Sorry about being a Debbie downer. I am actually trying to stay as positive as I can but I started typing there and it ended up as quite the rant. Don't think it helped that I watched misery guts Mou scowling his way through a post-match interview on the way into work this morning. He's such a depressing twat these days. It's hard to be positive about a football team when the manager seems to be loathing life itself...
Are you optimistic about the new season?
- Thread starter Lemansky
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
I don't think Fred will play as much as people expect, despite his price tag.
It really does seem like we're just going to go again with last season's team.
It really does seem like we're just going to go again with last season's team.
Add to that list.
Valencia to learn to cross a ball.
Lukaku to develop a great first touch.
Rashford to become a world class finisher
Fellaini to stay on the bench
Jose to become a more positive attacking manager.
I'm staying optimistic also.
Mentioned this elsewhere too. The man's casting a dark shadow wherever and whenever he opens his gob. He looks like death warmed up and just someone who's not happy here but also realises that it's Hobson's choice. Without being too negative, his football is becoming a reflection of his current personality. If you were Bale, would you want to play under him or stay in Madrid? Also with it turning into Mou bashing, always transference with him, and never his fault....
I think Young is a top full back. Genuinely, I think he's excellent, but in the context of our other wide options, it doesn't necessarily feel that way.
- He's right footed, and whilst that does have some benefits especially against inside rights, all our other left-sided attackers are right footed and also want to cut inside, the same way Young does.
- This would be less problematic if our right flank offered good wide options to stretch the play, but we have no right wingers of any sort, and our first choice right full back turns into a myotonic goat as soon as he is confronted by any opposition, and will never attempt decisive runs or look to capitalise on opportunities afforded by the opposition.
I find the best way to protect my normally happy and positive outlook on life is to listen or read nothing that Jose says on anything. His depressing naracistic energy is so hard to tolerate.
I can still remember my panic last year when one of his post match interviews came on the Tv and I couldn't find the remote.
I am optimistic, but then I come on the Caf enter the transfer forum and start reading how shit we are, how Liverpool have a better squad than us, Jose should be sacked, pogba is shit, Martial FC...
What's there to be optimistic about? Another season chasing shadows? City continuing their dominance. Liverpool improving and probably have a better squad than us. Euro 2020 please hurry up!!!
I completely agree and I've been following United for 20 years like you. When I watch a quality match (mainly WC and CL) I find myself thinking "oh yeah, this is what good football looks like."
I can't wait for the new season, we're 3 weeks away and i'm already missing football since the WC.
At the moment thought, do I feel optimistic - not really. We can't really be optimistic going into the new season given the state of our play last season and the signings made in the transfer window so far.
As things currently stand (and this could quite easily change depending on a few signings) I predict something like City and Liverpool challenging for the title and us, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea fighting it out for top 4.
Absolutely pains me to say it but I think next year is going to be awfully similar to last season - with no real evidence to prove otherwise
At the moment thought, do I feel optimistic - not really. We can't really be optimistic going into the new season given the state of our play last season and the signings made in the transfer window so far.
As things currently stand (and this could quite easily change depending on a few signings) I predict something like City and Liverpool challenging for the title and us, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea fighting it out for top 4.
Absolutely pains me to say it but I think next year is going to be awfully similar to last season - with no real evidence to prove otherwise
What’s Martial FC?
The problem is that Mourinho has adopted the "Devil we know" mentality regarding the defenders. We know Valencia/Smalling/Jones/Young is as mediocre as it gets for a club of our caliber but still he refuses to give meaningful game time to our younger, more talented prospects, who in turn might turn mediocre as well because they rarely play and are thrown under the bus by the manager when they do.
Unfortunately, I absolutely agree. I tried to stay as positive as I could (which didn't work) in the transfer whinging threads.
Our squad is a mess. It hasn't gelled. I have absolutely no optimism coming into the new season. I'm dreading it.
I’ll reserve judgement until the window shuts but...
If Fellaini signs an extension (looking likely
Martial leaves
Young and Valencia are our starting wing backs again.
We don't sign a RW.
We can write off the season before it starts.
I Wrote this right back on the first page.
All of it has happened apart from martial leaving
we are still done for.I really wish I could be genuinely optimistic about the new season. But there is just something off about our squad composition I just can’t put my finger on.
We have good players across the board and a top class manager but regardless of who the manager is they just don’t seem to complement each other. This isn’t meant as an anti-Jose rant and I’m not slagging of the players. I’m just not sure how we’ve got to this point and can’t think of a way to fix it without either a new manager or new squad. Possibly both
We have good players across the board and a top class manager but regardless of who the manager is they just don’t seem to complement each other. This isn’t meant as an anti-Jose rant and I’m not slagging of the players. I’m just not sure how we’ve got to this point and can’t think of a way to fix it without either a new manager or new squad. Possibly both
Off course I am! We have a brilliant squad, added a midfielder which can ease our transition from defense to attack, and still have 3 weeks to add an LB, RW and CB.
City had a freak season, as Arsenal Invincibles or Barcelona 2008-2009. Very hard to repeat. Off course we have things to solve, but I have faith in Mou and Ed.
While I lurked the forum without registering I never understood the doom and gloom here. After registration, I still don’t get it. Many here talk about Ed as if he was a first year Management student, Mou was an amateur manager, and United was a pub side. We are one of the top teams in the world, and have been getting better and better since the dark years of David “mediocrity” Moyes, and Louis “philosophy” Van Gaal.
City had a freak season, as Arsenal Invincibles or Barcelona 2008-2009. Very hard to repeat. Off course we have things to solve, but I have faith in Mou and Ed.
While I lurked the forum without registering I never understood the doom and gloom here. After registration, I still don’t get it. Many here talk about Ed as if he was a first year Management student, Mou was an amateur manager, and United was a pub side. We are one of the top teams in the world, and have been getting better and better since the dark years of David “mediocrity” Moyes, and Louis “philosophy” Van Gaal.
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No. We needed two top full backs and at least one top wide player, and we've got none of those. Fred will help our midfield, but our full backs will be Young and Valencia, and our wide players Sanchez and Lingard. In no world will that team ever win a title and worse yet people will blame Pogba for not carrying that dross.
If we don't get quality in I predict this to be Mourinho's last season. And I'm a fan of Mourinho, he's improved us, but just done enough in the above positions. Sad as it is to say, Klopp's done a much better job.
If we don't get quality in I predict this to be Mourinho's last season. And I'm a fan of Mourinho, he's improved us, but just done enough in the above positions. Sad as it is to say, Klopp's done a much better job.
Key point being;
"Not a single demonstrably reliable one amongst them, but they're all so talented"
I wouldn't start them like that. But we do have talented players in all those spots. I just despair at the fact we're not facing a point of evolution. Generally you phase out one player and phase in another. We have spent a (small) fortune on 4 defenders and face the prospect of hoping they all turn good, all at once. It's been horribly managed.
The roster still needs a couple of signings, then I realise who has the responsibility of completing them. A quick shake of the head, and a realisation that it was another sponsor all would be good, not at all confident in his ability to finalise signings.
From a distance there seems to be an attitude that he can drive a hard bargain, rather than assist in building a team.
From a distance there seems to be an attitude that he can drive a hard bargain, rather than assist in building a team.
Your optimism could actually cure diseases
I couldn't agree more. I mean he started like that in his first press conference
Last time football enjoyed a post world cup bounce in 1990 Arsenal won the league. No idea how that's relevant.
Not yet, to be honest. We must have proper full backs, and a magician on the RW. Then I will be optimistic.
I'm just not sure how anyone can be optimistic. We're going into this new season with virtually the same squad that wasn't good enough to win anything last year and from the bits and pieces I've seen Mourinho seems just as miserable and downbeat as ever.
We look miles off City and Liverpool look a real threat, albeit having spent a shit load. We don't even have the security of Wenger clinging on at Arsenal and making sure they're useless anymore.
It's really worrying.
We look miles off City and Liverpool look a real threat, albeit having spent a shit load. We don't even have the security of Wenger clinging on at Arsenal and making sure they're useless anymore.
It's really worrying.
Martial fanboyism
Would be more optimistic if the Man City and Liverpool people responsible for negotiating and signing players were seen at Wimbledon, Rugby World Cup and gala events more often. I know there is what'sapp, emails, Facebook , phones etc, but don't think there is a more effective way then face to face hard nosed negotiating.
Surely a club that's as big as ours should have a face at the table so to speak and be prepared to meet release fees and get things done. It's frustrating to watch Citeh have a sold plan on recruitment and actually meet the managers specs.
In rugby league here in Oz, whilst money is different, there would be significant questions raised if the CEO or recruitment manager was seen enjoying these types of events if there was recruitment needs to be concluded.
Still, Woody is his own man, and seems to be Teflon coated as he gets little criticism even though there are still needs in recruitment to be satisfied, maybe sponsors are mare satisfying signings to him.
Surely a club that's as big as ours should have a face at the table so to speak and be prepared to meet release fees and get things done. It's frustrating to watch Citeh have a sold plan on recruitment and actually meet the managers specs.
In rugby league here in Oz, whilst money is different, there would be significant questions raised if the CEO or recruitment manager was seen enjoying these types of events if there was recruitment needs to be concluded.
Still, Woody is his own man, and seems to be Teflon coated as he gets little criticism even though there are still needs in recruitment to be satisfied, maybe sponsors are mare satisfying signings to him.
Ah right...
I am planning a season where i won't be going to games which tells you where I'm at. Not wasting money on this mess anymore.
I wasnt looking forward to the new season. But now that Kieran McKenna has joined i am. Hopefully we will unlock some of our amazing attacking potential.
We've signed ONE player to immediately improve the first team and he may not start every game. We have the same manager so I do not see a miraculous change of tactics or style next season. We need a decent RW and experienced CB minimum but getting both now looking unlikely. Liverpool have strengthened well on paper but we'll have to see how this translates to performances in the PL. We need our marquee players such as Pogba and Sanchez to seriously step up this season. People will be rightfully angry if Pool overtake us this season with the resources we have at the club..
Yes, but we have signed more than ONE sponsor. Go figure, whats more important to some at the club, the football team or the finances, ummm
A top drawer RW would transform this team in my opinion making us much less predictable and really hard to defend against. It really is the missing piece of the jigsaw. I'll be fuming if we go into the season without one it's so obvious, but theres just no indication it's being addressed - I just find it bizarre and unfathomable ! And before anyone says it Rashford and Martial are not the solution - that was proven beyond doubt last year - and Mo won't play Sanchez there whether we like it or not.
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I know. Thing is, they basically have a ready made excuse time and again, and as fans, we'll just lap it up.
- Jose fails this season, gets fired/quits.
- "New manager, he needs time to mould the squad to his style - be patient and accept top 4 as a good result this season"
- 4th/5th finish, next season will be our season when 'the squad is his own'.
- 3rd/4th finish, 'progress', next season we attack the league title.
- We don't attack the title, manager leaves.
- Rinse and repeat.
We're becoming Liverpool and we have been since SAF left, its just a section of our fans refuse to see what's in front of them. Like Liverpool fans did.
As someone above said, since SAF left we haven't finished ahead of City once. This isn't about last season and finishing almost 20pts behind them. This is about a distinct pattern of mediocrity since 2013.
The World Cup came at the right time for me really. I’m not normally into International football much, but i thoroughly enjoyed it. I just forgot about the Premier League completely and all the transfer bullshit and it was great. As a result i was kinda optimistic about everything.
But i got to be honest, that sort of changed when i listened to Jose. The lack of transfers i’m not too bothered with at the moment as there’s still time (although not much), but if we go into the season as we are now, then i will start to worry. The thing that brought me back down to earth was listening to that dour fecker again. I thought he would be somewhat refreshed after the summer break, but nope - he’s still a miserable cnut.
I genuinely can’t see the football changing (hope i’m wrong on that one) but i do still have confidence in his managerial ability. That’s the only thing that’s keeping me going at the moment. ‘Cause it sure as shit isn’t his personality.
But i got to be honest, that sort of changed when i listened to Jose. The lack of transfers i’m not too bothered with at the moment as there’s still time (although not much), but if we go into the season as we are now, then i will start to worry. The thing that brought me back down to earth was listening to that dour fecker again. I thought he would be somewhat refreshed after the summer break, but nope - he’s still a miserable cnut.
I genuinely can’t see the football changing (hope i’m wrong on that one) but i do still have confidence in his managerial ability. That’s the only thing that’s keeping me going at the moment. ‘Cause it sure as shit isn’t his personality.
You speak like you have a godgiven right to win everything, every year. It doesn’t work like that (luckily for everyone in th sport) and City are finishing ahead of us because they have spent lottery money to get there. It’s not about us, it’s about them and a new, unfair advantage. Furthermore, we have won trophies lately and finished 2nd in a one-team league last season - how is that remotely close to mediocrity!? Now even Liverpool are spending money they haven’t really earned through success, the playing field is immensely tough to compete with. It’s a new world when Liverpool, whom have not won trophies in ten years, can spend 150M on a keeper and a defender.
So no, you’re wrong. Unlike Pool, we beat them last season, we are/have been winning trophies and hopefully will continue to do so. As long as City are spending oil money like they are doing, we cannot compete with them on «regular» money.
Based on what exactly?
Not sure that's fair tbh. We've spent a ridiculous amount of money since 2013 and hired Mourinho, a manager who gets results but causes turbulence as well. Were we solely preoccupied with top 4, we wouldn't have hired Mourinho.
Not really optimistic at all and not even looking forward to the start of the new season. We will play shit football, be very inconsistent but Ultimately we'll qualify for the CL and maybe win a cup which will keep the board happy.
I'm not in the Mourinho out camp but I'm not a fan of him either, I just see him as a necessary evil atm and will look forward to a new modern manager eventually coming in and taking over a stable squad with some very good players in it.
I just hope we don't end up losing the likes of Pogba and Martial in the meantime.
Top 3 finish, decent run in the cups and the quarters of the CL is what I'm expecting and that is not really exciting for a club like Manchester United.
I'm not in the Mourinho out camp but I'm not a fan of him either, I just see him as a necessary evil atm and will look forward to a new modern manager eventually coming in and taking over a stable squad with some very good players in it.
I just hope we don't end up losing the likes of Pogba and Martial in the meantime.
Top 3 finish, decent run in the cups and the quarters of the CL is what I'm expecting and that is not really exciting for a club like Manchester United.
I just hope the next manager has a good squad to take over and players don't get fed up and leave. It's my big fear, not for this window, but the next one.
A lot depends on his preseson. It would not surprise me if he starts the season behind Herrera, Pogba and Matic...even Fellaini.
Wouldn't surprise me if he's not an instant starter, new league etc. but I'm pretty confident he'll cement his place in the starting lineup and end up playing a lot.