And, we’re off.......2018/2019

[Lord Tyrion]

Mourinho is the master of deflecting criticism after a defeat, he's a very clever man, its always about him.

Stu, when Utd lose it's about him, when they win it's about him. Whatever happens it's about him. His ego is bigger than Old Trafford. I don't think it's a clever ruse or deflection, he is just fantastically arrogant.

Very disappointed with Spurs last night. 1 or two is a problem for Utd but not the end of the world. 3 pushes him nearer the exit. I don't want the fun to end yet so hopefully next team up goes a bit easier on them.

 

[Fish]

Was Utd’s performance really that bad? They had 23 shots to Spurs 9. They had the majority of the possession, and easily dominated the first half.

They didn’t capitalise on their chances early on, which would have seen Spurs chasing the game.

Very well played by Spurs but Utd weren’t that bad.

I agree, although many are laughing at Jose's initial interview, he was right, Utd dominated in every stat, except sticking the ball in the net!

The only difference was that Spurs were clinical with the limited chances they carved out and made them count!

The expression 'busy fools' springs to mind, but if Utd had a more clinical striker that wasn't lazy walking about at times offside and never in a position to receive the ball (Lukaku), they could be a totally different outfit, but, this hurts, spurs were tactically impressive biding their time and striking when the chances came and made them count!

Will be interesting to see how it all pans out with little, IMO, back up to an impressive starting 11 if injuries come to the fore. I'm not sure how much strength in depth they have to cover a PL & CL season.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The problem for Man Utd and it’s something they have struggled with since Red Nose retired is they are hiring short term managers - Moyes was the sacrificial lamb the Van Gaal isn’t long term but spent lots and Mourinho is another short term spend lots manager - he goes to a club spends a lot wins a few things then leaves but this times the spending isn’t working and he appears to be struggling because I think it is starting to show the flaws in his tactical awareness. He is now reacting to everything and it’s gojng to get worse

I think Man Utd need a long term manager and right now there is one person who is perfect for them - Pochettino , I think he would have bought better , got more out of the players there and been there for the long term to bring and develop players. Hopefully they don’t go and get him

 

[Orikoru]

Unbelievable result last night. Even at half time I didn't see that coming. United shaded the first half, they were attacking us, presumably like the fans wanted. They should really have been at least 1-0 up after that Lukaku chance. But their dodgy defence caught up with them again in the second half. I don't know how they've gone from the likes of Stam, Vidic, Ferdinand to now having Jones, Smalling, Lindelof - these are mid-table defenders at best. And I shudder to think why Jose thought the answer was to stick Herrera next to them, has he ever played centre back before in his life?? Second half was a complete shambles for them, fantastic for us of course. Lucas looks excellent, I had a feeling he would push on this season and it's great to see him having a good start in Son's absence.

Agree with those saying Shaw was United's best player as well, he really was. Ironically Rose was probably our worst player on the night, so that England spot is there for the taking for Shaw now. On current form it's his to lose.

 

[USER1999]

Given Poch alledgedly turned down Madrid, I don't think he is going anywhere soon. At least as long as he feels the spuds experiment could still work.
I think a lot of that will be determined by how long he can keep that squad together. They need to hold off eager buyers for their players, win stuff to keep them happy, and pay top wages to key players.

So he will be gone in the summer then.

 

[Piece]

Was Utd’s performance really that bad? They had 23 shots to Spurs 9. They had the majority of the possession, and easily dominated the first half.

They didn’t capitalise on their chances early on, which would have seen Spurs chasing the game.

Very well played by Spurs but Utd weren’t that bad.

Exactly. Lots of hot air being blown. We had this last year. They finished second, in the end, well above Spurs and Liverpool.

 

[huds1475]

Do you believe his style of shi te football is acceptable at man.utd?

I would prefer more scintillating football Davie La, who wouldn't.

We've seen it in flashes with Mourinho, but i don't think we're balanced enough to do so consistently.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Only one thing can save Utd

 

[Tashyboy]

Didnt see any of last nights game. Bur apparently Luke shaw had a good game. Hows he manage to turn around his game. He was one if the origanal players to be lambasted by maureen.

 

[Liverbirdie]

I know Man U had the majority of chances last night, but Spurs chances were of a much better quality/opportunity, although were created more by Man U rather than their own players.

I know this as I have Delle Alli in my fantasy league team.

#shouldhavehad3

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Exactly. Lots of hot air being blown. We had this last year. They finished second, in the end, well above Spurs and Liverpool.

No!!!! The season’s over.

 

[Karl102]

Too many similar players playing out of position. Herrera at right of a 3 man defence with Jones on the left (possibly our slowest player and nearly gave away a pen) is just not right. Fred, pogba and matic across the middle also didn’t work. Yes it did in terms of keeping possession at times, but we lacked that clear cutting edge. Lukaku isn’t the target man we hoped for. With Lingard just behind it just didn’t work well. Often, Lukaku would win the ball only for him not to read the run of Lingard and play the wrong through ball. We have been successful with a van nistleroy, van persie type goal scorer, which worked for a time with Ibrahimovich.
Question is what to do. What is the ideal formation/team with the players we have. Every UTD fan was speak to says something different, which says it all to me. Every City, Liverpool, Tottenham or Chelsea fan will reel off a team and you can bet bar the occasional 1 player 9/10 will be identical. With UTD you have DeGea and that’s about it!

 

[Orikoru]

Too many similar players playing out of position. Herrera at right of a 3 man defence with Jones on the left (possibly our slowest player and nearly gave away a pen) is just not right. Fred, pogba and matic across the middle also didn’t work. Yes it did in terms of keeping possession at times, but we lacked that clear cutting edge. Lukaku isn’t the target man we hoped for. With Lingard just behind it just didn’t work well. Often, Lukaku would win the ball only for him not to read the run of Lingard and play the wrong through ball. We have been successful with a van nistleroy, van persie type goal scorer, which worked for a time with Ibrahimovich.
Question is what to do. What is the ideal formation/team with the players we have. Every UTD fan was speak to says something different, which says it all to me. Every City, Liverpool, Tottenham or Chelsea fan will reel off a team and you can bet bar the occasional 1 player 9/10 will be identical. With UTD you have DeGea and that’s about it!

Is it still unclear why Bailly was left out? I think he is the best of the bad bunch of United centre backs. Rojo is still there as well isn't he? I'd maybe be using him, or Smalling alongside Bailly. Jones and Lindelof are just not good enough. Last season United only looked decent when they went 4-3-3, Matic just in front of the defence to help them out, which freed up Pogba to have a bit of a free role from midfield. It's not usually a good sign when the line-up is announced and nobody has any clue what shape they're going to be in (as happened last night).

 

[Karl102]

Is it still unclear why Bailly was left out? I think he is the best of the bad bunch of United centre backs. Rojo is still there as well isn't he? I'd maybe be using him, or Smalling alongside Bailly. Jones and Lindelof are just not good enough. Last season United only looked decent when they went 4-3-3, Matic just in front of the defence to help them out, which freed up Pogba to have a bit of a free role from midfield. It's not usually a good sign when the line-up is announced and nobody has any clue what shape they're going to be in (as happened last night).

I agree about Bailly. I thought he looked a class act when he first came. He cost a fair few ££££ as well.
I feel sorry for Mata. He was the key last year to a lot of chances and he has that creative vision for a pass and a goal. Without him or De Gea we would not have finished as high as we did.

 

[Ross61]

Exactly. Lots of hot air being blown. We had this last year. They finished second, in the end, well above Spurs and Liverpool.

Man Utd 81, Spurs 77 and Liverpool 75. I don’t call that “well above”

Not only that Man Utd started with 6 wins and a draw last season, how that is comparable to this season?

 

[Piece]

Man Utd 81, Spurs 77 and Liverpool 75. I don’t call that “well above”

Not only that Man Utd started with 6 wins and a draw last season, how that is comparable to this season?

Four and six points respectively is well clear in my book.

Last season, there was continual criticism of Man U's style of play. Performances v Huddersfield, Chelsea away, and City, Burnley, Soton, WBA at home, all had similar traits to what we've seen recently: no clear pattern of formation, lack of organisation and tactics, conservative and too slow...Pogba going missing....not sure what his best team... etc. Still finished second. Who knows, may happen again?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Four and six points respectively is well clear in my book.

Last season, there was continual criticism of Man U's style of play. Performances v Huddersfield, Chelsea away, and City, Burnley, Soton, WBA at home, all had similar traits to what we've seen recently: no clear pattern of formation, lack of organisation and tactics, conservative and too slow...Pogba going missing....not sure what his best team... etc. Still finished second. Who knows, may happen again?

There was critics of their style of play last season but it wasn’t massive or a big deal because they were not conceding the goals and they weren’t losing games - this season they currently haven’t got the results , so it’s not just style or a lack of direction it’s also a lack of positive results.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

There was critics of their style of play last season but it wasn’t massive or a big deal because they were not conceding the goals and they weren’t losing games - this season they currently haven’t got the results , so it’s not just style or a lack of direction it’s also a lack of positive results.

There is just a poisonous air about the place at the moment, it is so downbeat. 3 games in is silly to talk about major problems but it is not really about 3 games, it is the pre-season atmosphere as well. Similar to Conte at Chelsea at the end of last year, something was just plain wrong about the place. There is a similar air at Old Trafford.

 

[Junior]

I agree, although many are laughing at Jose's initial interview, he was right, Utd dominated in every stat, except sticking the ball in the net!

The only difference was that Spurs were clinical with the limited chances they carved out and made them count!

The expression 'busy fools' springs to mind, but if Utd had a more clinical striker that wasn't lazy walking about at times offside and never in a position to receive the ball (Lukaku), they could be a totally different outfit, but, this hurts, spurs were tactically impressive biding their time and striking when the chances came and made them count!

Will be interesting to see how it all pans out with little, IMO, back up to an impressive starting 11 if injuries come to the fore. I'm not sure how much strength in depth they have to cover a PL & CL season.

Agree with this. Played decent enough but were not clinical in defense or attack when it counted.


Plus..............footy's rubbish anyway.

 

[Tashyboy]

Agree with this. Played decent enough but were not clinical in defense or attack when it counted.


Plus..............footy's rubbish anyway.

Having an nvq in watching rubbish football, ie City before we got some money. I wholeheartedly agree with the last sentance.
I see a style if play at City, Liverpool and Spurs and its attractive. Don't know what to expect when utd trot out. But its usually rammel. Its not what the utd faithful have grown to expect. Bottom line is. Is Maureen the answer to bring back the attractive winning football.