Newcastle are the real deal. They've been in good form since the turn of the year under Howe
Will we finish above Newcastle?
- Thread starter Sparky Rhiwabon
- Start date
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) discuss United's emphatic 4-1 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford and celebrate Manchester United being back in the Champions League. They also discuss United Women, takeover latest and transfer rumours before previewing the FA Cup Final vs. Manchester City.
They've probably been the third or fourth best team in the league since Howe came in. Annoyingly appear to be a couple seasons ahead of their world domination. At least they'll challenge City eventually I suppose.
It looks like a big battle and one random goal game against any of the teams we play these days. At least we have a top manager who make us play top football and the results come 
and top players to bail us with individual quality. Oh wait...
and top players to bail us with individual quality. Oh wait...They have a great chance. They're not playing in Europe. It's a huge advantage. The majority of their team are going to get a break during the World Cup as well. The completion are juggling playing 2/3 games a week.
It's a 50/50 - we have a chance but I wouldn't bet on it. Unfortunately, it will take more than one window to unload and replace all mediocrity accumulated by Ed and Ole (and others before Ole).
Turns out this thread wasn't so ridiculous.
If we stop playing Ronaldo and Donny then yes. Probably.
That would be the perfect time to sell him? The club are about money more than anything else.
He's also increasingly unlikely to start for England given his recent demotion to 4th choice for United.
Howe's done a great job there and I know they have good form going back to last season too but just feel like there's surely going to be a come down at some point. They still have quite a lot of dross in the squad from before he and the Saudis came in.
With that said we are too much of a wildcard to predict and coming anywhere between 3rd and 8th wouldn't surprise me. I expect Newcastle will finish 5th or 6th in the end.
I think a huge part of it is that Howe hasn't had to deal with the kind of player power toxicity that has settled in at Man United. I imagine ditching the likes of Jonjo Shelvy (I know he's still on the team, but still) is much easier than dealing with the likes of Ronaldo, Rashford, and Maguire, and all the attendant baggage that comes with their wages, reputation, and transfer fees.
If we don't sign a striker in Jan, and continue with Ronaldo, they might end up above us.
We have dropped so many points already because we don't finish our chances. I fully expect the same to happen if we don't bring someone in.
We have dropped so many points already because we don't finish our chances. I fully expect the same to happen if we don't bring someone in.
Yes they won't keep up this form but we don't have the quality to put a big run together ourselves either because we're severely lacking in attack.
Unless we are sold to a big investor Newcastle will be out of sight in the seasons to come like City are now. They will end up with a wc manager and squad. TH might get us challenging like Klopp, but up against 2 Money no object clubs, it will be mega hard.
I believe we will.
Newcastle aren’t hamstrung by Ronaldo and the new Wellbeck.
No, you won’t.
Newcastle team are flowing and brimming with confidence and have SERIOUS owners who want to build a behemoth of a team and will invest well in January.
Utd have a great manager in Ten Hag but under the Glazers the club is basically a shadow of itself - and is still recovering from what they allowed Ed Woodward to do to a once great club.
Newcastle team are flowing and brimming with confidence and have SERIOUS owners who want to build a behemoth of a team and will invest well in January.
Utd have a great manager in Ten Hag but under the Glazers the club is basically a shadow of itself - and is still recovering from what they allowed Ed Woodward to do to a once great club.
At the moment you would have to say no, Newcastle look like a well oiled machine from back to front, while we haven’t clicked as a team yet, we looked to have improved defensively as a team since the City game but today we went back to looking like a bunch of individuals again.
Far too good for us
Newcastle have the benefit of no europe.
If we can get our best players back and to stay fit then yes. I’m sorry but I’m struggling to see how Newcastle are above us. They don’t even have a better squad then us. The scary thing is they haven’t hardly spent any money yet either. How can certain managers get average teams performing so well and with a clear style while it takes other managers a lot longer who have better squads? Makes no sense.
No, they are much better than us at present. We have a really good manager but as you can see, we have a very poor squad outside of the preferred starting 11 (which still has poor elements). We have no decent strikers, and we have a lot of players who are slow/lazy/timid/don't want to follow the game plan. Newcastle have a squad that is average on paper, but they are playing as a team with a common goal.
Not unless they have World Cup hangover
Barring injury, I'd say he's probably nailed on to start against Villa (to get fit to play against Mitrovic) and then Fulham given Lindesoft's performance today. That'll be his two game 'return' to fitness where he will then guide England to the World Cup with him blasting the last penalty (shoot out) into the top corner. He'll cup his ears, do a knee slide and then we'll receive a £70m offer from Newcastle the next day
For those who follow it all more detailed what has happened that turned them from mid table mediocrity to possible top 4 team? They bought that really good forward Isak but he doesn’t play so I assume he is injured. So he can’t be one of the reason for their transformation. What the hell happened?
These were some of the early replies in this thread.
It makes a difference when you have owners who prioritise winning vs making money.
Bear in mind that in the past 2 years, MUFC has spent far more money than Newcastle, so the issue of "Newcastle have more money to spend", hasn't kicked in yet.
And I know it's still early days, but here is the current table:
It makes a difference when you have owners who prioritise winning vs making money.
Bear in mind that in the past 2 years, MUFC has spent far more money than Newcastle, so the issue of "Newcastle have more money to spend", hasn't kicked in yet.
The message from the top to the players, is probably, "we want to win and if you aren't good enough to win, you'll be replaced."
It's surprising how motivating it can be when your employers tell you that if you can't do your job well enough, you'll be replaced.
Comparing that to MUFC - we renew contracts for players like Phil Jones (a player who is utterly useless and would not last 1 season at Newcastle).
Thought this thread might be a season too early but it seems Newcastle instead of Chelsea and Liverpool will be the main threat to our top 4 hopes.
Ominous when they haven't unleashed their dough bazooka anywhere near its full potential
Ominous when they haven't unleashed their dough bazooka anywhere near its full potential
If Isak ever gets fit again they have 3rd place in the bag, he is a more prolific Jesus in terms if dribbling and finishing
Their consistency is just so good and they seem to be doing the right things. If post World Cup they continue this form, then it's likely us 3rd and Newcastle 4th . Nothing more will make me happier in a football sense.
. Nothing more will make me happier in a football sense.How have they manged to become a good functioning team so quickly?
Really, nothing will make you happier than United finishing 3rd?Their consistency is just so good and they seem to be doing the right things. If post World Cup they continue this form, then it's likely us 3rd and Newcastle 4th
He's being realistic.
He is? Hardly prolific in La Liga.
Win that game in hand and we’re one point behind them after all these injuries and that freakish start.
I know everyone wants to be negative after a loss, but put together more runs like we did previously and we’ll get top four the way things are going.
It'll depend on the January signings. They will surely spend being in a shout for a top 4 spot, and are linked with the likes of Mudryk and Trossard. We'll have to bring in someone upfront.
This is wishful thinking, I'm afraid. Our schedule post WC is worse, if anything and our manager has shown an inability to rotate his best team, probably largely due to the fact out squad players suck.
And it's not like the board bill buy him 2/3 players he badly needs, it'll back to 'doing business in the summer' and 'no value in January '.
Might as well call the season off now eh.
I still maintain as I did from the beginning of the season, our best chance of CL football for next season is by winning the EL.
Will we finish above Newcastle? Yes, just and we'll finish 6th.
Will we finish above Newcastle? Yes, just and we'll finish 6th.
It is extremely early days. We're 4 points behind them with a game in hand, having been forced to play a geriatric upfront for the bulk of those. Newcastle are doing extremely well, but it says more on us than it does them if they manage to finish above us this season.These were some of the early replies in this thread.
And I know it's still early days, but here is the current table:
It makes a difference when you have owners who prioritise winning vs making money.
Bear in mind that in the past 2 years, MUFC has spent far more money than Newcastle, so the issue of "Newcastle have more money to spend", hasn't kicked in yet.
The number of pages this thread have will correspond with our final position..
Depends what we do in January. Are we going to be ruthless? Are we going to spend money?
if we’re going to be serious about being competitive we still need to lose a fair few of these players and replace with hungrier ones.
Sell/release donny, martial, Ronaldo, maguire, Jones, awb.
we should be looking at who is coming out of contract next summer and seeing if we can get some good bits of business in.
id like to see gakpo and Maddison replace donny and martial. Massive upgrade right there. Would cost a good 80 mil to get both though so not sure if realistic but that’s the levels of improvement we’re talking here. Get players that actually offer something.
if we’re going to be serious about being competitive we still need to lose a fair few of these players and replace with hungrier ones.
Sell/release donny, martial, Ronaldo, maguire, Jones, awb.
we should be looking at who is coming out of contract next summer and seeing if we can get some good bits of business in.
id like to see gakpo and Maddison replace donny and martial. Massive upgrade right there. Would cost a good 80 mil to get both though so not sure if realistic but that’s the levels of improvement we’re talking here. Get players that actually offer something.