More and more we are becoming Arsenal.
Anyone else feeling ok after losing to City in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup?
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It was a disappointing result. I'm not particularly bothered as this is where Manchester Utd is at the moment. I feel like too many people get carried a way by the results rather the performance. It wasn't a terrible performance, sub-par and lack lustre...yes. Man Utd faced a much better team. I reckon Man Utd need to put out at least an 8/10 performance to get a result against Man City, unfortunately they put out a 5/10 performance. Against other teams, such performances may be enough to get a result.
Not ok, but not destroyed either. City are a great team, at best it was a 50% chance.
I’m still entirely comfortable with the direction of travel, we’re a young improving team heading in the right direction. Yes Ole needs a trophy but it’s coming.
I’m still entirely comfortable with the direction of travel, we’re a young improving team heading in the right direction. Yes Ole needs a trophy but it’s coming.
Your not getting my point:
1) I didn't mention anything about us not being fired up. I thought the players we put on the pitch were up for it too. No problem with that! What gets me is the abuse on here which is thrown at the players after a performance which I believe would have won us the game if we'd have played a Leicester, Wolves, Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal etc. Maguire got crucified by some posters in the after match thread!
2) Of course Fergie wouldn't say he was feeling ok. He'd tell them we can do better and we can improve etc etc. That's his job ffs! Doubtful though if the hairdryer would have come out after that performance! This thread is for the fans not the fecking manager or the players. Therefore when I see the Caf (the fans) going into meltdown slagging off players right and left, after what I believe was a good performance, then I reckon it can be up for discussion whether it's justifyable for posters to say that Maguire is a lump, and the sooner we get rid the better bla bla bla. If you believe we played badly then we can end the discussion now!
3) To be ok with a defeat is more a figure of speach my friend. Let's say, unlike the Leipzig match, I didn't exactly lose any sleep over it. Don't think Keano did either going on his post match comments and he's usually the first to criticize the players.
Btw I'm not part of the "Ole in brigade no matter what". If he was shown the door tomorrow I wouldn't lose any sleep over that either. Lose at home tomorrow to Watford and then Burnley in the PL then I'll be as fecked as you!
I agree entirely with your comments and I suspect your sentiments. I am genuinely puzzled when people tell me they thought it was a close game. After the first fifteen minutes it was anything but. Had we scored first and had we a plan for dealing with 'no centre forward' in City's line up, and had we played Matic instead of McTominay in the second half, then maybe we could have made it a close game thereafter.
What worries me is in four semi's now we've lost, ok bad luck maybe ...but in none of them have we looked really competitive and in everyone Ole has made a blunder in his choice of first X1, then in the timing of his subs. I feel he is over reliant on Bruno, who on Wednesday at times looked dead on his feet compared with his previous performances, his passing, timing and shooting were way below his normal standard. I do think our overall league performances are improving, the points total prove it... but in the higher reaches of cup competitions we have yet to 'find a way to win' and we could start by looking as though we do want to win!
More so losing 1 game is not a big deal, losing 2 games in a row is!...that was the point i was trying to make in my post, but maybe i wasn't clear enough.
Why were people in this forum ecstatic with Everton win last round if this competition isn’t worth anything? This reaction is pathetic.
I was gutted. City looked slick and played the better football but created nothing. To lose to 2 set pieces is infuriating.
Martial's missed header at the back post was the best chance of the game by a long way and Maguire missed 2 great chances from set pieces.
That game could have gone either way and the first goal was crucial. To concede it like that was so disappointing.
Martial's missed header at the back post was the best chance of the game by a long way and Maguire missed 2 great chances from set pieces.
That game could have gone either way and the first goal was crucial. To concede it like that was so disappointing.
I've no issues losing, better team won. We aren't at that top level just yet, slowly getting there but still need a few upgrades. One thing though is that is a City team coming of their best performances in a long time v Chelsea, so they were flying. For all their possession they weren't exactly carving us open at will. The first goal was poor from us in regards to how we defended that, same for 2nd really, 2 set pieces done us. We had a few set pieces ourselves that Maguire should have done better on.Few of our main players for whatever reason didn't have great games, it happens. Hopefully Ole has learnt a few lessons as well, I'm sure he has.
Never totally distraught after losing in the league cup - but it was a chance lost. But if we beat Burnley, this game will be quickly forgotten
Obviously wanted to win while the game was on but once it was done I couldn't have cared less. Whereas a loss to Burnley in the PL will bother me a lot more.
It's not just a reaction to losing either. Even before the season started, being in a title challenge again would have meant a lot more to me than winning the league cup, which has always been a lesser trophy. And winning the league cup certainly wouldn't make up for finishing outside the CL places again, for example.
It's not just a reaction to losing either. Even before the season started, being in a title challenge again would have meant a lot more to me than winning the league cup, which has always been a lesser trophy. And winning the league cup certainly wouldn't make up for finishing outside the CL places again, for example.
no - just really flat
a bit of a reality check as we look far from their level.
Was this one game just? I don't know but my instincts think its representative of wider issues - at the end of the season it would be great if this turned out to be a blip though
Martial and Rashford aren't good enough on a consistent level and we really lack players who frighten defenders.
I thought our threat was over rated.
You have to stay hopeful but the players we have brought in - Wan Bissaka, Maguire - look a level below Diaz and Cancelo for example in terms of defending and technical ability. Is this down to ability or coaching? City looked much much better passing the ball, a reflection of their superior manager.
He had a bad game but I can't bring myself to say anything bad about Bruno Fernandes.
Fred and McTominay haven't been great since Leeds but in a game like this their lack of technical and passing ability stood out too.
Bruno was transformative in terms of our results and performances. We need more transformative players like De Bruyne who makes City tick, Van Dijk who improved that Liverpool defence immeasurably. Grealish looks like he could transform us. Sancho could have transformed us. I've harped on about a playmaker defensive midfield player for a while in that Carrick role. Also funny enough - the last few games I really felt Bailly transformed the defence with his pace next to Maguire - he looks our best CB.
My big hope is Fletcher can have an impact and help us progress. When you consider where we've come since last January we maybe shouldn't be too downhearted. Not nice losing our momentum or losing to those blue twats.
a bit of a reality check as we look far from their level.
Was this one game just? I don't know but my instincts think its representative of wider issues - at the end of the season it would be great if this turned out to be a blip though
Martial and Rashford aren't good enough on a consistent level and we really lack players who frighten defenders.
I thought our threat was over rated.
You have to stay hopeful but the players we have brought in - Wan Bissaka, Maguire - look a level below Diaz and Cancelo for example in terms of defending and technical ability. Is this down to ability or coaching? City looked much much better passing the ball, a reflection of their superior manager.
He had a bad game but I can't bring myself to say anything bad about Bruno Fernandes.
Fred and McTominay haven't been great since Leeds but in a game like this their lack of technical and passing ability stood out too.
Bruno was transformative in terms of our results and performances. We need more transformative players like De Bruyne who makes City tick, Van Dijk who improved that Liverpool defence immeasurably. Grealish looks like he could transform us. Sancho could have transformed us. I've harped on about a playmaker defensive midfield player for a while in that Carrick role. Also funny enough - the last few games I really felt Bailly transformed the defence with his pace next to Maguire - he looks our best CB.
My big hope is Fletcher can have an impact and help us progress. When you consider where we've come since last January we maybe shouldn't be too downhearted. Not nice losing our momentum or losing to those blue twats.
I feel fine - it's only the Worthington Cup ffs . And it also exposes our squad imbalances, but we're not far away from being top at all. City just have a little advantage of squad balance being better than ours, but i certainly wouldn't call them miles better than us at all.
Diallo and Pellistri certainly balance our RW options more whilst our squad benefits will be huge. If Diallo or Pellistri were on the RW vs City we would have had Rashford Martial coming off the bench.
Our focus should be on the CF position now imo, we need centre forwards, not wide forwards. Keeping Bailiy fit has to be a priority, as has sorting out the RB spot, Dalot needs to come back. We're not a million miles off at all.
Besides I'm still football nirvana because of Scotty's goal last season. Who cares about the Worthington Cup anyway lads, tell the other girls to stop being cry babies and man up. We have the League to win and the FA Cup
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Anyone got a biscuit for my tea please?.
Diallo and Pellistri certainly balance our RW options more whilst our squad benefits will be huge. If Diallo or Pellistri were on the RW vs City we would have had Rashford Martial coming off the bench.
Our focus should be on the CF position now imo, we need centre forwards, not wide forwards. Keeping Bailiy fit has to be a priority, as has sorting out the RB spot, Dalot needs to come back. We're not a million miles off at all.
Besides I'm still football nirvana because of Scotty's goal last season. Who cares about the Worthington Cup anyway lads, tell the other girls to stop being cry babies and man up. We have the League to win and the FA Cup
.Anyone got a biscuit for my tea please?.
Anyone who underestimates this cup; how did you felt when you watched this?
It's not that I am accepting the result. It's that I know that we are not going to win anything. It's the same as before. I don't accept not winning. Even when we were not winning anything. But all this is sapping.
The reality is that we are not going to win. Nothing in this club is good enough to win. The Vice Chairman, the Manager, The Coaches and The Players.
The reality is that we are not going to win. Nothing in this club is good enough to win. The Vice Chairman, the Manager, The Coaches and The Players.
That is why cups are best chance. League is always (well, nearly always) won by best team. Cups are another story.
Happy but also relieved because in truth Southampton outplayed us for much of that game.
Losing a match in a knock-out round especially in a semi-final is never okay but I'm not surprised anymore since Ole is a specialist in losing semi-finals. I knew we won't get past this stage but never expect us to lose to City so meekly.
Obviously disappointed in the result, can never be pleased with a loss. But I think I’m at an age where there are more important things in life to get worked up over a football match. We didn’t play badly on the night, we just got beat by a team who played a bit better, which is understandable as they are a better team with more experience than us. I think we are moving in the right direction, so am willing to be patient as long as we keep improving.
I think people got more ecstatic because of our performance than progressing in the cup.
I wasn’t that angry after the game, wasn’t even that hyped up before it as I’m usually are. It felt more like a bonus game, see where we are and might get a final to look forward to.
City are in really good form and have an excellent defence now, we are not really there yet but this game showed me that we almost are.
If Bruno, Rashford and Martial had a good game we might had won.
It’s nice to see the progress we have made since Ole took over, no more 5 at the back and sit back and counter.
We are almost there, a couple of more signings and some more time and the trophy’s will come.
I think it comes down to fact it's the league cup, it's the least important competition we play. Is anyone that bothered being knocked out of it? Probably not.
The dissapontment is losing to city, but they are a top side these days and there wasnt much in it, so its disappointing but it's nothing to get overly concerned with.
Win the next two league games and noone will care about losing to city in the league cup semi.
The dissapontment is losing to city, but they are a top side these days and there wasnt much in it, so its disappointing but it's nothing to get overly concerned with.
Win the next two league games and noone will care about losing to city in the league cup semi.
technically Leicester and Everton have replaced Arsenal as big game so its a difficult one. Bruno scored 2 vs Everton and grabbed an assist. Also scored and assisted vs Leicester. "traditional big 6" means f all now because Arsenal are shit nowadays so we have to kind of move on. Arsenal came 8th last season and are currently 11th. I no longer regard them a big game. its been soooo long
As long as we depend on Martial and Rashford for goals, we aren’t going to be beating the top teams. We need someone with Cavani’s level of goal-poaching instincts but younger. It’s an important attribute when the margins are so slim.
Both Martial and Rashford are good players when they are part of a supporting cast rather than at the forefront. Martial isn’t a natural goal scorer.
Both Martial and Rashford are good players when they are part of a supporting cast rather than at the forefront. Martial isn’t a natural goal scorer.
He's part of the few that I actually want to see win something and will be happy for if they do. How good or bad he is, don't care.
City were brilliant - especially Stones and Dias. We actually weren’t horrible either - I loved how Fred, Scott and Pogba stepped up and actually looked like a fluid midfield. Bruno’s ambitious passing just didn’t open anything up for us.
City fully deserved that win and it reminded me of our loss to Barca in 2011.
Brush off and win the league now
City fully deserved that win and it reminded me of our loss to Barca in 2011.
Brush off and win the league now
No we're not.
Look at how Klopp treated the FA and EFL cup since he came, did Liverpool become Arsenal?
Agree with OP. I don’t think we played well but it was comforting to know we can look that out of sorts but still compete from a tactical perspective.
It shows the team has grown.
We would have possibly won games like this under Mourinho and Van Gaal it is true but there was never the same feeling for me that those teams could grow into something special - there was a overarching staleness about those sides and a ceiling - whereas this side feels like on its day it can beat anyone and be devastating in patches ... that 15 min period before second half - we were looking dangerous.
Next year we need to aim for more consistency throughout games but I just think this game came after a large run of good results and the players looked a little worn out in truth - can’t really compare it to the naïveté shown in the UCL encounters.
It shows the team has grown.
We would have possibly won games like this under Mourinho and Van Gaal it is true but there was never the same feeling for me that those teams could grow into something special - there was a overarching staleness about those sides and a ceiling - whereas this side feels like on its day it can beat anyone and be devastating in patches ... that 15 min period before second half - we were looking dangerous.
Next year we need to aim for more consistency throughout games but I just think this game came after a large run of good results and the players looked a little worn out in truth - can’t really compare it to the naïveté shown in the UCL encounters.
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Good points. It does feel like we have a much higher ceiling as opposed to maxing out our potential and grinding out a result. Of course it would have been great to win but City were also excellent. Our players were exposed to a very high standard of opposing team and now know what level the need for the next big encounter. Our focus now has to be improvement and the league, and FAcup. Nothing wrong with that and no excuses now either.
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The team can’t win every game. But that’s our 4th semi final loss, at home, local rivals as opposition. It may be the League Cup but to simply put the loss down to just another game seems a bit ridiculous to me.
Plus there is a constant similarity in the way we play again the better teams. Sit in and defend without the countering attacking strike we possessed last season.
Plus there is a constant similarity in the way we play again the better teams. Sit in and defend without the countering attacking strike we possessed last season.
I agree wholeheartedly with the above. Reading through this thread, a lot of our fanbase has become so soft, losers mentality.
I will never be happy as a Manchester United fan of being knocked out of any competition and especially not to Fierce Rivals.
All the fans content with this result. You do realise that Citys dominance in this cup over the past decade has seen them overtake us on the all time winners list. Unacceptable!
We dominated this cup in mid to late 2000's winning 3 times in 5 years and it was fantastic. As the top club in England we should be striving to win it all every season.
Thats what City are now trying to do and we're okay with losing to them.
Fecking Hell.
The mitigating factor for me is the level of investment City have in their squad is almost impossible to compete with.
Ruben Dias was man of the match wasn't he, and he cost MORE than Harry Maguire. £65 million quid just spunked on a player alongside another 50 million defender in John Stones. A lot is made of city's wealth - but not ENOUGH is made of it. Its basically unfair on the rest of the league.
Without that investment, we basically won the title under Mourinho with 81 points. Without that insane investment we'd have won the league at least 3-4 more times. That's why it's sort of- hard to give a shit when they win against us.
If we beat them they would spunk another 200 million on defence. They've already spent £465 million on defenders ALONE. We just have to concentrate on improving our own team and figure out an alternative way to get past them, but as long as any team remains competitive with them (including Liverpool!) you have to assume they're doing the best they can.
I must say those saying city were only marginally better need to take off the red tinted glasses. They obviously didn't need to go up another level, they could but they didn't and just controlled the game comfortably.
Dias isn't more expensive than maguire. And all that city spend blah blah crap you used to make excuse of not matching their level, well shit if we are burnley maybe it makes sense but we fecking spend alot too, even Liverpool which didn't spend as much as both of us can match their level, wat excuses can you still conjure up?
He cost 65 million minus 13.6 million Otamendi as a exchange so thats 51 million odd. Did we sign Harry for 50 mill?
Lindelof cost £30.7 so our CB was £110 mill transfer value.
theirs was £98.5 million transfer cost. think you are just making excuses Gaz.
We have spent hundreds of millions on defenders also. I think we have the 2nd highest expenditure in English football so this isn't the time for United fans to be talking about "cannot compete due to lack of funds"
Well truth of the matter is feeling bad/sorry for ourselves and complaining about it wont change a thing. This is unfortunately our current level whether people want to accept it or not and it will take us a while before we`re competing for trophies consistently like City/LFC thats why most fans are "content" not because they`re happy but because they acknowledge where we TRULY are as a team. We simply lost to a team that is heads and shoulders better than us and there`s nothing that changes that fact
I probably would have been ranting a lot more if what was going on in the USA didn't happen at the same time.
I am so down fighting with people here who thinks Ole is the best thing since sliced bread. And at the same time we have not been able to take that step to be in the very top bracket.
I don't think Poch is the man either.
I am so down fighting with people here who thinks Ole is the best thing since sliced bread. And at the same time we have not been able to take that step to be in the very top bracket.
I don't think Poch is the man either.
I think people have a delusional and wholly entitled viewpoint when it comes to elite sports.
There is nothing that entitles us to winning. Not our name, not our funds, not our fans. There are clubs spending more than us, there are clubs spending the same as us. I've simply mellowed - you can't rant and rave and make demands endlessly without an oil sheikh or literal KGB agent spending billions on footballers without giving a feck about where that money goes, then spending the same again if it doesn't work out
If you want to be angry about it - fine. But investment is and always has been the number one factor in a clubs success. To pretend otherwise is completely and utterly delusional. Without cities stupid spending, how many more titles would we have? Three? Four? Add Chelsea to that list and consider that over the last 20 seasons we would have had a trophy cabinet in English football that would embarass Bayern Munich. All you can hope for as a fan is continual improvement and better football and that's where we are going now. Better and smarter investment gets us closer, but if they are forever spending double what we do, how do you ultimately compete?
Eh, about that - Pep has spent half an billion Euro's on defenders (about £465million), you're bound to get a good player eventually. Our spending is actually closer to Evertons if you actually look at the figures over the last ten years.
And who is saying they are happy or making excuses? Its just sort of - understandable when you lose to the likes of City, as annoying as it is. We've beaten them a few times lately at least and we are clearly not far away, despite the doom and gloom mongers worst opinions.
Disappointing evening and added to our doubts that we can't beat any of the better teams in the league.
However, win against Burnley and get through Liverpool without defeat and we're in a great place still.
However, win against Burnley and get through Liverpool without defeat and we're in a great place still.
That cup is Pep's legacy.
City were winning leagues with Pellegrini sure, but they weren't dominating the (whatever it's called) Cup.
No, If you want to go down in history as one of the worlds greatest clubs, you hire Pep - give him half a billion pounds to spend on defenders until he gets one playing well for a bit , and win multiple league cups in a row.
Vision
City were winning leagues with Pellegrini sure, but they weren't dominating the (whatever it's called) Cup.
No, If you want to go down in history as one of the worlds greatest clubs, you hire Pep - give him half a billion pounds to spend on defenders until he gets one playing well for a bit , and win multiple league cups in a row.
Vision