital for the long term health of the club as it means we can attract the few more top bracket players we need which will help us towards an eventual title challenge. This outcome is what I'm pleased about not the actual season itself.
This top 4 finish was vital for the long term health of the club as it means we can attract the few more top bracket players we need which will help us towards an eventual title challenge. This outcome is what I'm pleased about not the actual season itself.
Meh, it's about context really. You have finished on the same points as last season but also you've finished 3 places higher. The only sides in the top 6 this year that haven't gone through transition is City and Liverpool and guess what? They're top 2.
Chelsea have switched manager to Lampard, Mourinho to Spurs mid season and United/Leicester have a manager who has been in charge for around 1 and a half seasons. Realistically 3rd is the best possible achievement you could have made in the league this year and you managed it.
Chelsea have switched manager to Lampard, Mourinho to Spurs mid season and United/Leicester have a manager who has been in charge for around 1 and a half seasons. Realistically 3rd is the best possible achievement you could have made in the league this year and you managed it.
How did you work that one out exactly?
1. Our current team is young and has a lot of potential.
2. We have young local players that care about our club in the starting 11
3. Our manager is getting rid of players that don’t do their job and don’t want to be here
4. The team plays good football
5. Our team is now a lot more likeable than in a long time. Youth form own ranks combined with signings that really want to be here
6. We are now 2-3 signings away from challenging. And qualifying for CL is vital to have finances to pull this off
In summary I agree that 3 place is nothing to celebrate. But in context of the above It’s vital for our progress going into the next season. It makes us financially stronger and also more of a pull for potential signings. It feels great supporting this club now.
2. We have young local players that care about our club in the starting 11
3. Our manager is getting rid of players that don’t do their job and don’t want to be here
4. The team plays good football
5. Our team is now a lot more likeable than in a long time. Youth form own ranks combined with signings that really want to be here
6. We are now 2-3 signings away from challenging. And qualifying for CL is vital to have finances to pull this off
In summary I agree that 3 place is nothing to celebrate. But in context of the above It’s vital for our progress going into the next season. It makes us financially stronger and also more of a pull for potential signings. It feels great supporting this club now.
Bothers me when people keep saying this. It's not comparable at all. The reason Arsenal were laughed at was because they celebrated winning the top 4 trophy every season without really progressing as a team and winning trophies. Pretty much every season for them involved winning no trophies and fighting for top 4 by the end of the season.
If we get sucked into a top 4 battle again next season and do nothing of note in other competitions, then it'd be embarrassing to celebrate that. This season is different as it's the start of a rebuild under Ole, and securing CL football is a huge step that I hope we build on.
How can you say our season is crap when:
A) We've had our 2nd best league finish since SAF retired
B) We're still in the Europa league and are favourites to win it.
If we do win the Europa, is it still a crap season? There's no point evaluating and comparing whole seasons when the current one is still ongoing. Stupid post
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I don't think you'll find many on here saying that 3rd is the end goal and that the job's done, but equally we took an in important step in the right direction last night, which for me is something to be happy about.
Seasons have to be taken in context, we are where we are due to years of mismanagement, mercenary players and managers that weren't at all aligned with the fanbase. For the first time now in years now, it's looking like these issues will be rectified.
The players, in this season where we were pretty ravaged by injuries, showed fight when the chips were down and put together a run that you'd expect from City and Liverpool. Now of course it's time to kick on and prove that they can do that over a full season, but I'm pretty happy with what the boys showed this season!
Context is key.
If we'd had this season in 2010 or 2001 etc. It would have been a disater.
The fact it, Ole is rebuilding after years of disaster. We're heading in the right direction at last.
If we'd had this season in 2010 or 2001 etc. It would have been a disater.
The fact it, Ole is rebuilding after years of disaster. We're heading in the right direction at last.
Oh look new people joining the forum just to have a pop at Ole.
We didn't make progress for a variety of different reasons not because we were not the second best team the year before. And yes I agree that different points tally have zero meaning in different years, however it shows that 66 points is small amount of points and that we've been very bad at times this season.
Yes I agree, my point was that we've been very very bad at times this season, therefor only 66 points. Also getting 81 points was not that bad considering the personal back than.
Yes we did, and also we almost blew it at the end. I just hope we build on this and the club brings Ole what players he wants so we improve.
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Fan's haven't been celebrating the physicality of finishing 3rd.
It's been a celebration of huge upward trajectory, huge improvement in the transfer market, massive improvement in our style of play, and the potential of what is to come.
Winning the League Cup thanks to a brilliant performance from Zlatan, for example was very satisfying on the day, but we knew we were only getting a year or so from him, so less reason to be excited. I also hated the style of play, seeing the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Lukaku and others playing every week for my beloved club.
I'm more excited about seeing this good young United side finish 3rd than I was seeing Jose's United finish 2nd.
It's been a celebration of huge upward trajectory, huge improvement in the transfer market, massive improvement in our style of play, and the potential of what is to come.
Winning the League Cup thanks to a brilliant performance from Zlatan, for example was very satisfying on the day, but we knew we were only getting a year or so from him, so less reason to be excited. I also hated the style of play, seeing the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Lukaku and others playing every week for my beloved club.
I'm more excited about seeing this good young United side finish 3rd than I was seeing Jose's United finish 2nd.
I flew all the way from Israel to Manchester last January to see us lose to Burnley 2-0 in a humiliating fashion, chanting "if you hate glazers stand up" through out all the game, leaving massively dissappointed with zero optimisem about our future.
Ever since I left England, United havent lost in the league once(lost once in all comps) and clawed back what was an unprecedented gap of points from 3rd place. So yeah, Im celebrating. No the "achievement" - but the progress made. We finally can expect something good out of this group, something we were unable to do even in the "good" times under Jose and Val Gaal.
Ever since I left England, United havent lost in the league once(lost once in all comps) and clawed back what was an unprecedented gap of points from 3rd place. So yeah, Im celebrating. No the "achievement" - but the progress made. We finally can expect something good out of this group, something we were unable to do even in the "good" times under Jose and Val Gaal.
1) Check the prediction thread, hardly anybody thought United would finish 3rd or even top 4, a good few even had United outside the top 6.
2) 3rd is the 2nd best league finish since Ferguson and it was achieved with a) young, energetic players b) uptick in form after a key change - Fernandes signing
3) 33 points off the league winners but Liverpool got 99 points so it's somewhat distorted. Not an amazing points total but again the context of 18 points after 14 games, 66 points isn't too bad considering.
2) 3rd is the 2nd best league finish since Ferguson and it was achieved with a) young, energetic players b) uptick in form after a key change - Fernandes signing
3) 33 points off the league winners but Liverpool got 99 points so it's somewhat distorted. Not an amazing points total but again the context of 18 points after 14 games, 66 points isn't too bad considering.
We've been pretty bad and pretty good. Luckily the good part was after the brake and thanks to that we're where we are. No point in remembering the bad times and you have to count all the negative aspects in that time, injuries and the like. It's not an excuse just the facts. As for progress of course, that season we were 2nd and in isolation in that season we were second best. Hopefully upward trajectory will go on into the next season so we can say that we benefited from finishing 3rd this season.
Again its all about expectations and perspective. The celebrations - if you can call them that - are not because 3rd place is where we want to be as a club. Surely that much is obvious. Its because we have achieved something this season that will allow the club to hopefully move closer towards our true goals.
We aren't at the level of City and Liverpool right now, but we have been the best of the rest and that's all we could have realistically hoped to achieve this season. If we can add the Europa League to a 3rd place and 2 domestic semi-finals, then it would end up being a fine season, and its a much better situation to have a fanbase celebrating when they shouldn't as opposed to one that's been highly over-critical of the club when it hasn't been warranted.
We aren't at the level of City and Liverpool right now, but we have been the best of the rest and that's all we could have realistically hoped to achieve this season. If we can add the Europa League to a 3rd place and 2 domestic semi-finals, then it would end up being a fine season, and its a much better situation to have a fanbase celebrating when they shouldn't as opposed to one that's been highly over-critical of the club when it hasn't been warranted.
Of course it's worth celebrating. The team got better at playing football as the season went on. The individual players improved. The atmosphere surrounding the team seemed to improve by leaps and bounds. I can actually imagine people enjoying playing for us.
More importantly, I can imagine people being entertained watching us -which actually takes no imagination at all, because I do enjoy watching us play. Football can't just be about enjoying the trophies, because they don't come every season - not even for us.
No one enjoys coming third. But there's nothing wrong with celebrating progress in the team, and the improvements in the squad. Football has space to celebrate details as well as trophies - one of the most celebratory matches at OT this season ended with a packed stadium on its feet singing for the last 5 minutes, trying to get United over the line again Spurs. Mind you, I've also celebrated multiple undeserved last minute equalisers over the years, tight wins in derby matches and I even celebrated getting promoted from Division Two. In football you have to take your pleasure where you find it.
More importantly, I can imagine people being entertained watching us -which actually takes no imagination at all, because I do enjoy watching us play. Football can't just be about enjoying the trophies, because they don't come every season - not even for us.
No one enjoys coming third. But there's nothing wrong with celebrating progress in the team, and the improvements in the squad. Football has space to celebrate details as well as trophies - one of the most celebratory matches at OT this season ended with a packed stadium on its feet singing for the last 5 minutes, trying to get United over the line again Spurs. Mind you, I've also celebrated multiple undeserved last minute equalisers over the years, tight wins in derby matches and I even celebrated getting promoted from Division Two. In football you have to take your pleasure where you find it.
It's an important step towards rebuilding the club, the last 3 times we qualified for the Champions League we arguably wasted it when it comes to recruitment. In fact, it seems like we signed better players when we weren't in the champions league.
The likes of Pogba, Zlatan, Herrera, Shaw, Maguire, Wan Bissaka came in when we hadn't qualified.
The big players we did sign haven't panned out that well for us such Lukaku, Sanchez, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Depay even Fred and Lindelöf have done ok but not taken us up a level like other players have. Martial and Matic have probably been the best signings we made in CL transfer windows but Martial was a young talent and Matic has blown hot and cold.
This time we need to buy players who will actually help us to get an additional 15-20 points next season.
The likes of Pogba, Zlatan, Herrera, Shaw, Maguire, Wan Bissaka came in when we hadn't qualified.
The big players we did sign haven't panned out that well for us such Lukaku, Sanchez, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Depay even Fred and Lindelöf have done ok but not taken us up a level like other players have. Martial and Matic have probably been the best signings we made in CL transfer windows but Martial was a young talent and Matic has blown hot and cold.
This time we need to buy players who will actually help us to get an additional 15-20 points next season.
I mean no offense but I can't help but to think the OP must be born into negativity, hasn't had a happy day or a laugh in his entire life.
I mainly glad about the fact we back in the CL and we actually have a strong first XI first time in years. If we can add a quality player or 2 in the summer, I think we will be closer to challenging for the biggest trophies than we have in years.
I think it's more about not liking Ole very much. I might be wrong of course.
6 wins and 3 draws since lockdown isn't "nearly blowing it". That's top of the table form.
What an incredibly spoilt and entitled attitude. We finished third. Were you expecting to finish in the top two before the season began? If you were, then please kindly refrain from dampening the optimism of others, due to your own delusion.
Its because the end of the season has been positive.
A lot of fans are as happy as the last result. If Leicester had played a blinder yesterday and we had finished 5th it would of been really negative so small margins.
Personally want to see progress next season and think United and Chelsea are on the way up while City and Pool may dip so a 4 way title race on the cards.
A lot of fans are as happy as the last result. If Leicester had played a blinder yesterday and we had finished 5th it would of been really negative so small margins.
Personally want to see progress next season and think United and Chelsea are on the way up while City and Pool may dip so a 4 way title race on the cards.
I think we're all just happy to see an attack minded team that is going in the right direction. It's more optimism for the future rather than celebrating the now.
Considering how bad we've been the last 7 years its nice to actually feel positive about the future for a change.
Considering how bad we've been the last 7 years its nice to actually feel positive about the future for a change.
Its the post Jose effect.
Maybe it was lockdown but since the restart, I have been looking forward to each game more than ever before.
Maybe it was lockdown but since the restart, I have been looking forward to each game more than ever before.
We finished the season closer to Bournemouth than we were to Liverpool. Despite finishing 3rd - big gap to cover!
We were a goal conceded away from falling apart yesterday. Come on I am glad we won yesterday but the players were absolutely spent which is understandable considering that we've played every 3 days. We failed to win two easier games earlier which made things even more difficult for ourselves.
We need to remember the bad parts in order to improve and a bit of perspective so we know what to expect. We absolutely need a strong investment and smart buying before next season, or we won't finish even 3rd next year.
It's more relief than joy
I’ve been a United fan since the eighties, and even then we had fans who felt they were above the club, above the other fans and above the other clubs in the league as well.
Mind you, they didn’t score many goals. Their high standards were mostly executed from a couch. Even then, they were often the ones that didn’t understand the game so well. I doubt any of them could have written that OP though.
Who's celebrating ?
Oh absolutely.
My aunty is a pair of bo!!ocks away from being my Uncle. You're speculating over things that haven't happened. That's like saying we nearly blew the treble in 99, on multiple occasions, but we didn't.
But I do agree, the players we're spent, but we've been forced to play every 3 days and Ole doesn't trust his back-up players. I don't blame him, we've only got about 8-9 top players in our squad (compared to City who have about 18 top players, Liverpool about 15) the rest aren't good enough. Hopefully we'll never have to play so many games with such congestion again, and hopefully we can add at least 2 important signings to take our quality levels up.