Yeah city should be favourites now. Unless plenty of points dropped while de Bruyne is out
Best title chance post Fergie
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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.
Yep, we’ve definitely shown why we’re the clear favourites this year, especially our home form, defensive prowess, and general all round consistency.
I myself will be remortgaging my house tomorrow so that I can slap down 50000 smackers in the bookies on us to win, based on this epiphanic thread. I don’t know why I haven’t thought about it that way before. Thanks!
I myself will be remortgaging my house tomorrow so that I can slap down 50000 smackers in the bookies on us to win, based on this epiphanic thread. I don’t know why I haven’t thought about it that way before. Thanks!
Cavani was in training too so hopefully we'll have some good options in our upcoming games.
He didn't say we were favourites, just that it's our best chance at a title, which it is. That doesn't mean we won't bugger up our games or even that we'll finish top 4.
You've conceded less goal than the greatest team in football history this season so far. Albeit having played a game less. Honestly this season is so weird already, players are dropping like flies, Pickford is out there killing people, Aguero assaulting linespeople, a David Moyes managed team just came back from the dead vs Spurs after spanking Leicester and earlier in the season murdering Wolves, Liverpool got fecked over by incompetent VAR. Anything can happen.
While we have sucked so far this season, if we won the game in hand (big IF on our current form), we would be ahead of Chelsea and Spurs, level with Arsenal, and a point behind Liverpool and City.
Outside of Arsenal who are consistently gritty and boring, no one else has it figured out.
And this season was always going to be about the last team standing with players getting covid / burnt out / injured as the season progresses. VVD unfortunately won't be the last big player injured.
Outside of Arsenal who are consistently gritty and boring, no one else has it figured out.
And this season was always going to be about the last team standing with players getting covid / burnt out / injured as the season progresses. VVD unfortunately won't be the last big player injured.
Only City are guaranteed to finish in the top 4 at this point. United, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Leicester, Everton all can genuinely finish anywhere between 1 and 9 imo.
I don't think City are guaranteed top 4 either, personally. There's no guarantees of anything as far as I'm concerned.
Man City and Liverpool (even without VVD) are still miles ahead of everyone else.
Chelsea and Man utd have a poor defense, Arsenal aren't exactly playing free flowing football and Tottenham are Tottenham (plus a poor defense).
Even though they had blips, Liverpool and City still have more quality and are being managed by the best coaches in the world. Its easy to see them being more consistent and getting past the 80 points mark. Can the same be said of the other teams?
Chelsea and Man utd have a poor defense, Arsenal aren't exactly playing free flowing football and Tottenham are Tottenham (plus a poor defense).
Even though they had blips, Liverpool and City still have more quality and are being managed by the best coaches in the world. Its easy to see them being more consistent and getting past the 80 points mark. Can the same be said of the other teams?
The best chances would had been the season when Leicester won the league or perhaps the season you finished second with Mourinho. This time I don't think United is going to challenge even if you changed Ole for a better manager but who knows. I guess I would believe is possible if I see United going on a long streak of winning matches.
I want what you're smoking
Despite unusual start to the season things would eventually settle down, I can't see eventual winner getting less than 85 points so that rules out everybody barring Liverpool and City unfortunately we lack quality and consistency to get to that total.
People are overdoing how open the title race will be this season. We'll be fighting for 4th again, a battle we can hopefully win
No it's not. We were top or thereabouts in winter/January under LVG. That's not happening this season. People are as usual knee jerking regarding City and Liverpool as they did with Spurs for 20 minutes yesterday.
I agree with this actually. He hasn't been as important for them as he was last two seasons. It won't be the same as losing Laporte last year for city. I would say losing mane would be more disastrous for them though. He is their most important player.
Best to see end of November first to judge and forecast better.
Still too early. Even then I have zero confidence of title chance.
Well...
Still too early. Even then I have zero confidence of title chance.
Well...With how reactionary our fanbase is, and should results continue to be as erratic as they are, if United go out and beat Chelsea and Arsenal half of you lot will change your tune
I don't think we'll win it, but it's the most wide open it's been since SAF retired.
They'll probably fall away but the fact they don't have European football this year is a huge advantage to Everton. Games will be coming in thick and fast and the sides in Europe will have lots of games to contend with in short spaces of time.
They'll probably fall away but the fact they don't have European football this year is a huge advantage to Everton. Games will be coming in thick and fast and the sides in Europe will have lots of games to contend with in short spaces of time.
Would have been had we signed a world class centre back or sancho rather than wasting like 80 million on signing back up squad players and young prospects.
He's not been poor, just not quite as imperious. Still our most important player.
The difference in drop in quality between vvd->matip and alisson->adrian is massive though. Matip is easily good enough to be a regular. Adrian is horrendous and his head is just gone.
As said previously in the thread, I reckon this season you can pick from 8 teams with a chance. Obviously we'll get drop offs as we get to Jan but right now its the most open I've seen it in a long time. Main thing is everyone is weak defensively. I still think Liverpool are favourites but they are already more vulnerable this season. The loss of VVD I don't see as affecting them as greatly as others think and if he returns later in the season will give them a huge boost. City for me are no different than last season. Jose looks like he's got Spurs revving a bit this year but last nights game shows that some things never change. Arsenal are going to be up and down as usual. Leicester I'm not sure about, I feel like they'll drop off quickly but I thought that last season as well. Wolves look their late end to the season and virtually no pre season has had the same effect as it has to us. Everton the surprise package. Normally I'd not be concerned by early season form but with Ancelloti in charge.
So to sum it all up I reckon we're going to find out in the next 2 weeks if we're going to be challenging or not.
So to sum it all up I reckon we're going to find out in the next 2 weeks if we're going to be challenging or not.
I agree. Still favourites for the league and at worst battling it out with City. They're comfortably better than us, Chelsea and the like even without VVD.
I don't disagree with Mane's importance but if he was crocked then Jota could come in and still do a pretty good job, not as good as Mane but he could still fit in well to that system to minimize the loss.
With Adrian in goal they're basically in the same boat we've been with Kepa, his presence alone makes the defense second guess themselves and any clean strike on goal is at risk of going in.
Sancho and a top DM and I would have really fancied us having a go.
Hopefully we find some of that form we had after the restart.
Hopefully we find some of that form we had after the restart.
City and Liverpool having a draw and loss early on yet everyone thinks it's anyones title. Bit odd.
Still expect those two to be clear.
Still expect those two to be clear.
I'm a man utd fan but I don't think we've got a chance this year unless we spend in January
All we got to do is score more than the other team in about 26 of the 34 games we have left. Its on.
It all depends on the next few games. If we manage to win 3 or next 5 games and manage a draw in one of the other 2. We have a really good chance to take the advantage and rise our game. We can easily catch up to the rest of the pack and really give it a go. Amad Diallo really seems like a quality player and I believe he will add threat to the attack we already possess. Regardless of all this, I hope and wish we add a few more quality players in January to give us a little more depth at the back and in attack.
We need to cut this crap about coaching deficiencies. We are pretty well coached right now, the goals show it. They have shown consistent pattern and what we want. What we need is a way to keep the team fit and focus. But the coaching is there.
And yes, we will not be very far from the top, I am convinced of it now. Especially because this season the league is going to be awfully difficult.
Not a chance. If someone offered me top 4 right now, I would happily take it.
Hopefully the team will make me eat my words, though.
Hopefully the team will make me eat my words, though.
He will affect their pressing, and therefore, the whole team. I am hoping it translates into lost pts for them. Think it will.
I can see United title chances/ relegation chances threads emerging on alternate weeks throughout the year
Could you imagine the meltdown if we win the league, lift the trophy at a full-house at OT with Covid restrictions lifted. Scenes.
Imagine the meltdown in Liverpool* where they lifted it in an empty stadium
Imagine the meltdown in Liverpool* where they lifted it in an empty stadium
Liverpool losing their goalkeeper for 5 weeks and now their best player and leader for rest of season most likely really throws the title race wide open for any team who can find some togetherness and consistency. Sadly it's more likely to be City than anyone else given they have Pep, Aguero, KDB etc.
Had we not been skint this summer and got our targets we might have been in with an outside chance. We didn't though.
Had we not been skint this summer and got our targets we might have been in with an outside chance. We didn't though.
Good thing he didn't say any of that, eh
If we can somehow just recreate our incredible form we had towards the end of last season, then who knows? But for some reason it just don’t look likely. Although you look at all the top clubs and the race does seem more open than usual.
If one of Salah or mane gets injured then I don’t see Liverpool walking the league (although they do still have a lot of quality).
City are hot and cold.
Spurs do actually look very good with Son and Kane as their two main attacking outlets - they’re both on unbelievable form, but they’re always unlucky with injuries.
Chelsea haven’t really looked that great.
Arsenal just don’t quite have enough, they seem to have become defensively more solid but not amazing going forward.
Everton do look good, but they probably don’t have a big enough squad / Pickford is well Pickford
Aston Villa is my rogue Leicester like call for the title.
Leicester haven’t looked good since lockdown.
If one of Salah or mane gets injured then I don’t see Liverpool walking the league (although they do still have a lot of quality).
City are hot and cold.
Spurs do actually look very good with Son and Kane as their two main attacking outlets - they’re both on unbelievable form, but they’re always unlucky with injuries.
Chelsea haven’t really looked that great.
Arsenal just don’t quite have enough, they seem to have become defensively more solid but not amazing going forward.
Everton do look good, but they probably don’t have a big enough squad / Pickford is well Pickford
Aston Villa is my rogue Leicester like call for the title.
Leicester haven’t looked good since lockdown.
Technically, we had an amazing squad just when Sir Alex left and that was our best shot at the title but I know what you mean, this is the best chance since we turned shit and I agree with you. Don't think anyone's going to run away with the title like the last few season. 80-85 points could be enough to win it.
Talking about our chances, we'll need luck with injuries and some reinforcement in Jan. We have a very good starting 11 but not much depth after it so if we can keep them fit and sign a CB in Jan, who knows what could happen. Are we the favorites? Not even close. Can we throw a spanner in the works with some luck? Yes, it's possible given how mental this season is and will be.
I doubt we will even get top 4 this season not to mind a title win.
I expect ourselves and Chelsea to drop out of top 4,well be in a dog fight with Arsenal, Everton, Leicester, Chelsea and Spurs to scrap it out for those two CL places.
I expect ourselves and Chelsea to drop out of top 4,well be in a dog fight with Arsenal, Everton, Leicester, Chelsea and Spurs to scrap it out for those two CL places.
If you think we are well coached, then fair fecks. Don't want to completely derail this thread but tell me exactly what is our style of play beyond counter attacking football.
Which is why Everton will be winning it......or us!
Basically, the team to go on a 5-6 game run can win it.
Basically, the team to go on a 5-6 game run can win it.
Current Chelsea and Spurs remind me of Pool 3-4 seasons ago in terms of how they've focused on acquiring offensive players this transfer window. Will be another 2 or more windows before they are able to replace the suspect elements in their respective backlines.