Yup, buzzingProbably the usual list of reasons that people give - everyone else was trash, overperformed, lucky etc.
Some fans on here seem upset that we are building a world class team and will have less and less to moan about!
So pumped for next season
Ederson is the best keeper in the league so gotta disagree with that strongly.
No chance De Gea is our best team and if he is we have a massive weakness. Don’t think we get near the title with him in there.
Stones equal to Varane is one of the worst things I’ve seen on here.
Smacks of nationality and recency bias.
Without doubt. Stones is decent at best. Varane is a 4 times champions league winner and an undisputed world class player. Maguire makes stones look average every time they play together for England too.
Are we talking about what the players have achieved or currently ability?
Aye. Imagine someone said last October that Varane and Stones were equal defenders.
They certainly don't finish second.
You simply can’t discount the impact of playing in City’s system. There defenders get so much protection by the way they manage games. Stones would be half the player elsewhere. We will see how Varane gets on but it’s a much harder job being a CB at Utd compared to city.
I’m not sure how Sterling and Walker who are international main regular actually are not better than Rashford & AWB who are just bench warmer and sofa warmer.
This is where its gets silly now.
Not everyone will agree with me. Its subjective. However, using internationals to prove a point means Saka is better than Sancho or Grealish. Maybe he is if we use your logic.
Utd CBs get more protection than City's. We have 2 deep midfielders protecting them constantly, and the best fullback pair in the league at their sides. You don't get much more protected than that.
But Saka is not main regular international, we have seen him dropped many times so calling him better than Sancho and Grealish is obviously not true. When I said main regular international means they are untouchable like Kane, Sterling, Stones, Maguire, Walker. If you are untouchable in international team then you are being obvious better.
Not necessarily true though, is it?
But comparing him to Varane is ridiculous based on one recent season of good form.
What is the difference between Ole and Southgate's system that make you think that this difference play factor in Sterling, Rashford & Walker, Bissaka comparison. I don't see both manager's difference system play any difference in picking who because for instance, Walker will also suit Ole's system and suits more than Bissaka due to similarity in what Ole & Southgate demanded in their full backs while Bissaka doesn't suit Pep's system.
That’s just not true. Sure on paper we play more defensive mids but that completely ignores the fact that City control games much much better than Utd. They know how to retain the ball, make better tactical fouls in transition and generally just provide a system that helps protects the defence. Pep has always been the same. Valdez at Barca was a woeful keeper, Pique has always been nothing more than okay. Possession football has been proven to be the most effective system for building a strong defence. Just look at the impact Tuchel has had on Chelsea despite their lack of real top quality centre backs. You can’t concede goals if you don’t give your opponents the chance to get on the ball and concede.
Why? I did that for everyone. Its where I see where they are both at currently because the whole point of this thread was compariing our team with others. Therefore, I cant use the Varame of 2017, as I dont think it's a fair reflection.
Dias vs Varane is more comparable. Personally think Varane is still better but that’s much closer. Dias is miles better than stones though so it doesn’t really stand up.
Why?
I agree that the defense gets attacked a lot less when you dominate football, but when do they get attacked they are more exposed with a lot less support as Liverpool exposed a couple of seasons ago. We never let our CBs get exposed because they are not good at handling it.
Because Dias is a top player, Varane is a top player. Pretty simple to be honest.
Yeh In moments they can be exposed but it’s often few and far between. I can think of some Utd Vs City games in recent years where we just never really generated a chance and it wasn’t because we came up against Vidic and Ferdinand, it was because city never let us get hold of the ball. They are also masters of tactical fouls and that really starts in their midfield. Honestly I think it’s a far easier job being a CB in a pep team than many other sides.
Varane of 2019 is better than John Stone. Only last season can you say stones is vaguely close. We are not talking about a player who has been lost for several seasons. Madrid still won the league 2019 as him as a top defender whereas stones couldnt get into the city team. One decent season vs an OK one varane doesn't change anything
Absolutely agree 100% The GK situation is totally unacceptable atm.
I guess it depends on the opposition.
Based on this season, so is John Stones. Its also that simple.
And thats exactly why I put Varane = Stones.
I don’t really believe in ignoring a whole careers worth of work just to pretend players are equal.
I had essentially the same post a page ago…Personally, I think Varane is superior to Stones, Rodri is better than Fred, and I have Sancho ahead of Mahrez. I personally like Rashford over Sterling/ Foden, but I can see that as even. Also, I left out Pogba…
Now, if City get Kane and Grealish and keep Sterling, Mahrez and Silva, they definitely will has the superior squad. It seems like the Grealish transfer is going to happen, but although I rate Grealish, is he THAT much better than Sterling and Foden? I would say no…
Four Four Two has Bruno eighth in the world….
