I posted it in the Pereira performance thread x
Manchester United vs Tottenham (Thu 25th July, 12:30 UK time)
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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.
Thanks
He's still here. Went on a few loans. Failed on them. He's not really very good.
We saw a lot of great combinations over pre-season so far. I’m looking forward to next year. I reckon there are 3 positions in the starting XI up for grabs.
1. Centre back - either Axel or Smalling
2. Right sided attacker - either Lingard or Greenwood
3. No.10 - either Mata, Andreas, Lingard or Gomes
The most exciting option for each position are the young guys. But honestly I think it’s too soon for all 3 at the same time in what is already a relatively young team. If you could add Maguire and a top creative no.10 then I think we would be in a good place.
1. Centre back - either Axel or Smalling
2. Right sided attacker - either Lingard or Greenwood
3. No.10 - either Mata, Andreas, Lingard or Gomes
The most exciting option for each position are the young guys. But honestly I think it’s too soon for all 3 at the same time in what is already a relatively young team. If you could add Maguire and a top creative no.10 then I think we would be in a good place.
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Yep! I enjoyed that and even though I already like and rate McT, he wen't even further in my good books after that. We need an enforcer and he clearly has that in him.McTominay pushing Kane back off Pereira like he's nothing
Yes I see that as well. He certainly has an edge to him.
Nice one Scott! Don't take no sh!t Spurs acting like they're in the CL final again, muppets. Classy from Poch to apologise for their behaviour though, there were some real nasty tackles on DJ from Sissoko too and a deliberate stamp (son of a....)
Kane doesn't want it
Its amazing how that happened. I mean for kane to get out of Smalling's pockets in time to get bslapped back into it by MctominayMcTominay pushing Kane back off Pereira like he's nothing
Who is providing the width in this lineup? It looks like Shaw and AWB would be and that would not work IMO. In today's game you must have consistent threats down the wings to stretch organized defenses.
I think James is going to be a starter. Defenders are responding to James with hacks and dirty play and that's a true mark of being scared of an attacking player.
I don’t disagree. It’s a diamond midfield with Gomes as the 10 and Pogba on the left of midfield. Width is always a problem in that formation and the strikers need to provide width at times by running the channels and finding space.
Ole is playing a 4-2-3-1 and at times, a 4-3-3. These are basically the same system. Everyone wants to play a 4-3-3 like Liverpool and press like hell. We just don’t have the personnel for a Liverpool-like 4-3-3 in my opinion. Klopp has three hard working, ball-winning midfielders that are very quick. We have Matic. They have a CF that is unselfish and hard working, but also can act as a target man (Firmino). Neither Rashford or Martial are good as targetmen, they are much better getting behind the defense.
I do think the off-the-radar James purchase was an attempt to allow us to play like Liverpool, but the rest of the squad just doesn’t have the skill set for that type of formation.
I suppose you could play Gomes on the wing in a 4-3-3, but you want him on the ball in tight spaces, not flying down the wing and putting balls into the box.
Ugh. We just don’t have personnel that fits a certain style. I suppose that’s what happens when you have 4 managers in 8 years...
Hahahaha
Based on what I saw last season, Ole will revert to "Fergie's boys" when the going gets tough. I just don't see him giving many minutes to the youth.
I think Ole prefers "Fergie's boys" and then players who are in their early 20's (in that order). I'm not convinced he likes to use teenagers.
The problem that Ole has is that if he takes risks by using the teenagers and we fall down the league table, he'll be fired. He doesn't have a squad capable of reverting to a first team which can almost guarantee wins and climb back up the table. If we get into 10th place, say, it's quite possible that we won't have a first team good enough to take us back up.
Playing teenagers is risky, especially when it can cost you your job in 3-4 months.
What do you mean by "Fergie's boys"?
Going through the squad and looking at the players that played in the Spurs game
DeGea/Romero - Two good keepers and looks like DeGea might be staying?
Wan Bissaka/Dalot - good options for that position
Smalling/Bailly/Tuanzebe - Smalling a decent back up centre back,Bailly with yet another injury. Jury remains out on Tuanzebe
Rojo/Lindelof - Not sure why Rojo is still at the club, Lindelof probably the best centre half United have and a new signing required to play along side him.
Young/Shaw - Young should be finishing his career at some mid table championship team yet he's still at United and is captain. Shaw a decent full back option
McTominay/Matic - McTomo a decent back up midfielder. Matic is done as a top level footballer.
Pogba/Fred - Pogba will he stay or will he go? not a player to be building your team around if he stays IMO. Big season ahead for Fred to prove he isn't another big money flop signing
Pereira/Lingard - the former another good pre-season but can he deliver consistently when the real stuff starts? the latter has carried his poor form of last season into a new season and if thats the best he can do he should be kept on the bench.
Greenwood/Mata - One with a great future ahead of him the other is finished at this level
James/Gomes - two good young players and will need good experience players around them to guide them along (Do United have enough of those good experience players at the moment?)
Martial/Rashford - both looking in mood and between them they should be scoring at least 30 goals this season. (between them they scored 25 goals last season)
DeGea/Romero - Two good keepers and looks like DeGea might be staying?
Wan Bissaka/Dalot - good options for that position
Smalling/Bailly/Tuanzebe - Smalling a decent back up centre back,Bailly with yet another injury. Jury remains out on Tuanzebe
Rojo/Lindelof - Not sure why Rojo is still at the club, Lindelof probably the best centre half United have and a new signing required to play along side him.
Young/Shaw - Young should be finishing his career at some mid table championship team yet he's still at United and is captain. Shaw a decent full back option
McTominay/Matic - McTomo a decent back up midfielder. Matic is done as a top level footballer.
Pogba/Fred - Pogba will he stay or will he go? not a player to be building your team around if he stays IMO. Big season ahead for Fred to prove he isn't another big money flop signing
Pereira/Lingard - the former another good pre-season but can he deliver consistently when the real stuff starts? the latter has carried his poor form of last season into a new season and if thats the best he can do he should be kept on the bench.
Greenwood/Mata - One with a great future ahead of him the other is finished at this level
James/Gomes - two good young players and will need good experience players around them to guide them along (Do United have enough of those good experience players at the moment?)
Martial/Rashford - both looking in mood and between them they should be scoring at least 30 goals this season. (between them they scored 25 goals last season)
I presume he means the players that are still there from Fergies time. Smalling,Jones,Young etc. If those three are regular starters again this season then United will miss out on top 4 once again IMO.
I like the way Kane calms down once he sees a player taller than him
Well there's no way Young is starting regularly unless perhaps Shaw gets a long term injury and Dalot doesn't impress. I think even then, someone like Brandon Williams in the reserves might get a chance.