First time in a decade the squad is heading in the right direction.

Oo0AahCantona · Oct 20, 2020

Since our last league title and arguably the signing of Van persie, its felt like a purgatory of regression. This is the first time I've looked at the squad and it genuinely feels like a progression across the board.

For the longest time our midfield was the bane of our existence, we now have too many options. Bruno fernandes has been a van persie tier signing. when there is genuine discussion that paul fecking pogba is potentially surplus to requirements, I think your heading in the right direction.

We have 3 very young but experienced forwards that are becoming more and more reliable, however we are still missing that last piece of the puzzle. lets see what impact cavani can have on the short term.

We have the best match winning goalkeeper in world football.

Defensively we have a lot of hard questions to answer and decluttering to do, but we finally have some decent depth at fullback.

This is the most positive I've been in a long time, because the core of a side is finally there.

VorZakone · Oct 20, 2020

The squad is very good but Ole needs to be more daring with formations such as tonight. The 4231 with Matic & Pogba as DM's hasn't worked. Hopefully we won't see that again.

el3mel · Oct 20, 2020

We had a very strong squad and main lineup. We just need now to get a tone of the players consistently.

charlenefan · Oct 20, 2020

The board still fecked Ole, the players and the fans over in the summer and will continue to do so while Ole is getting them UCL football

Ollie Derbyshire · Oct 20, 2020

I think within the next 3 windows our squad will be easily one of the strongest around with an excellent first xi.

Potentially having Pogba, VdB, Greenwood/Cavani, Mata, Matic coming off the bench puts us in a very strong position when we need to start rotating players.

MrSingh2002 · Oct 20, 2020

charlenefan said:
The board still fecked Ole, the players and the fans over in the summer and will continue to do so while Ole is getting them UCL football

Level headed response. Let's not get carried away. We're still a right winger and centre back away from having a top 11.

Wumminator · Oct 20, 2020

Not true.

It’s been happening since Ole took over. Obviously.

charlenefan · Oct 20, 2020

MrSingh2002 said:
Level headed response. Let's not get carried away. We're still a right winger and centre back away from having a top 11.

It's so frustrating to think what we could have been this season, especially knowing now the situation with those scouse cnuts

Fecking parasites running this club

RUCK4444 · Oct 20, 2020

Wumminator said:
Not true.

It’s been happening since Ole took over. Obviously.

Not sure if wumming but it HAS. Some of us, myself included, have seen the progress in multiple areas since he first arrived.

Young side, inconsistency that brings, but look for the progress and it’s there.

Lost four in 30 odd games is it? We’ve proved we have the coaching and ability to beat top sides, we’ve acquired players like Bruno and VDB who will help us break down teams who sit back.

Clear as day to me. I struggle to understand why some don’t see it.

DeGea · Oct 20, 2020

Next thing to work on is mentality. I have no doubt that in terms of ability, the players can hold their own against the very best, it is more a question of whether they have the desire or not.

At the sharp end of elite sports, it actually becomes more a mental game rather than a physical game. But we are slowly getting there hopefully.

MrSingh2002 · Oct 20, 2020

charlenefan said:
It's so frustrating to think what we could have been this season, especially knowing now the situation with those scouse cnuts

Fecking parasites running this club

I agree. Only thing that could make up for it would be to get Sancho and Upamecano in the summer. See how it goes.

Wumminator · Oct 20, 2020

RUCK4444 said:
Not sure if wumming but it HAS. Some of us, myself included, have seen the progress in multiple areas since he first arrived.

Young side, inconsistency that brings, but look for the progress and it’s there.

Lost four in 30 odd games is it? We’ve proved we have the coaching and ability to beat top sides, we’ve acquired players like Bruno and VDB who will help us break down teams who sit back.

Clear as day to me. I struggle to understand why some don’t see it.

The reason I’ve been called a WUM on here are hilarious.

Originally it was because I was positive during Fergie’s reign. I was seen as a top red as I said we were great.

I criticised the Mourinho position. I said we should keep him.

And finally I backed Ole.

I’m not a WUM. I’m a very knowledgeable poster.

Deery · Oct 20, 2020

Good to see the likes of Fred, McTominay, Tuanzebe, Wan Bissaka and Lindelof putting in great performances it gives you hope moving forward.
We might just surprise a few people this season in the League and Champions League..

VorZakone · Oct 20, 2020

Wumminator said:
The reason I’ve been called a WUM on here are hilarious.

Originally it was because I was positive during Fergie’s reign. I was seen as a top red as I said we were great.

I criticised the Mourinho position. I said we should keep him.

And finally I backed Ole.

I’m not a WUM. I’m a very knowledgeable poster.

You think Mourinho shouldn't have been sacked or am I reading your post wrong...?

eire-red · Oct 20, 2020

If we can steer clear of injuries this season, our options are starting to look really good. Potentially van de Beek, Cavani, Mata, Pogba, Greenwood on the bench as attacking options, depending on rotation/shape.

Depth at full back as you said. Immense performance from Tuanzebe tonight, surely he must be thinking this is the chance of a lifetime for him. We're crying out for a defender of his ilk, just has to stay fit.

Two things that stand out in this squad. A mix of experienced leaders (Maguire, De Gea, Bruno, Mata, hopefully Cavani, Matic), young and hungry home grown talent, with both the correct talent and attitude (McTominay, Rashford, Greenwood, Williams, Tuanzebe), and creative players who provide something we've been missing for a while now.

For the first time in a long time, we've got what seems like the correct blend. There's a squad assembled that has a good mix of qualities and experience.

Football is a funny game. To go from such a low point against Spurs, to such a high tonight. As Ole said in his presser after Newcastle, our season begins now. And if the last two performances are anything to go by, it could be a good one.

There's a lack of consistency in the PL this season, City don't look the same, Liverpool with the loss of Alisson and van Dijk. Let's build a bit of momentum and see where we are come Christmas. Difference between us and the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea is genuine world class talent in the form of Rashford, Pogba, Bruno, Greenwood. Third is an absolute minimum.

charlenefan · Oct 20, 2020

eire-red said:
If we can steer clear of injuries this season, our options are starting to look really good. Potentially van de Beek, Cavani, Mata, Pogba, Greenwood on the bench as attacking options, depending on rotation/shape.

Depth at full back as you said. Immense performance from Tuanzebe tonight, surely he must be thinking this is the chance of a lifetime for him. We're crying out for a defender of his ilk, just has to stay fit.

Two things that stand out in this squad. A mix of experienced leaders (Maguire, De Gea, Bruno, Mata, hopefully Cavani, Matic), young and hungry home grown talent, with both the correct talent and attitude (McTominay, Rashford, Greenwood, Williams, Tuanzebe), and creative players who provide something we've been missing for a while now.

For the first time in a long time, we've got what seems like the correct blend. There's a squad assembled that has a good mix of qualities and experience.

Football is a funny game. To go from such a low point against Spurs, to such a high tonight. As Ole said in his presser after Newcastle, our season begins now. And if the last two performances are anything to go by, it could be a good one.

There's a lack of consistency in the PL this season, City don't look the same, Liverpool with the loss of Alisson and van Dijk. Let's build a bit of momentum and see where we are come Christmas. Difference between us and the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea is genuine world class talent in the form of Rashford, Pogba, Bruno, Greenwood. Third is an absolute minimum.

Honestly if we get 3rd this season it'll be even more of an achievement than it was last season and Rashford won't be the only one who then deserves an MBE :lol:

RUCK4444 · Oct 20, 2020

Wumminator said:
The reason I’ve been called a WUM on here are hilarious.

Originally it was because I was positive during Fergie’s reign. I was seen as a top red as I said we were great.

I criticised the Mourinho position. I said we should keep him.

And finally I backed Ole.

I’m not a WUM. I’m a very knowledgeable poster.

See I almost believed it until the last line.

Borys · Oct 20, 2020

I've said it even before Telles joined us, we have the best squad we've had since last Fergie years.

A lot of talent, a lot of energy and desire.

My only worry is the front three, you never know what to expect from them.

BehemothTerror · Oct 20, 2020

Also worth noting we have some premium talent in the under 18s at the moment. Even if only 2-3 make it from the current crop we could have ready made deputies/replacements when the current XI aren't firing. That's not factoring in 2/3 of the under 21s that might still press on (Mengi, Garner, Levitt, Laird)

norm87cro · Oct 21, 2020

I would even argue that is the case including the last 3 or 4 years with Fergie so yeah about a decade. The only thing is we really didn't suffer the consequences during Fergie and you know RvPs brilliance overshadowed the fact we didn't have a midfield in our last title winning season.

ghaliboy · Oct 21, 2020

I still find the multi-roles of Martial/Rashford/Pogba and some of the rest of the midfield annoying and bordering on "I don't wanna watch this anymore". But for the first time in a while it feels like we are no longer in a position of having to jam players in, we actually have set defined areas to strengthen the whole squad and make everyones jobs a lot easier. I'm liking it.

Sylar · Oct 21, 2020

One telling thing is when you look at the squad, it looks like only 3-4 who need to be shipped out as opposed to 8-9.

We got a nice balance with youth and experience. I still think we are three signings away, but I guess some of that depends on our youth. If Axl can stay injury free and performing at a top level, we have a huge bonus there.
If one or both of our RW young signings becomes a star, all of a sudden were in business and only really need maybe a DM or CB cover you would feel.

fps · Oct 21, 2020

There is squad depth now, which is more important than ever in this season which a lot of pro players frankly don’t look very happy to playing. This is why there are so many strange results, more than ever players must feel they’re in a never ending meat grinder.

Borys · Oct 21, 2020

Getting Telles was a great move, it opened up a lot of possibilities both in defense and formation change.

First time in a decade the squad is heading in the right direction.

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