I'm optimistic that we can put a good challenge for top 4.
Are you optimistic about the new season?
- Thread starter Lemansky
- Start date
Again just thinking it through logically.
He'll probably play as much as Mkhitaryan did / Herrera does. Not a regular starter
You are the most wrong person I've ever encountered in my online life.
This is how I feel.
As it stands I don't expect us to challenge seriously for the title...top 4 it is.
I have to say that unless Mourinho literally has the dressing room turn against him in a meltdown fashion, I think the worst it will get is finishing 4th (scraping for it).
I really can't see United finishing any higher than 2nd though. I just can't see how we can improve enough and City fall down enough (but they will a bit) for it be us coming out on top. Though I'm hoping in that scenario it's still a genuine title challenge from ourselves. That alongside some improvement to the football would be enjoyable enough (though still probably a scenario I'd want to see a change of manager.)
I really can't see United finishing any higher than 2nd though. I just can't see how we can improve enough and City fall down enough (but they will a bit) for it be us coming out on top. Though I'm hoping in that scenario it's still a genuine title challenge from ourselves. That alongside some improvement to the football would be enjoyable enough (though still probably a scenario I'd want to see a change of manager.)
This is my concern as well, I don't care if we don't sign anyone else this summer, I'm more worried about who we might sell before we get rid of Mourinho.
Curious who you think will start in the midfield 3 with Pogba and Matic regularly then? Or do you think Mourinho will continue to try and force Pogba into the 2 and use his 4-2-3-1?
The latter part yes. I don't see much difference from last season in terms of personnel, style or set up. Could be a good thing, could be a bad thing.
I thought the idea of Fred was to add some legs into the midfield 3 to help Matic and allow Pogba more freedom, I mean Fred's biggest asset is his ground coverage. I would have thought by now that Mourinho would realize that Pogba in a 2 isn't going to work, I know he did it in the World Cup but that was partly down or a better personal relationship with Deschamps, but mainly because he only had to do it for 6 games, not 56 like he'd have to do it at United, he sacrificed his game for a 3 week tournament, it's a different situation at club level IMO.
I would be more optimistic is Mourinho wasn't whining already. Can he at least be somewhat optimistic at the start of the season?! Also we need to do something about our defense. The players are good, but not good enough. Especially since Jose's whole concept is being able to stifle the opposition's offense and then pick up a goal somewhere. We saw last year that this doesn't work if your defense is anchored by Smalling or Jones, who will leak goals. It would have been way worse if we didn't have De Gea in goal. Maybe if our manager was willing to overcome our defense with some exciting offense, but we know that's not the case. We know in a season or so Jose will get bored and move on, let's just hope he doesn't insult too many players and drive them to leave. But the youngsters are not going to develop well with his nonsense.
But they will be good, just not great, which is what we need to strive for.
But they will be good, just not great, which is what we need to strive for.
I was going to mention that while Matuidi was playing left midfield he did drift in a lot to make a 3, but people rant about that being an excuse so I just left it at the base formation which on paper and on the field in parts, had Matuidi wider, but yes, ultimately Pogba in a 2 is never going to work unless we have 3 CB's behind the midfield, an extra body needs to be in there somewhere.It was pretty much a midfield three with Matuidi joining in.
Agreed but I thought Jose wouldn’t be content with top 4, his Chelsea teams were always fighting for the title.
Hell yes. Rashford, Martial will be a year older and should hopefully push on. Have to see Pogba step up this year and be a massive part of this team, people can blame Jose all they want but it's time for Pogba to deliver, and I think he will.
Expect Sanchez to be a hell of a lot better (couldn't have been much worse to be honest.)
Be good to have Eric Bailly back and hopefully he can stay fit and build a partnership with Smalling or Lindelof. I also expect Luke Shaw to have a good season.
Will we win the league? who knows I am just looking forward to the season starting again.
Expect Sanchez to be a hell of a lot better (couldn't have been much worse to be honest.)
Be good to have Eric Bailly back and hopefully he can stay fit and build a partnership with Smalling or Lindelof. I also expect Luke Shaw to have a good season.
Will we win the league? who knows I am just looking forward to the season starting again.
Not so optimistic, but does Mr Woodward realise the transfer window is actually open? We've signed Fred, granted great player.. But we need alot more. Sir Alex and Gill were masters at getting players, no hassle just went out and got them, but it's so different know, Woodward loves pulling in the cash but won't spend it as quick . It hasn't been right for years and this trend seems its continuing
Strange thing happen in football. Leicester, I repeat, Leicester won the PL.
Coming season, can Manchester city win it like last season? We should be up there challenging as well. Can it be their year again for Liverpool?
Will Chelsea do it with a new manager? What about arsenal and the rest?
I am looking forward to the new season, new hope. Very soon now.
Coming season, can Manchester city win it like last season? We should be up there challenging as well. Can it be their year again for Liverpool?
Will Chelsea do it with a new manager? What about arsenal and the rest?I am looking forward to the new season, new hope. Very soon now.
I'm pretty sure if you did a positioning map of Pogba and Matuidi in the WC, Matuidi was generally higher up the field. Pogba helped Kante in defense more than Matuidi did. That's what I observed in the few matches I watched France.It was pretty much a midfield three with Matuidi joining in.
Pogba was effective on the right and helping with defense. Maybe Pogba should be our right midfielder. Why did Mou either play him in a 2 or on the left in a 3?
The major reason for doubts over our ability to progress in the title chase is that the 2 major rivals in Liverpool and Man City appear to have made better and well credentialed signings quickly. We still have to address some positional issues that have been obvious for a while, and where is Woody, checking his phone/email/what'sapp for news , while probably visiting Disneyland.
At the end of last season i was confident that we could mount a challenge with a few carefully selected signings. Namely a right winger, two fall backs and a mid-fielder.
I have to say our signings to date havent really excited me and it seems like theres rumblings with some of our key players. Additionally due to the world cup run most of these key players wont be starting the season with us. All in all we dont seem to be going into the season in the best of positions.
I have to say our signings to date havent really excited me and it seems like theres rumblings with some of our key players. Additionally due to the world cup run most of these key players wont be starting the season with us. All in all we dont seem to be going into the season in the best of positions.
If you check position map in whoscored.com, Matuidi and Pogba have same average position with Pogba in right side and Matuidi on left side.
I agree that Matuidi made lot of attacking runs but in general it was midfield 3.
No, Kante was deeper but Pogba and Matuidi played roughly in the same areas. No one denies that Pogba did a hell of a job defensively, he was incredible
There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be up there. We need our big players to perform, stop sulking and give it their all.
We’ve not seen enough from Martial, Pogba and Sanchez. Never mind Shaw and there’s more to come from Bailly if he can keep fit.
Along with Fred, it’s like a host of new signings if they put it in.
I can’t wait for the new season!
We’ve not seen enough from Martial, Pogba and Sanchez. Never mind Shaw and there’s more to come from Bailly if he can keep fit.
Along with Fred, it’s like a host of new signings if they put it in.
I can’t wait for the new season!
I think we will get one or two players in yet. Hopefully defenders. Then I'd feel optimistic.
Looking at our team, I believe we have way more talent than we showed last season. If our players play to their level, and we have a season with little injuries / drama, it could be a good one.
Looking at our team, I believe we have way more talent than we showed last season. If our players play to their level, and we have a season with little injuries / drama, it could be a good one.
I wonder if the world cup year curse hit us. A lot of players looked to me like they downed tools after City went clear in the hope that they would see world cup action. Martial is just Martial though.
I wanna see Sanchez take it to another level, obviously it is hard to come into a team in the second half of the season and play at a high level. Fred will be interesting to see, we still need to solve that right sided puzzle as well.
Not really. Fred seems like a good addition, but the team was lacking in more than one area last season. Martial throwing his toys out of the pram is worrying, and I do fear the Mourinho losing the dressing room effect.
As things stand we have no credible replacement for Lukaku, should he pick up a long term - or even short term - injury. Fred is a replacement for Carrick, rather than an addition to the squad.
As of now I can foresee no improvement on last season. Like some others, I see only a top 4 fight.
But there are still 18 days or so to the end of the window so I'll reserve judgment until then.
As of now I can foresee no improvement on last season. Like some others, I see only a top 4 fight.
But there are still 18 days or so to the end of the window so I'll reserve judgment until then.
Wot?!
Anyways, I'm not optimistic of a title challenge because I can't see City slipping up. Their squad is far better than us, some of their bench would be starters for us and Pep has his system in place and once he does, he don't often the league.
But I am confident of top 3.
To be fair, we don't know what's going on behind the scenes. It's also possible that a large portion of the blame is on the players in question.
If it really has to happen though, then hopefully it happens before he persuades the board to get rid of some of our most talented players. I'm glad Woodward seems to be standing in the way of this. Looking at how Martial performed under LVG, the prospect of him in a system like Sarri's or Pep's is simultaneously mouth-watering and disgusting
Same goes for most of our other attackers bar Lukaku I think.And before anyone attacks me, I'm not saying Sarri is a better manager than Jose.
Unfortunately I don't think we are good enough yet to win a premiership. We have still got a lot of deadwood that needs to be replaced. With just over 2 weeks to go we still need a FB, CB, and most of all a Top Winger who can win us games.
I will wait for the first couple of matches before deciding this. On paper, City are stronger than us and so are Liverpool (at least equal to us now). But can City continue to play like last season ? Idk.
If Jose gets his tactics right, and if our superstar players click together, I think we can challenge for the title. Just have to find the right formation which suits all of our players.
I'm hoping Sanchez is rested and ready to go for this season, and that our world cup players continue their form into the season.
The only place where I'd want us to sign a player would be right back/ left back. Maybe a change in formation can eliminate the need for a right winger, atleast for this season.
If Jose gets his tactics right, and if our superstar players click together, I think we can challenge for the title. Just have to find the right formation which suits all of our players.
I'm hoping Sanchez is rested and ready to go for this season, and that our world cup players continue their form into the season.
The only place where I'd want us to sign a player would be right back/ left back. Maybe a change in formation can eliminate the need for a right winger, atleast for this season.
You should do some googling about Ronaldinho, Robben, Hazard and Lucas Mouran and our efforts to sign them.
And some of the turkeys they did actually sign!
Valencia, Young at full-back, and Mata at RW will win is nothing this season. I’m optimistic about that.
Boy would you be shocked reading back through some of our old transfer threads.
I dont think he will be, or is, happy with that. But I think deep down he knows we're never challenging City as things stand.
We're miles behind the top teams. We lack really great players. We haven't added any great players. One of the few we do heve (Pogba) is rumoured to be unhappy with Jose. One of our best young players (martial) is unhappy and wants to leave. If you're feeling positive for the season ahead I want whatever medication you're taking.
Exactly my feeling. How has this not been addressed?
Go with the formation which could get most of our attacking players. We have Lukaku, Radford, Martial, Sanchez who all could play as strikers . We can get best out of those players playing two up top and diamond below . Also we don't have a good RW , so this formation could eliminate the need for one.
I think if Jose still has that fire in his belly, we now need to focus on improving our attacking performances and developing a system, if new signings will not materialise. Our overall squad is far from weak, and although we are all desperate for new players, as we have been disappointing with the performance levels of certain individuals overall, I do feel it is time we take stock of our already expensively assembled cohort we have at our disposal.
We have not seen anything near the best that Alexis can offer, who has been enjoying his first real break from football since 2013, we would be over the moon if we had signed him this summer instead of back in January? We have several other hugely talented players who have much more to give, chiefly, Paul and Tony, the former a returning World Cup winner, with several huge performances. Lindelof looked composed on the big stage, and there is every chance he will be more settled in this season. Rashford should continue his improvement, and Lingard will become an even more important player. Shaw looks to be finally settling into the first team. And what's to say that United won't get a surprise boost? Maybe a young player like Tahith Chong lights up the league, or Andreas Pereira could turn out more than useful or Fred might emerge as a key component of the team. What do we really know about Fred or Dalot ? Probably about as much as we knew about Evra or Ole.
I'm honestly not sure the answer to our problems is loads more signings. We have signed a tonne over the past 5 years and they have hardly solved all our problems, what we need is improved attacking play, not more players. This is what our talented squad will want too. What Jose needs to do is settle on a back line which will give him the confidence, as a manager, to encourage attacking play (defence is the one area I do feel we need a signing, for the reason Jose will not change unless he has a back line he is confident in)
We have indeed have mixed messages and outbursts from Jose, and these didn't help, but what did we honestly expect when we all shouted for him to replace LVG? He is a man who wants to be first, and will be miserable when he is not, exactly how he should be. He is working hard and encouraging our younger players on tour, even though he is criticised for turning his back on youth, he spends a lot of time talking about them and giving them opportunities.
Jose stated he wants to be judged after three years, so evidently this is judgement time. If we are, again, 20 points behind City then it will not be good enough. A performance in Europe like against Sevilla, will also, not be good enough. If our style of football shows no improvement, this will also not be good enough. Jose has, however, not done a bad job in getting us to second and with a decent points total, even while so many players under perform. He has been given huge backing, yes, but he also now has the structure he wanted with younger coaches coming through to support him. He needs support from us supporters, we have been good to him yes (he has enjoyed a level of patience you wouldn't find at another top club) However our support is not unconditional, he needs to step up this season.
TLDR: Our current players, and more importantly, Jose need to perform this season, we don't need a million new faces.
We have not seen anything near the best that Alexis can offer, who has been enjoying his first real break from football since 2013, we would be over the moon if we had signed him this summer instead of back in January? We have several other hugely talented players who have much more to give, chiefly, Paul and Tony, the former a returning World Cup winner, with several huge performances. Lindelof looked composed on the big stage, and there is every chance he will be more settled in this season. Rashford should continue his improvement, and Lingard will become an even more important player. Shaw looks to be finally settling into the first team. And what's to say that United won't get a surprise boost? Maybe a young player like Tahith Chong lights up the league, or Andreas Pereira could turn out more than useful or Fred might emerge as a key component of the team. What do we really know about Fred or Dalot ? Probably about as much as we knew about Evra or Ole.
I'm honestly not sure the answer to our problems is loads more signings. We have signed a tonne over the past 5 years and they have hardly solved all our problems, what we need is improved attacking play, not more players. This is what our talented squad will want too. What Jose needs to do is settle on a back line which will give him the confidence, as a manager, to encourage attacking play (defence is the one area I do feel we need a signing, for the reason Jose will not change unless he has a back line he is confident in)
We have indeed have mixed messages and outbursts from Jose, and these didn't help, but what did we honestly expect when we all shouted for him to replace LVG? He is a man who wants to be first, and will be miserable when he is not, exactly how he should be. He is working hard and encouraging our younger players on tour, even though he is criticised for turning his back on youth, he spends a lot of time talking about them and giving them opportunities.
Jose stated he wants to be judged after three years, so evidently this is judgement time. If we are, again, 20 points behind City then it will not be good enough. A performance in Europe like against Sevilla, will also, not be good enough. If our style of football shows no improvement, this will also not be good enough. Jose has, however, not done a bad job in getting us to second and with a decent points total, even while so many players under perform. He has been given huge backing, yes, but he also now has the structure he wanted with younger coaches coming through to support him. He needs support from us supporters, we have been good to him yes (he has enjoyed a level of patience you wouldn't find at another top club) However our support is not unconditional, he needs to step up this season.
TLDR: Our current players, and more importantly, Jose need to perform this season, we don't need a million new faces.
It will be a scrap for 4th (which we should get) and a couple of good cup runs. The weaknesses in our squad have not been addressed (yet) in terms of new players so it'll be more or less last years tactics.
Jose Mourinho, despite knowing the World Cup is on for about the last 4 years (and that most players would have a late summer), is still moaning about the lack of players in preseason so he clearly hasn't prepared anything meticulous for the start of the season to deal with the problem.
I'm ready for the pain.
Jose Mourinho, despite knowing the World Cup is on for about the last 4 years (and that most players would have a late summer), is still moaning about the lack of players in preseason so he clearly hasn't prepared anything meticulous for the start of the season to deal with the problem.
I'm ready for the pain.
We do not know how to play football.