The Manchester United Thread

Very good 1-1 draw tonight against City u23s. They dominated possession but tbh created very little CCCs thanks to a good defence and midfield organisation. Willocks goal was class and my MOTM. Was helped out as much as possible by Harrop who played well also and could of nicked it in the second half after some great 1-2 passing between him and Willock and new Captain Tuanzebe bringing it out from the back. Diaz scored there equaliser after a bad give away from Demi Mitchel. And he could of scored the winner with the last kick, if not from an outstanding save by o Hara. Very pleased to see DJ Buffonge make his u23 debut at 17. Looked lively and made some good runs, looks a talent.
 
Putting the rivalry & tomorrow's game aside for a moment, before going back into derby mode... I know I do enjoy having banter with some city mates, and I love to see them lose & get on their backs, but it really is so nice for the city of Manchester to just have two heavyweights, being practically equal, with two of the greatest managers in the world leading them, going potentially punch for punch for the title. Just so beneficial for the city in general, the buzz about the place is electric when I pop over. I saw Pep's conference earlier after I watched Jose's, he said not only have City fans ambushed him with hugs & love, every United fan he's met has said hi and been more than polite to him. Football rivalry aside, you have to respect Guardiola and how he took up the challenge to come here, it would've been very easy to stay at Bayern Munich winning title after title, possibly striking a Champions League or two, and even though I don't overly approve of the whole idea of City being bought by a billionaire and buying success, it has definitely spiced things up in Manchester and notched up the rivalry & banter among the fans by a million times.
 
RhQQ said:
Putting the rivalry & tomorrow's game aside for a moment, before going back into derby mode... I know I do enjoy having banter with some city mates, and I love to see them lose & get on their backs, but it really is so nice for the city of Manchester to just have two heavyweights, being practically equal, with two of the greatest managers in the world leading them, going potentially punch for punch for the title. Just so beneficial for the city in general, the buzz about the place is electric when I pop over. I saw Pep's conference earlier after I watched Jose's, he said not only have City fans ambushed him with hugs & love, every United fan he's met has said hi and been more than polite to him. Football rivalry aside, you have to respect Guardiola and how he took up the challenge to come here, it would've been very easy to stay at Bayern Munich winning title after title, possibly striking a Champions League or two, and even though I don't overly approve of the whole idea of City being bought by a billionaire and buying success, it has definitely spiced things up in Manchester and notched up the rivalry & banter among the fans by a million times.
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Meh, regardless of all the above (and I get where you're coming from there), they'll always be a small joke of a club that's just happened to sprout an oil well.

I think underneath all the L'pool/ Utd bollocks, there's a grudging respect both ways from most long standing supporters on the actual football clubs that always try and do things the right way and traditionally have proper fans. Even if you would never get many to admit that in public.

Citeh on the other hand have always been small fry in comparison and a continued cluster **** before the Arabs tipped up.
 
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From the BBC selector thing, incidentally 7 United players in the first 11 to 4 for City, Dave being the top pick is no surprise as he is incredible and nor is Pereira being not picked to start it. Maybe as he is on loan at Granada people feel he may not play
 
RhQQ said:
You say it as if I used Varane as my sole example, which I did not. Damola gave an example of Arsenal signing a young centre half (Holding) and throwing him into important games, I countered that with the simple fact of Mourinho signing a young centre half (Varane) and played him in big games, but because Mourinho signed the better player, and younger at the time too I may add, it somehow makes him less of a believer in youth in this particular situation?

Wenger has used his youth more than Mourinho, no question, but is he right to? Why should he get plaudits for it? He is managing the one of the supposed leading clubs in world football, not a secondary school, what has it done for him? Whilst Mourinho has been winning titles, with it has to be said fewer youth (but not non-existent!), Arsenal have been celebrating finishing above Spurs! Unless these youth players win him titles, then that "faith" in them instead of signing proven players which the club & fans deserve, could be perceived a little small minded & a sense of timidity, and many Arsenal fans I know feel that way.
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Yes it does because as I said, any manager in the world would play Varane because he was already so good. Its like how Mourinho was trying to potray himself as a believer in youth because he played Arjen Robben when he was young despite the fact that Robben had already teared it up in the Dutch League. You can't really say a manager is a believer in youth when he is playing already world class players who just happen to be young.

Regarding your second paragraph, as I said above, whether its right or wrong for the club is another debate.
 
Mike. said:
18 year old David Santon vs C Ronaldo. Had played just 4 Serie A games that season, before being thrown up against him. At left back despite being right footed. he had played one game at LB before then.
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One example Mike. I already said his reputation regarding youth is a little unfair. Does not change the rest of my point.

Mike. said:
Jack Wilshere is supposed to be the pick of the youth.

He's at Bournemouth, having been replaced by 30m man Granit Xhaka
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Oh come on Mike do not be ridiculous now. Wenger had far more faith in Wilshere and most other managers would have given up a lot earlier due to his injuries.
 
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Tad surprised with Lingard, I understand leaving out Martial based on how he's performed this season, but surely the replacement was going to be Rashford who scored the winner in his United last match, got a full 90 midweek (scored a hat-trick), whereas Lingard returns from a knock in the Community Shield final. Although I'm delighted to see Mkhitaryan start, plenty of pace on both wings now.
 
Why is Mourinho willing to drop Martial, our best player last season, after a few average performances, but he's not willing to drop Rooney who has been inconsistent and had multiple suspect performances for the last two seasons and who did nothing against Southampton and nothing against Hull (apart from one piece of admittedly good play to set up the goal).

Glad ad to see Lingard starting though.
 
TOD, where are you living mate? Where it's 3.40 in the morning :O
 
Matt419 said:
Why is Mourinho willing to drop Martial, our best player last season, after a few average performances, but he's not willing to drop Rooney who has been inconsistent and had multiple suspect performances for the last two seasons and who did nothing against Southampton and nothing against Hull (apart from one piece of admittedly good play to set up the goal).

Glad ad to see Lingard starting though.
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I just think it may be based on defensive work/ability when selecting that inside left position. Martial, although shouldn't be overly expected to, doesn't put in a lot of defensive work, and in a Mourinho team in big games, sometimes that can lose you your spot. I think Lingard will track back a lot more under instructions, and has blistering pace on the counter or to get in behind. But I did want to see Rashford :D
 
RhQQ said:
I just think it may be based on defensive work/ability when selecting that inside left position. Martial, although shouldn't be overly expected to, doesn't put in a lot of defensive work, and in a Mourinho team in big games, sometimes that can lose you your spot. I think Lingard will track back a lot more under instructions, and has blistering pace on the counter or to get in behind. But I did want to see Rashford :D
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who doesn't want to see Rashford at this point? :D

I'm just starting to get sick of seeing Rooney almost untouchable. Yes, Rooney has been a fantastic player for United over the years, and I am the first to defend him when people get on his back about his England place and all that. And if Rooney is playing well, he definitely deserves his place in the United team.

I just wish wish he didn't have this untouchable status that is kinda unwarranted after the last season or two.
 
RhQQ said:
Tad surprised with Lingard, I understand leaving out Martial based on how he's performed this season, but surely the replacement was going to be Rashford who scored the winner in his United last match, got a full 90 midweek (scored a hat-trick), whereas Lingard returns from a knock in the Community Shield final. Although I'm delighted to see Mkhitaryan start, plenty of pace on both wings now.
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Can see why Lingard has started. Mou will want to keep it tight first 15-20 to take sting out of City and he knows City will most likely have most of the ball and Lingards work rate is top class. Also he still gives us that pace on the brake and clever movement in attack. I also expect Mou wants Mky and Lingard to tuck in to help out in the middle of the park where City will look to dominate.
 
Matt419 said:
who doesn't want to see Rashford at this point? :D

I'm just starting to get sick of seeing Rooney almost untouchable. Yes, Rooney has been a fantastic player for United over the years, and I am the first to defend him when people get on his back about his England place and all that. And if Rooney is playing well, he definitely deserves his place in the United team.

I just wish wish he didn't have this untouchable status that is kinda unwarranted after the last season or two.
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I understand what you're saying with Rooney, but I'm still not quite on that 'Rooney out' wagon just yet, ask me in May :P He still does a lot of unappreciated work, if Mata was in that #10 position, maybe there would be more chances created, but would there be that balance? Would he be making gut busting runs back into his own box/full back position to make last ditch challenges when we're looking a little bit bare at the back/caught out on the counter? I don't think so. So long as Rooney keeps up that incredible work rate, and assists/scores 8 times in every 10 games say (he has scored 1, and fantastically assisted 2 in the 3 games so far), then he'll be doing a sufficient job I think.
 
Oh I'm definitely not Rooney out. I still think he has a place in this squad. I just feel that he's not good enough to warrant having a starting place week in week out. I would love Rooney to pick up again and play exceptionally, and for me his work rate is the best part of him.
 
Mourinho says he is hopeful that Lingard & Mkhitaryan can drag their fullbacks inside, is he trying to free up space throughout the 90 for Shaw & Valencia to bomb forward and get it into the box? They've already been pivotal to what we've done so far this season.

I'm so intrigued
 
RhQQ said:
Mourinho says he is hopeful that Lingard & Mkhitaryan can drag their fullbacks inside, is he trying to free up space throughout the 90 for Shaw & Valencia to bomb forward and get it into the box?
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That's the first thing that went through my mind when He said it.
If it works, Shaw will be pinging balls onto Zlatans head all day :D
 
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