The Manchester United Thread

[Theatre of dreams]

Even if we scrape top 4 I still don't think it will be enough. I think he's gone already.

 

[Tyton]

... Mourinho.

"Van Gaal is too defensive, let's bring Mourinho instead".

 

[Theatre of dreams]

New contract for Rashford

Mohamed Bouhafsi– Verified account ‏@mohamedbouhafsi

7 buts en 15 matchs et Rashford va être revalorisé à Manchester United ! Un nouveau contrat avoisinant 1,7 millions d'€ par saison à 18 ans
5:09 a.m. - 7 May 2016
181 RETWEETS62 LIKES.

 

[Alcaraz]

I think fans like fuelledbypassion have forgot how drab the football under LVG has been this season, I'm not talking bad, I'm just talking totally dreadful watch and I'll take Mourinho now over another season that may reproduce this, the football can't be any worse.

United need a change now, not another season of a manager who has failed.

You want to watch entertaining gung-ho football and then you advocate hiring Mourinho ...

 

[fuelledbypassion]

I think fans like fuelledbypassion have forgot how drab the football under LVG has been this season, I'm not talking bad, I'm just talking totally dreadful watch and I'll take Mourinho now over another season that may reproduce this, the football can't be any worse.

United need a change now, not another season of a manager who has failed.

I understand your frustrations completely, but I think that you and many others both (a) completely underestimate the ability of the 'lesser' teams in the league and also the difficulty in breaking down teams that defend so deep and in numbers. You can't throw pace into the team and think that is the answer; and (b) overestimate the ability of the players in our squad.

Potentially losing Martial is a bitter blow, and was certainly so today, as he has the ability to unlock a defence. I like Mata as a #10, but for him to flourish we need a real box to box midfielder and a younger Carrick, and intelligent wingers and full backs that make forward runs when he has possession.

The full backs are key in overlapping a tight, deep defence, but we've just never seen Valencia and Shaw at their best together in the same side, and unfortunately Valencia isn't quite decisive enough in attacking positions. Van Gaal nearly has a great plan, but he just doesn't yet have the right tools for it to work.

Today we rested players that obviously must need rest, and we won a difficult, tight game. My only disappointment is for Martial, I just hope it's not too bad. I understand the moans, I really do. It can sometimes be boring to watch to many fans, but I find it fascinating. To complain at Van Gaal's unadventurous style and want Mourinho in baffles me though. He won't give you what you want, but I guess success might paper over those cracks...

 

[Theatre of dreams]

Mou might not play gung Ho football but is more attacking than people think. His first spell at Chelsea his side was very dominant and played good football and scored a fair few. Then his second spell his team was blowing teams away big time first half of the season. Then did what was required to win the league later on in the season. I'm not saying it's going to be like watching a Fergie side in its pomp, even though his later years we played some *****. At the end of the day Mou knows how to win and understands the Prem and what style/ or what it takes to win.

 

[Theatre of dreams]

I understand your frustrations completely, but I think that you and many others both (a) completely underestimate the ability of the 'lesser' teams in the league and also the difficulty in breaking down teams that defend so deep and in numbers. You can't throw pace into the team and think that is the answer; and (b) overestimate the ability of the players in our squad.

Potentially losing Martial is a bitter blow, and was certainly so today, as he has the ability to unlock a defence. I like Mata as a #10, but for him to flourish we need a real box to box midfielder and a younger Carrick, and intelligent wingers and full backs that make forward runs when he has possession.

The full backs are key in overlapping a tight, deep defence, but we've just never seen Valencia and Shaw at their best together in the same side, and unfortunately Valencia isn't quite decisive enough in attacking positions. Van Gaal nearly has a great plan, but he just doesn't yet have the right tools for it to work.

Today we rested players that obviously must need rest, and we won a difficult, tight game. My only disappointment is for Martial, I just hope it's not too bad. I understand the moans, I really do. It can sometimes be boring to watch to many fans, but I find it fascinating. To complain at Van Gaal's unadventurous style and want Mourinho in baffles me though. He won't give you what you want, but I guess success might paper over those cracks...

guted for Martial really am and Darmian! I actually rate him performed well at the start but tailed off due to injuries etc. Really can see a case of the Evra and his first season in Darmian. Valencia is so frustrating can do all the hard work getting up and down and is solid in defending most the time. It's just when he gets in those good positions he always seems to want to break the defenders legs with the same old drill crosses that never beat the first mans shins. If he could cross all the time like martial assist last week he could be a good FB. Would still keep him next season good solid squad player and can play 2 possitions. I think we have some good top players and talents just need bit more top quality and we will be there.

 

[Alcaraz]

Mou might not play gung Ho football but is more attacking than people think. His first spell at Chelsea his side was very dominant and played good football and scored a fair few. Then his second spell his team was blowing teams away big time first half of the season. Then did what was required to win the league later on in the season. I'm not saying it's going to be like watching a Fergie side in its pomp, even though his later years we played some *****. At the end of the day Mou knows how to win and understands the Prem and what style/ or what it takes to win.

Problem is that he is never the type of manager to remain committed to the type of attacking play that United fans are demanding. As soon as results start to go bad, he shuts up shop and starts to grind 1-0 wins. It worked second half of last season as City imploded. It didn't work so well this season when results were not going our way.

I am sure he will be more entertaining than LVG but if its attacking football you want, he is not the manager you hire. He is above all a pragmatist who will do anything it takes to win

 

[Theatre of dreams]

Problem is that he is never the type of manager to remain committed to the type of attacking play that United fans are demanding. As soon as results start to go bad, he shuts up shop and starts to grind 1-0 wins. It worked second half of last season as City imploded. It didn't work so well this season when results were not going our way.

I am sure he will be more entertaining than LVG but if its attacking football you want, he is not the manager you hire. He is above all a pragmatist who will do anything it takes to win

Yeah I know what you mean mate for sure. And I think that's what we need atm. We need a pragmatist like Mou who apart from his end with you lot is Prem proven and is always there challenging and guarentees CL football. A lot of the fans would put up with LVG imo if he was grinding out 1-0 every week like he was when we near the top of the league or even top of the league briefly, but we just play so poor and lose/ draw to many games. Like you said the footy under Mou would still be an improvement over LVG and would get us wins despite how bad were playing. Yes we scrapped it today, but more often than not under LVG we have not and especially against teams in the bottom half. I have said before I'm not Mous biggest fan but to me it matters more the results in the near future not performance. We can't keep fighting for top 4 and missing out on CL like we have the last 3 seasons.

 

[fuelledbypassion]

Yeah I know what you mean mate for sure. And I think that's what we need atm. We need a pragmatist like Mou who apart from his end with you lot is Prem proven and is always there challenging and guarentees CL football. A lot of the fans would put up with LVG imo if he was grinding out 1-0 every week like he was when we near the top of the league or even top of the league briefly, but we just play so poor and lose/ draw to many games. Like you said the footy under Mou would still be an improvement over LVG and would get us wins despite how bad were playing. Yes we scrapped it today, but more often than not under LVG we have not and especially against teams in the bottom half. I have said before I'm not Mous biggest fan but to me it matters more the results in the near future not performance. We can't keep fighting for top 4 and missing out on CL like we have the last 3 seasons.

The thing is, if you look at Van Gaal's record against the big teams it's really quite good. We struggle to break down teams that just sit back with 10 men behind the ball and counter, and I think that is almost entirely down to the quality of our players. The only criticism I would throw at Van Gaal in this case is his reluctance to commit the extra central midfielder.

 

[Mike.]

You want to watch entertaining gung-ho football and then you advocate hiring Mourinho ...

Mourinho's teams actually score bags of goals.

However at the first sign of a flaw, he shuts down

 

[Legend Incredible]

The thing is, if you look at Van Gaal's record against the big teams it's really quite good. We struggle to break down teams that just sit back with 10 men behind the ball and counter, and I think that is almost entirely down to the quality of our players. The only criticism I would throw at Van Gaal in this case is his reluctance to commit the extra central midfielder.

Then what was 250 million spent for? He knew this but then he sold our best player di Maria and brought in no replacements.

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[Theatre of dreams]

It still gripes the **** out of me seeing Herrera and Schniederlin sat on the bench when it's obvious our football is better with them and our results are better with them.

 

[Mike.]

Watching Lyon atm, Lacazette is still the man.

 

[Tyton]

It still gripes the **** out of me seeing Herrera and Schniederlin sat on the bench when it's obvious our football is better with them and our results are better with them.

Mate, you've had 7 wins in last 9 games.

 

[zzeezzy]

You want to watch entertaining gung-ho football and then you advocate hiring Mourinho ...

I actually said I'd take Mourinho over this as it can't be any worse.

 

[Legend Incredible]

It still gripes the **** out of me seeing Herrera and Schniederlin sat on the bench when it's obvious our football is better with them and our results are better with them.

Herrera was awful today tho. He simply hasn't been the same since that injury against everton

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[fuelledbypassion]

Then what was 250 million spent for? He knew this but then he sold our best player di Maria and brought in no replacements.

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Di Maria wanted to go and was struggling badly for the last three or four months. He bottled it and you can't keep a player of that value if he doesn't want to be at the club. We lost £15m or so, but that's nothing in today's market and he was well worth that risk. I'm as disappointed as everyone else that he didn't stay and try to recapture his early form, he'd have nailed down that right wing spot by now. Schweinsteiger was a cheap enough risk, Darmian/Blind/even Rojo were good value at under £15m each and are at the very least reliable squad players. The jury is still out on Schneiderlin but I think he will be decent value for us at £25m and Martial could well turn out to be a steal.

Then there's Shaw and Herrera at £30m a pop, who were both targets well before Van Gaal took charge. We've kept hold of the best 'keeper in the world and added a decent enough back up in Romero on a free.

The only real waste of money imo has been Memphis, but I even still hold out hope for his future at United.


This figure of £250m is just another stick to beat him with. Fair enough, he's spent big, but he's also generated over £40m in players sales during a difficult period for the club and mass overhaul of playing staff. The departures of Van Persie, Falcao, Nani and Di Maria alone have cleared almost £45m off the club's wage bill.

 

[Mike.]

Di Maria wanted to go and was struggling badly for the last three or four months. He bottled it and you can't keep a player of that value if he doesn't want to be at the club. We lost £15m or so, but that's nothing in today's market and he was well worth that risk. I'm as disappointed as everyone else that he didn't stay and try to recapture his early form, he'd have nailed down that right wing spot by now. Schweinsteriger was a cheap enough risk, Darmian/Blind/even Rojo were good value at under £15m each and are at the very least reliable squad players. The jury is still out on Schneiderlin but I think he will be decent value for us at £25m and Martial could well turn out to be a steal.

The there's Shaw and Herrera at £30m a pop, who were both targets well before Van Gaal took charge. We've kept hold of the best 'keeper in the world and added a decent enough back up in Romero on a free.

The only real waste of money imo has been Memphis, but I even still hold out hope for his future at United.


This figure of £250m is just another stick to beat him with. Fair enough, he's spent big, but he's also generated over £40m in players sales during a difficult period for the club and mass overhaul of playing staff. The departures of Van Persie, Falcao, Nani and Di Maria alone have cleared almost £45m off the club's wage bill.

I dont think the signings themselves have been bad, but he's totally failed to get the most from them. And then to complain about not having the right players is a joke tbh.

 

[fuelledbypassion]

I dont think the signings themselves have been bad, but he's totally failed to get the most from them. And then to complain about not having the right players is a joke tbh.

I do think he took unnecessary risk in selling the likes of Chicharito and leaving us short, but I also like that he allows space for young players to come through and into the main squad. We started this season too heavily reliant on the goals of Rooney and Memphis in hindsight, but I certainly didn't foresee such a drop in form/ability coming.

And I completely agree that he has failed to get the best out of some players. I always saw Schneiderlin as a more energetic box to box type and I don't think a holding role suits him completely. With Memphis too, I would criticise Van Gaal for his handling of the player. There were times when he had seemed to turn a corner, only to be dropped the next game. I think he's a complete confidence player and he needs to be given a long run in the side. Of course, Shaw's injury didn't help matters.

But then you must consider the improvements in other players such as Smalling and Blind. Louis hasn't been a total failure and I would still rather he saw out his contract than bring Mourinho in at this point.