So what can we realistically achieve this season in the Prem with our current squad and manager?

vidic blood & sand

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The underwhelming transfer window has left us short of a serious challenge for the title I think, but I don't believe we're in the kind of serious mess we were in this time last year, and yet we still managed to grab an unlikely 3rd place finish.
This time last year we had to pin our hopes on a midfield consisting of Pereira, McTominay, Fred, Matic, Lingard, Pogba, and Mata, and hope that Pogba didn't get injured, which he did. However, since then we've added Fernandes and Van De Beek.
Whatever people think of Maguire's recent performances, he was pretty decent last season, and can be again. Wan-bissaka was our best player last season. The defence definitely needs to get back to basics and get some confidence back. We've also added Telles.
Our attack has been strengthened with Cavani, and although he was a panic buy, he does give everything when he's fit, and leads the line better than Martial.
I honestly think the squad is good enough to challenge for top 4, and the big unknown is whether Ole has the leadership and coaching qualities to get the best out of what we have. He needs to fix the defensive issue, and start getting some consistency out of Pogba, Martial, and Rashford.
If we fail to reach top 4, Ole will be sacked, because I think we have a squad that's easily capable of it.

Where I think we should finish - 2nd or 3rd
Where I think we will finish - 4th. A trophy could save Ole for another season, but hanging by a thread.
 

Infra-red

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We'll finish somewhere between 4th and 7th. A regression on last season, in other words.

They'll be reluctant to sack their yes man, but Ole probably won't survive to see 2021/22.
 

Annihilate Now!

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With how other clubs have improved and with the crazy schedule, I think we'll be in a huge fight to get top 4.

Honestly think we might get it via dropping into the Europa League (assuming Sevilla don't do the same)
 

DBT85

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3rd is probably the best that's possible, but with games thick and fast all season and less oppertunity to rest senior palyers in the CL like was done last year in the EL, the squad will need to be relied upon. Not having Pogba out for months and rashford breaking his back will help of course.

All for nought if we can't remember how to fecking defend.
 

sullydnl

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Top four and giving a good account of ourselves in the CL is the max we could reasonably hope for.

In reality finishing in the top four will be a struggle once again and we could easily exit the CL in the group stage.
 

Chief123

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vidic blood & sand said:
The underwhelming transfer window has left us short of a serious challenge for the title I think, but I don't believe we're in the kind of serious mess we were in this time last year, and yet we still managed to grab an unlikely 3rd place finish.



This time last year we had to pin our hopes on a midfield consisting of Pereira, McTominay, Fred, Matic, Lingard, Pogba, and Mata, and hope that Pogba didn't get injured, which he did. However, since then we've added Fernandes and Van De Beek.
Whatever people think of Maguire's recent performances, he was pretty decent last season, and can be again. Wan-bissaka was our best player last season. The defence definitely needs to get back to basics and get some confidence back. We've also added Telles.
Our attack has been strengthened with Cavani, and although he was a panic buy, he does give everything when he's fit, and leads the line better than Martial.
I honestly think the squad is good enough to challenge for top 4, and the big unknown is whether Ole has the leadership and coaching qualities to get the best out of what we have. He needs to fix the defensive issue, and start getting some consistency out of Pogba, Martial, and Rashford.
If we fail to reach top 4, Ole will be sacked, because I think we have a squad that's easily capable of it.

Where I think we should finish - 2nd or 3rd
Where I think we will finish - 4th. A trophy could save Ole for another season, but hanging by a thread.
Click to expand...
With how low the morale looks in the squad right now and how we seem to have taken a few steps backwards, I don’t see how we finish in top 4 right now. It would be a bigger miracle than last season.

If the reports are true about Bruno and Maguire having a big bust up at half time, that’s not a good sign for team bond and morale.

The biggest reasons is Arsenal and Spurs were shambolic last season. They’ve both improved and one of them will still miss out on top 4 with City, Liverpool and Chelsea taking top 3.

There is essentially 4 teams fighting for that 4th spot. Arsenal, Spurs, Everton, Utd. At the moment I don’t see us as favourites amongst those 4.
 

CG1010

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Ole needs to quickly fix our defence and start controlling the midfield better. If he is able to do that, I expect us to reach 72-75 points given we have improved somewhat with the LB and will have Bruno for the whole season. Plus we should really focus on further progression of Rashford, Martial and Greenwood.

Given how Chelsea are looking, maybe we will reach top 4 but just about
 

SapperBRed75

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I think for the level of investment, the board expect Ole to achieve another top 4 finish with the playing squad available to him. We're clearly not looking to compete with Liverpool and City in the short term, and a run in a domestic cup in addition to qualification from our UCL group should be a decent season. Let's see what level of performance Ole can coach/ manage out of these players.
 

RedSky

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Still the same issues with our squad. Decent first 11 and not much else, missing a right wing and a proper DM. Other clubs have closed the gap on us though from last year.

Imagine Ole will get sacked in winter as it follows the same pattern of previous managers. The new one will get the usual player bounce before it fizzles out and we finish outside the Top 4. The fans will blame Ole and Ed, we spend a lot in the summer and back the new Manager, we have a good following season but then sit back in the Summer and fail to back the Manager. This results in a disappointing season which results in the Manager being sacked. Rinse and repeat.
 

bosnian_red

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We need to turn around the season already from a motivation and momentum point of view, but its early days. Other clubs have started with lots of confidence, we already missed our chance to build momentum through the window because of the incompetence of the board, but eventually we got some additions in at least. Top 4 challenge at best though. Any of Chelsea, United, Arsenal, Spurs, Everton or Leicester could get top 4 IMO, without a clear cut favourite. Everton have a very good squad with a top manager and no fixture congestion as they don't have European football, and that helps with loads of consistency. We'll see if they do manage to keep it up. All the others have Champions League or Europa League fixture congestion, which will really make its impact soon enough. So we'll see if the depth is good enough, and used correctly. Not convinced Ole knows how to rotate properly but we'll see.

Its unfortunate but instead of us closing the gap to the top and widening it to the rest, the rest closed it on us. Where before the window I'd say we were favourites for top 4, now I don't think we are, and are already 6-9 points behind some teams.
 

ShinjiNinja26

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Challenge for top 4. But it’s going to be a hugh scrap and that’s based on us finding form and playing at our best. It’s going to be a long season. :nervous:
 

jackal&hyde

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Top 4 is the minimum but I have no idea what could happen. The season has been wildly unpredictable in both results and performances across the league.

Whomever gets a run of 10 or so wins has a massive chance to win it I think.
 

#07

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Its really hard to know where we go from here.

It is obvious that the squad has some serious limitations and the players do not really compliment each other: To get the best out of our forwards we need to play on the front foot, however that exposes our defenders. If we protect the defence and play a low block it neuters our forwards and makes it tough for us to break down equally defensive sides. You end up with Greenwood and Rashford playing as defensive wingers, miles away from goal, tracking full backs and making slide tackles.

If I'm Ole I'd sacrifice attack for defence. Its becoming clear that the benefit of attacking more doesn't outweigh the cons of leaving the likes of Maguire, Lindelof and Bailly to defend 1v1. They just can't do it.

Looking at the composition of our squad, unless we rip it up and start over, our best hope will be for Solskjaer to find his inner Diego Simeone and try to s-t his way to enough 1-0s to make this season respectable. Minimum of 6/7 defensive players in the line up to protect the back four and hope Cavani can produce the moments like Diego Costa did at his best. Jose Mourinho has many faults but he was right about what's possible with this squad. We hated to see what he did with our attackers but Mourinho knew that, if this squad opens up, it'll expose its soft underbelly.
 

Leftback99

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Top 4 is possible but I don't think we can say we've got a better squad than Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Spurs or even Arsenal now with Everton not far behind.
 

SER19

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Goalkeepers : De Gea, Henderson, Romero

Right Back : Wan Bissaka, Williams
Left Back : Shaw, Telles

Centre Back: Maguire, Lindelof, Bailly, Tuanzebe

Central Midfielders: van de Beek, Pogba, Fernandes, Matic, Fred, Mctominay

Wide players/ Forwards: Rashford, Martial, Greenwood, Cavani

Occasionally called upon: Mata, Lingard, James, Ighalo, Rojo

This is not a bad squad at all. Can be improved of course but it's the best post Ferguson and if I thought it would be the squad starting the season I'd have had optimism. As I said elsewhere, the start we've made has clouded the club so badly and these simple deals should have been done earlier. Can only hope we salvage season with a decent run post internationals this squad should be capable of that
 

JuriM

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It's 3 games into a season, 35x3 points available, all players fit and no major injures. Everything is possible. We could end up winning the league or barely scraping by Europa. I think it will become a season where nobody get's over 90 points, but just very tight up top.
 

Judas

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Top four with a big slice of luck and some ridiculously consistent form.

We’ve not taken the leaps forward that a lot of other teams have and logically that’s likely to cost us.

It’s going to be a proper battle.
 

Robertd0803

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Right now getting 4th looks like the best possible outcome.

But heres hoping the new signings click and we have a mental season beginning after the international break where we win trophies against all the odds.
 

Denis79

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Squad is good enough to accumulate around 70-75 points, I think we'll end somewhere like last season, around 65. What those point will give us I have no idea. If we're lucky like last season most top teams will struggle on and off and it will be enough for top 4.
 

Siorac

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Anywhere between 3rd and 7th. None of the rivals look particularly brilliant; Chelsea might have signed an entire first team but a lot depends on how well they gel, and Spurs with Mourinho can implode at any time as we know all too well. Arsenal are Arsenal, even if Willian is being hailed as their hero and saviour now for some reason, even though he wasn't exactly stellar for a better team last season.

But of course we ourselves look completely shite with a manager whose qualities are dubious at best. CL qualification should still be the expectation - the squad is absolutely good enough to achieve that. Or if everyone ends up having a strong year, missing out with 75+ points could still be regarded as, well, not disastrous.
 

Zlatans Knee

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I don't see us making top 6. We are wide open in midfield without stellar defenders behind them. Other teams have figured out how to play us and we can't depend on an individual piece of magic (see Rashford v Brighton) or a penalty to save us in every match.
 

Mike Smalling

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Looking only at the squad we should make top four. However, taking our manager into account, as well as the overall negativity around the club, I am not so sure we are even going to manage that.
 

Relfy

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RedSky said:
Still the same issues with our squad. Decent first 11 and not much else, missing a right wing and a proper DM. Other clubs have closed the gap on us though from last year.

Imagine Ole will get sacked in winter as it follows the same pattern of previous managers. The new one will get the usual player bounce before it fizzles out and we finish outside the Top 4. The fans will blame Ole and Ed, we spend a lot in the summer and back the new Manager, we have a good following season but then sit back in the Summer and fail to back the Manager. This results in a disappointing season which results in the Manager being sacked. Rinse and repeat.
Click to expand...
This is exactly what I came in to post. I hope to christ it doesn't come to this and we can maintain our place in top 4, but it would not surprise me in the slightest.
 

Siorac

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#07 said:
Jose Mourinho has many faults but he was right about what's possible with this squad. We hated to see what he did with our attackers but Mourinho knew that, if this squad opens up, it'll expose its soft underbelly.
Click to expand...
If only he had spent 90m on two defensive midfielders and 70m on two centre-backs to fix that issue. If he had done that, we could have spent another 130m last season on a centre-back and a defensive right-back.

Alas, if only. If we had done all this, we might not have a soft underbelly now.
 

Lynty

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Despite the shambles of a transfer window and the recent spanking from Palace, Brighton and Spurs...

...I'm actually optimistic. We just haven't got into gear yet. Once we do, we have a really solid squad.

Unfortunately, Spurs, Arsenal and Everton look much better than last year, Liverpool and City are going to drop more points than last year - so top four will be royal rumble. Still, it's minimum expectation.
 

Castia

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Same squad as last season with Added VDB and Cavani along with a couple of highly rated young wingers.

Teams around us have done better in the market but I feel top 4 is still viable.
 

Highfather_24

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Considering we have strengthened our squad, but not our first XI...and considering literally ALL OUR competitors have outspend us, and have improved their first XI...

I would say top 4 would be the target. Anything more than that would be a miracle.
 

AneRu

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I think what we will achieve will depend on two key thing.

1. How soon we solve the defensive issues or whether it is a problem we can solve without signings.

2. How Telles and Cavani settle, if these two hit the ground running they give us another weapon to score goals through - an early cross into the box. This will force teams not to contest central areas and open up space for Bruno and others.

If those two go our way then we will have a chance for a fourth place finish because as bad as e are I think ourselves, City, Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Wolves, Leicester and Everton will cancel ourselves out for the three places behind Liverpool in the CL places. City are no longer good enough to keep up with Pool and they will be very much in the dogfight for top four.
 

Schmeichel's Cartwheel

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Technically we’re stronger than last season, Telles, Cavani & Van de Beek will be massive upgrades on Williams, Ighalo & Lingard/Mata/Pereira if any of our starters are unavailable. The only problem is the clubs around us have strengthened more than us. 4th would be a very good finish.
 

Devil may care

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People saying the squad is good enough baffles me, non of the CB or CM partnerships are a fit and if anything happens to Martial, Mason or Rashford we have nothing to replace them, Mata is still the best of the back-ups and he's mainly for weak opposition cup games these days.
 

ForeverRed1

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We actually have a squad of players good enough to compete. Football ability wise we have some very good players.

mentality wise and tactically miles off though. All over the place on the pitch and relying on individual brilliance or skill to get us somewhere doesn’t work in a league that is this strong from the bottom to the top. You have to be the fittest, hungriest team with the most desire.
Tactics have to be crystal clear and well drilled.

We’re none of the above unfortunately. Players look defeated. Manager looks defeated but where does it end?
Sack another manager? Spend another 200m on a new look squad, rinse and repeat? You would think maybe, just maybe Liverpool winning the league would be the kick we needed. Doesn’t look that way so far.

Maybe the defeat to Tottenham will spark a reaction. Will be interesting to see how we play after the international break.
 

#07

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Siorac said:
If only he had spent 90m on two defensive midfielders and 70m on two centre-backs to fix that issue. If he had done that, we could have spent another 130m last season on a centre-back and a defensive right-back.

Alas, if only. If we had done all this, we might not have a soft underbelly now.
Click to expand...
What the club has done to try to address the issue is irrelevant if it still remains. If I get a flu and I take loads of ibuprofen, if I still have a flu afterwards I still have to deal with that. I can't just bemoan the fact I've already taken lots of ibuprofen.

Jose was right about our problems, even if he failed to fix them, even if Ole has failed to fix them. The problems Jose saw two years ago are still problems now. If we are going to make anything of this season we have to find a way to deal with those problems that doesn't involve buying new players.

As I said, we will need to sacrifice attack for defence or else teams with pace and aggression will keep opening us up.
 

Neil_Buchanan

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I think top four is a reasonable achievement providing we don’t suffer the same ridiculous injury crisis as last season.

I was hoping that we could close the gap on the top two this season but I’d take top four right now along with a half decent champions league performance.
 
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