Squad update
On improving
On getting the best out of players
On PogPlay
Captain situation
Solskjaer presser vs Bournemouth
- Thread starter klsv
- Start date
-
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 hope he's just being nice about Valenica and doesn't actually plan to play him.
Other than the bit about Valencia that was good stuff, and I get the Valencia comments it's just he's a useless Captain and clearly well past his best as a player, so hopefully Ole was just being nice and using more good man management.
Thanks for posting those. I know we've seen some of the headline catching stuff in other threads, but it's good to see the source story. I'm not as optimistic as he is about seeing Valencia come good when he's back to 100%, but we'll see - as long as he doesn't get stuck on playing out of form players in the hopes of something changing, I'll be happy.
Useful updates on our injury situation for the lineup prediction game as well.
Useful updates on our injury situation for the lineup prediction game as well.
In fairness to Tony, he may still be quite useful playing further up the pitch. I wouldn't be against seeing him starting at RB - every player deserves a chance.
Did anyone really think he's going to change the captain mid-season?
No point upsetting Valencia when his most important and difficult job is building up a team spirit after the poisonous Portugueser did his best to destroy it. Captaincy is a matter for the summer.
OMG, what's with the hate for Valencia?
How many players in our squad can claim to have played really well over the last 3 years or so? Only DDG springs to mind.
Valencia is a senior player who deserves respect. Whether he's 1st choice depends on what the coaches see in training.Let's just wait
What baffles me about Valencia is despite his decline, he still gets into some good positions, but has forgotten how to cross a ball since 2009.
Weird player.
He's been touched by Ole so that's all past. Watch him banging cross after cross when back as if last 9 years didn't happen.
Chill, I didn't kill your father!
It's got nothing to do with respect or Mourinho, it's clear to the eye how much Valencia has regressed, can't cross, can't beat a man, is mediocre defensively, he's basically a poorer version of Ashley Young at this point, Ole isn't a magician that will make every player better, some of these players have been deadwood for quite some time, regardless of who the manager is.
Quite obvious how much he fills the players with belief, saying all the right things.
I really can’t wait until I never have to read about Valencia again. He’s been a good servant to the club but enough is enough.
Totally understandable from Ole though, just hope Dalot starts to play more and keeps his place.
Totally understandable from Ole though, just hope Dalot starts to play more and keeps his place.
He's coming across very positive since joining and the players are responding. It will be interesting to see his approach when a result goes badly or a player performs below par.
He's even made me want to see what Valencia and Lukaku can bring, the man has some super powers.
He's even made me want to see what Valencia and Lukaku can bring, the man has some super powers.
He's going to give everyone a fresh slate. If he doesn't perform then I'm sure he'll be phased out.
AV needs to be given a fair chance, just like all the other players. A bit harsh writing him off already. Let's just wait and see how he does?!
I for one am actually looking forward to seeing Valencia. He's solid defensively and gets in the right forward positions. He will come good and be useful in our fast high pressing system. Mark my words.
Nothing wrong with that but to be made captain in when he has shown zero leadership qualities is not the way to go. Sounds like Valencia will walk back into the team too, which I don't really agree with it. It's time for us to move on from the likes of Valencia.
Unlike Mourinho though, I'm willing to give Solskjaer the benefit of the doubt.
Absolutely. Dalot looks great but he was exposed against Huddersfield, would like to see Valencia under the new regime as well.
Played is the key word here. He's been pretty poor recently. Still a decent defender but no end product going forwards.
Exactly, if he's asked about the captaincy, what do you expect him to say? Nah, Tony's past it now.
He's already captain!
Valencia could yet be useful. Everyone should get a chance to prove themselves after Jose.
If Matic can look better, so can Valencia or Lukaku. Yes, things won't be perfect, but yes he can look better than the dross he has been putting out recently I guess. One can always hope 
Besides Ole had said everyone has a chance and starts on a clean slate. I don't see any reason why Valencia shouldn't get the opportunity. Playing Dalot who is young and coming from different injuries in each and every match is not something I want to see.
Besides Ole had said everyone has a chance and starts on a clean slate. I don't see any reason why Valencia shouldn't get the opportunity. Playing Dalot who is young and coming from different injuries in each and every match is not something I want to see.
I think he is being smart and tactful with the captain. It can be an emotive subject and in reality it can often be over played. There are more important things to focus on. This will be one of those things that falls into position in due course and that might be retirement of Valencia.
Ole is not going to put down any of his players in public. He's learnt from SAF, and SAF hardly ever spoke negatively about his players in public.
Now that that's cleared up, we shouldn't expect Ole to be all truthful in his press conference...also a leaf from SAF's management book.
He knows that Valencia is almost done as a player, why not get the best out of him in the next few months. His job is to get the best out of these players till the end of the season.
Now that that's cleared up, we shouldn't expect Ole to be all truthful in his press conference...also a leaf from SAF's management book.
He knows that Valencia is almost done as a player, why not get the best out of him in the next few months. His job is to get the best out of these players till the end of the season.
I presume he's just being tactful and it's quality man management. No one can rate Valencia that highly in 2018.
Never gotten it. Valencia is, and by quite a margin, my favourite united player. When some players fall out with the manager, such as Paul, many poeple will stand by them and start finding reasons why the manager is at fault for both performances and effort, and yet when our longest serving player, a player that has been here for over 10 years and has given nothing less than 100% over that period, whilst being a model professional both on the pitch and off it struggles under mourinho, he s a vile captain.
He might not be the most talented player in the squad, but he s been here for over 10 years and im fully behind him getting a contract extension that would allow him to finish his career here. Maybe a pay as you play contract of some sort.
I really want united to be the type of club that does not push long servants out, and allow them to retire here whilst being a positive influence on up and comers. Their experience and calming influence will be a very big help in the tumultuous period we re going through and i certainly dont want the ferdinand treatment branded about to the oldies.
He might not be the most talented player in the squad, but he s been here for over 10 years and im fully behind him getting a contract extension that would allow him to finish his career here. Maybe a pay as you play contract of some sort.
I really want united to be the type of club that does not push long servants out, and allow them to retire here whilst being a positive influence on up and comers. Their experience and calming influence will be a very big help in the tumultuous period we re going through and i certainly dont want the ferdinand treatment branded about to the oldies.
We should stop wasting time with Valencia, Phil Jones, Rojo already.
Ole is just interim manager but the last 3 managers, they gave deadwood too much time until it became obvious that some players were just not United quality
Ole is just interim manager but the last 3 managers, they gave deadwood too much time until it became obvious that some players were just not United quality
I’m surprised at the reaction to Valencia being captain here. I can’t think of a better captain available at the club at the moment. Especially in a period where we are repairing what was a rapidly sinking ship.
The only other players guaranteed a start in our current set-up, who may fit the bill, are De Gea and Pogba. There’s an argument for De Gea but he seems quite a quiet reserved guy and Pogba is still too immature and more a friend to his team mates.
It’s a role which has more weight off the pitch than on it and therefore Valencia with his experience and time at the club gets my vote. Players should earn the captaincy and hopefully the next owner will show himself soon because admittedly Valencia is coming to the end of his career.
The only other players guaranteed a start in our current set-up, who may fit the bill, are De Gea and Pogba. There’s an argument for De Gea but he seems quite a quiet reserved guy and Pogba is still too immature and more a friend to his team mates.
It’s a role which has more weight off the pitch than on it and therefore Valencia with his experience and time at the club gets my vote. Players should earn the captaincy and hopefully the next owner will show himself soon because admittedly Valencia is coming to the end of his career.
Absolutely this. He's way past his best but still good enough to be in the squad this season.
Not sure why fans would want Solskjaer to come in and start dropping people and stripping them of their armband mid-season, especially when he's one of your longest serving players.
Yes, leadership qualities are judged by how hard you can shout in flawless english.
Players respect Valencia. He s quiet, professional, hard working, and has had a very good career at the club. Leadership comes in different types, and we all know that.
Zidane was not any less of a leader because he was quiet, it was his " aura". But since hating on Valencia is very fashionable, people will write absolute t**** about abstract concepts such as leadwrship qualities, that are significantly better understood when seing the person s interaction with the others players, and how respected/ highly thought of he is.
Players respect Valencia. He s quiet, professional, hard working, and has had a very good career at the club. Leadership comes in different types, and we all know that.
Zidane was not any less of a leader because he was quiet, it was his " aura". But since hating on Valencia is very fashionable, people will write absolute t**** about abstract concepts such as leadwrship qualities, that are significantly better understood when seing the person s interaction with the others players, and how respected/ highly thought of he is.
And you know his leadership qualities how exactly?
I'm genuinely intrigued as i don't think I've ever witnessed anything from him that comes close to being leadership.
Again, I dont know, which is why i dont come up with statements such as" he is/ isnt a good leader". I never saw Paul as a leader as he always seemed too goofy and immature, and yet he showed with france what he could do. I think the manager and fellow players have much more knowledge as to who has " leadership qualities".
Changing captain half-way through the season is a big slap in the face to Valencia, a move that wouldn't be appreciated I'm sure.
Another excellent press conference. Is Fergie feeding him his lines?
Another excellent press conference. Is Fergie feeding him his lines?
Imagine when players need a motivational speech from Valencia n halftime to lift their mood. It'd cure insomnia for some
The state of Jamie Jackson.
Shades indoors should be an automatic life ban.
What a tit.
Shades indoors should be an automatic life ban.
What a tit.
Some of the people suggesting that Ole should insult Valencia by stripping him of captaincy mid-season 
Yeah I also hope it's because he doesn't want to create any early commotion and is planning to give him enough rope to hang himself. Not only is Valencia past his best, he has always been a limited footballer who was just all pace and strength with the usual predictable cutback. I don't see a manager that requires skill at the fullback position using him for a sustained period.
Some of the people suggesting that Ole should insult Valencia by stripping him of captaincy mid-season
As a temp manager also!