[haram]

Like I'm going to be quizzed by you, piss off. The fact that I don't rate him highly tells you that there are many.

Of course

 

[Flanders Devil]

Regarding the selection of Perreira and Mata, I think the choices were a bit limited with Lingard being in poor form. In retrospect, perhaps Greenwood could have been preferred to Perreira, but I can entirely understand why Ole may have felt that would leave us a bit lightweight.

I too thought McTominay had a decent game - not perfect, but committed and effective.

I think your observation regarding Pogba is generous - he was dreadful in the first half, but did improve when pushed further forward after Matic came on. Pogba is a conundrum in that he should, in theory at least, get more time and space playing in the deeper role, but this has to be balanced with him looking like an accident waiting to happen when on defensive duties. The problem is that teams now know that putting pressure on Pogba will often bear fruit in the form of a turnover, so they'll look to do it wherever he plays.

Dan James was impressive in most of what he did, and if he could improve his crossing he could become an outstanding player for us. Having said that, I'm still not sure that any of our forwards have the instincts to get into positions to take advantage of crosses (I'd like to see more of them threatening the near post). Maybe Greenwood could do a job centrally ...?

After Chelsea, the results have been diappointing, no doubt about that. However the football has, as you say, been very watchable and we have been a bit unlucky. The performances have warranted more points than we've gained.

I agree with both of you re Pereira and Mata. Both shouldn’t start, but we had no feasible options other than Greenwood, who might I add looked lively. And to be fair to Mata, I thought he was one of the better players when on.

Re Pogba, I’m as frustrated as anyone, but I do think it’s very difficult to play when you (and the opposition) know that you are the one and only creative outlet. You get more pressure, you have to try to do more, and when you stuff up it’s amplified. You can tell when he gets it, he thinks ‘I’ve gotta create something here’. Hence he turns it over more.

Also can’t help but to agree with a few peoples comments that Lukaku would’ve at least bundled in one of those crosses. Rashford doesn’t get himself into those positions to score a scrappy goal. He seems to want to position him ‘away’ from those situations and score ‘nice clean’ goals.

 

[eire-red]

I'd disagree, there's plenty of positives, just the negatives from the previous season are still present. I too agree we're far from what we need to be showing week in - week out, but I still think it's the lack of signings in midfield that would hinder our performances.

Southampton are average, true, yet they managed to give Liverpool a tough game, being very unlucky not to get a point, even three out of their game. The gap between the top six and the rest has closed significantly in the past few seasons, so to still be part of the top, we need to strengthen good, which, again, requires more transfer windows.

I might be very wrong about how I see things, but in my opinion time is of utmost importance for Ole.

I get what you're saying, acting drastically and sacking Ole anytime soon wouldn't achieve anything, there are too many gaping holes in this team to properly assess him, but we should still be doing better.

I think what seriously rubbed me up the wrong way about today's performance was given what happened last week, I would have expected us to have a higher level of intensity and directness in our play. The game today, taken in isolation, wasn't terrible by any means, but I would have expected something more from a team who just got beaten at home by Crystal Palace.

The positives over the last 2-3 months are our 3 signings over the summer and the players we have shifted out. Hopefully Rojo and Darmian will soon follow as well. There seems to be a plan on the profile of player we are targeting, which is good, but none of it matters if finally some semblance of strategic planning doesn't formulate into performances and results on the pitch.

I think we'll suffer this year, but in the long run, over the next 2-5 years we won't miss the players we have sold, and if the right decisions are made, recruitment wise, hopefully we will benefit. I think its just a question bad will it get before it gets better. Missing another year of CL football, losing Pogba and De Gea could potentially derail any attempts at a rebuild.

As you said, there are positives, but we are also heading into a period of real uncertainty. The lack of quality and depth across the squad, especially in midfield is worrying, extremely so if Pogba gets injured. We're still 4-5 real quality signings away from competing again, the next two windows are more important than ever.

 

[Foxbatt]

What positives? We are making basic mistakes. The Wolves goal was because we didn't push out fast enough. Palace because no covering for the CB who was going for a header. Today because we let them put in a good cross and no one marking their tallest player.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

Don't understand this obsession for the shittiest formation 4-2-3-1. Why the feck do we need to play two holding cms against smaller teams? It's like Jose never left!

LvG got sucked into it too. Playing depay in the hole. Making weirdest baffling decisions is inherent in the club.

Also re. Pogba. He should play in the number 10 role. He loses the ball far too many times for a CM. Hoping Fred is given a chance but I think the manager doesn't like him

 

[Flying_Heckfish]

Also re. Pogba. He should play in the number 10 role. He loses the ball far too many times for a CM.

If i see one more suicide-pirouette from him I may have a heart attack! Any team that can counter just needs to press him, he makes mistakes like that every game

 

[ash_86]

If i see one more suicide-pirouette from him I may have a heart attack! Any team that can counter just needs to press him, he makes mistakes like that every game

Yup pretty much. Keep him as close to opponents nets as possible.

 

[ice-bionic red]

Tbh I thought we’d lose that. Too many players in the team/squad simply not good enough. Expected this to be a long season and it will be.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Of course

I usually agree with most your posts but Rashford is wank mate.

 

[haram]

I usually agree with most your posts but Rashford is wank mate.

I don't see how a top 10 U21 player can be wank, but you can have your opinion. He is still very young and he will make better use of his explosive raw pace as he gets older.

For what it's worth, I don't really rate him as a striker.

 

[jimmyb2000]

Tbh I thought we’d lose that. Too many players in the team/squad simply not good enough. Expected this to be a long season and it will be.

The red card is what stopped us from losing that. If Southampton had kept 11 players on the pitch I think they would have gone on to win the game.

 

[SilverPaper on the Breeze]

Broadly speaking, I’m pleased with a lot of the work we’ve done in terms of getting rid of deadwood and focusing on youth. I think on the whole we’re playing better football than we have and there’s a coherent strategy to what we’re trying to do.

However, we’ve got a problem in midfield. The position where Pereira played today is an issue; we’ve got no one good enough to play there. I’d be tempted to put Fred in there and see if it works or put Matic in a bit deeper alongside McTominay and push Pogba further forward.

Secondly, and this is by far the biggest problem we have, there is absolutely no Plan B in attack. Rashford, Martial, James, Lingard, Greenwood... They’re all similar. Young, quick and looking to run at people and get in behind. When a team drops off and defends deep, as Palace and Soton have, it becomes ineffective. They invite crosses into the box knowing that we’ve got no one that can win a header. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have sold Lukaku (we still need someone that can control a football) but he should have been replaced. Mandzukic was the obvious one for me; a short term, ready made, experienced squad option that could do a job for a season or two. We desperately need some variety and I suspect Ole regrets not getting any already. It’ll be top of our January shopping list, I’m sure; quite possibly Ibra.

Finally, we look better defensively than we have but Lindelof needs to up his game. Not played well so far this season and it’s undermining the rest of the back four.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Ain't getting top 4 this season

Before the season started i doubted top 6.

 

[tony54]

It's even more basic than that. The ball for the goal comes in today. Maguire points at the Southampton player, Lindelof who is nearer to him, points at the Southampton player. Bissaka who is behind him, isn't even looking. Pogba who was in a position to pick him up has moved away completely. No one has responsibility because we have not even bothered to work out who's responsibility it is when a ball comes into our six yard box and there is ONE opposition player in the box.

When it's one player being weak and making a mistake, you can look at the player (or the manage if he keeps picking him). When it's all of them it is a coaching issue. It happens with every ball into our box. If the ball isn't straight at Maguire's head, it doesn't get dealt with, and whoever is in our box has a free go at it.

How long does it take to work on this enough for there to be an initial basic improvement. One training session? A conversation about who's job it is to do what? There is zero improvement from one game to the next. We are not even trying.

Yes, that's all true. But one has to trust individual players to be able to do their job as well.

 

[SilverPaper on the Breeze]

Before the season started i doubted top 6.

The saving grace for us in the top 6 battle is that Chelsea are as bad as us, Arsenal might well not be much better and Spurs look out of sorts too. I still think we might scrape 4th but it’s more lack of faith in others than belief in us. A real tallest dwarf competition this year.

 

[Ballist1x]

We cant defend properly or attack!

Look at Wolves, very low budget club. Yet somehow we were unable to get the ball into their half of the pitch for 45 minutes.

Yet every time they had the ball we looked like we would concede...

Look at our last few games, you cant score 1 goal in the premier league and then sit back hoping to win.

Watch City or Liverpool, how many aimless high crosses do they throw into the box each game?

Lots less than us.

We are bereft of basic attacking and defensive tactics, drills, set plays, ideas..

I feel like we have the personnel (ish) unfortunately we've been a lump it into the box club for a long time sadly and our manager knows no other way.

With the number of Rashford's headed goals, clearly it will never work.

 

[Karlos PFC]

I don't see how a top 10 U21 player can be wank, but you can have your opinion. He is still very young and he will make better use of his explosive raw pace as he gets older.

For what it's worth, I don't really rate him as a striker.

Yeah sure top 10 U21, definitely NOT.

Wayne Rooney at his age was a serial killer. But sure let's all hang on Rashford because...English lad from the academy.

The vast majority in here were all complaining about Mourinho cause of Lukaku.

Lukaku is top class mate, and he would be more useful than this failed Cristiano wannabe in the last 3 games.

As the fake Keano meme says about this local lad-runs a lot...killing disabled fans with his free kicks.

Ole is not the man that will drive us forward. He will come to the conclusion that we need a top striker, but up until then no big player would like to come to Manchester United.

Hurts me to say this but, Legend as a player, legendary flop as a manager

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Don't we have someone who analyses game? Appears they are not doing their job properly or the manager and coaching staff are not taking steps to deal with the information they are give or are not capable of doing it.

 

[kouroux]

If i see one more suicide-pirouette from him I may have a heart attack! Any team that can counter just needs to press him, he makes mistakes like that every game

I like this He should indeed do them more advanced

 

[Karlos PFC]

We cant defend properly or attack!

Look at Wolves, very low budget club. Yet somehow we were unable to get the ball into their half of the pitch for 45 minutes...

Check your sources again mate.

The name Mendes rings a bell?

Low budget only on paper

 

[dmode]

Do you know why I still believe?

Seeing Ole and the players' body language, they know they are nearly there, they know they have the right players.

It is a good situation, the players need to get hurt good to understand the situation and know what this club is about.

It is not the end of the world.

 

[Jazz]

Don't we have someone who analyses game? Appears they are not doing their job properly or the manager and coaching staff are not taking steps to deal with the information they are give or are not capable of doing it.

I keep harping on about the back room team myself. Ole needs to hire the best in the business (whomever is available) to join the team. Tactics aren't his strong point, so he needs to get proper help with that.

United just puzzles me. You have an inexperienced manager with some great qualities, but some obvious weaknesses. Surely you insist that he gets the job on condition that the best back room staff is hired to help him with those weak areas?

As much as Pep is great, he still has a hell of a lot of people behind the scenes helping him.

It seems such a simple but important thing thing to put into effect that I'm puzzled we don't seem to be thinking that way.

 

[RedMilo]

Regarding the selection of Perreira and Mata, I think the choices were a bit limited with Lingard being in poor form. In retrospect, perhaps Greenwood could have been preferred to Perreira, but I can entirely understand why Ole may have felt that would leave us a bit lightweight.

I too thought McTominay had a decent game - not perfect, but committed and effective.

I think your observation regarding Pogba is generous - he was dreadful in the first half, but did improve when pushed further forward after Matic came on. Pogba is a conundrum in that he should, in theory at least, get more time and space playing in the deeper role, but this has to be balanced with him looking like an accident waiting to happen when on defensive duties. The problem is that teams now know that putting pressure on Pogba will often bear fruit in the form of a turnover, so they'll look to do it wherever he plays.

Dan James was impressive in most of what he did, and if he could improve his crossing he could become an outstanding player for us. Having said that, I'm still not sure that any of our forwards have the instincts to get into positions to take advantage of crosses (I'd like to see more of them threatening the near post). Maybe Greenwood could do a job centrally ...?

After Chelsea, the results have been diappointing, no doubt about that. However the football has, as you say, been very watchable and we have been a bit unlucky. The performances have warranted more points than we've gained.

Agree we should have at least 7/8 points rather than 5 points, but it goes back to my original points, we need to be more instinctive when it comes to finishing teams off when were on top.

Pogba tries to be too many things, he may feel he has to, due to lack of quality in other areas maybe. He is one of biggest strengths but also one of our biggest weaknesses, as he is prone to losing the ball in dangerous areas. Creatively we are short in the squad, that's why you need to indulge him, until we have addressed the issue.

Agree re James, its been a good start to his Utd career, and although I have been sceptical about his end product until this game, he did in fairness put in some dangerous crosses in, which in yesteryear some of our striker may have been on the end of, but Rashford generally doesn't score that type of goal, as he doesn't have great movement.

I can see what OGS is doing with the squad, which I like, but we desperately need some more technically gifted players to compliment to fast pacey direct ones.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I keep harping on about the back room team myself. Ole needs to hire the best in the business (whomever is available) to join the team. Tactics aren't his strong point, so he needs to get proper help with that.

United just puzzles me. You have an inexperienced manager with some great qualities, but some obvious weaknesses. Surely you insist that he gets the job on condition that the best back room staff is hired to help him with those weak areas?

As much as Pep is great, he still has a hell of a lot of people behind the scenes helping him.

It seems such a simple but important thing thing to put into effect that I'm puzzled we don't seem to be thinking that way.

Couldn't agree more. I can see what Ole is trying to do and maybe what the club are now wanting him to do, weed out the players that need to go. However I do not see him as a long term choice. What I feel is hampering him like you is not have the best of the best backroom staff and coaching staff. He is being asked to both manage and coach the team and it is not working. If this season is a disaster then it will be difficult to get players in of the quality to move us on, even young ones. If they think we are in serious freefall then why would you join. It could ruin your career.

 

[Jazz]

Couldn't agree more. I can see what Ole is trying to do and maybe what the club are now wanting him to do, weed out the players that need to go. However I do not see him as a long term choice. What I feel is hampering him like you is not have the best of the best backroom staff and coaching staff. He is being asked to both manage and coach the team and it is not working. If this season is a disaster then it will be difficult to get players in of the quality to move us on, even young ones. If they think we are in serious freefall then why would you join. It could ruin your career.

Yeah I see what he's trying to do as well and I'm behind him. However, I don't believe the club would refuse to add to the coaching staff. It's up to oOle to cast a ruthless eye over his team and accept that he's not perfect and needs help with coaching.

Managing I think he's ok. It's just the coaching that needs shoring up.

After this, our next big problem is midfield - it always was.

Wonder if we can convert one of our many defenders into a Matic replacement?

 

[LawCharltonBest]

Is there any way to pull up a stat on our record in games before the international break?

We never win. And have to soak up 2-3 weeks on a defeat/draw

 

[fergiesarmy1]

Is there any way to pull up a stat on our record in games before the international break?

We never win. And have to soak up 2-3 weeks on a defeat/draw

Early kick offs as well don’t seem to work out well for us.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Yeah I see what he's trying to do as well and I'm behind him. However, I don't believe the club would refuse to add to the coaching staff. It's up to oOle to cast a ruthless eye over his team and accept that he's not perfect and needs help with coaching.

Managing I think he's ok. It's just the coaching that needs shoring up.

After this, our next big problem is midfield - it always was.

Wonder if we can convert one of our many defenders into a Matic replacement?

Does Ole have the connections in football to bring the best coaches in and know who they are? Klopp and Pep and their backroom staff do. Ole I feel might just be too tempted to bring in yet more 'United old boys'.

 

[Bestietom]

I was expecting the equaliser to come from a mistake by Pogba as I do most games now. He holds on to the ball too long and is crowded and robbed of it far too often. He never chases after his man and looks like he just doesn't want to play here. If Fergie was manager he would be gone or dropped.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I was expecting the equaliser to come from a mistake by Pogba as I do most games now. He holds on to the ball too long and is crowded and robbed of it far too often. He never chases after his man and looks like he just doesn't want to play here. If Fergie was manager he would be gone or dropped.

It's too late for Pogba to go now. He should have the sense to now knuckle down otherwise no other club will look at him again. However he does get caught in possession, so would push him further forward and make sure there is plenty of cover in midfield, not just one man.

 

[Bestietom]

It's too late for Pogba to go now. He should have the sense to now knuckle down otherwise no other club will look at him again. However he does get caught in possession, so would push him forward and make sure there is plenty of cover in midfield, not just one man.

Agree, but do we have these players to cover him as yet.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Agree, but do we have these players to cover him as yet.

Do we b*llocks.

 

[Jazz]

Does Ole have the connections in football to bring the best coaches in and know who they are? Klopp and Pep and their backroom staff do. Ole I feel might just be too tempted to bring in yet more 'United old boys'.

I don't know if you necessarily need connections for that. Surely someone at United must have a way of finding out where or whom to ask about getting a good coach in? Why not ask Van Der Sar? There must be some good Dutch coaches or such?
In worst case scenario rehire Meulensteen, though I'd prefer someone else completely.

I dunno, but it's concerning.

 

[Adisa]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Godfather]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Entitled glory hunter!!!1!!!

 

[Buster15]

What positives? We are making basic mistakes. The Wolves goal was because we didn't push out fast enough. Palace because no covering for the CB who was going for a header. Today because we let them put in a good cross and no one marking their tallest player.

What is your view on the standard of coaching.
My concern is two fold.
1. The number of incoming players who fail to perform or fail to improve. The list is almost endless.
2. The number of young players who break through into the first team who then fail to improve.

The reality is that we do make far too many mistakes.
And we do not play as a well drilled team and are continually out thought by those who are.
We are still nothing like fit enough.
And there is a total lack of innovation in our play.
Everyone knows that it is pretty easy to close down Paul Pogba. And yet it happens week after week.
I am more convinced than ever that we need to transform our coaching setup because the current setup is not good enough.

 

[mitchmouse]

so Match of Day pundits said exactly what I did: Ole was watching a different game to the rest of us. we created sod all again and that will be repeated week in week out while we have no creative midfielders and a for those in the caf saying rashford would score 20 goals this season... in the long run Ole has changed nothing sicne taking over and I stick to my belief that he'll quit by next summer

 

[mitchmouse]

If i see one more suicide-pirouette from him I may have a heart attack! Any team that can counter just needs to press him, he makes mistakes like that every game

I hope you have an air-raid shelter in your garden... the pogba worshippers here will be after you. I said much the same most of last season and got loads of (stupid) abuse

 

[Jonno]

We didn’t look all that bad against Southampton.

We just don’t have a squad good enough to put teams to the sword and score 2-3-4 like the top 2 teams, and we’re relying on luck to win games. This is our level but I’m quite content we’re rebuilding with the right type of players. Dan James for example, I’ve got stacks more respect and excitement to watch him play than I ever will for mercenaries like Di Maria and Sanchez.

Finally we’re heading in the correct direction as a squad. But sadly it’s taken too many years to realise, and now we’re miles behind the elite and could take many years to catch them. Keep building the squad, maybe move Ole upstairs to technical director and get a world class manager in to coach the squad to the highest level.

 

[PieCrust]

Ole is a coward. Talk'ed Greenewood up then didn't play him when it mattered.